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| NewsSunday, August 31, 2008 6:41 PM CDT |
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Many labor over 3-day weekend
LeROY -- While many Central Illinoisans enjoy the tradition of an end-of-summer, three-day weekend with picnics and relaxation, others are laboring on the Labor Day holiday. Many provide essential services such as health care or public safety while others work in the service sector providing everything from food service to transportation. Some say they are glad to work because they enjoy their jobs — and some say they are happy to have a job in this economy. At Gibson’s Concessions at Moraine View State Recreational Area near LeRoy, Judy Gibson served more than the average number of breakfasts on Saturday and predicted she will likely do the same the rest of the holiday weekend. Often on a good summer day, the restaurant serves 120 breakfasts to park visitors. On Saturday the number was closer to 150, Leon Gibson estimated. The couple saw a boost in customers after Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced last week that he plans to close the park as part of a budget-cutting plan. If the park closes, the concessions there will close too. “We’re hoping that’s not ahead of us, that something changes,” said Leon Gibson. Many patrons enjoying the food and scenery Saturday also signed a petition to keep the park open. Business was up this summer at the park because people worried about high gas prices stayed close to home, Judy Gibson said. “A lot of people told me, ‘This is our family vacation (this year),’” she said. One of the Gibsons’ customers Saturday was Matthew Davis of Normal, who was enjoying the park with his father. He works at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Bloomington, and he’ll be on the job Monday. “I’ve got a car to pay for,” he said, adding, “Everybody in Normal better feel lucky they have a job.” Someone else expected to be behind the wheel Monday said he enjoys his job as a taxi driver so much that he doesn’t mind. “I love doing it because of the variety of people you meet,” said Bob Helgeson, a driver for Circle City Cab in Bloomington. He often picks up people at the airport and train station. Many are interesting to talk to, but the “most comical and funny are the college students,” he said. Bridget Gaddy, his taxi dispatcher, estimated that each driver in a 12-hour shift delivers 20 to 30 people to their destinations. She says she works most holidays because it is “a family-owned business.” Helgeson, a cab driver here for two years, said he has only one wish for those enjoying their Labor Day weekend: “I hope they have as much fun as I do.” E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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