Area News
CAULKINS CALLS ON MADIGAN TO RESIGN AS HOUSE SPEAKER FOLLOWING ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION
State Representative Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) joined his House colleagues in calling for a vote to remove Mike Madigan as Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. Two weeks ago ComEd agreed to pay a $200 million fine for a pay-to-play scheme that involved Speaker of the House Mike Madigan, dozens of lawmakers are…
Read MoreTHE PEOPLE SPEAK IN THE LATEST BATCH OF ‘LETTERS TO THE EDITOR’
Wear A Mask Dear Editor: Illinois made great strides fighting COVID-19, but it will take sustained effort and discipline to keep the virus under control. Illinois doctors are asking everyone to take two simple actions when in public: always wear a face covering and continue to maintain social distancing. The recent uptick in coronavirus diagnoses…
Read MoreCITY BEAT: DECATUR SCHOOL DISTRICT MADE RIGHT DECISION FROM PAINFUL OPTIONS, OTHER COMMENTARY
As most of you know by now, students from PreK through 12th grade in Decatur Public Schools will participate in virtual learning only for the first quarter of the 2020-21 school year. The first day for student instruction will also be pushed back to Monday, August 17, 2020. That announcement was made on…
Read MoreDECATUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL BEGIN 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR WITH 100% VIRTUAL LEARNING
Students from PreK through 12th grade in Decatur Public Schools will participate in virtual learning only for the first quarter of the 2020-21 school year. The first day for student instruction will also be pushed back to Monday, August 17, 2020. “This is certainly not the start to the 2020 school year that…
Read MoreTHIS WEEK’S ‘LETTERS TO THE EDITOR’ PRESENTS VIEWS ON SEVERAL SUBJECTS
Disappointed In City Council’s Use Of Motor Fuel Tax Fund Dear Editor: I am really disappointed in the Decatur City Council’s usage of the motor fuel tax fund. The fund was supposed to fix our roads not favor a certain business. First, the council voted to use $350,000 to help build Love Truck…
Read MoreCITY BEAT: BEARS, BLOOD PRESSURE AND A MASK TO SHOP!
THE ‘BEAR’ FACTS — A couple of weeks ago, in my usual Thursday morning discussion with Brian Byers on WSOY’s Byers & Co., the subject of the bears in Fairview Park (gone since 1972) came up and as I was looking through our archives, I found a “Scrapbook” article written by Mark W.…
Read MoreSTATES ATTORNEY JAY SCOTT REPORTS UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS SCAM IN MACON COUNTY
Macon County State’s Attorney Jay Scott announced today that Macon County residents have reported receiving unemployment benefit debit cards in the mail when they haven’t applied for unemployment benefits. Scammers steal the identity of the victims, especially targeting Senior Citizens, open unemployment accounts in their names, then change the address on the account…
Read MoreTHE PEOPLE SPEAK IN THIS WEEK’S ‘LETTERS TO THE EDITOR’
Letter From A Concerned Citizen I am grieving over our America that was founded on Godly principles of law and order. Many no longer values police protection when it is needed now more than ever in the history of our country. I don’t condone lawless undisciplined police; however, I applaud police officers (the bulk of…
Read MoreCITY BEAT: THIS AND THAT FROM HERE AND THERE
WOW! The Austin (Texas) City Council passed a resolution Thursday allowing for a fine of up to $2,000 for anyone violating a “health authority rule” like not wearing a mask. According to the report, the resolution was supported by Gov. Gregg Abbott who said, “As you know, these orders were created and adopted based…
Read MoreINTERACTIVE MURAL PLACED ON NORTHWEST EXTERIOR OF DECATUR CIVIC CENTER TO CELEBRATE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY
The Community Foundation of Macon County is celebrating its 20th anniversary by partnering with the Decatur Civic Center, Decatur Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Decatur Area Arts Council to bestow a gift to the community by artist Kelsey Montague. This special gift is an interactive mural placed on the northwest exterior…
Read More