Community Corner

🌱 Planning to bid on Lake Land’s new EV charger project?

Also check out ISD Boys Varsity Basketball @ MCA on the Mattoon Patch calendar

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Thursday December 11th Patch AM
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Hi there, Mattoon! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Planning to bid on Lake Land’s new EV charger project?
  • Why a Mattoon pastor is being held without pretrial release
  • When national midget racing storms into Mattoon’s Coles County Speedway in 2026

Also on today's calendar: Mahomet-Seymour Boys JV Basketball @ Mattoon and 5 more events.

Find out what's happening in Mattoonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Mattoonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Thursday: Cloudy, cold; a p.m. flurry, with a high of 30 and low of 27 degrees.
  • Friday: Cold; breezy in the afternoon, temps: high: 30, low: 10. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Saturday: Frigid with snow, with a high of 13 and low of -9 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Lake Land College Bids for Project No. 2025-024 – Effingham Technology Center EV Charger Project (breezecourier.com) — Lake Land College in Mattoon is seeking sealed bids for an EV charger project at its Effingham Technology Center, with submissions due December 22 at Neal Hall on campus. Local contractors and vendors are invited to review bid requirements, attend the public opening, and must follow prevailing wage rules and state business enterprise guidelines.
   

2. Mattoon pastor faces court on Class X felony charge of child pornography (newschannel20.com) — A local pastor from Mattoon has been ordered held without pretrial release after prosecutors filed a Class X felony child pornography charge and a petition to deny his release. The court set a preliminary hearing for December 15, and the judge outlined possible penalties and his right to appeal the detention order.
   

3. Schedule Drop! 29 Races Revealed for 2026 USAC Midget Trail (speedwaydigest.com) — Race fans in Mattoon can circle August 14–15, 2026, when the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship makes its first-ever stop at Coles County Speedway for two nights of “King of Coles” action. The newly released 29-race national schedule spans April through November across several states, but Mattoon’s debut stands out as a major draw for local dirt-track enthusiasts.
   

4. Cross-Country runners honored at Alton Road Runners Club Banquet (timestribunenews.com) — High school cross-country runners from around the region, including one who competed at the Class AA sectional meet in Mattoon, were honored at the Alton Road Runners Club banquet. Triad’s Caden Meier and Abby James were among 30 athletes recognized, each receiving awards and gifts during the Nov. 30 event in Alton.
   

📸 Around Mattoon

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • TJX Companies, Inc. posted a job opening for Part Time Retail Associate in Mattoon. Apply here.
  • Illinois Association Of School posted a job opening for Williams Elementary School Principal (Starting the 2026-2027 School Year) in Mattoon. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Mattoon here.

Ok Mattoon! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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