50 Influencers of Rend Lake College: Cindy Corn, Ace on and off the course

October 2, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Reece Rutland – Rend Lake College Public Information

In 1988, Rend Lake College icon Wayne Arnold received a resume in the mail. Not having a position available for a new teacher at the time, the Physical Education Instructor and Fitness Center Director filed the document away and forgot about it.

One month later, Cindy Corn strode into the fitness center (not for the first time) and asked Arnold if he had read her resume yet. She wanted a job, and was going to keep bugging Arnold until he hired her.

“I told her I just looked over it and that we didn’t have more than six hours per week available. She decided to take the part-time position. Also, she was hired as an assistant women’s basketball coach, working for Jim Waugh, head coach,” Arnold reminisced.

It was the start of something monumental as Corn took those six hours and turned them into some of the most successful years in RLC’s athletic history with 15 National Championship berths and numerous Region XXIV Coach of the Year awards.

“One of my favorite memories would have to be getting hired here. Wayne wouldn’t stop exercising when I dropped off my résumé. I kept coming back and he hadn’t looked at it yet, but I was persistent,” said Corn. “He gave me a great opportunity to work under him for a year before he retired.”

For those first few years, Corn balanced running the fitness center and teaching part-time. Eventually, she got the opportunity she had been waiting for, leading the charge for her personal passion, a woman’s golf team on campus.

For 18 seasons (with a one-season hiatus), Corn has led the Lady Warriors across the country, becoming synonymous with colligate golf success, but she was known for much more than just her prowess as a coach. Her competitive nature, persistence and deep compassion ensured that she continuously made a positive impact on those around her, especially the students she served as an instructor and coach.

“I only had the good fortune of working with Cindy during her last year at RLC, but I was immediately impressed by her passion & commitment to her players, her students and the college. I frequently saw Cindy go above and beyond to help her players – she wore many hats: coach, parent, friend and even fundraiser. Cindy not only gives selfishly of her time and talents, she has also been a supporter of the RLC Foundation for over 20 years and funds an annual scholarship that she named in honor of her mother,” said Rend Lake College CEO Kay Zibby-Damron.

Corn helped spread that passion to her students.

To incorporate service learning into her Introduction to Physical Education class, Corn would take her students to local schools to assist with administering the Presidential Fitness Challenge as a way to get RLC students to be active participants and encouragers in the lives of others.

“Cindy Corn was a valuable member of our college community because she was always willing to pitch in and help with any cause that the college had going. Within our athletic programs, she helped the athletes and coaches from every sport,” stated RLC Athletic Director Tim Wills.

“She was truly concerned about the welfare of our student-athletes socially, academically and athletically. She wanted every program to be successful and supported all of our coaches. Personally I worked very closely with her in the athletic department and in the Health and PE Department. She was a pleasure to work with and did so many great things for this college during her tenure here.”

Arnold just joked that when he knew Corn was on a project, he had nothing to worry about.

“When I was department chair and the administration had a major project to be assigned to the Department of Health and Physical Education, I asked Cindy to work on it. I just got out of her way and let her do it. She would make me look good,” Arnold recalled.

In 2017, Corn officially retired after serving RLC and its students for 28 years. It’s no surprise that even with her closing thoughts, she was looking back on her time with the students who had the biggest impact on her.

“You hope as an individual that you’ve had a positive influence on your students, and all students,” said Corn. “I feel like I’m connected to so many of them. Some of my favorite memories are with non-traditional students. They write me letters about how I’ve influenced them, and it makes me tear up. I did not mean to be a school teacher. I’m trained to be in fitness, a personal trainer, but I love where I’ve ended up.”

