Effingham's News and Sports Leader, 979XFM and KJ Country 102.3

Monday's Schedule
2026-05-25
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Baseball
Class 2A Effingham Regional
Game 1 – Oblong at Robinson, 4:30 p.m.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 5:40 p.m.
Milwaukee at St. Louis Cardinals, 1:10 p.m.

Dog Obedience Classes
2026-05-26
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Backstage With The Bible
2026-05-26, 2026-05-27, 2026-05-28, 2026-05-29, 2026-05-30
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To be sure we have supplies, please register in advance if possible.

Tuesday's Schedule
2026-05-26
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Softball
Class 1A Casey-Westfield Sectional
Game 1 – Casey-Westfield vs. South Central 4:30 p.m. (Listen on KJ Country 102.3)
Game 2 – Edwards County Albion vs. Windsor/Stew-Stras 6:30 p.m. (Listen on KJ Country 102.3)
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 5:40 p.m.
Milwaukee at St. Louis Cardinals, 6:40 p.m.

Memorial Butterfly Release Ceremonies
2026-05-27
PrintHSHS Home Care invites community members to join them for butterfly release ceremonies at two Hospital Sisters Health System hospitals:

Thursday, May 21, at 5:30 p.m. in the Healing Garden of St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham
Wednesday, May 27, at 4:00 p.m. in the Healing Garden (east side) of Good Shepherd Hospital in Shelbyville

Family and friends are invited to celebrate and remember the life of a loved one who has passed. The ceremonies will include the reading of the names of those being honored in addition to the butterfly release.
Valerie Engelbart, Bereavement Services Supervisor for HSHS Home Care, said, “These butterfly release ceremonies provide a special time for families in our communities to honor their loved ones. The butterfly represents the transformation of the spirit as our loved ones transition from this life. As we release butterflies together, we celebrate the lives that have touched our hearts and find comfort in our shared experiences of love and loss.”
In addition to attending to honor a loved one, you are invited to personally release a butterfly for your loved one by reserving a butterfly for $15 to be paid prior to the ceremony. To purchase a butterfly and/or RSVP for the ceremony, contact Engelbart by calling or texting 217-685-0702 or emailing valerie.engelbart@hshs.org .
You may also reserve a butterfly online by visiting giving.hshs.org/sae/donate and following these steps:

Under the “I want to support” section, select “Butterfly Release and/or Hospice Memorials”.
Check “I would like to dedicate this gift”, select type of dedication (In Memory Of), and fill in the name of your loved one under “Honoree name.”

For more information about HSHS, visit hshs.org.

Altamont City-Wide Yard Sales
2026-05-27, 2026-05-28, 2026-05-29
PrintThe City of Altamont will be having city-wide yard sales Wednesday, May 27 through Sunday, May 31st.
Maps can be picked up at the Municipal Building and at the 4-Way by Dr. Opilka’s office.
This is part of the 23rd Historic National Road Yard Sale Festival that runs from Baltimore, Maryland to East St. Louis!

Historic National Road Yard Sale at Fairgrounds
2026-05-27, 2026-05-28, 2026-05-29
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The 23rd Historic National Road Yard Sale Festival will go through Effingham and cities along Route 40 beginning Wednesday, May 27 and continue through Sunday, May 31st.
Vendors will only be at the fairgrounds from Wednesday through Friday, from 8:00 – 6:00 each day. Vendors are still welcome to sign up.

Wednesday's Schedule
2026-05-27
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Baseball
Class 2A Effingham Regional
Game 2 – Newton vs. Robinson, 4 p.m.
Game 3 – Effingham vs. Olney, Richland County, 6:30 p.m.
Class 2A Vandalia Regional
Game 3 – St. Anthony vs. Vandalia, 2 p.m.
Game 2 – Teutopolis vs. Salem, 4:30 p.m.
Class 1A North Clay Regional
Game 2 – North Clay vs. South Central, 4 p.m.
Class 1A Neoga Regional
Game 2 – Arthur-Lovington-Atwood Hammond vs. Central A&M, 4:30 p.m.
Class 1A Altamont Regional
Game 2 – Altamont vs. Cumberland, 4:30 p.m.
Game 3 – Windsor/Stew-Stras vs. Red Hill, 7 p.m.
Class 1A Morrisonville Regional
Game 2 – Brownstown/St. Elmo vs Morrisonville Coop, 4:30 p.m.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 5:40 p.m.
Milwaukee at St. Louis Cardinals, 12:40 p.m.

Artist Johanna Stice Works on Display
2026-05-28
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The work of local artist Johanna Stice is on display, now through Saturday, June 27 in the art gallery at the Suzette Brumleve Memorial Effingham Public Library.
Stice, a native of Effingham raised in Teutopolis, has been creating art for as long as she can remember. Her artistic journey began at the age of 5, when she took her first art class and painted a piece she titled “Daisies in a Yellow Jar.” It was at that moment that Stice discovered a lifelong passion for painting.
She draws inspiration from a range of sources, finding creative influence in the world around her. She is inspired by various forms of art and the work of other artists. Her pieces often reflect her personal interests and passions, with subjects ranging from beloved cultural icons such as the Muppets to music and nature, including birds.
For Stice, art is more than a creative outlet — it is a fundamental part of the human experience. She believes that everyone engages in art in some form, whether they realize it or not. Through singing, dancing, drawing, storytelling and music, people connect with each other across generations. In this way, art serves as a bridge between the present and the past, linking us to those who lived thousands of years ago.
The art exhibit is free and a library card is not required to view the exhibit.
Contact Art Gallery Coordinator Oran Colwell at 217-342-2464 or oran@effinghamlibrary.org for more information.

