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🌱 Patch AM: How one Decatur farm turned nearly a million lights into tradition

Also, don't miss FREE WEBINAR | "A Renaissance Christmas - Remix" on the Decatur Patch calendar

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Saturday December 20th Patch AM
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Cheers Decatur! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How one Decatur farm turned nearly a million lights into tradition
  • See how Decatur’s basketball teams fared in Friday’s full slate
  • How a Decatur-based foundation landed on 2025’s biggest-gifts list

Today's riddle: Last night I had a dream. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Decaturfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Decaturfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Saturday: Partly sunny and breezy, with a high of 46 and low of 23 degrees.
  • Sunday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 37, low: 26.
  • Monday: Increasing cloudiness, with a high of 45 and low of 40 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Decatur farm lights up the holiday season with massive Christmas display (wandtv.com) — A Decatur farm on Garver Church Road is drawing families nightly with a massive drive-thru Christmas light show at the Brix family farm, complete with synchronized music on 89.3 FM. After taking last year off, the display is back by popular demand and runs every evening through the end of the month, offering photo spots, nearly a million lights, and a faith-centered Christmas story.
   

• Full Court Friday (12/19/25) (wcia.com) — Decatur hoops fans can catch up on a busy Friday night that saw St. Teresa, Unity Christian, Eisenhower, and MacArthur all in action across central Illinois. Boys scores include Bloomington Central Catholic topping Decatur St. Teresa and Decatur Unity Christian edging St. Thomas More, while girls results feature close contests for Eisenhower and a tough matchup for MacArthur. These early-season games set the tone heading into the holiday break.
   

• LOCALIZE IT: Recipients on the list of 2025's biggest philanthropic gifts based in several states (newspressnow.com) — A major Warren Buffett donation is headed to the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, which is based in Decatur and focuses on food security and conflict mitigation around the world. While the list highlights huge gifts nationwide, this entry quietly underscores Decatur’s outsized role in global humanitarian work through a homegrown foundation.
   

📸 Around Decatur

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Meet Tina German-Roberts 👋 She was recently promoted to Fire Captain for the Decatur Fire Department and is the first female Captain in the history of the Decatur Fire Department - congratulations!
    Tina has been with DFD for 18 years. Combined with her time previously at Decatur Ambulance, she has served our community as a paramedic for 34 years… (Nextdoor )
  • Hey everyone, I am opening my schedule In the evenings and on the weekends after I get off of work to help with wrapping gifts!
    I am not charging a set price per item, just whatever you can and feel is right and fair! If you can’t pay I’m still willing to help. Have a… (Nextdoor West End)
  • Crown Equipment Corporation posted a job opening for Mechanic - Auto / Diesel / Forklift Technician in Decatur. Apply here.
  • Sam's Club posted a job opening for Merchandise and Stocking Associate in Decatur. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Decatur here.

🗞 Nearby News

Mount Zion

  • Fresh faces rise in Illinois football as Music City Bowl offers crucial practice time (newschannel20.com)

Clinton

Monticello

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: I dreamed I was swimming in a pool of orange soda, but it was just a Fanta-sea.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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