Sunday's Schedule
2025-12-14
PrintMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Eastern Illinois University at Iowa State, noon
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Cleveland at Chicago, noon
Baltimore at Cincinnati, noon
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City, noon
Buffalo at New England, noon
Washington at New York Giants, noon
Las Vegas at Philadelphia, noon
New York Jets at Jacksonville, noon
Arizona at Houston, noon
Green Bay at Denver, 3:25 p.m.
Detroit at Los Angeles Rams, 3:25 p.m.
Carolina at New Orleans, 3:25 p.m.
Tennessee at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m.
Indianapolis at Seattle, 3:25 p.m.
Minnesota at Dallas, 7;20 p.m.

Lutheran Choir Cantata
2025-12-14
PrintThe public is invited to attend the 62nd Annual Lutheran Choir Christmas Cantata at 7:00 P.M. on Sunday, December 14. This will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Strasburg.
This year’s choir includes singers from Faith, Shumway; Grace, Strasburg; St. Paul, Sigel; St. Paul, Strasburg; and Trinity, Stewardson.
Come enjoy a long-standing tradition and prepare for the birth of our Savior, Jesus!
Stay after the Cantata for refreshments!

National Trail FARM TOY SHOW
2025-12-14
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ImpactLife Blood Drive At Effingham Event Center
2025-12-15

Monday's Schedule
2025-12-15
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Conrad Allen Holiday Tournament
At Wayne City
Game 5 — Crab Orchard vs. Webber, 5:30 p.m.
Game 6 — Sandoval vs. Grayville, 7 p.m.
Game 7 — Cisne vs. Edwards County, 8:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
St. Anthony at Teutopolis (VARSITY ONLY), 6 p.m. (LISTEN ON KJ COUNTRY 102.3)
Altamont at North Clay, 6 p.m.
Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg at Cumberland, 6 p.m.
Newton at Salem, 6 p.m.
South Central at Woodlawn, 6:15 p.m.
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE
Boys Basketball
Mount Zion at Effingham, 5:30 p.m.
St. Anthony at Vandalia, noon
Cumberland at Dieterich, 6 p.m.
Teutopolis at Mount Vernon, 6 p.m.
Palestine/Hutsonville at Newton, 6 p.m.
Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg at Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, 6 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Effingham at Greenville HAS BEEN CANCELED
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Effingham vs. Pana Sacred Heart at Tower Hill, 6 p.m.
Unity at St. Anthony HAS BEEN CANCELED
Martinsville at Jasper County, 6 p.m.
Teutopolis at Casey-Westfield, 6 p.m.
National Trail Conference Eighth-Grade Tournament
At North Clay
Game 9 – Dieterich vs. Windsor, 5:30 p.m.
Game 10 – Altamont vs. Cumberland, 6:45 p.m.
Game 11 – Stewardson-Strasburg vs. Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, 8 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Class 8-2A State Tournament
At Havana Junior High School
Game 1 — Dieterich vs. Spring Valley Kennedy, 4 p.m.
Game 2 — Sidwell Salt Fork vs. Springfield Christian, 5:15 p.m.
Game 3 — Mount Sterling Brown County vs. Bloomington Corpus Christi, 6:30 p.m.
Game 4 — Kankakee Bishop McNamara vs. Glasford Illini Bluffs, 7:45 p.m.
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Miami at Pittsburgh, 7:15 p.m.

Holiday Lights and Festive Sights Tour and Voting
2025-12-15, 2025-12-18, 2025-12-21
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This holiday season, Visit Effingham invites you to celebrate the return of a beloved community tradition – the Holiday Lights & Festive Sights Tour! Back for another year of sparkle and holiday cheer, this festive tour turns Effingham into a twinkling wonderland for all to enjoy.
Only 20 homes have been selected for this year’s tour, and each received a yard sign denoting their participation. Pick up a scorecard from Visit Effingham at City Hall – or download it from our social media channels – and vote for your favorite home on the tour by December 30th. The People’s Choice Winner will walk away with $250.
Homes can be voted for online at Visit Effingham‘s Facebook page, their website www.visiteffinghamil.com , or in person at Effingham City Hall (201 East Jefferson Ave). Voting will be open December 12th through the 30th at noon. The People’s Choice winner will be announced on December 30th in the afternoon.
For more information on the Holiday Light Tour, please call the office at 217-342-5310 or go to their website:  www.visiteffinghamil.com

