A throng of protesters gathered outside Cook County’s criminal courthouse Wednesday to mark the start of Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke’s murder trial, waving signs and chanting the now-familiar slogan: “16 shots and a cover-up!”

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

Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who sued the city for a court agreement to govern reforms of the Police Department, said in a statement Wednesday that she won’t run for Chicago mayor.

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

INA, Ill. – Four culinary-themed classes offered through Rend Lake College’s Community and Corporate Education Division will prepare attendees for a healthy diet this fall. Interested participants can enroll today for these classes, scheduled in September and October.

First up this month is Ready, Set, Sushi – a class designed to introduce sushi lovers to the basics of making their own healthy dinner in the comfort of their home. RLC Chef Jeff Fairbanks will cover terminology, equipment needed, basic techniques, sanitation, and safety concerns. Participants are recommended to wear comfortable clothing and no special equipment is needed. The class costs $20, plus a $15 supply fee to the instructor, and meets from 5-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 14 in the Student Center, Room 120, on the Ina campus

Next in September is Healthy Eating for All Ages, which will help participants discern what is in a healthy diet. Instructor Marty Wells will review some ways to eat a balanced diet while maintaining or losing weight. The class costs $10 and will meet from 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19 in the Historic Schoolhouse on the Ina campus.

In October, participants can join a University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener and Fairbanks to learn How to Grow and Prepare Fall Vegetables. Topics of discussion will include how to harvest, identify, and prepare fall vegetables; how to grow vegetables in gardens or raised beds; and how to prepare herbs on fall vegetables. The class will end with an interactive demonstration on how to prepare dishes using fresh vegetables. The class costs $15 and will meet from 5-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1 in the Student Center, Room 103, on the Ina campus.

Later in the month, Instructor Marty Wells is back to help participants Make Sense of Nutritional Labels. This informational class will help attendees find out how the nutrition label can help them make healthier food choices. The class costs $10 and will meet from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11 in the Historic Schoolhouse on the Ina campus.

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

INA, Ill. – Rend Lake College is teaming up with the American Heart Association (AHA) this fall to offer a number of emergency services courses at the AHA Training Center at the MarketPlace, Room 221, in Mt. Vernon.

Among these courses are CPR/AED and First Aid, Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Trauma Nurse Core Course (TNCC). To learn more or to reserve a seat today, contact the AHA Training Center at 618-437-5321, Ext. 2032.

CPR/AED and First Aid

There are several one-day courses scheduled for First Aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) / AED (automated external defibrillator) training at the RLC AHA Training Center this semester. By definition, First Aid is the assistance given to any person suffering a sudden illness or injury, with care provided to preserve life, to prevent the condition from worsening, and to promote recovery.

The First Aid and CPR/AED courses will meet from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on the following dates: Monday, Sept. 10; Tuesday, Oct. 2; Thursday, Nov. 15; and Wednesday, Dec. 5.

ACLS, PALS Prep and Renewal

The AHA also offers both ACLS provider and ACLS renewal courses this semester to ready students for the urgent treatment of cardiac arrest, stroke, and other life-threatening medical emergencies. The provider class meets from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on the following dates: Monday, Sept. 19 and Tuesday, Sept. 20 and Tuesday, Nov. 6 and Wednesday, Nov. 7.

The renewal courses require one day of study, also from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., on Thursday, Sept. 20; Friday, Oct. 12; Wednesday, Nov. 7; and Tuesday, Dec. 4.

Another two-day provider class, PALS aims to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for students to efficiently and effectively manage critically ill infants and children. The class meets from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13 and Wednesday, Nov. 14. For those needing renewal, the one-day course will meet from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 12 and Friday, Oct. 19.

The state of Illinois has less than a month to set thousands of workers five years ahead in pay and explain how it’s going to pay them four years worth of back wages with interest, something the state may claim that it can’t afford.

Here’s a link to the story at Illinois News Network.

CARBONDALE — Police are looking for two suspects in connection to an early morning shooting, according to a news release from Lt. Matt Dunning of Carbondale Police Department.

