Gov. Rauner arrives in China during first international trade mission

SHANGHAI –  Gov. Bruce Rauner arrived in Shanghai, China, for the next stop in his first international trade mission of his administration. The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) greeted the governor and the team of Illinois delegates working to build stronger business, cultural and educational relationships with its Asian partners.

“China and the United States enjoy a long-term friendship,” CPAFFC President Xu Kuangdi said. “I highly appreciate your decision of choosing China as one of your destinations at your first foreign visit as the Governor of Illinois. We must strengthen our friendship through more exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, education, etc., to benefit our two peoples, and people of the world. Welcome to China!”

The CPAFFC is a national organization engaged in people-to-people diplomacy of China.

The governor also engaged in trade discussions with the vice chairman of Shanghai 12th Committee to discuss trade relations between China and Illinois. That was followed by an official reception at the Intercontinental Hotel in Shanghai.

The governor expressed the need for additional business opportunities, and he said the best way would be to expand trade, investment and economic relationships.

“I’m honored to be here because of the special friendship between China and Illinois,” Gov. Rauner said. “We have 400 Illinois companies in China creating thousands of jobs, and China has 60 companies headquartered in Illinois, including Wanxiang, Decatur’s Fuyao Glass and Bank of China in Chicago. We shouldn’t stop there. I’m personally committed to expanding this economic relationship to benefit the people of Shanghai and Illinois.”

The meeting began with a discussion of Shanghai’s financial position and economic strength in the world economy with the hope of building a more balanced export exchange, as well as growing from an industrial to a more innovative society. The governor and vice chairman expressed the importance of exchanging ideas and developing an ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship and a pipeline of the next generation of global leaders.

Lisa Madigan will not run for re-election

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170915/NEWS02/170919923/illinois-attorney-general-lisa-madigan-will-not-seek-re-election

CHICAGO, IL (Rich Miller, Crain’s Chicago Business.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

“I’m ready to move on to a new challenge,” Attorney General Lisa Madigan explained today after informing me that she will not seek reelection and won’t run for any other office next year.

At the end of her term, she’ll have served 16 years as the state’s top lawyer, plus another 4 years in the Illinois Senate.

“I love working, I love advocating for the people of Illinois. And I’m going to keep doing it through the end of my term,” Madigan said.

Besides the governor and his running mate, the only other statewide Republican candidate currently backed by the party apparatus is Erika Harold, who is running for attorney general. The Republicans had planned to go after the Democratic incumbent hard by tying her as closely as they could to her wildly unpopular father.

High school football schedule for tonight

Black Diamond

Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton (0-3) at Edwards County (1-2)

Sesser-Valier-Waltonville-Woodlawn (3-0) at Johnston City (1-2)

Carmi-White County (2-1) at Eldorado (2-1)

Vienna-Goreville (2-1) at Chester (1-2)

Fairfield (3-0) at Hamilton County (0-3)

Southern Illinois River-to-River Ohio Division

Benton (2-1) at Herrin (2-1)

West Frankfort (2-1) at Harrisburg (2-1)

Massac County (0-3) at Murphysboro (0-3)

Southern Illinois River-to-River Mississippi Division

DuQuoin (3-0) at Carterville (2-1)

Anna-Jonesboro (3-0) at Nashville (1-2)

Sparta (0-3) at Pinckneyville (0-3)

South Seven

Belleville Altoff (3-0) at Mt. Vernon (0-3)

Marion (1-2) at Cahokia (1-2)

Carbondale (1-2) at Centralia (2-1)

 

WSIL TV’s – Sack Hunger: Sesser-Valier Lifeline Food Pantry

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36370243/sack-hunger-sesser-valier-lifeline-food-pantry

 

SESSER, IL (Evie Allen, WSIL-TV please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

Get ready for another night of high school football and Sack Hunger. Last week, you helped us collect more than 8,000 items for pantries in Benton and Pinckneyville. Friday, News 3 will collect food in Johnston City as the Indians host the Sesser-Valier Red Devils.