Red Cross Blood Drives in Effingham and Ste. Marie
2025-12-15

THE CHOSEN - Discussion Group
2025-12-16

Tuesday's Schedule
2025-12-16
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Teutopolis at Effingham, 6 p.m. (LISTEN ON 979XFM)
Newton at St. Anthony, 6 p.m.
Altamont at Carlyle, 6 p.m.
Dieterich at Lawrenceville, 6 p.m.
Neoga at Casey-Westfield, 6 p.m.
Woodlawn at South Central, 6 p.m.
Elmo/Brownstown Tournament
Game 1 – Hillsboro vs. Mulberry Grove, 6:15 p.m.
Game 2 – Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg vs. Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, 7:45 p.m.
North Clay at Conrad Allen Tournament
At Wayne City
Game 8 — North Clay vs. Thompsonville, 5:30 p.m.
Game 9 — Crab Orchard vs. Sandoval, 7 p.m.
Game 10 — Wayne City vs. Grayville, 8:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Casey-Westfield at Brownstown/St. Elmo, 6:15 p.m.
Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City at Vandalia, 6 p.m.
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE
Boys Basketball
Newton at St. Anthony, 5 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
National Trail Conference Eighth-Grade Tournament
At North Clay
Game 12 – South Central vs. North Clay, 5:30 p.m.
Game 13 – Neoga vs. St. Elmo/Brownstown 6:45 p.m.
Game 14 – Sacred Heart vs. Sigel St. Michael, 8 p.m.
Lawrenceville at Jasper County, 6 p.m.
Ramsey at Neoga, 6 p.m.
Teutopolis at Newton St. Thomas (B Game), 6 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Class 8-2A State Tournament
At Havana Junior High School
Game 5 — Dieterich vs. Springfield Christian, 5 p.m.
Game 6 — Mount Sterling Brown vs. Glasford Illini Bluffs, 6:30 p.m.

Drive-Thru Advent Calendar at C.U.M.C.
2025-12-16, 2025-12-19, 2025-12-22
Print
Celebrate the season with Centenary United Methodist Church’s illuminated drive-thru Advent Calendar.
The Drive-Thru is on display every evening through Wednesday, December 31st.

Red Cross Blood Drive in Mason
2025-12-16

Enduring Freedom Ministries December Dates
2025-12-17
PrintEnduring Freedom Ministries December Dates:
Tuesday, December 2nd, from 4 – 6pm, Shumway
Tuesday, December 9th, from 4 – 6pm, Shumway. This is also the informational meeting for EFM’s latest project: Ezra’s Place
Wednesday, December 10th, noon – 2pm, Shumway
Saturday, December 13th, 9am – noon, Mason
Wednesday, December 17th, noon – 2pm, Shumway
Friday, December 19th, Deadline at midnight for Locker Blessing Registration
Saturday, December 27th, 8am – 3pm, Shumway (Locker Blessings)
Please call 217-868-5293 or 217-240-0059 to sign up, or go to our website and book your own date & time: www.my-christian-space.com then select either Shumway or Mason.
Shumway location is at (old grade school) 304 S. West Street, Shumway
Mason location is at 861 E. Washington Street, Mason (Mason Civic Center)

Wednesday's Schedule
2025-12-17
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Oblong at South Central, 6 p.m.
St. Elmo/Brownstown Tournament
Game 3 – Cumberland vs. Ramsey, 6:15 p.m.
Game 4 – St. Elmo/Brownstown vs. Patoka/Odin, 7:4 5p.m.
Conrad Allen Holiday Tournament
At Wayne City
Game 11 — Grayville vs. Crab Orchard, 6 p.m.
Game 12 — Wayne City vs. Sandoval, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Cumberland at Martinsville, 6 p.m.
Wrestling
Effingham, Lawrenceville at Fairfield, 6 p.m.
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE
Boys Basketball
Robinson at Effingham, 6 p.m.

