Here’s the story in the Chicago Tribune.

INA, Ill. – Though summer just started, it’s already time to start thinking about the fall and where to go with your education. For those interested in the health care field, the tuition-free Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) program is a great place to start.

The CNA program is designed to provide a number of health care needs under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or other nursing professional in a variety of settings. Upon completion of the seven credit hour course, students will be eligible to apply for the state CNA registry examination.

In-district students pay only lab and supply fees for the classes. To enroll in the CNA program, students are required to take a reading placement test and submit to a background check beforehand as mandated by the Illinois Department of Public Health. The CNA program also acts as a prerequisite for RLC’s Nursing degree program.

Each CNA program lasts between eight and 16 weeks, depending on the format of the class, including some with night class options. There is one section of the CNA class on the Ina campus this fall, starting Aug. 19 and lasting through Dec. 23. This section meets from 4 – 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Learning Resource Center, Room 205.

There are also four sections of the class located at the RLC MarketPlace in Mt. Vernon. The start dates are July 29, Aug. 18, Oct. 3, and Oct. 20. Students starting July 29 will go through Oct. 2 from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at the MarketPlace, Room 210. The following section beginning on Oct. 3 will meet from the same times Tuesdays through Fridays in Room 210 through Dec. 5.

For students starting Aug. 18, classes will run through Oct. 14 from 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in Room 241. The following section lasts from Oct. 20 through Dec. 22 at the same times and days in Room 241.

Finally, one course will be offered at the Pinckneyville Murphy-Wall campus starting Aug. 4 and going through Dec. 20. The class meets from 5 – 9:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays on campus, Room 102.

Kim Robert, RLC Dean of the Allied Health Division, said the program is an excellent way to get a start in an industry with endless possibilities.

“The Certified Nurse Assistant program teaches the basics that students will be required to know when they continue into an Associate Degree or certificate program,” said Robert. “With an aging population, the need for CNAs and nurses will only continue to grow in the next few decades, and at Rend Lake College, we’re preparing our students to fit the needs that our communities are going to see.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the CNA and nursing aides field is expected to grow by 20 percent between 2010 and 2020, adding more than 300,000 new jobs.

To sign up for CNA classes or for more information about Allied Health programming at RLC, call the college’s Allied Health Division at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1251, or send an e-mail to AlliedHealth@rlc.edu.

State Rep. Derrick Smith was found guilty Tuesday of bribery and attempted extortion by a federal jury.

The West Side Democrat became the latest in a depressingly long line of Chicago politicians to be convicted of public corruption.

Here’s a link to the story in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Here’s the link to the story in the Mt. Vernon Register-News.

MT. VERNON, Ill. – With the start of summer, it’s time to break out the classic car or convertible for the upcoming Cruise Night, hosted by the Kingsmen Auto Club of Mt. Vernon at the Rend Lake College MarketPlace. This month, Fords and convertibles are invited to participate.

The Cruise Night will begin at 6 p.m. Friday with live music by Hot Rod Nights, prizes, a 50/50 drawing, discounts to MarketPlace retailers, and more family fun. All automobile entrants will be given plaques for participation. The event will end at 9 p.m.

The next Cruise Night will be hosted on July 11, featuring Tri-5 Chevys and Rat Rods. To learn more about the Cruise Nights, contact Jim Hutchison at 618-244-7711 or 618-242-6279.

While visiting the Cruise Night, attendees can also stop by the RLC Golf Store to participate in a free fitting day with Callaway and Adams golf. Representatives from the two companies will be present from 3 – 7 p.m. to help patrons demo clubs and receive free fittings. For more information on the fitting day, contact the RLC Golf Store at 618-242-3001.

RLC will also be co-sponsoring the Nostalgic Drag Races this weekend, located at the I-57 Dragstrip south of Benton Saturday. Locals are invited to visit the dragstrip for a day of fun, including time trials, racing, and more.

