To submit a cancellation, closure or announcement, click here

Local Churches: Please be sure to specify which services you are canceling (morning, evening, or all)

Cancellations are reviewed and re-worded for on-air use.

Local sports changes and cancellations are located here.

The area's Community Calendar is located here.

Road Closures

Misc. Closures

Lake Sara Beach is closed until further notice.

School Closings

Due to COVID-19 Coronavirus, all public schools in Illinois will be closed until further notice. Private schools are closed as well. More information is located here

Businesses Closed

Due to COVID-19 Coronavirus, Governor Pritzker has ordered residents to shelter in place. Details are located here. Below is a list of businesses that will be through April. CLICK HERE to add a business to the list

The Beehive Beauty Boutique-Dieterich

Factory Connection

Elite Hair Studio

Tolliver & Co. Barbers

Tucker’s Tint

Gotcha by the Hair

Parlour On 3rd

Branches Massage and Spa

Effingham's Goodwill

EPLegends Martial Arts

Effingham Massage Clinic

America's Groove Record Store

Angie's Accounting

Treehouse and Treehouse Too will remain closed through May 30

Ooh La La Brides and Prom Queens

Cancellations

Canceled or Postponed Until Further Notice or End of Month

Gov. Pritzker has ordered all restaurants and bars in Illinois closed to the public through May. Details are here. The City of Effingham has an up-to-date list of restaurants open for take-out and/or delivery, located here.

Healthcare

Graham Family Foot & Ankle Care is closed

Runde Medical Clinic has reduced hours from 9 am to 4 pm Monday through Friday until further notice. Staff will be available during these hours for patient calls

Family Care Associates: have expanded their hours to 8 am - 5 pm. Monday-Friday

Heartland Human Services is currently closed for in-person sessions. If you have a scheduled appointment, your therapist will be contacting you by phone. If you need to schedule an appointment, please call: 217-347-7179. If you are in a mental health crisis situation and need assistance, please call the crisis line at: 217-342-5504

Marion Eye Centers, all locations, will be closed

HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is no longer allowing visitors to the hospital and the hospital’s lobby will be closed.  Loved ones can be checked on by calling the hospital at 217-342-2121.  Family and support persons should make sure to provide the nursing staff with their contact information.

The following exceptions to the “no visitor” policy are as follows:

• Obstetrical patients are allowed ONE (1) support person who needs to be the same throughout the stay.
• Pediatric inpatients under the age of 18 are allowed ONE (1), parent or guardian.
• Patients seeking emergency services or those having surgery are allowed one support person who may not be under the age of 18 unless they are the parent.

Those reporting for outpatient services should ask their support person to wait in the car until they are alerted that the testing is complete. For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, visit stanthonyshospital.org.

HSHS St. Anthony’s is suspending its valet services offered to patients at the emergency entrance, Prairie Heart Institute at St. Anthony’s entrance, as well as at the HSHS St. Anthony’s Health Center at 900 West Temple Avenue. HSHS St. Anthony’s will announce when valet services will resume for its patients’ use

HSHS St. Anthony's Convenient Care Clinic Closed

Out of an abundance of caution with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases expanding throughout Illinois including the southern Illinois region, HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital will be temporarily closing their Convenient Care Clinic, located within St. Anthony’s Health Center, 900 West Temple Avenue, Building B, Effingham, Ill. As patient safety is the No. 1 priority, this closure is being done to consolidate designated services and align resources to ensure St. Anthony’s can meet current and future patient needs.Out of an abundance of caution with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases expanding throughout Illinois including the southern Illinois region, HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital will be temporarily closing their Convenient Care Clinic, located within St. Anthony’s Health Center, 900 West Temple Avenue, Building B, Effingham, Ill. As patient safety is the No. 1 priority, this closure is being done to consolidate designated services and align resources to ensure St. Anthony’s can meet current and future patient needs.

The Convenient Care walk-in clinic will be closed until further notice.  All other outpatient services in this building will remain open at this time (including the diagnostic lab and imaging services offered in the Convenient Care suite). However, diagnostic services in the Health Center will now only be offered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the Health Center will be closed on weekends and holidays.  

