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Report reveals lacking evidence of adequate care at Bon Air youth prison

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CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. — A new extensive report from Virginia’s watchdog agency resulted in lacking evidence that residents at Bon Air Juvenile Correction Center have been receiving adequate care, according to the Office of the State Inspector General (OSIG).

While the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) has characterized the report’s findings as documentation based and having no impact on actual resident outcomes, one advocate described them as affirming of the complaints that advocacy groups have been raising for more than a year.

“The dedicated staff at Bon Air JCC have long-suffered misconceptions and unsubstantiated allegations from entities lacking in-depth knowledge of the workings of the Department or Bon Air. It is refreshing to see, that even after a large team of people dedicated months solely to reviewing the activities at Bon Air, many of the allegations lobbed against the facility and facility staff were unsubstantiated,” DJJ said in a written statement upon the release of the report.

“My first reaction was relief — relief that the voices of the families, the voices of the residents, and even staff members were finally being validated,” said Valerie Slater, who leads the nonprofit group RISE for Youth.

Valerie Slater

WTVR

Valerie Slater

Bon Air, located in Chesterfield County, serves as Virginia’s only youth prison. It houses about 180 young people aged 14-20 who have been convicted of mostly serious crimes. According to DJJ Director Amy Floriano, 76% of the population have committed crimes against another person.

Over the past year, some advocates, lawmakers, and even local emergency officials have raised public concerns about perceived safety issues within the facility. CBS 6 previously reported on 2024 evaluation of Bon Air by external consultants that revealed “critically low staffing levels” had led to unsatisfied employees, increased confinement among residents, limited rehabilitative programming, and unsafe conditions.

Local News

Report: ‘Critical’ staff shortage, lack of programming at Bon Air youth prison

Responding in part to what they characterized as “disturbing reports,” state lawmakers on the Commission on Youth in April requested an independent investigation of the conditions at Bon Air. In May, Governor Glenn Youngkin directed the inspector general’s office to complete a special review of the facility’s operations.

The scope of the audit was contained to reviewing “operations, adequacy of staffing, resident programming, and resident mental health services.” The OSIG team analyzed data from July 2024 through August 2025, and staff performed unannounced inspections from June 2025 through October 2025.

OSIG’s final report showed there was lacking evidence to prove staff at Bon Air were performing wellness checks on youth confined in their rooms as required, lacking documentation to show that residents were getting daily exercise, and limited mental health services being provided to youth.

Inspectors found therapeutic services were not provided in a timely or appropriate fashion, due to insufficient clinical staff, which may compromise rehabilitative outcomes.

Of resident records reviewed by OSIG:

  • 100% did not receive all their sex offender group treatment sessions
  • 82% did not receive all their individual therapy sessions
  • 67% did not receive substance abuse therapy appropriately and on time
  • 64% did not receive aggression management therapy appropriately and on time

“By not providing therapeutic services in a timely and appropriate manner, treatment integrity and resident rehabilitation outcomes are comprised, potentially delaying progress, increasing the risk of behavioral relapse, and reducing Bon Air’s ability to meet its clinical and rehabilitative mandates,” the report stated.

In response to this finding, DJJ referred to those risks as “speculated outcomes” and emphasized the identified gaps were based on documentation rather than actual resident outcomes. Additionally, the agency said documentation does not reflect that delivery of programs can be impacted by the fluid nature of individualized mental health treatment and that desginated officials can waive DJJ procedures when necessary.

However, Slater had a different takeaway from the finding.

“What it tells me is that they are not effectively providing services, and if you are not providing services, how can you then claim to be effectively rehabilitating young people?” Slater said.

Sen. Barbara Favola (D-Arlington), who chairs the Commission on Youth, said she too was “alarmed” by the statistics.

“That means the youth had been detained longer than what had been recommended in the guidelines for their particular offense, simply because Bon Air could not provide the mental health services, the educational services, the job training services, everything that’s needed to really give that youth an opportunity to succeed,” Favola said.

However, DJJ’s response said an analysis of 2023 length of stay guidelines showed the vast majority of residents enrolled in aggression management and substance abuse treatment completed their treatment prior to their late release date, “indicating no extension in commitment length was necessary as a result of treatment delivery.”

Other OSIG findings included vocational and post-secondary programming — such as HVAC and plumbing classes — being “often unavailable” due to insufficient staffing, a lack of documented emergency preparedness, a fragmented health records system that poses risks to resident safety, and “high rates” of students missing school and/or showing up late.

