•May 20, 2026•

Neoga senior Ayden White has yet to earn his high school diploma, but he’s already built the foundation of a high-demand career. Thanks to a unique partnership with Lake Land College, Ayden is turning his last semester of high school into a pathway toward earning a Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL). 

Ayden is one of several local students enrolled this semester in Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Theory, a dual credit course designed to equip high schoolers with the career-ready skills to operate tractor-trailers, flatbeds, livestock carriers, and other heavy-duty vehicles. Held in the Lake Land College Effingham Technology Center, the course is available to high schoolers through a partnership with Creating Opportunities for Regional Employment (CORE), which provides free career exploration classes for students across 16 local high schools. “My grandpa owns a trucking business in Decatur, and I want to work for him when I graduate, so I was pretty excited to learn about this class,” Ayden explained. “You learn a lot about the road rules, and you realize just how much different it all is from driving a car.”

•May 20, 2026•

A botanical evening  Master Gardeners have announced a ‘Botanical Evening in the Garden’, Thursday, June 18th, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The event will be held in the Idea Garden at Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital.  Participants are invited to stroll through the garden and learn about the plants, design, and care behind this special space from the Master Gardeners who tend it and enjoy samples of botanical teas and garden-inspired snacks—infused with herbs, fruits, and edible flowers grown right in the garden. See what’s new in the garden; even if you joined us last year, you’ll notice some exciting changes. Some of the spaces have been redesigned with new features and fresh ideas to inspire, making this year’s experience not to be missed. Whether a plant enthusiast, casual gardener, or looking for a peaceful way to spend your evening, this event offers a perfect blend of education, flavor, and community. The Idea Garden is located near the emergency department entrance on the west side of the hospital, 1000 Health Center Drive, Mattoon. Register for this free event at https://go.illinois.edu/BotanicalEvening by June 12th.

2016

National Nursing Home Week brought a variety of activities to area facilities. The sounds of laughter arrived when Mason Point residents in Sullivan met Deborah Joy Hart. Hart, a laughter therapist, was part of the World Laughter Tour and stopped by Mason Point for you guessed it, a few laughs.

After experiencing rising costs in services with Aramark, ALAH questioned the possibility of finding alternatives. The new 2016-17 contract with a 2.6% increase due to cost of living was brought to the table at the last ALAH Board meeting. “With new regulations and menus that came in over the last few years, it would have been a huge undertaking to find other companies”, commented Superintendent Kenny Schwengel.