November 26, 2025 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

Philo Exchange Bank to build permanent location in St. Joseph

June 27, 2022

June 27, 2022

Philo Exchange Bank is pleased to announce 802 E. Warren Street as the building site of their permanent St. Joseph,...

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...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, May 23,2023

May 23, 2023

May 23, 2023

It’s a big night. They are going to approve the sewer plant expansion and upgrade. (unless someone totally throws me...

Village reminds residents to pick up after their animals

October 6, 2020

October 6, 2020

Poop is a problem in St. Joseph—dog poop that is. Village of St. Joseph Office Manager Julie Hendrickson said that...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, March 8

March 8, 2022

March 8, 2022

I am here so you don’t have to be. VIllage Clerk Tiffany McElroy Smetzer is wearing a shamrock sweater which...

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...

St. Joseph addresses brush pickup

May 30, 2019

May 30, 2019

The Village of St. Joseph is suspending brush pick up for a second month in a row. The wet Spring...

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...

Public works working to clear snow

February 3, 2022

February 3, 2022

In a normal snow event it can take seven to eight hours to plow the Village of St. Joseph. This...

Village expected to accept bid for Boy Scout Building

September 13, 2022

September 13, 2022

The village is expected to accept a bid for the former Boy Scout Building tonight. Roche and Heather Cain submitted...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, July 11, 2023

July 11, 2023

July 11, 2023

Jim Wagner is not here. Jeff Van Buskirk’s seat isn’t filled yet. They approved the minutes, bills, treasuer’s report. An...

Dan Davis and Jim Wagner resign from St. Joseph Village Board

September 12, 2023

September 12, 2023

Two St. Joseph Village Board members have resigned. Jim Wagner and Dan Davis submitted letters of resignation, effective immediately, on...

Vickers looks to the future of Ogden

April 5, 2021

April 5, 2021

Sonja Vickers considers Ogden her forever home.  “I just want to see good done for the village for now and...

Talk of the Town….. with Gabe Clements

September 5, 2019

September 5, 2019

Every week we ask a village trustee, mayor, school board member or administrator three questions. This week we talked to...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board

May 26, 2020

May 26, 2020

They are discussing a variance for a property. I am in two zoom meetings currently. SJO School Board and St....

Comments
Leave a Reply