Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: What Decatur’s school board just decided about next year’s budget

And on the Decatur Patch calendar - Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Thursday September 24th Patch AM
Thursday September 24th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Cheers Decatur! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

Need to get the word out about a local event in Decatur? Posting to Patch's local calendar is free and gets your event in front of Patch newsletter readers and quickly found by search engines and AI platforms. You can also share your event to nearby communities for as little at 25 cents per day. Click here to get started.

In today's newsletter:

  • What Decatur's school board just decided about next year's budget
  • Need help with winter bills? See when LIHEAP applications open
  • How safe is your child's car seat, really?

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

Today's riddle: Do you know what the two sides of a circle are? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Decatur Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Decatur Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Decatur. Advertisement

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Pleasant with clouds and sun, with a high of 72 and low of 61 degrees.
  • Friday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 70, low: 53.
  • Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 70 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Highlights Of Decatur Public Schools Board of Education's Regular Meeting Sept. 22 (decaturtribune.com) — Decatur Public Schools just approved a 2026-27 budget that uses savings to cover a projected deficit while keeping the district's fund balance in a healthy range. The board also highlighted new free counseling for staff, reminded families about half-day schedules and immunization deadlines, and shared dates for the Hall of Fame banquet and upcoming homecoming games.
   

2. Macon Co. Empowerment Opportunity Center to begin accepting applications for LIHEAP (wcia.com) — Decatur and Macon County households struggling with utility bills can start applying soon for LIHEAP help at the Empowerment Opportunity Center on East Marietta Street. Seniors, people with disabilities, families with young children, and those facing shutoffs may apply beginning Oct. 1, with all other income-eligible residents eligible Nov. 1, as long as funds remain available through August 2027.
   

3. Health experts share car seat safety tips for parents (wandtv.com) — Parents in Decatur can get hands-on help from the Macon County Health Department to ensure their children's car seats are installed and used correctly. Local health experts explain common mistakes, like loose straps and bulky coats, and offer tutorials so families can double-check fit, positioning, and height and weight limits before hitting the road this fall and winter.
   

4. Decatur native Michael Comerford joins Mound Road clinic for primary care services (maconreporter.com) — A new primary care option is now available on West Mound Road in Decatur, where Dr. Michael Comerford is seeing patients of all ages at HSHS Medical Group Family and Internal Medicine. He focuses on clear communication, chronic disease management, preventive care, and speaks fluent Spanish, expanding access for local families seeking one doctor for both children and adults.
   

5. Decatur ties with 3 other cities for 10th in Illinois scam reports in June (maconreporter.com) — Decatur ranked 10th among 237 Illinois cities for BBB Scam Tracker reports in June, with five scams logged and about $200 in reported losses. Most involved online purchases, including a costly passport renewal service, and residents are urged to use BBB tools to research offers and share experiences so neighbors can avoid similar schemes.
   

📸 Around Decatur

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 ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 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

  • Recycle Coach recycling tip - Aerosol Cans
    Bring full or partly full aerosol cans to a hazardous waste drop-off location for safe disposal. EMPTY cans can be recycled - remove lids and recycle… (Nextdoor )
  • Looking to rent.
    Looking for a large double axle trailer with dump capability to rent. Looking to move top soil from farm to my residence. Trailer must be standard… (Nextdoor West End)
  • Pizza Hut posted a job opening for Team Member in Decatur. Apply here.
  • Aramark posted a job opening for Food Service Supervisor - Decatur SD #61 in Decatur. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Decatur here.

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: The inside and the outside ! (Thank you James M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

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

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Decatur