🌱 Patch AM: Argenta-Oreana fire chief unhurt in crash; Decatur fire history recalled

What's up Decatur! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Argenta-Oreana fire chief unhurt in crash; Decatur fire history recalled
• See how Decatur's conference showdown stacked up across Central Illinois.
• Decatur remembers alumna Peggy Buck Mills and her life of service.

Also on today's calendar: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness and 10 more events.

Today's riddle: What has a cap but no head? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Comfortable with sunshine, with a high of 73 and low of 47 degrees.
• Sunday: Sunny and comfortable, temps: high: 76, low: 46.
• Monday: Sunny and pleasant, with a high of 71 and low of 44 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Argenta-Oreana Fire Chief avoids injuries after crash (herald-review.com) — An Argenta-Oreana fire chief escaped injury after a crash while responding to a call near Decatur, underscoring the risks local first responders face. The piece also looks back at decades of Decatur Fire Department history, highlighting past chiefs, firefighters, and equipment that have protected the city through the years.
   

• Friday Football Fever (10/2/26) (wcia.com) — High school football fans in Decatur can relive a tough conference clash highlighted in this Central Illinois Week 7 roundup, which features scores from more than 20 games. From MacArthur's big win over Glenwood to regional powerhouses like Rochester and Maroa-Forsyth rolling, the scoreboard shows how area teams are shaping up heading into the final stretch of the season.
   

• Peggy Buck Mills (themtnear.com) — Longtime Coloradan Peggy Jeanne Buck Mills, who graduated from Stephen Decatur High School and briefly returned to Decatur after the 1971 San Fernando earthquake, has died at 77. She later became a key advocate for older adults in Colorado's mountain communities, and friends and family will honor her life at a celebration in Allenspark on October 3.
   

📸 Around Decatur

Subscribe

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Decatur

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday October 3
• Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness →
  Von Maur, 1350 Hickory Point Mall, Forsyth
  10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday October 4
• Sunday Morning Serenity Group →
  Prairie Avenue Recovery Club, 420 E Prairie Ave, Decatur
  2:00 am
• Homestead Prairie Farm Open House →
  Homestead Prairie Farm, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur
  1:00 pm
• Sunday Storytime →
  Rock Springs Nature Center, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur
  2:00 pm
Tuesday October 6
• Tuesday Night Trivia at Door 4! →
  Door 4 Brewing, 1214 W. Cerro Gordo St., Decatur
  8:00 am
• Shining Sun Mini Camp →
  Rock Springs Nature Center, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur
  9:30 am
• Relief Society soup lunch →
  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3955 Lourdes Drive, Decatur
  11:30 am
Thursday October 8
• Shining Sun Mini Camp →
  Rock Springs Nature Center, 3939 Nearing Lane, Decatur
  9:30 am
• Thursday Trivia →
  Golden Fox Brewing, 3025 Kandy Lane, Decatur
  6:00 pm
Friday October 9
• 5th Annual Macon County Fair Harvest Fest →
  Macon County Fairgrounds, 3700 North Westlawn Avenue, Decatur
• SILVER LAKE →
  Lincoln Square Theater, 141 N Main St, Decatur
  6:00 pm
• 2026 "SPOTLIGHT SERIES" - Show #8 - 'SILVER LAKE' →
  Lincoln Square Theater, 141 N Main St, Decatur
  6:00 pm
• 2026 Spotlight Series - Show #8 - 'Silver Lake' →
  Lincoln Square Theater, 141 N Main St, Decatur
  6:00 pm

📣 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

• Protecting water at the source pays off downstream.
  When the quality of source water in Lake Decatur goes down, it may need additional treatment and monitoring to meet drinking water standards… (Nextdoor )
• Fall is here, and it's a great time to enjoy cooler evenings around a backyard fire with family and friends.
  The Decatur Fire Department reminds everyone to celebrate the season responsibly and keep fire safety in mind. (Nextdoor )

• Sam's Club posted a job opening for Merchandise and Stocking Associate in Decatur. Apply here.
• Constellation Energy posted a job opening for Senior Reactor Operator in Decatur. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Decatur here.

🗞 Nearby News

Macon

• Apex Closes Financing for 150 MW Spring Creek Solar (nacleanenergy.com)
• St. Anthony, Teutopolis Win Boys Golf Regionals, Area Players Qualify For Sectionals - Effingham's News and Sports Leader, 979XFM and KJ Country 102.3 (thexradio.com)
• Local hospitals to conduct community health survey (wandtv.com)

Clinton

• Clinton YMCA Hosting 3rd Annual Prairie State Cup Triathlon (dewittdailynews.com)
• Police Beat for October 1st, 2026 (southernillinoisnow.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: "What has a cap but no head?" — A bottle (Thank you Glo M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook