On April 27, 2018 Benton Police were dispatched to the Public Square in reference to a report of children left unattended in a vehicle.  Upon investigating, police arrested Megan E. Scarlett, age 21, of Cowden, IL for child endangerment.  Scarlett was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On April 27, 2018 Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Buchanan and Lawrence Street.  Upon investigating, police arrested Justin L. Wagoner, age 20, of Benton for unlawful possession of a controlled substance.  Wagoner was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On April 29, 2018 Benton Police arrested Kaylee M. Porter,age 21, of Benton on an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear. Porter was also charged with obstructing a peace officer.  Porter was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

INA, Ill. – Rend Lake College Early Childhood Education (ECE) students can now qualify for state-recognized credentials while taking courses to complete a degree or certificate. In April, RLC became an approved “entitled institution” for three Gateways to Opportunity credentials.

Brenda Heinzmann, RLC Early Childhood Education Professor, said the entitled institution designation came after a comprehensive realignment of programs and courses.

“To be an entitled institution, we have completed a redesign of our program. Any student who takes our classes can submit their transcript after graduation and get state-recognized credentials to supplement their Early Childhood Education degree or certificate,” said Heinzmann.

Many governing bodies across the state came together with the idea for stackable credentials for graduates of community college programs. RLC then realigned the ECE degrees and certificates to match those outlined industry standards. RLC will remain an entitled institution until 2023.

For local child care centers, employees with these credentials can bring higher reimbursement rates from the Department of Human Services, putting graduates in higher demand.

“It means we’re leading our profession,” explained Heinzmann. “Our students become more qualified, more marketable. It’s a win-win for us, for our students, and for their future employers.”

RLC is among a select group of institutions in Illinois to be entitled for the Gateways to Opportunity credentials, read a press release from the organization.

It continued to state, “The faculty at RLC has worked diligently to align their courses with the Gateways to Opportunity competencies… RLC has become entitled to help further their goal by graduating students ready to provide quality care and education to young children in Illinois.”

The credentials reflect professional standards set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Illinois Professional Teaching standards. To learn more about RLC’s ECE programs, visit www.rlc.edu/math-science-education/teaching or call 618-437-5321, Ext. 1251.

Gateways to Opportunity, Illinois Professional Development System, is designed to provide guidance, support, and recognition to practitioners who serve children and families in Illinois. Gateways to Opportunity is administered by the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies on behalf of the Illinois Department of Human Services. Learn more by visiting www.ilgateways.com.

On April 30, 2018 Benton Police were informed of unsupervised children on the roadway in the 700 block of East Bond Street.  Upon investigating, police arrested James Patton, age 32, of Benton for child endangerment.  Patton was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

Substantial investments in Illinois are likely to follow soon

CHICAGO – Gov. Bruce Rauner, addressing the media to recap his 10-day investment and business growth mission to Germany and Poland, said today that he and his delegation of Illinois business leaders met with dozens of companies to discuss foreign direct investment in Illinois.

“We talked about some really exciting opportunities that are likely to result in substantial investments in our state in the coming months,” Rauner said. “Our meetings took place at critical stages in the decision process for some of these companies and we made Illinois’ case.”

Rauner revealed details of his mission at the headquarters of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA). Near the end of his trip, he made the official announcement that MPEA will host Germany’s world-renowned manufacturing trade show brand at McCormick Place co-located with the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS).

Combined, Germany’s HANNOVER MESSE and our IMTS will attract more than 125,000 visitors and produce hundreds of millions in economic impact for Illinois, and the City of Chicago and the Chicagoland area.

“This fall we are excited to welcome HANNOVER MESSE to McCormick Square for their first show in the United States,” said Lori T. Healey, CEO, Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA). “I believe there will be in excess of 125,000 people here this year taking up every square inch of rentable space on this campus for this huge show. That’s a lot of people eating in restaurants, staying in hotels, and providing an economic boost for Chicago and the surrounding area.”

“IMTS has further enhanced its attractiveness as a ‘must attend’ international manufacturing technology destination by partnering with HANNOVER MESSE,” says Michelle Edmonson, Senior Director – Exhibitions Operations & Marketing. “Co-locating HANNOVER MESSE USA with IMTS 2018 increases the show’s emphasis on automation, robotics and Industry 4.0, with approximately 550 additional exhibitors occupying 130,000 sq. ft. of floor space.”

“Growth-minded visitors will attend IMTS 2018 looking for solutions that remove production bottlenecks,” says Peter R. Eelman, Vice President – Exhibitions & Business Development at AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology, which produces IMTS. “For many manufacturers, simply doing more of the same thing in a larger space or adding more people isn’t a viable option. Growth requires change, and visitors view IMTS as a change agent. They come to the show knowing that they can find technologies that not just shave minutes off production cycles, but that can positively disrupt their manufacturing approach.”

According to the governor, the mission provided an opportunity to meet with companies that already have Illinois in their sights for investment.

“This trade mission solidified the fact that we have a tremendous opportunity to revitalize our middle class through bringing manufacturing jobs back to Illinois. To do this, however, we need to ensure a strong workforce is in place and is prepared to fill these positions with the right skillsets.  At the end of the day, the positives Illinois has to offer far outweigh the negatives,” said Illinois Manufacturers Association President and CEO Greg Baise.  “This mission highlighted the employer demand—and incredible opportunity—to develop a direct pipeline of educated students and connect them to a workforce eager to hire them.”

The governor noted that the mission had a marketing aspect, as well. Illinois is the world’s 18^th largest economy and its assets are well known to the 200+ German and Polish companies that employ more than 38,000 Illinoisans. But there are thousands more that don’t know the Illinois story.

Intersect Illinois CEO Mark Peterson, whose organization financed most of the trip, was also encouraged by the results. “This is only the beginning of the focused efforts that Intersect Illinois will lead in the coming years. Helping the State of Illinois to recruit new companies from  around the world and attract foreign direct investment is exactly what Intersect was created for. We look forward to announcing new investment in the coming months as a direct result of this trade mission.”

“This is an exciting time for DuPage County and the region as a whole. Working closely with the Governor’s Office, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity and Intersect Illinois, DuPage County has expanded its global footprint with international businesses seeking to relocate, or expand operations here,” said John Carpenter, President and CEO of Choose Dupage.

Consuls General and U.S. Ambassadors arranged for hundreds of prospective investors to hear the Illinois story.

“Over the course of this mission we talked to companies throughout Poland and Germany looking to build and grow relationships with Illinois,” said DCEO Director Sean McCarthy. “By making these connections and selling Illinois assets abroad we can bring a lot of foreign direct investment to Illinois.”

“We met with business and education leaders in two of Europe’s most compelling economies,” Rauner said. “Germany is a mainstay in world commerce and is a $3.4 billion customer for Illinois businesses. Poland is a rising economic star that has parlayed fiscal discipline into more than 25 consecutive years of economic growth. We look forward to seeing where these friendships lead.”

INA, Ill. – Sixteen Christopher High School students took their first step to becoming college students today during College Signing Day with Rend Lake College. RLC advisors met with the students to pass along important information, answer questions, and enroll students into summer and fall classes.

Registration for Summer and Fall 2018 classes at RLC is going on now. Classes start the week of June 4-8 for the summer semester and during the week of August 20-24 for the fall semester. Contact RLC’s Academic Advisement Center at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1266 to schedule an appointment for summer or fall registration.