1999-2000
Women’s Golf
Region XXIV Champion (6th, NJCAA Championships)
Cindy Corn / Region XXIV “Coach of the Year”

2000-2001
Region XXIV Champion (7th, NJCAA Championships)
Cindy Corn / Region XXIV “Coach of the Year”

2001-2002
Region XXIV Champion (10th, NJCAA Championships)

2003-2004
Region XXIV Champion (5th, NJCAA Championships)
Cindy Corn / Region XXIV “Coach of the Year”

2004-05
Region XXIV Champion (4th, NJCAA Championships)
Cindy Corn / Region XXIV “Coach of the Year”

2007-2008
Region XXIV Champion (7th, NJCAA Championships)
Cindy Corn / Region XXIV “Coach of the Year”

2008-2009
Region XXIV Champion (5th, NJCAA Championships)
Cindy Corn / Region XXIV “Coach of the Year”

2010-2011
Region XXIV Champion (5th, NJCAA Championships)

2011-2012
Region XXIV Champion (9th, NJCAA Championships)

2016-2017
Region XXIV Champion (6th, NJCAA Championships)

Women’s Golf NJCAA All-Academic Team: 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2007 and 2004.

 

Filed Under: Benton News, Featured

Severin Announces New Satellite Office Hours Schedule

September 30, 2017 By Leave a Comment

He will be at the Benton Public Library October 11th

Marion, IL State Representative Dave Severin (R- Benton) has announced a new schedule for satellite office hours. The new schedule will take effect starting in October and will run through December. Rep. Severin’s staff will be available, throughout the district, three times a month at the following locations:

Anne West Lindsey Library, in Carterville, on the first Wednesday of every month

Benton Public Library, on the second Wednesday of every month

 

McCoy Memorial Library in McLeansboro, on the third Wednesday of every month.

Rep. Severin knows the Marion district office is not necessarily convenient for everyone, so his office hosts these office hours to make the office’s services more readily available to everyone. Those that have constituent issues, opinions, or questions are encouraged to visit one of these office hours. Staff from the Illinois Comptroller’s office will also be available to answer any questions you may have for them.

The first Satellite office hours will be held Wednesday October 4th at Anne West Lindsey Library (N Division St. & Bryan Ave. Carterville, IL 62918) from Noon to 3:00 pm. If you have any questions, please contact Rep. Severin’s District Office at (618) 440-5090 or through the contact form on his website at www.repseverin.com.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider

Bost Statement on Framework for Tax Reform

September 29, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) issued the following statement after House Republicans released today its framework for tax reform:

“I’ve collected feedback from my constituents about what we can be doing better in Washington to help grow jobs and the economy in Southern Illinois,” said Bost. “And what I’ve consistently heard is that we need a simpler, fairer tax code that works for families, small businesses, and job creators alike. The plan released today will create opportunities for hardworking Americans by broadening the tax base, closing special interest loopholes, and growing the economy. The time is now to enact a plan that will level the playing field for American businesses by encouraging investment and job creation.”

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE UNIFIED TAX REFORM FRAMEWORK

Lowers Rates for Individuals and Families – The framework shrinks the current seven tax brackets into three – 12%, 25% and 35% – with the potential for an additional top rate for the highest-income taxpayers to ensure that the wealthy do not contribute a lower share of taxes paid than they do today.

Doubles the Standard Deduction and Enhances the Child Tax Credit – The framework roughly doubles the standard deduction so that typical middle-class families will keep more of their paycheck. It also significantly increases the Child Tax Credit.

Eliminates Loopholes for the Wealthy, Protects Bedrock Provisions for Middle Class – To provide simplicity and fairness the framework eliminates many itemized deductions that are primarily used by the wealthy, but retains tax incentives for home mortgage interest and charitable contributions, as well as tax incentives for work, higher education, and retirement security.

Repeals the Death Tax and Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) – The framework repeals the unfair Death Tax and substantially simplifies the tax code by repealing the existing individual AMT, which requires taxpayers to do their taxes twice.
Creates a New Lower Tax Rate and Structure for Small Businesses The framework limits the maximum tax rate for small and family-owned businesses to 25% – significantly lower than the top rate that these businesses pay today.

To Create Jobs and Promote Competitiveness, Lowers the Corporate Tax Rate – So that America can compete on level playing field, the framework reduces the corporate tax rate to 20% – below the 22.5% average of the industrialized world.

To Boost the Economy, Allows “Expensing” of Capital Investments – The framework allows, for at least five years, businesses to immediately write off (or “expense”) the cost of new investments, giving a much-needed lift to the economy.

Moves to an American Model for Competitiveness – The framework ends the perverse incentive to offshore jobs and keep foreign profits overseas. It levels the playing field for American companies and workers.

