Enduring Freedom Ministries Distributions in February
2026-02-10, 2026-02-11, 2026-02-14
PrintEnduring Freedom Ministries February Calendar:
Tuesday, February 10th, 4-6pm, Shumway location is 304 South West Street (old grade school)
Wednesday, February, 11th, noon – 2p.m., Shumway location is 304 South West Street (old grade school)
Saturday, February 14th, 9a.m.-noon, Mason location is West Washington Street (Mason Civic Center)
Wednesday, February, 18th, noon – 2p.m., Shumway location is 304 South West Street (old grade school)
Thursday, February 19th, noon – 2p.m or until we run out. We are hosting an EXTRA FREE-FOOD DISTRIBUTION DRIVE-THROUGH. This will be held on the parking lot of the EFFINGHAM ARMORY at 1206 West Temple Avenue in Effingham.
Saturday, February 28th, 8:30-noon, Shumway location is 304 South West Street (old grade school)
We ask that the families call and make an appointment for our Shumway & Mason Distributions. Call 217-240-0059 or 217-868-5293 or go to our website: www.my-christian-space.com
Enduring Freedom Ministries is free and for everyone!

Tuesday's Schedule
2026-02-10
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Highland at Effingham, 6:30 p.m. (LISTEN ON 979XFM)
St. Anthony at South Central, 6 p.m. (NO FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE GAME)
Neoga at Altamont, 6 p.m.
Patoka at Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, 6 p.m.
Cumberland at Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg, 7:30 p.m.
Martinsville at Dieterich (VARSITY ONLY), 7:15 p.m.
Newton at Oblong/Palestine/Hutsonville, 6 p.m.
Grayville at North Clay, 6 p.m.
Sandoval at St. Elmo/Brownstown, 6:15 p.m.
Casey-Westfield at Teutopolis, 6 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Effingham at Taylorville, 6 p.m.
Brownstown/St. Elmo at Paris, 6 p.m.
Pana at Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, 6 p.m.
North Clay at Dieterich (VARSITY ONLY), 6 p.m.
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE
Boys Basketball
St. Anthony at South Central, 5 p.m.
Highland at Effingham, 5 p.m.
Cumberland at Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg, 5 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Volleyball
Trinity Lutheran at Effingham, 4:30 p.m.
Mattoon at St. Anthony, 5 p.m.
Windsor at Altamont, 4:15 p.m.
Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City at Ramsey, 4:15 p.m.
Dieterich at Stewardson-Strasburg, 4 p.m.
North Clay at Sigel St. Michael, 6 p.m.
Teutopolis at Richland County, 5:45 p.m.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Wisconsin at University of Illinois, 7 p.m.
Eastern Illinois University at Western Illinois, 7:30 p.m.

Free Tax Preparation with Catholic Charities
2026-02-10, 2026-02-11, 2026-02-12
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‘Cram the Cars’ for Catholic Charities Food Pantry
2026-02-11
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In recognition of February being National Canned Food Month, HSHS Home Care is teaming up with Dan Hecht Chevrolet Toyota, Roy Schmidt Honda, Northside Ford-Lincoln, Goeckner Bros. Inc. – Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, and Russ Braunecker Cadillac Buick GMC Inc. in Effingham to “Cram the Car” with nonperishable food items, hygiene products, and monetary donations for Catholic Charities’ food pantry.
Donations for the annual event will be accepted the entire month of February. On March 1, HSHS Home Care staff will cram their cars with donated items before delivering them to Catholic Charities. The regional Catholic Charities’ office serves Clark, Crawford, Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper and Shelby counties.
“Cram the Car inspires me every year when I see how our neighbors, friends and colleagues come together to care for the community,” said Valerie Engelbart, Volunteer/Bereavement Services Supervisor for HSHS Home Care. “It’s a privilege to deliver their generous donations. Let’s see how many cars we can fill!”
Suggested items for donations include the following:
• Boxed meals (Hamburger Helper, Rice-a-Roni)
• Pancake mix and syrup
• Jelly
• Pasta sauce
• Cereal
• Granola
• Sugar-free canned fruit
• Low-salt canned vegetables
• Large boxes of oatmeal
• Soap
• Shampoo
• Feminine products
• Razors
Donors are urged to check expiration dates.
Items or monetary contributions may be dropped off at any of these locations:
• HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital front lobby or pre-surgical entrance – Weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• At one of these locations during business hours:
− Dan Hecht Chevrolet Toyota – 2400 S. Banker St., Effingham
− Roy Schmidt Honda – 1705 W. Fayette Ave., Effingham
− Northside Ford-Lincoln – 1312 N. Keller Dr., Effingham
− Goeckner Bros. Inc. – Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram – 600 E. Fayette Ave., Effingham
− Russ Braunecker Cadillac Buick GMC Inc. – 2309 S. Banker St., Effingham
Learn more at HSHS Home Care’s Cram the Car website, or by contacting Engelbart at 217-685-0702 or Valerie.Engelbart@hshs.org.
HSHS Home Care staff help patients maintain an independent lifestyle by offering in-home services such as physical, occupational and speech-language therapy; wound care; cardiac rehabilitation; stroke care; pain management; hospice and palliative care; fall risk assessment; and pediatric care.

