from the City of Benton

Welcome to the 2017 Benton Fall Festival information and registration page! We’re excited you’re interested in this year’s event! We’ve got a lot planned for our Fall Fest including closing down the Square, Trunk or Treat, hayrides, costume contests for both kids and pets, crafts, vendors, food and more! We’ll create an event page on Facebook once a complete event schedule is confirmed.

Until then, save the date to attend – October 28th from 4-8 p.m.!

Anyone who would like to participate in the event, such as a vendor, crafter, business or organization, please check out the links below. The documents provided will help you register for the event. The documents also clearly spell out the information you’ll need based on your organization and whether or not you’re profiting from your booth. For those interested in the Trunk or Treat ONLY – please fill out the doc and return it to City Hall for processing.

If you’d like to attend one of our Fall Festival Planning Committee meetings, please check the City’s calendar, provided at the bottom right side of our homepage, for scheduled dates. If you’d like further information or have any questions, please email Rachel Gartner at rgartner@bentonil.com or give her a call at 618-439-6131 ex 407.

Thanks again for your interest! We’re excited for this year’s festivities!

Invitation to Participate

Vendor Registration Form

Organization Registration Form

2017 Trunk or Treat Registration Form

by ReAnne Palmer, Rend Lake College Public Information

INA, IL – Tables are filling up at Rend Lake College’s Glo Bingo event, set for 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9. The event will be held at the RLC Rec, located on the Ina campus, and will raise funds for improvements in the college’s Learning Resource Center library.
Before breaking out the cards and dabbers, enjoy a chicken and dumpling dinner provided by the Franklin County 4-H Federation, which includes salad, corn, tea and lemonade for a ticket price of $10 per person.

After dinner ends at 7 p.m., attendees can purchase Glo Bingo tickets for $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 plan to eat dinner and play bingo can purchase a meal ticket and the bingo pack for a discounted rate of $30 total. Competitors will have the chance to win over $1,000 in cash prizes. There will also be a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, and early bird and middle bird raffle games at the door.

Seats for the event are limited. No outside food or beverages are allowed. Glo Bingo participants must be over the age of 18. For more information or to purchase advance tickets, contact the Learning Resource Center at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1308. For groups interested in participating, tables can be reserved by calling ahead for advance ticket purchases.

From Chirsti Mathis – SIUC News Services

CARBONDALE, IL – With fun activities and a supportive atmosphere, Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Fresh Check Day will serve as an uplifting way of promoting awareness and discussions about mental health and suicide prevention.

Fresh Check Day is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 8 on the Morris Library lawn. Numerous campus departments and groups are collaborating for the interactive event which will feature giveaways, free food, special entertainment, peer-to-peer discussions, expo booths and information about available resources.

“This is a great way for students to get connected and have fun,” said Beth Morrison, wellness coordinator. “We want to create an approachable atmosphere where students are encouraged to engage in dialogue about mental health. We also want to build bridges between them and the many mental health resources available.”

SIU is sponsoring its inaugural Fresh Check Day thanks to the “Salukis on Your Side” Garrett Lee Smith Campus Suicide Prevention Grant and the Jordan Porco Foundation. The Jordan Porco Foundation is a non-profit organization created by Ernie and Marisa Porco in honor of their son, Jordan, who died by suicide when he was a college freshman. The foundation seeks to promote mental health and prevent suicide, striving to reduce the stigma of seeking help and giving young adults a message of hope and support. Similar events are slated at dozens of schools across the country.

In the event of rain, SIU’s Fresh Check Day will be in the Student Recreation Center’s Alumni Lounge. Visit www.freshcheckday.com/SIUC to learn more