Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How do St. Joseph school administrator salaries compare across Illinois?
Also, don't miss Varsity Volleyball @ Plainfield North on the Champaign Patch calendar
Hey there, Champaign! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How do St. Joseph school administrator salaries compare across Illinois?
- See how Krannert's new ceramics exhibit reshapes Champaign's art scene
- Where Champaign County drivers found the cheapest E15 gas this month
Today's riddle: What is the difference between a jeweler and a jailer? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Thursday: Mostly sunny and humid, with a high of 81 and low of 57 degrees.
- Friday: Partly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 82, low: 55.
- Saturday: Sunshine and pleasant, with a high of 81 and low of 61 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. St. Joseph Community Consolidated School District 169 administrators rank 271st highest in state for average salary in 2025 (chambanasun.com) — Champaign County residents in St. Joseph's District 169 can see that administrators now earn an average of $122,917, up 7.2% from last year but slightly below the state average. The district serves 761 students, giving it a much higher student-to-administrator ratio than Illinois overall. Statewide data also show ongoing educator and administrator shortages that could affect local hiring. 
2. Krannert Art Museum exhibit traces midcentury ceramics (jg-tc.com) — Champaign art lovers can explore midcentury studio ceramics at Krannert Art Museum's new "Centering Clay" exhibition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, opening Aug. 27 and running through Dec. 23. The show highlights influential artists, U of I's historic ceramics program, and connections between clay and glass. Related events include a Sept. 19 artist talk and a small-group clay workshop on Oct. 10.
3. Champaign County sees lowest price for E15 gas at $4.03 in week ending Aug. 15 (chambanasun.com) — Drivers in Champaign County saw the lowest reported E15 gas price at $4.03 per gallon during the week ending Aug. 15, with a countywide average of $4.11. Only two of 66 reported stations offered E15, while statewide prices matched the $4.03 mark amid broader refinery and global oil market pressures.
4. Man pleads guilty to 2nd-degree murder in deadly Urbana shooting (wcia.com) — A man has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with a January shooting on Ellis Drive in Urbana that killed 52-year-old Benancio Crowley of Champaign. Prosecutors in Champaign County say six other charges will be dismissed at next month's sentencing, after police arrested the suspect in Champaign with SWAT assistance.
5. Pamela Kaye 'Pam' Araiza, 68 (effinghamradio.com) — Family and friends in Champaign are among those mourning Pamela Kaye "Pam" Araiza, whose daughter Siarra lives here. Pam, 68, of Effingham, was a devoted mother, grandmother, and homemaker who loved horses, oil painting, thrift hunting, and staying stylish. She is remembered by her children, many grandchildren, and siblings across Illinois and Florida.
📸 Around Champaign
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 Champaign
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
- Varsity Volleyball @ Plainfield North
Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
5:00 pm - Varsity Football vs. Normal West
Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
7:00 pm - Trivia Night @The Scratching Post CU! →
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce The Scratching Post is Champaign's Cat & Board Game Cafe. Enjoy our light snack and drink menu, purchase a game pass to access our massive library of 500+ board games, or make a reservation to visit our cat lounge where 20+ adoptable cats are waiting
7:00 pm - Freshman Volleyball @ Mahomet
Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
8:00 am - Varsity Volleyball @ Plainfield North
Central High School Champaign, IL 61820
8:00 am - Board Game Demo Days @The Scratching Post CU!
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce The Scratching Post is Champaign's Cat & Board Game Cafe. Enjoy our light snack and drink menu, purchase a game pass to access our massive library of 500+ board games, or make a reservation to visit our cat lounge where 20+ adoptable cats are waiting
2:00 pm - D&D Night @The Scratching Post CU! →
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce The Scratching Post is Champaign's Cat & Board Game Cafe. Enjoy our light snack and drink menu, purchase a game pass to access our massive library of 500+ board games, or make a reservation to visit our cat lounge where 20+ adoptable cats are waiting
6:00 pm - Musical Workshops
Centennial High School Auditorium
4:00 pm
Friday August 28
Saturday August 29
Monday August 31
📣 Champaign 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
- SOFTBALL vs. Franklin
Jefferson Middle School Champaign, IL 61821
4:00 pm - Knights SB-MS Girls @ Jefferson Middle School (Game) →
Franklin Middle School Away - JEFFERSON MIDDLE SCHOOL
4:00 pm - Girls BB Open Gym
International Prep Academy Champaign, IL 61821
4:00 pm - Cross Country-MS @ Danville NorthRidge (Game) →
Franklin Middle School Away - DANVILLE NORTHRIDGE
4:00 pm
Thursday August 27
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
- This post may seem weird, but..
there is a house with a beautiful porch on Draper, very near the corner of church and Draper. The house is blue, the porch has a beautiful wood door… (Nextdoor Glenn Park) - Has anyone seen a dark brown ferret at Robison neighborhood near the creek?
I thought that's what I saw a few days ago on my neighbors yard. They're carnivores, maybe that's why I have not seen much of rabbits around… (Nextdoor Robeson Park)
- Plastipak Packaging, Inc. posted a job opening for Machine Operator - Night Shift in Champaign. Apply here.
- BoxLunch / Hot Topic posted a job opening for Part-Time Assistant Manager - Level 1 in Champaign. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Champaign here.
Ok Champaign! 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: A jeweler sells watches and a jailer watches cells. (Thank you Jean D. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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