Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Where and when you can recycle old Christmas lights locally

And check out Jim Hollis Live at Golden Fox Brewing on the Decatur Patch calendar

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Good day Decatur! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Where and when you can recycle old Christmas lights locally
  • How Decatur police plan to crack down on unsafe holiday driving
  • How an October animal cruelty case ended in a prison sentence

Also on today's calendar: Council 577 Children's Christmas Party and 5 more events.

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

Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Frigid with 3-6" of snow, with a high of 18 and low of -9 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Sunday: Sunny, but very cold, temps: high: 7, low: -9.
  • Monday: Mostly sunny and not as cold, with a high of 31 and low of 18 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Christmas lights recycling available until Jan. 31 (herald-review.com) — Decatur residents can drop off unwanted Christmas lights for recycling through Jan. 31 at the Macon County Recycling Center on West Wood Street. The piece also looks back at decades of memorable local holiday light displays, from downtown decorations to neighborhood homes that once drew big crowds.
   

2. Decatur police launch holiday traffic safety campaign (newschannel20.com) — Decatur police are stepping up DUI and seat belt enforcement now through January 5 as part of statewide holiday safety campaigns. Officers will be watching for impaired, unbelted, speeding, and distracted drivers, and encourage residents to plan sober rides, use transit or rideshares, and report suspected impaired driving. The effort is funded through federal highway safety grants.
   

3. Decatur man sentenced to 2 years for October animal cruelty incident (wcia.com) — A 42-year-old Decatur man has been sentenced to two years in state prison after pleading guilty to aggravated cruelty to animals in connection with an October incident involving a cat. Police said the case began with a trespassing call on East Grand Avenue and led to additional allegations before his arrest.
   

4. Unity Christian's Rhonda Glidewell retires after successful stint with Lions (wandtv.com) — Decatur volleyball fans are saying goodbye to Unity Christian High School coach Rhonda Glidewell, who is retiring after 12 standout seasons and four straight IHSA regional titles. Under her leadership, the Lions posted multiple 30-win seasons and a dominant 163-36 record over her final six years, and she now plans to focus on family and becoming a grandmother.
   

5. Community bike donations help dozens of Decatur children this holiday season (wandtv.com) — Dozens of Decatur-area kids in need will receive refurbished bikes this holiday season thanks to 59 donated bicycles from the Decatur Bicycle Club, Decatur Bicycle Shoppe, and Macon County Toys for Tots. Volunteers collected, repaired, and safety-checked everything from tricycles to teen bikes, using club funds for parts. Organizers say the project both spreads holiday cheer and encourages more local children to discover bicycling.
   

📸 Around Decatur

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Op-Ed: Decatur Fire Staffing Is Stretched Thin — Tier 2 Fix Needed to Protect Public Safety Now —Oscar Jensen Read on Patch
  • Meet Jim Edwards 👋 Jim is our Director of Information Technology (IT) - but not for much longer as he is set to retire at the end of the year - congratulations!
    Jim has been with us for 10+ years and managed all aspects of IT for the City. He was instrumental in developing the municipal fiber optic network… (Nextdoor )
  • Please Don't Crowd the Plow!
    Snow safety tip: Don’t crowd or travel beside a snow plow. Our snow plows travel slowly, make wide turns, stop often, overlap lanes, and exit the… (Nextdoor )
  • The Loft Rehabilitation and Nursing of Decatur posted a job opening for Activity Assistant in Decatur. Apply here.
  • Decatur Public Schools posted a job opening for High School Counselor (2 Positions) 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: I demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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