The makeover of an 11-story landmark cross in southern Illinois is in full swing.

Crews have removed the outside panels of the Bald Knob Cross of Peace just south of Carbondale near Alto Pass, reducing the landmark for now to just a skeleton.

Overseers of the work say the panels will be put back next spring, along with new lighting.

As a member of the landmark's board, Steve McKeown says the renovation should be completed by the middle of next year.

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The nearly 50-year-old white cross atop Bald Knob Mountain once was the pride of the region, with floodlights making it visible in Missouri.

But over the past few years, the cross' steel panels corroded and fell off.

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Information from: WSIL-TV, http://www.wsiltv.com