DECATUR — Here’s a story you don’t read every day: hundreds of people gathered in Decatur Tuesday night and were met by a large contingent of law enforcement — and everybody had a great time.
King Goode, 9, simulates putting out a fire with a fire hose game, assisted by Decatur Fire Department lieutenant Chris Scott, at the National Night Out event at Dansby Park in Decatur on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
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12-year-old Sean Walker from Decatur tries out the pilot's seat in a Air Evac Lifeteam 182 helicopter specially adapted for whisking patients to the hospital. A chance to explore the helicopter, and meet the crew who fly it, was one of the many attractions at Tuesday's National Night Out event in Decatur.
Selena Hagood, 15, tries on a vest from the Springfield Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the National Night Out event at Dansby Park in Decatur on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
Decatur Fire Department firefighters get help from children in the tug of war competition against the Decatur Police Department at the National Night Out event at Dansby Park in Decatur on Tuesday, Aug. 4.
📷 Looking back: Decatur-area history photos
1989: Sharon Middleton shows the quilt that was given away during a quilt show at Grace United Methodist Church.
1990: Some of the key members of the Maroa-Forsyth baseball team, from left to right, Brant Booker, Lance Tyman, Jason Ground and Cary Fenton.
1977: Fairview Park was a winter wonderland in December 1977.
1950: Members of the Lovington Cubs, who played amateur baseball in Central Illinois from 1903 to 1914 at their annual reunion in Lovington. Front row, left to right: Arthur Stocks, Lovington, vice president of the old Lovington Baseball Association; Oscar Clotfelter, Manteno; Harry Cheevers, Charles Burres and Roy Dickinson, Lovington. Back row: Ikie Hesler, Lovington; Pete Baker, Lake City; Oral Burres and Dan Freeman, Lovington, and Fred Brown, Sullivan.
1947: The miniature, blue and aluminum train for children was the newest addition to "Fun" in Fairview Park. For 12 cents the children could get a ride around the 175-foot circle of track 10 times.
1978:Three pitchers for Lake Land College baseball team, from left, Ray Spates, Eisenhower; Chris Collins, Macon; Mark Perkins, Lakeview.
1987: Animal Control Warden Patricia Buckner cradles two puppies while Humane Investigator Martha Tenney tries to keep a German Shepherd in tow.
1980: Effingham St. Anthony High School baseball team members, from left, Brian Kabbes, area player of the year; Greg Wolk, area coach of the year; Greg Koester and Dennis Worman.
1942: Members of the Delta Delta Delta sorority at Millikin investigate the work of Jack Frost in Fairview Park. From left, Kay Crow, Frances Spence and Belle Colmes.
1983: Gloria and Mike Humphrey standing in front of the Gem Theatre in Villa Grove. They have managed the theatre since its reopening in July 1983.
1992: The Fairview Park Caboose, burned and vandalized, was cut up for scrap. Decatur Park District employee Lynn Cooper throws a piece into a dumpster. Sol Tick & Co. did the work.
1962: Members of the Tolly's Markets amateur baseball team include: Front row, left to right, Lee Endsley, Leroy Allen and Ken Heffington. Back row, Jerry McNamara, Max Justice, Manager John Halvachs and Mike McNamara. Tolly's was tied for first place in the Little Eight League and also in the City League.
1988: Bill Kirkman and Sharon Curtis work with Curtis' collie, Sassy, during the Human Society of Decatur and Macon County's dog obedience classes led by Kirkman.
1983: Humpty Dumpty School children were enthralled as Fire Inspector Terry Brown used Sesame Street puppets to alleviate their fear of firemen.
1964: Hubert Humphrey speaks to a crown during his visit to Decatur Oct. 20, 1964.
1984: Handiwork by members of the Decatur Quilters Guild was on display at the quilt show in the Civic Center arena .
1944: Decatur Post Office officials were forced to abandon a long-time precedent and open the distribution department to women employees during a wartime manpower shortage. Postmaster James M. Allen said that the women have proven themselves capable of meeting the situation.
1935: Commander W.N. Hodge of the state G.A.R. spread the mortar for the cornerstone of the new Decatur Post Office. Mayor Smith and J.J. Maloney spoke.
1991: June Dixon's Baltimore Album quilt is intensely patriotic, honoring the 745th Tank Battalion her husband, Bob, served in during WWII. The quilt was featured at the Decatur Quilt Fest.
1983: Capt. Robert York, Station 3, 2nd Battalion, helps Andy Heidemann, 5, try on a helmet and coat at the Humpty Dumpty Daycare Center. Andy is the son of Dewayen and Susan Heidemann of Decatur.
1969: A Decatur motorist is about to run over a "sleeping policeman" in Fairview Park. The "Sleeping policeman" is a raised bump in the road meant to slow down drivers on the winding park roads.
1986: Jessica Rich, 8, daughter of Tom and Judy Rich of Decatur, with pygmy goats, Diamond Lil, left, and Doris from Morris Farms, Tuscola.
1922: Armistice Day marked the first delivery day of fresh bread from the new Purity Bakery Co. The first employees pose outside the plant at 434 N. Morgan St.
1989: The "Stitch in Time" quilting group met in the downtown Senior Center. Three of the women, clockwise from left, Lura Hammond, Pearl Gilman and Grace Diles, have all quilted for six decades or more, the fourth, Mildred Dady, had begun four years before.
1991: Lindsay Meininger, 8, of Glad Tidings Christian Academy, was among dozens of children who put in time after school to help color paper bags reminding people of Project Playground. Ann Elder, co-chairman of the children's committee of Project Playground, collected the bags for use in Decatur supermarkets.
1992: Renee, Sara and Brian Bone of Decatur play at the new Project Playground at Scovill Children's Zoo.
1953: Berlin McCoy getting set to roll out in one of three new mail trucks that were delivered to the Decatur Post Office. These latest trucks have automatic shift and right-hand drive for easy access to rural mail boxes.
1911: The U.S. Govt. Post Office mail cart is shown. Driver is Samuel Lewis Croy, born 1867, died March 1924. Croy was a Decatur Post Office employee for 26 years.
1936: Mrs. Sarah Riley, blind proprietor of the Post Office Newsstand and Drinks dispensary, serves two cold ones to Bessie and Cleo Williams, Decatur.
1978: This mail "bug," which caught the eye of photographer Bob Strongman, collects mail at the S.W. Dunkirk home along Illinois 185 west of Coffeen.
Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid
Tony Reid
Macon County Courts Reporter
