Front row seats at fair

Ruth Petrowske of Campbell Hill didn't have to say it; you could hear it in her voice. "I'm ecstatic," Petrowske said after learning that she won front row seats to the concert of her choice at the Du Quoin State Fair. "You know, when you register for something, you never expect to win. I can't believe this has happened to me."

Petrowske chose to see the Montgomery Gentry show of Friday, Aug. 30. "I just can't believe I will have the best seats in the house," Petrowske said. The theme of the Illinois Lottery Grandstand at the Du Quoin State Fair this year is "Anything's Possible."

Dale Lipe of Anna will also be sitting in the front row when he goes to see Sawyer Brown on Monday, Aug. 26. Lipe awoke at 4:30 a.m. Monday to be the first person in line at the Du Quoin State Fair ticket window. "I had to drive up from Anna and I get here about 10 minutes after 6," he said.

Not far behind Lipe was Pat Donoghue of Du Quoin who was positioned second in line. "I've got to get good seats to Sawyer Brown," she said.

Lipe, a retired employee of Southern Illinois University, travels about the region collecting autographs from country stars. The hat he was wearing Monday morning had Blake Shelton's autograph prominently displayed in the front.

"When I get a hat full of autographs, I usually donate it to be auctioned for charity," Lipe said. "The hat I am working on now will raise money for the Cancer Society."

Phone sales were also brisk Monday as phone lines opened at 10 a.m.

The ticket office can be reached at 618-542-1535.