January 20, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

5 questions with Michelle Wagner

1. What is your favorite childhood holiday memory?
My favorite childhood memory is Christmas Eve. Our family would go out to dinner for Christmas Eve and then come home and open our presents from each other. We could play with our toys or do a family game night and then get everything ready for Santa. We would set out cookies and milk and then head to bed. I remember it all being nice and calm—just the 4 of us enjoying time together.

2. What is your favorite part of the holidays now?
My favorite part of the holidays now is having our daughter home from college! We will spend some time buying last minute gifts, baking cookies and having Tetris battles.

3. What is your favorite Christmas song?
This is a hard one for me because I LOVE music. Traditional songs are so beautiful–I love O Holy Night and O Little Town of Bethlehem. And more current– all of Kelly Clarkson’s Christmas songs 🙂

4. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
Hands down my favorite Christmas Movie is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It is our family favorite–we quote it all the time.

5. What is your favorite holiday snack? My favorite holiday snack is the home made caramel corn that my grandma made every year. We have her recipe and are keeping the tradition going!

Banner
Related Posts

‘PVO is an outstanding district’

May 13, 2025

May 13, 2025

Todd Wilson is thankful. Thankful for his time at Rantoul Township High School. And thankful for the opportunity to serve...

How does a TIF work?

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

How does TIF work?A geographic area is designated as a TIF district. 


 Property owners in the district pay the same...

Homer Freedom and Music Festival to take place Thursday and Friday

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Homer knows how to celebrate the Fourth of July. July 3 and 4th the town will play host to seven...

Get to know our Little Prince and Princess Candidates : Will Peters

August 10, 2024

August 10, 2024

What is your favorite part of summer?Staying at my grandparents house and having more time with mom and dad. What...

Mold issue being addressed at SJO

August 25, 2025

August 25, 2025

A mold issue in St. Joseph-Ogden High School is being addressed. Superintendent Brian Brooks said the mold was discovered last...

Business owners thankful for community support after break-ins

January 25, 2022

January 25, 2022

Around 6 a.m. this morning the owner of Country Chics, Stacy Cast, got a notification. The notification told her that...

Suits a dedicated public servant

September 5, 2025

September 5, 2025

Lowell Suits dedicated 38 years of his life to public service.  Now, he will enjoy his retirement. Suits has retired...

10 things you don’t know about me… DEE EVANS

September 23, 2022

September 23, 2022

DEE EVANS will be inducted into the SJO Hall of Fame tonight. Dee Evans is a 1960 graduate of St....

Get to know our Little Prince and Princess Candidates : Aleena Swanson

August 10, 2024

August 10, 2024

What is your favorite part of summer?Going swimming in a pool What do you want to be when you grow...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Oct. 12, 2021

October 12, 2021

October 12, 2021

Thanks to MX electric for sponsoring our live blogs. Talking Splash PAD. I was late because I was shooting Oakwood...

Get to know Terri Cummings

March 12, 2025

March 12, 2025

Terri Cummings is running for St. Joseph Village Board, for a four year term, as a republican. What is the...

“Performing in front of people can be very fun”

August 6, 2024

August 6, 2024

The Weldon Homecoming is going to be rocking n rolling. Owen Knap will be performing from 2 to 4 p.m....

A letter to the residents of St. Joseph from Jim Page

April 9, 2025

April 9, 2025

There has been a lot of discussion over kitchen tables and online about the Tax Increment Financing District (TIF). A...

McKinney, Umbarger lift SJO football to win at Rantoul

October 3, 2025

October 3, 2025

Getting to the playoffs is the expectation for the St. Joseph-Ogden football team.Nearly four decades of sustained success and consistent...

Comments
Leave a Reply