SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner issued the following statement on House Resolution 975, filed today to kill the progressive income tax legislation.

“I am proud to support Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin, the House Republican Caucus and House Resolution 975. The Democrats’ progressive income tax is a calculated killer: it kills jobs and businesses and, ultimately, it will kill the middle class. It has been less than a year since Illinois families were forced to begin paying for the 32% income tax hike I opposed. We need to send a message that emptying our citizens’ pockets with new taxes is not the solution to our problems. Instead of forcing families to fork over more of their hard-earned money to the government through a progressive tax, let’s build our economy, grow jobs and put money into their pockets. Together, we’re saying ‘no’ to the proposed progressive income tax.”

INA, Ill. – Rend Lake College freshman Mackenzie Trader was seated as the 2018-19 Student Trustee tonight during the board’s monthly meeting. Trader replaces outgoing Student Trustee Grace Pytlinski of Waltonville.

Trader, a native of Scheller and graduate of Waltonville High School, is a double major in RLC’s Agriculture Business and Agriculture Production and Management programs. She is active on campus as the reporter for the Collegiate FFA (Future Farmers of America) where she runs the club’s social media account and helps with activities and events on campus.

Mackenzie Trader of Scheller, CENTER, was seated tonight as the 2018-19 Student Trustee during the April Board meeting. She is pictured with President Terry Wilkerson, LEFT, and Board of Trustees Chair Randy Rubenacker, RIGHT.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

After her graduation from RLC in May of 2019, she plans to transfer to Murray State University to complete a bachelor’s degree in agronomy, and eventually, a master’s degree in a similar field. Trader said her dream job is to work as a crop and soil consultant.

“I would advise farmers on fertilizer and chemicals, seed varieties, and anything that will help their farm grow to its greatest potential. It’s something flexible so I can farm with my family and also bring back that knowledge,” said Trader.

In Scheller, Trader lives and works on her family’s farm – one that has been in her family for five generations. There, she helps raise corn, soy beans, wheat, Angus cattle, and pigs. She also works part-time at McNeil Consulting in Mt. Vernon.

Trader said she first heard about the Student Trustee position when it was advertised in February for students to fill out an application to have their names on the voting ballot. Voting was held in late March for all RLC students.

“I thought about it early on, but pushed it aside when things got busy, but then Grace and Kathy (Craig, Agriculture Professor) started encouraging me to do it. They said it would be really good for me to do this and that I’d really like it,” said Trader. “I’ve always loved Rend Lake College and everything about it. This position is a great way for me to be involved on a personal and professional level. I’m going to take it all in and hopefully learn a lot.”

Trader will serve on the Board of Trustees as an advisory vote representing the student body. Her one-year term will end April of 2019.

Grace Pytlinski of Waltonville, CENTER, received a plaque for her work as the 2017-18 Student Trustee during the April Board meeting. She is pictured with Wilkerson, LEFT, and Rubenacker, RIGHT.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

Victims requested to share their story
on social media using #MyDrunkDrivingStory

Dallas, Texas –  For Crime Victims’ Rights Week (April 8 to 14, 2018) this year, MADD is releasing a new public service announcement highlighting the devastating impact that drunk driving has on its victims. It features an injured victim, Philip Ormston, who was hit by a drunk driver suffering a traumatic brain injury that has left him unable to speak, swallow, walk or talk. MADD is grateful to Dallas-based companies The Marketing Arm and ATK PLN for producing and donating the creative and informative PSA now available at https://www.madd.org/get-involved/mydrunkdrivingstory/.

“Not all victims of drunk driving are killed in the crash,” said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church. “This PSA brings to light the life-altering pain that drunk driving inflicts on its victims and their families.”

MADD is also asking all drunk driving victims to tell their stories on their social media pages using #MyDrunkDrivingStory. The PSA honors Philip and all injured drunk driving victims, and sheds light on the life-changing impact on survivors of the violent and 100 percent preventable crime of drunk driving crashes.

MADD welcomes media outlets to use this PSA on their networks to help the organization get closer to its vision of No More VictimsÒ. We serve and honor injured victims on an on-going basis and would like the country to join us to do the same.

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save more than 350,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.

INA, Ill. – Tonight, during the Rend Lake College Board of Trustees monthly meeting, two new articulation agreements were approved to help graduates of several RLC programs, including Industrial Technology and Criminal Justice. The agreements are effective immediately for those who meet program requirements at both institutions.

The Southern Illinois University (SIU) Carbondale agreement is the twelfth of its kind with the neighboring university. Students enrolled in RLC’s Associate of Science degree in Industrial Technology will have the opportunity to transfer into SIU Carbondale’s Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management and Applied Engineering in the College of Engineering.

The agreement helps to eliminate the duplication of instruction at both institutions, though RLC graduates will still be required to meet admission and program requirements at SIU Carbondale. Graduates will be able to transfer 64 credit hours, including specific courses required by SIU, and have to maintain a 2.0 grade point average (GPA). Students will then complete a minimum of 42 credit hours at SIU Carbondale.

According to the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), industrial technicians have a median wage of $53,330 with an associate’s degree – income that typically that increases with more education. Gabriele Farner, Dean of Applied Science and Technology, explained the industry is on the rise.

“Industrial Technology and Management is one of fastest growing occupations in the manufacturing field. The additional opportunities created with SIU Carbondale for our graduates make them even more marketable,” said Farner.

