Closed--Closed--Closed < INDEFINITELY>

Sparta shooting complex to close Thursday

The World Shooting and Recreation Complex in Sparta will close as of Thursday, but its employees will keep on working.

Both the World Shooting Complex and the Illinois State Museum are slated to close indefinitely as part of the state’s budget battles. Last month, the shooting complex hosted what might be its last Grand American World Trapshooting Championship, which brings about 4,500 people to the Sparta area from around the world for what has been called the Olympics for amateur trapshooting.

The shooting complex will be closed indefinitely starting Oct. 1, according to Chris Young, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which runs both the shooting complex and the state museum. The complex is about 9 years old and employs nine people. Young said the Sparta complex costs $3 million a year to operate and only brings in about $1.1 million.

But opponents of its closure have said the actual impact of the complex is much greater than the state’s shortfall, with the number of people who travel to Southern Illinois for its 80 events each year.

The Illinois State Museum in Springfield is also slated to close, but its employees will remain at work and on the state payroll as arbitration continues in St. Clair County courts over the legality of the layoffs. Of 151 people laid off, about 107 were in the IDNR.

State spokeswoman Lyndsey Walters said during the arbitration period, some museum staff will be working behind the scenes to make sure existing collections are organized and maintained, while the rest will be placed in temporary positions that have yet to be determined.

Young said the nine Sparta workers will be completing winterization work at the shooting complex after its closure. As union employees, they will remain on the job while the court case is in arbitration, he said.

Young said only the shooting sports area and RV campground will be closed; the main event building, restaurant, shooting hall of fame and access to boat ramps will remain open. “We hope this is a temporary closure,” he said.

The 1,600-acre property is a reclaimed strip mine with a campground and more than 120 shooting fields, as well as fishing lakes and an event center. Recently, the shooting complex had signed a contract with the Amateur Trapshooting Association to host the Grand American competition through 2026.

Sparta shooting complex to close Thursday

 

The state can tell them how much of an impact the facility has had on the region and local area so for them to make claims of exaggerated amounts is all show boating and nothing else ... The State can show losses of over $23 million dollars accumulated over the last 11 years of operation directly related to the facility, plus the local area and or region has not benefited by that in any way to off set that amount ... Sad, but the lesser or two evils for the tax payers of the State of Illinois ... WPT ... (YAC ...

 

Lynn Gipson's great direction!

 

The Fantastic Direction Program is right on target ... They figure if they can generate $20 Millions dollars and draw 4000 customers, each customer will have to spend $5,000 each for the 2 week adventure of a life time ... Realistically, to generate $12 Million (claims the grand generates) and draw 4000 customers each customer will only have to spend $3,000 each for the two week adventure of a lifetime ... The problem that seems to be the biggest hurdle is drawing that many customers based on the actual number of attendees each year over the past 11 years ... The only people I know who might possibly spend $3,000 each for this trip of a lifetime would be that crew from Vernal, Utah (The Martins) respectfully ... Those $100 beers add up fast ... Yes, I actually saw Bill Martin and Craig Hart give the server $100 for a beer back in the days, might of been 2 beers ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

The flat earth society is denying this.

 

The flat earth society is on top of everything. They also have a plan. With all the plans in progress I'm sure everything will be alright soon. Blago will soon be released and he will become part of the states plan regarding the WSC's future so everything is looking very positive. Does anyone know where and when the flat earth meets in Sparta? There are so many great hotels, motels and restaurants I would be at a loss to guess.

 

They probably meet in the New and Improved HOF building so they can justify its existence, probably bring your own chair if you want a place to sit ... I have been on Double Secret ????? (what ever) and can't get to anyone of those who would know anything for sure ... Next well will be the election of officers so they expect a huge turn out, maybe 3 or 4 people for sure ... The vote count will be interesting being as its in the State of Illinois where you are asked to vote early and often for the best results ... WPT ... (YAC) ...

 

Thank God its finally closed. Now WPT (yuck) and his band of HATERS can get along with life. What a burden they have lived with. OK go ahead and delete my post as you have all the others i have posted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Steve,(Johnson),
I'm not sure who you are but I for one always said "I Hope/(wish) the State keeps the WSRC open and operating so they can pick up the tab" and no body gets anymore stupid ideas ... If I was a hater you would know it without any mistakes or abbreviations ... I still feel that way but do not feel its fair for the tax payers of the State of Illinois to pick up the deficit, so it would have to be spread around a little bit ... That of course would mean additional cost to all who attend any and all events at the facility ... Kind of like "Pay as you go" to take the heat off of the tax payers and others who want to benefit and enjoy the facility and HOF also ... I don't think the Moderators will delete your post being as it is partially accurate when you say we can get on with life, which we have been for a long time, actually since right after the ATA moved to Sparta ... There are many shooters who are not "Haters" realistically, that will not support the ATA since the ATA started down the path to destruction ... They (we) were told to stay away that we were not needed which turned out to be totally untrue as it turns out ... I will nominate you to be a Moderator if you give me your permission, other wise have a good day ... WPT ... (YAC) ...