October 31, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

10 things you don’t know about me… Max Painter

The newest St. Joseph Village Trustee tells us 10 interesting facts about himself.

My favorite childhood memory is getting up early and getting on my bike and riding around town all day with my friends. I’m not that old but such a different world back then. We were gone all day and our parents barely knew where we were. They probably never worried about something bad happening to us. Things were way simpler back then.

My first pet was named Socks.

We just took a family vacation to California for the first time this summer and I must say we loved all of it. We started in San Francisco and worked our way down the coast to San Diego. The Pacific Coast Highway was beautiful. I could do without the traffic in LA but the rest of it was wonderful and the weather was fantastic.

I used to play a lot of golf now I barely play 10 times a year. I love to play basketball and the Just B Fit gang keeps my blood pressure high with doing workouts, Tri’s, and races. Unfortunately, work keeps me busy as well so I don’t get to do these things as much as I’d like.

My secret talent is to talk nonstop about nothing. If you get me with another talker, we’re in big trouble.

I’m terrible at making time for reading. My oldest son reads nonstop, mostly historical authors such as Hemingway, and I admire that he makes that a priority. I read Stephen King’s “IT” in the army and now with the movie out, I remember it well. I always loved that book! I will say “The Shack” was a fantastic book that I read as an adult that has always stuck with me as well. 

My favorite thing about owning my own business is I love helping people really. I take a lot of pride in my work and love making people happy. 

I have always been good with electricity. When I was 14, I wired up everything in my room to work on switches. When I went to EIU for a degree in Economics, I always knew I wanted to be an electrician when I finished school so I graduated from EIU on a Saturday and started my electrical apprenticeship the following Monday!

I love my country, I joined the army to defend it if need be. I missed out on going to Desert Storm by six months but I would have gone if they had needed me. 

I have too many favorite TV shows to pick one if I had to pick I would say The Walking Dead, A Million Little Things, and Stranger Things.  

in People
Banner
Related Posts

Kids say…

August 26, 2019

August 26, 2019

Every week we ask students at local schools three questions related to farming. This week we spoke to students at...

Marching Spartans to perform at U of I

October 25, 2019

October 25, 2019

After last marching band season band director Chuck Hess began searching for a new a show. He wanted a show...

10 things you don’t know about me…the SJO girls basketball team

February 22, 2019

February 22, 2019

After this weekend, Maclayne Taylor will have 12 state medals and has been apart of five team state trophies.  ...

10 things you don’t know about me… John Mills

July 10, 2019

July 10, 2019

Every week we ask an area resident to give us 10 interesting facts about themselves. This week it is John...

‘I love feeling a part of the community’

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

Almost a year ago exactly, The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics announced the naming and grand opening of...

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

January 15, 2020

January 15, 2020

St. Joseph resident Kelly Skinner is opening her new business, Soul Care, today. The grand opening and ribbon cutting is...

Grindley keeps positive attitude during pandemic

May 26, 2020

May 26, 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic that we are all experiencing, it’s just not high school athletes that are being affected. Lucas...

Deadline approaching for Pageant

May 27, 2019

May 27, 2019

The deadline to compete in the Champaign County Fair Queen and Little Miss Pageant is this week. The Champaign County...

Blackburn keeps positive attitude despite challenging end to senior year

June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020

No prom. No spring musical. No graduation ceremony with thousands of people in attendance. Needless to say, the senior class...

10 things you don’t know about me… Carrie Mattsey

September 27, 2019

September 27, 2019

Every week we ask an area resident to tell us 10 interesting facts about themselves. This week we spoke to...

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...

Senior Spotlight… Max Chatterton

January 17, 2020

January 17, 2020

What are your post high school plans?After high school, I am planning on enrolling at Parkland College and will be...

‘Being the first of anything comes with challenges, but also a lot of opportunity’

July 13, 2021

July 13, 2021

St. Joseph Village Administrator Joseph Hackney likes challenges. “Being the first of anything comes with challenges, but also a lot...

U of I names December 2020 graduates

May 14, 2021

May 14, 2021

The University of Illinois has released their list of 2020 December graduates.These area students graduated in December. ST. JOSEPHLauren GhernaKohlten...

‘Once a spartan, always a spartan’ by Katelyn Berry

June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020

When I pictured giving a speech at my high school graduation, this isn’t exactly what came to mind. I imagined...

Comments
Leave a Reply