IDOT

The 2025 Du Quoin State Fair runs August 22–September 1 with harness racing, motorsports, Veterans and Gold Star Families Day, and an IDOT showcase highlighting jobs and projects, offering family fun, tributes, and community resources.

The program offers $12 million in federal funding, with up to $250,000 per project.

The funds will apply to multiple projects in Jackson County.

Starting at 7 p.m. Friday, July 18, a short segment of Old Illinois 13 just east of the Illinois 148 intersection will be closed to all traffic. The closure is expected to remain in effect until 1 p.m. Saturday, July 19.

The closure, expected to last about 30 days, will redirect local traffic to Maple Street.

Thirteen projects combined represent a total investment of nearly $534 million through the Rebuild Illinois capital program.

Pavement failures or blowouts occur when prolonged high temperatures cause the road to expand and buckle up or blow out.

The holiday traffic safety campaign runs June 20 through July 7 and covers three busy summer weekends.

The closure, delayed last week due to weather, is needed to reconstruct the westbound lanes.

Cell phone photos are welcome, and amateur photographers are encouraged to participate.