“Inconsistent attendance and tardiness diminish residents’ access to learning opportunities, hinder educational progress, and may lead to noncompliance with state academic standards. Incomplete or inaccurate attendance documentation limits Bon Air’s ability to correctly monitor engagement, identify systemic barriers, and ensure accountability in its educational program. Beyond compliance, poor attendance and engagement can have broader implications for rehabilitation outcomes,” the report said.

Inspectors could not verify whether past staffing assignments were sufficient to maintain operations due to a lack of documentation; however, OSIG said it did not observe Bon Air violating minimum staffing requirements during its on-site inspections. It noted that the facility utilized the “drafting” of employees to work extra hours in order to maintain adequate coverage.

High turnover and short tenure of staff, which have steadily gotten worse since 2021, undermined workforce stability and service delivery, according to the report. OSIG cited some contributing factors out of DJJ’s control such as low salaries due to limited funding and the unique challenges of working in a juvenile correctional environment.

The report praised DJJ for its recent hiring events, and Floriano wrote in a letter to Inspector General Michael Westfall that her agency has been working tirelessly to address staffing issues including “trying everything from signing bonuses, retention bonuses, focusing on marketing and advertising, and hiring an outside consulting company.”

Floriano’s letter stated she began noticing the results of recruitment efforts over the summer, but the agency declined to share its current vacancy rate with CBS 6. That figure was also not included in OSIG’s report. The legislature’s research arm said Bon Air’s vacancy rate was 51% in fiscal year 2024.

Favola acknowledged the resource constraints that DJJ faces and said lawmakers will be introducing a budget proposal to increase funding to hire more mental health professionals.

“I understand there were challenges. I understand that Bon Air had been underfunded for many years. I understand they’ve had challenges hiring staff. We need to help fix that,” Favola said.

In a press release responding to the inspector general report, DJJ said, “We are proud to relay that all of the OSIG findings are related to documentation and resource deficiencies and do not reflect or support a lapse in supervision or service delivery to the detriment of any youth in our care.”

Floriano said in her letter, “While their review noted a number of areas for procedural improvement, OSIGs investigation confirmed that the allegations against Bon Air JCC were unfounded.”

DJJ did not specify to CBS 6 which allegations it believes were unfounded by OSIG’s audit, but Floriano’s letter referred to no evidence of “instances of harm, mistreatment or danger” being uncovered.

Slater said she was disappointed that “the department failed to acknowledge that things are not right at Bon Air.”

“I could almost go back to the several comments given at the DJJ board meetings. I could go back to the many letters and other reports from parents, and I could check off one by one each of the issues raised by residents, staff and by family members — I could check each off in these findings,” Slater said. “Are we not reading the same report? Are you just unwilling to acknowledge what is even written before you by the Inspector General? At what point are you willing to take true accountability?”

Favola said DJJ’s response was unsurprising and “not good enough.”

Moving forward, Favola said she hopes the incoming Spanberger administration, which will ultimately be responsible for continuing to implement OSIG’s recommendations, will take the findings seriously.

Additionally, she said Commission on Youth members will pursue legislation that would elevate community diversion programs in an effort to keep youth out of Bon Air, convene a work group to study reducing isolation for residents at the facility, potentially establish independent ombudsman oversight, and require court approval in order to extend a resident’s sentence.

CBS 6 requested an interview with a DJJ official for this story, but a spokesperson referred back to the agency’s written statements.

CBS 6 is committed to sharing community voices on this important topic. Email your thoughts to the CBS 6 Newsroom.

📱More Stories from Tyler Layne on WTVR.com

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Canton Youth Football 7th graders reach Super Bowl

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By Canton Citizen

It was a season to remember for Canton Youth Football’s seventh grade team, which advanced all the way to the AYF Super Bowl for the first time. Led by head coach Jeff Eckler and assistants Mark Thomas, Pat Hurley, Rick Darr, Dennis Crowe, Jay Baldiga, Chris Kennedy and Jack Connolly, the Bulldogs went 8-1 against a tough slate of Hockomock League teams before meeting their match against North Attleboro (also 8-1) at Dedham High School last month.

