State fairgrounds repairs to begin under new Illinois budget

Posted on June 18, 2018
The Coliseum at the Illinois State Fairgrounds was closed last year due to concerns about its structure. (WJBC file photo)

By RFD Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – The new state budget is providing first aid to the ailing Illinois State Fairgrounds. $30 million will go toward repairs at the Fairgrounds.

“We just want to thank the governor for putting it in the budget and recognizing how important the Fairgrounds is to Illinois agriculture,” said Illinois Director of Agriculture Raymond Poe. “Which is the number one industry in Illinois. We’re all excited. We’re still working with CDB and figuring out all this and where we’re going.”

Poe was referring to the State Capitol Development Board. Among the top issues on the to do list, is repairing the shuttered Coliseum, which was closed because of structural concerns. Poe said combining a reopened Coliseum with the new covered arena next door will pay off.

“I really feel confident that years from now we’ll have this coliseum open and by having this fixed up we’re just going to give it so many more options,” Poe said. “We’ll probably have more horse shows going on at one time. Probably, in the end it’s going to work out for the best but it sure didn’t seem like it for a while.”

Coliseum repairs will cost an estimated $7.7 million.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…