RLC’s Natalie Stark Recs the Scale

Gov. Rauner meets with Polish defense ministry officials; Lt. Governor hosts press event in Chicago today

WARSAW – Governor Bruce Rauner marked the 25-year partnership between the Illinois National Guard and Polish Armed Forces today. He met with senior officials from Poland’s Ministry of Defense in Warsaw and proclaimed it State Partnership Day in Illinois to recognize the bilateral economic and military ties between the state and Poland.

“Poland has become a strong and unwavering military ally and friend,” Rauner said. “Our soldiers have fought together for many years to protect the freedoms we enjoy and, as we stand here today, they’re fighting side-by-side in Afghanistan as they have done continuously, without break, since 2003.”

The State Partnership Program between Poland and the Illinois National Guard started in 1993, shortly after the people of Poland threw off the yoke of Soviet oppression and emerged as a free nation and budding democracy. Illinois was among the first National Guard Bureau State Partnership Programs, and is among the most successful.

Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti is celebrating the partnership in Illinois at an event in at Humboldt Park Armory where she will be joined by Lt. Col. Brad Leighton, Polish Consul General Piotr Janicki, and an assembly of military and Polish-American leaders.

“As chairman of our Military Economic Development Committee, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of this partnership,” Sanguinetti said. “The alliance is just one of the many special connections we have with Polish community here in Illinois.”

The two military forces hold about 30 Security Cooperation events each year in support of the U.S. European Command.

Illinois National Guard Major General Richard J. Hayes first worked with the Polish military in 1999 as they prepared for entry into NATO. He also deployed to Kosovo with two Polish Motorized Infantry Battalions in 2007.

“Our Soldiers and Airmen have established long-standing relationships with Polish troops. Many of the officers I got to know are now senior leaders in the Polish Armed Forces,” Hayes said. “We have forged a powerful and undying level of trust between our forces. It is a unique relationship within the Department of Defense.”

Illinois has played a key role in the modernization of the Polish Air Force. Air National Guard pilots flew the first F-16 into Poland as the Poles began to upgrade their arsenal.  They have assisted in pilot and crew training associated with the Polish F-16 and C-130 programs; and provided expertise for their state-of-the-art maintenance systems.

The Army National Guard has participated in many exchanges to help the Polish military build capability within its noncommissioned officer ranks.

Illinois exports to Poland totaled $275.2 million in 2016, an 87.2 percent increase since 2009. Illinois ranks sixth among the 50 U.S. states in imports from Poland. Since 2010, the value of trade between the United States and Poland has doubled. Poland has also been investing in its military, consistently meeting its NATO obligations for mutual security.

MT. VERNON, Ill.– Get back into the swing of things at the Rend Lake College Golf Outlet’s annual Super Demo Day, set for 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, April 21 at the RLC MarketPlace and Cherry Creek Golf Range in Mt. Vernon.

Attendees to the free event can take advantage of visiting with a dozen major brand representatives and trying out the newest drivers and irons. Some of these include the Cobra F8 driver, Taylormade M3 and M4 drivers and irons, Taylormade P790 irons, Cobra F8 irons, Callaway Rouge driver and irons, Ping G400 driver and irons, Mizuno ST180 driver, and Wilson C300 irons and driver.

Free fittings and free range balls to test products will be offered on the Cherry Creek Golf Range, located a short walk north of the Golf Outlet.

There will also be big savings on in-stock clubs, bags, apparel, and much more. Specifically, shoppers will receive $20 off all putters, 25 percent off all golf shoes and junior clubs, 30 percent off golf bags, and up to 60 percent off select clothing items.

Golfers can also take advantage of price cuts to several drivers from last year. These include the Taylormade M1 and M2 drivers, the Ping G driver and the Cobra F7 driver.

The Cherry Creek Golf Range is operated by the RLC Golf Outlet and is the only range on the west side of Mt. Vernon. The range is open for players year-round, dependent on weather, and tokens for range balls can be purchased from the Golf Outlet. Range balls will be free during Super Demo Day.

For more information about Super Demo Day, contact Danielle Kaufman, Golf Outlet Store Manager, at 618-242-3001. To check out the RLC Golf Outlet, visit www.rlcgolfoutlet.com or the Rend Lake College Golf Outlet Facebook page.

Sears opened its first-ever store in Chicago 93 years ago. This summer, it will close its last department store in the city.

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

On April 11, 2018 at approximately 3:20 p.m. Benton Police were dispatched to the 1400 Block of South Pope Street for a fight in progress.  Upon investigating, Officers arrested 20 year old Tabitha E. Hall of Benton for battery.  Hall was transported to the Franklin County Jail.