Here’s a link to the story at the Southern Illinoisan.

INA, Ill.  – Four classes will be offered by Rend Lake College’s Community and Corporate Education Division this fall for locals of all ages to get active or learn a new sport. Classes begin next week in Benton, Ina, and Pinckneyville.

Discover a new sport in the form of Beginning Archery. This class, designed for participants 16 and older, will cover discussion and use of archery equipment, proper form, safety, and skills. Equipment will be provided and curriculum follows the National Archery in the Schools program. Instructor Bob Clark will meet with participants from 7-8 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 4, 11, 18, and 25 in the Gymnasium at Pinckneyville Junior High School. The class costs $20.

Youth in grades 6 through 8 can also learn about archery in Beginning Archery for Kids. Instructor Clark is back to cover the basics for youth interested in picking up a lifetime sport. The class costs $20 and meets from 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 4, 11, 18, and 25 in the Gymnasium at Pinckneyville Junior High School.

Also beginning next week, participants can begin a full body conditioning and strength workout with Body Toning. This class will help participants improve functional strength, flexibility, and coordination, plus vital core strength, using free weights. Instructor Cathy Lamont will meet with participants from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays beginning Sept. 5 through Dec. 5 in the Choir Room at Benton Middle School. The class costs $69 and all fitness levels are welcome.

Locals can also take part in Yoga, regardless of fitness level or yoga experience. This class promises to improve blood flow, flexibility, muscle strength, posture, bone health, one’s immune system, blood pressure, focus, and balance. Attendees should bring a yoga mat and something to drink. Instructor Carol Ann Baker will meet with participants from 4:45-5:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Sept. 18 through Nov. 15 in the RLC Gymnasium, Room 110, on the Ina campus. The class costs $90.

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.

INA, Ill.— The Rend Lake College community came together this afternoon to bury a time capsule at the Ina Campus Clocktower and put a finishing touch on its 50th anniversary celebration. Founded as Mt. Vernon Community College, it became Rend Lake College through a public vote in 1967. The events and individuals that make up the institution’s history are well documented at www.rlc.edu/50.  

Numerous members of the Rend Lake College community were on hand Thursday to celebrate the time capsule getting placed in the ground.

A good representation of the college — from the student body to the Board of Trustees — was in attendance at the event. A three-foot tall cylindrical time capsule was filled and lowered into the ground by President Terry Wilkerson and Trustee John Kabat of Mt. Vernon. Student Trustee Mackenzie Trader, a freshman from Scheller, ceremoniously cast the first scoop of dirt. The small, golden shovel she passed to Kabat was the same one used when college leaders broke ground on the Ina campus decades before at the same location. Wilkerson tossed a shovel full on the capsule and thanked the crowd of faculty, staff and students for sharing in the historic day.

“I appreciate everybody coming out. I look forward to seeing all of you here [in 2067]. I’ll be 95, but I’m going to be here — maybe,” Wilkerson said with a smile.

RLC President Terry Wilkerson uses one of the shovels that broke ground on the college’s campus 50 years ago during Thursday’s time capsule burial. RLC Board Member John Kabat and Student Trustee Mackenzie Trader were on hand to assist. 

Contents of the time capsule will be unearthed in 50 years. On the time capsule is a graphic of RLC logos, under which reads: “To celebrate Rend Lake College’s 50th Anniversary, our community buried this time capsule with the intent that it not be opened until RLC’s 100th Anniversary in 2067. Its contents are an effort to display the history of Rend Lake College and its predecessor, Mt. Vernon Community College. We also tried to capture the state of RLC during our time and the people who had a part in leading its development. A majority of the things inside this capsule are digital files stored on discs and drives. Enjoy the look back. We hope many of us here on that day are with you here today.”

 

CHICAGO – Gov. Bruce Rauner today granted ­­­­­­8 and denied 85 clemency petitions.