Pictured is, FROM LEFT, Caden Blankenship, Payce Morgan, Daniel Flowers, Khortnee Kerkemeyer, Tyler Weeks, Victoria Towers, Christopher Dorris, Chloe Kirkpatrick, Jacob Stuehlmeyer, Madison Blain, Anthony Sisney, Brenden Rogers, Rebecca Reese, Preston Rider, Payton Gregge, and Wyatt Eubanks.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

In April, academic advisors will also visit Mt. Vernon, Pinckneyville, Waltonville, and Zeigler-Royalton high schools to speak with students. In total, Advisors will travel to all 13 in-district high school campuses this spring to meet one-on-one with students and help them prepare for their first semester of college life.

According to the U. S. Department of Education, college graduates typically earn more and are less likely to face unemployment than those with a high school diploma. Over the course of a lifetime, the average worker with a postsecondary degree will earn approximately $1 million more than a worker without a postsecondary education. In fact, by 2020, an estimated two-thirds of job openings will require college education or training.

RLC is a comprehensive community college located in Ina in Southern Illinois. Rend Lake College offers more than 100 associate degree and occupational certificate programs, preparing students for transfer to a four-year university or direct entry into the workforce. To learn more about RLC, visit www.rlc.edu/journey.

ZR STUDENTS

INA, Ill.  – One dozen Zeigler-Royalton High School seniors took their first step to becoming college students today during College Signing Day with Rend Lake College. RLC advisors met with the students to pass along important information, answer questions, and enroll students into summer and fall classes.

Registration for Summer and Fall 2018 classes at RLC is going on now. Classes start the week of June 4-8 for the summer semester and during the week of August 20-24 for the fall semester. Contact RLC’s Academic Advisement Center at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1266 to schedule an appointment for summer or fall registration.

Pictured is, FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT, Suzie Stout, Lacey Grammer, Shelby Hewlett, Madison Bates, Erin Eldridge, and Jane Webber; BACK ROW, Dakota Shelton, Joseph Uraski, Caleb Isaacs, Noah Leeper, Jonathon Meadows, and Nathan Raynor.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

This spring, academic advisors will also visit Benton, Pinckneyville, Thompsonville, Webber, and Woodlawn high schools to speak with students. In total, Advisors will travel to all 13 in-district high school campuses this spring to meet one-on-one with students and help them prepare for their first semester of college life.

According to the U. S. Department of Education, college graduates typically earn more and are less likely to face unemployment than those with a high school diploma. Over the course of a lifetime, the average worker with a postsecondary degree will earn approximately $1 million more than a worker without a postsecondary education. In fact, by 2020, an estimated two-thirds of job openings will require college education or training.

RLC is a comprehensive community college located in Ina in Southern Illinois. Rend Lake College offers more than 100 associate degree and occupational certificate programs, preparing students for transfer to a four-year university or direct entry into the workforce. To learn more about RLC, visit www.rlc.edu/journey.

INA, Ill. – Sixty-three seniors at Mt. Vernon Township High School took their first step to becoming college students last week during College Signing Day with Rend Lake College. RLC advisors met with the students to pass along important information, answer questions, and enroll students into summer and fall classes.

Registration for Summer and Fall 2018 classes at RLC is going on now. Classes start the week of June 4-8 for the summer semester and during the week of August 20-24 for the fall semester. Contact RLC’s Academic Advisement Center at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1266 to schedule an appointment for summer or fall registration.

Pictured is, in alphabetical order, Carley Allen, Katelyn Ashby, Madison Bailey, Makayla Bowden, Jalin Brown, Andrea Burrichter, Alyssa Cariens, Gregory Chandler, Johnathon Crowder, Tai’Leayah Damron, Anna Ellis, Cody Ellis, Christian Fitts, Ezra Foxall, Maddy Fradelos, Dakota Frederick, Brittney Goff, Keisha Gonzalez, Markiem Goosby, Kelsi Ham, O’Shea Hardin, Jacob Hayes, Tyler Hill, Kelley Hiner, Christina Hodge, Nicholas Jeffers, Autumn Johnson, Jade Johnson, Meadow Jordan, Santiana Mercado, Romeo Moss, Hannah Myers, Emma Newell, Hunter Nichols, Madyson Odle, Riley Ogle, Jared Palmer, Jacob Parks, Chloe Plumb, Nathan Pierce, Breanne Pilson, Garrett Prosise, Adam Prusz, Elizabeth Quinn, America Ramirez, Amber Rivera, Paige Saupe, Joe Shirrell, Adam Sledge, Victoria Smith, Taylor Storey, Chloe Swan, Crystal Thomas, Husley Tucker, Reese Tupper, Jessica Upchurch, Christian Waterstradt, and Erin Zoeckler.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