Red Cross Blood Drives in Dieterich and Toledo
2025-12-17

Wonderland in Lights
2025-12-17
PrintVisit Effingham presents another year of Wonderland in Lights at Community Park! Each year, Community Park is transformed into a drive-thru holiday light spectacle, filled with whimsical scenes, including reindeer flight school, playful penguins, Santa and his reindeer taking flight, a Nativity scene, a Gingerbread house, a bucket truck driven by helpful elves and so much more.
Be sure to tune in to 90.7 FM for continuous Christmas music, compliments of Visit Effingham, 97.9 XFM, and KJ Country 102.3 as you drive through the display!
The display runs through the New Year. Hours are from 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Community Park is located on East Temple Avenue in Effingham.
Santa will be at his post on Saturday, December 20th, to greet cars and hand out toys. Don’t forget to stop and say hello before you exit the park!
There is no cost to enjoy this Visit Effingham experience, but donations are always appreciated. All donations help make Effingham shine brighter the following year.
Extend your evening of holiday cheer at ‘Light up the Lawn’ – where our larger-than-life, 3-D holiday light displays glimmer and shimmer in Downtown Effingham. Drive by the Effingham County Courthouse Museum lawn to see the ‘Royal Present,’ the ‘Heart of Christmas’ walk-thru ornament, ‘Santa’s Sleigh and His Reindeer,’ the walk-thru ‘Gingerbread House,’ the ‘Teddy Bear,’ the walk-thru ‘Hot Cocoa Mug,’ ‘Santa and his favorite reindeer,’ and, the star of the show, our 34-foot ‘Christmas Tree.’ Get out of the car to see the lights up close and pose with our ‘Reindeer Family’ and ‘Polar Bear Family,’ as well!
For more information, visit www.visiteffinghamil.com, or 217-342-5310 if you’re interested in helping spread holiday cheer!
Christmas in Effingham is the most magical time of year… However you choose to experience the holiday season, we encourage you to ‘fill your cup’ with the people, the places and the experiences that set us apart.

Thursday's Schedule
2025-12-18
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
St. Elmo/Brownstown Tournament
Game 5 – Mulberry Grove vs. Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, 6:15 p.m.
Game 6 – Hillsboro vs. Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg, 7:45 p.m.
North Clay at Conrad Allen Tournament
At Wayne City
Game 13 — Webber vs. Grayville, 6 p.m.
Game 14 — Cisne vs. Thompsonville, 7:30 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Effingham at St. Anthony, 6 p.m. VARSITY ONLY (LISTEN ON KJ COUNTRY 102.3)
Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City at Altamont, 5 p.m.
Neoga at Brownstown/St. Elmo, 6:15 p.m.
Newton at Teutopolis, 6 p.m.
Red Hill (Bridgeport) at North Clay, 6 p.m.
Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg at Tuscola, 6 p.m.
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cumberland at Neoga, 6 p.m.
Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg at Shelbyville, 6 p.m.
Teutopolis at Vandalia, 6 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Richland County, Olney at Effingham, 6 p.m.
Jasper County at Teutopolis, 6 p.m.
National Trail Conference Eighth-Grade Tournament
At North Clay
Game 15 – Cumberland vs. St. Elmo/Brownstown, 5:30 p.m. (consolation championship)
Game 16 – Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City vs. Sigel St. Michael, 6:45 p.m. (third place)
Game 17 – Stewardson-Strasburg vs. Effingham Sacred Heart, 8 p.m. (championship)
Girls Basketball
Class 8-2A State Tournament
At Havana Junior High School
Game 7 — Dieterich vs. Glasford Illini Bluffs, 6 p.m. (third place)
Game 8 — Springfield Christian vs. Mt. Sterling Brown County, 7:30 p.m. (championship)
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
SIUE at Eastern Illinois University, 5:30 p.m.

Tinsel & Tails for E.A.R.S.
2025-12-19, 2025-12-20
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EARS is excited to unveil for another year “Tinsel & Tails,” a festive holiday experience, hosted in partnership with Cardinal Golf Course. Running November 28 – December 27, this holiday family event will be open every Friday and Saturday night from 5:30PM to 8:30 PM.
“Tinsel & Tails” will light up Cardinal Golf Course with spectacular holiday decorations and a charming winter wonderland atmosphere. The event is set to offer an array of activities that celebrate the season and support a noble cause, including:
– Holiday Light Tour: Enjoy a scenic golf cart ride through the beautifully decorated path on the course, featuring dazzling light displays and festive decorations.
– Family Fun: Engage in family-friendly activities like a hot chocolate bar, roast s’mores, and take memorable photos with festive backdrops.
Tickets for the event will be available November 3, on the EARS website: effinghamanimalrescue.com

