February 27, 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

10 things you don’t know about me Staci Potter

August 12, 2021

August 12, 2021

We asked St. Joseph-Ogden’s new district bookkeeper to tell us 10 interesting facts about herself. Meet Staci Potter. 1. My...

For Poulter, entertaining people is a calling

July 17, 2024

July 17, 2024

Jonny Poulter just wants to entertain people. The 2022 St. Joseph-Ogden High School graduate was inspired to play music after...

Get to know SJO marching band member Kirsten Schaefer

October 21, 2022

October 21, 2022

My favorite part about marching band is the endless support that is shared throughout the band with one another and...

‘I have absolutely loved portraying her’

April 3, 2022

April 3, 2022

Sophia McDade loves everything about the Addams Family production. The senior, who is acting in her second show with the...

Kids say…

May 27, 2019

May 27, 2019

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

Proposal would expand Sports Complex

February 14, 2019

February 14, 2019

Jim Page has a vision for the Sports Complex. The St. Joseph resident feels Woodard Family Park is under utilized...

Kids Say… What does a farmer do?

January 17, 2020

January 17, 2020

We asked students what they think a farmer does all day. Here are their answers. Brady: I think a farmer...

Lending a hand: how to help out the Short family

March 25, 2019

March 25, 2019

Amy Short and her family don’t like to ask for help. So their friends are doing it for them. Amy...

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...

Going the Distance: Smetzer excels at Western

October 17, 2019

October 17, 2019

Ross Smetzer has goals. The 2016 St. Joseph-Ogden High School graduate runs cross country and track for Western Illinois University...

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....

Kids Say

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

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

‘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,...

Sewing it all together: Hartman taking part in Project Run and Play

March 31, 2022

March 31, 2022

Growing up, St. Joseph resident Emily Hartman used to watch her mother and grandmother sew.They would create one-of-a-kind, custom-made clothes...

10 things you don’t know about me… Sue Esposito

March 13, 2019

March 13, 2019

Every week we ask a community member to share 10 things about themselves. This week it is Ogden Trustee Sue...

Comments
Leave a Reply