INA, Ill.– Members of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce (JCCC) are making lasting impacts on their local community with the recent creation of a $10,500 scholarship to the Rend Lake College Foundation.

The announcement was made last week during the JCCC Annual Dinner by Board President Tony Wielt. The majority of the donation – $10,000 – will create an endowed scholarship that will begin awarding in the 2019-2020 academic year and will continue in perpetuity.

“We believe in Rend Lake College as a partner in education. We know we have the resources right now to be able to make an investment that will be able to help a student in Jefferson County to improve their education now and into the future,” said Wielt. “We may never be in a position like this again to be able to financially help a student. I’m honored to be able to do this: to serve as the Board President this year and make this announcement has been one of the best things the Chamber has allowed me to do. The decision this Chamber made will still be helping people 20 years from now, and that’s a great feeling.”

Tony Wielt, LEFT, Board President of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, and Kay Zibby-Damron, RLC Foundation CEO, announce the creation of an endowed scholarship by the JCCC during the Chamber’s Annual Dinner last week. The endowment will provide scholarship funds for students in perpetuity. Click on the image for a larger view.
(Photo: Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce)

The JCCC was able to create the endowed scholarship thanks to a boom in the local business market. Wielt explained the increase in memberships has allowed the Chamber to invest both internally and externally.

“A couple of things have happened over the last three years with the Chamber. The first being that our membership has grown significantly and, as a result, we have been able to make two big investments with the resources we have generated in memberships and sponsorships,” said Wielt. “One of those investments is the endowment, and the second is the additional personnel we’ve added to support a membership of nearly 500 businesses. It’s fantastic. The business climate in Jefferson County is improving every year, and these investments are a direct reflection of that.”

The endowment itself is the result of the organization’s interest in providing more financial assistance to local students. Additionally, the donation amount places the JCCC on the Major Donors Wall, located in the RLC Student Center on the Ina campus.

“We have a lot of members in the Chamber who have a heart for education,” said Wielt. “When I was meeting with Kay Zibby-Damron (RLC Foundation CEO) last fall about my personal scholarship, I said, ‘wouldn’t it be nice for the Chamber to do something like this,’ and it evolved from there. We had more and more people involved and had everyone’s full support.”

“We truly appreciate what the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce has done and we value our partnership with them,” said RLC President Terry Wilkerson. “Helping a local student get a college education is a great way to invest in the community. Hopefully, those students will want to return to the area and contribute in their own way, whether that’s by joining the workforce or starting a business of their own.”

The remaining $500 of the donation will provide a scholarship for one deserving student in the 2018-2019 academic year. Because endowment investments take one year to mature, the JCCC would’ve had to sit out this upcoming year without the additional contribution.

“When we decided we wanted to make this investment for an endowed scholarship, we realized we wouldn’t be able to recognize a student until the fall of 2019, so we decided then to make an additional $500 investment so we could begin in the fall of 2018,” said Wielt.

The awarding criteria set by members of the JCCC is for any RLC student who resides in Jefferson County. Wielt said the members of many different committees decided not to limit students from applying.

“Members of the Chamber had lots of questions regarding choosing students and the parameters for the scholarship, but we landed on a broad opportunity. Applicants can be non-traditional or just out of high school, with no specific major. They just have to be a Jefferson County resident. It’s an equal opportunity for all who apply,” said Wielt.

In the end, the Chamber recognizes the importance of giving back to the community by giving back to those working hard for a new career, entrepreneurship, or advanced skills in their current workplace.  

“We truly believe in the community partnership of Rend Lake College. We have a common belief that it’s important to invest in your community. In fact, we speak about that among our membership. We want to help people as they complete or continue their education,” said Wielt. “To have students recognize it was local businesspeople and community leaders who helped support them, it’s fantastic.”

Kay Zibby-Damron, RLC Foundation CEO, echoed Wielt’s statement by saying the donation can be seen more as an investment in the local community.

“This generous investment is a testament that the Greater Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce values education and wants to change lives in our community for the better,” said Zibby-Damron. “This new scholarship will give life to dreams for many Jefferson County students for years to come. The RLC Foundation is very thankful to have the support of individuals, businesses, and organizations throughout our district who partner with us to provide more and more opportunities for our students to receive an affordable and quality education.”

Students can learn more about the scholarship by contacting the RLC Foundation at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1214.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale constituents erupted in applause Thursday as the SIU Board of Trustees voted down a proposal to shift $5.1 million in state appropriation funding to SIU Edwardsville.

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