DECATUR - Decatur recognized and celebrated its outstanding citizens Saturday evening, an upbeat counterpoint to national fears generated by job losses, financial institution failures and stock market declines.

The Greater Decatur Community Awards ceremony brought several hundred people tricked out in their glad rags to the Lincoln Square Theatre to honor a wide array of business leaders, government and social service agency personnel, as well as volunteers whose efforts have helped make Decatur a better place to live.

Spotlights outside the theater added to the gala atmosphere as the ceremony got under way under the auspices of the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by WAND-TV and Caterpillar Inc.

"We're happy to bring groups together to showcase these outstanding contributions to the community," said Chamber board Chairman Jeff Hendricks prior to the ceremony.

"The second thing I'm excited about is we are seeing more and more people pooling resources and coming together to help one another," Hendricks said. "Folks are looking to see what they have and what they can do with it."

Interspersed with the awards was entertainment that showcased some of Decatur's talented musicians and actors. Among the performers were the indie rock bank Greenwood and members of Theatre 7, the community theater group, performing songs from "The Music Man," which they will present next month at the Decatur Civic Center Theater.

The Chamber's Outstanding Small Business of the Year award went to WAND-TV and its Mary Gladney Outstanding Micro-Business of the Year award went to the Finn Group. The latter award honors the late Mary Gladney, who owned a beauty salon and was an unflagging advocate for small business.

Chamber President Randy Prince said the Finn Group fits well with what is going on currently in the national economy because one of its primary roles is to counsel people trying to find a career path.

Owners Jim and Paula Finn agreed Saturday's gala was an uplifting event in the face of the worsening national economy.

"So many people are scared and pessimistic," Jim Finn said. "These things (the awards) are important. It's the worst of times to be despairing and scared. You have to be positive."

His wife said the awards ceremony brings home the point that "in our community, our businesses, our friends and colleagues are influenced by factors that are local."

"When we started our business, people said the Decatur market wasn't large enough and we should go to a metropolitan area," Paula Finn said. "But others said, 'Whatever you do, this community will support you.' They were right."

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