City Beat

         A few weeks ago in this column I mentioned how it seemed to me (from daily observation as I’m walking downtown) that more and more semi-trucks are moving through the core area of Decatur where they were banned a few years ago as redevelopment of the area was taking place. Such trucks are…

         As most of you know by now, the city council held a special public session in the Civic Center Theatre on Sept. 30 to allow citizens to speak about how they felt on whether Decatur should “opt in” or “opt out” of allowing a recreational marijuana dispensary within our city limits. After a…

         The Decatur City Council held a special public session in the Civic Center Theater Monday night to get input from those for and against our community “opting out” of allowing a marijuana dispensary to open inside the city limits — then voted 6-1 to opt out. Councilman David Horn was the lone vote…

       Last week in this column, I mentioned that I had called the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Region 4, District 7, office, which includes Decatur and Macon County to find out what kind of road construction projects are planned for our area. As I also mentioned, it seems like there is a lot of…

       The Decatur City Council has a lot to deal with these days. I hear a lot of complaints about the horrible condition of our roads, especially the state routes through our city. Citizens who complain should remember that the condition of state routes is due to state negligence and the council should not be…

       I dug out some of the photos that I shot on the evening of 9/11/2001, when many of us gathered in downtown’s Central Park to pray and try to absorb what had happened earlier in the day when terrorists committed unspeakable acts at the World Trade Center in New York City, The Pentagon in…

       Former Macon County State’s Attorney Scott Rueter, a Republican, has announced that he is a candidate for the office. (See more on Rueter’s announcement on page 15 of this week’s print and online edition.)      Present State’s Attorney Jay Scott, a Democrat, has decided not to run for a third term. Rueter is…

         A major issue the Decatur City Council will be dealing with in the near future is whether or not to “opt out” in allowing a recreational marijuana dispensary in the city limits of Decatur. Illinois’ new law that legalizes recreational marijuana use permits cities, villages and counties to “opt out” of allowing pot…

         The most frequent topic of conversation in the community today, at least among the people I talk with, is about the number of restaurants that are being closed down following inspections by the Macon County Health Department. It’s also been one of the subjects Brian Byers and I have discussed the last two…

         Work on the parking lot of the Decatur Public Library started this week after the City Council recently approved spending nearly one million dollars for resurfacing and landscaping of the community eyesore. Fortunately, the parking lot is mostly shielded from view for drivers on North Franklin Street, one of the major arteries through…