Merle Haggard Fans Line at the Du Quoin Fair

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Ticket sales were brisk Monday at the Du Quoin State Fair as people lined up and called in.

Judy Korando, a retired John A. Logan College secretary, traveled from her home in Murphysboro to get in line early and be one of the first 10 persons to purchase tickets this morning.

Korando was seeking good seats to bring her aunt - who will turn 80 years old on the day of the concert - to the Merle Haggard show.

"Merle puts on a wonderful show," Korando said. "We saw him sometime ago and we can't wait to see him again."

Korando said she is also buying tickets for her husband, Harold, and a cousin.

George Roper also got up early to drive the more than 40 miles from his home in Centralia to the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds. He, too, was seeking good seats for the Merle Haggard concert. He was also buying tickets for the Dwight Yoakam concert.

"The great thing about Merle is that he is definitely country," Roper said.

Roper said he was buying tickets for himself, his wife, son and his son's girlfriend.

"We are certainly looking forward to these shows," Roper said.

Derrell Whiteside drove from Thompsonville this morning to get to the fair in time for the 10 a.m. start of ticket sales.

He was also buying tickets for the Merle Haggard show. "Of course, everyone is excited about Merle Haggard," Whiteside said. "I've been coming to the fair for a lot of years and I can tell you that this will be a big show."

Whiteside said he is bringing his wife.

"I saw Merle many years ago when he played here," Whiteside said. "He was excellent then and I expect he will be excellent again."

Fair Manager John Rednour, Jr., was pleased with the excitement of ticket buyers Monday.

"We have an excellent lineup from start to finish," Rednour said. Two of the major concerts this year, Lee Greenwood and Bret Michaels, don't require a ticket to get in. The concerts are free thanks to corporate sponsorships.

--Shannon Woodworth