WSIL photo
RLC Agriculture programs host 41st annual event
April 17, 2017 By Leave a Comment
ReAnne Palmer – RLC Public Information
The Outstanding Agriculture Students of the Year are, FROM LEFT, Wade Hutchens of Ewing; Zane Clark of Macedonia; Zach Sternberg of Ellis Grove; Chase Nicol of Carlisle, Ind.; Jordan Krug of Belleville; Brennan Fitzwater of Salem; Austin Ellison of Belleville; and Emily Lusby of Bluford.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)
INA, IL – Eight students and one community member were honored during the 41st Annual Agriculture Banquet at Rend Lake College last week. Faculty and staff celebrated the end of another successful year for the five agriculture programs alongside students, graduates and family.
During the banquet, numerous students were honored with gifts and awards from faculty, including seven program-specific outstanding student awards and one overall outstanding student award.
Each of RLC’s five agriculture programs recognized outstanding students for going “above and beyond” throughout the year. Mike Burris, Ag Mechanics and Diesel Technology Professor, awarded the Diesel Technology Outstanding Awards to Jordan Krug of Belleville and Zach Sternberg of Ellis Grove. He also awarded the Ag Mechanics Outstanding Award to Zane Clark of Macedonia.
Zach Vahlkamp, Heavy Equipment Technology Associate Professor, awarded the Heavy Equipment Outstanding Awards to Brennan Fitzwater of Salem and Chase Nicol of Carlisle, Ind.
Kathy Craig, Agriculture Associate Professor, awarded the Ag Production Outstanding Award to Austin Ellison of Belleville. She also presented the Ag Business Outstanding Award to Emily Lusby of Bluford.
The overall Outstanding Ag Student of the Year Award was given to Wade Hutchens of Ewing. Craig explained she polled all of her students about who should receive the award, and Hutchens received the most support from his peers. Hutchens was named RLC’s 2017 Homecoming King and is one of two Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society All-USA nominees for his academics.
A slideshow containing photos from the year and a presentation from RLC President Terry Wilkerson also highlighted the evening. Wilkerson, 1992 Outstanding Ag Student of the Year, addressed the audience with a presentation filled with advice for graduates, focusing on their employment in the future and life after college.
“Don’t ever stop learning. Don’t ever stop having fun,” said Wilkerson. “But, don’t forget who and what you’re working for.”
After Wilkerson’s speech, Duane Green, a salesman at Wm. Nobbe & Co., was awarded the Henry Douglas Leeck Service Award. Craig said Green was selected because of his support and recruitment for RLC’s agriculture programs.
“Duane was instrumental in helping us receive Service Advisor software for the Ag Mechanics program,” explained Craig. “He is always willing to help us out, and he is a big advocate for our programs.”
To learn more about RLC’s Agriculture programs, visit www.rlc.edu.
Cardinals’ Carpenter scratched from lineup due to bruised finger
April 17, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Greg Garcia, is getting the second start in a row at 3B for the Cardinals. This is him making a diving catch against the Reds at Busch Stadium earlier in the year. (Chris Lee – St. Louis Post Dispatch)
Charles Bartoni: 2017 Old King Coal
April 17, 2017 By Leave a Comment
by Marcia Raubach – Old King Coal Festival Publicity Director
Eighty year old, Charles A. Bartoni Jr of West Frankfort has been named 2017 Old King Coal and will reign over the Old King Coal Festival May 11th thru the 14th in downtown West Frankfort. Bartoni will be officially crowned Old King Coal during the Princess Flame pageant, Saturday, April 22nd beginning at 7PM at Paschedag Auditorium at Frankfort Community High School in West Frankfort.
Old King Coal President Steve Sawalich (left) is shown congratulating 2017 Old King Coal of West Frankfort, Charles A. Bartoni, Jr. in front of the Coal Miners Memorial monument at Coal Miners Memorial Park in downtown West Frankfort.
Coal was the primary financial support for the Bartoni family from 1940, when Bartoni’s father began mining coal for Old Ben #8. After 10 years, the elder Bartoni took a position at Orient #2 in 1950, when his young son was 13. The following year, just before Christmas, Charles Bartoni Sr was one of the 119 miners who lost their life in the Orient #2 mine explosion. Although the family was devastated by this loss, and his mother was against, the junior Bartoni followed in his father’s footsteps and became a coal miner 25 years later.
