CITY BEAT: WSOY COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE’S BIG PUSH EVENT IS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4

      After a few years of absence, the WSOY Community Food Drive is back and it couldn’t come at a better time!
Although a lot of work and contacts have been made over the past several weeks to build the momentum, the highlight of the food drive will be this Friday, Oct. 4, when the effort comes together at Kroger at the Airport Plaza, Rt 36 from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.!
     Brian Byers and Kevin Breheny, along with many friends and working supporters, will be there to accept food and monetary donations.
     It is a day that shows everyone what the residents of Decatur and Central Illinois are about — people helping people in the purest form.
     It has always been my pleasure to participate near the start of that special day’s efforts on WSOY to talk about why the Community Food Drive is so important and I will be among many in the community voicing support for the effort during the day.
     Besides helping those in need through food distribution by local agencies, it seems to me the impact of this food drive is significant for another reason that touches the heart.     

     For months, the political climate in our nation has been filled with so much hatred and stress, along with two assassination attempts of Presidential Candidate Donald Trump!

     It seems to me the WSOY Community Food Drive is a double reminder that (1) there are many people among us suffering food shortages and we can help them, and (2) that helping others brings all of us together, whether we are Republicans, Democrats, Independents, or something else.
     The WSOY Community Food Drive not only helps fill the stomachs of those among us in need, but also the hearts of all of us, who are inspired by the spirit of togetherness this effort creates in our community.
     I have never left the Community Food Drive on the city’s eastside, and driven back to my office downtown without feeling really good about what my fellow citizens have done — and are doing.
     The true picture of what the people in Decatur and Central Illinois are really about, is painted with every WSOY Community Food Drive, and it is a masterpiece of caring about others.
     That’s why Friday, Oct. 4, will be one of our very best days of the year.

     • “BONUS NEWSPAPERS”? — Subscriber Larry Reif of College Station, Texas, has taken the Decatur Tribune for many years.
     He called the Tribune office last week to report that he had received a recent edition just fine but—it had three other Illinois’ newspapers stuffed inside!!!
     He said there was a newspaper from Pana, a newspaper from Piatt County and a third one that he didn’t remember where in Illinois it was from — all stuffed inside the Tribune!

     • MORE PICS —Following my recent “Scrapbook’ story about Shirley Luster/June Christy, the famous singer from Decatur, Mark Sorensen sent me a message with a photo.

     Mark wrote, that in the stories about Shirley Luster, “I don’t remember you showing her Decatur High School photo. Here is what Shirley Luster looked like when she was a June 1943 high school graduate. Her yearbook photo description read: ‘Pretty to walk with, witty to talk with.’ She was in several glee clubs during her three years at Decatur High.”
     Mark also sent me another photo with this information (Page 3 of print and online editions): “Here is her first photo story in the Herald & Review, August 1, 1943 – just two months after graduating from high school.”
     Thanks, Mark. I really enjoy sharing positive in-formation, past and present, about the people in Decatur and Central Illinois.

     • LOTS OF LAWS — Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed over 275 bills into law recently on subjects ranging from occupational licensing to taxes to hotel shampoo bottles.
     About that shampoo bottles legislation, according to Illinois Policy, “House Bill 2960 bans hotels from offering single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products, such as shampoo, in their hotel rooms. Hotels may provide single-use bottles by request at a location other than guest rooms or public or shared restrooms, such as at the front desk or reception.”
Wow, I’m glad there was a crackdown on single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products!
     I was so concerned about those bottles getting out of control! (smile)
I agree with Illinois Policy, that looked at all of the new laws and issued the following comment: “What is missing from this list of over 275 new laws is any action to deal with the state’s nation-leading public pension debt or the resulting second-highest property taxes. If lawmakers want to stop residents from leaving the state, they must address policies driving residents away.”

     • ENDURING SUPPORT —Ann Irwin with Operation Enduring Support has let me know they are accepting deployed military addresses as well as donations for their upcoming Christmas Care Packages that will be packed and mailed on Dec. 3.
     Ann says: “Our deployed military have expressed to us how much they appreciate receiving the Christmas packages.”
     This is such a positive work that Ann and all of the volunteers do and our deployed military members really appreciate it. Details on page 6 of the print and online editions.

     • CHECKED OUT — This week’s “Scrapbook” feature on pages 4 and 5 of the print and online editions is about the history of the Citizens Building(s) located at 250 North Water Street — and how they dominate the downtown landscape.
     Once the dominate office building in the not-too-distant past, recent years have not been kind ones for the complex.
     Now, a new owner, is working to renovate and repurpose both buildings, which is good news, but I grew a little concerned recently when I was walking by the front of the building and saw a “STOP WORK ORDER” posting from the City of Decatur on the front door, that was issued on Sept. 5 and was still there a few days ago.
     I did check with the City of Decatur and Ryan Huffer, Communications Coordinator, told me: “I can confirm the City issued a stop work order, although I’m not positive if it remains in effect. Demolition and window replacement were not included in the stop work order. We remain committed to supporting this project.”
Upon reading the “Stop Work Order” again, it appears that certain aspects of the remodeling have been, or are impacted, due to a shortage of permitting, which can be corrected.
     I have a lot of memories from experiences in that building complex over the years, including going to the WSOY studios every Thursday morning for many years before the studio was moved to the Millikin Court Building a few years ago — where our newspaper offices are located.
     I hope for the best possible results for the former Citizens Office Building and Citizens Bank Building.
They could, once again, be tremendous assets to downtown Decatur.

     • I JOIN Brian Byers on WSOY’s Byers & Co., every Thursday morning at 7:00 and will also be there during the first hour of the Community Food Drive on Oct. 4.
     That’s a really great effort!

* * * *

FOR MORE stories and more “City Beat” and editorial comments, SUBSCRIBE to the print or online editions of the Decatur Tribune by using the “Subscribe” prompt at the top of this page.  You will find many stories and columns about Decatur and Central Illinois each week. The print edition is $50 for 52 issues (one year) and the online edition is $30 for one year.  The combo rate (both print and online editions) is $65 per year.  You can also subscribe to the print edition via USPS by sending $50 to: Decatur Tribune, P. O. Box 1490, Decatur, Illinois 62525-1490.