May 21, 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

Bracelets honoring Booker bring attention to Scott’s Law

April 5, 2022

April 5, 2022

Vickie Reese is hoping a bracelet will help people remember to move over when they see flashing lights. Reese, the...

Former rivals give back with youth girls’ basketball program

January 22, 2019

January 22, 2019

Growing up, Andrea Flenniken was a Spartan. Flenniken graduated from St. Joseph-Ogden High School in 1996 and played girls’ basketball...

Success of students, FFA is what Duitsman will remember about her time at SJO

July 30, 2019

July 30, 2019

This August will be a little different for Katie Duitsman. The former St. Joseph-Ogden High School agriculture teacher will not...

Village hires administrator

June 24, 2021

June 24, 2021

The Village of St. Joseph has its administrator.During its June 22 meeting the village board voted to hire Joseph Hackney....

10 things you don’t know about me… Rylee Sjuts

May 15, 2019

May 15, 2019

We asked St. Joseph-Ogden’s Senior Class President and graduation speaker Rylee Sjuts to tell us 10 things we didn’t know...

SJO student creates program to help the food insecure

December 23, 2021

December 23, 2021

Kirsten Schaefer wants to help feed her neighbors. Schaefer, a junior at St. Joseph-Ogden High School, created the Feeding Your...

‘The first one to tell you how important you were to him’

September 5, 2022

September 5, 2022

Connor Wienke made sure people knew how he felt about them. Whether it was a smile, a friendly comment or...

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...

10 things you don’t know about me… Kelly Cooper

April 30, 2019

April 30, 2019

Ogden Village Trustee Kelly Cooper was elected in 2017. Since then she has worked diligently to make sure Ogden has...

10 things you don’t know about me… Jim Wagner

June 13, 2019

June 13, 2019

Every week we ask an area resident to share 10 things we don’t know about them—this week is St. Joseph...

Ingram to fly high as a Redbird

June 14, 2019

June 14, 2019

Kalli Ingram had a simple audition for the Illinois State University Dance Team. Ingram was in Washington D.C for the...

Benefit to be held for Fisher family

March 18, 2019

March 18, 2019

Next Saturday the St. Joseph IGA and Wagner Signs and Graphics are coming together for a good cause. From 7...

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...

Longview Bank helps area schools

July 15, 2020

July 15, 2020

Longview Bank is helping local schools. The bank donated $2,500 to eight school districts. Shiloh, Villa Grove, Unity, Heritage, St....

Wheelhouse adapts during pandemic

May 27, 2020

May 27, 2020

Every Thursday The Wheelhouse gets as shipment of farm-fresh food from Spence Farms in Fairbury. Spence Farms is a cooperative...

Comments
Leave a Reply