January 16, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

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

My favorite childhood memory is going to Kings Island with my family every summer on vacation

My first pet was a cat and was named Morris because he looked just like the cat on TV with the same name 

My favorite sports-related memory was covering the 2005 postseason run for Illinois,  including being courtside in Chicago for the comeback against Arizona 


I could watch Seinfeld over and over.


The best advice I have been given was from my father.   He worked hard to get to where he was and told me not to shortcut anything in life.


I’ve written a lot of stories that have been great to do, but writing the state champion story for St. Joseph volleyball at middle school probably was my favorite one, given the importance of the feat.


“Think And Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill was a book that has stayed with me after reading it. The principles of the book apply to most everything in life.


I always have my phone with me.

I collect college media guides.  I’ve covered enough events over the years to amass quite a collection of them.


The best thing about covering sports is telling the stories of the athletes.  You never realize what lies beneath the uniform, and we have some very talented young men and women here that need their stories told.  

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