Huck’s Ride for the Fund set for Saturday, July 12

(CARBONDALE, IL) One of southern Illinois’ most anticipated charity poker runs is coming back. Southern Illinois Healthcare and the Coach Kill Cancer Fund are pleased to welcome Martin and Bayley Corporation, the parent company of Huck’s convenience stores, as the corporate sponsor of Huck’s Ride for the Fund on Saturday, July 12. The poker run will begin and end at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds with card draws at Riverside Park in Murphysboro, John A. Logan College, West Frankfort City Park and the Harbor Oaks picnic area at Rend Lake.

Over the past several years, thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country have participated in what has become the largest fundraiser for the Coach Kill Cancer Fund. Former Southern Illinois University football coach Jerry Kill created the fund in 2006 after a personal bout with cancer. Coach Kill and his wife, Rebecca, kept the Fund operational locally, even after Coach’s career took him to Northern Illinois University and University of Minnesota. Although Coach Kill is a “Gopher” today, he remains a Saluki at heart.

“When we started the Coach Kill Cancer Fund, we made a commitment that no matter what happened in our lives that we would keep it in southern Illinois because of what the people have done for us. We are truly grateful for the commitment of Martin and Bayley Corporation and Huck’s. With their involvement in making the Huck’s Ride for the Fund possible, we will be able to help so many people in southern Illinois who need it,” said Coach Kill. The Kills’ are looking forward to attending this year’s poker run.

Huck’s Regional Vice President of Operations, Mark McKinney of Marion, says the sponsorship is especially poignant for him and the Huck’s family, as they will be riding and participating in honor of McKinney’s son, Andrew McKinney. Andrew passed away from melanoma last August at the age of 24. Andrew grew up with the Huck’s family and had stepped his way to becoming the southern Illinois district manager for Huck’s.

“Andrew was the type of young man who lit up a room with his presence, a true lover of life. He inspired so many during his three-year fight against the disease. The words “give up” and “quit” were not a part of his vocabulary,” said the senior McKinney. “As one of the young leaders in the southern Illinois area, Andrew was truly dedicated to his family, his company, and his community.”

Headquartered in Carmi, Martin and Bayley (a 100% employee owned and operated company) own and operate 115 Huck’s convenience stores with 1,300 employees in a five-state region. Huck’s employees will rally to support the cause at the many poker run stops throughout the region during the event.

“SIH is privileged to partner with Jerry and Rebecca Kill in administration of the Coach Kill Cancer Fund. To date, supporters have helped raise nearly a half million dollars and provided support to over 1,000 cancer patients and their families in southern Illinois. We are excited about the new partnership with Martin and Bayley and Huck’s as the presenting sponsor. We look forward to the Huck’s Ride for the Fund success,” said SIH Vice President of Community Affairs Woody Thorne.

For specific details including registration information and specifics of the event, visit www.coachkillcancerfund.org and click on “Poker Run”.

Retired U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Illinois, spent his entire congressional career on the House committee that oversees railroads, highways, transit and aviation — where he became known as a dependable advocate for transportation interests in his downstate district and beyond.

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

SPRINGFIELD — Having given up on extending Illinois’ temporary income tax increase — at least for now — the Illinois Legislature is moving forward with a scaled-back budget that could lead to layoffs, further delays in paying the state’s bills and a post-election vote to make the tax hike permanent or generate some other source of revenue.

Here’s the link at the Chicago Sun-Times.

(Editor’s Note:  This story was published in the Southern Illinoisan in 2004.)

By Jim Muir

The barber tools have been sold, the small portable building has been moved from its familiar location on Sesser’s north side and the curtain has dropped on a Sesser tradition that spanned more than eight decades.

In short, Delmar Jones has dusted off his last haircut.

The 79-year-old Jones remembers the last haircut he gave, it took place a couple of weeks ago, but the new retiree also showed a keen memory by recalling the exact date of the first haircut he administered back when he was a 16-year-old youth learning the barber trade from his father, Stanley.

Delmar Jones shows off his barber tools that are all packed away he ends his barber career and a Sesser tradition that spanned decades.
(Photo by Ceasar Maragni)

Together the father-son duo spent 84 years keeping men and boys in the Sesser area looking dapper.

“I remember when I gave my first haircut, it was on August 6, 1941,” said Jones. “My dad was registered with the state and even though I was still in high school I could study under him. At that time you could do that.”

