RLC combining Fifth Annual Warrior Fest with Preview Day

by ReAnne Palmer – Rend Lake College Public Information

A crowd gathered near the RLC Clocktower during Warrior Fest 2016.
(ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information)

INA, IL – Changes are coming to Rend Lake College’s Fifth Annual Warrior Fest this fall with the addition of Preview Day for prospective students. Both events will be held from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 on the Ina campus.

Warrior Fest, an event which has historically featured everything from children’s activities to a car show to a vendor fair, is joining forces with Preview Day, an open house event, to bring more locals to campus. Details about each event are below, and more will be available in coming weeks.

Warrior Fest

Richard Brewer of Tamaroa showed off his 1957 Chevy Convertible and Best of Show trophy after the 2016 Warrior Fest Car Show awards presentation. (ReAnne Palmer / RLC Public Information

Back by popular demand, main events at Warrior Fest will include a vendor fair, featuring local artists and merchants; children’s activities, such as Big Truck Day, safety seat checks, inflatables, free dental checks, and much more; a car show with proceeds going toward RLC Automotive Technology scholarships; and food and beverages served by students in RLC’s Culinary Arts program.

New this year will be a Demo Day, hosted by the RLC Golf Outlet on the putting range, located on the south end of campus. Many RLC clubs and organizations will also be on-hand serving snacks, offering services, and providing entertainment.
For more information about Warrior Fest, contact RLC’s Community and Corporate Education Division at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1714 or commcorped@rlc.edu.

Preview Day

One Preview Day tour group made their way through the RLC Learning Resource Center during the event last year.
(Reece Rutland / RLC Public Information)

Last fall, the first Preview Day was held for students and their families to visit campus, take tours, meet and speak with faculty and staff, and have the chance to win a scholarship. This year won’t be any different.

Preview Day attendees should visit the Student Center to register for tours and prizes. While there, students can speak directly with faculty, staff, and administration about programs, admissions, financial aid, and more. Tours of campus for specific programs will also be available upon request.

To learn more about Preview Day, contact the Welcome Center at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1343 or welcome@rlc.edu.

Prospective students attending Preview Day will also have the chance to be entered into a drawing for a scholarship through the RLC Foundation, valued at $250. To enter into the drawing, students will complete a scavenger hunt on campus. The scholarship is non-transferable and must be used during the Spring 2018 or Fall 2018 semesters.
For more information about the scholarships, contact the RLC Foundation at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1214 or foundation@rlc.edu.

Back to School Prayer Rally in West Frankfort

from Marcia Raubach

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – As the 2017-2018 school year begins, there will be a community wide non-denominational “Back to School Prayer Rally”, at 7 pm, Thursday, August 24 at First Christian Church, 1001 South Cherry St. in West Frankfort.

All are invited to attend to lift up, support and pray for our schools, administrators, teachers, support staff, families and most importantly our children. Meeting and praying together demonstrates community strength, support, care and concern as the new school year begins. Those attending will certainly walk away touched and empowered by this most inspirational evening.

For many, the “Back to School Prayer Rally” has become as much a part of each new school year’s tradition as shopping for supplies and new clothes. We may never know how many lives were touched and strengthened by the community coming together in support of all our schools. The first prayer rally was held in 2006. As former First Christian Church minister Gene Fox so eloquently stated at the first rally, “Remember, the last word in community is UNITY. We invite all to UNITE with us to pray for our children and schools”.

Minister will be praying throughout the evening as well as special music being offered by the First Christian Church Praise Band. Representatives from the local First Priority Christian High School Club will also speak as well as West Frankfort Mayor Tom Jordan. We hope that every school and congregation in the school district will be represented.

For more information contact: First Christian Church in West Frankfort 618-932-6360.

