Picture from the scene (WSIL TV photo)
A hodgepodge forecast to start the new year
December 31, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Fire destroys Sears in Mt. Vernon
December 19, 2016 By Leave a Comment
MT. VERNON — An early-morning fire destroyed the Sears
The aftermath of the fire. (Register-News photo)
Picture from the scene when the structure was fully involved (WSIL TV-3 photo)
investigate. “Due to the large dollar loss — we’re estimating at over $1 million — we call the Fire Marshall,” Sargent said. “The owners were on scene during the fire, and they have contacted their insurance company. … Right now, we are not treating it as anything suspicious, but because of the large dollar loss, we owe it to the owners to try to determine the cause of the fire. ” Please click to read the rest of the story from Tessa Glass of the Mt. Vernon Register-News
Winter weather update with cancellations
December 17, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Updated at 5:30 pm
SPORTING EVENTS CANCELLED
HS BOYS BASKETBALL
Flora at CHRISTOPHER rescheduled for Thursday, 12/22
Nashville at BENTON no make up date yet.
THOMPSONVILLE at Elverado no make up date yet
WEST FRANKFORT at Goreville rescheduled for Thursday, 12/22
Sparta at Murphysboro no make up date yet.
Herrin at Pinckneyville no make up date yet.
Hamilton County at Eldorado rescheduled for Thursday 12/22
DuQuoin at Harrisburg no make up date yet.
WARMING CENTERS
City Hall-Sesser…
CHURCH SERVICES
East Side Baptist Church-Mt Vernon No Sunday Services
The forecast has not changed. Franklincounty-news.com will keep this page updated with cancellations and changing weather conditions.
Winter weather update
December 16, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Tomorrow is traditionally the second biggest shopping day of the year. If you are planning on going to the St. Louis metropolitan area shopping tomorrow, it might be wise to alter your plans.
Interstate 64 from Washington county on is a stand still. KMOV Channel 4 in St. Louis just ran a report from emergency 
management officials to stay off the roads until Monday.
Several have been posting on social media that the Mt. Vernon area has been experiencing freezing drizzle. The farther north you go on 57 the worse it gets. I know that several people from Franklin County go to the outlet malls in Effingham and Tuscola to shop. Plans might be reconsidered as well there too.
Franklincounty-news. com will be updating frequently with changing weather conditions, closings, and altering of times. Stay warm and safe this weekend.
Highlights of the Rend Lake College Board of Trustees Meeting on December 13, 2016
December 15, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Business AAS degree returns, two new certificates receive approval
The board approved the reactivation of the Associate in Applied Science Degree in Business and authorized its submission to the Illinois Community College Board for action. The updated curriculum 
will allow students to graduate in as little as two years and to specialize in accounting and finance or management and human resources. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a general background in all areas of business and to prepare them for careers in the fields of banking, accounting, management or marketing at the mid-management level in a variety of businesses and industries.
will allow students to graduate in as little as two years and to specialize in accounting and finance or management and human resources. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a general background in all areas of business and to prepare them for careers in the fields of banking, accounting, management or marketing at the mid-management level in a variety of businesses and industries.In addition to reactivation of the AAS degree, the board also approved two Business Management occupational certificates, one of 16 credit hours and the other of 31 credit hours. These are designed to be stackable credentials toward the AAS degree.
In a related matter, a new course, Introduction to Economics, was approved and authorized for submission to ICCB. This three-credit-hour class includes an introduction to national income theories, price theories and behavior of the firm under varying economic conditions, among other content.
In other curriculum-related actions, changes to the Tutor Training and Independent Study courses were approved, the board learned of sequence changes to the existing Microsoft User Certificate curriculum, and 35 courses in varying subjects were withdrawn.
Walker receives appointment as Nursing Instructor
The board appointed David John Walker as Nursing Instructor effective Jan. 5, 2017. He holds a Master of Science Degree in Nursing from Western Governors University, a Master of Arts Degree in Human Resource Development from Webster University, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Old Dominion University and an Associate in Science Degree from Rend Lake College. He spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy, and most recently was facilities director for Crossroads Community Hospital.