Every month, around 70 families get food from the Sesser-Valier Lifeline Food Pantry. Pantry Secretary Larry Cook said that number jumps much higher during the fall to winter months.
“Especially, November and December, we may have upwards of 125 to 130,” said Cook.

“The thing that I find quite often is there will be somebody who will say, Pastor Larry could you, I’ve got a family member, I’ve got a sister, I’ve got a mother, somebody in need of prayer. Would you? And I’ll just stop and we have a word of prayer right there in the street,” added Cook.

You can find this pantry’s doors open every third Tuesday of every month from 9-11 a.m. The football game kicks off at 7 p.m Friday night.

Council Approves Blue Ridge Sewer Project

http://www.bentongazette.com/news/council-approves-blue-ridge-sewer-project/article_ef5dd4ca-997c-11e7-ac61-5bc1e48b4eed.html

BENTON, IL – (Benton Gazette.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

During his Finance Report, Finance Commissioner Dennis Miller announced that the Blue Ridge sewer project had been approved.

At a previous council meeting back in May, the city approved tentative construction of a new sewer main on the north industrial park property near the Benton Airport and KOA Campgrounds. The motion stated the agreement would only be active pending available funds—the cost of the project was said to be roughly $135,000.

The EPA approved the project, and Miller said the next step would be to accept bids, which could come in as early as October.

 

Former St. Louis officer Stockley found not guilty

http://www.kmov.com/story/36336844/sources-expect-judge-to-render-verdict-in-stockley-case-friday

ST. LOUIS MO –  (KMOV-TV.  Please click on the link for the full story and live feed from the Channel 4 News team.  Here is an excerpt below)

A St. Louis judge has acquitted former police officer Jason Stockley in the 2011 shooting death of Anthony Smith.

“This court, as the trier of fact, is simply not firmly convinced of defendant’s guilt. Agonizingly, this court has poured over the evidence again and again. This court has viewed the video evidence from the restaurant’s surveillance camera, the cameras in the police vehicle, and the cell phone video by the lay witness, over and over again – innumerable times,” read a portion of the court document.

Stockley, a former St. Louis Police Officer, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Anthony Smith, who was shot and killed following a police chase in 2011.

Mt. Vernon to Consider Repeal of Utility Capital Improvement Fee

Press Release From Mary Becthel, Mt. Vernon City Manager

On Friday, September 15 at 9 a.m. at City Hall, the City Council will be is considering repealing the Utility Capital Improvement Fee also known as the meter fee and replacing it with a sales tax to fund water and sewer improvements. If the City Council chooses to implement a sales tax, the ordinance will have to be passed and file with the State of Illinois by October 1.

The Utility Committee has been studying the water and sewer infrastructure and has identified several immediate needs, such as, water tower maintenance and replacement, water line replacements, water meter replacements, sewer lift station replacements, sewer line replacement and relining.

Also before the City Council will be a plan for equipment replacement, roadway improvement plan, demolition of condemned structures and accelerated debt reduction also funded from the newly proposed sales tax.

In a statement from Mayor Lewis, “The meter tax is putting an undue burden on a large percentage of our citizens who live at the poverty level or on fixed income. The City has some immediate needs with our water and sewer infrastructure”. This MUST be addressed. If you don’t have running water, EVERYTHING stops, the new schools, Water Park, and life as we’re used to. We have also discovered that there has been no equipment replacement program in place for many, many years. A check with our fleet supervisor revealed that there is approximately 6.4 million dollars’ worth of vehicle or equipment which needs to be replaced either because of age, mileage or upkeep maintenance has gotten out of hand.

We have whittled that list down to approximately 3 million in immediate needs but even at that level, it will take many years to get our heads above water. Further, we discovered there has not been a street maintenance program which has kept up with our deteriorating streets as well as funding the demolition of condemned structures.