For those who are sick and are concerned that their symptoms might be related to COVID-19 (fever of at least 100.0, cough and shortness of breath), monitor your symptoms to determine if they are worsening. If they worsen, please call your primary care physician so they can advise you on next steps to take. If your primary care provider feels you should be seen in the emergency department, the provider would alert St. Anthony’s emergency department to inform them of your arrival. However, if you have worsening cough, chest pain, severe shortness of breath, please go to the emergency department.

You can also call the COVID-19 Illinois Department of Public Health’s hotline at 1-800-889-3931.  Additionally, HSHS Medical Group is offering COVID-19 Virtual Assessments through Anytime Care (anytimcare.com) and are waiving the fee for visits related to screening and evaluation of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Any associated lab tests will be billed to the patient’s insurance. All calls not related to COVID-19 will be charged the regular $29 fee. If you are concerned about your symptoms, visit AnytimeCare.com, download the app or call 1-844-391-4747 to start your medical visit.

Prairie Heart Institute Entrance Closed

Out of an abundance of caution, HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital is temporarily closing its Prairie Heart Institute entrance off of Maple Street until further notice.  All patients needing to come to the hospital for any services should enter the hospital through the Emergency department (ED) entrance off of Mulberry Street.

Additional staff will be located at the ED entrance to facilitate proper flow of patients arriving for various services (i.e. radiology or blood tests, Wound Healing Center or Prairie Heart clinic visits, IV therapy, etc.). All patients and visitors have their temperature taken and are masked upon entry. Emergency patients with respiratory symptoms are taken into the ED and appropriately isolated.

For those needing handicapped-accessible parking, there are spaces adjacent to the ED entrance, as well as along the ambulance garage south of the ED.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ryan Jennings shared, “By limiting our entrances, we are taking an additional step to further ensure the safety of our patients, staff and community by limiting travel through the hospital. This also allows us to consolidate resources to provide care in the most efficient and safest way possible.”

HSHS St. Anthony’s thanks everyone for their understanding and assistance in keeping their patients, colleagues and community safe. For more information about HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, visit stanthonyshospital.org/COVID-19-Updates.

Effingham Ambulatory Surgery Center: In response to government guidance from IDPH, the Effingham Ambulatory Surgery Center will no longer be doing elective surgery. If the surgeon deems that your procedure is urgent and necessary, the procedure will be done. They will maintain their current guidelines of taking your temperature upon arrival and encourage the patients to only bring one person with them and no one under 18.

The Effingham office of Drs. Flynn, Gage, and Braddy is not accepting walk-in patients until further notice. Please call the office to schedule an appointment or for further instructions

Banking

Smith Moore will temporarily close its Effingham office for face-to-face meetings. The office will reopen when conditions improve. They will still be able to transact business, make trades, send money and advise on market conditions during normal business hours. If there is a transaction that cannot be done via the telephone or internet, please call them to make the necessary arrangements. If you need to talk to them, please call the office at 217-347-5225.

Land of Lincoln Credit Union offices throughout Central Illinois will have drive-up only facilities until further notice. During this period, please know that you can still perform a large majority of banking transactions via the website, online banking, and the LLCU mobile app. Additionally, the Member Service Center will remain fully staffed and available for your calls at 1-844-222-7788

Teutopolis State Bank lobbies are closed to customers until further notice. Drive-up lanes will be open at each branch during normal banking hours. If you need access to the lobby for a specific reason, please call ahead of time

First National Bank of Waterloo (Effingham & Stewardson) lobbies are closed until further notice. The drive-up facilities will remain open during normal business hours. If there is a transaction that cannot be done through the drive-up, please call the bank for arrangements

Crossroads Bank lobbies, both on Banker and Keller Drive, are closed with the drive-up facilities remaining open during normal hours. If there is a transaction that cannot be done through the drive-up, phone the bank for arrangements

Washington Savings Bank, all branches are operating via drive-up only. Customers wanting to access a safe deposit box or meet with a banker in person are asked to set up an appointment by calling 217-347-7173 (Effingham) or 217-235-5411 (Mattoon) directly to make the necessary arrangements

