AYCE Fish Fry at Edgewood Legion
2026-02-20
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Bee School with Crossroads Beekeepers
2026-02-21
PrintOn Saturday, February 21st from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Crossroads Beekeepers will be holding their annual bee school at the University of Illinois Extension Center, at 1209 North Wenthe in Effingham. This year’s bee school is for anyone interested in beekeeping and will focus on basic skills and information needed for the beginning beekeeper.
Class topics include Understanding the Honeybee, Hive Components and Equipment, Getting and Feeding Your First Bees, and Your First Year of Beekeeping.
In addition to the speakers, there will be educational displays created by club members and live demonstrations on lighting a smoker and extracting honey from frames.
Doors will open for check-in at 8:15am. The first session will start at 9:00am and the school will finish at 4:00pm
The cost to attend this all-day bee school is $35.00 and includes the classes, presentation handouts, sample copies of beekeeping journals, refreshments and a catered lunch. Those registered for the Beginning Beekeeping workshop will also receive the book “First Lessons in Beekeeping”. Registration deadline is Wednesday, February 11th.
For more information and to registration for the bee school, visit the club’s website at http://crossroads.clubexpress.com .
Crossroads Beekeepers is a local beekeeping club based in Effingham and has been serving area beekeepers since 2010. Club meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the basement of the University of Illinois Extension Center.
For more information regarding the bee school, please contact Larry Quicksall at 217-347-5937.

Sweet 'Hearts' Night Out - Effingham Sportsbackers
2026-02-21

Meat Shoot at Edgewood
2026-02-21

Saturday's Schedule
2026-02-21
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Wrestling
State, TBA
Track
Cumberland at Mount Zion Indoor Meet, TBA
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Volleyball
National Trail Conference Eighth-Grade Tournament
At Windsor
New Gym
Match 5 — South Central vs. Winner Match 1, 9 a.m.
Match 7 — Sigel St. Michael vs. Winner Match 2, 10 a.m.
Match 9 — Loser Match 5 vs. Loser Match 7, 11 a.m.
Match 11 — Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 7, 12:30 p.m.
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)
Old Gym
Match 6 — North Clay vs. Winner Game 3, 9 a.m.
Match 8 — Cumberland vs. Winner Match 4, 10 a.m.
Match 10 — Loser Match 6 vs. Loser Match 8, 11 a.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)
St. Anthony, Teutopolis (eighth only) at Effingham Side-Out Seventh & Eighth-Grade Tournament, 9 a.m.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
University of Illinois at UCLA, 7 p.m.
Southern Indiana at Eastern Illinois University, 3:30 p.m.
NASCAR
Bennett Transportaiton and Logistics 250 at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, 3:30 p.m.

Raffle And Bingo For Bows
2026-02-22

Sunday's Schedule
2026-02-22
PrintNASCAR
Autotrader 400 at EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Teutopolis Boys Golf Raffle of Cardinals Green Seats
2026-02-22
PrintTeutopolis Boys Golf is selling raffle tickets to win 4 Cardinals Green Seats. This includes the Cardinals Club Buffett, a Parking Pass, and In-Seat Food and Beverage.
The game is TBD.
Raffle Tickets are: 1/$20, 3/$50, or 7/$100. They’ll be available until close to Opening Day, March 26.
To get your chances, reach out to Mike Wilson, who accepts Venmo @MikeWils13. Will need your name and cellphone number.
Thanks for your support of Teutopolis Boys Golf!

Basket Binga for Stew-Stras Post Prom
2026-02-22
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There will be 20 unique baskets to win.
Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase.

Red Cross Blood Drives in February
2026-02-23, 2026-02-24, 2026-02-26
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.

Monday's Schedule
2026-02-23
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Class 1A Casey-Westfield Regional
Game 1 – Chrisman at Casey-Westfield, 6 p.m.
Game 2 – Broadlands Heritage at Arcola, 6 p.m.
Game 3 – Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond at Cumberland, 6:30 p.m.
Game 4 – Neoga at Moweaqua Central A&M, 6 p.m.
Class 1A Tuscola Regional
Game 1 – Martinsville at Tuscola, 6 p.m.
Game 2 – Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City at Hume Shiloh Co-op, 6 p.m.
Game 3 – Villa Grove at Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg, 6 p.m.
Game 4 – Macon Meridian at Bethany Okaw Valley, 6 p.m.
Class 1A North Clay Regional
Game 1 – Ramsey Co-op at Lawrenceville, 6 p.m.
Game 2 – Patoka Co-op at Red Hill (Bridgeport), 6:30 p.m.
Game 3 – South Central at North Clay, 7 p.m.
Game 4 – Grayville at Dieterich, 6 p.m.
Class 1A Altamont Regional
Game 1 – Centralia Christ Our Rock Lutheran at Bluford (Webber Township), 7 p.m.
Game 2 – Wayne City at St. Elmo/Brownstown, 6 p.m.
Game 3 – Sandoval at Altamont, 6:30 p.m.
Game 4 – Cisne at Edwards County (Albion), 7 p.m.
Class 2A Vandalia Regional
Game 1 – Flora at Vandalia, 6 p.m.
Game 2 – Olney at Effingham, 6 p.m.
Class 2A Robinson Regional
Game 1 – Robinson at Mount Carmel, 6 p.m.
Game 2 – Hutsonville/Palestine/Oblong at Newton, 6:30 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Volleyball
Cumberland at Altamont, 4:30 p.m.
Sigel St. Michael at Teutopolis, 4:30 p.m.
Olney at Jasper County, 4:30 p.m.
North Clay at Flora Floyd Henson, 4:45 p.m.
St. Elmo/Brownstown at Neoga, 4:30 p.m.
Windsor at Arcola, 6 p.m.

