INA, Ill. – Two Rend Lake College Day Tours this fall will feature many popular attractions in St. Louis that are sure to peak many interests. Stops on these two trips include the National Blues Museum, the Metropolitan Square Building, the Gateway Arch, the Anheuser-Busch InBev Brewery, and the Missouri Civil War Museum.

First up is the Re-Discover St. Louis tour, set for Friday, Oct. 12. Participants will stop in at the new National Blues Museum, an attraction dedicated to exploring musical history and the impact of blues music. Attendees will then take part in lunch as one of St. Louis’ finest restaurants – Kemoll’s – on top of Missouri’s largest skyscraper, the Metropolitan Square Building.

After lunch, re-discover the Gateway Arch where construction on the grounds is now completed. Attendees will explore the new, interactive museum below the Gateway Arch and enjoy the tram ride to the top for breathtaking views. The Re-Discover St. Louis tour costs $135. Attendees must pre-register by Monday, Sept. 17.

Later this fall, participants can spend the day on the Brewery & Civil War Museum Tour, set for Thursday, Nov. 1. Kick off the day with a tour of the Anheuser-Busch InBev Brewery to learn about the brewing process, sample brewery products in the tasting room, and see the world-famous Clydesdale horses in their stables.

Enjoy lunch at The Lodge at Grant’s Trail before heading off for a tour of the Missouri Civil War Museum – one of the largest Civil War museums in the nation. The Brewery & Civil War Museum tour costs $130. Attendees must pre-register by Monday, Oct. 8.

Tour fees, lunch, gratuities, and charter bus transportation are included for both tours. Also for both tours, the bus will depart from the Ina campus at 7:30 a.m. and will return by 6:30 p.m. Attendees can also get on the bus at the Mt. Vernon MarketPlace at 8 a.m. The bus will return to Mt. Vernon by 6 p.m.

To learn more about or to register for any of these classes, call RLC’s Community and Corporate Education Division at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1714. Pre-registration is required, and can be done in person, via phone call, or by emailing commcorped@rlc.edu.

INA, Ill.– Whether you’re learning the basics of handgun safety, interested in learning more techniques, or needing to get your Concealed Carry license renewed, Rend Lake College has a handgun training class for you this fall.

Beginners can step into Basic Reloading with Instructor Michael Dollins. This class will focus on learning how to reload ammunition for a handgun and how to utilize various equipment needed for reloading.

No live primers or gun powder will be used in this class, and no live ammunition will be created during this class. Alternatives will be used to ensure safety. Attendees must be 16 or older. The class costs $15, plus a $5 supply fee, and will meet from 6-9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5 or Monday, Dec. 3 in the Historic Schoolhouse on the Ina campus.

Local, first-time hunters can take advantage of the free Hunter Safety course with Instructor Sam Settle of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. This class will cover topics such as wildlife management, firearms safety, hunter ethics, game identification, first aid, survival techniques, and regulations.

Participation in the class is a requirement in state statute for hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1980, when applying for a hunting license. Pre-registration is required and attendees must attend both sessions and bring a pen or pencil. The class meets from 6-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21 and 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 at the RLC MarketPlace, Room 354, in Mt. Vernon.

More advanced handgun users can take advantage of Advanced Handgun Training and Low Light Engagement Handgun Training. The Advanced class will cover the laws of civilian use of force, weak hand shooting, one hand shooting, one hand reloading, shooting on the move, and range rules. The range portion will test marksmanship using techniques learned in the class. The class will meet with Instructor Jeff Bullard of the Mt. Vernon Police Department from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22 or Saturday, Oct. 20 in the Applied Science Center, Room 102, on the Ina campus. The class costs $65.

The Low Light Engagement class will teach the basics about shooting in a low light setting, including the importance of illumination tools. The drills in the class include shooting with handheld illumination, shooting from cover with illumination, and moving with and without light. This class will meet with Bullard from 2 – 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 or Saturday, Nov. 3 in the Applied Science Center, Room 102, on the Ina campus. The class costs $65.

Participants interested in either handgun training session will have to have passed the RLC Basic Handgun Training course in the past, and to enroll in Low Light Engagement, will also have to have taken the Advanced Handgun Training course. All attendees must be 18 or older, wear old clothes, and have a valid Illinois FOID card. Attendees should also bring eye and ear protection, handgun, and 150 rounds of ammunition.

