Area News
MESSAGE FROM DR. PAUL FREGEAU, SUPERINTENDENT OF DECATUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The following message is being sent to all DPS staff and families on behalf of Dr. Paul Fregeau, Superintendent of Decatur Public Schools: Dear DPS Family: On Friday night, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen Ayala gave guidance to school districts statewide as to how to plan for continuing education for the foreseeable future. Instead…
Read MoreTHE PEOPLE SPEAK IN MORE ‘LETTERS TO THE EDITOR’
Setting The Record Straight Regarding Earlier Letter Dear Editor: I’d like to set the record straight to clarify all misunderstandings about my February 19, 2020 “Letter to the Editor” which I wrote to call attention to the U.S. House of Representatives “New Way Forward Act” (H.R. 5383). For the record, I have never said or…
Read MoreCITY OF DECATUR FIRE HYDRANTS TO BE FLUSHED DURING APRIL
Decatur Fire Department crews, in collaboration with the Decatur Water Department, will be flushing and flow testing approximately 1200 city fire hydrants during the month of April. This process will occur Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is necessary to keep the city’s nearly 4500 fire hydrants ready for…
Read MoreMACON COUNTY SUPERVISOR OF ASSESSMENTS OFFICE IS CLOSED
Kim Fowler, Chief County Assessment Officer at the Macon County Supervisor of Assessments Office, has notified the news media that the office is currently closed due to the closure of the Macon County Office Building. “During this time, this office will not be taking any phone calls,” said Fowler. “I will reply to emails…
Read MoreMACON COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE CLOSED BUT WILL PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES BY MAIL AND ONLINE
The Macon County Clerk’s Office will continue to provide essential services by mail and online during the building closure. Information on how to obtain services online and through the mail are available at https://www.co.macon.il.us/vital-records/. Due to staffing levels, phone calls will not be taken. New marriage license will not be issued at this…
Read MoreGOVERNOR PRITZKER’S ‘STAY AT HOME’ ORDER CHANGES ‘DECATUR NORMAL’
Governor JB Pritzker’s “stay at home” order on Friday (more details in story elsewhere on this site) has impacted our community more than anything during the many decades that I’ve been publshing this newspaper. So much of what has been “routine” for all of us, is no longer “routine”, and the uncertainty of when all…
Read MoreREP. CAULKINS URGES ISP TO EXTEND EXPIRATION DEADLINES FOR FOID & CCL DURING COVID-19 OUTBREAK
With Illinoisans encouraged to practice social distancing to combat the spread of the coronavirus, law-abiding gun owners may find it more difficult to renew their Firearm Owner’s Identification Card (FOID) and Concealed Carry License (CCL). State Representative Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) is urging the State Police to implement “emergency rules” to extend the expiration…
Read MoreCITY BEAT: COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS PRODUCED MAJOR IMPACT ON DECATUR, MACON COUNTY AND THE NATION
THE COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted Decatur and Macon County in a way that’s mind-boggling and difficult to grasp. I’ve never seen such a changing impact on a community and nation in such a short period of time. Since there has been. and continues to be, a lot that we don’t know about this…
Read MoreLETTER FROM CITY LIBRARIAN EXPLAINS CLOSING FACILITY TO PUBLIC
Friends, Based on an abundance of caution, confirmed coronavirus cases in neighboring counties, and recent closing decisions by Governor Pritzker, Decatur Public Library closed at 8 PM March 16th, and will remain closed until April 1 unless the situation warrants an extension. This decision was made by the Decatur Public Library Board of…
Read MoreHOWARD G. BUFFETT FOUNDATION COMMITS $1 MILLION FOR CORONAVIRUS FOOD AND MEDICAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN MACON COUNTY
The Howard G. Buffett Foundation today announced a commitment of up to $1,000,000 to address food and medical resource needs in support of Macon Count’s emergency response to the coronavirus outbreak. Howard G. Buffett, Chairman and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, will work in concert with the Crisis Communication team, led…
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