A piece of RLC history discovered at yard sale

INA, Ill.  – Mt. Vernon native and student Casey White took time out of his day today to deliver a page of Rend Lake College history to campus in time to be buried in the college’s time capsule. The newspaper highlights state funding for initial construction of the RLC Ina campus.

RLC student Casey White of Mt. Vernon, RIGHT, hand delivers the newspaper to Chad Copple, RLC Dean of Marketing and Information Technology, Monday afternoon. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

White, an RLC student, delivered the Mt. Vernon Register-Newspaper dated Wednesday, June 5, 1968 with a prominent headline reading “State Board OKs $2,230,000 Rend College Project.” White, along with his father Wesley and sister Savana, said the newspaper was found in a box full of newspapers at a garage sale. When they asked about purchasing the one newspaper, Wesley White said the previous owner gave it to the family. The Whites wanted to be sure the piece of history found its way to campus.

The article states the State Board of Education approved Phase 1 of construction on the recently purchased Ina campus. Groundbreaking ceremonies for this phase were held March 27, 1969. Ultimately, Phase I construction consisted of five buildings – Academic, Science, Gymnasium, South Oasis, and Maintenance. The buildings were opened in August of 1970 in preparation for fall classes. To read more about RLC’s History, visit www.rlc.edu/about-rlc/rlc-history.

The newspaper will be secured in RLC’s time capsule commemorating the college’s 50th Anniversary. The time capsule will be buried later this year.

The front page of the Mt. Vernon Register-News as it appeared on Wednesday, June 5, 1968, including a special feature regarding state funding to begin construction of the Rend Lake College Ina campus in the two left columns. The headline shares the page with news of Senator Robert Kennedy’s assassination and the Vietnam War. Images of the article about RLC are enlarged below. Click on all images for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)