Local Concealed Carry license (CCL) holders can also take advantage of the Concealed Carry License Renewal class, which is designed for those with CCLs set to expire in the next six months. RLC Criminal Justice Professor Ron Meek will review the required license information and attendees will take part in the live fire portion of the class on the RLC Shooting Range.

Attendees should bring their Illinois FOID and CCL cards, along with their handgun and two boxes of unopened ammunition. Handguns will be inspected by the instructors and must be approved prior to use. The class costs $50 and will meet four times this fall in the Applied Science Center, Room 102, on the Ina campus: 8 a.m. – noon Saturday, Nov. 3; noon – 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3; 8 a.m. – noon Saturday, Dec. 8; and noon – 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 8.

To learn more about or to register for any of these classes, call RLC’s Community and Corporate Education Division at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1714. Pre-registration may be required, and can be done in person, via phone call, or by emailing commcorped@rlc.edu.

CHICAGO — Gov. Bruce Rauner told exhibitors attending the largest manufacturing trade show inAmerica that Illinois remains an ideal home for companies that are looking for a highly skilled workforce and a transportation infrastructure that is unmatched in its ability to support worldwide distribution.

Rauner made his remarks during a visit to the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), which was organized by the Association For Manufacturing Technology and is taking place this week at McCormick Place in Chicago. This is the first time that IMTS has partnered with Germany’s Hannover MESSE, producer of the world’s largest manufacturing tech show, to highlight the global significances of the sector.

“Chicago is the epicenter of American industrial enterprise and it is the perfect place to display the incredible new technologies being deployed by modern manufacturing companies,” Rauner said. “Illinois’ commercial pedigree is built on the vibrancy of its manufacturing companies, and we are determined to support the growth of these companies into the future.

“Modern manufacturing requires highly skilled labor,” Rauner continued. “Illinois is a tremendous source of talent for manufacturers. We’re a leading technology innovation center. We’re a top STEM state. We’re a leader in apprenticeship programs, vocation and technical skills development. Our universities are among the greatest engineering schools in the country.

“We’re also investing in our transportation and distribution infrastructure,” he said, pointing to the $500 million 75^th Street Rail Corridor project as an example. “There is no place in the country that can match our ability to get goods and people from one place to another.”

Rauner noted the multiplier effect of manufacturing when it comes to economic output, job growth and wages. He also said that the sector is responsible for two-thirds of the nation’s private research and development, making it one of the most exciting and demanding places for 21^st century careers.

“The companies that make things contribute so much to our economy and our quality of life,” Rauner said. “Our state’s total manufacturing output in 2016 was over $100 billion and we exported $55 billion. About 600,000 Illinoisans are employed by manufacturers, and more than 1,900 foreign firms have a presence here. It is a tremendous force for good.”

At the show this morning, Rauner visited several exhibits, a number of which also were on his itinerary when he visited Germany last April and Asia last year.

His stops included HARTING Americas, a Germany-based connector company that is growing in Illinois and is developing strong apprenticeship and business development ties with Harper College in Palatine and the University of Illinois. He stopped at the Rittal exhibit to renew acquaintances with the company he visited at Hanover MESSE in April during his mission to Europe. The company makes some of the most innovative IT enclosures in the world and has its North American offices in Schaumburg.

Rauner also visited the exhibit of Sodick Inc., a Japan-based leader in electronic discharge machining (EDM) that opened a new North American headquarters in Schaumburg earlier this year.

From Illinois Review —

Illinois employers notified the state of nearly 1,200 upcoming layoffs last month, some driven by manufacturing plant closures.

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

Cites importance of simple planning, lifesaving skills to ready for unexpected

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner today proclaimed September Preparedness Month in Illinois during closing ceremonies of the 2018 Illinois Emergency Management Agency Training Summit in Springfield, where the governor greeted a crowd of more than 600 first responders and emergency workers.

Rauner underscored the importance of family and community preparedness in his address, held in conjunction with what is also National Preparedness Month.

“Many people have the mindset that ‘it can’t happen here,’ but history has shown that a disaster can strike anywhere and at any time,” Rauner said. “I want to encourage all Illinoisans to spend a few moments during this month to prepare for potential disasters, both natural and man-made.”

