March 3, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

10 things you don’t know about me… Noreen Acton

Every week we ask an area resident to share 10 things about themselves that we may not know. This week we talked to Villa Grove AD and St. Joseph resident Noreen Acton.

My favorite childhood memory is visiting DisneyWorld for the first time as a kindergartener.

My first pets names were Mittens and Nutmeg. They were two cats from the same litter.

I am most proud of raising my children. I think they are turning out to be two pretty decent human beings.

I wasn’t seeking out the AD role when I was hired at Villa Grove. The opportunity presented itself when my former cooperating teacher left her position and the AD job opened up along with a PE/Health teaching job. I am grateful to the principal who took a chance on a 25 year old kid who didn’t have a clue. My job as AD allows me to interact with kids as I get to watch them grow as athletes and people, mentor coaches and be involved in the a administrative side of competitive interscholastic athletics—all things I enjoy tremendously.

I always carry my dad’s prayer card from his visitation

I could watch “Christmas Vacation” over and over.

I last binge watched “Dead to Me” on Netflix.

Thornton Wilders “Our Town” is a book that I read in high school that stayed with me because of the idea of appreciating each moment as we live.

Fall is my favorite season. There’s something exciting about the start of a new school year, the leaves changing color, bonfires and football.

Besides the obvious things most people love about St Joe-schools, rec programs/parks, restaurants close to home and great people/teachers who watch over my kids like they are their own. I specifically love the floral arrangements currently wrapped around the lightpoles in town & how they are then tastefully decorated with greenery & ornaments for the holidays.

in People
Banner
Related Posts

Senior spotlight… Emily Bigger

July 26, 2019

July 26, 2019

Every week we ask a St. Joseph-Ogden senior five questions. This week we talked to Emily Bigger. This post is...

Wagners give back in a variety of ways

May 29, 2020

May 29, 2020

Jim and Jen Wagner like to help people. They have helped people through the pandemic at their business, Wagner Signs...

Krall joins Longview Bank

April 22, 2021

April 22, 2021

Brad Krall is coming home. Krall is now the Loan Officer and Mortgage Lender at Longview Bank in St. Joseph....

Giving back: Short wins St. Joseph Chamber Citizen of the Year

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

Tim Short loves St. Joseph. He and his wife, Amy, moved to St. Joseph in 1992 and never thought of...

Get to know Emily Harms.

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Emily is running for Multi-Township Tax Assessor. 1. Can you provide us a little biographical information? My name is Emily...

‘Helping them reach their potential is humbling and rewarding at the same time’

January 26, 2023

January 26, 2023

A performance today will culminate one of the most powerful artistic and personal experiences Justin Lee has had in his...

A familiar face joins Longview Bank

November 22, 2021

November 22, 2021

Sara Bryan has always had a passion for helping people. That passion was instilled in her by her father who...

10 things you don’t know about me….. Pam Leiter

January 30, 2019

January 30, 2019

Every week we ask a community member to tell us 10 interesting facts about themselves. This week it is Pam...

St. Joseph man peacefully protests against police brutality: ‘We need to listen’

June 4, 2020

June 4, 2020

Jon Arteaga isn’t looking for any praise by protesting at the corner of Main Street and Route 150 in St....

Get to know SJO marching band member Kirsten Schaefer

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

My favorite part about marching band is the endless support that is shared throughout the band with one another and...

Spirit of giving: SJO graduate Whitney Setterdahl continues to help out teens with cancer

December 4, 2019

December 4, 2019

Whitney Setterdahl knows what it is like to be in the hospital during the holidays. Setterdahl is a recent graduate...

‘St. Joseph is better because of Dixie Hackler’

January 20, 2020

January 20, 2020

Dixie Hackler always had a smile on her face. Always made time for others. And always made sure others knew...

Senior Spotlight with Jordan Stiverson

October 2, 2019

October 2, 2019

Every week we ask an SJO senior five questions. This week we spoke to Jordan Stiverson. 1. What is the...

Booker to be honored tonight at fire station

October 12, 2023

October 12, 2023

When Ross Booker was 10 years old he went with his mother, Marita, to volunteer with their church group at...

10 things you don’t know about me… Abbie Layden-Rogiers

June 17, 2019

June 17, 2019

Each week we ask a community member to tell us 10 things about themselves. This week is Abbie Layden-Rogiers, owner...

Comments
Leave a Reply