CITY BEAT: 250TH BIRTHDAY OF OUR NATION STIRS MEMORIES OF PAST CELEBRATIONS

    

     There is a lot of attention being focused on the 250th Birthday of our nation on Saturday, July 4th.
     I’m old enough to remember a lot of the July 4th celebrations of the past and how special that day was in our summers long ago.
     Tom Emery has a few articles about how Illinois residents celebrated July 4th in the past in this week’s “Scrapbook” feature on page 4 and 5 in the print and online editions of the Decatur Tribune.  The photo on the front page of this week’s Tribune was shot at Rock Springs Conservation Area and the special program in 2011 that re-created Independence Day activities in 1860.
     A 4th of July festival celebrated 1860s style at the Homestead Prairie Farm at Rock Springs Conservation Area was again held this past Saturday.
     One of the July 4th celebrations of the past that I remember vividly was held in Central Park in 1976 — 50 years ago.
     I was a much younger (50 years younger) editor back then and I covered the event for this newspaper.
     I remember there was a big birthday cake on stage and a lot of big name politicians were in attendance.
     U. S. Senator Charles Percy was also at the event.
     What I remember most vividly is Bob King of Citizens National Bank, who had a great, clear radio voice, saying loudly during the ceremony before the cake was cut:  “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!”
     That seemed so appropriate and he said those words in such a meaningful way.
     There was no party division or hate present that day that I felt —just people who were proud of our country and proud to be Americans.
     It was a special celebration in a special place and, 50 years later, I still fondly remember it.

     • BIG RAISE — Illinois Policy Analyst Lilly Rossi calls attention to the fact that our state’s lawmakers have boosted their salaries to over $100,000 per year!
     She wrote: “ Their base pay has risen almost 50% since J.B. Pritzker became governor, compared with just a 30% increase for Illinoisans.
     “Their base pay will rise to $101,450, fourth-highest in the country for state lawmakers, in the budget Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed June 16.
     “Add in meals and lodging and bonuses for leadership and committee positions and the average total compensation will be just under $134,000.”
     Are we getting our money’s worth?
     “Yet despite their high pay, Illinois was the second-most corrupt state in a late 2023 report as measured by federal corruption convictions since 1976.”

     • ANOTHER CANDIDATE — Since last we met on this page, another candidate has stepped forward to run for a seat on the city council in next April’s election.

     Deloyde Sanders has officially announced his candidacy and he is running with the slogan “Decatur Deserves Better”.
     Sanders states: “Decatur is my home. I’m running for city council to build a city where families thrive, neighborhoods are safe, businesses grow and every resident has the opportunity to succeed.”
     Sanders is a graduate of Eisenhower High School, Class of 1983. He is a supervisor at Mueller Water Products and pastor at Perfected Prayze Ministries of Decatur.
     Campaign material about Sanders that has already been produced is attractive and highlights why he is running for city council and the focus of his attention..
     Since the election is several months away, I’m sure we are going to have the opportunity to learn a lot more about the candidates for mayor and city council in the weeks and months ahead.
     Three city council seats and the mayor’s position will be up for election in April, 2027.
     Council seats that will be up for election are presently occupied by Dennis Cooper, Lisa Gregory and Patrick McDaniel.
     McDaniel announced a few weeks ago that he is running for re-election. As we are going to press, Cooper and Gregory have made no announcement regarding their plans.
     Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe has announced that she is running for re-election and present city councilman David Horn is seeking to be elected the next mayor. Horn’s council term doesn’t expire until 2029, so after next April’s election he will remain on council — either as mayor or councilman depending on the results of the election.
     As we are going to press, Moore Wolfe and Horn are the only two candidates for mayor.
     As I mentioned on WSOY’s Byers & Co. last Thursday, Moore Wolfe and Horn have different perspectives on the roles of mayor and city councilpersons and, the candidates elected, or re-elected, to the three open council seats will determine the direction of the city in the future.
     With seven seats (including the mayor’s position) on the city council and four seats up for election, voters will be selecting a majority vote on the council.
     I believe this is an especially interesting and important election to keep an eye on — and the election is nine months away!

     • I JOIN Brian Byers on Byers & Co. most Thursday mornings at 7:00 for the “City Hall Insider”.
     I always enjoy our conversation about Decatur’s past, present and future.

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