Friday's Schedule
2025-12-19
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
St. Anthony at Dieterich, 6 p.m. (LISTEN ON 979XFM)
Effingham at Mahomet-Seymour, 6 p.m.
Tuscola at Altamont, 6 p.m.
Newton at Robinson, 6 p.m.
South Central at Martinsville, 6 p.m.
Conrad Allen Tournament
At Wayne City
Game 15 — Edwards County vs. North Clay, 6 p.m.
Game 16 — Wayne City vs. Webber, 7:30 p.m.
St. Elmo/Brownstown Tournament
Game 7 – Ramsey vs. Patoka/Odin, 6:15 p.m.
Game 8 – Cumberland vs. St. Elmo/Brownstown, 7:45 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Effingham at Mahomet-Seymour, 6 p.m.
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knights Classic
West Gym
Game 1 — Christman vs. Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg, 6 p.m.
Game 3 — Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond vs. Eisenhower, 7:30 p.m.
East Gym
Game 2 — Heritage vs. Rantoul, 6 p.m.
Game 4 — ACS vs. Unity Christian, 7:30 p.m.

FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE
Boys Basketball
St. Anthony at Dieterich, 5 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Dieterich at Sigel St. Michael, 5 p.m.

Saturday's Schedule
2025-12-20
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Effingham at Mount Carmel, 2:30 p.m.
Odin at South Central, 10 a.m.
St. Elmo/Brownstown Tournament
Game 9 – Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 7, 3 p.m. (seventh place)
Game 10 – Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 4:30 p.m. (consolation championship)
Game 11 – Loser Game 6 vs. Loser Game 8, 6 p.m. (third place)
Game 12 – Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 8, 7:30 p.m. (championship)
Conrad Allen Tournament
At Wayne City
Game 17 — Fourth Place Pool A vs. Fourth Place Bool B, 2:30 p.m. (seventh place)
Game 18 — Third Place Pool A vs. Third Place Pool B, 4 p.m. (fifth place)
Game 19 — Second Place Pool A vs. Second Place Pool B, 5:30 p.m. (third place)
Game 20 — First Place Pool A vs. First Place Pool B, 7 p.m. (championship)
Teutopolis at Greenville Shootout, TBA
Girls Basketball
Teutopolis at Paris, 1 p.m.
Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City at Greenville Shootout, 1 p.m.
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knights Classic
West Gym
Session B
Game 5 — ACS vs. Heritage, 10 a.m.
Game 7 — Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg vs. Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond, 11:30 a.m.
East Gym
Game 6 — Chrisman vs. Eisenhower, 10 a.m.
Game 8 — Unity Christian vs. Rantoul, 11:30 a.m.
Session C
West Gym
Game 9 — Heritage vs. Unity Christian, 2 p.m.
Game 11 — Rantoul vs. ACS, 3:30 p.m.
East Gym
Game 10 — Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond vs. Chrisman, 2 p.m.
Game 12 — Eisenhower vs. Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg, 3:30 p.m.
Wrestling
Effingham at Cumberland Skull and Crossbones Invitational, 9 a.m.
Cumberland girls at Joe Bee Memorial in Springfield, 10 a.m.
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE
Boys Basketball
Effingham at Teutopolis, 9 a.m.
St. Anthony at Charleston, 9:30 a.m.
Girls Basketball
Effingham at Pana, 9 a.m.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Effingham, North Clay at Bethel Shootout in Mount Vernon, TBA

Nutcracker, Skating, and Farmers Market in Springfield
2025-12-20
PrintOn Saturday, December 20, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will join the fun of “A Timeless Holiday” during this year’s downtown Springfield Holiday Walk with a special Winter Night at the Museum. You’ll enjoy a ballet performance of “The Nutcracker,” musical performers, crafts for kids, skating in the park, amazing lights and special effects, along with the regular museum exhibits. Highlights of the day include:

