
AOD Hearing Aids make a move
AOD Hearing Aids is ready for clients who may be questioning if a hearing aid is necessary.
“Everyone needs a baseline at least by 50,” said Therese Kistenfeger, audiologist.
The business relocated to 4837 E. Route 36 in the Decatur Airport Plaza and began seeing patients in December. “We’re between Walgreens and Kroger,” Kistenfeger said.
Its former location was on Arbor Drive near Primrose Retirement Community. “That was off the beaten path,” said Londa Willenborg, office manager. “This is a fun place.”
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Even a mild hearing loss can affect daily life, according to Kistenfeger, including a loss of balance as well as hearing. “Especially in a noisy situation,” she said. “There are ways to manage. If you’re not ready for hearing aids, I can tell you how to cope, and strategies to make things a little bit better.”
The business is owned by retired Decatur Otolaryngology Dr. Steven Sobol. Along with hearing tests and hearing aids, other services include education and coping skills for those with minor hearing loss.
“Hearing is an important sense,” Kistenfeger said. “I wish that more people would realize that, especially physicians.”
Bre’s Freeze Dried Candiez opens in Mount Zion
No need to wait for a festival or craft fair to get your freeze dried candy fix.
Bre’s Freeze Dried Candiez has a ready supply of candies, including Bit O’ Honey, Jolly Ranchers, M&Ms and Skittles, all freeze dried to alter the appearance and texture of the popular treats.
Breanna Lahniers, owner of Bre’s Freeze Dried Candiez, began mapping out her business in May of 2024, but opened the store front, located at 1312 N. State Highway 121 in Mount Zion, in November.
During the summer and spring season, Lahniers sold her products at area events. “I go everywhere,” she said.
The freeze-drying process consists of extracting the moisture from the product, Lahniers said. “Each candy is unique in its own temperature,” she said.
According to Lahniers, freeze dried candy is ideal for people with dental fixtures, such as braces and dentures. “It’s not as tacky on the teeth,” she said. “It’s easier to eat.”
The shop hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The owner is also available to discuss fundraising opportunities.
The Perfect Pair Vendor Market has new owners
The Perfect Pair Vendor Market, located on State Route 121 in Warrensburg, has new owners.
Aryn Callarman and Skye Williams, the owners of the adjoining business, 121 Coffee Run, announced this week they have purchased the store.
“It’s generally the same,” Callarman said. “But we have added more merchandise and different merchandise.”
One of the new features will be a locally-sourced grocery store. According to Callarman, the food items will be located near the entrance. “We are still getting products in,” she said about the displays.
Items will include Kilgus Farmstead milk and other dairy products, ES Meats, and local eggs. The summer season will bring produce to the store. The owners are looking for a producer of cheese, chicken, pork and other items.
The products are made in Illinois and allergen friendly, Callarman said. “The focus is Illinois made,” she said. “The more local the better.”
The market’s hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Several of the merchandise vendors have remained after the new owners took over. “But we also have new vendors as well in the warehouse,” Callarman said.
The Warehouse area is made up of small local businesses and artists. A few of the products include consignment clothing, thrift finds, school spirit items, children’s books, toys and crafts, furniture, soaps, homemade plant stands and Decatur-themed clothing.
“It all falls within our sustainable and local motto,” Callarman said.
An event venue is also new to the location. With seating for 150 people, the venue will be open for parties and receptions. More information on the business is available on the business Facebook page.
Kate’s Corner Cafe serving up breakfast
DECATUR — The west end of Decatur has a new dine-in family restaurant serving up breakfast.
Since the restaurant opened on Nov. 30, Kate’s Corner Cafe, located at 4307 W. Main St. in Decatur, already has a reputation for its cinnamon rolls and other homemade breakfast menu items.
Co-owners and sisters Megan Blair and Courtney Lowe named the business after their late grandmother. “She was a baker,” Blair said. “She always wanted to open a bakery near where we opened the cafe.”
Family members are often found working among the staff. “If you stop in, you may see me carrying around a little kid,” said Blair, the mother of a toddler.
The restaurant serves breakfast only from 5 to 10 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Weekend hours are 5 to 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The breakfast burrito and breakfast horseshoe have become a popular item as well as the cinnamon rolls. The weekend buffet, served from 7 to 11 a.m., highlights many of the popular items.
The owners have heard the customers’ responses to the early opening and closing times. “Right now we’re just seeing what we can handle,” Blair said.
Construction of new Dansby Magnet School is finished
The 5 a.m. opening time was set to serve the businesses on the west side of Decatur, Blair said. “We decided if we opened up early, we could please them,” she said.
As for 10 a.m. as the closing time, the owners wanted to focus on the breakfast crowds only.
“We’ve noticed some days that there’s people coming in asking if we could open up later,” Blair said. “So we’re definitely looking at that, especially when the summertime comes and we still have an interest in that.”
Go to its Facebook page for updates.
11 memorable Decatur companies that are no longer with us
General Electric

The General Electric Co. announced in 1959 that they were going out of the plastics business, closing operations in Decatur.
1948: In the shipping room, Charles Freeman and Edwin Swam box the finished product. Mr. Swam is packing, shipping and receiving foreman in the new plant.
Block & Kuhl

Block & Kuhl occupied this building from August 1934 to May 1949.
Linn & Scruggs

Linn & Scruggs resided at 161. North Main St. from 1924 until Myers and Brothers purchased the Linn & Scruggs operation and moved the business to Water Street in 1970.
1930: This is the Linn & Scruggs building on the corner of North Main Street and Prairie Ave. in 1930. Linn & Scruggs moved to this building (the former Bachman Building) in 1924, having formerly been located in the “Court House Block,” the southeast corner of East Main and Water streets. This location was plagued by fires, one in 1895 and the spectacular one in 1914. Linn’s has stayed in this buildling almost half of its 100 years.
More from our archives:
• Linn’s Is Old Friend
Borg-Warner Corp.

Borger-Warner Corp, which once employed more than 2,500 people at three facilities in Decatur, closed in 1989.
Marvel-Schebler

Borg-Warner Corp. announced in March of 1983 that they would close its Marvel-Schebler-Tillotson Division plant in Decatur about April 15.
1950: A general view of the interior of the v factory. Carburetors for 90 per cent of all makes of tractors are made here, as well as aircraft and automotive carburetors. Production began last month and will gradually increase until 70,000 are turned out monthly.
Houdaille-Hershey

The Decatur Division plant of Houdaille Industries Inc., formerly known as the Houdaille-Hershey Corp. plant, stopped production in July of 1956. Houdaille’s Macon Arms plant closed in 1957.
1950: In 1950, the first photo of the interior of the Houdaille-Hershey plant was permitted.
Kelly Food Products

Kelly Food Products Co. factory shut down for good in 1996 after employees had started to see trouble in the company’s operation about a year before.
1949: Thomas E. Austin watches carefully to see that each chip is the proper shade of brown when it leaves the cooker.
More from our archives:
• Bankruptcy frees Kelly’s to sell assets
Bridgestone/Firestone

Firestone closed its doors in 2001 after 38 years of production in Decatur.
1970: Dean Hixon gives final inspection to one of the new Firestone Steel Belt 60 tires being made now at the Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. plant in Decatur. The product is a belted-bias tire with steel-wire belts and a polyester body.
Have you opened a new business in Macon County? Maybe you’ve moved or added another location. Let the Herald & Review help you spread the word about you and your business. Send information to Donnette Beckett at [email protected].
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