MATTOON — The Eastern Illinois Fair Association was officially launched last night when officers and a board of directors were chosen. The organization plans to hold a fair at Joseph Park (the old fairground) in Mattoon during the week of August 21. The intention is to hold horse races, auto races, livestock shows and home science shows. While there is no intention to take away the glory of the Coles County Fair in Charleston, the goal is to have equal exposure to the Charleston Fair. The officers chosen last night include ET Guthrie, president; Neil Laughlin and AB Lidster, vice-presidents; Théodore Rathe, secretary; and HF Presler, Treasurer… MATTOON – The Illinois Central Railroad magazine for April features kind words for three Mattoon men who have been company employees for many years. These men are Milton Downey, local agent of the Illinois Central; AC Wilcox, Chief Accountant; and Charles T. Miller, blacksmith foreman. Mr. Dorsey celebrated his 70th birthday on April 1, 1921 and served the company for 47 years. Mr. Wilcox has spent the better part of 42 years doing numbers for Illinois Central. He started in April 1880 as a porter at age 19. Of Mr. Miller, the magazine reports that he has been a blacksmith since he was 10 years old. He is now over 70 and will probably soon be on the retirement list. At age 12, he practiced as a boy drummer with a local Civil War unit in Ohio. He spent 18 months as a boy drummer in training camp.
CHARLESTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has expressed concern that the construction of Lake Lincoln could “have a negative environmental impact unless steps are taken to prevent the dumping of nutrients and wastes into the Embarras River upstream of the dam site.The EPA, commenting on a 1971 study by the Corps of Engineers, noted that a deterioration in water quality could “limit the benefits to be realized” from the construction of the lake The result, according to the EPA, could be “degradation of water quality so as to render it unusable for municipal water supplies or recreation”…. MATTOON – Alcohol sales will be banned during of the Coles County Council election on Tuesday, according to Mayor Morgan Phipps.He said it would be the last election in which taverns will have to be closed.A state law that allows the sale of alcohol during US elections states, counties and cities goes into effect in July. Liquor sales will be allowed during Saturday’s municipal bond referendum and next week’s school board elections.
CHARLESTON — Tomorrow’s election will be the first in the state in which voters won’t have the option to cast their ballots directly. But Coles County Clerk Betty Coffrin doesn’t think the change will have much effect because of the types of races that appear on the ballot. Coffrin said “these are mostly neighborhood races.” She also said there is no party affiliation for mayors and city council members or other municipal elections. Democratic and Republican party affiliations accompany candidates for mayoral elections, but voters will have to mark the spot for each selected candidate instead of hitting a single spot for all candidates from a political party. That’s because Illinois suppressed voting for straight parties shortly after the general election last November… MATTOON – Farm TV Channel Colleen Callahan entertained about 150 farmers, Rotarians and guests at the annual rural/urban luncheon at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center. Callahan is farm manager at WMBD Radio in Peoria. She entertained the audience with “If You…You Must Be a Farmer” and “If You…You’re Probably a Farmer’s Wife.” As part of his presentation, Callahan highlighted the importance of agriculture to the overall economy and highlighted some of the changes in family farms, including the size, off-farm incomes and future specialization of agriculture. .
Scenes from the 2019 Coles County Fair
Coles County Fair Tractor Pull Results
Mark Roberts of Timewell prepares his John Deere 4455 “Force-N-It” for Tuesday night’s tractor draw at the 2019 Coles County Fair. Roberts won the 95PF class at the competition
Rob Stroud
“Gunsmoke” to tractor pull

New Douglas’ Josh Cain unloads his Case Puma 210 “Gunsmoke” tractor in preparation for the tractor pull Tuesday evening.
Rob Stroud, GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER JOURNAL
Jackson hanger

Jackson Hanger, 6, of Charleston weighs in for the children’s tractor pull.
Rob Stroud JOURNAL GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER
Coles County Fair 4-H Beef Show

Colby Metzger shows off his grand champion entry into the market beef category during the 4-H Beef Show at the Coles County Fair on Tuesday.
DAVE FOPAY, GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER NEWSPAPER
Grand Champion market lamb

Camden Hill, 12, of Neoga won the Grand Champion Lamb of the Market prize at the Coles County 4-H Sheep Show on Tuesday with his 143-pound Hampshire horse named Murdoc.
ROB STROUD, GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER NEWSPAPER
Camden Hill

Camden Hill, centre, shows off its 143-pound Hampshire champion Murdoc.
ROB STROUD, GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER NEWSPAPER
Practice takes place at the 2019 Coles County Fair

Competitors conduct practice in preparation for the Coles County Fair track race on Monday evening.
ROB STRUD Journal Gazette & Times-Courier
Coles County Fair 4-H Swine Show

Chet Shrader shows off his entry that won the Big Market Hog Champion category on Monday during the 4-H Hog Show at the Coles County Fair.
DAVE FOPAY, GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER NEWSPAPER
Coles County Fair 4-H Goat Show

Abigail Metzger shows off her goat that was named Market Champion at the 4-H Goat Show.
DAVE FOPAY, GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER NEWSPAPER
Scenes from the opening day of the Coles County Fair

A Ferris wheel stands halfway through the Coles County Fairgrounds on the afternoon of Sunday, July 29, as workers prepared carnival rides and games to open later in the day.
DAVE FOPAY, GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER NEWSPAPER
Scenes from the opening day of the Coles County Fair

Cattle take up a stall in one of the cattle barns at the Coles County Fairgrounds on the day the fair opened Sunday.
DAVE FOPAY, GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER NEWSPAPER
Scenes from the opening day of the Coles County Fair

A baby goat catches the eye of viewers of the 4-H poultry show at the Coles County Fair on Sunday afternoon.
DAVE FOPAY, GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER NEWSPAPER
Scenes from the opening day of the Coles County Fair

A chicken leads the chase after escaping during the 4-H poultry show at the Coles County Fair on Sunday.
DAVE FOPAY, GAZETTE & TIMES-COURIER NEWSPAPER
Best of Show: Cale Frantz

Cale Frantz shows off his rabbit which was named Best in Show Sunday at the 4-H Rabbit Show at the Coles County Fair.
Davey Fopay Journal-Gazette & Times Courier
Champion Market Bird: Ellie Strader

Ellie Strader shows off her 4-H Poultry Show Market Champion bird.
Dave Fopay Journal-Gazette & Times Courier
2019 Miss Coles County Junior Pageant Competitors

Junior Miss Coles County Pageant contestants wave to the audience during competition at the Coles County Fair on Sunday.
Dave Fopay Journal-Gazette & Times Courier
Alexis Kiser crowned Miss Coles County

Alexis Kiser is crowned Miss Coles County on July 28.
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Miss Coles County, finalist

Pictured, left to right, Miss Coles County First Runner-up and Miss Congeniality Madison Bitting, 2019 Miss Coles County Alexis Kiser, 2018 Miss Coles County Shelby Youngblood, Second Runner-up Brooklyn Chaney Sunday at the Coles County Fair pageants.
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Miss Coles County 2018, Royalty 2019

Shown, from left, are 2018 Junior Miss Coles County Ayden Buckler, 2019 Junior Miss Laney Wright, 2019 Miss Coles County Alexis Kiser, 2018 Miss Coles County Shelby Youngblood, 2019 Little Miss Mia Stephen, and 2018 Little Miss Callyn Ballinger the Sunday at the Coles County Fair Shows.
PHOTO SUBMITTED