Brings Profits Back Home – The framework brings home profits by imposing a one-time, low tax rate on wealth that has already accumulated overseas so there is no tax incentive to keeping the money offshore.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, National News

Severin – Bryant issue statments against Gov. Rauner signing HB 40 into law

September 29, 2017 By Leave a Comment

The Following Statement is from State Representative Dave Severin (R – Benton) 

“I consider myself to be pro-life before an elected official, a Republican, or anything else, which is why I voted against House Bill 40 and co-sponsored House Resolution 620 encouraging the Governor to veto House Bill 40. I am extremely disappointed by today’s action to expand access to abortions and put tax payers on the hook for those expenses. Protecting the sanctity of life is my guiding principle and I will continue to fight for our shared values.”

Bryant: Rauner is Wrong to Endorse Taxpayer Funded Abortion

Murphysboro -.State Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) issued the following statement on Thursday, after Governor Rauner announced that he will sign HB 40 into law.

“By announcing his intention to sign HB 40, the Governor will make taxpayer funding of abortion at any time for any reason the law of the land in Illinois. This news is both surprising and highly disappointing.

During a meeting last spring in the Capitol, I and many of my House Republican colleagues were given personal assurances by Governor Rauner that he would veto HB 40 if it ever reached his desk. So, today’s announcement is a direct contradiction to what I was previously told by both the Governor and his staff.

The proponents of HB 40 and the supporters of this law do not share the same value set that I do. I believe life begins at conception and that no one has a right to take that life. The sanctity of life is the ideal I hold most dear as a Christian, a mother, a grandmother, and as a public official.

Protecting the life of the unborn should be the number one moral imperative that we have as a society. Instead, the law in my beloved State of Illinois will be changed to allow elective abortion procedures, including the abhorrent and sickening practice of partial birth abortion, and the Governor’s announcement today puts all Illinois taxpayers on the hook to pick up the tab.”

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News

Area departments fighting field fire in Buckner

September 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by Steve Dunford

BUCKNER, IL –  There is a field fire endangering structures in the 500 block of South Janette Street in Buckner.  Zeigler, Christopher, and Coello Fire Departments are providing mutual aid.

At least through the weekend, there is a danger of field fires.  The current humidity is 41% with a dew point of 50.  With dry vegetation as well, burning is not advised.  To the best of my knowledge there is not any burn bans in effect in any communities.

If any communities issue burn bans, we will share that information as soon as possible.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Christopher News, Coello News, Franklin Co. News, Slider, Zeigler News

Lane reduction on Northbound I-57 starting Monday evening at Franklin/Jefferson Co. line

September 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Press Release from the Illinois Department of Transportation, District 9 – Carbondale

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News

Perry County to charge inmates $25 a day for cells

September 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.duquoin.com/news/20170924/perry-county-to-charge-inmates-25-a-day-for-cells

PINCKNEYVILLE, IL –  (Geoffrey Ritter, DuQuoin Call.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.

Perry County inmates searching for their get-out-of-jail-free cards now will find they can’t even get into the place for free.

Perry County commissioners on Thursday approved an ordinance allowing the jail to charge inmates $25 per day for the duration of their incarceration, as well as reimbursement for medical costs they incur while imprisoned by the county.

“This ordinance at least allows us to recover some costs,” State’s Attorney David Searby said. “We’re going to give it a try.”

The ordinance authorizes the state’s attorney to act as collector, and revenue is to be placed in the county’s general fund. The ordinance takes effect immediately.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider

Night’s Shield in West Frankfort to be run entirely off donations

September 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

http://www.wsiltv.com/story/36469439/nights-shield-in-west-frankfort-to-be-run-entirely-off-donations

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – (Roni LeForge, WSIL-TV.  Please click on the link above for the full story and video.  Here is an excerpt below.

The Night’s Shield Children’s Shelter hopes to help even more families in southern Illinois, despite losing money from the state.

TheExecutive Director Lindsey Bullman says the state will no longer provide funds, because of what it calls a “signifigant dynamic shift”  that doesnt match the shelter’s mission.

