City Beat

         DURING THE past year, about the time that COVID-19 changed our world, I noticed that I was developing shortness of breath. Over the years I’ve walked all over downtown and played full-court basketball in local gyms for decades. I never had any problem breathing. I prided myself on being in fairly good shape…

       After it appeared that an antibiotic for pneumonia, which appeared on an x-ray of my lungs wasn’t working, my doctor decided Friday morning for more tests and lab work. After completing that move, and heading back to the newspaper office, I received a call from my doctor’s office that I should immediately go to…

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       The Better Business Bureau (BBB) issued a report last week informing the public that online purchase scams have become riskiest scam in the wake of COVID-19. Adults ages 18–24 reported the highest median losses ($150) and the highest likelihood of loss (56.6%) to BBB Scam TrackerSM in 2020. Previously, older age groups consistently…

Most of the smoke has cleared from last week’s Decatur City Council Primary Election and, except for some mail-in ballots that remain to be counted, the results are now known and six of the 12 candidates are moving on to the Consolidated Election on April 6, where three will be elected to council seats. However,…

      IN LAST WEEK’S column I gave my prediction on which six Decatur City Council candidates, out of the 12 listed on Tuesday’s ballot, would advance to the general election on April 6th, following this week’s primary election. I indicated that incumbents David J. Horn and Chuck Kuhle would advance on Tuesday, along with…

       Round 1 of the battle to fill 3 Decatur City Council seats will be held on Tuesday (Feb. 23) when the results of the Consolidated Primary Election will reduce the field of 12 candidates to 6 —the 6 receiving the most votes. Those six will then move on to the second and final round…

         • As vaccination numbers slowly increase in Macon County and across the nation, some people who have received their shot apparently believe they can quit wearing a mask or practicing social distancing. Vaccines are one of the most important tools in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and early indicators show that they are…

         EVEN though the Consolidated Primary Election will be held in less than three weeks on Feb. 23rd, early voting has been underway since Jan. 14 and continues until Feb. 22. There are 13 candidates for three seats on the Decatur City Council and seven of them will be eliminated in the Primary Election…

         Last Wednesday, the Macon County Health Department (MCHD) announced that it would be holding a Drive-Through COVID-19 Moderna Vaccination Clinic on Friday, January 22, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the Farm Progress Show Progress City property. Exactly at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, January 22, I received the following update on…

         Most of the decisions and votes made by the city council and county board draw little public attention because they are not controversial.      However, there are always a few choices made by our elected officials where, regardless of which direction the public body decides to go, there will be some negative feedback. Still,…