Midland States Bank has temporarily closed all branch lobbies while continuing to conduct banking business through its drive-thru facilities. In-branch service will resume when COVID-19 conditions improve. Customers of locations that do not have a drive-thru facility are encouraged to visit other Midland locations in their area. All locations will have signs posted providing information regarding alternative locations, online access, and other pertinent information. The bank has temporarily adjusted its hours of operation while continuing to conduct banking business through its drive-thru facilities. Visit https://www.midlandsb.com/branch-closures for up-to-date location hours, or phone Customer Care at 855-696-4352

Dieterich Bank facilities will only offer drive-through services to conduct banking transactions until further notice. The bank is fully operational and available to assist with your banking needs. Customers who require assistance beyond normal transactions through the drive-through should phone (800) 699-9766

Churches

Edgewood Christian Church has canceled all services

Bethlehem Lutheran Church in rural Altamont will be closed to the public. Divine service, beginning at 9:30 am, will be available on their Facebook page, located here. Services are also archived here on their YouTube channel

All services at Altamont Christian Church have been canceled until further notice

First United Methodist Church of Altamont will have online worship via their Facebook page, located here

The Rock Church of Effingham has canceled all services until further notice

All services at Bethel Christian Church in Louisville are canceled until further notice.

First Christian Church of Effingham is canceling all services and events.  Their video worship services will be provided on their Facebook page.

Watson Baptist Church is canceling all church services

Trinity Lutheran Church Shumway services have been canceled

St. Paul Lutheran Church services in Sigel are canceled

Effingham First Church of God, 2600 S. Banker, all services, including Sunday morning, Wednesday evening Adult Bible Study and Youth program have been canceled. Sermons will be videoed and posted on the website at http://www.effinghamfirstcog.org .

Cross Foundation has announced that the Cross Welcome Center will be closed, for the time being

St. Paul Blue Point Lutheran Church, Altamont - all church services are canceled

Louisville United Methodist Church has discontinued all services and activities

Immanuel Lutheran Church in Altamont has canceled all services

Beecher City Church of Christ has canceled all services, activities, and events

Sacred Heart Parish is implementing significant changes. In following the direction of Bishop Thomas Paprocki, all public masses and parish events will be canceled until further notice. Sacred Heart Church will offer a daily mass at 8:30am that can be viewed via Facebook live-stream. Mass recordings can be viewed at any time at: https://www.facebook.com/SacredHeartChurchandSchool/. They acknowledge the importance of prayer during this difficult time. The opportunity for private prayer is available seven days a week at Sacred Heart Church. The church will be open daily from 10am to 8pm. Reconciliation is available by appointment. Please call the church office at 217.347.7177 to schedule an appointment. Continued updates will be posted on the Parish’s Facebook page.

St. Anthony of Padua Parish is implementing significant changes. In following the direction of Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, all public masses and parish events will be canceled until further notice. St. Anthony of Padua Church will offer a daily mass at 8:30am that can be viewed via Facebook live-stream. Mass recordings can be viewed any time at: https://www.facebook.com/EffinghamStAnthony/. They acknowledge the importance of prayer during this difficult time. The opportunity for private prayer is available seven days a week at St. Anthony of Padua Church. The church will be open daily from 10am to 7pm beginning March 21. Reconciliation times will be released once available. Otherwise, private appointments can be scheduled by calling the church office at 217-347-7129. Continued updates will be posted on the Parish’s Facebook page.

Centenary United Methodist Church has canceled all services and activities

First Christian Church of Cowden has canceled all worship service and activities

Watson United Methodist Church has canceled all services and activities

First Presbyterian Church of Effingham has canceled all services and activities

Christ's Church Effingham, Clay County, and Dieterich have canceled all services. They will be streamed online only until further notice

First Baptist Church in Effingham has canceled services and activities

First Baptist Church of Altamont will not be having services of any kind

Effingham Assembly Church, all activities have been canceled

Faith Lutheran Church in Shumway has suspended all services and activities

Trinity Lutheran Church, Shumway has canceled services

Grace Lutheran Church in Dieterich has suspended all services and activities

St. John's Lutheran Church on Effingham, Clay County line has canceled all in-person services. Online services will be posted on YouTube, Facebook and on the church website at stjohnlouisville.org. Confirmation classes are all online for the students

St. John's Lutheran Church of Effingham has canceled all in-person services. Updates and video worship resources are available at http://www.stjohnsLCMS.net, and on the congregation's Facebook page (www.facebook.com/St.JohnsEffingham). You are welcome to call the church at 217-342-4334

