Commission announces change of venue for 200th birthday bash

CHICAGO – Gov. Bruce Rauner and Governor-elect JB Pritzker will make a joint appearance at the state’s 200th Birthday Party on Dec. 3, the day in 1818 when Illinois became the nation’s 21st state.

Both men rallied around a unity theme in the aftermath of Tuesday’s election. “There is no better place to start uniting than at an event that celebrates the greatness of Illinois,” Rauner said.

“The milestone represented by our 2ooth birthday is especially important as we turn our focus to the future,” Rauner said. “The state possesses a legacy of invention, persistence and economic vitality. This is the time to reflect on those assets and come together to put them to work for the people of Illinois.”

“Just as Illinoisans of all backgrounds have united and pushed our state forward for 200 years, we will celebrate our bicentennial as one Illinois,” said Governor-elect JB Pritzker. “We are the land of Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama, home to the world’s leading companies and universities, an economic powerhouse of the Midwest and agriculture powerhouse of our country. Together, we will ring in our third century with hope and optimism and strive to build on the progress of the 200 years before us.”

The Bicentennial Commission also announced a change in venue for the official Bicentennial Birthday. The celebration is moving from the United Center to the Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier.

The Birthday Party program will remain largely the same. People attending the affair will be treated to a star-studded presentation of things BORN, BUILT, and GROWN in Illinois.

The highlights include an original Gettysburg Address Rap – “All People are Created Equal” – by Miguel Cervantes (Hamilton, Chicago), performances by members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Buddy Guy; a special acoustic performance by Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon; and a Championship Parade featuring star athletes marching with Chicago team championship trophies.

According to Stuart Layne, executive director of the Governor’s Office of the Bicentennial, the venue change makes it possible to produce a more intimate event for sponsors, partners and attendees. The change was necessitated in part by weaker than expected tickets sales during the month preceding the election.

“The Bicentennial celebration has been staged without the benefit of any state funding,” Layne said. “This move means that we can stay on budget and still put on a memorable party for this landmark occasion.”

People who have purchased tickets for the United Center may use them for the party at Navy Pier or contact Ticketmaster for a refund prior to Dec. 2. Future ticket purchase opportunities will be announced as they become available.

ABOUT ILLINOIS BICENTENNIAL: On Dec. 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21^st state in the union. The Illinois Bicentennial is a yearlong celebration of what has been BORN, BUILT & GROWN in the state and a reminder of why we are #IllinoisProud.

For more information about the Illinois Bicentennial celebration visit www.illinois200.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by using the hash tag #IllinoisProud.

INA, Ill. – Rend Lake College Radiologic Technology students celebrate National Radiologic Technology Week (NRTW) by delivering cookie cakes to area hospitals. The sweet treats are a thank you from the students to their clinical sites for the hands-on training they receive throughout the semester.

NRTW is celebrated annually during the week of Nov. 8 to commemorate the discovery of the x-ray by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen on that date in 1895. The week-long celebration calls attention to the important role medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals play in patient care and health care safety.

Pictured are second-year Rad Tech students. They are, FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT, Rachel Buretta (Bluford), Madalyn Toombs (Energy), Jessie Chandler (Marion), Jade Garner (West Frankfort), Brooke Akers (Christopher), and Cathy Graves (Galatia); BACK ROW, Hayden Jones (Mt. Vernon), Blake Johnson (Marion), Jessica Roberts (Opdyke), Claudia Spotanski (Ashley), Jayme McDonald (Murphysboro), Paige Rich (Johnston City), Megan Purdie (Benton), Hillary Ingram (McLeansboro), Charles Adelsberger (Herrin), Jamie Droge (Murphysboro), Jamie Veach (Carbondale), Justin Restoff (Pinckneyville), Dustin Engelhardt (Pinckneyville), and Brady Louis (Pinckneyville).
(RLC Public Information)

CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta’s press pass to access the White House was suspended “until further notice” Wednesday, hours after he engaged in a contentious back-and-forth with President Trump.

Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.

Authorities in Thousand Oaks, Calif., responded Wednesday to reports of a mass shooting just before midnight at a nightclub hosting a college night.

Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.

INA, Ill. – Reserve your seat today for Rend Lake College’s third Glo Bingo event. Locals are invited to play at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 at the RLC Rec, located on the Ina campus, to raise funds for the campus’ Learning Resource Center (LRC).

When doors open at 5:30 p.m., Glo Bingo tickets will cost $25, which includes six bingo cards, a glow hat, and a glow dabber. Additional bingo cards are available for purchase for $5 per six cards. Attendees who purchase tickets early can do so for a discounted rate of $20. Discounted tickets are on sale until 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15.

Competitors will have the chance to win over $1,000 in cash prizes. Additionally, there will be a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, and early bird and middle bird raffle game cards available at the door. Concessions will also be sold throughout the evening.

Seats for the event are limited. Glo Bingo participants must be over the age of 18. No outside food or beverages are allowed. The LRC will also be selling 2019 St. Louis Cardinals calendars as presale items.

For more information or to purchase advance tickets, contact the LRC at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1308. For groups interested in participating, tables can be reserved by calling ahead for advance ticket purchases. The event is sponsored by the RLC Foundation.

 

 

Benton, IL – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake reminds visitors that the following recreation areas will be closed to all vehicle and foot traffic during the first firearm deer season.

Dates for the closures are November 16-18, 2018.  Areas affected by the closure include the North Sandusky picnic area and campground; South Sandusky picnic area, campground, beach and boat ramp; South Marcum picnic area and campground; North Marcum picnic area and old campground; and the Blackberry Nature Trail.  These areas will be utilized by persons involved in the annual Rend Lake Deer Hunt for Persons with Disabilities and will remain closed as a safety precaution.

In addition, the Corps of Engineers will temporarily close all sections of the Rend Lake Bike Trail, which are under the management of the Corps of Engineers, to persons not actively involved in the sport of deer hunting during all state firearm deer hunting seasons.  These closures include bike trail sections beginning west of the Franklin Cemetery and continuing to the North Marcum day use area, and trail sections beginning in the North Sandusky day use area and continuing to the South Marcum campground.

All persons not involved in the sport of deer hunting are prohibited from utilizing these trails during the periods of November 16-18, November 29-30, December 1-2, and December 7-9.  Persons wishing to access hunting spots should remember that Federal law prohibits the use of motorized vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), on all government-managed properties.

For more information on these temporary area closings, feel free to contact the Rend Lake Project Office by phone at 618-724-2493.  For updates, follow us on Facebook@Rend Lake Project Office / Visitor Center.

 

A north suburban statehouse race where one vote separates the two candidates might not be decided for two weeks.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Tribune.

CARBONDALE — When there’s farming in a young person’s genes, there’s little that can keep his or her jeans from finding a tractor seat during harvest.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

The crowd at President Donald Trump’s rally in Missouri on Monday evening began singing “Amazing Grace” after a woman collapsed and needed medical attention.

Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.

A Florida teenager, who allegedly strangled his mother to death last week over an argument about a bad grade, reportedly “showed no sign of remorse” and bragged about his attempt to cover up the crime, police said.

Here’s a link to the story at Fox News.