This spring, academic advisors will also visit Benton, Thompsonville, Webber, and Woodlawn high schools to speak with students. In total, Advisors will travel to all 13 in-district high school campuses this spring to meet one-on-one with students and help them prepare for their first semester of college life.

According to the U. S. Department of Education, college graduates typically earn more and are less likely to face unemployment than those with a high school diploma. Over the course of a lifetime, the average worker with a postsecondary degree will earn approximately $1 million more than a worker without a postsecondary education. In fact, by 2020, an estimated two-thirds of job openings will require college education or training.

RLC is a comprehensive community college located in Ina in Southern Illinois. Rend Lake College offers more than 100 associate degree and occupational certificate programs, preparing students for transfer to a four-year university or direct entry into the workforce. To learn more about RLC, visit www.rlc.edu/journey.

Panthers send 44 to RLC at College Signing Day

INA, Ill. – Forty-four seniors at Pinckneyville Community High School took their first step to becoming college students today during College Signing Day with Rend Lake College. RLC advisors are meeting with the students to pass along important information, answer questions, and enroll students into summer and fall classes.

Registration for Summer and Fall 2018 classes at RLC is going on now. Classes start the week of June 4-8 for the summer semester and during the week of August 20-24 for the fall semester. Contact RLC’s Academic Advisement Center at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1266 to schedule an appointment for summer or fall registration.

Pictured is, in alphabetical order, Autumn Bailey, James Bouchard, Levi Cheek, Kayla Choate, Madison Davis, Megan Fallon, Max Fox, Caleb Gaines, Emily Goldman, Rayna Guillotte, Nicole Hankla, Baleigh Harmon, Keaton Hawk, Grant Jausel, Rebecca Knope, Bradley Kurtz, Jace Leonard, Brady Mann, Will Martin, Daria McClurken, Emily McIntyre, Autumn Mohr, Amari Moody, Quinton Naugh, Jamie Newton, Zack Oberton, Lydia Pestka, Addie Pierce, Vanessa Pierce, Dalton Pratt, Bailey Raines, Alexis Rice, Tyler Rice, Abygail Ritter, Kane Runyon, Cheyenne Santos, Emily Shanklin, Audrey Skurat, Samuel Staffey, Claire Stotlar, Stephen Wagner, Chase Witbracht, Kendal Woodside, and Luke Zelasko.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

This spring, academic advisors will also visit Benton, Thompsonville, Webber, and Woodlawn high schools to speak with students. In total, Advisors will travel to all 13 in-district high school campuses this spring to meet one-on-one with students and help them prepare for their first semester of college life.

According to the U. S. Department of Education, college graduates typically earn more and are less likely to face unemployment than those with a high school diploma. Over the course of a lifetime, the average worker with a postsecondary degree will earn approximately $1 million more than a worker without a postsecondary education. In fact, by 2020, an estimated two-thirds of job openings will require college education or training.

RLC is a comprehensive community college located in Ina in Southern Illinois. Rend Lake College offers more than 100 associate degree and occupational certificate programs, preparing students for transfer to a four-year university or direct entry into the workforce. To learn more about RLC, visit www.rlc.edu/journey.

Illinois has racked up more in late-payment fees in less than three years than it did in the 18 years combined, according to a report The Associated Press obtained Monday, and some major creditors say they’ve waited more than a year to receive the interest they’re owed.

Here’s a link to the story at the Chicago Sun-Times.