Good morning, Decatur.

Old King’s Orchard Community Center held a ribbon cutting on October 14 for its new outdoor basketball court—King’s Court—at 815 N.

Church St; the event featured family activities like face painting, balloon sculptures, bounce houses, live music, a dance performance, and basketball contests while the center thanked the City of Decatur for its support.

Decatur Indoor Sports Center will mark 25 years with a free community event on October 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—attendees can tour the fitness center and HIIT room, try rock wall climbing, play laser tag, roller skate, and see birthday party demos as the center thanks the community for its support.

The Early Bird Kiwanis Club of Decatur will launch its annual cheese sale on November 6 offering 2 lb wheels of Colby, Colby jack, Pepper jack, Swiss, and 4-in-1 cheese at $17 each as well as 1.5 lb chunks of Cheddar and horseradish-cheddar spread at $14 each until supplies run out—this fundraiser supports local community charities with cash donations throughout the year.

Dove, Inc. announced its annual Christmas Care & Share registration on October 14 to support families in need with either toys only or food and toys assistance at several October locations including SIU Medicine and The Salvation Army — parents must bring a photo ID and proof of residency to register.

Several well-known Downtown Decatur food businesses are hosting a new street festival on Saturday, October 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Downtown Decatur Fall Family Festival — organized by Coney McKane’s American Eatery, Jimmy John’s, The Original Del’s Popcorn Shop, and CM Catering — will showcase food, live music, games, and fundraisers to support Huntington’s Disease while aiming to become an annual tradition.

On October 14, Andrea Gerhard from Heart of Illinois Community Foundation and Amy Rueff from Decatur Trades and Labor joined Byers & Co to discuss trade training programs and workforce readiness, highlighting the foundation's support for local workers.

The Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Chamber Celebration on October 29 at the Mt. Zion Convention Center—featuring a cocktail reception at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. and a keynote address by Scott Welle at 7:00 p.m.—with early bird ticket pricing available until noon on October 20.

ADM opened its new Central Milling Laboratory in Decatur today to boost its quality testing by baking about 30 loaves daily and analyzing wheat performance.

The lab will support 31 facilities across North America + increase collaboration with ADM's research teams to drive innovation in milling.

Millikin University’s Kirkland Fine Arts Center will host the one-time performance Hollywood Revisited on October 18 at 2 p.m. Greg Schreiner, a Millikin alumnus, created the show that will mix classic film clips, live music and authentic Hollywood costumes with a cast meet-and-greet in the lobby afterward.

Byers & Co broadcast live from Millikin’s Rathje Athletic Center on October 14 as part of WSOY’s 100th anniversary celebration — the show featured interviews with university leaders and community voices discussing Millikin’s academics, enrollment events, and new athletic programs.

Autism Awareness Walk: Donuts for a Difference

9 AM – 12 PM — Fairview Park — Free entry — Enjoy delicious donuts while supporting autism awareness and acceptance in the community.

Open Mic Night with Bob Besser

6 PM – 9 PM — Golden Fox Brewing, LLC — Free entry — Showcase your talent in music, comedy, or poetry at this lively community event.

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet

4-6 p.m. — Kirkland Fine Arts Center — Ticket prices vary — Experience a festive spectacle of dance and music in a magical holiday setting.