Area News
LOCAL RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS HELP 28 PEOPLE AFFECTED BY HOME FIRES IN PAST WEEK
Red Cross volunteers responded to nine home fires across South Central Illinois from December 27 through January 3. Volunteers responded to incidents in Leansboro Springfield, Centralia, Riverton, Tuscola, Paris, Decatur and more. During the past week American Red Cross provided assistance to 28 individuals, including 15 adults and 13 children with a temporary place…
Read MoreTHE DECATUR POLICE DEPARTMENT RELEASES HOLIDAY ENFORCEMENT NUMBERS
The Decatur Police Department made 22 impaired driving arrests and issued 15 seat belt and child safety seat citations during the recent holiday enforcement effort. Decatur Police also took the following enforcement actions. 2 fugitives apprehended 14 suspended/revoked licenses 13 speeding citations 1 reckless driving citation 50 miscellaneous citations…
Read MoreCITY BEAT: LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT YEAR IN 2022!
Happy New Year everyone! There is no doubt that 2020 and 2021 have not been the best years for our community and nation but I’m optimistic that out of the darkness and sadness of the COVID-19 Pandemic there is going to be a lot more sunshine and joy in 2022. We have lived in…
Read MoreCITY BEAT: ANOTHER CHRISTMAS OVERSHADOWED BY COVID-19 PANDEMIC
I don’t think anyone is interested in anything “political” this week with Christmas only a few days away. So, with that in mind and the surging COVID variants making another Christmas with the difficult decision on family gatherings for the holiday, I thought the following poem on “A Covid Christmas” by Tom McDonald appropriate…
Read MoreCITY BEAT: DESPITE UNCERTAIN FUTURE, CHRISTMASTIME BRINGS HOPE AND PEACE
A week from this coming Saturday is Christmas Day — a time when families gather to share a meal, presents, a lot of conversation… and love. Family gatherings have been tough to plan since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic because of fear of infection by the virus — an unwelcome visitor at some…
Read MoreCITY BEAT: DECATUR RANKS IN THE TOP TEN OUT OF NEARLY 400 METRO AREAS FOR BEST PLACES TO WORK IN MANUFACTURING
SmartAsset released its annual report on the best places to work in manufacturing and Decatur ranked 7th out of nearly 400 metro areas analyzed. SmartAsset explained that “we analyzed nearly 400 metro areas across the following metrics: manufacturing as a percentage of the workforce, job growth from 2016 to 2019, job growth from 2018…
Read MoreINTERIM POLICE CHIEF SHANE BRANDEL APPOINTED DECATUR POLICE CHIEF BY CITY MANAGER
City Manager Scot Wrighton announced today that Shane Brandel has been appointed to Decatur Police Chief effective immediately. This is an upgrade from title of interim Police Chief. “Law Enforcement is a challenging but honorable profession and these are different times for the police,” said Wrighton; “Decatur needs a police leader who can adapt…
Read MoreCITY BEAT: AMERICANS UNITED TO FIGHT ENEMY AFTER ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR 80 YEARS AGO DEC. 7
The Japanese attack on the American fleet in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, was so horrific that anyone mentioning “Pearl Harbor” all of these decades later doesn’t have to explain what he’s talking about. The attack on Pearl Harbor immediately plunged this nation into World War II. Citizens were so shocked and…
Read MoreWSOY COMMUNITY FOOD DRIVE AWARDS OVER $1.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING TO LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES AND FEEDING PROGRAMS
Organizers announce the WSOY Community Food Drive will conclude it’s 20-year history with nearly 24 million pounds of food raised WSOY and their community partners, ADM, First Mid Bank and Trust/First Mid Insurance Group, Skeff Distributing, Jones & Thomas/JTnet, Decatur Back & Neck Center, Tickets N Trips, First Christian Church, Dale’s Southlake Pharmacy…
Read MoreRODNEY DAVIS ANNOUNCES 2022 RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN TO CONGRESS IN NEW IL-15
Taylorville, IL — Rodney Davis, a Republican from Taylorville, announced today he is running for re-election to Congress in the newly-drawn 15thCongressional district, which includes his home in Taylorville and much of the district he currently represents. He is the only incumbent member of Congress who resides in this district following the Congressional redistricting process.…
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