☀ SUNSHINE STRATEGIES RADIO
Weekly News Recap — Week of May 3, 2026
Macon · Piatt · DeWitt · Logan · McLean · Christian Counties
COLD OPEN / HOOK
What would it take to make you fall back in love with something you’d been neglecting?
Not guilt. Not obligation. Something that pulls you back — season after season — because it’s beautiful, and because it matters, and because you can feel the difference when you show up.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Because of peonies.
Welcome to Sunshine Strategies Radio — your family-friendly source for news that matters here in Central Illinois and beyond. I’m Jen McMillin. Grab your lemonade. Let’s get into it.
THE PEONY MONOLOGUE
Friends — I’m afraid I’m turning into one of those obnoxious plant ladies.
Because in the past few years, I’ve become a bit obsessed with peonies. It was a natural addition to my obsessions, since there are so many planted in cemeteries. Their ridiculously vibrant blooms — reds, pinks, whites — make me happier than I can explain.
So in my guerilla gardening way, I found a patch of peonies at an abandoned property in Lincoln on my way to visit a friend.
Now — the rules of guerilla gardening are very similar to foraging. Respect first. Improve what you find. And only remove if ethically permitted.
Knowing the old school wasn’t being used, I didn’t feel bad stopping to clean up the garbage — mostly cups and disposable gloves, for some reason. And as usual, I didn’t have a bag — but there was already one on the ground.
Then I turned to the flower beds. Most were empty, with the exception of the little one in front.
The tulips were already spent. But the peonies...
One white, tinged in the middle with pink. The other a deep burgundy. They were old, by my guess — over time, the plant grows and spreads — and these were about four feet across each.
Here’s something most people don’t know about peonies.
They can live up to a hundred years.
A hundred years. They’re hardy — they can withstand harsh climates, extreme weather, long periods of neglect. They can endure quite a bit, and still come back. Still push through the soil each spring, still reach toward the light.
And when they bloom — which is only for a short time — they bring beauty, fragrance, and a fullness to the world around them that is hard to describe unless you’ve stood next to one on a warm morning.
But their value goes beyond the blooms. Peonies have been used medicinally for centuries. They’re symbols of prosperity and possibility in many cultures. Most people only see the flower. They don’t know what the plant is capable of.
Sound like anything else we might be underestimating?
But here’s the issue with peonies — they do best when tended to.
The large blooms sometimes need support. And to keep them blooming, it’s best to deadhead them regularly — to clip the spent flowers so the plant can put its energy into what comes next.
It’s a feature that encourages families to visit the plants frequently — and anyone planted nearby.
So drooping peonies always make me feel a bit sad. The small act of trimming, propping, and tidying — it’s a meditation for me. And one that recently left me with several fragrant blooms to share at my Rotary meeting.
I’m afraid peonies aren’t the only thing being neglected from generations past.
Civic life is another.
Where peonies are the reminder to tend to our elders in cemeteries — voting has been the reminder to pay attention to our communities and our families.
A reminder that I’m proud to know is rising — but not enough. And not in a sustained way.
Because here’s what I’ve learned from the plants: democracy, like a peony, can survive a lot. It’s hardier than we give it credit for. It has deep roots. It has been here longer than we have, and — if we do our part — it will outlast us too.
But surviving isn’t the same as thriving.
For the best results — for almost anything, from peonies to democracy — sustained attention is needed.
Not obsession.
Not obsessively watching the news, or forcing blooms to open.
But participation in — and respect for — all the aspects that bring success.
The watering. The deadheading. The showing up, even when nothing is blooming yet.
The peonies I found at that abandoned school in Lincoln? They’d been there, doing their thing, for probably decades. Nobody planted them recently. Nobody was tending them.
But they were still there. Still alive. Still capable of blooming — they just needed someone to notice. To stop. To care enough to spend a few minutes with them.
That’s what I’m asking of all of us, today.
Not a revolution. Not an obsession.
Just — stop. Notice. Tend.
The blooms are worth it.
THIS WEEK’S NEWS — ACROSS OUR SIX COUNTIES
MACON COUNTY — A CLUBHOUSE FOR COMMUNITY
Speaking of tending to what’s been neglected — Decatur had a pretty meaningful moment this week.
On Tuesday morning, about two hundred people gathered at Scovill Park West for the groundbreaking of what is officially being called the Clubhouse at Scovill Acres — the Decatur Park District’s long-awaited new senior facility.
I love everything about that name, by the way. They chose “clubhouse” deliberately. Not “senior center.” Not a building that signals you’ve reached some kind of twilight. A clubhouse — a place where you belong, where people want to be, where connection is the whole point.
