Comments on: School Bringing In Fast Food For Lunch?

By: cynthia

cynthia — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:14:44 +0000

I lived in Decatur all of my 57 years, we used to keep busy in the summer by swimming, going to Worthman’s Field and painting plaques.. there was the street fair and riding bikes all over town to explore new neighborhoods. Things were much simpler back then… we spent time at Whitzberger’s having cherry phosphates, hamberger baskets for a buck.. that included the drink. Walking thru Firestone’s looking at Barbie clothes and of course the 2 dime stores downtown. We kept busy using our imaginations, kick ball..basketball..dodge ball.. huide and go seek. Then technology struck.. now we have Wii.. Nintendo, Playstations.. you hardly ever see kids out playing any kind of ball…. We should stop and take a good look at the Amish. THEY know how to keep their kids busy. Dont see them with brand new buggies racing around town showing off…

By: Northwest Mom

Northwest Mom — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:13:59 +0000

The print shop downtown has pictures of old Decatur. They’re wonderful.

I wish Decatur was the Decatur of my childhood- or even the Decatur of my mother’s youth. So much more to do then and such a sense of community that tends to be lacking now.

By: Mike Harvey

Mike Harvey — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:53:12 +0000

Here’s some pictures of Arnold’s by a couple from Maui that wish they could take it back there:

http://www.maui-angels.com/ohio-indiana.html

By: Mike Harvey

Mike Harvey — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:27:47 +0000

Are there any pictures on line of some of these old places in Decatur? I remember there used to be a roller rink downtown as well. Fort Wayne struggles with an identity as well but it seems like a lot of these great places from the past (and present) were driven by entrepreneurs, though its hard to compete with a Wal Mart on some of those fronts obviously.

By: little league bats

little league bats — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:13:08 +0000

Taxpayer Yes I fully understand your point. I just dont want everyone reading to think Decatur is the worst place in the world You are correct the areas need the low income housing have definately gotten worse over the years. It is a shame it had such an impact on your property value and I’m guessing your not alone in that. Adams county as a whole has very poor track record when it comes to sustaining property values. I read somewhere on average Adams county property depreciates at a rate of 1% per year. What a shame.

By: voter tax payer

voter tax payer — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:20:34 +0000

You don’t live by the low income housing do you. You can have problems with any kids from any families, but the transients who come to Decatur for the low income housing do not have a stake in the community. This burden should not be put on the taxpayers…unless a person cannot work at all. That is a different story. Decatur used to be a better place with more opportunities for the younger people, and many did not leave for better places. I guess it is what kind of employment one secures. I agree it is better than larger cities who have much crime, and the police are good, but I never did appreciate someone walking on my front yard to get to thier low income appt., or shooting sinkers and arrows with a sling shot at my home and putting holes in my garage door, siding, vehicle, and at my 4 year old. I did not appreciate steroes blaring at nite, and even during the day. The kids that live in the low income apts. need parks or somewhere to play, but where, as my back yard is for my kids. I felt the kids and teens did not have any respect for my property, as I caught teens in my back yard vomiting, and urinating in my front yard at nite, or for the others who lived on a very nice street in a very good neighborhood. I lived by the low income apts. and am glad that I do not anymore. There is an advantage to living out in the country. When you reside by low income apts. your property value goes down, atleast that was my experience. Any others have that experience with the decreasing property values if you reside by the low income apts. ? My property went down in vlaue by 20,000, and I was not happy about that. Any others with that experience? And children from well to do families can cause problems also, on both sides of the coin, it just depends upon if the parents are involved with their children, and activities, or let them run wild.

By: admin

admin — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 21:17:03 +0000

I agree there are definately some problems in town but it’s still far better than most larger cities. I must be missing something because I dont see a “gang issue” in town. yeah there are groups of teens that run a bit wild but far from the gun toting, crack selling , killing gangs you see in larger cities. I’ve not lived here my whole life and have definately seen far worse when it comes to Gangs. I’ve yet to walk through town and and feel afraid. As for the unruely kids in my experience a quick call to the police office or sherrif puts a stop to their mischief. To be quite honest I’ve had more problems with kids from well to do families that have had less than stellar upbringing than those from low income families.
I’ll take Decatur any day over the larger Indiana cities.

By: voter tax payer

voter tax payer — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:17:45 +0000

Right on George!!!! I used to feel pretty safe walking in my old neighborhood, but I would not anymore!!! Too many transients that are a big burden to the taxpayers, who get little in return. this is not right to turn a formerly great small town into a welfare town, and this does affect the local school system too. I truly miss the old Decatur, where everyone who wanted a job was able to obtain one, and could have a good life and provide for their families, and not expecting the government to provide for them. Not right to have tax dollars pay for people to have free housing, as those who work and if you are lucky, make decent money, have to pay for their motrage, upkeep, etc. Something is not right to bring in others to make the burden worse on the entire community. Need good jobs there, and in the U.S.A. Pray for this country!!

By: George

George — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:41:12 +0000

Taxpayer is so very right on all of that message!!! We never had gangs in this town until about 12 years ago when Low Income Housing under the “Biggs Administration” finally pressed through on all his objectives to make money and cost the regular Decatur Citizen our Community Spirit! There is nothing left here to strive for and let us not cover our eyes up, as we DO have a serious gang problem!

By: voter tax payer

voter tax payer — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:09:27 +0000

Decatur used to have much more to offer before the town was taken over by the low income housing, and the factories closing. Used to be a more lively place where citizens had money to spend, and purchased homes. Used to have good jobs, but now mostly low income. Used to have a great downtown where you could go to Gass’ store and Jani Lynn to purchase clothes, Fager’s to buy a t.v. or appliances, and curt greeno would service them, Western auto used to be downtown, Holthouse drugstore had its sandwich bar, Niblick’s had a great store. You could get a Crysler at Macklin’s and see Jack, Dick or Tom. The old A & P grocery. You could get a job at the G.E., or Decatur Casting, or Central Soya. You used to have somewhat of a future there. There used to be a theater downtown and a drive in. Kids and teens had atleast something to do. The old Happy Hours Roller rink is no more. things were better back then, and you knew your neighboors, and were not afraid to walk around town. There used to be a sence of community. There are some stores and places that I have probably forgotten, but Decatur has changed, but not in a good way. Too many transients. Good Luck in fitting in, I lived there for years, and did not manage to do so. I guess that I did not have the “right” last name. There are nice churches there though.
As for fast food at schools, I say go for it, if it is healthy for the kids. Better that some of the food that is being served now.