Food Pantry at Calvary Baptist Church
2026-02-11
PrintThe Food Pantry at Calvary Baptist Church will be taking orders for food bags on Monday, February 9th from 4:00-5:30. Call 217-342-6671 to place an order.
Drive-up pick-up is on Wednesday, February 11th, from 4:00-5:00.
All in need are welcome. Call 217-342-6671.

Auditions for 'Pirate Island'
2026-02-11, 2026-02-12
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Three Chicks & a Stage will be holding auditions for their Spring Play “Pirate Island” on Wednesday and Thursday, February 11th and 12th. Auditions will be from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at the Effingham Elks Lodge.
The show will be April 17th and 18th.
For more info, visit 3chicksandastage.com or call at ‪812-783-0853‬.

Wednesday's Schedule
2026-02-11
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Hillsboro Freshman Tournament
Session 6: 6 p.m.
First Place Orange Pool vs. Winner Session 4 (Main)
Session 7: 6 p.m.
First Place Black Pool vs. Winner Session 5 (Secondary)
Girls Basketball
Richland County, Olney at Effingham, 6 p.m.
Brownstown/St. Elmo at Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg (SHORTENED JV GAME), 6 p.m.
Newton at Marshall, 6 p.m.
North Clay at Lawrenceville, 6:15 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Volleyball
National Trail Conference Seventh-Grade Tournament
At Windsor
Match 1 — Neoga vs. Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, 4:30 p.m.
Match 2 — Stewardson-Strasburg vs. Effingham Sacred Heart, 5:30 p.m.
Match 3 — Sigel St. Michael vs. Dieterich, 4:30 p.m.
Match 4 — North Clay vs. Altamont, 5:30 p.m.
St. Anthony at St. Elmo, 5:30 p.m.

Annual Tree Sale
2026-02-12
PrintThe public can call the Effingham County SWCD office to have an order form emailed or mailed to them.

St. Francis Church Art and Architecture Historic Lecture
2026-02-12

Red Cross Blood Drives in February
2026-02-12, 2026-02-13
PrintAmerican Red Cross Blood Drives in February:
2/5, Thursday, Knights of Columbus Hall, Newton, Noon – 5:30 PM
2/6, Friday, Newton High School, 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM
2/10, Tuesday, Mason Christian Church Annex, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
2/12, Thursday, EIU Student Union Ballroom, Charleston, Noon – 4:00 PM
2/12, Thursday, Flora Church of the Nazarene, Noon – 5:00 PM
2/12, Thursday, Apostolic Center Church, Mattoon, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
2/13, Friday, Oblong Municipal Building, 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM
2/16, Monday, Home Church, Charleston, 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
2/16, Monday, St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, Sainte Marie, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
2/17, Tuesday, Grace United Methodist Church, Neoga, 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
2/17, Tuesday, Dieterich High School, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
2/20, Friday, Altamont High School, 8:15 AM – 2:00 PM
2/23, Monday, Shelbyville High School, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
2/24, Tuesday, St Michael Church – Sigel, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
2/26, Thursday, Neal Center YMCA, Toledo, 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Come give blood through February 28, for a $20 e-gift card to your choice of merchant. See rcblood.org/heart
To make an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or download the Red Cross Donor App.

