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Mitigation restrictions begin in Grafton, a city hit hard two summers in a row

Region 3, which includes Grafton's Jersey County, began restrictions Sunday. The entire state of Illinois will be under mitigation restrictions starting Wednesday

GRAFTON, Ill. — The Grafton SkyTour was running Sunday afternoon with riders braving the heights and dropping temperatures. 

Thomas and Susan Talkington hop off the ride, saying they planned this three-day getaway because "we haven't left the house in ages."

The Florissant residents say looking around this tourism town, they noticed the social distancing practices, but they didn't realize Illinois' Region 3 -- which includes Grafton's Jersey County -- ramped up mitigation measures Sunday.

"It just seems normal now, unfortunately. The new normal," Thomas Talkington said.

But this summer's tourism season was anything but normal for Grafton. Tourism the past two summers has been affected most recently by the pandemic. Last year, the community battled weeks of high waters during the historic flooding that damaged so many of the buildings along the waterline. At the time, Mayor Rick Eberlin estimated revenue had fallen as much as 80%.

"It looks like they have a lot of nice restaurants and bars. They are trying to stay alive," Linda Matthews said, on a day trip from Jacksonville, IL with her husband.

The Matthews also live in Region 3. They say mitigation measures are hard on business.

"In the summer, they put up the tents. Well, now it's wintertime. They have no choice," Linda Matthews said. "You can't break this country by shutting everything down."

Sunday, Illinois only remaining Region without mitigation measures marked the third day above 8% positivity, triggering the restrictions Wednesday. On that day, the entire state of Illinois will be under mitigation restrictions.

The Matthews say that will give them only one option for an excursion.

"We'll go to Missouri," Steve Matthews said.

Regions can rollback mitigation orders if they log three days at or below 6.5% positivity.

Contact reporter Sara Machi on Facebook and Twitter.

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