Team members included Ryan Crowe, Alex Darr, JJ Eckler, Abel Kesselman, Richie Savery, Declan Anastasia, George Max Kimball, Mike Simone, Rowan Hurley, Max Thomas, Anthony Pazini, Jordan Blair, Sean Kennedy, Colton Baldiga, Tommy Foley, Rory McDonald, Kam Camillo, Ronan French, Jax Son, Brian Flannery, Luke Erhard, John Joyce and Matthew Dutkiewicz.

The Bulldogs would like to thank the high school squad, who came down to run live plays against them, the eighth-grade team for all the scrimmage time, and Ed and Keri Mantie from Mantie Strength Academy for preparing them to be “stronger, bigger and faster!”

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=132925



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How 6 of San Diego’s Top Nonprofits Spend Your Donations

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The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank

As the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County, The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank aids an average of 400,000 people each month and distributes more than 50 million pounds of food per year.

If You Donate $10

Provides enough food for 20 meals

If You Donate $100

Gives a family one month’s supply of diapers for one baby

If You Donate $1,000

Funds a full school year of weekend food packs for three elementary school students through the Food 4 Kids Backpack Program

If You Donate $10,000

Purchases 40,000 pounds of fresh produce—enough to nourish over 4,000 households with 10-pound boxes of healthy food each year

Donate Here

San Diego nonprofits to donate to featuring Frosted Faces Foundation
Courtesy of Frosted Faces Foundation

Frosted Faces Foundation

Frosted Faces works to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome senior dogs and cats, offering tailored veterinary treatment and behavioral support and connecting them with families ready to let them live out their golden years in a loving home.

If You Donate $10

Provides lifesaving vaccines that protect pets and prevent the spread of disease

If You Donate $100

Funds the spay or neuter of one pet, helping stop unwanted litters and reduce overcrowding in shelters

If You Donate $1,000

Makes essential dental surgery possible for one senior pet

If You Donate $10,000

Offers 20 grants to families facing financial hardship so they can continue caring for their beloved senior pets

Donate Here

San Diego nonprofits to donate to featuring Foundation for Women Warriors
Courtesy of Foundation for Women Warriors

Foundation for Women Warriors

Foundation for Women Warriors enhances the personal and economic well-being of women veterans and their families by providing financial management education, childcare assistance, professional development, and critical goods.

If You Donate $10

Delivers a biweekly newsletter to 100 women veterans with relevant resources such as career and internship opportunities, mental health services, and more

If You Donate $100

Covers two days of childcare for a child of a student or working veteran

If You Donate $1,000

Partially funds one month of daycare or camp for a child of a student or working veteran

If You Donate $10,000

Provides financial education and assistance to three women veterans and their families, helping ensure financial stability during the military to civilian transition

Donate Here

San Diego nonprofits to donate to featuring St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center
Courtesy of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center

St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center

St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center serves adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its nationally recognized programs provide liberal arts education, practical skills development, employment, and dignity for a lifetime.

If You Donate $10

Funds a purchase of art supplies

If You Donate $100

Covers one week of culinary training

If You Donate $1,000

Funds a month of pool supplies and upkeep

If You Donate $10,000

Fuels the center’s buses for one month to transport students to their jobs, volunteer sites, and community activities

Donate Here

San Diego nonprofits to donate to featuring Sports 4 Kids
Courtesy of Sports 4 Kids

Sports 4 Kids

Sports 4 Kids uses sports as a platform to build confidence, leadership, teamwork, and connection among low-income and homeless youth. The organization hosts free clinics in underserved neighborhoods and schools, donates sports equipment to children in need, and more.

If You Donate $10

Provides a new basketball, soccer ball, or set of cones for a free youth sports clinic

If You Donate $100

Equips one under-resourced school with a starter kit of sports equipment for its physical education program

If You Donate $1,000

Funds a 10-week community clinic, providing coaching, snacks, and sports gear for 100-plus children in low-income neighborhoods

If You Donate $10,000

Sponsors a full season of GearUp Initiative events, helping collect and distribute more than 1,000 pieces of sports equipment and expand volunteer opportunities across San Diego County

Donate Here

Father Joe’s Villages
Courtesy of Father Joe’s Villages

Father Joe’s Villages

For 75 years, Father Joe’s Villages has provided housing, healthcare, employment training, and compassionate services to help thousands of people each year move from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

If You Donate $10

Feeds one person for one day

If You Donate $100

Supports essential services, like three meals a day for a parent and child in a shelter for a week

