Senior Prom held at the fair

About an hour before its scheduled start last Wednesday, guests began filling the Heartland Coca-Cola Exhibition Hall at the Du Quoin State Fair, staking a claim to a seat for the 20th annual "Sr. Prom."

Over 200 guests showed up for the event that had the feel of a WWII-era USA dance.

The event is sponsored by Secretary of State Jesse White.

According to Jason Van Zandt, a district field liaison covering 20 southern Illinois counties for White, the event that draws senior citizens from across the region is important to White.

"They get a meal and they get to dance," said Van Zandt. "We also have staff on site to help with services like ID cards and handicapped placards, things they might need."

Van Zandt said staff can also answer questions and help the senior navigate the bureaucracy of requirements.

"When people turn 75 and have to do driving tests, they can be nervous," he said.

Fred and Linda Clutts drove up from Makanda for the event that they've attended for at least three of the 59 years of their marriage.

While the couple said they probably wouldn't dance, they did enjoy listening to the music provided by the Jerry Ford Orchestra, based out of Cape Girardeau.

They also took advantage of the opportunity to clear up some questions and gather information from White's staff.

Ed and Shirley Robinson of Old Du Quoin had a different agenda.

They were the first couple to hit the dance floor after Ed was acknowledged by the grinning orchestra leader, who told the crowd, "I know he's going to request this - he does every year, so let's just get this out of the way."

Ed smiled as he and Shirley began dancing to the strains of "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," an iconic WWII-era song made famous by the Andrew Sisters.

White also provided a table full of door prizes that included everything from baked goods to books.

While some guests, like Tim Van Roekel and Clara Lee Buschschulte from Marion, spent most of their time on the dance floor, others like Paula Borgra of Christopher were content to listen.

"This is my favorite music," said Borgra, who said she's been coming to the fair for 68 years.

Van Zandt said the event was originally held in the First Heat Building and eventually moved to the Southern Illinois Center.

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