Good morning, Decatur.

On April 29th, Natalie Beck, Missy Batman, Bruce Nims, and Kelly Gagnon-Hernandez met with Byers — Co to discuss Nims' nomination and winning of the Outstanding Senior Volunteer award for Region 4 and his positive impact in the community.

Decatur teen Jamarrion Lloyd, 17, pleaded guilty to armed violence (a Class X felony) and was sentenced on Tuesday to 20 years in prison (to be served in the Department of Juvenile Justice until his 18th birthday) for his role in luring and stabbing 15-year-old Tyler Eubanks in July 2023.

ABBA LA will perform at Kirkland Fine Arts Center at Millikin University on May 10 at 7:30 p.m. The group will play popular ABBA songs like Dancing Queen, Winner Takes It All, and Fernando to offer a lively show for Decatur fans.

Local events like The Devon’s summer season, the Commodore Cup Regatta, and the Craft Beer Festival helped boost Macon County’s tourism economy+ by adding jobs and tax funds.

The Farm Progress Show in August is expected to bring 9,500 hotel room nights+ while National Tourism Week from May 4-10 highlights travel's importance for the county.

History of the Heartland will host an event to honor SDHS educators on May 15 in the backroom of Doherty’s Pub.

The event—part of Decatur Historic Preservation Week—will open at 5:00 p.m. with dinner and feature a panel of former teachers starting at 6:00 p.m.

Millikin University and Heartland Community College announced a new transfer process that allows Heartland graduates with an Associate degree and a 2.0 GPA to be automatically accepted into a Millikin bachelor’s program and finish their degree in two years if they enroll full time. The agreement will start in the 2024-25 academic year and aims to reduce credit loss for students.

IDHS and ISBE announced that eligible families will receive Summer EBT benefits for the 2024-25 school year, with each school-aged child set to receive a one-time $120 benefit starting in May.

Benefits will be loaded on existing LINK cards or mailed between May 19—26 while households that do not qualify automatically must apply by August 13.

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.

Boots On The Ground Country/Urban Line Dancing Party

7 p.m. — 12 a.m. — 400 E Eldorado St, Decatur, IL — Ages 21+ — Dust off those boots and hit the dance floor for an exciting night of country and urban line dancing with a live tutorial.

Rock Springs Ramble 5K Run/Walk

8 a.m. — Rock Springs Conservation Area — Registration details pending — Lace up for a community-friendly 5K run or walk in the scenic Rock Springs Conservation Area.

On-Site Tour at Glenwood Supportive Living

9 AM - 7 PM — The Glenwood Supportive Living of Mt. Zion — Free entry — Explore a community focused on exceptional care and friendly living for seniors.

Open Mic Night with Bob Besser

6-9 p.m. — Golden Fox Brewing, LLC — Free entry — Bring your talents to a fun night of music, comedy, and poetry at the monthly Open Mic.