Bartoni began his mining career above ground working for Consol shop as a mechanic. Two years later he found himself underground working for Freeman Coal Company where he spent the next 10 years as repair boss. After 10 years with Freeman Coal, he began working for Kerr-McGee Galatia mine in 1987. In 1995 he received the General Manager Award in appreciation of his positive attitude, work ethic and his dedication to the safety and success of Galatia Mine. During his mining years he witnessed injuries of co-workers while underground and understood the dangers that were present daily. He volunteered to obtain his license as an Emergency Medical Technician in order to be of assistance if needed. Bartoni had a total of 20 years in mining, two years on top and 18 underground. In 2007, some 12 years post-retirement, still with mining in his thoughts, he wrote a poem entitled “The Deep Black Hole” about the experience of working in the coal mines.
In his nomination letter, submitted by his children, Mike, David and Jodi Bartoni Croslin, they stated “Coal is forever deeply rooted within our family and especially in our father’s mind. Coal fed his family, paid his bills and gave him a sense of a job worth doing. We are so very proud of our dad and believe that Charles Bartoni Jr. would be an excellent representative of the Old King Coal Festival. Bartoni and wife Dotti reside west of West Frankfort and attend First Christian Church where Charles serves as a deacon.
The crowning of both 2017 Old King Coal and Princess Flame will highlight the Princess Flame scholarship pageant where over $4500 in scholarship dollars will be awarded. The 2017 festival events include Luehrs’ Ideal Rides on the midway, Coal Miners Memorial Service, Old King Coal Grand Parade, and lots of free entertainment each night on the main stage with headliners Blue Suede Crew, Blend, Lew Jetton 61 South, Johnny Cash Tribute Band, The Brat Pack and Cadillac Jones Band. For a complete schedule of events go to www.oldkingcoalfestival.org or visit Old King Coal Festival on Facebook.
Marie Burnam – Christopher
April 17, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Marie Burnam 90, of Christopher passed away on Monday April 17, 2017 at the Herrin Hospital.
She was born on August 26, 1926 in Christopher to William and Bonnie (Britton) Kirkpatrick. She married Charles Burnam on December 31, 1945 and he preceded her in death on March 17, 2003.
She was born on August 26, 1926 in Christopher to William and Bonnie (Britton) Kirkpatrick. She married Charles Burnam on December 31, 1945 and he preceded her in death on March 17, 2003.
Survivors include her son Patrick and Fran Burnam of Herrin; grandchildren Christy Groskreutz, David Burnam, and Amy Meiners; great grandchildren Amy, Nick, Samantha, Brooke, and Reagan.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one sister Vernell Davis and one brother Robert E. Kirkpatrick.
Graveside services will be on Thursday April 20, 2017 at 11:00 AM at Mt Pleasant Cemetery in Valier with Brother Ivan Ryan officiating. Friends and family are asked to meet at the cemetery.
For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
Recent High School Baseball action
April 17, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Z-R-C picks up a pair of wins Saturday. First they defeat Johnston City 11-6. Nick Hale with the win. Steven Anderson, Shane McCowen and Bryce Pratt all with two hits. Pratt with three RBI’s and Anderson drove in two runs.
In game two Gabriel Motsinger pitches a shutout as the Tornadoes down the Crab Orchard Trojans, 8-0. Kaeleb Pedigo has three hits on the afternoon, Steven Anderson and Luke Garver with two each.
Z-R-C improves two 12-4 on the season and scheduled to have a home game with the Joppa Rangers at 4:30 this afternoon, weather permitting.
The Waltonville-Sesser-Valier Spartans go on the road to pick up an 8-5 road win over the Odin Eagles in Midland Trail Conference play Saturday.
On Thursday the Benton Rangers pick up a home SIRR Ohio Conference Win at Benton 17-7.
Redbird reliever Brendan Johnson pitches 1 2/3 innings to pick the victory in a come from behind win over Harrisburg Thursday.
Also on Thursday afternoon, Brendan Johnson comes out of the Redbird bullpen and picks up the win, in a come from behind victory over the Harrisburg Bulldogs 10-7.
The Rangers and Redbirds are slated for a 4:30 start this afternoon at Bill McKee field, weather permitting.
In high school girls softball the Benton Rangerettes will be facing the West Frankfort Redbirds at 4:30 weather permitting.
I would like to feature scores and info from every HS baseball-softball team in the county. Please email me at sdunford1970@hotmail.com or send me, Steve Dunford a message on Facebook. If you could send me some information about the game and a picture of the scorebook for both teams I would appreciate it.
I plan on covering the Benton-West Frankfort baseball game today, and West Frankfort and Z-R-C this afternoon, weather permitting.
sd
50 Influencers of Rend Lake College: Bob Carlock, Making the Marketplace
April 17, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Reece Rutland -Rend Lake College Media Services
INA, IL – Throughout the history of Rend Lake College, no one has been referred to as “the right-hand man” more than Bob Carlock. But, to distill the long-time vice president’s legacy down to that of a side kick to three RLC presidents does him some injustice. His 20 years as Vice-President of Finance and Administration saw a number of major milestones in the college’s history.