 

Dozens gather for RLC at 50 celebration

Dozens of graduates, dignitaries, students, staff and faculty came out on Saturday to help Rend Lake College celebrate 50 years of serving the community. Visitors were treated to free food and music. (Reece Rutland – RLC Public information)

Mr. Rend Lake College, Wayne Arnold lights the 50th anniversary cake

Rend Lake College icon Wayne Arnold helped cut the cake (crafted by RLC Reference Librarian Beth Mandrell) to kick off festivities. Arnold has been involved with the college since it was still Mt. Vernon Community College. Arnold was a long-time Health Education Professor and coach. He still remains active with RLC athletics. (Reece Rutland, Rend Lake College Pubic Information)

Recent RLC Grad Debroah Petitt shares her story at the 50th anniversary celebration

Rend Lake College graduate Deborah Petitt, a 2017 graduate, shared her story of tragedy and triumph and the role RLC played in her life. At one point homeless, Deb now has two degrees, steady employment and more direction for her life. She gave special thanks to the Rend Lake College Foundation for helping her achieve graduation through scholarships. (Reece Rutland RLC Public Information)

Bob Kelley, Keynote Speaker at Rend Lake College 50th Anniversary Celebration

Retired Director of Marketing Bob Kelley served as the keynote speaker during Rend Lake College’s 50th Anniversary Celebration. In addition to being an retiree, Kelley was also a member of the first freshman class to attend RLC. He shared his memories and highlighted a number of individuals from that inaugural class that went on to do amazing things. (Reece Rutland-RLC Public Information)

RLC offers instrumental, vocal private lessons

by ReAnne Palmer, Rend Lake College Public Information

INA, IL – It’s not too late for Rend Lake College students to register for private instrumental or vocal lessons for the Fall 2017 semester. Music students, or those interested in filling elective slots, can sign up for the 30-minute or one hour slots through Friday, Aug. 25.

The RLC Music program offers private lessons in brass, classical guitar, percussion, piano, strings, woodwinds, and voice. The lessons are open to all students, regardless of major or skill level, and do not require an audition to register. During the class, students work closely with instructors to develop a lesson plan that fits their need and skill level.

The one credit class consists of one half-hour lesson each week, and costs $250. The two credit class is a full hour of study, and costs $500. Some instruments are also available for rental with no fees attached. Instruments not returned, or returned in disrepair, will incur fees.
Students who register for lessons will be contacted by an instructor to schedule a lesson time. To obtain additional information about private music or voice lessons, contact Sara Alstat at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1817, or alstats@rlc.edu.

Southern Illinois hotels reap benefits of eclipse

http://www.bentoneveningnews.com/business/20170816/southern-illinois-hotels-reap-benefits-of-eclipse

(John Homan, Gatehouse Media, Southern News Service.  Please click on the link for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

The Hampton Inn in Carbondale, is charging $499 per night per room this weekend, with no vacancies. (Hotels.com photo)

Of the thousands of curiosity seekers who will be in southern Illinois this week for Monday’s total solar eclipse, many are out-of-towners, who booked hotel rooms months ago.

Full hotels translate to an influx of cash also spent at local restaurants and in stores, a dream event for local business.

There was a concern initially that SIU’s return to fall classes early next week would overlap the eclipse effect, meaning parents would be looking for rooms at the same time as eclipse chasers.

 

Firefighters Are Warning People to Never Leave Bottled Water in Your Car

http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/healthtrending/firefighters-are-warning-people-to-never-leave-bottled-water-in-your-car/ar-AAqcjrM?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp

(Maria Carter – Country Living Magazine.  Please click on the link above for the full story.  Here is an excerpt below.)

A battery technician with the Idaho Power Company was on lunch break when he noticed smoke coming from beneath the center console of his truck. The culprit, he was surprised to learn, was a bottle of water. “I looked over and noticed light was being refracted through a water bottle and starting to catch the seat on fire,” said Dioni Amuchastegui in a video shared on the company’s Facebook page on July 13.

Firefighters are warning drivers about the hazard, too. In a test conducted by Oklahoma’s Midwest City Fire Department, sunlight magnified by a water bottle reached 250 degrees, news channel KFOR reports. “The sunlight will come through, when it’s filled with liquid, and act as a magnifying glass as you would with regular optics,” said MCFD’s David Richardson.

 

Benton man arrested on petition to revoke charges

From the Benton Police Department

The following person is presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law

BENTON, IL – On August 14th, 2017 Benton Police arrested Issac M. Goosby, age 25, of Benton on an active Franklin County warrant for petition to revoke.

Goosby was transported to the Franklin County Jail for further processing.

 

Benton, West Frankfort, Illinois News | Franklin County News