March 19, 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

Get to know Judy Bowlby

March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026

Bowlby, a former Cerro Gordo resident, is running in the 15th Congressional District Primary What inspired you to enter the...

Road Tripping

July 19, 2024

July 19, 2024

Every week we will feature a location within an hour and a half of St. Joseph that you can take...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, April 8, 2025

April 8, 2025

April 8, 2025

Tonight the board is discussing the fiscal year 2025-26 budget. They are also considering an update to the code of...

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...

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...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, April 22 2025

April 22, 2025

April 22, 2025

Consent agenda approved as presented.Approving the recommendation to go to bid for streets and sidewalk repairs. These are sidewalks and...

5 questions with Republican Caucus candidate Andrea Schultheis Childers

December 2, 2024

December 2, 2024

1. What made you want to run? We’ve lived in St. Joe for the past almost 19 years and it’s...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Sept. 9, 2025

September 9, 2025

September 9, 2025

I am here. So much interesting stuff is on the agenda for tonight. Jack Flash is here asking for the...

Treasurer looks to return property to citizens

February 5, 2026

February 5, 2026

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ staff will be at the Saint Joseph Township-Swearingen Memorial Library on Tuesday, April 7, 2026...

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 Village Board, Nov. 23

November 23, 2021

November 23, 2021

We are live at village board. Where we will discuss the Splash Pad and failed lift stations that cause sewer...

Q and A with SJO Hall of Fame inductee Bianca Truitt Green

October 3, 2025

October 3, 2025

1. How does it feel to be inducted into the hall of fame? I am ecstatic to be recognized in...

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...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

We are discussing the community festival and fee structures tonight. There are no public comments. Asking for some details on...

Live at St. Joseph Village Board, Jan. 27, 2026

January 27, 2026

January 27, 2026

I am here, freezing, so you don’t have to be. No one but me is here. So hopefully this will...

Comments
Leave a Reply