A second agreement with Missouri Baptist University (MBU) helps with the seamless transfer of many different RLC graduates into bachelor degree programs. RLC students who complete specific associate degrees in applied science, science, or arts, will have the chance to transfer into MBU’s Bachelor of Science or Arts in Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Science or Arts in Behavioral Science, or Bachelor of Professional Studies in Applied Management.

Depending on the degree at RLC, students will have to meet program requirements at MBU while also maintaining a 2.0 GPA. On average, students will be required to complete 40 credit hours at MBU.

Farner said the agreement with MBU is unique in that students often don’t have to go further than the Ina campus to continue baccalaureate studies.

“Missouri Baptist offers classes on the RLC campus, which makes it even more appealing for RLC students to continue their education after completing their associate degree at RLC,” said Farner. “In certain programs, they can complete their bachelors without leaving their home district.”

Also during the Board of Trustees meeting tonight, Trustees approved changes to an existing articulation agreement between RLC and SIU Carbondale’s College of Applied Sciences and Arts, Department of Health Care Management. Due to curriculum changes at RLC, one program – Medical Assistant – replaced courses and adjusted credit hours for several graduation requirements. All provisions of the agreement, established in May of 2016, remain in full effect.

Each of these agreements will be reevaluated annually by RLC and the partnering university. A list of specific courses that will transfer to each institution was also provided at the Board meeting. This list can be found on RLC’s website or when speaking with an RLC Academic Advisor.

Students wishing to learn more about program specifics should contact their RLC Academic Advisor at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1266.

INA, Ill. – This week, libraries across the country are celebrating the many ways they help their communities for National Library Week, and none have integrated new technologies and addressed student and community needs better than Rend Lake College’s Learning Resource Center (LRC). With new and constantly-progressing media, engaging spaces, and an online database filled with thousands of materials, the LRC is truly a hidden gem on RLC’s campus.

The college’s LRC is an open resource for students, faculty, staff, and community members alike. One simply needs a library card to take items out of the LRC. In print materials, the LRC has nearly 13,000 items to browse, including 75 magazine and newspaper subscriptions.

The LRC also has an extensive online collection, which includes dozens of electronic resources and over 70,000 e-journals, e-books, and audiovisual materials, such as videotapes, CDs, and DVDs. In fact, the Cloud Library has over 35,000 downloadable e-books for anyone to use on an e-reader.

For students, this means access to over 40 electronic resources and over 36,000 streaming videos. The Journal Finder and Electronic Library services online allows students to search for academic materials by title, subject, or article name.

Beth Mandrell, Reference Librarian, said the LRC is the perfect resource for any RLC student, no matter what they’re looking for or the services needed to find information.

“Libraries are learning spaces with comfortable seating, a place where new ideas and innovations begin because they have the information, on hand, to back them up,” said Mandrell.

The LRC is also a cooperating member of the Illinois Heartland Library System, which provides access to the catalog of over 500 member libraries – well over 10 million records – both across the state and nationwide. Many of these materials can be borrowed on a short-term basis called an interlibrary loan.

But the LRC is much more than a simple library with books and material to check out.

A 24-computer open lab is available for public use, plus two collaborative work pods of six computers each, which enables users to work together on a project and share on a screen. Users can also bring their own devices to link to the work pods via Wi-Fi.

Three study rooms are also available for a quiet study environment. The three rooms contain a combination of network and Wi-Fi computers, scanners, TVs, and DVD players.

Additional services at the LRC include a lactation room for new mothers, story time kits designed for preschool through third grade students, and a children’s library.

For more information, visit the Learning Resource Center on the Ina campus; call the Circulation Desk at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1308; or see the library’s website at www.rlc.edu/learning-resource-center. Tours of the LRC are also available upon request.

Library hours during the fall and spring semester are 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Mondays – Thursdays and 7 am. – 4 p.m. Fridays. Summer hours are 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Thursdays. The LRC is closed Saturdays and Sundays all year, and on Fridays during the summer.

RLC students may have their Student IDs created at the LRC. Students and community members interested in library cards should contact the Circulation Desk. Community members must be over the age of 18 or be a high school senior and live within RLC’s district. Photo identification is required and community members will also need to provide proof of residency.

National Library Week was first sponsored in 1958, and is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association and libraries across the country each April. In 2018, National Library Week is observed April 8-14.

The Illinois Economic Policy Institute has proposed more than doubling the state’s motor fuel tax – from 34 cents to 85 cents – but a free market think tank says lawmakers should looking at finding ways to cut costs before hiking the gas tax.

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

On April 5, 2018 Benton Police arrested Cynthia R. Keller, age 55, of Benton on an active Franklin County warrant for failure to appear.  Keller was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On April 7, 2018 Benton Police arrested Tyler S. Poyner, age 32, of Benton on an active Franklin County warrant for unlawful possession of a controlled substance.  Poyner was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On April 7, 2018 while on routine patrol Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of North Main and Illinois Avenue.  Upon investigating, police arrested Joel B. Russell, age 51, of Benton for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.  Russell was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On April 7, 2018 Benton Police were dispatched to Sandy’s Bar located at 107 East Main Street in reference to a criminal damage complaint.  Upon investigating, police arrested Angela K. Behringer, age 46, of Benton for criminal damage to property.  Behringer was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

On April 7, 2018 Benton Police conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Highland and Joplin Street.  Upon investigating, police arrested Whitney R. Smith, age 26, of Benton for unlawful possession of cannabis.  Smith was charged and transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.