The new building will be five times the size of the current center, which already sees more than a hundred visitors a day and serves around thirty people lunch daily. What’s coming includes an indoor walking track, a pickleball court, a workout area, a game room, and community rooms — the works.
Park District Executive Director Clay Gerhard said something that stuck with me: “What started as a place for recreation has grown into something much more meaningful. Over the years our senior center has quietly become one of the most important programs we provide.”
Two women at the groundbreaking — Heppie Whiteside, 73, and Sharon Wagner, 82 — told reporters they were looking forward to more space. Sharon said socialization is very important. Heppie said they need a bigger space. They come for Bingo, but they stay for each other.
That’s the whole thing, isn’t it? They come for the activity. They stay for the people.
The new Clubhouse at Scovill Acres is expected to open next summer. And if you have gently used furniture to donate before then, the Park District is accepting it now.
This is a community tending to itself. And it’s beautiful.
MACON COUNTY — NEW LIFE DOWNTOWN
Also in Decatur this week — an old downtown building is getting a second act.
The city approved a project that will renovate the upper floors of a historic building into ten new apartments, with an anticipated completion date of late 2027. Details on the specific location are still emerging, but this is part of a continuing push to bring more residential life back to the heart of downtown Decatur.
I have a soft spot for this kind of thing. Old buildings that have been neglected, waiting for someone to see their potential — to stop, notice, and tend. Sound familiar?
LOGAN COUNTY — THE DATA CENTER DEBATE CONTINUES
Over in Lincoln, the conversation about a proposed $5 billion data center is still very much alive — and moving into a new chapter.
Here’s where things stand: Miami-based Hut 8 Corp. wants to build a 500-megawatt data center — now being called the Logan Prairie Data Center — on about 250 acres of farmland near Latham. The project has promised roughly 200 permanent jobs and over 1,500 temporary construction jobs.
The big number that’s gotten attention lately: Hut 8 is now guaranteeing Logan County schools and local governments $65 million a year in annual payments if the project goes through — a pledge made by the company’s senior vice president of energy at a contentious three-hour County Board meeting on April 29th. That sounds impressive, but opponents have pushed back, noting that independent estimates based on how a comparable Meta data center was assessed suggest the actual tax benefit could be closer to $16 million a year — real money, but a long way from $65 million. SpringfieldbusinessjournalIllinois Times
The 60-day moratorium the County Board passed earlier this year has expired without extension. The approval process has also been complicated by the recent resignation of District 5 County Board member Michael DeRoss. Springfieldbusinessjournal
Now, the path forward runs through two advisory bodies. The Logan County Regional Planning Commission met on May 6th, and the Zoning Board of Appeals met last night — May 7th — both at the Oasis Senior Center, to consider a proposed ordinance that would allow data centers as a conditional use in agricultural zones. That’s modeled after what Sangamon County did, but with some stronger protections — including a required financial decommissioning plan if the site is ever abandoned. Springfieldbusinessjournal
The board is now targeting a special zoning meeting on May 13th to continue working through the details. After that, any new rules would still need a final vote from the full County Board. FOX Illinois
Opposition remains strong. Concerns about water use, farmland loss, electricity rates, and the validity of Hut 8’s financial projections are all still on the table. Some residents say they don’t want an ordinance at all — because they don’t want a data center under any conditions — and want to wait and see what the state does with proposed legislation that would put more responsibility on data centers for their power consumption. FOX Illinois
This one is far from over. If you live in Logan County, May 13th is your next chance to weigh in — the agenda includes a possible new moratorium and continued work on the zoning ordinance
LOGAN COUNTY — A TEACHER TO ROOT FOR
On a lighter note out of Logan County: Mount Pulaski High School teacher Tricia Campbell has made it into the top five of the national “America’s Favorite Teacher” contest.
The grand prize? Twenty-five thousand dollars, a trip to Hawaii, a feature in Reader’s Digest, and a school assembly with Bill Nye the Science Guy.
Voting is open to the public — so if you want to see a Central Illinois educator bring that kind of recognition home to Logan County, look up America’s Favorite Teacher and cast your vote for Tricia Campbell. Links in the show notes.
This is exactly the kind of story I want more of. A teacher being seen. Being celebrated. Being told: you matter, and we know it.
DEWITT COUNTY — GET ON THE WATER
It’s prime fishing season at Clinton Lake, and if you haven’t gotten out there yet — what are you waiting for?
Clinton Lake is one of the best fishing lakes in the state of Illinois, and spring is when it really shines. The spillway area is producing walleye and stripers right now, along with crappie and catfish. If bass is more your speed, you’ve got both largemouth and smallmouth in the lake, and hybrid striped bass fishing is popular too — with plenty of fish over ten pounds taken every year.
