Fair work ahead of schedule

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — When it comes to Nebraska State Fair preparations in Grand Island, progress is being made.

“We're going great guns, as you can see, on the construction,” said State Fair Coalition Coordinator Lisa Willman of the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce. “If you haven't been out lately by Fonner to see the construction “ I think it's a big ‘wow' is what you'll say.”

She spoke this week to the Hall County Board and encouraged the officials to drive through Fonner Park to view the massive construction site up-close.

“You don't realize how big those buildings are until you are actually out there,” Willman said.

Despite a rainy October, construction is a little more than a week ahead of schedule, she said.

State Fair staff will move to Grand Island on Dec. 1 to work out of a rented office at 1043 S. Locust St. The State Fair itself will open at Fonner Park in August 2010.

Meanwhile, a group continues raising $1.5 million in private funds.

Although the private fundraising committee has already secured donations in excess of its $1 million need, Willman said, the committee is continuing to raise dollars in the event that there are any “unrealized pledges.”

While supervisors praised the efforts of the local coalition, Chief Deputy Hall County Attorney Jack Zitterkopf said there is still a pending lawsuit before the Nebraska Supreme Court questioning the legality of relocating the State Fair from Lincoln.

Zitterkopf said the arguments to the initial lawsuit are to be filed soon in Lincoln.

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