The theme for this year’s National Preparedness Month campaign is Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How.  The state is partnering with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the monthlong campaign that encourages Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. Having a plan that includes where to go and how to communicate during disasters, as well as an emergency supply kit, could save the lives of your family, friends, neighbors and employees.

“This is a great time to learn lifesaving skills such as CPR and first aid, check your insurance policies and coverage for hazards such as floods, earthquakes and tornadoes,” said Acting IEMA Director William Robertson.  “Make sure to consider the costs associated with disasters and develop a plan to save for an emergency. Also, know how to perform practical safety steps like shutting off the water and gas in your home. Remember, there is no one more capable of planning for your situation than you.”

In this day and age of families constantly on the go, it is critical for people to have multiple ways to receive notifications and updated information about severe weather warnings. FEMA offers a free mobile app that provides fast and reliable weather alerts from the National Weather Service.  The app can be tailored to offer alerts for up to five different locations nationwide. The mobile app also can help locate open shelters and disaster resource centers near you in an emergency.

IEMA offers disaster preparedness information on the Ready Illinois website (www.Ready.Illinois.gov), a one-stop resource for detailed information about what to do before, during and after disasters. During large-scale disasters, IEMA uses the Ready Illinois website, Facebook and Twitter pages to provide critical information about the incident, including shelter locations, road closures, safety information, photos and more.

For more information about emergency and disaster preparedness, visit ready.illinois.gov.

ILCollege2Career.com allows parents, students to compare employment, earnings post-graduation from Illinois colleges and universities

SPRINGFIELD – For the first time, Illinois high school students will have access to data which shows how much they might earn if they graduate from colleges and universities located in the state.

ILCollege2Career.com, unveiled at Gov. Bruce Rauner’s quarterly Children’s Cabinet meeting today, links employment and higher education data so users can compare the relative earnings value of college degrees. The data is broken down by schools and area of study, so that students can compare the earnings potential of business degrees, for example, from different public and private institutions in the state.

The idea is to help students and parents make college decisions based on an evaluation of real-time successes of a school’s graduates, in addition to other factors such as cost, average debt levels, and likelihood to graduate on-time. The tool will also show the benefits of investing in higher education, as it demonstrates how connected our thriving higher education system is to the workforce development of our state.

“ILCollege2Career.com is groundbreaking for our state,” Rauner said while introducing the tool to Cabinet members at the meeting at Springfield High School. “Education has been my top investment priority for many years. In order to grow our economy, we need to give our young people the best education system possible, so they will choose to live, learn and work here in Illinois. This multi-agency effort is making it easier for our students to be informed about their higher education choices and illustrates the competitiveness of our schools right here in the state.”

ILCollege2Career.com is the product of collaboration between the Governor’s Office, Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE), the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB), the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

“IDES works with employers on a daily basis to help deliver them a quality workforce,” said IDES Director Jeff Mays. “The College2Career tool can help deliver that workforce by giving students and their families a clear picture of what Illinois higher education has to offer. If we keep more of our students in state, we have a better chance to keep them here when they graduate into our workforce.”

In addition to helping students and parents make informed decisions, the tool allows prospective employers to compare not just schools, but programs within schools to project the quality of employee they are getting. As the schools turn out a strong workforce, the business community will see their value.

“The fact that the tool is Illinois-centric and highlights many of the positive things colleges are doing in preparing the future of the Illinois workforce is fantastic,” said Tom Cross, chairman, Illinois Board of Higher Education. “The companion tool that was developed specifically for the colleges and universities should also be lauded, as schools will be able to use it to drive decision-making and to better align their program offerings with workforce demand.”

Another main goal of the tool is for higher education institutions to have feedback loops on the outcomes of their students, to foster insights and drive improvements in course offerings and support services. The mobile-friendly website has two aspects: a public-facing student/parent portal and an internal institutional researcher portal for each two- and four-year Illinois college and university.

This announcement follows a number of recent education achievements in the state including:

• $25 million allocated for higher education in FY19 and merit-based scholarship program AIM HIGH to encourage our best and brightest high school grads to stay in Illinois for college;
• Newly signed Senate Bill 2559 requiring ISAC to develop a three-year pilot program to better educate students on loan amounts, repayment and interest;
• House Bill 4781 creating a task force to study how student college or career interest data can be collected and shared between high schools and colleges so higher education institutions will be able to enhance their programs and services to support the specific needs of their incoming student body;
• HB5020 that revises the Monetary Award Program (MAP) to prioritize access for existing grant recipients, and;
• SB2354 increasing degree-advising services and making it easier to transfer credits between Illinois schools.

