Recent News
For more news about the surrounding area, you can click here and subscribe to Westside Eagle Observer.
Budget Friendly Things to Do in Decatur, Arkansas
7/14/2025
If you have recently visitied our website, then you will see the start of this article under the "Welcome" section. The first two mentions in that article are the Iva Jane Peek Public Library and the Decatur Public Swimming Pool. If you aren't a reader and you don't want to swim, then how about some history? As a writer, my imagination runs wild as I am combing through the historical articles reading about life in Decatur back in a day. As I read about the orchards of Mr. Plank, or the newspaper article about the retirement of the station manager, or maybe I am looking at the book of passenger tickets, a train comes rumbling by. I am immediately transported back in time when trains were a mode of transportation not only for products, but for passengers as well. Maybe its because I grew up reading "Little House on the Prairie" books, and watching Westerns with my dad. Whatever it is that catches your fancy, whether you like history, or you just like trains, it is still a cool place to be. The Depot Museum was rebuilt in 1910 after the first one burnt in 1908. This year the depot will be 115 years old.
Tornado Disaster Relief New Resources
8/15/2024
If you are someone who has suffered loss and damage from the 2024 tornadoes, here are a couple of resources that may help you restore and meet your unmet needs.
Changes in the Decatur Residential Trash Collection Service
2/7/2024
There are some changes coming to the trash collection services in the Decatur, Arkansas area.
News Release from Black Hills Energy
1/26/2024
Black Hills Energy Prepares for Extreme Cold, Encourages Customers to Do the Same-Utility issues important conservation and safety reminders.
Highway 59 and Highway 72 Corridor Study
8/18/2023
The Arkansas Department of Transportation is conducting a study of the Highway 59 and Highway 72 corridors in Benton County. These corridors have experienced a significant amount of growth in recent years, and this study will provide information to see if improvements are needed to satisfy the new demands that growth has put on the traffic. The study will consider Highwy 59 from Siloam Springs to the Missouri State Line and Highway 72 between Highwy 59 in Central Gravette and Interstate 49.
Pickleball
8/17/2023
Over the past couple of months, the City of Decatur Arkansas Parks Department has worked steadily at bringing a new feature to the Old City Park. The Old City Park is a piece of property that is wedged between Second Street and Pool Street and is best known for the location of the public swimming pool. On a plateau of land above the public pool, and that is easily accessed off Pool Street, lies a couple of tennis courts that date back to approximately 1981. It is one of these courts that has been converted to two Pickleball courts, bringing the citizens of Decatur the opportunity to try their hand at the fastest growing sports in the United States. (Sports & Fitness Industry Association (2023, February 22). SFIA's TOPLINE REPORT SHOWS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY RATES INCREASED FOR A FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR. WWW.SFIA.ORG. RETRIEVVED jULY 31, 2023 FROM https://sfia.org/resources/sfias-topline-report-shows-physical-activity-rates-increased-for-a-fifth-consecutive-year/)
Passing Lane on 59
7/20/2023
If you missed the public meetings regarding Passing Lane on 59, the map shared with us by ARDOT is displayed in the Decatur Municipal Building (City Hall) for you to view. Drop by and see for yourself what the plans are.
McClelland Designs State's First Membrane Bioreactor System
12/31/2019
McClelland Consulting Engineers and the City of Decatur this February completed a $9 million wastewater treatment plant expansion that included a process conversion from a sequencing batch reactor to Arkansas' first membrane bioreactor (MBR) system.
Simmons
11/1/2019
For an article on the transition from the old plant of Simmons to the new plant of Simmons, please Click Here.