For photos from the 2013 Virginia BBQ visit our facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cass-County-Star-Gazette/159082564111570

BLH Computers, Electronic Recycling Collection, from Springfield, will be in Beardstown Saturday, June 15 collecting old electronics that are banned from the landfill. This event will allow the people of Beardstown to drop off their electronic recycling they normally cannot dump in the garbage, and not have to travel to either Springfield or Jacksonville to drop this material off.

By Dave Ballance
For the Star-Gazette
Ali Petersen, seven-year-old daughter of Wells and Kayla, was watching a TV program about Christian missionaries in Africa and noticed only a few of the children there were wearing shoes. Ali was concerned about the shoeless children and asked her parents if there was something she could do to help. After much thought and counsel, Ali's Africa project was born at her church, First Christian Church of Beardstown.

By Jody Woltman
Star-Gazette publisher

For Virginia math teacher Fred McConnell, wife Pat and three grown children, giving back was a no-brainer. Fred was a high school valedictorian. His three children were valedictorians and National Merit finalists. After the couple’s daughter graduated in 2002, the McConnell’s had been discussing awarding a family scholarship every since. And all of the children agreed.

By Steve Capps
For the Star-Gazette

A large contingent of students, parents, and concerned citizens attended a meeting of the Beardstown school district’s extra-curricular committee. Most were there to voice concerns over the impending loss of the district’s FFA chapter. The program is in jeopardy because Beardstown has no agriculture classes scheduled for the upcoming school year due to the departure of their only certified Ag teacher.