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

I70 Large Car Working Truck Show
2026-09-12
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Mill Road Threshermans Association Show
2026-09-12, 2026-09-13

Effingham Farmer’s Market
2026-09-12, 2026-09-19, 2026-09-26, 2026-10-03, 2026-10-10, 2026-10-17, 2026-10-24
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.

Homesteaders Market
2026-09-12, 2026-10-10

Meat Shoot - Edgewood Legion
2026-09-12

"Meet Me at the Finish Line" Youth Adaptive Try-Athlon
2026-09-12
PrintHSHS St. Anthony’s Physical Rehabilitation and Wellness is marking a milestone as it hosts the fifth annual “Meet Me at the Finish Line” Youth Adaptive Try-Athlon, promoting fitness and self-confidence for athletes 18 and under who face challenges every day, whether physical, social, or emotional.
The “Meet Me at the Finish Line” Youth Adaptive Try-Athlon is Saturday, September 12, at the Workman Sports Complex, 1301 N. Maple St., Effingham, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This Youth Adaptive Try-Athlon is open to all athletes 18 and under with mobility deficits, or children who are not afforded the opportunity to participate in community events due to physical, social or emotional barriers. Athletes will participate in swimming, biking and running events.
Each participant will have a buddy by their side for every splash, pedal and step of the way. There are no first-, second-, or third-place winners at this event. Everyone is a winner simply by finishing the race.
There will be pregame fun and prizes. Light refreshments and snacks will be available courtesy of HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital. Family, friends and community members are invited to cheer on the participants.
“If you want to fill your cup with joy, join us in cheering on our athletes as they overcome their everyday challenges in this fun and adaptive event,” said Tammy Probst, Director of Rehab Services at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital. “We will have noisemakers available, or bring your own, to cheer on our athletes as they participate in the three-event race and cross the finish line on their own. It is truly an inspiring time.”
“The look of joy on the kids’ faces as they cross the finish line and receive their medal is hard to beat,” said physical therapist Alex Kastl, DPT, PT, who coordinates the event each year. “Reaching five years shows just how much this event means to our athletes, their families and our entire community.”
For more information and to register an athlete, visit stanthonyshospital.org/try-athlon.

Watson School Reunion
2026-09-12
PrintThe Watson School Reunion will be held on Saturday, September 12th, from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m.
This is for anyone that attended any Watson school.
Refreshments will be provided.
Bring stories to share!

Spaghetti Lunch Benefiting Catholic Charities
2026-09-13

Free Children's Orthopedic Clinic
2026-09-16

Women’s Pro Baseball League
2026-09-16
PrintThe Women’s Pro Baseball League (WPBL) has officially begun its historic, inaugural 2026 season. The league’s four teams – New York, Boston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles – are taking the field at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield.
The Regular Season runs through September 6th, with all games being played Wednesday through Sunday, with most games starting at 6:30 p.m.
Following the regular-season finale on September 6th, the postseason will begin on Wednesday, September 9th. The winners advance to a best-of-5 Championship Series starting September 16th, culminating in the crowning of the first WPBL Champion.
The WPBL is the only professional women’s baseball league in the United States. The League is co-founded by baseball pioneer, Justine Siegal, who is the first woman to coach a professional men’s baseball team and to pitch batting practice in Major League Baseball.
For more information on the WPBL, visit www.womensprobaseballleague.com.

Legion Cookout in Altamont
2026-09-19

Meet The Machines at Windsor
2026-09-19

St. Francis of Assisi Church Picnic
2026-09-19

Fall Craft & Vendor Show in Effingham
2026-09-20

Ice Cream Social at Trinity Lutheran Church
2026-09-20
PrintTrinity Lutheran Church in Shumway, located at 206 West Main, will be hosting the annual Ice Cream Social on Sunday, September 20, from 4:00 – 7:00 pm.
Please come join us for a lovely meal followed by delicious dessert consisting of homemade ice cream and pie!
All proceeds will be applied to preserving our beautiful stained-glass windows!

