Streator resident Jake Mehalic could not handle it.

Working at his stepfather's optometrist office, he enjoys listening to 96.5 FM radio to pass the time, but was shocked to hear Christmas music coming over the intercom last Friday instead of the station's usual classic rock.

"It annoys me,"Mehalic said. "I didn't expect it this early. It forced me to listen to a new station."

Christmas music can now be heard around-the-clock on three local FM stations — WKOT 96.5 (Marseilles), WYYS 106.1 (Streator) and WCFL 104.7 (Morris).

Mehalic was not alone with his feelings, stirring the debate of whether it's too early for Christmas music.

To those who welcomed the seasonal music, it cannot come too early.

"I have (Christmas music) on all the time," said Streator resident Lori Sweeden. "I look forward to it — 96.5 plays the really good Christmas music, too. I love it."

To many other people, the Thanksgiving holiday is a natural boundary for when it is appropriate to start celebrating Christmas.

"We need to wait until one holiday is over before we start celebrating another,"said Streator resident Kenda Schmitt. "106.1 is the normal station I listen to, but Ididn't change it. I'd rather they wait until (the Friday after Thanksgiving) to start playing the Christmas music."

And to the classic rock and oldies lovers in the area, the loss of two of their beloved stations' regular play lists at once is a significant blow to their auditory sensibilities.

"I personally think they should hold off until December," said Rhonda Gillman, who owns Main Street Exchange in downtown Streator. "I listen to 106.1 every day and I changed my station until it's all over."

According to La Salle County Broadcasting Program Director John Spencer, 96.5 started its round-the-clock Christmas music Nov. 20 to keep up with the trend. Spencer said Christmas sets of three songs are expected to start on 99.3 FM.

The Radio Group, which owns 106.1, did not return phone calls to The Times.

"It truly does seem like Christmas comes earlier and earlier," Spencer said. "They have Christmas retail out well before Halloween. It's not just retail; people are putting Christmas decorations up two, three weeks ago. There is a demand for it."

Spencer said listeners have been vocal on whether they like it.

"We've received quite a few positive comments," Spencer said. "But with anything you do, you're not going to make everybody happy. Many expressed 'it's too early' or 'it's too much too soon.'"

Like it or not, Christmas music on the radio is here to stay and appears to be following the trend of celebrating Christmas earlier and earlier.

"I love my Christmas music and Istart listening to it the day after Thanksgiving when Igo shopping,"said Ginger Walter, who listens to 104.7 FM, which started its Christmas music Friday. "I think it gets you in the mood, but I'd be worried that it gets to be too much earlier. I wouldn't want to get burnt out."