Thursday's Schedule
2026-05-28
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Baseball
Class 1A Altamont Regional
Game 2 – Altamont vs. Cumberland, 4:30 p.m.
Game 3 – Windsor/Stew-Stras vs. Red Hill, 7 p.m.
1A North Clay Regional
Casey-Westfield vs. Dieterich 4 p.m.
1A Neoga Regional
Neoga vs. Arcola 4:30 p.m.
Boys Tennis
State
Singles — Effingham’s Reece Kinney, Cannon Bockhorn,
Doubles — Teutopolis’ Derek Schmidt, Tommy Habing
Boys Track
Class 1A State Meet
At Eastern Illinois University
St. Anthony, Altamont, Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, Cumberland, Dieterich, Neoga, Newton, Teutopolis athletes
Class 2A State Meet
At Eastern Illinois University
Effingham athletes
(Click on the link to see the list of area athletes)
Area Boys Head To Class 1A, 2A State Track Meets

EFFINGHAM PARK DISTRICT
Minor Softball League
At East Softball Diamond
Game 1 — Effingham Veterinary Clinic vs. Arrow Pest Control, 5:30 p.m.
Game 2 — New Heights Crane Service vs. REMAX, 7 p.m.
Prep Softball League
West Softball Diamond
Game 1 — J&R Collision Centers vs. Joe’s Pizza & Pasta
Tomorrow’s Stars Khoury League
At Mike Sehy Field
Game 1 — Effingham Noon Rotary vs. Heritage Builders, 5:30 p.m.
Game 2 — Kiwanis Club vs. Russ Braunecker Cadillac, GMC, 7 p.m.
Little League
At Dave McDevitt Field
Game 1 — Tingley Insurance vs. Kemper CPA, 5:30 p.m.
Game 2 — Schumacher Orthodontics vs. Arab Pest Control, 7:15 p.m.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh, 5:40 p.m.

Greenup City-Wide Garage Sales
2026-05-28, 2026-05-29
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Maps can be picked up at the Greenup Municipal Building.

Squirrel Sounds in Olney
2026-05-29

Book Sale at Charleston Carnegie Library
2026-05-29

Prairie Skies – Planetarium Star Shows
2026-05-29
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Join in the fun and exploration every Friday at 7:00pm, for a tour of our night sky.
This is a live‑narrated tour of the wonders of the sky, accompanied by some of the legendary stories of the ancient sky. Find out what constellations and planets are visible and how to find them.
This show is updated seasonally and is intended for all ages.

"Made In Central Illinois" Fundraiser at Lincoln Log Cabin State
2026-05-29
PrintThe Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site is hosting their “Made In Central Illinois” annual fundraiser, featuring locally-sourced food as well as a silent auction with items representing Central Illinois! This will be held on Friday, May 29, at 6:00 p.m.
Join them for heavy hors d’oeuvres from local providers, Illinois beer and wines, and live music with We Ain’t Misbehavin’. Walk around the site to try different foods and experience the site after- hours, all while helping raise funds for youth programming, special events, and special projects!
Individual tickets are $60 or reserve a table of 8 for $420. Register here.
The Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site is located at 402 S. Lincoln Highway Road, Lerna, IL 62440.
For more information, call 217-345-1845, or visit lincolnlogcabin.org

Friday's Schedule
2026-05-29
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Softball
Class 1A Casey-Westfield Sectional
Game 3 – Casey-Westfield vs. Windsor/Stew-Stras 4:30 p.m. (championship) LISTEN ON KJ COUNTRY 102.3

Boys Track
2A State Meet Prelims–
Alex Gordon (Effingham) 800
Blayne Ring (Effingham) discus
Jenner Pals (Effingham) high jump
Maxx Kistler (Effingham) long jump

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Chicago Cubs at St. Louis Cardinals, 7:15 p.m.

Garage Sale at Humane Society
2026-05-29

Masonic Lodge Auction for Shriners Hospitals for Children
2026-05-30

Springfest at Edgewood Legion
2026-05-30

Enduring Freedom Ministries Distributions in May
2026-05-30
PrintEnduring Freedom Ministries distribution days for May:
Tuesday, May 5th from 4-6pm, 304 S. West Street, Shumway
Saturday, May 9th from 9-Noon, 861 E. Washington, Mason (Mason Civic Center)
Tuesday, May 12th from 4-6pm, 304 S. West Street, Shumway
Wednesday, May 13th from Noon to 2pm, 304 S. West Street, Shumway
Wednesday, May 20th from Noon to 2pm, 304 S. West Street, Shumway
Saturday, May 30th from 8:30-Noon, 304 S. West Street, Shumway
Please call 217-240-0059 to sign up. It’s free and for everyone!

Effingham Farmer's Market
2026-05-30
PrintThe Effingham Farmer’s Market will be every Saturday, from May 30th through October 31st. The Market will be open from 8:00 – Noon on the old courthouse lawn.
There will be fresh produce, baked goods, plants, and flowers, as well as arts and crafts.
