WHITTINGTON, Ill. – After a successful first event last year, the Rend Lake College Criminal Justice program and Instructor Ron Meek hosted the second Criminal Justice Round-up for Scholarships Tuesday night in an effort to keep funds coming in for students in the program.

The event was held at the Rend Lake Resort in Whittington. First at the podium for the evening’s presentations was Judge Michael McHaney of the Illinois Fourth Judicial Circuit as the Master of Ceremonies.

STUDENTS SPEAK ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS
Rend Lake College student Kenise Smith, LEFT, of Thompsonville looks on as fellow criminal justice student Dakota Church, RIGHT, of Bluford thanks donors for giving to students in need. The student speakers are two of five individuals who received scholarships raised by the first Criminal Justice Round-up for Scholarships event last year. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

“Whoever came up with the idea of a community college was a genius, and there’s no better place to acquire real-life training than at Rend Lake College. If there is a silver bullet, it’s college, so thank you for coming out here in support,” he said before introducing Meek.

Meek informed the audience that last year’s event raised approximately $3,000, enough to provide five new scholarships to RLC students, and the first ones specifically for those in the Criminal Justice program.

“We are very blessed in this program and for all those who help us, such as the Rend Lake College faculty and staff, our criminal justice instructors and our advisory board,” said Meek.

Two scholarship recipients, Dakota Church of Bluford and Kenise Smith of Thompsonville, addressed the donors with words of thanks and praise

When I came to Rend Lake College, I was planning on majoring in orthodontics, but I soon realized that wasn’t for me,” said Smith. “When I switched to criminal justice, I met Mr. Meek and he has been one of the best instructors I’ve had. I know that with this scholarship and his guidance, I will continue to study hard and I know I will achieve my goals.’

Church also spoke about Meek in his speech, “I didn’t know what I was going to do when I came to Rend Lake College. I met Ron Meek in my criminal justice class and I knew that this is where I belong. I want to thank everyone who donated to these scholarships this year and last year. I know the students really need them.”

Next up to present was RLC President Terry Wilkerson who thanked the donors and students, and gave special appreciation to Meek for his hard work and dedication both in the classroom and out.

CHECK DONATION
Criminal Justice Instructor Ron Meek, THIRD FROM LEFT, accepts a $1,000 donation to the Criminal Justice program for scholarships amongst his advisory council and Rend Lake College President Terry Wilkerson, LEFT. Also pictured is Captain Jeff Bullard, SECOND FROM LEFT, of the Mt. Vernon Police Department (MVPD) and Detective Rodney Sweetin, RIGHT, of the MVPD and President of the Jefferson County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 241. Click on the image for a larger view.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

“When I was the Division Chair, one mistake I didn’t make was hiring Ron Meek as a full-time criminal justice instructor,” said Wilkerson. “It’s one thing to say you’re putting the students first, and another to actually do it. It’s all about the students and he puts them first with things like this dinner tonight. To the students, I say good luck, and to the donors here tonight, we appreciate everything you do. Thank you.”

To wrap up the evening’s program, Jefferson County State’s Attorney Doug Hoffman made a $1,000 donation from the county’s Crime Victim Impact Fund, which is money collected from perpetrators of crimes.

ROYALTON —An early-morning fire in Royalton gutted the Royalton First Christian Church – a landmark structure in the southwestern Franklin County community for more than 80 years.

Firefighters were called shortly after 5 a.m. and battled the fire at the three-story structure for several hours. When Royalton firemen arrived at 5:10 a.m. the entire upper floor of the church was engulfed in flames.  Firefighters never entered the building due to the structural damage.  The building was considered a total loss and crews razed the building late Sunday afternoon because of the safety risked posed.

Several fire departments from nearby communities and authorities from the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s office assisted in the effort. No cause has been determined and no one was injured in the fire.

A 38-year-old Thompsonville man died early Thursday morning in a motorcycle crash in rural Thompsonville in eastern Franklin County.

David Steiner was pronounced dead at the scene of the single-vehicle accident that happened on Illinois Route 149 near Sharp Lane.

A passerby spotted a person lying beside the road and notified authorities at 3:35 a.m., according to authorities.  The cause of the crash is under investigation.

CHICAGO — Chicago’s top civic leaders launched an aggressive push Tuesday for legislation that will increase gun crime penalties, with Mayor Rahm Emanuel vowing to lobby lawmakers on the measure that he said will help combat and prevent persistent street violence. But the bill — which could come up next week when state lawmakers return to the Capitol — has already been met with opposition from prison groups and the National Rifle Association.

Benton police are continuing to investigate a fatal single-vehicle accident Monday night that claimed the life of 76-year-old Cecil Bennett, of Benton.

According to authorities, Bennett was northbound on Grand Street shortly after 6 p.m. when he failed to stop his pickup truck at the intersection of Route 14 and Grand.  His vehicle crossed Route 14 (Bailey Lane), jumped a ditch and hit a car in the parking lot of Fred’s a local retail store.  The truck then continued and came to rest in a ditch on the northeast side of the store.

Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler said that Bennett was pronounced dead at Franklin County Hospital at 6:48 p.m.  His wife, Helen, 71, was airlifted to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for treatment of major injuries.  Her condition was listed as critical on Tuesday morning.

Witnesses to the crash said the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed on Grand Street and never attempted to stop at the intersection.  Leffler said the cause of Bennett’s death will be determined after radiology and toxicology tests are completed.  The crash is under investigation by Benton police, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the coroner’s office.

MARION — Gov. Pat Quinn joined various local and area officials to announce the release of $5.3 million from the Illinois Jobs Now! capital construction program Sunday at Illinois 13 and Walton Way in Marion, funding which will go toward the repairs of municipal, township and county roads and streets in Southern Illinois.

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

SESSER — Sesser-Valier science students will soon conduct experiments using the latest technology thanks to a $10,000 grant.

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