Although I do not like taxes, the meter tax has to go. To replace that revenue stream, be much more affordable to our citizens, and address ALL of our immediate needs, I am proposing a 1% home rule tax. This is one of those tough decisions but the result would be the removal of your $10 per month meter tax and for the majority of our citizens, 52.8%, replace it with a tax that would cost each household $2.25 OR LESS. A savings for the vast majority of our citizens of $7.75 every month.

This tax would not apply to groceries, medicines, nor licensed vehicles. Not only would this tax save the majority of our citizen’s money, but would also be enough to fund utility system improvements, equipment replacement program, demolition program, a street improvement program AND start paying down our bond debt. Our infrastructure is part of our “house” and we must maintain it if we plan to stay in this house. Every penny will be dedicated to our infrastructure or bond reduction.

Some may wonder why the rush; the reasoning is to remove the meter fee as soon as possible. To do that the State of Illinois requires notification by October 1st in order to collect the tax receipts starting January 1st. If we wait it will not be until June of 2018, meaning the meter tax would stay in place until then.”

Latest AP Illinois High School Football poll

http://www.bnd.com/sports/high-school/prep-football/article173116516.html

Here is a link to the latest Associated Press Illinois High School football poll, from the Belleville News-Democrat

The only ranked teams in the 618 is Highland is ranked 3rd in 5A, and Centralia is 9th.  Altoff is ranked 2nd in 4A, and Herrin received votes.

Carlyle received votes in Class 1A.

Betty Lou Eubanks – Benton

Betty Lou Eubanks, 74, of Benton IL, passed away at 10:45 a.m., on Thursday, September 14, 2017, at her residence.

She was born on August 6, 1943, to Denzil and Eileen (Warren) Summers in Kalamazoo, MI. On December 31, 1983, she married Richard Eubanks and he preceded her in death on August 21, 1997.

Betty enjoyed shopping, bowling, fishing and camping. She was very faithful to her Lord and Savior.

She was a loving mother and grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.

Betty is survived by her children, Danny Mandrell of Benton, IL and Tonya (Curtis Lee) Gaskin of West Frankfort, IL; one granddaughter, Sheyenne Gaskin of Benton, IL; one brother, Daniel (Carol) Summers of St Louis, MO; two sisters, Barbara (Warren) Walton of Benton, IL and Marion Caswell of Moody, TX and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Denzil R. and Eileen M. Summers,her husband, Richard Eubanks, one sister, Linda Brayfield, and three brothers, James Summers, Larry Summers, and Vernon Summers.

Services have been entrusted to Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Pate Funeral Home, 301 S. Main St., Benton, IL.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2017, at 12:00 p.m. at the Pate Funeral Home, Benton, IL, with Brother Bryant Harris, officiating.

Burial will take place following the service in the Knob Prairie Cemetery in Akin, IL.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Online condolences can be given at www.patefh.com.

Rend Lake College Board of Trustees minutes

Board adopts Fiscal Year 2018 budget, tax levy
The board adopted the budget for Fiscal Year 2018. A public hearing on the budget was held prior to the regular board meeting. There were no comments from the public. In a related action, the board accepted the 2017 tax levy (payable 2018). The corporate and special purposes levy went from $3,379,083 in 2016 to $3,547,797 in 2017, an increase of 4.99 percent. The debt service levy went from $2,901,908 in 2016 to $3,117,676 in 2017, an increase of 7.44 percent. Because the corporate and special purposes levy is not greater than 105 percent of last year’s levy, no Truth in Taxation hearing is required.

RLC, Southeastern Illinois College continue partnership, sign MOU for contractual labor

A memorandum of understanding between Rend Lake College and Southeastern Illinois College was approved Tuesday. The MOU lays out the details of the contractual relationship between RLC and SIC for operations and maintenance labor. The agreement highlights the continuation of shared resources between both colleges where appropriate and beneficial to the institutions.

