January 28, 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

Senior Spotlight: Taylor Barnes

June 7, 2019

June 7, 2019

Every week we are going to do a Q and A with an SJO senior. This week we talked to...

Rides available to fish fry

August 8, 2019

August 8, 2019

The mayor and some local residents are hoping more seniors can attend the St. Joseph Community Festival held Thursday, Friday...

Hometown appeal: The Wheelhouse earns Business of the Year honors

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

When the Wheelhouse opened in 2017, it was unlike anything in St. Joseph. And still is. The farm-to-table restaurant owned...

10 Things You Don’t Know about me… Sharon Jeffers

March 20, 2019

March 20, 2019

I have two grown and married children, Logan/Tressica and Lauren/Kris, and two beautiful grandchildren Weston, and Emma I grew up...

10 things you don’t know about me… Gary Page

June 4, 2020

June 4, 2020

1. What is your favorite childhood memory? At the risk  of being boo’d out of town – I will never...

‘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...

10 things you don’t know about me… Tracie Trotter

October 25, 2024

October 25, 2024

We asked the owner of Wyldewood Cellars to tell us 10 things about herself. Here are her responses. 1. What...

Senior spotlight… Mallory Ames

July 31, 2019

July 31, 2019

Every week we ask a St. Joseph-Ogden senior five questions. This week we spoke to Mallory Ames. What do you...

Talk of the Town… Jim and Jen Wagner

August 6, 2019

August 6, 2019

Every week we ask a village resident or official three questions. This week we spoke to Jim and Jen Wagner...

Employees help co-worker during time of need

February 8, 2021

February 8, 2021

The staff at the St. Joseph Subway wanted to help April Patton. Manager Adam Porter said his co-worker said she...

Get to know Senior SJO Marching Band member Allegra Pearman

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

My favorite thing about marching band is the very end of the show when the dust settles and the cheering...

SJO makes graduation plans for June

May 1, 2020

May 1, 2020

St. Joseph-Ogden High School is making plans for graduation to honor the Class of 2020. In a letter sent to...

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… Cliff Hastings

October 14, 2022

October 14, 2022

We asked the owner of Prime Time Volleyball and the Parkland Head Volleyball Coach to tell us 10 interesting facts...

‘I am proud of all of us’ by Kristen Costa

June 16, 2020

June 16, 2020

To the St. Joseph-Ogden High School Class of 2020, when I began writing this speech, I didn’t even know where...

Comments
Leave a Reply