September 8, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Get to know senior SJO Marching Band member Jo Schmitz

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

My favorite memory from the marching band is when I started talking to my future best friend. She noticed that I was sitting alone at lunch, and, even though she didn’t know me, she dragged me over to socialize with the other freshmen.

My favorite piece to perform was Decomposers because the music was the most exciting.

My favorite costume was also from Decomposers. As a guard member, I was dressed as a skeleton.

Probably the biggest misconception people have about marching band is that you need to be able to play an instrument when you join. I had mediocre music knowledge when I joined, but learned to play various percussion instruments and the euphonium during marching band.

in Life
Banner
Related Posts

Kids Say….

April 5, 2019

April 5, 2019

Every week we ask five students from a local school to answer a question on a worksheet. This week the...

Always Looking to Give Back: Short honored for volunteerism

June 7, 2022

June 7, 2022

Tim Short wants to inspire the younger generations. Short, who was honored with the SJO Friend of Education Award this...

‘There is no one more deserving of this honor’

June 26, 2020

June 26, 2020

Glenn Fisher loves St. Joseph-Ogden High School. For decades, Fisher’s main concern was that the facilities and sports fields at...

Ask the doctor: Do adults need vaccines?

November 4, 2020

November 4, 2020

“Do adults need vaccines?” By: Jeanelle Murphy, DO Yes, adults definitely should have vaccines and keep up their childhood vaccines...

‘Helping them reach their potential is humbling and rewarding at the same time’

January 26, 2023

January 26, 2023

A performance today will culminate one of the most powerful artistic and personal experiences Justin Lee has had in his...

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...

Family hoping for second miracle

February 7, 2019

February 7, 2019

The Rosnett family is hoping for a second miracle. Earlier this year, Angelique and Cole Rosnett were faced with an...

How I Get it Done… Matt Crider

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

This week we spoke to Matt Crider of Trinity Web Design and Consulting, LLC to ask him how he gets...

‘I’m so excited for this journey’ Schlueter to open restaurant in former Scratch location

October 10, 2022

October 10, 2022

40 Eighty-Eight is coming to St. Joseph. Owner Christian Schlueter said he chose the name for his new restaurant because...

SJO could return to full in-person instruction

March 3, 2021

March 3, 2021

St. Joseph-Ogden High School is starting to plan for the future. Superintendent Brian Brooks said the school is looking into...

10 things you don’t know about me… Yasmin Rietmann

March 27, 2019

March 27, 2019

Yasmin Rietmann helps customers at St. Joseph Automotive in addition to raising her three kids and much more. This post...

SJO makes graduation plans for June

May 1, 2020

May 1, 2020

St. Joseph-Ogden High School is making plans for graduation to honor the Class of 2020. In a letter sent to...

‘ B.J. was one who absolutely stood out’

September 10, 2021

September 10, 2021

We asked Matt Davidson, the former Legislative Director for the Illinois Municipal League for his thoughts on B.J. Hackler. Here...

‘They want to show their support of the law enforcement and their family’

June 2, 2021

June 2, 2021

Jim and Jen Wagner support their community, so when a friend came in to their store, Wagner signs and Graphics,...

Cunningham wants to help Homer grow

April 6, 2021

April 6, 2021

Ray Cunningham feels he has unfinished business.  Cunningham is running for reelection as Homer’s mayor on April 6.  “I am...

Comments
Leave a Reply