December 17, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

5 questions with Brian Brooks

1. What is your favorite childhood holiday memory?
My favorite childhood holiday memories started each year at Thanksgiving. My mom had six other brothers and sisters, so she had a big family. We usually hosted Thanksgiving dinner and our whole family would come over. It instilled in me at an early age the importance of family, and kind of kicked off the holiday season for our family. 

And as a basketball junkie, I loved playing in Thanksgiving tournaments in high school. We played in a Thanksgiving basketball tournament at Lincoln and a Christmas tournament at Pekin while in high school. It created a love of holiday basketball tournaments for me of which I still enjoy going to today.

2. What is your favorite part of the holidays now?

Spending time with my wife and kids. Especially now having two of our kids be adults and living elsewhere. Great for Jen and I to have all 3 kids back home at same time. My favorite time of the year. (minus the weather!!)

3. What is your favorite Christmas song?

I don’t know that I have one. I enjoy listening to Christmas music in general during the holiday season. Especially the older/more traditional songs. I feel it helps remind us what truly matters in our very busy lives.

4. What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Christmas Vacation. We watch it as a family every year as a tradition.

5. What is your favorite holiday snack?

I don’t really have a favorite holiday snack. I probably need to stay away from all of them at this point!

Banner
Related Posts

St. Joseph Village Board- Live

September 10, 2019

September 10, 2019

Tonight is the night where they vote on the dispensary. They are talking money. CDs and the like. And interest...

Parents hold tailgate at St. Joseph IGA

November 15, 2025

November 15, 2025

Parents of the St. Joseph-Ogden Football team wanted to rally the community. So, Shawna Waller, Billie Hayes, Adrienne Umbarger and...

C and C Pretties

August 10, 2024

August 10, 2024

Tell me about your business. I sell is Hairbows,Dish scrubbies,  badge reels  scrunches, and beaded pens and soon will offer...

Get to know our little princess candidates: Chloe Teare 

August 9, 2024

August 9, 2024

What is your favorite part of summer? Going to the pool and the fair! What do you want to be...

Get to know our Little Prince and Princess Candidates :Conor Schott

August 10, 2024

August 10, 2024

What is your favorite part of summer?Doing fun things and going to the trampoline park with Mimi. What do you...

Philo Exchange Bank President named 2024 Banker of the Year

July 5, 2024

July 5, 2024

AMELIA ISLAND, FL – During their Salute to Leadership Program at their annual conference, Illinois Bankers Association (IBA) awarded Kevin...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Feb. 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

I am making my triumphant return after missing two meetings due to illnesses. The flu is no joke this year...

St. Joseph grade encourages parents to keep kids home if sick

January 8, 2025

January 8, 2025

St. Joseph Grade School is reminding parents to keep their children at home if they are sick. “Unfortunately this time...

Live at St. Joseph-Ogden School Board, April 28, 2025

April 28, 2025

April 28, 2025

Mitch, Jim and Alicia just took the oath of office. Jim Rein was nominated for president again. (He won.)Vice president...

Barnes, Cramer help SJO girls’ basketball start off season perfect

November 22, 2019

November 22, 2019

So far, so good. The St. Joseph-Ogden High School girls’ basketball team has opened the season with three straight wins...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, August 27, 2024

August 27, 2024

August 27, 2024

I am making my triumphant return to the live blog. On tap tonight, approving the women’s club Christmas Parade, maybe...

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, March 11, 2025

March 11, 2025

March 11, 2025

We are live so you don’t have to be. Thanks to MX Electric for sponsoring our live blogs. No public...

St. Joseph CCSD #169 posts opening for school board

August 14, 2025

August 14, 2025

Earlier this week St. Joseph CCSD #169 announced a vacancy on the Board of Education. Lois Hewerdine resigned from the...

SJO advances to Regional title game

June 5, 2021

June 5, 2021

After a most unusual year that saw no postseason contests in any spring sports, 2021 is much different in that...

Comments
Leave a Reply