Good morning, Decatur.

Yesterday, Clay Gerhard from the Decatur Park District joined guest host Kevin Breheny on Byers & Co to talk about projects around Lake Decatur, the Devon, upcoming Scovill Zoo events, a golf outing, and spring openings — details important for local planning.

On April 8, 2025, Claire Tozer of Girl Scout Troop 3274 earned the Gold Award—the highest honor in Girl Scouting—for beautifying a community space at St. Paul’s Early Learning Center in Decatur by leading volunteers to paint a mural and build little free libraries.

A Decatur man—55-year-old James Barone—accused of secretly filming ten people in the Planet Fitness tanning room pleaded not guilty in court on Wednesday after his arrest on March 19 on charges including child pornography, burglary, and unauthorized videotaping, with police saying they found 66 videos and used facial recognition to link him to the hidden camera.

Decatur will host the second 'That's What She Said' storytelling event on April 25 at the Lincoln Theater while Springfield holds its first on April 16 at the Hoogland Center.

Women cast members will share personal stories of overcoming hardship and heartbreak—tales that mix struggle with humor—and the project seeks to spotlight local women's voices.

The Illinois State Fair will hold a 100 Days Out Celebration on Tuesday, April 29, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Reisch Pavilion on the Fairgrounds to mark 100 days until the fair opens on August 7, with free entry, free parking, and food from favorites like Taft’s Mr. Ribeye & Food Baby available along with raffle tickets for track concerts and discounted passes for the fair.

Midwest Toy & Comic Fest Decatur 2025

10 AM – 4 PM — Decatur Civic Center — $5 at the door — A family-friendly convention featuring toys and comics for all ages.

Molly Hatchet Concert

7-8:30 p.m. — Lincoln Square Theater — $18-$75 — Experience the iconic Southern rock sounds of Molly Hatchet blending rock, blues, country, and gospel.

Blain’s Farm & Fleet 70th Anniversary Celebration

9 a.m. — Blain's Farm & Fleet — Check for details on savings — Celebrate 70 years of community service with fun demos, giveaways, and a chance to win a UTV.

True Blue Challenge

12 AM – 12 AM — Kirkland Fine Arts Center — Support our students — Celebrate Millikin University with a fundraising challenge for scholarships.

Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists Plant Sale

9 AM – 2 PM — Macon County Fair & Event Facilities — Free entry — Explore a variety of plants including annuals, perennials, houseplants, and more at this community plant sale.

Decatur Craft Beer Festival 2025

7 PM – 4 PM — Decatur IL Central Park — Tickets on sale soon — Enjoy a variety of local brews at Central Park in Downtown Decatur.