Cooking Across Continents Program
2026-02-24
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You can register for one session or any number of them. This program will run on the dates linked below:

September 30, 2025: go.illinois.edu/HomeSchoolCooking93025
October 28, 2025: go.illinois.edu/HomeSchoolCooking102825
January 27, 2026: go.illinois.edu/HomeSchoolCooking012725
February 24, 2026: go.illinois.edu/HomeSchoolCooking022426
March 24, 2026: go.illinois.edu/HomeSchoolCooking032826
April 28, 2026: go.illinois.edu/HomeSchoolCooking042826
May 19, 2026: go.illinois.edu/HomeSchoolCooking051926

Elks Trade Scholarship Available
2026-02-24

Open House - St. John's Eagle's Nest Preschool
2026-02-24

Free Tax Preparation with Catholic Charities
2026-02-24, 2026-02-25, 2026-02-26

Tuesday's Schedule
2026-02-24
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Girls Basketball
Class 1A Argenta-Oreana Sectional
Game 1 –Mount Pulaski vs. Hume Shiloh, 6 p.m.
Game 2 – Catlin Salt Fork vs. Cumberland, 7:30 p.m. (LISTEN ON 979XFM)
Class 1A Wayne City Sectional
Game 1 – Brownstown/St. Elmo vs. Christopher, 6 p.m.
Game 2 – Sesser Valier vs. Edwards County (Albion), 7:30 p.m.
Class 2A Olney Sectional
Game 1 — Paris vs. Olney, Richland County, 6 p.m.
Game 2– Mount Carmel vs. Teutopolis, 7:30 p.m. (LISTEN ON KJ COUNTRY 102.3)
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Volleyball
Effingham at Mattoon, 5 p.m.
Effingham Sacred Heart at Mattoon St. John’s, 6 p.m.
Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City at Altamont, 4:15 p.m.
Cumberland at Dieterich, 4:30 p.m.
Neoga at Casey-Westfield, 4:30 p.m.
North Clay at Jasper County, 6 p.m.
Martinsville at Sigel St. Michael, 6 p.m.
Stewardson Trinity Lutheran at Teutopolis, 4:30 p.m.
Windsor at Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond, 6 p.m.

Volunteer Walkers/Visitors at Memory Care Facility
2026-02-25
PrintVolunteers are needed to walk with, or even just visit with, residents at Willowbrook Memory Care Facility in Effingham, on weekends.
If interested, call Molly Fearday at 217-994-3364.

Bald Eagle Days at Pere Marquette State Park
2026-02-25, 2026-02-26, 2026-02-27
PrintHave you ever seen America’s national bird, the bald eagle? Soaring on a 6 to 7 1/2 foot wing-span, eagles are magnificent! It is not necessary to travel all the way to Canada to see these fabulous creatures. Pere Marquette State Park is fortunate to play host to the winter season visitors. Eagles may be spotted in the trees along the Illinois River from now through March.
Pere Marquette State Park will be presenting informative programs about bald eagles this winter. Visitors will learn to distinguish between immature and mature bald eagles, what eagles eat, why they spend winter months in the area, and much more. All programs will begin at the park’s visitor center at 8:30 A.M. (Reservations Required) There will be a video presentation and program followed by an observational drive to view the wintering bald eagles. Please be sure to dress warmly, have a full tank of gas, and bring binoculars!
* Programs are from 8:30 AM until 4:00 PM at the Pere Marquette Park Visitor’s Center
* Wear warm clothes, water/mud resistant shoes, and don’t forget your binoculars and camera!
* Reservations are required – call 618-786-3323 ext. 1 to reserve your spot!
Bald Eagle Days Tour Schedule:
Friday, January 30
Monday, February 2
Tuesday, February 3
Wednesday, February 4
Wednesday, February 18
Thursday, February 19
Friday, February 20
Wednesday, February 25
Thursday, February 26
Friday, February 27
Friday, March 6
Pere Marquette State Park is located at 13112 Visitor Center Lane, Grafton, Illinois 62037.

