Sunset swim

Peter Williamson swims at sunset with his son, Nathan, 2, in a pond at Crazy Horse Campground in Ashland. The Williamson family, from south of Springfiled, was enjoying the semi-cool water while listening to live music from the Bluegrass Festival, which is going on at the campground through this morning. July 16, 2011

Early risers

Mike Mugler (left) and Rich Kirgan wait for the fish to bite as the sun rises Sunday morning on Lake Jacksonville.  Mugler and Kirgan, both of Lincoln, Ill., were competing in the all-day Lincoln Bass Club Tournament. Central Illinois now has an excessive heat warning in effect for next week.  The warning begins Sunday at 7 a.m. and runs through Friday at 7 p.m. Mugler said he hoped to catch enough fish before the temperatures started rising into the mid to upper 90's later that afternoon. July 17, 2011.

Lathered up

Members of the Turner Junior High School cheerleading team cover their teammate Michaelene Mays with soap in between washing cars during the girls’ car/dog wash in the Auto Zone parking lot along Morton Avenue in Jacksonville. The team was trying to raise money for cheer camp and other expenses. Coach Emily West said the girls had already raised close to $800 by 2 p.m. that afternoon. July 16, 2011

Up in arms

Grant Westoff (left) and Lance Wallace block assist the ball during the First Annual Sand Volleyball Classic in Roodhouse, Ill. The tournament is being sponsored by the North Greene High School Class of 2006.

Dog days

A group of onlookers cheer as Jacksonville Police Department patrolman Brian Baptist is dunked in a tank of water during The Dog Gone Fun-raiser at The Pulse Nightclub in Jacksonville. The Protecting Animal Welfare Society hosted the fundraiser to help establish a no-kill shelter in the Jacksonville area. The all-day event included live bands, a disc jockey, bikini car wash and other activities. July 16, 2011

Thrill of the hunt

Jeff Ogilvie (left) and Philip Hall of Pinckneyville remove their arrows from an elephant target during the Rinehart Target Company R100 archery competition at Buena Vista Farms, outside of Chapin. The course included 100 targets, with participants shooting 50 each day of the competition. Ogilvie and Hall said they couldn't stay the whole weekend, so each decided to shoot all 100 targets in one day. July 16, 2011

Sweet spot

Andrew Asama, 8, finds a sunny spot to read his book Thursday inside the Jacksonville Public Library. July 14, 2011

Wild ride

Fairgoers enjoy the carnival rides before the Charlie Daniels Band concert at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Jacksonville.

'A legend' takes the stage

Tanner Icenogle reacts after seeing Charlie Daniels' trailer pull into the grandstand while Madd Hoss Jackson performs on stage at the Morgan County Fair in Jacksonville.

Evening embrace

Elisa Woods stares into the eyes of Jeremiah Birdsell before the Charlie Daniels Band concert at the Morgan County Fair in Jacksonville.

The champ

Mark Evans attempts a deadlift during the bench press/deadlift championships at the Morgan County Fair in Jacksonville. Evans, of Louisville, Ky., wrestled for Jacksonville High School in the 1970's.

Competitive flair

Jessica Robinson of Bethany, Ill., rides her horse in the Pleasure Class competition at the Morgan County Fair in Jacksonville.

Fair stare

A featherleg cockerel peers out of its cage as the sun rises at the Morgan County Fairgrounds in Jacksonville.

Catching up

Cyclist John Whilden of Ashville, N.C., checks his iPhone for email messages while taking a lunch break at the Illinois School for the Deaf in Jacksonville. Whilden is a member of Bike & Build, an organization of volunteers that helps fund affordable housing projects throughout the nation. This group, “P2C,” is traveling from Providence, R.I., to Half Moon Bay, Calif. Members are expected to raise $4,000 each before the start of their journey with a portion of the proceeds going toward affordable housing groups through a grant application process. The cyclists also make several stops to volunteer at build sites sponsored by such organizations as Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together.

Shop talk

Friends Zophia Tranburg (left), 4, and Hope Steininger, 7, talk about their shared earnings while operating a lemonade stand along West State Street in Jacksonville. The girls were selling lemonade and Kool-Aid — made with clean drinking water — for 50 cents a cup.

Royal competition

Morgan Fernandes performs a dance routine with fellow contestants during the queen pageant at the Morgan County Fair in Jacksonville. She is the daughter of Rodney Fernandes and Roxanne Filson of Jacksonville.

Antique activity

Edgar Robinson rides a McCormick Deering antique grain binder to harvest a field of wheat at Prairie Land Heritage Museum in Jacksonville. Robinson and his friend, fellow Prairie Land volunteer Bud Robinson, referred to themselves as “the old timers.” Both said they once used the same type of grain binder when they were younger.

Kickin' up turf

Denique White, 10, drives his Margay race cart through a patch of freshly cut grass near his home on East Lafayette Avenue in Jacksonville. Denique's father, Jesse White, said the cart, which has a seven-horsepower Honda engine, has been broken and repaired several times over the years. July 1, 2011

Summer Days

Marley Roberts rests her arm along the window of a 1957 Ford Ashland police car being driven by her grandfather, Scott Anderson, in the 32nd Annual Ashland Summer Days Parade down West Editor Street in Ashland. June 25, 2011

Orbiting

Daegan Degroot, 8, spins a hula hoop around her arm with fellow bible school classmates during Ashland Summer Days. June 25, 2011

Holy ink

Pastor Jim Harper laughs with church members and volunteers while receiving a temporary tattoo during Family Fun Day at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville. June 25, 2011