“Consistent with our mission to help make college more accessible and affordable for Illinois students, ISAC is pleased to have helped build a tool that can help students make more informed decisions about college and career,” said Eric Zarnikow, executive director of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. “We look forward to seeing it grow and become even more robust and useful.”

This project, several years in the making, was greatly helped by a tremendous partnership with schools throughout the state. In fact, nearly 100 percent of Illinois schools participated in the project — that’s all 48 community colleges and 60+ four-year universities in the state. This project was not legislatively mandated or required. Education officials recognized the benefit of ILCollege2Career for both students and schools.

“We at IBHE are excited about the launch of this powerful tool that quickly and easily touts Illinois’ college and university programs, graduation rates, costs, potential for financial aid and more,” said Dr. Al Bowman, executive director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education. “College2Career is going to make the college search so much easier for Illinois students and their families.”

“As a state, we are moving away from just generating data for compliance purposes to using data to transform decision-making at the local, regional and state level,” said Karen Hunter Anderson, executive director of Illinois Community College Board. “The Illinois College2Career tool gives high school students and parents, as well as nontraditional students, more transparent and easily accessible information about their post-secondary choices and careers.”

Technical assistance for this project came from the Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab (GPL).

“Our goal is to do what we can to keep our best and brightest talent home,” Rauner said. “Illinois is a large and diverse state. So if a student lives in one college town and wants to go elsewhere, we can show them they have a broad choice of college towns to choose from in Illinois. Those kids who want to go to the ‘big city’ can see that one of the greatest cities in the world is a short car or train ride from home and has a broad offering of quality colleges and universities to choose from. Once those students have graduated, they may be more open to looking to stay ‘home,’ whether that is in Chicago or another part of our wonderful state.”

INA, Ill. – Local Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) have the chance to earn free continuing education credits next month during the fifth CNA Conference at Rend Lake College.

Attendees earn 0.5 college credits for attending the conference, set from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, in the RLC Theatre. This year, the conference will feature keynote speakers Joyce Steber and Karen Werhelm along with three breakout sessions in stress management, CNA skills, and being the “New Kid on the Block.”

In between breakout sessions and lunch, attendees can take advantage of vendors and networking opportunities. The conference will conclude with the presentation of the 2018 Outstanding CNA Award from a list of nominees from area long-term care facilities.

CNAs in attendance will have the chance to win door prizes throughout the day.

Each participant of the conference will receive a certificate of completion. The conference is free and open to anyone interested. To register or for more information, contact RLC’s Community and Corporate Education Division at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1714 or commcorped@rlc.edu. Registration must be done by Tuesday, Oct. 2.

Farmers, crop haulers won’t have to wait to more successfully compete with neighboring states

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner today declared a harvest emergency to help level the playing field between Illinois farmers and crop haulers and those in neighboring states.

The action bridges the gap between the 2018 harvest season and a new law the governor signed Aug. 25 that takes effect next year. Going forward, that measure will allow for an annual harvest-season easing of gross vehicle and gross axle weight limits for agricultural commodities haulers with a free permit.

“We have heard from Illinois’ trucking industry and from farmers who are operating on thin profit margins in today’s agricultural climate,” Rauner said before making his announcement at the Ladage Farm in Auburn. “Today’s harvest emergency declaration recognizes that the weight-restriction structure in place in Illinois put our farmers and truckers at a disadvantage.

“They cannot and should not be forced to wait until the 2019 harvest season to reap the economic benefits of eased weight limits,” he said. “Now they won’t have to as they take their crops to market, processing or storage.”

The emergency declaration is in effect from Monday, Sept. 10, to Dec. 31, 2018, and enables crop haulers to seek free Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) permits to exceed legal maximum gross vehicle and gross axle weight limits or the vehicle’s registered gross weight, whichever is less, by no more than 10 percent on state and federal highways under IDOT’s jurisdiction, except interstates. (Federal requirements prohibit inclusion of interstates.)