DeForest joins full-time ranks
The board appointed Emily DeForest as Business Office Specialist effective Jan. 3. She currently works part-time in the Business Office as a communications specialist. In her new position, she will continue those duties and will assist with additional Business Office functions in light of the recent resignation of the previous Business Office Specialist. DeForest holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Southern Illinois University and an Associate in Arts Degree from Rend Lake College.
Education veteran Mongtomery to retire
After more than 20 years as Director of Alternative Education, Walt Mongtomery will retire effective Dec. 31, 2016, a retirement resignation accepted with regret Tuesday evening. “Rend Lake College has been a great place to work,” Montgomery wrote in his retirement letter. “I have made many friends while working here and have found all fellow employees to be cooperative and dedicated to the students. It has been very rewarding to see many students receive their high school diploma by completing classes in the Alternative Education program and continuing their education in various programs here at Rend Lake College.”
Three resignations accepted …
The board accepted with regret three resignations Tuesday.
·Jacquelyn Anselment, Quality Specialist / Provider Recruitment Specialist for Project CHILD, effective Nov. 25, 2016. She had been with Project CHILD full-time since September 2014. “I am so thankful for all of the opportunities that Rend Lake College and Project CHILD have provided to me over the past two years,” Anselment wrote in her resignation letter.
·Mollie Bremer, Title III Health Studies Support Coordinator, effective Jan. 6, 2017. She has been with RLC full-time since March 2012. “I sincerely appreciate the professional guidance and support I received while working at Rend Lake College. I consider it a privilege to have been part, and worked alongside, such a great team,” Bremer wrote in her resignation letter.
·Tony Etnier, Academic Advisor and Head Baseball Coach, effective Jan. 5, 2017. He has been with RLC full-time since July 2006, including time spent as Director of The Hitting Zone on campus prior to transferring to academic advisement. In his letter of resignation, Etnier described his time at RLC as “101/2 of the best years of my life.” He said his initial employment with the RLC was his first “real job” after graduating from college, and “it developed into a career, and eventually the college became like a family to me. I cannot say enough positive things about my experiences here with the students, athletes, faculty and staff. Go Warriors!”
In other business, the board approved the 2017 schedule of meetings for the RLC Board of Trustees. The schedule will be available on the Board of Trustees page of the college website at www.rlc.edu.
·Approved the 2017-2018 Rend Lake College Catalog.
·Approved revisions to the college organizational chart.
·Approved revisions to board policy and procedure concerning the Board of Trustees Code of Ethics (first reading); identification and disposal of obsolete equipment, materials and supplies (first reading); and inventory records for capital assets (first reading).
·Approved board policy and procedure concerning the Employee Code of Ethics (first reading), sexual offender / sexual predator registration for employment applicants and employees (first reading), and sexual offender / sexual predator registration for students (first reading).
·Approved revisions to board procedure concerning stipends.
·Granted permission to advertise for a college controller, to replace the retiring Wendy Smith.
·Granted an unpaid leave of absence for the Testing and Placement Specialist.
·Approved the current faculty salary schedule as negotiated and accepted within the faculty union agreement for the RLC Federation of Teachers Local No. 3708.
·Ratified payment of college expenses, including travel reimbursements, as presented.
Mark your calendars …
·Thespian Comedy Improv, 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, RLC Theatre.
·WYSE Competition, Wednesday, Feb. 8, Waugh Gymnasium.
·Visiting Artist Series: Mixed Media by Najjar Abdul-Musawwir, Jan. 27-April 21, RLC Theatre Lobby.
·Spoken Word Open Mic, 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, King City Books, Mt. Vernon.
·SIU Student Filmmakers, noon Wednesday, March 22, RLC Theatre.
·Spring Musical: The Wizard of Oz, 7 p.m. April 6-8, 2 p.m. April 9, RLC Theatre.
· Job Search Party, 3-6 p.m. Thursday, April 13, Holiday Inn / Doubletree Inn, Mt. Vernon.
Fowler Bonan Foundation seeks support, growth for Clothes for SI Kids program
December 11, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Newly elected State Senator Dale Fowler helping residents of Murphysboro Masonic Home pick out clothes provided by the foundation back in 2014. (Southern Illinoisan file photo)
Director of shooting complex wants expanded role for facility
December 8, 2016 By Leave a Comment
Monica Brachman at the gates of the World Shooting Complex in Sparta. (Southern Illinoisan Photo)
