(SPRINGFIELD) Battery maker Gotion is nearing the start of production at its new facility in Manteno. The Chinese company announced plans last September, nearly a year ago, to convert the former Kmart distribution center in Manteno into an assembly plant that would be up and operating within a year. Many downstate lawmakers were, and still are, opposed to the Illinois facility, which will get parts from a proposed plant in Michigan.
(SPRINGFIELD) An Illinois lottery player is living large after winning more than $690,000 and hearing a plea from his boss. The unidentified winner, who first told his employer about winning, said he will continue to work after his boss pleaded with him not to quit his job. So far this year, over 8.7 million Fast Play tickets have been sold in Illinois with prizes amounting to more than $169 million.
(SPRINGFIELD) An agricultural equipment manufacturer in central Illinois is closing its factory doors for good and moving to another state. RhinoAg in Gibson City has announced it will shut its facility and move all operations to Alabam. 80 workers will lost their jobs.
(CHAMPAIGN) Interstate 57 was closed for over six hours yesterday morning after a semi-truck trailer hauling 67 cows rolled over on I-57 near Tuscola. With the incident occurring at approximately 2:30 Thursday morning, around 20 of the cows were killed, one of which was struck by another northbound semi-truck. As both lanes of the Interstate was shut down, several nearby cattlemen, some on horseback, plus a veterinarian from the U of I in Champaign, and others responded to help the Illinois State Police & local law enforcement personnel in rounding up the cattle that survived. While Interstate 57 was reopened shortly after 9:00 yesterday morning, there are possibly up to 18 cattle still on the loose as of today with the capturing efforts continuing. No drivers were injured in the incident.
(DU QUOIN) The 2024 Du Quoin State Fair starts this weekend down in Perry County. While admission to Illinois’ 2nd State Fair is free to all ages during the eleven days & nights, there is a charge for parking, ranging from $10 to $30 depending on location and type of parking. However, there is free parking for the first day & night of the fair today, during Family Day, featuring the fair-opening Twilight Parade at 6:00, a High School Marching Band Contest at 6:00, and fireworks tonight at 9:30. Then tomorrow is Governor’s Day with the start of various livestock shows, contests, Whippoorwill Rodeo in The Horse Arena at 6:00, & Mitchell Tenpenny with Avery Anna on the Grandstand stage at 7:30. Sunday is Veterans Day with the firefighter waterball competition, more livestock shows, various Veteran’s Day festivities, more rodeo action at 6:00, the Marshall Tucker Band & Eli Young Band on the Grandstand stage at 7:30, and area country music artist Drew Baldridge from Patoka on the RollnUp Beer Tent Stage at 9:00. Then next Monday is Agriculture Youth Day with the FFA Farmyard Follies, the 4-H Food Challenge, harness racing, and the truck & tractor pulls that night at 7:00. The Du Quoin State Fair will then run through the rest of next week with plenty of carnival rides, games, fair food, and more. For more information and details go to the dsf.illinoios.gov website. The fair runs all of next week thru Labor Day.