“We appreciate Gov. Rauner declaring an emergency situation for the 2018 harvest season, especially in light of the declining incomes and market turmoil which farmers are currently facing,” said Richard Guebert Jr., president, Illinois Farm Bureau. “This declaration opens the door for increased efficiencies for farmers and truck drivers hauling agricultural commodities and will help offset any uncontrollable effects of weather and commodity markets, allowing farmers the freedom to move what is projected to be a record-breaking crop.”

Permits will once again be issued at no charge, but applicants must obtain a route authorization number every two weeks. The harvest emergency permit and other information on the permitting process can be obtained through IDOT’s automated permitting web application at https://webapps.dot.illinois.gov/ITAP.

Rauner said the declaration will speed the movement of crops to market, adding that the importance of an economically healthy agriculture community in Illinois cannot be overstated. Illinois is home to 71,000 farms on 26.6 million acres. Marketing of Illinois’ agricultural commodities generates more than $19 billion annually, and the state’s food and fiber industries employ nearly 1 million people. The state ranks third nationally in the export of agricultural commodities, with $8.2 billion worth of goods shipped to other countries, according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, the neighboring states of Kentucky, Missouri and Wisconsin automatically ease highway weight limits at harvest time.

“Our farmers feed the world, working tirelessly every harvest season to get their crops from the field to market as quickly as possible,” said Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Director Raymond Poe. “We need to give Illinois farm families every advantage we can to ensure they stay competitive with farmers in neighboring states. We thank Gov. Rauner for recognizing the need for a quick change to help our farmers this harvest season without waiting until the new law takes effect next year.”

Legislators also welcomed the declaration.

“Gov. Rauner and Director of Agriculture Poe are enabling farmers a smoother, more efficient harvesting season, given the weather,” said Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond, who attended today’s ceremony. “I supported the governor last year with this announcement, and I stand with him today to ensure Illinois does its best to help this pillar of our economy — the agriculture industry.”

She was joined by Rep. Dave Severin, R-Benton.

“I applaud this decision to allow trucks hauling agricultural commodities to obtain a free permit to exceed the gross vehicle weight limit by 10 percent and help farmers harvest their crops more efficiently,” said Severin, a member of the Agriculture and Conservation Committee.

“I’m glad to see that our state is taking the steps necessary to assist our agricultural industry at a critical time of the year,” added Rep. Jerry Costello II, D-Smithton. “With livelihoods at stake, we need to responsibly remove barriers for our harvesters and ensure that their crop is brought to market. I am appreciative of the effort on both sides of the aisle to make this emergency order a reality.”

“I’m encouraged to see Gov. Rauner be proactive about an issue that has unfairly restricted our farmers and hindered our state’s ability to compete with our neighbors,” said Sen. Dale Fowler, R-Harrisburg. “This decision to declare a harvest emergency will serve as a bridge until House Bill 5749 takes effect next year, providing relief to those in the agriculture industry and providing some long-term assistance to Illinois’ farmers.”

“I support the harvest emergency declaration because our farmers need every opportunity they can get to get their crops out of their fields as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Sen. Paul Schimpf, R-Waterloo. “A declaration such as this shows we value their hard work.”

“Giving farmers additional latitude to harvest crops this year will ease their burden and allow for commodities to get to the market quicker, which is good for all consumers,” said Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia. “Agriculture is the backbone of Illinois’ economy, so anytime we can support farmers and the agriculture industry, it’s a win for the entire state. I wish our farmers a safe and bountiful harvest.”

“Harvest season always comes with unexpected delays and unpredictable challenges,” said Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy. “This declaration should pave the way for a smoother harvest season for the farmers who feed our world.”

“With this harvest emergency declaration, farmers have the ability to get more grain to the storage sites quicker. I appreciate Gov. Rauner’s action and IDOT for developing a user-friendly application process,” said Rep. Dan Swanson, R-Alpha, a fifth-generation family farmer and member of the House Agriculture and Conservation Committee. 

“It’s that time of year when farmers have to harvest their crops with limited time,” said Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville. “The governor’s declaration will be very helpful to farmers as it can be difficult to estimate the proper amount of bushels loaded on a semi. Without this declaration, if a semi is determined to be overloaded, the fine can actually be worth more than the crop itself. I’m glad the governor declared the harvest emergency in order to help Illinois’ No. 1 industry, agriculture.”  

“Moving corn and other crops in a timely and efficient manner affects the bottom line of hard-working farmers,” said Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro. “This declaration is an appropriate response to an urgent need and I applaud the governor for taking this action.”