May 4, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Mayor urges residents to think about neighbors and loved ones during pandemic

St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges is encouraging residents to wear their masks.

Fruhling-Voges told village board members that a resident called village hall asking what the village was going to do to enforce mask wearing.

Fruhling-Voges said the village really has no enforcement mechanism.

“Our hands are tied here,” she said. “We are not the mask police.”

Fruhling-Voges said she thought local businesses were doing a good job encouraging residents to wear masks.

“All you can do is encourage people to think about what is going on and do what they can to protect their families and their neighbors,” she said. “I see a lot of compliance and people are trying to comply.”

Fruhling-Voges said she knows people are getting COVID-19 fatigue.

“I am just wanting to remind every body to continue to be patient,” she said.

Fruhling-Voges also made a point to say the village supports its businesses and the community. She said she has been working with some business owners to help them find grant money to make ends meet during the pandemic.

“They are trying to keep their businesses afloat and they don’t have half the day to go through grant paperwork,” she said.

Fruhling-Voges urged residents to think about their neighbors and loved ones during this trying time and act appropriately.

“There is nothing we can do to enforce people wearing a mask,” she said. “That is the bottom line.”

Banner
Related Posts

Live Blog, St. Joseph Village Board May 11, 2021

May 11, 2021

May 11, 2021

We are here at village board. Van Buskirk is absent as is Davis. Rapp, Cummings, Painter and Wagner are here...

Love of libraries motivates new director

July 12, 2022

July 12, 2022

Allison Wakefield loves libraries. When she was little, she and her family went to libraries in every town and city...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board Jan. 26, 2021

January 26, 2021

January 26, 2021

We are zooming here tonight. In case you didn’t hear Jack Flash has pulled their request for a pour license...

5 questions with Republican Caucus candidate Max Painter

December 2, 2024

December 2, 2024

1. What made you want to run? I had initially planned to retire after this term, but I’ve reconsidered due...

White Christmas on tap for area

December 23, 2022

December 23, 2022

This Christmas could be special weather-wise. Steve Hilberg, the Retired, Director of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center, said this won’t...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Jan. 23, 2024

January 23, 2024

January 23, 2024

I was just a tad late and they are discussing solar. They are getting a presentation from Keystone who builds...

Brush pick-up suspended indefinitely in St. Joseph

June 17, 2019

June 17, 2019

St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges has suspended brush pick-up indefinitely. Fruhling-Voges said she understands why residents are upset with the...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Aug. 12, 2025

August 12, 2025

August 12, 2025

They honored Lowell Suits who is retiring as Zoning administrator. I interviewed Lowell and will have a story later this...

Village Gardeners to kick off season Monday

April 12, 2019

April 12, 2019

On Monday, the St. Joseph Village Gardners are kicking off their 2019 season. Member Samuel Furrer said the group’s first...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board Oct. 26

October 26, 2021

October 26, 2021

I am live at village board so you don’t have to be. Visit Champaign County is here. I feel like...

Ogden Village Board to discuss recycling tonight

June 6, 2019

June 6, 2019

The Ogden Village Board discussed recycling again in May and will do so again tonight at their June meeting. In...

Group asking for feedback on community building proposal

January 27, 2020

January 27, 2020

Almost exactly a year ago, St. Joseph resident Jim Page presented the St. Joseph Village Board with a plan to...

Live at Ogden Village Board March 4, 2021

March 4, 2021

March 4, 2021

Tonight we will find out the fate of the Ogden Easter Egg Hunt. Philo, St, Joseph and Tuscola have canceled...

Library releases statement about TIF

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

The St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library Board of Directors thought this was important information you should know about the village...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Feb. 14, 2023

February 14, 2023

February 14, 2023

Happy Valentines Day. I was two minutes late and we are already done with the investments. Wes Taylor is here....

Comments
Leave a Reply