The Beardstown High School Alumni Association will hold its 138th Alumni Meeting and Banquet on Saturday, May 25th in the Commons Area of Beardstown High School. Fellowship hour begins at 5 p.m. and the Banquet begins at 6 p.m. The annual gathering follows at the Elks Club, who is providing a band (60s & 70s, and a little bit of country). Tickets for the Alumni Banquet are $15. Alumni Dues are $5 per alumni member.

VFW Post 1239 in Beardstown is partnering with Wal-Mart's "Saluting Heroes Together 2013" and Pepsico, to conduct a "Troop Support Campaign" during the month of May. The campaign will ship care packages to forward deployed service members. The post members, along with the ladies' and men's auxiliaries, will be collecting donations for the "Buddy Poppy" program at strategic locations on May 17 and 18. Proceeds from Buddy Poppy benefit military veterans' programs.

By Michael Kloppenburg
For the Star-Gazette
The Cass Rural Water District board approved the plan for annexation of parts of the Sangamon Valley Township at their monthly meeting on May 7. The vote followed court approval of the plan at a hearing on April 24.

By Lynne Beard
For the Star-Gazette
Newly elected mayor Tim Richard was sworn into office at the Chandlerville village board meeting on Wednesday, May 8. Richard previously served as mayor from 2000-2008.
When asked why he decided to run for mayor Tim replied, ”I had several people approach me and ask me to run. I considered it and decided I wanted to help improve the way of life for village residents. We have a new water plant and tower. I want to make Chandlerville a nice place to live and attract new families to the community.”

By Shannon Lauder
For the Star-Gazette

A contract for John Alvarez as the Public Defender was approved at Monday night’s Cass County Board meeting. Judge Robert Hardwick Jr. had recommended Alvarez at a recent committee meeting as his choice to replace retiring Public Defender Robert Welch. It was also noted that the state funds 65% of the Public Defender’s salary.