Thursday's Schedule
2026-02-12
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Girls Basketball
St. Anthony at Newton, 6 p.m.
Richland County, Olney at Altamont, 5 p.m.
Ramsey at Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, 6 p.m.
Cumberland at Tri-County at Kansas, 6 p.m.
Dieterich at Decatur Unity Christian, 6 p.m.
Neoga vs. Arcola at Lake Land College, 6 p.m.
Sandoval at South Central, 6:15 p.m.
Casey-Westfield at Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg, 6 p.m.
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE
Boys Basketball
Hillsboro Freshman Tournament
Session 8: 6 p.m.
Effingham vs. Taylorville (Main) Championship
Centennial at St. Anthony, 6 p.m.
Cumberland at Shelbyville, 6 p.m.
Teutopolis at Casey-Westfield, 6 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Class 8-2A State Tournament
At Kankakee Bishop McNamara
Game 5 – Carthage vs. Normal Metcalf, 5 p.m. (third place)
Game 6 – Stewardson-Strasburg vs. Morten Grove MCC, 6:30 p.m. (championship)
Volleyball
Effingham at Newton St. Thomas, 4:30 p.m.
Altamont Lutheran at Effingham Sacred Heart, 4 p.m.
Sigel St. Michael at Altamont, 4:15 p.m.
Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City at Mulberry Grove, 4:15 p.m.
Cumberland at Oblong, 4:30 p.m.
Dieterich at Teutopolis, 4:15 p.m.
Neoga at Stewardson-Strasburg, 5:15 p.m.
Albion at Jasper County, 4:30 p.m.
North Clay at Fairfield, 6 p.m.
NASCAR
America 250 Florida Duel at Daytona International Speedway, 5 p.m.

Downtown Valentine's Weekend Shopping Weekend
2026-02-12
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Head downtown this Valentine’s weekend and show some love to our amazing small businesses!
Bonus: You have all three days to complete your passport, so shop, dine, and explore at your own pace!
Support local. Shop small. Win big.

Elks Trade Scholarship Available
2026-02-13

Bloody Valentine Steak Dinner at Edgewood
2026-02-13

Butterfly Pork Chop Meal at VFW
2026-02-13
PrintThe VFW Auxiliary Meal will be on Friday, February 13, from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
On the menu: Butterfly pork chop, hashbrown casserole, vegetable, lemonade, tea, or coffee, and dessert for $8.00.
The VFW is located at 2304 S. Veterans Drive in Effingham.
Contact Chuck at 217-343-8313 for more information.

Father-Daughter Dance in Watson
2026-02-13

Friday's Schedule
2026-02-13
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Flora at St. Anthony, 6 p.m. (LISTEN ON 979XFM)
Mahomet-Seymour at Effingham, 6 p.m.
St. Elmo/Brownstown at Altamont, 5 p.m.
Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City at Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg, 5 p.m.
Neoga at Oblong, 6 p.m.
Richland County, Olney at Newton, 6 p.m.
Mulberry Grove at South Central, 6 p.m.
Teutopolis at Marshall, 6 p.m.
Girls Wrestling
Cumberland at Sectional, TBA
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE
Boys Basketball
Flora at St. Anthony, 5 p.m.
Olney at Newton, 5 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Volleyball
Teutopolis at St. Anthony, 4:30 p.m.
North Clay at Patoka, 4:30 p.m.
St. Elmo/Brownstown at Windsor, 4:30 p.m.
South Central at Neoga, 4:30 p.m.
Jasper County at LEIC Eighth-Grade Tournament at Marshall, TBA

Downtown Valentine’s Weekend Shopping Weekend
2026-02-13, 2026-02-14

Trivia Night for St. Thomas School
2026-02-14

Book Talk/Signing for "Loving Lincoln: A Personal History of the Women Who Shaped Lincoln's Life and Legacy"
2026-02-14
PrintThe Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site is hosting Dr. Stacy Lynn, author of “Loving Lincoln: A Personal History of the Women Who Shaped Lincoln’s Life and Legacy”. Dr. Lynn will be on-site for a book signing and book talk on Saturday, February 14th at 2:00pm, during our Lincoln’s Birthday Open House. The open house is from 1:00 – 4:00.
The talk and book signing will be in the Visitor Center Auditorium.
Copies of the book may be purchased at the Goosenest Prairie Gift Shop.
The Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site is located at 402 South Lincoln Highway Road, near Lerna.
To contact them, call 217-345-1845 or visit lincolnlogcabin.org