The Downtown Springfield Farmers Market takes place from 8:00 a.m. – Noon, in historic Union Station, for a variety of locally grown, sourced, and made foods and products.
The ALPLM offers free skating in the park, with FREE Hot Chocolate, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Just stop into historic Union Station to grab a pair of skates. A donation is suggested to help defray the cost of skate maintenance.
The Copper Coin Ballet Company will perform selections from “The Nutcracker” from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Due to on-going renovations in our Union Theater, the free, thirty-minute performances will take place in ALPLM’s Center Plaza. Tickets are not required. “The Nutcracker” follows the magical adventures of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince as they battle with the Mouse King and journey to the Land of the Sweets.
Admission to the museum is FREE from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., but a donation is suggested of new, unused toiletries for local warming centers.
Parking in the ALPLM parking ramp at 6th and Madison will also be free from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

VFW Christmas Party, Music, and Food
2025-12-21
PrintGet ready to kick off the season in true holiday spirit! Join us for the VFW Christmas Party on Sunday, December, 21st at 3 PM!
We’ve got an incredible musical lineup featuring Benny and the Amigos, plus Max Heuerman and the Little Truckers—bringing live Christmas cheer for the whole community!
And that’s not all…
The VFW Auxiliary will be serving up delicious food—donation only!
There will be pictures with Santa, door prizes, and gifts for the first 25 kiddos!
And this year, help us spread even MORE Christmas joy—
We’ll have a Toys for Tots donation box on-site. Bring a new, unwrapped toy and make a child’s holiday brighter.
So bring the whole family and celebrate with us at the VFW.
That’s Sunday, December 21st at 3 PM—you won’t want to miss it!
The spirit of Christmas starts here… at your Effingham VFW Post 1769

Sunday's Schedule
2025-12-21
PrintNATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Buffalo at Cleveland, noon
Los Angeles Chargers at Dallas, noon
Kansas City at Tennessee, noon
Cincinnati at Miami, noon
New York Jets at New Orleans, noon
Minnesota at New York Giants, noon
Tampa Bay at Carolina, noon
Jacksonville at Denver, 3:05 p.m.
Atlanta at Arizona, 3:05 p.m.
Pittsburgh at Detroit, 3:25 p.m.
Las Vegas at Houston, 3:25 p.m.
New England at Baltimore, 7:20 p.m.

Monday's Schedule
2025-12-22
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Tolono Unity at Effingham, 6 p.m.
Cisne at Altamont, 6 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Dieterich at Altamont, 2 p.m.
St. Elmo/Brownstown at Casey-Westfield, 6:15 p.m.
Cumberland at North Clay, 6 p.m.
Newton at Sullivan, 6 p.m.
Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond Knights Classic
East Gym
Game 13 – Fourth place in Pool A vs. Fourth place in Pool B, 6 p.m. (seventh place)
Game 15 – Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg vs. Heritage, 7:30 p.m. (third place)
West Gym
Game 14 – Third place Pool A vs. Third place in Pool B, 6 p.m. (fifth place)
Game 16 – First place in Pool A vs. First place in Pool B, 7:30 p.m. (championship)
Wrestling
Cumberland girls at Ben Bash, Oak Forest, 8:30 a.m.
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE
Boys Basketball
Tolono Unity at Effingham, 4 p.m.
St. Elmo/Brownstown at Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg, 6 p.m.
Girls Basketball
Richland County, Olney at Teutopolis, 5 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Cumberland a North Clay, 6 p.m.
South Central at St. Elmo/Brownstown, 6:15 p.m.
Stewardson-Strasburg at Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, 6 p.m.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Eastern Illinois University at East-West University, 2 p.m.
University of Illinois at Missouri, 7 p.m.

The Eleventh Hour Extended Shopping Hours
2025-12-22
Print
Downtown Effingham, December 22, 10:00 – 7:00 and December 23, 10:00-7:00.
Join us for extended holiday shopping hours in downtown Effingham!
Hours vary by store, with many offering free gift wrapping, special promos, and festive fun as you finish your Christmas list!

Tuesday's Schedule
2025-12-23
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Richland County, Olney at St. Anthony, 6 p.m. (LISTEN ON 979XFM)
North Clay at Cumberland, 7:30 p.m.
Sandoval at South Central, 6 p.m.
FRESHMAN/SOPHOMORE
Boys Basketball
Richland County, Olney at St. Anthony, 5 p.m.
North Clay at Cumberland, 5 p.m.
