January 7, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

10 things you don’t know about me with Whitney Setterdahl

My favorite childhood memory is when my youngest brother Jack was born. My brother Ben and I were eating an ice cream sundae at Perkins when our parents called and said Jack was going to be born soon. We ditched our sundaes and ran through the parking lot to the hospital!

I think it’s important to get involved in community service because it teaches you to be empathetic. I always try to keep in mind that others in my community have had different struggles and experiences than I have, and getting involved with their service efforts teaches you to understand the people around you a bit better, and the world a bit better too. My experience with cancer was heartbreaking in so many ways and not always easy to share, but I think spreading the word about your experiences is really important and gives you a sense of control over something you feel like you have no control over sometimes.

The last book I read was “When Genius Failed” by Roger Lowenstein.

The Office is a show I can watch over and over! I’ve probably seen every episode at least 5 times.

I think what I’ll remember most about 2020 is the cheering I would hear from my apartment in Chicago every night during the first few months of the pandemic. I lived near a hospital and when the nurses would get off their shifts and walk home, everyone cheered to show their appreciation!

I’m most looking forward to hopefully getting to take a trip somewhere again in 2021. Between starting my job after graduation and the pandemic, I’m really missing relaxing at the beach.

It’s so hard to pick my favorite part of the holidays because I love the entire season so much. If I had to pick one thing, I’d say the time with my family. My brother goes to college out of state and since I’ve moved out from home, my siblings and i see each other less frequently so I really love catching up and being under one roof again.

My favorite place I’ve traveled to is Verbier, Switzerland. I got to back in March of 2019 for my job, it was so beautiful and I hope to go back one day!

I always carry chapstick, hand sanitizer, and a hair tie.

My first pet was a cat I named Grazy.

in People
Banner
Related Posts

10 things you don’t know about me… Todd Jacob

October 2, 2019

October 2, 2019

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

10 things you don’t know about me… Leslie Landreth

September 17, 2019

September 17, 2019

Leslie Landreth owner of Little Bloomers Child Care tells us 10 things we don’t know about her! This post is...

How I get it done… Diana Foltz

October 7, 2022

October 7, 2022

We are asking local business leaders how they accomplish goals and run their businesses. We spoke to Diana Foltz, the...

‘We lost a very good man in Jim Cotter’

September 2, 2021

September 2, 2021

Jim Cotter loved to brag about his kids. This past Saturday was no exception. Cotter took time out from covering...

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....

‘I have absolutely loved portraying her’

April 3, 2022

April 3, 2022

Sophia McDade loves everything about the Addams Family production. The senior, who is acting in her second show with the...

5 things you don’t know about me…. Carter Clark

August 8, 2019

August 8, 2019

Carter is in the running for the title of Little Prince! He is six years old. We asked him to...

Dukeman shines in classroom and in athletics

March 7, 2019

March 7, 2019

School comes easy for St. Joseph-Ogden High School junior Hannah Dukeman. Dukeman, who plays softball for SJO in addition to...

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...

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...

‘Girl Scouts is not all arts and crafts’

January 19, 2023

January 19, 2023

” Hannah Fox wanted to help feed her community. And for her Girl Scout Gold Award she attempted to do...

‘He was one of a kind that can never be replaced’

July 19, 2023

July 19, 2023

Gerald McClendon always wanted to help people. His Facebook page even said, “I enjoy helping as many people as I...

Going the Distance: Smetzer excels at Western

October 17, 2019

October 17, 2019

Ross Smetzer has goals. The 2016 St. Joseph-Ogden High School graduate runs cross country and track for Western Illinois University...

10 things you don’t know about me … Matt Walsh

September 30, 2022

September 30, 2022

Matt Walsh with Engaging Entertainment is will be DJing at the Wagner Signs and Graphics Anniversary Celebration. We asked Matt...

10 things you don’t know about me….. Gerald McClendon

September 6, 2019

September 6, 2019

St. Joseph resident and owner of Little Bear Hauling Gerald McClendon tells us 10 things about himself! My favorite childhood...

Comments
Leave a Reply