January 15, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

10 Things You Don’t Know About Me… Kaitlyn Hess

Every week we ask a community member to share 10 facts about themselves. This week we spoke to St. Joseph-Ogden Senior Kaitlyn Hess, the 2019 Miss IDTA Solo Grand Champion.

1. The name of my first pets were Belle and Sasha.

2. I started dancing when I was three and I started competing when I was five.

3. I can dance to any song, when I hear a song the dance moves just kind of come to me.

4. New York is my favorite place to go to but my favorite dance competitions places would be Collinsville, Peoria, Unity, and Springfield.

5. I always take my Christmas blanket with me to competitions.

6. I want to open up a dance studio with my sister.

7. It was unbelievable (to win a state title) I was in shock, I love dancing and seeing how it paid off and I got to achieve my dream was unreal.

8. Right now my state title trophy on my kitchen counter but I am going to move it to the desk in my room.

9. Grey’s Anatomy or This Is Us is my favorite show but my favorite dance show would be So You Think You Can Dance.


10. My favorite part of dance is being able to express my emotions and show everyone who I am. Dance is a part of me and I love being able to show that side of myself to people, I think it helps them understand me better.

in Life
Banner
Related Posts

Frisby to fly high at Illinois State

May 14, 2019

May 14, 2019

A welcome packet from Normal told St. Joseph-Ogden High School senior Justyn Frisby all he needed to know — he...

10 things you don’t know about me… Brad Krall

February 20, 2019

February 20, 2019

Every week we ask an area resident to share 10 interesting facts about themselves. This week it is Brad Krall,...

10 things you don’t know about me… Tracie Trotter

October 25, 2024

October 25, 2024

We asked the owner of Wyldewood Cellars to tell us 10 things about herself. Here are her responses. 1. What...

A field of art

October 17, 2019

October 17, 2019

Call it art in progress. The fans at St. Joseph-Ogden High School always take note of the painted field, endzones,...

Village hires administrator

June 24, 2021

June 24, 2021

The Village of St. Joseph has its administrator.During its June 22 meeting the village board voted to hire Joseph Hackney....

10 things you don’t know about me … Matt Walsh

September 30, 2022

September 30, 2022

Matt Walsh with Engaging Entertainment is will be DJing at the Wagner Signs and Graphics Anniversary Celebration. We asked Matt...

Kids say….

August 1, 2019

August 1, 2019

Students from PVO South tell us if they would like to be a farmer. This post is sponsored by Longview...

‘We lost a great young man’

October 22, 2024

October 22, 2024

When Corey Thompsen was in high school at St. Joseph-Ogden, he and his fellow cross-country runners would race across the...

How I get it done …. with Jennifer Huls Wayland

October 14, 2022

October 14, 2022

We asked local business owners to describe their leadership style and how they make decisions. This week we talked to...

Get to know senior SJO Marching Band member Jo Schmitz

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

My favorite thing about marching band is the community. I made my best friends through the program. My favorite memory...

10 things you don’t know about me… Jeff Damler

May 27, 2022

May 27, 2022

Jeff Damler, is the Senior Vice President, Loan Officer, Branch Manager at Longview Bank in St. Joseph. Here are 10...

The Importance of Sunscreen

July 8, 2021

July 8, 2021

By: Will Miller, PA-C, Christie Clinic Department of Dermatology Summer has come and everyone is out and enjoying the sun....

Booker inspires community to serve

March 10, 2022

March 10, 2022

Ross Booker was always helping people. The community he called home is stepping up in order to honor the fallen...

‘Julie has been the backbone of this village for a long time’

December 28, 2021

December 28, 2021

Julie Hendrickson loves St. Joseph. And a piece of the small town’s footprint will soon step away from a long-time...

10 things you don’t know about me…the SJO girls basketball team

February 22, 2019

February 22, 2019

After this weekend, Maclayne Taylor will have 12 state medals and has been apart of five team state trophies.  ...

Comments
Leave a Reply