May 18, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Cooper looks to make a difference in Ogden

Kelly Cooper wants to make a difference in Ogden. 

That is why she ran for village board in 2017 and why she is running for re-election on April 6. 

“I wanted to make a difference in our town,” she said. “I wanted to bring some life and excitement back.” 

Cooper was did bring excitement back into town as she spearheaded the Ogden festival, an event that included a car show, flea market, helicopter rides and softball tournaments. 

“The Ogden Street Fest would be one of things that I am most proud of. It was one of the promises that I made when I was running for election in 2017,” she said.  “We were able to have it successfully in 2018 and even more so in 2019. Then everything changed in 2020 due to COVID causing it to be cancelled. I honestly feel that we would have had and even bigger turn out in 2020 if it could have continued.”

Planning the festival was just one way Cooper was able to give back to the town she loves as a trustee. Her goal when she ran in 2017 was to look out for her fellow resident’s best interests and help them in anyway possible. 

That continues to be her goal. 

“The most rewarding part of being a trustee is knowing that you have the ability to help the towns people by looking out for their best interests,” she said. 

Cooper, who is married and works full time for the University of Illinois, has two large breeds dogs. Bandit is a three year old Bloodhound and Smokey is a two and a half year old English Mastiff. Her son, Devin, lives in Gifford and is an electrician. She enjoys gardening, baking, making her own soap and crafting. 

She also deeply loves her town. 

“I am a very friendly outgoing person who loves living in a small village such as Ogden” Cooper said.  “I am also a patriotic person who respects and believes in the freedom and values of our country. I hold true to the promises that I make and will always be truthful.”

Banner
Related Posts

5 Questions with Republican Caucus candidate Terri Cummings

December 2, 2024

December 2, 2024

What made you want to run?  When my husband and I moved to St Joseph 14 years ago I felt...

Live at Ogden Village Board, May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

May 2, 2024

Dollar General is here to talk about what their new store layout will look like on the Pink Pig land....

Village to use larger tree for community Christmas tree

November 26, 2024

November 26, 2024

St. Joseph Girl Scout Troop 2191 is disappointed. The Troop was recently made aware that the community tree they fundraised...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board March 22

March 22, 2022

March 22, 2022

I am here so you don’t have to be and it’s bond discussion night. #letuspray Going over minutes from the...

Ogden mayor resigns effective Nov. 1

October 26, 2023

October 26, 2023

Gabe Clements has resigned as the mayor of Ogden effective Nov. 1. ,In his resignation letter to the Village Board,...

Talk of the Town.. Ogden Mayor Gabe Clements

June 17, 2019

June 17, 2019

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

Board to hold hearing on allowing marijuana to be sold within the village

July 24, 2019

July 24, 2019

The St. Joseph Village Board wants to know what its citizens think regarding marijuana dispensaries within the village limits. The...

Cummings hopes to continue work as trustee

December 7, 2020

December 7, 2020

Village Trustee Terri Cummings has big goals for the village. Short term, Cummings hopes to contribute to the betterment of...

Process for filling vacant trustee position up to the mayor

September 11, 2023

September 11, 2023

How a vacant trustee position is filled is up to the mayor’s discretion, said Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges. Fruhling-Voges had seven...

Live at Ogden, Aug. 5, 2021

August 5, 2021

August 5, 2021

Discussing Rail to Trail intergovernmental agreement. Village would have to remove snow. Sue Esposito saying she wants them to plow...

Acklin named acting mayor of Ogden

November 3, 2023

November 3, 2023

Jim Acklin is the acting mayor of Ogden. Acklin was selected at the Nov. 2 meeting by the Ogden Village...

Philo Exchange Bank looks to expand in St. Joseph

February 23, 2022

February 23, 2022

Philo Exchange Bank wants to be an active part of St. Joseph. The bank has entered into a purchase agreement...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Feb. 13, 2024

February 13, 2024

February 13, 2024

I am two minutes late and we are knee-deep in sewer rates. I am just going to leave this story...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Dec. 13, 2022

December 13, 2022

December 13, 2022

I am late because Sawyer had a Christmas Concert. #rudolphtherednosedreindeer #sparkles Discussing donating to the proposed project from last meeting...

Improvements coming to rail trail

September 10, 2021

September 10, 2021

Improvements to the Kickapoo Rail Trail will be starting in September. With the assistance of the Illinois Department of Transportation...

Comments
Leave a Reply