News

Rexroat Prairie Cabin

Friends of Rexroat Prairie Photography Contest

A photography contest will be hosted by the Friends of Rexroat Prairie at the prairie beginning on June 15 and ending on July15. Rexroat Prairie is located in Virginia at the corner of IL Rt. 78 and Virginia Road in Cass County.

The contest is free and open to people of all ages. Photos will be judged anonymously by a professional photographer.

Community Breakfast this Saturday at VFW

The VFW Auxiliary of Post #1239 is serving a Community Breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. this Saturday, June 15 at the Post Home, 610 East 4th Street, Beardstown. 

The breakfast will be biscuits and gravy, egg bake, fruit, coffee, milk and orange juice.

The meal is donations only. 

The Auxiliary continues to support the many activities of VFW Post #1239 veterans.

University News

Illinois Wesleyan University: Trent Murray, Beardstown, and William Davidsmeier, Virginia, were on the Illinois Wesleyan University’s Dean’s List for the spring semester of the 2023-24 academic year.

Urgent need for CASA volunteers

There is an urgent need for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers in Cass County.  Cass County CASA, a program of Advocacy Network for Children, is currently representing 25 children in the court system due to abuse or neglect.  However, 12 of those children are still waiting for a CASA volunteer to be their voice.  

NAMI West Central Illinois 

The newest National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)-Illinois affiliate, NAMI West Central Illinois (NAMI WCI) will host an open house from 4-6 p.m., Thursday, June 27 at Hagel 1891 in downtown Mt. Sterling.

NAMI WCI officially launched in March. Headquartered in Mt. Sterling, NAMI West Central Illinois serves the mental health needs of the residents in Adams, Brown, Cass, Hancock, McDonough, Morgan, Pike, Schuyler and Scott counties.

Cass County Government and School Meetings

Tuesday, June 18; 6:00 p.m. Beardstown City Council, 105 W. 3rd Street, Council Chambers.

Wednesday, June 19; 7 p.m. A-C Central School Board, Board Conference Room, Unit Office, 501 W. Buchanan Street, Ashland.

Wednesday, June 19; 6:00 p.m. Beardstown School Board, 500 E.15th Street, Library.

Beardstown Regional Flood Prevention District meeting is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Thursday, June 20 at the Beardstown Sanitary District in Beardstown.

Community Calendar Summer

Community Calendar

The Beardstown C.O.N.N.E.C.T. will have its Brown Bag Lunch in the Art Zeeck Park, downtown Beardstown every Wednesday during June. 

Lunch may be purchased for a minimal fee and includes drink and dessert. 

Music scheduled for the remainder of June are Stuart Smith, June 19th; and the Beardstown Community Choir on June 26th.

Bill Schnake and wife Christine

Schnake honored as Virginia BBQ Parade Grand Marshal

Bill Schnake, the longtime sound engineer at the Virginia BBQ, is serving his final year behind the mixing board at this year’s beginning of summer celebration.  The Virginia BBQ Committee has chosen Schnake to serve as the Grand Marshal of this year’s parade to recognize his years of service to the annual event.

Jean C. Santiago-Nieves

Beardstown man charged with murder

Jean C. Santiago-Nieves, 37, was arrested by Illinois State Police for first-degree murder.

Beardstown Police responded to a 911 call  on Friday, May 21, to a residence in the 1400 block of Clay Street. When officers arrived, they found a deceased male in a vehicle near the residence. 

The victim was later identified as Steve Dominguez, 27, also of Beardstown. The police requested the Illinois State Police conduct the investigation.

Charles C. Hudson

Virginia man arrested for gun violations

A Virginia man was arrested May 30 after he was spotted with a gun . 

At 7:53 p.m.m Cass County Sheriff’s office was dispatched to 211 South Main Street in Virginia on a report of a man with a gun. 

Upon arrival, Cass deputies began to investigate and gathered enough information to get a search warrant of the residence. Following the search, Charles C. Hudson, 35, Virginia, was arrested for unlawful use of a weapon,  possession of a weapon by a felon, and possession of firearm ammunition by a felon. He was taken into custody without incident,