If You Donate $1,000

Offers two weeks of shelter for a family

If You Donate $10,000

Empowers 20 individuals through the nonprofit’s Culinary Arts Program

Donate Here

PARTNER CONTENT

Faces of Healthcare 2025

Faces of Healthcare 2025

Why San Diego’s 45+ Community is Choosing Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE) 

Why San Diego’s 45+ Community is Choosing Refractive L…



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Thomas J Krum Obituary – Johnstown, NY

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Thomas J. Krum


OBITUARY

Thomas J. Krum, known to his listeners as ‘John Thomas’ passed away suddenly on Saturday, December 6, 2025 at this home in Johnstown, NY. Born in Kingston, NY on December 15, 1946 he was the son of the late Thomas and Winifred Grube Krum. A graduate of SUNY Ulster, Tom obtained his degree in Business Administration. He also had certifications from the Radio Advertising Bureau and the Career Academy of Broadcasting. Tom had a true love for the game and worked for various local companies including WGY Radio, The Albany- Colonie Yankees, The Albany- Colonie Diamond Dogs, GE/ Empire Broadcasting and The Leader Herald. Tom had extensive experience in sports management and broadcasting. He developed lasting relationships with players, coaches, celebrities and anyone who would talk about the game. Tom served as a Master of Ceremonies and guest speaker at many events. He was inducted into the Glove City Colonials as the first and only broadcaster and was awarded Broadcaster of the Year by The Hearst Newspaper. He had well over 3000 play by play broadcasts and interviews spanning a 40 year career. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marilyn L. LaPorte Krum; his brother, Robert Krum and his wife Elaine; his stepson, James Reed and his wife Kara; his step-grandson, Jacob Reed and his fiance Sarah Cuscino; and several nephews. Services are private. Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Rose & Hughes Funeral Home, 200 Church Street, Amsterdam, NY. Please visit the online memorial at www.roseandhughesfh.com In lieu of flowers, and in memory of Tom’s love for the game, consider donating to your favorite local youth sports program or volunteer your time as a coach.



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Despite state lawsuit, another Maine school district affirms policy banning trans athletes

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Transgender Day of Remembrance

A person holds a transgender flag to show their support for the transgender community during the sixth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance at Maryville College in Nov. 2016, in Maryville, Tenn. (Brianna Bivens/The Daily Times via AP)

Several Maine school districts are sticking with new transgender student policies despite a lawsuit that alleges they violate state law and foster hostile environments in schools.

At a school board meeting Tuesday night, officials at Regional School Unit 24 in Hancock County voted to keep the district’s recently adopted policy barring transgender students from using bathrooms or playing for sports teams that align with their chosen gender.

The RSU 73 school board in Livermore Falls took a similar vote last week to keep its policy.

RSU 24 Superintendent Michael Eastman did not return a request for comment Wednesday but issued a statement saying the decision was made “following an executive session to consult with legal counsel.”

“We recognize that this issue is deeply important to many and continues to evoke strong feelings within our district, our communities and across the state,” Eastman wrote. “As we move ahead with this work, we remain committed to listening, learning and communicating with care.”

School board officials for the district that oversees schools in Sullivan, Eastbrook, Gouldsboro, Prospect Harbor and Steuben also did not make the meeting’s minutes or a recording of the proceedings immediately available online. Parents’ Rights in Education Maine, a conservative activist group, highlighted the vote in a social media post Tuesday night, as did House Republican Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, who represents those towns.

To date, six Maine school districts have adopted similar policies following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in February that defined gender as one’s “biological sex” and threatened to revoke federal funding from schools allowing transgender students to play sports or use locker rooms in line with their gender identity.

Those districts are being sued by the Maine Human Rights Commission, which alleges the policies discriminate against transgender students and violate state law specifically protecting students’ right to participate in classes and extracurriculars “without discrimination because of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The lawsuit also claims the policies encourage harassment of “students participating in girls’ sports who do not appear to the adults to be biological females.” The lawsuit notes one email in which a community member “expressed their desire that ‘someone make an example out of’ a ‘piece of s— tranny’ in the third grade.”

The others districts named in the suit are Maine School Administration District 70 in Hodgdon, MSAD 52 in Turner, the Baileyville School District and the Richmond School Department.

It remained unclear Wednesday whether those districts will revert their policies or stick to their guns, and representatives from those communities did not respond to inquiries Wednesday.

The Trump administration’s executive order and the districts’ policies hinge on an interpretation of Title IX that argues allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls sports is a form of discrimination because it deprives women and girls of fair athletic opportunities. That interpretation has yet to be tested in court.

When the issue was raised by RSU 24’s school board at an October meeting, dozens of community members spoke about how the potential policy change and vitriolic discussion around it had affected their students. The board ultimately adopted the policy in a contentious 5-4 vote.

Votes in other districts were not as close, with the exception of Richmond, which adopted its policy in a 3-2 vote in October.

RSU 24 and several other districts had retained Portland-based law firm Drummond Woodsum, which has represented hundreds of Maine school districts for years. But after the firm advised the district to follow state law, district officials voted Tuesday to engage with two conservative firms, Steve Smith Trial Lawyers in Augusta and Kroger Gardis & Regas, LLP, based in Indiana.

Transgender students’ participation in youth athletics has become a contentious topic across the country, but especially in Maine. Gov. Janet Mills clashed with Trump over the topic at the White House in February, telling the president: “see you in court.” Shortly afterward, the Department of Justice announced a lawsuit against Maine over the state’s human rights law.

Conservatives in the state have been collecting signatures to put a referendum on the 2026 ballot that could bar transgender students from school sports and private spaces that align with their gender identities. The Maine Principals’ Association has previously said there are two transgender students playing sports in Maine.



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My big questions about the Utah athletics PE deal

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Good morning, and thanks for spending part of your day with Extra Points.

In a perfect world, Extra Points would run on something resembling an editorial calendar. You make the phone calls, file the FOIAs, write the second and third drafts of a story, and then can confidently say, “I’m going to publish something about X on Thursday, Y on Friday, etc.” Since we’re running close to the end of the year, there aren’t many newsletter spaces left. You want to make ’em count.

And then somebody goes out and does something that blows up your schedule. THANKS, UNIVERSITY OF UTAH.

Specific financial details about this transaction — What are the assets and liabilities moving into this new unit? How much cash will Utah get, and when will it get it? How large an ownership stake will Otro Capital hold? — are all TBA. Yes, I’ve filed the GRAMA requests, just like every other sports business publication. Yes, I’ve sent the text messages. As of this moment, I don’t have those answers.

But we know the general gist of the arrangement. Utah will create a new group, Utah Brands & Entertainment LLC, to house much of the athletic department’s revenue generating efforts. Via Yahoo:

The university retains majority ownership and decision-making authority of Utah Brands & Entertainment. Otro marries the capital infusion with a team of experienced operators. A president from outside the university will preside over the company and report to a board, chaired by Utah athletic director Mark Harlan, with seats for trustees and Otro executives.

The project includes a fascinating wrinkle. The university is offering a prominent group of donors the ability to purchase a stake in Utah Brands & Entertainment. Already, university officials have culled a small donor base to generate millions in purchase agreements. The more than $500 million capital figure includes both the nine-figure cash infusion from Otro as well as those capital commitments from donors.

Utah Brands & Entertainment will house most of the components traditionally held within the university’s athletic department, including many athletic personnel and divisions. However, fundraising will remain with the school.

The new company’s primary goal is to generate more revenue across an assortment of areas, including ticketing, concessions, corporate sales and sponsorships. Charged with overseeing and operating the revenue-share pay system for Utah athletes, the new entity provides the department with more flexibility and freedom considering it will operate separate from a public university

The question I’ve been asked again and again over the past 24 hours — from radio hosts to EP readers to industry professionals — has been: Is this a good idea? And my honest-to-God answer right now would be … I don’t know. I don’t believe I know enough of the nitty-gritty financial specifics to answer that question. I understand why Utah would want to do this. I understand why Otro Capital might want to do it. I can intellectually understand how this could end in 10 years with everybody fat and happy.

But I do have lots of questions.

How much more revenue could Utah athletics hope to reasonably earn?

Part of the stated rationale for this deal is to tap into Otro’s network and expertise. Otro’s whole deal is investing in sports- and entertainment-related firms, and it has existing stakes in an F1 team, a data analytics company (Two Circles) and a youth sports event and marketing company. The thinking goes: Utah could generate even more revenue from stuff like live events, licensing, multimedia and ticketing by working with a firm with deep operational expertise.

Whether that works comes down to execution, but I understand the argument.

But what I’d like to better understand is … let’s say everybody is successful, and Otro helps to meaningfully grow Utah’s new earned revenues. How much is even possible?

Let’s look at some numbers.

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Effingham Moms: Juggling Kids, Work, and Chaos Before Sunrise

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Some days, being a working mom in Effingham County feels like I accidentally signed up to be an underpaid chaos coordinator with unlimited overtime. There is no manual and certainly no bonus check. What I do get is a lot of love, a little laughter, and the constant joy of explaining that a Christmas tree cake is not a balanced meal.

Morning madness

Most weekday mornings start with my alarm at 6:20 a.m. I roll out of bed, step over two dogs who sleep like they pay the mortgage, and stumble across the house to wake the pre-teen and teenage gremlins who refuse to rise until the last possible second. Once I hear a few groans that land somewhere between annoyance and mild betrayal, I head back to the kitchen. I pop sausage biscuits in the microwave—no judgment, still slightly better than a Pop-Tart—to feed said gremlins before throwing on an outfit that, I hope, gives the impression of effort and swipe on just enough makeup to say, “I am doing my best. Please do not look too closely.”

On mornings when I set my alarm for a completely disrespectful 4 a.m., the routine shifts to a quiet scavenger hunt in the dark. I fumble for workout clothes, try to remember if I brushed my teeth, and pack myself into the car to teach a one-hour cycle and fitness class to a room full of equally confused adults who also woke before sunrise. There’s something very bonding about sweating together at 5 a.m. while nobody’s brain is fully online yet.

By 6:50 a.m., the house is in full motion. One kid cannot find a shoe. The other cannot find the will to live. Someone suddenly remembers a permission slip due right that second. Then we sprint to the bus stop like competitors in the Effingham Olympics. If your children catch the bus by 7:10 a.m., congratulations—you’ve already worked half a day before most people finish their first cup of coffee.

Work, side hustles, and the commute

Once the bus pulls away, Mom clock number two begins—reserved for actual paying jobs. Effingham moms fall into three groups: moms who work in Effingham, moms who commute outside of Effingham, and God’s favorites who work from home. To the commuters, I say a special prayer for your patience. May your coffee stay hot, and may Highway 21 treat you kindly.

The moms who stay local are not sitting around relaxing. Many of us work full time and then stack a side hustle on top of it. Some even turn hobbies into businesses. I teach fitness on the side because I figured if I’m going to get sweaty anyway, I might as well get paid for it. Effingham moms are a special breed. You have not lived until you’ve watched a woman put in eight hours at her day job, squeeze in an hour of fitness, coach a youth sports team, and still manage to pick up groceries with the speed and accuracy of a NASCAR pit crew.

Evening shuffle

Then comes the evening shuffle. This is rarely a peaceful sit-down dinner. It’s more like rotating shifts based on practice times. Effingham Recreation is wonderful, but I am convinced the practice schedule was created by drawing numbers out of a hat. Soccer at 5, basketball at 6:30, volleyball at 7:45. And of course, someone always forgets a crucial sports accessory that must be delivered immediately, or the world will end.

Dinner is another adventure. The question, “What do you want for dinner?” should honestly be banned from every household. I lean heavily on HelloFresh, which has saved me on nights when my brain is too tired to choose between spaghetti or cereal. On other nights, it turns into “you are on your own,” but Christmas tree cakes still do not count as a meal.

Laundry is always running. The dishwasher is always full. At least one child always needs a very specific shirt washed immediately. Meanwhile, I try to stay upright until at least 8 p.m. The time change, which throws darkness at us at 5:30 p.m., really tests my spirit. Time change and I are not on speaking terms.

Why it’s worth it

Even with all the chaos, raising kids here feels grounding. Effingham has the kind of warmth that makes you feel like you belong. Schools are strong. Teachers actually know your children. Recreation keeps kids active and teaches life lessons about teamwork, sportsmanship, and how to bounce back after taking a volleyball to the face.

Effingham moms juggle a lot, but it is comforting to know we are raising families in a place that feels like home—a place where people wave at each other, neighbors check in, and your child might play ball on the same field you once did.

So here’s to the moms of Effingham County. We may be tired, but we are tough. Resourceful. Funny without trying. And we show up for our families in every way we can. The laundry will always be waiting, but the chaos will not, so we savor these days while we have them.

— Lauren Eargle is a wife, mom of four, Springfield City Manager, and co-owner of Revolution Cycle and Fitness. She juggles city hall, spin classes, and the daily chaos of raising her kids in Effingham County—sometimes all before breakfast.



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