Effingham, Illinois? (Southern)

[FINFAN]

The employment saga continues...DH rec'd a call from a manufacturer downstate Il., and I can't find much about the area. We currently live in a town w/a population of 130,000 and Effingham is about 12,000. Quite a switch. Does anyone know anything about it? I know the salary will be almost 1/2 of what we were used to, but we can't be too choosey right now. It is a tough call tho, with a 3rd and 7th grader. I have found the basic web-site info but was looking for that human outlook. If anyone knows anyone or has any info I would appreciate it, good and bad.
TIA,
Pam
I guess the good thing is it's 4 hours closer to WDW than wher we are right now

 

[LauraC]

I live in Effingham, Illinois. Just p.m. me or e-mail me with any questions. There is a NewComers Club here that many who have moved to the area have found very beneficial. I have a 5th and 6th grader.

Just let me know what I can do to help!

 

[December99]

Pam...Effingham is actually a nice little area. The job growth down there is not great so him finding a job there probably is awesome. About an hour south of there is a great state park - Rend Lake and there are also some nice wineries around there

I am actually going to be probably stopping there on Friday night to get gas (that's usually our spot before Mt. Vernon) so if I see any brochures or some home guides or something, I'll grab them and get in touch with you and send them to you. It really is a nice area. I don't know much about the schools but I'll ask dh if he has heard anything about the schools down there. I'll also try to take some pics of the interstate area as we are going through - might be kinda dark though.

I'll see what I can find while I'm going through there. I'll look on the web for ya too!

 

[December99]

Hey you two - you also know you aren't far from the Chicago area DIS meets!!!! ROFL....glad someone is on here that lives there. Laura will probably be able to offer more than I could probably find for ya.

 

[LauraC]

LOL, December 99! All of the Chicago meets so far have fallen on weekends when we have had other plans... but I'll make it to one someday!

The nice thing about Effingham is that we are at the intersection of interstates 57 and 70, which gives us straight interstate access to St. Louis (1 1/2 hours), Indy (2 hours) and Chicago (4 hours). We have that small town feel while having direct access to major metropolitan areas. Very convenient for DIS Meets!

FINFAN, Effingham has a brand new public high school and the local catholic high school is doing some major renovations including a huge addition which will be ready when school opens this Fall.

Let me know if you have any specific questions, Ill be more than happy to answer them. And if you happen to come down to check the area out, I'd be more than happy to play "tour guide"!

(OT: I haven't posted for awhile and just noticed that my post count is low again! )

 

[FINFAN]

Thank you both SO much....I was getting a real sinking feeling when I couldn't locate much info. What I did find was positive, but just not that much. This is so scary...but we are trying to see the up-side. DH didn't lock it in yet, they were jolted a bit by his salary...but we are flexible as 1/2 pay is better than no pay...especially insurance!
I'll be in touch!
Pam

 

[December99]

And St. Louis is an absolutely awesome town!!!! We are hoping to get down there during Labor Day Weekend to visit my brother who just recently moved there. Lots to do in St. Lou.

 

[LisaRay]

Wow, I'm from Shelbyville which is about 30 minutes from effingham and just wanted to say hi. I didn't realize there were others here from this area.

 

[Patrick IL.]

My kids are both down in Charleston..EIU, I always saw the signs for Effingham on 57..I think its about another hour south or so.

 

[LauraC]

LisaRay -- Hi! My sister lives in Shelbyville. I'm in your town frequently. We may just have to have a "local" DIS Meet!

Patrick IL -- I'm an EIU grad myself. My college roommate was from Naperville. Effingham is about 1/2 hour south of the Charleston IL exit.

 

[Mom2Em]

If you have a "local " DIS meet let me know... I'm not far!! Brother and SIL went to EIU so we made many a trips through Amish country to see them!

 

[LauraC]

Mom2Em: Sounds good! I'm sure we could find a location to have one in central or southern Illinois that would be convenient for everyone sometime this summer! You know, since Effingham is such a small town, if we held a DIS Meet here it would probably make the front page of the local newspaper!