Indoor Softball, Inc., city to pay for light upgrade at state owned arena

A planned upgrade to lighting inside the Southern Illinois Center at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds was cancelled this summer because of the state budget impasse.

The new high output LED bulbs for the arena had been ordered, but the order was cancelled because of no means to pay for them.

That didn't stop Bill Asbury and Jacob Emling of Indoor Softball, Inc., a partnership of the two men who host two winter indoor softball tournaments to benefit Special Olympics and three other privately sponsored tournaments at the SI Center.

"All of the tournaments are full now. We are turning teams away," said Asbury.

Indoor Softball, Inc. is donating $1,000 toward the replacement bulbs and Mayor Guy Alongi has pledged $500 on behalf of the city to help accomplish the upgrade this week in advance of next weekend's National Bull riding championships at the SI Center Nov. 6 & 7 and the start of the tournament schedule in January.

Asbury and Alongi are in agreement that events at the SI Center bring dollars into Du Quoin--hotels, restaurants and gas mart/convenience stores.

The Special Olympics tournaments--one for girls and one for boys--are selfless charitable events that fill rooms and restaurants in Du Quoin for three days.

Indoor softball participants love the SI Center as a winter venue and love coming Du Quoin. But, many have complained that the arena is too dark and the plan was to solve that with new lighting.

Fixtures do not have to be replaced, only the light bulbs.

Asbury said the corners can remain as they are because actual play takes place only in the middle of the SI Center.

The new lights are similar to the lighting that the City of Du Quoin purchased through various grants last year to improve lighting while cutting the electrical bill across the city.

Asbury said he hopes the lighting can be installed and that a manlift used to secure new sections of ductwork on the ceiling of the arena last week will still be there so that it can be used to install the lighting.

If not, Asbury, Emling and Alongi will seek the donation of a manlift or bucket truck to install the new lights.

Clint Jackson of the National Federation of Professional Bull riders is hosting a special Saturday morning (Nov. 7) Special Olympics rodeo for kids as he did last year.

Softball takes over on weekend of January 15-17 and continues for several weekends through Valentine's Day.