🌱 Patch AM: What ADM’s $100M upgrade and new power plant mean for Decatur

Good morning to you Decatur! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• What ADM's $100M upgrade and new power plant mean for Decatur
• Police detail disturbing incident on Decatur's William B. Sands Viaduct
• How one Decatur mom turned tragedy into a lifesaving shoe drive

Also on today's calendar: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the fish say when she hit a wall? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Partly sunny and less humid, with a high of 82 and low of 69 degrees.
• Tuesday: A t-storm around in the p.m., temps: high: 94, low: 68. 🌶 Hot!
• Wednesday: A thunderstorm in spots, with a high of 95 and low of 71 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Major investments, changes coming to central Illinois business (pjstar.com) — Decatur's largest employer, ADM, is planning major changes at its local complex, including a new gas-fired power plant with carbon capture and more than $100 million in facility upgrades. These moves come as Illinois phases out coal plants, leaving questions about when ADM's coal-fired plant here will close and how the transition will affect local jobs, air quality, and long-term economic stability.
   

• Police say Decatur woman is choked and abandoned (herald-review.com) — A Decatur woman was reportedly choked and left on the William B. Sands Viaduct after meeting a male acquaintance, according to police, highlighting safety concerns around a familiar local bridge. The story also revisits the long history of the Staley and 22nd Street viaducts, reminding residents how central these structures are to daily travel and city life.
   

• Mother turns grief into hope with shoe drive for suicide prevention in Decatur (wcia.com) — A Decatur mother is honoring her late daughter by organizing a local shoe drive, with all donations going to Decatur organizations that support people in need and raise awareness of suicide. She's using National Suicide Prevention Month to remind neighbors about warning signs, encourage open conversations about mental health, and share resources like the 988 crisis line for anyone struggling.
   

📸 Around Decatur

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Decatur

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★ Featured events ★

Tuesday September 15
• Tuesday Night Trivia at Door 4! →
  Door 4 Brewing, 1214 W. Cerro Gordo St., Decatur
  8:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Tuesday September 15
• Paint and Electronic Recycling →
  Macon County Environmental Management Recycling Center, 151 W. Wood St., Decatur
  8:00 am
• Frolicking Foxes Mini Camp →
  Rock Springs Nature Center, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur
  9:30 am
• Triumph of the Heart: The Passion of Saint Maximilian Kolbe →
  Lincoln Square Theater, 141 N Main St, Decatur
  4:30 pm
• Triumph of the Heart: The Passion of St. Maximilian Kolbe →
  Lincoln Square Theater, 141 North Main St., Decatur
  6:30 pm
Wednesday September 16
• Table 4 Tonight: Decatur | Dinner with New Friends →
  Restaurant of the Week, North Merchant Street, Decatur
• From Peel to Plate: Reducing Food Waste One Bite at a Time →
  Taylorville IL
  2:30 pm
• Macon County Conservation District Board Meeting →
  Rock Springs Nature Center, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur
  5:30 pm
Thursday September 17
• Frolicking Foxes Mini Camp →
  Rock Springs Nature Center, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur
  9:30 am
• Decatur Area Gathering →
  Doherty's Pub & Pins, 242 E. William St., Decatur
  11:30 am
• Paint and Electronic Recycling →
  Macon County Environmental Management Recycling Center, 151 W. Wood St., Decatur
  12:00 pm
Saturday October 3
• Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness →
  Von Maur, 1350 Hickory Point Mall, Forsyth
  10:00 am

📣 Decatur Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I checked my birds camera and had to laugh.
  This little guy lived up to his name hogging up all the bird seed. (Nextdoor Millikin Heights)
• First Wok is always great!
  One of my husband and my favorites! Now if they could cut back some of the sodium… (Nextdoor West End)

• Carrols Corporation posted a job opening for Team Member in Decatur. Apply here.
• Decatur Public Schools posted a job opening for Middle School PE Teacher for 2026-2027 School Year in Decatur. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Decatur here.

🗞 Nearby News

Macon

• Decatur man charged with damaging Macon County government buildings with rocks (herald-review.com)

Clinton

• Three Illinois families inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame (wandtv.com)
• Friday Football Fever (9/11/26) (wcia.com)

Monticello

• East Central Illinois High School Football Recap: Week Four (foxillinois.com)

Ok Decatur! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Dam! (Thank you George G. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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