In a statement, the Illinois Department of Dhildren and Family Services says, “Night’s Shield made the decision not to continue serving our older youth. They are now focusing on younger children.”  Night’s Shield in West Frankfort opened its doors in 2009 to assist the state in helping children in crisis.

 

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider

ISP Traffic Crash Report from I-57 wreck yesterday

September 28, 2017 By Leave a Comment

Illinois State Police Photo

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 13

WHAT:  Two Semi Personal Injury Traffic Crash

WHERE: I57 North Bound at Mile Post 63, Franklin County

WHEN: Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 3:50 A.M.

VEHICLES: 2014 Freightliner in 5 axle combination and a 2016 Freightliner in 5 axle combination

DRIVERS: 2014 – Michael James McGarvey – a 36 year old male of Morristown, TN – Minor Injuries – Refused treatment at the scene. 2016 – Martin Brouillette, a 34 year old male of Trois Rivieres, Newfoundland, Canada – Extricated from the vehicle by West Frankfort Fire Department with Incapacitating Injuries – Flown from the scene via medical helicopter to a regional hospital.

PASSENGERS: 2016 – Josie Anne Bellaire-Robert, a 27 year old female of Trois Rivieres, Newfoundland, Canada – Extricated from the vehicle by West Frankfort Fire Department with Non-Incapacitating Injuries – Transported via ambulance to a local hospital.

PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate the 2014 Freightliner was north bound on I57 at mile post 63 when the driver advised he swerved to avoid a deer in the roadway. McGarvery lost control and overturned in the roadway with the Freightliner’s undercarriage facing northbound traffic. The 2016 Freightliner’s driver was unable to see the overturned vehicle and struck the vehicle without slowing. The impact caused the trailer of the 2014 Freightliner to be ripped open violently spewing the contents, which included auto parts, across approximately 100 yards of I57 North Bound.

I57 North bound was closed for approximately 6 hours and 45 minutes for scene clean up and crash investigation.

CHARGES: McGarvey was charged with Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid a Crash and Improper Lane Usage.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Franklin Co. News, Slider

RLC Foundation hosts 37th Annual Golf Outing

September 27, 2017 By Leave a Comment

by ReAnne Palmer, Rend Lake College Public Information

Team Kane Insurance won the championship title at the 37th Annual Rend Lake College Foundation Golf Outing. Pictured is, FROM LEFT, Shannon Smith, McKenzie Flanigan, James Sager, team captain Tom Kane, Jeff Morgan, and (Reece Rutland / RLC Public Information)

WHITTINGTON, IL – Twenty-seven teams and 160 golfers teed off at the 37th Annual Rend Lake College Foundation Golf Outing on Sept. 14 in a fundraising effort for the RLCF, and the Men’s and Women’s Golf teams.

The outing, held at the Rend Lake Golf Course in Whittington, raises thousands of dollars every year for the Foundation and the teams. Foundation CEO Kay Zibby-Damron said the event continues to be successful and provide for RLC students, all thanks to the support of locals and businesses.

“Our outing was a tremendous success. It’s hard to beat a beautiful day on the golf course with 160 good friends, who love and support our first nationally ranked community college in Illinois,” said Zibby-Damron. “We had several new major sponsors this year and I am grateful for their interest and investment in our students. The support we receive from local businesses and individuals is very appreciated. We’re already making plans for next year’s golf tournament.”

Winning the first place championship plaque was Team Kane Insurance comprised of team captain Tom Kane, and Hillary Esser, McKenzie Flanigan, Jeff Morgan, James Sager, and Shannon Smith with a score of 54.Hillary Esser.

In the A flight, first place went to Country Financial’s team of captain Tony Etnier, alongside Joe Ervin, Josh Esser, Matt Flanigan, Greg Hollmann, and Steve Holman with a score of 59.

For B flight, first place went to Egyptian Building & Construction Trades’ team of captain Eric Perkins, with Tom Caliper, Wes Cook, Jay Elders, Mitch Smoot, and Gene Watson with a score of 64.

To learn more about the RLC Foundation, call 618-437-5321, Ext. 1214 or email foundation@rlc.edu. To view all the team images from the day, visit RLC’s Flickr account at www.flickr.com/photos/rendlakecollege.

 

Filed Under: Featured, Franklin Co. News
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