With the United States at war Jones enlisted in the Army during his senior year of high school in 1943 and actually had to have his entry date into the military pushed back in order to graduate.

“I registered on my birthday on Feb. 6 and they called me on March 23 and I had to go to the veteran’s association to get an extension in order to stay in high school until I graduated,” said Jones. “I graduated in late May and on June 8, 1943 I was in Chicago.”

Jones was in the service until February 1946 when he returned to Sesser and within a matter of days was married.

“I lived on love for a few weeks but then I decided I was going to have to eat and I went to work with my dad on March 1, 1946,” said Jones.

Counting the two years that Jones cut hair prior to his stint in the military, he cut hair in Sesser for 58 years.

Jones recalled that his father opened a barber shop in Sesser in 1920 and cut hair for 44 years before retiring.

“My dad cut his last head of hair in December 1964 and died in February 1965,” Jones said. “So, you can pretty much say that he worked right up until the time he died.

Jones said he “wouldn’t even attempt to guess” how many haircuts he’s given in his lifetime, but did remember a quite memorable day when he was in the Army.

“One day in the Army I cut 54 heads of hair at 40 cents a head,” said Jones. “I got to keep 30 cents of it so it wasn’t a bad day.”

Jones said when he first began his career on Sesser’s Main Street a haircut cost 35 cents and when he retired the price was $8. However, the cost of his labor is only one of many changes he witnessed throughout his lengthy career. After his father passed away Jones had four different partners that helped him man his two-chair shop.

He noted that barbershops were once a hotbed of discussion and on occasion he played both psychologist and referee.

“The conversation was the most enjoyable part of the job,” said Jones. “I loved all the conversation, every minute of it. And there was always plenty of it. I’ve heard it all, the good times and the bad times. And there was a time years ago when the barbershop was a gathering place and a good spot to hang out and get the news. A lot of times guys just came in to visit.”

Jones said putting a group of men with varying opinions in close quarters could sometimes be interesting and occasionally alarming.

“There was some pretty lively discussions an occasionally things could get a little heated,” said Jones. “I had two guys get into it one time about politics, they were talking about President Reagan and unions and one of the guys almost jumped out of the chair.”

Jones said he first noticed a sweeping change in men’s hairstyles in the mid-1960s and said that is also when many men started going to beauty shops for a haircut.

“After the Beatles came over here everything changed,” said Jones. “There was a real decline in business because young boys didn’t get their hair cut as often, if they got it cut at all. Before the Beatles a lot of young guys got their hair cut every two weeks but that all changed. I’m not a friend of the Beatles.”

Jones said he has literally watched generation after generation of Sesser families move through his barber shop.

“I have seen six generations of the Buntin family in my barber shop,” Jones said. “And there are several families in Sesser that I’ve cut five generations of hair.”

Jones said he has also had steady customers that have spanned his entire career. Keith Ward, 65, said Jones gave him his very first haircut and added that he is not entirely enthused about the retirement and the prospect of looking for a new barber.

“Unless he was sick or I happened to be on vacation, nobody else has ever cut my hair. I can easily say that he has been my barber my entire life,” said Ward. “And the toughest thing about this for me is that nobody can cut my hair like Jonesy. I’ll never be satisfied with another haircut.”

Ward said Jones value to the city of Sesser went far beyond his barber skills.

“He’s just an asset to the city; you just don’t find people like him anymore,” said Ward. “And anytime there has been a military funeral in Sesser during the past 60 years he’s been there. He’s the guy that gets everybody together and when they march to the cemetery every year on Memorial Day, Jones is there. He’s just a just a great guy and I hope he has a great retirement, but I’m still not happy that he won’t be my barber anymore.”

Despite the countless hours on his feet Jones said his legs have held up well during his long career.

“My hips and my shoulders have really started bothering me and that’s what caused me to retire,” said Jones.

Jones said he also remembers a few mishaps along the way, especially with children.

“There were a few nicks along the way and you always had some little guy that couldn’t sit still and would turn his head when he wasn’t supposed to and that includes the guy that’s writing this story,” Jones said. “I still remember that one.”