The lake sits on about 4,900 acres, there are six public boat ramps, and accessible fishing piers are available at the Mascoutin Access Area, the Spillway Access Area, and the Valley Mill Bank Fishing Area — so you don’t need a boat to have a great day.
And if you want to watch some serious competition while you’re at it — there are two tournaments coming up worth knowing about. On May 22nd, high school bass teams from across Illinois will be on the water for an IHSA tournament. Then on May 31st, Clinton Lake hosts the Illinois Bass Nation Youth Series State Tournament — up to 150 boats, young anglers competing for largemouth bass. It’s a great event to watch even if you’re not competing.
And while you’re out there — pack a bag. It takes all of us to help keep all public spaces around the lake clean. Grab a small bag before you head out and pick up whatever you find along the bank — yours or someone else’s. Leave it better than you found it.
Clinton Lake is right there in your backyard, DeWitt County. Get out and enjoy it.
CHRISTIAN COUNTY — ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN
In Christian County this week — the Conservation Day program had fourth graders from across the county getting hands-on lessons in environmental stewardship. And if you’re looking for some fun this Mother’s Day weekend, the fairgrounds in Taylorville are hosting Mother’s Day Mayhem — a demolition derby event on Saturday, May 9th. Activities start at 4 p.m., crashing starts at 5. They’ve even got a Power Wheels event for the little ones.
McLEAN COUNTY — NORMAL WEST PRINCIPAL WINS GOLDEN APPLE
In Bloomington-Normal, Angie Codron, principal of Normal West High School, was named one of two winners of the 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Leadership. The Golden Apple is one of Illinois’ most recognized honors in education.
And at Illinois State University, striking AFSCME Local 1110 members reached a tentative agreement with the university late Monday night. That’s a resolution worth watching as the semester winds down.
McLEAN COUNTY — A DUST STORM, A ROAD CLOSURE, AND A REMINDER
This week also brought some wild weather to our region. On Monday, a dust storm warning was issued for communities between Decatur and Bloomington, with near-zero visibility in blowing dust reported on parts of Route 121 near Latham. Communities including Clinton, Maroa, LeRoy, Heyworth, Wapella, and several others were in the advisory area.
U.S. Route 136 was also temporarily closed between Route 54 and the McLean/Champaign county line until visibility improved.
Central Illinois in May, friends. We don’t do boring.
If you haven’t checked your emergency weather alerts settings recently — this week was a good reminder to do that. Make sure your phone is set to receive local weather warnings, and keep an eye on the National Weather Service Lincoln office for conditions in our area.
PIATT COUNTY — SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE THIS WEEKEND
Before we close out — Shelly Crawford-Stock with the Monticello Chamber of Commerce says there’s a lot happening in Piatt County this weekend: live music, outdoor dining, and plant sales.
Plant sales. In May.
I mean — I couldn’t have planned that better if I tried.
Go buy something that will outlast you. Tend it well.
CLOSING
This week felt like a week of roots, to me.
Roots of community care — a clubhouse built for seniors who deserve more than a cramped room and a Bingo card.
Roots of civic engagement — a county full of people showing up to meetings, asking hard questions, demanding their voices count.
Roots of recognition — a teacher in the top five of a national contest, because someone noticed.
None of this is a revolution. None of it is an obsession.
It’s just people showing up.
Stopping. Noticing. Tending.
I’m Jen McMillin. Thank you for being here — for this community, and for this show.
The blooms are worth it.
Sunshine Strategies Radio airs weekly. Find show notes, links, and resources on Substack, YouTube, and Facebook. To share a story from Macon, Piatt, DeWitt, Logan, McLean, or Christian County, reach out at Jen@JenMcMillin.com.
Links:
https://www.wandtv.com/news/new-clubhouse-at-scovill-acres-breaks-ground-expanding-services-for-decatur-seniors/article_32ad5cad-2a02-4602-a398-21a830eb38ea.html
https://www.foxillinois.com/news/local/no-new-moratorium-but-no-data-center-either-for-logan-county/article_2feb7f42-1597-45aa-af0e-404b38d028bd.html
https://www.wandtv.com/news/education/logan-county-teacher-in-top-5-for-national-americas-favorite-teacher-contest/article_e840188a-6eb0-4f15-abec-6fe5fea46a38.html
https://taylorvilledailynews.com/local-news/915214
https://www.wandtv.com/weather/dust-storm-warning-issued-across-parts-of-central-illinois/article_fbc66dde-4971-49ec-be85-d92ed2f2c917.html
