November 19, 2025 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

Harper brings Wednesday Addams to life

April 2, 2022

April 2, 2022

The characters in the Addams Family are well known. But that didn’t stop the actors at St. Joseph-Ogden from putting...

Sweet Home Alabama

May 27, 2019

May 27, 2019

Eve Owens knew she wanted to go South. So when she was trying to decide where to go to college...

Get to know Senior SJO Marching Band member Allegra Pearman

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

My favorite thing about marching band is the very end of the show when the dust settles and the cheering...

Work continuing on Rail Trail

June 27, 2022

June 27, 2022

Ogden, IL – The Champaign County Forest Preserve District is poised to construct 1.5 miles of the Kickapoo Rail Trail...

10 things you don’t know about me… Cliff Hastings

October 14, 2022

October 14, 2022

We asked the owner of Prime Time Volleyball and the Parkland Head Volleyball Coach to tell us 10 interesting facts...

10 things you don’t know about me… The Gary Olson Family

September 23, 2022

September 23, 2022

The GARY OLSON FAMILY is being inducted into the SJO Hall of Fame tonight. Gary and Nancy Olson and their...

10 things you don’t know about me… Shawn Skinner

October 1, 2021

October 1, 2021

1. What is your favorite food? Italian food  2. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas 3. What is your favorite...

10 Things you don’t know about me… Terri Rein

November 6, 2019

November 6, 2019

Every week we ask an area resident to give us 10 interesting facts about themselves. This week we spoke to...

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...

Sign ‘em up: Wagners to change locations in downtown St. Joseph

October 4, 2019

October 4, 2019

Jim and Jen Wagner want to invest in St. Joseph because the community has invested in them. “Community support is...

Bracelets honoring Booker bring attention to Scott’s Law

April 5, 2022

April 5, 2022

Vickie Reese is hoping a bracelet will help people remember to move over when they see flashing lights. Reese, the...

SJO student creates program to help the food insecure

December 23, 2021

December 23, 2021

Kirsten Schaefer wants to help feed her neighbors. Schaefer, a junior at St. Joseph-Ogden High School, created the Feeding Your...

Krall joins Longview Bank

April 22, 2021

April 22, 2021

Brad Krall is coming home. Krall is now the Loan Officer and Mortgage Lender at Longview Bank in St. Joseph....

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...

Friends hope to help Heritage alumni battle illness

February 15, 2019

February 15, 2019

Heritage alumni Anya Knecht makes food for her friends, family and coworkers. She sends cards and handmade gifts to others....

Comments
Leave a Reply