🌱 Where EIU is sending new teachers—including one right in Charleston.

Good morning Charleston! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Where EIU is sending new teachers—including one right in Charleston.
• How an EIU grad is reshaping career pathways from Chicago’s South Side.

Also on today's calendar: Indie Author Book Expo and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: Why did the cookie go to the Doctor ? 🤔 (Answer below!)

---

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Some rain and a thunderstorm, with a high of 79 and low of 66 degrees.
• Friday: Humid with a thunderstorm, temps: high: 84, low: 67.
• Saturday: Humid with a stray t-storm, with a high of 86 and low of 68 degrees. 🌶 Hot!

---

📰 News we're reading

• Eiu students secure teaching residencies across Illinois (jg-tc.com) — Eastern Illinois University, based in Charleston, is placing 90 graduate students in yearlong teaching residencies across Illinois, including one special education placement right here in Charleston. The program aims to ease teacher shortages while giving candidates intensive classroom experience in high-demand fields like special education, math, and science, all rooted in EIU’s Charleston campus.
   

• EIU alumna Kimberly Hollingsworth leads change at Olive-Harvey (jg-tc.com) — From her start at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Dr. Kimberly Hollingsworth now leads Olive-Harvey College in Chicago, building job-focused programs from cannabis studies to aviation. Her work highlights how EIU-trained leaders are shaping workforce pipelines, social equity initiatives, and economic mobility across Illinois while reflecting values she says were strengthened in Charleston.
   

---

📸 Around Charleston

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

---

🗓 Upcoming Events in Charleston

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday August 7

• Jay Daniels →
  Mattoon Public Library, 1600 Charleston Ave, Mattoon
  5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

---

Other local events

Friday August 7

• Kindergarten: Make New Friends Fridays
  Charleston CUSD 1 1021 13th St, Charleston, IL 61920, USA
  10:00 am

Monday August 10

• Teacher's Institute-No student attendance
  Charleston CUSD 1 Charleston, IL 61920

Tuesday August 11

• First Day of School for Students
  Charleston CUSD 1 Charleston, IL 61920

Saturday August 15

• Read to a Therapy dog
  Charleston Carnegie Public Library 712 Sixth Street, Charleston, IL 61920
  10:30 am

Friday August 21

• Indie Author Book Expo →
  Charleston Carnegie Public Library, 6th St & Van Buren Ave, Charleston
  11:00 am
• Robinson Varsity Football @ Charleston →
  Charleston High School, 1615 Lincoln Ave, Charleston
  7:00 pm

Saturday August 22

• Mattoon Fire Department →
  Eagle's Club, 1917 Oak Ave, Mattoon
  6:00 pm

---

📣 Charleston Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

---

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday August 6

• 6th Grade Discovery Day
  Arland D Williams Jr Elem Sch 1200 S 9th St, Mattoon, IL 61938, USA
  10:00 am

Tuesday August 11

• Kindergarten Orientation (Williams and Riddle Elementary Schools)
  Mattoon CUSD 2 Mattoon, IL 61938
• LIFT Student & Parent Orientation Night
  Mattoon CUSD 2 1701 Charleston Ave, Mattoon, IL 61938, USA
  6:00 pm
• Williams Elementary 1st-5th Orientation
  Mattoon CUSD 2 1709 S 9th St, Mattoon, IL 61938, USA
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

---

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

---

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• All Ways Caring HomeCare posted a job opening for Caregiver in Charleston. Apply here.
• Domino's Pizza posted a job opening for Customer Service Rep (09184)- 667 Lincoln Ave in Charleston. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Charleston here.

---

🗞 Nearby News

Mattoon

• New district leaders support Mattoon students in 2026-27 (jg-tc.com)
• Mattoon Public Library presents Beatles-themed music program on Aug. 7 (jg-tc.com)
• Coles County Relay For Life Returns To Peterson Park! (myradiolink.com)

Casey

• Richard Lee Brayfield – Casey, IL (formerly of Sesser, IL) (franklincounty-news.com)

---

Ok Charleston! 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: Because he felt CRUMMY ! (Thank you Michelle S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

---

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

---

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook