598, Middle School 243, High School 351). The middle school and high schools were rated “commendable schools” on the 2018 Illinois School Report Card. To the south of Eldorado is Southeastern Illinois College (junior college). The nearest major university is Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Health care In 1925, Dr. J.V. Ferrell founded Ferrell Hospital, which exists today as a 52-bed facility operated by Southern Illinois Healthcare. Effective March 1, 2004, SIH entered into an agreement with Alliant Management Services to return the hospital to local ownership and governance. On April 1, 2005, Ferrell Hospital Community Foundation became a stand-alone facility managed by Alliant Management Services. As Ferrell is a small hospital, services are routinely provided via other hospitals by transportation via ambulance for non-critical issues, and Air Evac Lifeteam Air Ambulance (for transport to Evansville, IN hospitals Deaconess, or St. Mary's) for critical emergencies. As of 2019, it is undergoing a significant expansion. At one time, Eldorado supported an additional hospital, a 56-bed facility named Pearce Hospital (after another local physician). Pearce Hospital opened in 1949, and closed 40 years later, in 1989 due to financial issues and a dwindling patient load. Leisure Activities In downtown Eldorado there are several murals painted on the sides of old buildings. The artists were longtime residents Phyllis Finnie (1925-2019) and Zettie Shults (resident from 1963 to 2005). Liz’s Cafe and Dad’s BBQ are popular eating establishments. On Route 45 you can catch a glimpse of Big John. Town & Country Days is an annual festival held every third weekend in September. Just south of Eldorado are wonderful sightseeing opportunities at the Shawnee National Forest and Garden of the Gods. Cave-in-Rock is 32 miles southeast. Glen O. Jones Lake is also a short drive, just south of neighboring Equality, and a popular location for fishing. Deer hunting is also popular in the fall. Sports Eldorado holds a few records within the Illinois High School Association (IHSA). Basketball star Mike Duff is ranked #28 for career points (2,558), #4 for most points in a season (1,097-accomplished in 1977), and #13 with highest scoring average, season (32.2-accomplished in 1977). In baseball, #6 for most consecutive wins at home (26). In December 1977, tragedy struck when former Eldorado basketball standouts Mike Duff and Kevin Kingston were killed in the crash of Air Indiana Flight 216 shortly after takeoff in Evansville, Indiana. Both were members of the