Deep low pressure will move from the Upper Midwest southeast to
the Ohio Valley region today. Strong and gusty southwest winds
will occur out ahead of an approaching cold front associated with
the low pressure system.

WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 4 PM CST
THIS AFTERNOON

The National Weather Service in Paducah has issued a Wind
Advisory, which is in effect from 10 AM this morning to 4 PM CST
this afternoon.

* TIMING…Highest wind gusts from mid morning through mid
afternoon.

* WINDS…From the southwest gusting to around 40 mph at times.

* IMPACTS…Driving will be more difficult for high profile
vehicles. Outdoor objects, including holiday decorations not
secure may be blown around or damaged.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A wind advisory is issued when sustained winds are expected to
reach 30 mph or greater for longer than one hour…or wind gusts
are expected to reach 40 mph for any duration.

Elevated Fire Danger Today

The combination of strong gusty winds and dry vegetation will
result in an elevated fire danger today across the Quad State
region. Relative humidity will also be quite low and may even
approach Red Flag criteria this afternoon, particularly over the
Ozark foothills of southeast Missouri.

These weather conditions along with very dry grasses and
underbrush could result in the rapid spread of fires. Burn bans
are in effect for some counties and outdoor burning is highly
discouraged across the region. Check with local authorities for
the latest on area burn bans.

Conditions should improve significantly by sunset as winds
slacken and humidity recovers.

Seven Day Forecast 

Today
Sunny, with a high near 56. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. West wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north northwest after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.
Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 38. North wind 3 to 7 mph.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 23. Light and variable wind.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 43. Light west wind increasing to 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 27. Southwest wind around 6 mph.
Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 50. South southwest wind 5 to 11 mph.
Saturday Night
A chance of rain, mainly after midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. South wind 6 to 8 mph.
Sunday
Rain likely, mainly before noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west in the afternoon.
Sunday Night
A slight chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. West northwest wind 3 to 5 mph.
Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. West wind 3 to 7 mph.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. West southwest wind around 6 mph.
Tuesday
Sunny, with a high near 51. West wind 6 to 9 mph.

 

 

 

Griffith joins nursing faculty

Denise Griffith was appointed Nursing Instructor effective Jan. 3. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from McKendree University and a Master of Science in Nursing from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She most recently served as Director of Nursing for Shawnee Community College.

Boyd becomes Executive Assistant
Holly Boyd was appointed Executive Assistant to the Vice President of Instruction effective Jan. 16. She holds an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Business from Southern Illinois University Carbondale and most recently served as an administrative assistant at Marion High School.

CCR&R personnel moves

The board accepted with regret the resignation of Stephanie McKinney, Subsidized Child Care Specialist for Child Care Resource and Referral (Project CHILD), effective Dec. 1. She had been employed full-time since August 2000. “Thank you for everything Rend Lake College and Project CHILD have done for me. I am fortunate to have been a part of such a well-respected organization,” McKinney wrote in her resignation letter.

In a related move, the board appointed Lori Irvin as Subsidized Child Care Specialist effective Dec. 18. She holds an Associate in Science Degree from Rend Lake College and previously held this position from 1996 to 2000.

Additionally, Kaira James was appointed as License Exempt Monitor for CCRR effective Jan. 8. She holds an Associate in Science Degree from RLC and a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management from McKendree University. She most recently worked as a resource room assistant for Man-Tra-Con.

In other business, the board …

• Approved revisions to board procedure concerning student employment.
• Approved the schedule of Board of Trustees meetings for the 2018 calendar year.
• Approved the 2018-2019 RLC Catalog.
• Ratified payment of college expenses including travel reimbursements.

Mark your calendars …

• Visiting Artist: Erica Burton, Jan. 15-March 2, Theatre lobby.
• Thespian Comedy Improv, 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, Theatre.
• WYSE 2018 Competition, Wednesday, Feb. 7, Waugh Gymnasium.
• Career Fair, Friday, March 2, RLC Campus.
• Spoken Word and Open Mic Night, 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 5, King City Books, Mt. Vernon.
• Kickstart Your Journey, Thursday-Friday, March 22-23, RLC campus.
• Spring Musical: The Addams Family, 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, April 5-7, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 8, RLC Theatre.
• Higher Learning Commission Annual Conference, Thursday-Monday, April 5-9, Hyatt Regency Chicago.
• Job Search Party, 3-6 p.m. Thursday, April 12, Mt. Vernon Hotel and Event Center.

By Gay Bowlin 

Last week was our Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Chicago where many things were accomplished. The most important – electing the IFB President and Vice President. Rich Guebert II was re-elected for his third term and Brian Duncan from Ogle County will serve as Vice President. We wish them both the best during their term and will continue to help in any way we can.

 

Capping off a yearlong policy process, county Farm Bureau delegates this week endorsed a new solar energy policy, the organization’s farm bill priorities and strengthened policies related to conservation programs.

Illinois Farm Bureau’s new solar policy, originally proposed by White County, addresses property tax assessment, property rights and decommissioning, among other things. In the last two years alone, nearly 30 solar companies have solicited farmers in 83 Illinois counties.

“What the delegates did was put a very comprehensive policy in place that will guide us both in the legislative arena and regulatory arena as we go forward with these solar farms,” said Mark Gebhards, Illinois Farm Bureau’s executive director of governmental affairs and commodities.

The policy will be submitted to American Farm Bureau Federation for consideration during its resolution process this week.

The Illinois Farm Bureau Annual Meeting wrapped up earlier this week in Chicago, and attention now shifts to the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in Nashville next month.

Much of the focus will be on the 2018 farm bill, IFB official Mark Gebhards told the RFD Radio Network®.

“We will be gearing up in a big way,” said Gebhards, IFB’s executive director of governmental affairs and commodities. “We did outline our list of priorities for the 2018 (farm) bill, and those discussions have already begun.”

“The challenge will certainly be around what funding is available, and how do we maintain the funding that is needed for the farm bill in general?” he continued. “There are a lot of different components to this bill.”

The huge piece of legislation not only impacts agriculture but nutrition programs as well.

“Which is really about 75 to 78 percent of the funding that’s required for the bill goes into the nutrition program,” Gebhards said, referring to the Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program, or SNAP.

Another key component of IFB’s farm bill discussions is maintaining a healthy crop insurance program.

“Crop insurance remains our top priority, as it has been for some time, making sure that we can continue to have a strong crop insurance program,” Gebhards said.
The current farm bill is set to expire in September.

IFB is also concerned about the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

“Obviously, CRP and continuation of that or the addition of acres was discussed at our annual meeting,” Gebhards said. “And I think conservation will be a part of the discussion as we go forward with AFBF as well.”

Rural development, rural broadband access and rural health care also got some attention at the IFB annual meeting, and those issues will likely carry over to the AFBF convention.

Remember we are farmers working together. If we can help let us know.