Christmas Eve event scheduled at Cross of Peace on Bald Knob

A brief worship service and press conference are planned at noon on Christmas Eve (Friday, Dec. 24) at the Cross of Peace on Bald Knob Mountain near Alto Pass.

Plans for the Christmas Eve events were announced this week by Steven M. McKeown, president of Bald Knob Cross of Peace Inc.

Bald Knob Cross of Peace Inc. is the governing body which oversees the Union County landmark.

McKeown issued the following statement about this Friday's event:

"Bald Knob Cross has stood prominently at over 1,000 feet above sea level in the Beautiful Ozark Mountains of Southern Illinois for nearly 50 years.

"In the early 2000s disputes began arising between board members which resulted in legal litigation.

"In 2006, the court ordered the properties be locked down until proceedings were concluded.

"An already decaying structure, without any maintenance whatsoever, fell even further in disrepair.

"In the summer of 2008 a settlement that was supported by both sides of the conflict began taking shape.

"This Friday, Christmas Eve, marks the two-year anniversary of the court decision to appoint a 7-person transitional board of directors to Bald Knob Cross of Peace.

"In commemoration of the court settlement and in celebration of the subsequent progress of the past 24 months, there will be a brief worship service and informational press conference at noon at the Bald Knob Cross of Peace."

Friday's event is open to the public.