Saturday's Schedule
2026-02-14
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Wooden Shoe Shootout
At Teutopolis
Game 1 – Cumberland vs. Okaw Valley, 11 a.m.
Game 2 – Mahomet-Seymour vs. Triad, 12:30 p.m.
Game 3 – Casey-Westfield vs. Goreville, 2 p.m.
Game 4 – Effingham vs. Nashville, 3:30 p.m. (LISTEN ON 979XFM)
Game 5 – Normal Community vs. Alton,
Game 6 – Teutopolis vs. Rochester, 6:30 p.m. (LISTEN ON 979XFM)
Altamont at Lawrenceville, 1 p.m.
Meridian at Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, 2 p.m.
Dieterich at Richland County, Olney, 5 p.m.
Newton at Fairfield, 2:30 p.m.
Robinson at North Clay, 5 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Class 1A Bluford Webber Regional
Game 1 — Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City at Webber Township (Bluford), 1 p.m.
Game 2 — South Central at Lawrenceville, 5 p.m.
Class 1A North Clay Regional
Game 1 — North Clay/Clay City at Red Hill (Bridgeport), noon
Game 2 — Wayne City Co-op at Dieterich, noon
Game 3 — Ramsey Co-op at Altamont, 7 p.m.
Class 1A Mount Pulaski Regional
Game 1 — Cerro Gordo/Bement at Neoga, 1 p.m.
Game 2 — Moweaqua Central A&M at Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg Co–op, 1 p.m.
Class 1A Casey-Westfield Regional
Game 1 — Decatur Unity Christian Co-op at Casey-Westfield, 2 p.m.
Game 2 — Bethany Okaw Valley at Martinsville, 5 p.m.
Class 2A Paris Regional
Game 1 — Pana at Palestine/Hutsonville/Oblong, 5 p.m.
Class 2A Teutopolis Regional
Game 1 — Shelbyville at Marshall, 11 a.m.
Game 2 — Vandalia at Sullivan, 1 p.m.
Class 2A Mount Carmel Regional
Game 1 — Flora at Newton, 1 p.m.
FRESHMEN/SOPHOMORE
Boys Basketball
Teutopolis at Tolono Unity Tournament, TBA
Newton at Fairfield, 1 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
55th Annual Sigel St. Michael Sixth-Grade Boys Tournament
Game 1 — Brownstown/St. Elmo vs. St. John, 8:30 a.m.
Game 2 — St. Pats vs. Dieterich, 9:45 a.m.
Game 3 — Stewardson-Strasburg vs. Altamont, 11 a.m.
Game 4 — Teutopolis vs. Neoga, 12:15 p.m.
Game 5 — Sigel St. Michael vs. South Central, 1:30 p.m.
Game 6 — St. Elmo/Brownstown vs. Effingham Sacred Heart, 2:45 p.m.
Game 7 — St. Anthony vs. North Clay, 4 p.m.
Game 8 — Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City vs. Newton St. Thomas, 5:15 p.m.
Volleyball
National Trail Conference Seventh-Grade Tournament
At Windsor
Match 5 — South Central vs. Neoga, 9 a.m.
Match 6 — Cumberland vs. Sigel St. Michael, 9 a.m.
Match 7 — Windsor vs. Stewardson-Strasburg, 10 a.m.
Match 8 — St. Elmo/Brownstown vs. North Clay, 10 a.m.
Match 9 — Loser Match 5 vs. Loser Game 7, 10 a.m.
Match 10 — Loser Match 6 vs. Loser Match 8, 11 a.m.
Match 11 — Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 7, 12:30 p.m.
Match 12 — Winner Match 6 vs. Winner Match 8, 12:30 p.m.
Match 13 — Winner Match 9 vs. Winner Match 10, 1:30 p.m. (consolation championship)
Match 14 — Loser Match 11 vs. Loser Match 12, 1:30 p.m. (third place)
Match 15 — Winner Match 11 vs. Winner Match 12, 2:30 p.m. (championship)
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Little Rock at Eastern Illinois University, 3:30 p.m.
NASCAR
United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway, 3:30 p.m.

Breakfast Buffet at Mason
2026-02-14

St. Thomas School Trivia Night and Live Auction
2026-02-14