Aquatic Center project to be bid, RLC Foundation pledges assistance
Permission was granted to seek bids for a complete replacement of the PoolPac in the Aquatics Center. The existing PoolPac is original to the building and has exceeded its operational life expectancy. The Rend Lake College Foundation will fund the project, which is estimated at $375,000. The bids will include the unit, installation and commissioning.

University of Southern Indiana, RLC ink Engineering articulation agreement
The board approved an articulation agreement between Rend Lake College and the University of Southern Indiana for Engineering. This agreement allows students to complete an associate degree at RLC and transfer seamlessly to USI in good standing provided they have completed the agreed-upon coursework.

Cornett moving on, DeJarnette returns to executive assistant position

The board accepted with regret the resignation of Mary Cornett, Executive Assistant to the President, with an effective date to be determined. Cornett will be relocating to be nearer to family in mid- to late October. “I have really enjoyed being a part of the team here at Rend Lake College, and working with our board trustees,” Cornett wrote in her resignation letter. “I thank you for your friendship and support in my role.”
In a related action, the board appointed Cathy DeJarnette as Executive Assistant to the President effective Sept. 18, thus providing some overlap between the two to allow for a smooth transition. DeJarnette is a previous holder of the Executive Assistant to the President position, having served in that capacity from the fall of 2011 until September 2014, when she resigned to pursue a business opportunity. She holds both Associate in Science and Associate in Arts degrees from John A. Logan College.
Nichols joins RLC Police Department

The board appointed Sawyer Nichols as Police Officer, effective Sept. 18. He holds an Associate in Science Degree fro Wabash Valley College and has worked part-time for the RLC Police Department since 2015. Prior to that, he was a police officer with the City of Carmi.

Accreditation update
The board heard a report on the college’s reaffirmation of accreditation activities. The college is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is due for an evaluation by the HLC in September 2018.

In curriculum matters …

The board approved changes to 29 courses, ranging from changes in credit, lecture or lab hours to changes in repeatability, and authorized their submission to the Illinois Community College Board for action. Additionally, changes to existing courses and the addition of new courses were approved for the Barber and Cosmetology curricula, 18 courses were withdrawn and three horticulture programs were withdrawn.

In other business, the board …

• Heard a report from Dr. Elizabeth Bailey-Smith of the Academic Council covering the curriculum matters taken up by the board Tuesday and reporting on additional meetings and activities.
• Created and approved a job description for a Communications Specialist for Student Services. This description was created to replace the existing Communications Specialist for Business Office job description because the duties of that position are in better alignment with the Student Services Department.
• Approved revisions to board policy concerning tenured / tenure-track faculty and staff seniority list (first reading) and travel reimbursement (first reading). The tenure list is approved twice each year.
Mark your calendars …
• Fun Fest, Noon-3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, on campus.
• 37th Annual RLC Foundation Golf Outing, Thursday, Sept. 14, Rend Lake Golf Course; noon shotgun start.
• Southern Illinois Health Information Management Association meeting, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, Pat Kern Private Dining Area.
• Illinois Regional College Fair, 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, Waugh Gymnasium.
• Upward Bound Banquet, 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, Waugh Gymnasium.
• Career Days, Wednesday-Thursday, Oct. 4-5, Ina campus.
• RLC Preview Day, Warrior Fest and Prospect Day, Saturday, Oct. 7, RLC campus. Previous Day and Warrior Fest 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Prospect Day begins at 10 a.m., Ina campus.
• Faculty / Staff In-Service, Monday, Oct. 9, Ina campus.
• CNA Conference, Friday, Oct. 13, Learning Resource Center.
• RLC Foundation Scholarship Dinner, 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, Benton Civic Center.
• Criminal Justice Roundup for Scholarships, 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23, Mt. Vernon Event Center, Salon C (formerly the Holiday Inn).
• RLC Foundation Annual Dinner Meeting, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, Holiday Inn / DoubleTree Inn, Mt. Vernon.

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News