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

Hackler to be honored with street sign

Former Mayor B.J. Hackler used to spend a lot of time on Lincoln and Main Streets in St. Joseph.

If he wasn’t at the village hall on Lincoln, he could usually be found in his beauty shop on Main Street.

Now the intersections of those roads will bear his name.

The St. Joseph Village Board is expected to vote tonight to place an honorary street sign on the corner of Lincoln and Main honoring the former Mayor who died in September.

Hackler was mayor for 36 years, volunteered with the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the American Legion and was a member of the St. Joseph United Methodist Church.

In September, current St. Joseph Mayor Tami Fruhling-Voges said the loss of Hackler was difficult for the tight-knit community to comprehend.


“B.J. has been such a big part of this community for so long,” Fruhling-Voges said, “it’s going to be really hard to even think about St. Joseph without expecting to see him somewhere about town.”


But now residents can look at the corner of Lincoln and Main and remember the mayor who dedicated so many years to the community he loved.


“B.J. made people smile, and he made it his life’s mission to always take care of people. I believe those probably are the two greatest factors that made him everyone’s favorite mayor and a cherished friend,” Fruhling-Voges said

Banner
Related Posts

Senior spotlight Eric Poe

February 7, 2020

February 7, 2020

Every week we ask a St. Joseph-Ogden senior five questions. This week we talked to Eric Poe. Thank you to...

Kelso add commercial space for rent

July 10, 2025

July 10, 2025

Josh Kelso wants to help expand commercial space in St. Joseph. The owner of Kelso Heating and Cooling knows how...

‘We are here to stay’

September 19, 2019

September 19, 2019

AJ’s Station is here to stay. Owner Anthony Laubscher said he wanted to let the St. Joseph community know, that...

‘Being the first of anything comes with challenges, but also a lot of opportunity’

July 13, 2021

July 13, 2021

St. Joseph Village Administrator Joseph Hackney likes challenges. “Being the first of anything comes with challenges, but also a lot...

St. Joseph Community Garage Sales Spring 2025

May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

5 505 N 4th St.Friday 9am-5pm Saturday 8am-2pmClothing, toddler to adult (all sizes) household items, toys, craft items, lots of...

5 Questions with Republican caucus candidate Matt Wolfersberger

December 2, 2024

December 2, 2024

1. What made you want to run? My original plan was to step aside at the end of my term,...

Library to hold book sale

April 7, 2025

April 7, 2025

The St. Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library, 201 N. Third Street, St. Joseph, IL 61873 announces its Spring Used Book Sale....

Village details plan for storm cleanup

July 4, 2023

July 4, 2023

The Village of St. Joseph has a plan for storm cleanup. Residents need to have their storm-damaged limbs and brush...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Sept. 23 2025

September 23, 2025

September 23, 2025

I am here so you don’t have to be. It’s annual audit time. You can watch the Youtube if you...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Aug. 22, 2023

August 22, 2023

August 22, 2023

Ken Cooley resigned from planning and zoning and the mayor is appointing Steve Peters for that term. That term runs...

Live at Ogden Village Board, Sept. 5, 2024

September 5, 2024

September 5, 2024

I am here so you don’t have to be. It’s a jammed packed house. Maybe for the zoning? They are...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, April 9, 2024

April 9, 2024

April 9, 2024

It’s a full house tonight with the girl scouts presenting, the Baptist Church being honored for donating their building and...

SJO soccer to have new home in 2023, while issues arise about current field maintenance

July 14, 2022

July 14, 2022

The St. Joseph-Ogden High School soccer team is set to have a new home field for the 2023 season. SJO...

Ogden to keep water system

March 6, 2026

March 6, 2026

Ogden will not be selling their water system. Thursday night, the a motion was not made to vote on approving...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, June 28, 2022

June 28, 2022

June 28, 2022

I am here early and we are discussing the lines to vote today. Today at 5 p.m. there was a...

Comments
Leave a Reply