CASA Volunteers Needed
2026-02-25
PrintThe start of a new year often comes with a list of resolutions. New Year’s resolutions are different for everyone, but one of the most common is to live a healthier lifestyle. If you’re hoping to improve your physical and mental health, there’s one option that often gets overlooked and benefits others: volunteering.
Volunteering and helping others has been found to benefit both physical and mental health, and there are a variety of options in our community. If you’re looking for a new way to make changes in your life and in the lives of others, consider resolving to help children and families in the child welfare system by volunteering with CASA for Kids.
As of January, 682 children are currently in the child welfare system in CASA for Kid’s service area, including Clay, Clinton, Edwards, Effingham, Fayette, Franklin, Jasper, Hamilton, Marion, Wayne, and White Counties. These children have been removed from their homes and placed in foster care, sometimes far away from their families and communities. They need a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer to stand by their side and advocate for them.
“Children in foster care are often separated from their families, siblings, friends and other loved ones, and placed in an unfamiliar setting far away from everything they know,” said Zoe Bridges, Volunteer Outreach Coordinator of CASA for Kids. “CASA volunteers stand with them during this uncertain time, providing a consistent presence and speaking up for their best interest in court, school and other settings.”
CASA volunteers are everyday members of the community who are recruited, screened and trained to advocate for a child or sibling group in foster care. They get to know the child on an individual level so that they can make sure their physical, emotional and educational needs are met.
They also get to know the child’s parents, family, foster parents and other important people in their life, with the goal of working towards reunifying the child with their parents whenever safe and possible. They help make sure children have a support system of family and other reliable, committed adults who can help them both during and after their time in foster care.
CASA for Kids served 506 children in 2025 with the help of 95 CASA volunteers. CASA is always seeking more community members to step up and advocate.
“Volunteering with CASA is an opportunity unlike any other,” said Bridges. “It’s a unique chance to make a true, positive difference for a young person and their family. We need more members of the community to join the CASA movement so that we can serve 100% of children in foster care in our communities.”
In the New Year, consider becoming a CASA volunteer and make an impact in a child’s life, and your own. Every child has a chance – it’s you.
If you’d like to find out more about becoming a CASA volunteer or other ways to get involved, visit casa4change.org or email zbridges@casa4change.org.

Wednesday's Schedule
2026-02-25
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Boys Basketball
Class 1A Casey-Westfield Regional
Game 5 – Casey-Westfield vs. Broadlands Heritage, 6 p.m.
Game 6 – Cumberland vs. Central A&M, 7:30 p.m.
Class 1A Tuscola Regional
Game 5 – Tuscola vs. Hume Shiloh, 6 p.m.
Game 6 – Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg vs. Macon Meridian, 7:30 p.m.
Class 1A North Clay Regional
Game 5 – Lawrenceville vs. Red Hill (Bridgeport), 6 p.m.
Game 6 – North Clay vs. Dieterich, 7:30 p.m.
Class 1A Altamont Regional
Game 5 – Webber Township (Bluford) vs. Wayne City, 6 p.m.
Game 6 – Altamont vs. Edwards County (Albion), 7:30 p.m.
Class 2A Vandalia Regional
Game 3 – Effingham St. Anthony vs. Vandalia, 6 p.m.
Game 4 — Fairfield vs. Olney, 7:30 p.m.
Class 2A Robinson Regional
Game 3 — Teutopolis vs. Mount Carmel, 6 p.m.
Game 4 – Salem vs. Newton, 7:30 p.m.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Volleyball
Shelbyville Moulton at Effingham, 4:30 p.m.
Salem Franklin Park at Altamont, 4:15 p.m.
Dieterich at St. Elmo/Brownstown, 6:15 p.m.
Okaw Valley at Windsor, 4:30 p.m.

‘Cram the Cars’ for Catholic Charities Food Pantry
2026-02-26
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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.

Trinity Class Trip Fundraiser
2026-02-26

Thursday's Schedule
2026-02-26
PrintHIGH SCHOOL
Girls Basketball
Class 1A Argenta-Oreana Sectional
Mount Pulaski vs. Cumberland, 6 p.m. (championship) (LISTEN ON 979XFM)
Class 1A Wayne City Sectional
Brownstown/St. Elmo vs. Edwards County (Albion), 6:30 p.m. (championship)
Class 2A Olney Sectional
Paris vs. Teutopolis, 6 p.m. (championship) (LISTEN ON KJ COUNTRY 102.3)
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Volleyball
Effingham at Cumberland, 4:30 p.m.
St. Anthony at Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City, 4:15 p.m.
Sigel St. Michael at Altamont Lutheran, 4:30 p.m.
Neoga at North Clay, 4:30 p.m.
Teutopolis at Newton St. Thomas, 4:30 p.m.
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Eastern Illinois University at Lindenwood, 7:30 p.m.

A.Y.C.E. Fish Fry for Dieterich Fire Protection District
2026-02-27
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This is located at 100 Zumbahlen Avenue in Dieterich.