This is the twenty-sixth set of petitions the governor has reviewed since taking office. Each person granted clemency has recently undergone a criminal background check through the Illinois State Police’s Law Enforcement Agencies Data System.

A granted clemency request for a pardon with expungement allows the petitioner to seek expungement of their conviction through the court system.

For additional information on the granted clemency cases, please contact the Prisoner Review Board at (217) 782-1610.

8-17-18 at 11:23 pm Deputies responded to an incident in Orient in which a 1998 Dodge Ram Pick-Up Truck struck a fire hydrant on Jackson St. and left the scene. The investigation led to the arrest of Michael E. Humerickhouse age 58 of West Frankfort for leaving the scene of a property damage traffic crash.

8-18-18 at 3:05 pm Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Il. State Hwy. 14 just west of Fairview Rd. A 2006 Pontiac G6 driven by Anthony M. Beaty age 16 of DuQuoin was west bound on Rt. 14 and swerved into the path of an east bound 2012 Nissan Altima driven by Van E. Quick age 64 of Benton, sideswiping the Nissan. Van Quick and a passenger, Lou Ann Quick age 65 of Benton received incapacitating injuries and were both transported to a local hospital by Abbott E.M.S. Beaty was not injured and was ticketed for improper lane usage and failure to reduce speed to avoid a traffic crash.

8-21-18 at 11:29 am Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Il. State Hwy. Rt. 149 at Orient Road. A 2012 Chevrolet Traverse, driven by Kristen L. Eldridge age 30 of West Frankfort had been south bound on Orient Road and turned into the Rt. 149 intersection in front of an east bound 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by Samantha S. Vachata age 34 of Zeigler. Eldridge and a passenger, Cheryl R. Mifflin age 56 of West Frankfort received major injuries as did Samantha Vachata. All were transported to a local hospital by West Frankfort Fire E.M.S. Eldridge was ticketed for failure to yield right of way.

8-22-18 AT 3:33 am a traffic stop in West City led to the arrest of Chad A. Kramer age 46 of West Frankfort for possession of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle recovered was a 2003 green Dodge Durango, reported stolen from Centralia.

8-22-18 at 5:52 am Deputies responded to a two vehicle traffic crash on Il. State Hwy. Rt. 14 at Il. State Hwy. Rt. 184. A 2001 Pontiac Grand am driven by Daniel T. Adams age 31 of Benton was west bound on Rt. 14 and stopped in traffic to complete a left turn south onto Rt. 184. A 2003 Buick, driven by Joshua P. Webb age 31 of Mt. Vernon was also west bound directly behind the Pontiac, failed to stop and struck the Pontiac in a rear-end type crash. There were no injuries and Webb was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

8-22-18 at 6:10 am Deputies responded to a reported disturbance at the north bound rest area on I-57. The incident led to the arrest of Tristan D. Duong age 35 of Marion for unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Duong also was wanted on an outstanding Williamson County warrant for failure to appear on traffic charges.

8-23-18 at 2:38 pm a Deputy assisted Franklin County Probation with a home visit in West Frankfort. The investigation led to the arrest of Chad H. Barnett age 42 of West Frankfort for possession of methamphetamine.

8-23-18 at 3:05 pm a traffic stop in Akin led to the arrest of Jason L. Kelley age 40 of Macedonia for an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on felony theft.

WARRANT ARRESTS

8-19-18 John A. B. Sutton age 29 of Christopher. Failed to appear on civil and traffic cases.

8-19-18 Carrie A. Ellis age 36 of Sesser. Failure to appear for criminal trespass.

8-19-18 Janelle A. Canon Age 33 of Benton. Failure to appear for theft.

8-20-18 Kevin L. Morris age 43 of Christopher. Failure to appear on traffic charges.

8-20-18 Northen W. Dimuke age 47 of Harrisburg. Failure to appear on traffic charges.

8-20-18 Kalyn A. Hayes age 22 of Christopher. Failure to appear for possession of methamphetamine.

8-22-18 Brandon J. Finke age 37 of Effingham. Failure to appear for obstructing a peace officer.

The public is reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.