Family Fall Fest - Camp New Hope
2026-09-26

Pancake & Sausage Breakfast in Stewardson
2026-09-26

Open Feast - A Free Meal at C.U.M.C.
2026-09-28

Household Hazardous Waste Collection
2026-10-03
PrintIllinois EPA Director James Jennings is announcing Fall Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) one-day collection events that will be held in eight communities throughout Illinois. These collection events are co-sponsored by units of local government and provide residents the opportunity to safely dispose of unused or leftover hazardous products commonly found in homes, at no cost.
Pre-registration is required for all Fall 2026 collections. Residents participating are encouraged to bring chemical cleaners, oil-based paints, thinners, antifreeze, motor oil, gasoline, kerosene, weed killers, insecticides, and pesticides, and other similar hazardous household products. Fluorescent and other high-intensity discharge lamps may also be brought to the collections. ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED include latex paint, explosives, propane tanks, fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, agricultural chemicals, and business wastes. A complete list of wastes that are and are not accepted is available online at https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/waste-management/waste-disposal/household-hazardous-waste/acceptable-wastes.html.
Our area collection will take place in Mattoon on Saturday, October 3, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the
Coles County Memorial Airport
432 Airport Road
Mattoon, IL 61938
For more information about the Mattoon event, contact the Coles County Regional Planning & Development Commission at 217-348-0521
Illinois EPA provides the following tips to safely transport household hazardous waste:

Pack HHW items in a disposable box to avoid spilling during transport.
Keep like chemicals together and separate unlike chemicals.
Secure lids and make sure containers are not leaking.
Place box(es) in the empty trunk or storage compartment of your vehicle, away from passengers.
Remain in vehicle at the collection site. On-site personnel will remove the HHW from your vehicle.

For questions concerning the Illinois EPA’s one-day or long-term collections, please contact the Illinois EPA Materials Management Unit at 217-524-3300. The HHW collection schedule is also available on the Illinois EPA website at https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/waste-management/waste-disposal/household-hazardous-waste/collections.html. Illinois EPA HHW collections continue to be contactless for the safety of participants and workers. Collection events are funded through the Illinois EPA’s Solid Waste Management Fund.

On-Site Microchipping at E.A.R.S.
2026-10-10
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On-site microchipping at the EARS office in Effingham.
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon, on Saturday, October 10.
No appointment needed.
No geography or number limit.
No cost * But freewill donations are appreciated.

Car Show at Shelbyville Scarecrow Daze
2026-10-10

HSHS Women's Health Showcase
2026-10-15
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Tickets are available now for one of HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital’s most popular fall events, the 2026 Women’s Health Showcase. With a change from previous years, the event will be held at the Effingham Performance Center on Thursday, Oct. 15. This is the fifth annual event – an unforgettable evening honoring women, celebrating connection, inspiring growth and reminding every woman of the incredible impact she carries.
Doors open at 5 p.m. with an elevated social experience from 5 to 7 p.m. to start the evening with shopping, conversation and indulgence:

The first 600 guests receive an exclusive custom gift from The Beanstalk Boutique, courtesy of HSHS.
Enjoy upscale hors d’oeuvres and desserts, plus chocolate samplings from Blackbird Chocolate Company and bakery masterpieces from Lisa’s Pastry Sensations.
Visit the “Ask the Expert” Wellness Lounge, an intimate space where women can ask HSHS St. Anthony’s experts about pelvic floor health, a topic affecting women at every stage of life.
Meet Jodi Waymoth, founder of Fear Nothing, and learn how the organization supports area families affected by cancer.
Shop fresh-baked treats and custom orders from Lisa’s Pastry Sensations, permanent jewelry from Weber’s Jewelry & Gifts, and build-your-own floral arrangements from Creekside Blooms.
More than 10 guests will win prizes throughout the evening.

Entertainment begins at 7 p.m. with the following line-up:

A showstopping performance from local talent Jamie Stang, who will set the stage for an unforgettable night.
Comedic entertainment from Jesse Tuttle, Founder and Head of C-U Comedy based in Champaign. Tuttle has performed in more than 20 states at comedy clubs, wineries, event centers and comedy tours nationwide.
The laughter continues with nationally recognized New York comedian and writer Kevin McCaffrey. McCaffrey made his network television debut on “The Late Show with David Letterman” and currently appears on truTV’s “Greatest Ever,” “World’s Dumbest,” and “Comedy Knockout,” where he is a two-time defending champion.
The keynote speaker is Lori A. Kerans, Division III National Championship Coach and breast cancer survivor. Over 32 years as Millikin University’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach, the Newton, Illinois native became the school’s all-time winningest coach and captured a 2005 Division III National Championship. She broke barriers as the first female Athletic Director in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and now serves as Millikin’s Vice President for Athletics and Community Engagement. Her message for the evening will challenge and inspire everyone to embrace courage, lead with authenticity, support one another, and recognize that women are capable of extraordinary impact.
The night will conclude with one final surprise. Don’t leave early.

Tickets are now on sale for $20 at the Effingham Performance Center box office, 1325 Outer Belt West, Effingham, during business hours, online at their website at the-epc.org, or at stanthonyshospital.org/showcase.
For more information about the event, visit stanthonyshospital.org/showcase.