St Paul ELCA, Altamont services have been canceled until further notice

5-Point Parish of the United Methodist churches: Gaskill Chapel, Mode, Strasburg, Stewardson, and Washington, have canceled worship services and Lent services

St. Anthony's Hospital Chapel has suspended Perpetual Adoration until further notice

Calvary Baptist Church in Effingham has canceled all services until further notice

PSR classes at Sacred Heart and St. Anthony have been canceled. First Reconciliation is postponed

PSR classes at St. Clare for St. Clare, St. Anne or St. Mary parishes have been canceled

Other Services

Effingham Catholic Charities main office remains open with normal business hours with the following changes:

• Resale Store: The Second Hand Rose Resale Shoppe is closed until further notice. No donations will be accepted during this time.

• Food Pantry:  During this time of crisis, Effingham Catholic Charities is requesting monetary donations for the pantry. Monetary donations would allow them to purchase needed items, locally and through the food bank, that can be used immediately.  Food donations are also appreciated and are being accepted, however, according to state and federal guidelines, they must “quarantine” such goods for a minimum of 72 hours before they can be made available for use.

The food pantry will continue normal business hours, Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The lobby is closed to food pantry clients. Anyone scheduled to receive food can use the drive-thru on the east side of the building. The food pantry is accepting donations and they can also be dropped off on the east side of the building.

• MedAssist will continue to remain open for the public by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please call Sr Kathleen Bushur at 217-857-1458 ext. 108. Other medical requests are being handled by phone.

• Tax Assistance: The Tax Assistance Program is closed.

• Financial Assistance: All requests for financial assistance are being held by phone at this time. Please call 217-857-1458 for eligibility requirements.

• Counseling: By appointment. Please call 217-857-1458 and the operator will connect you with a counselor.

The Dr. Charles M. Wright House Museum in Altamont is closed until further notice

The Workman Sports Complex is closed until further notice.  HSHS St. Anthony’s Physical Rehab and Wellness will remain open at this time to care for their patients that have scheduled appointments. Patients may call St. Anthony’s Rehab and Wellness with any questions at 217-347-1243

The Illinois Department of Employment Security on Hoffman Drive is closed until further notice. People who need to file for unemployment are asked to go online

The Effingham DMV is closed until further notice. For more information go to illinoiscyberdrive.com

The Effingham Public Library is closed to the public until further notice. All programs and room bookings are canceled through April 30. Please check the library website and Facebook page for announcements about any services they may be able to offer including possible online programs. www.effinghamlibrary.org

The University of Illinois Extension Office in Effingham has suspended normal office hours.  All face-to-face events have been canceled, suspended or transitioned to online delivery.  This applies to all events previously scheduled through May 31, and includes 4-H Club meetings and events.

The St. Elmo Library District, including the branch libraries of St. Elmo, Brownstown, and Beecher City, is closed

The Effingham County Museum is closed until further notice. That closure means that all meetings at the museum are suspended until further notice also

The Veterans Affairs Office here in Effingham and all itinerant sites are closed until further notice

Community Support Systems’ Day Services (formerly the DT Center) in Teutopolis is closed until further notice

The Effingham Elks Lodge #1016 is closed

All duplicate bridge games held on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the Ron Diehl Center have been canceled until further notice

Tuesday Night Bingo at the Effingham Event Center (K of C Hall) is canceled through the month of May.

All Effingham Senior Center activities have been canceled and offices are closed to the public until further notice. If you need assistance, please call 217-347-5569

Services at all AARP Tax-Aide sites, including those at the Effingham Public Library and the St. Thomas Parish Center in Newton, are suspended. All appointments have been canceled and will not be rescheduled

All Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation events are canceled or postponed. This includes groups with meetings scheduled at the Community Foundation conference room. The Community Foundation office is open during regular office hours of Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Staff are available by phone and email. If you have questions, please contact our staff by phone or email prior to visiting the office. Meeting schedules beyond March 31 will be assessed on a rolling basis.

Saturday, June 27

The 50th Annual Sacred Heart Parish Picnic has been rescheduled to October 3-4

Sunday, June 28

The 50th Annual Sacred Heart Parish Picnic has been rescheduled to October 3-4