The Illinois State Fair is back this year with the theme of One Illinois, designed to emphasize a need for unity during the pandemic’s challenges. Krista Lisser, Illinois Department of Agriculture’s public information officer, said that the fair’s organizers expect a similar attendance to previous years, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. An estimated 509,000 people […]
Meredith Howard
Posted inNews
Vose’s Korndogs, a fourth-generation business
Kelsie Vose was just 8 years old when she got involved in the family business: working a corn dog stand at the Illinois State Fair. Her first job was to squeeze the lemons used to make lemonade shake-ups. “Growing up as a kid, my summers were not normal like the other kids,” she said. “Once […]
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Hotels welcome back guests, but struggle for staff
One sector that will see strong benefits from the fair’s return is the hotel industry. “The Illinois State Fair generates 15,000 hotel room nights and creates millions of dollars in economic expenditures annually,” said Scott Dahl, director of Visit Springfield. The first weekend of the Illinois State Fair leads to a “citywide sellout” of hotel […]
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Visitors need food and parking
With half-a-million attendees or more in a single year, there’s a large need for parking and food options near the fairgrounds. Bill Tinsley owns Main Gate Bar & Grill, 2143 N. 11th St., so named for its proximity to the main entrance. Despite the many food vendors at the fair, his restaurant will remain open […]
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Black leaders outline solutions for economic inequity
Black residents of Springfield face income disparity that is greater than any other metro area in the U.S., according to an investigation on segregation conducted by Governing magazine and published in January 2019. Springfield is also among the most segregated third of U.S. metro areas between Black and white people, the investigation said. The Governing […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Managing mental health during a pandemic
With restrictions brought on by COVID-19, many people are working from home and unable to gather in-person with friends and family. This isolation can lead to mental health issues as people struggle to create new routines in the absence of normal human interactions. Brenda Protz, a Lincoln Land Community College communications professor, took a medical […]
