City Beat

         • Paul Rosenberger of Decatur sent me an email about “2020” that I hadn’t thought about it, but I think it is very important to mention. “You may have seen headlines recently about how you shouldn’t shorten the year 2020 when signing things. Scammers can easily change the abbreviated date, for example from…

       THERE is no doubt that holding the mayor’s position, or a seat on the city council in Decatur is not for the faint-hearted these days. There will always be those who disagree with any stand a mayor or council member takes, or any vote made, and that is certainly a citizen’s right. Beyond disagreeing,…

       Although use of recreational marijuana is now legal in Illinois it is illegal to drive under its influence and charges are already being lodged against people suspected of DUI from marijuana use. This week’s “Public Records” section (Page 21) of the print and online editions of the Decatur Tribune lists those arrested and charged…

           • GIVING voters the opportunity to vote on whether or not to allow a marijuana dispensary in Decatur, via a non-binding referendum, is an issue that is probably going to cast a long shadow over next year’s city council election. The word “non-binding” is important to note. Regardless of the outcome of the referendum,…

         As you can see by the publication date just under our masthead above, today is January 1st, 2020, What it means is the beginning of another year and decade —and more taxes and fees thanks to hundreds of new state laws going into effect. It also means that residents of Decatur and other…

       As indicated by the yellowing front page of a newspaper in the old wooden frame in a front page photo in this week’s print and online editions, it was announced in the Dec. 24, 1969, that I had purchased the Decatur Tribune that week. (I had to dig out the old edition from my…

          • THANK YOU! Despite objections by several in the audience at Monday evening’s city council meeting, and a no vote by Councilman Rodney Walker, the Decatur City Council approved 6-1 the acceptance of a $500,000 donation from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation for the hiring of a police officer who will focus on…

         An article on the city council’s annexation push by Reporter Analisa Trofimuk, that appeared in Sunday’s Herald & Review newspaper, quoted Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe as stating: “The annexation should have been happening over the last 20 years. The city is finally doing what they should have done, but for whatever reason previous…

       • CONGRATULATIONS to David G. Weber on his induction into the Decatur Hall of Fame last week in a ceremony before the start of the annual Community Thanksgiving Luncheon at the civic center. I’ve known Dave for many years and always appreciated all of his “behind the scenes” volunteer efforts for the community and…

          • RUMORS that have been circulating in the community that City Councilman David Horn has been meeting privately with police union members regarding their contract with the City of Decatur, are not true. That’s what Horn informed me in response to my question about the subject of the rumors.      Horn responded: “The rumors…