Bob Carlock (RLC Media Services photo)
Carlock earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Finance and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) Degree from Eastern Illinois University. An early ingredient in his management style was created at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. As a personnel specialist with the U.S. Army, he interviewed incoming recruits to determine their job classification.
With military experience under his belt, the future vice-president had a few other professional endeavors before finding his home on the Ina campus.
He was an Adjunct Instructor in Marketing, Management and Finance at McKendree College from 1978 to 1983 before taking a role as Division Chairman for Business and Social Science at Tarkio College from 1984-86. While at both colleges, Carlock owned and managed Carlock Distributing Company, based in his hometown of Hillsboro.
At Rend Lake College, Carlock served as the Director of the Business Resource and Assistance Center, Director of the Center for Business and Community Services and Director of the Small Business Development Center. He was appointed Interim Dean of Finance and Administration before being permanently appointed to the position (now titled Vice President) in 1992. He also served as Director of the Rend Lake College Foundation for several years.
Carlock pioneered the college’s Textbook Rental program, which made a large portion of textbooks available to students for $28 each rather than the purchase price of $75 to $100 for the same book. This endeavor – largely considered to be counter-productive for educational institutions – has been highly successful at Rend Lake College and is a model for the refashioning of textbook systems at other colleges.
He worked with college administrators to purchase the former Jent Outlet Mall and transform it into the RLC MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon. What was once a declining outlet mall on the verge of becoming a severe eyesore in the RLC district’s largest community is now a thriving community all its own, which soon could be adding hundreds of thousands of dollars each year into the college’s coffers – meaning RLC will be able to fund projects a college its size normally would not be able to handle.
“The MarketPlace . . . of all the things we’ve done, I’m most proud of it,” he said.
The revenue generated from rent paid by various state agencies, grant programs and individual businesses at the MarketPlace will be able to be added to the regular revenue stream for the college in less than a decade. This could mean $600,000 or more each year for the college.
He also made RLC the first community college in Illinois to establish a supplemental loan program for students who had difficulty finding short-term money for college needs. Carlock developed the establishment of a $5 million insurance reserve fund which allows RLC to have available insurance coverage in the event of a liability that goes beyond the general insurance coverage. In addition, the fund provides interest of $150,000 per year for tort liability purposes. The fund provided $1.3 million for the addition and renovation of the Administration Building.
He initiated the Illinois Community College Insurance Consortium. Along with seven other community colleges, a partially self-insured health insurance program was formed that works efficiently and economically with a premium raise of only 6.5% in 2006.
And, he established the Section 125 Cafeteria Employee Benefit Plan, which allows employees to take advantage of pre-taxable benefits for medical and day care expenses.
In 2006, he received the Bronze Major Gift Award for contributing more than $10,000 to the Rend Lake College Foundation.
He initially retired from the VP post in 2008 after serving 17 years in the position.
However, during the uncertainty of state funding in 2010, Carlock was called out of retirement to take up his old mantle of as Vice President of Finance and Administration on a one-year, non-tenure contract. He re-retired in 2013 after guiding the institution through a tough economic climate.
RLC President Terry Wilkerson said of Carlock, “You have been an anchor out here. I would challenge anybody to: No. 1, come back, and No. 2, to come back and keep working hard. It has been a pleasure, Bob, both personally and professionally.”
Carlock was even recognized with House Resolution 1106 – legislation congratulating Carlock on his retirement.
With Carlock at the helm of marketing, the college experienced five years of growth and sat record enrollment at the time, according to HR 1106.
“The faculty, staff, and students of Rend Lake College, as well as the citizens of this State, owe Bob Carlock a debt of gratitude for the services that he has rendered to Rend Lake College and the State at large,” the Resolution reads. “… we congratulate Bob Carlock on the occasion of his retirement and wish him many happy and healthy retirement years…”
In addition to recognition for his efforts at RLC, Bob Carlock became a name in local, state and national community service and development. He associated himself with various civic organizations, including the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, of which he is a former President; Franklin County Chamber of Commerce; former President for two years of a statewide Community College organization of Chief Financial Officers; the Illinois Community College Board Economic Development Association; National Council for Resource Development, and the Jefferson County Certified Cities Program on which he served as Chairman, among others.
“I’ll miss all the people I’ve worked with and the challenges of the job,” Carlock said at his retirement. “I want to emphasize any accomplishments during my tenure were the result of the Rend Lake College team and not just myself.”
