Just keep swimming with Finding Nemo Jr. at BHS

“Finding Nemo Jr.” will be presented at Beardstown High School at 7:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11th, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12th. 

   The charming 60-minute musical, designed for middle school-aged performers, is based on the beloved 2003 Pixar film Finding Nemo. The cast includes over 200 students from grades Kindergarten to 12th grade, led by director and teacher, Allison Skinner.

Study abroad opportunities for high school students

Qualified high school students are offered a unique opportunity to explore the world by spending an academic year, semester or summer in Europe, Asia, North or South America, Australia or South Africa as part of the ASSE International Student Exchange Program. A non-profit, public benefit organization, ASSE is dedicated to promoting closer ties of friendship between the United States and other countries by fostering intercultural understanding through youth exchange programs.

Dallas Wilcoxen

ISP arrest Rushville man for traveling to meet a child

Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officials announce the arrest of 30-year-old Dallas Wilcoxen of Rushville, for Traveling to Meet a Child (Class 3 Felony), Indecent Solicitation of a Child (Class 4 Felony), and Grooming (Class 4 Felony).

Michael & Becky McClenning

Michael & Becky McClenning

Let’s face it......war is ugly!

It’s something a lot of people don’t like to talk about, especially the veterans involved. The memories and some of the pain are still present, sometimes very raw.

Cass County is blessed with many veterans who are heroes. And by the way, all veterans are heroes because they served their country.

US Air Force HH-53 helicopters on the deck of USS Midway during Operation Frequent Wind, April 1975

USS Midway Saves Thousands from Vietnam

The following information is from the USS Midway Museum.The final American combat troops left Vietnam in March 1973 a few months after the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. America’s involvement in war-torn Southeast Asia, however, would continue for years with thousands of government employees staying behind to assist South Vietnam.

SFC Karl L. Rebman

SFC Karl L. Rebman

Karl Rebman was in high school in the winter of 1948 when he enlisted in the newly formed National Guard company, and was a charter member of Company F, 123rd Infantry Regiment, 44th Division. For the next four years his life consisted of school life and military life, punctuated with training at various summer encampments. It was following one such summer encampment in 1952 he received orders that his division was being called into active service. He and his fellow Infantry brothers were off to Korea.

Kenneth Capps

Kenneth Capps

Imagine you’re 19. What are you doing with your life? What is your next move? Is it more college, starting your career, or do you even know?

How about being 19, having plans and then you get a letter in the mail that changes everything. In 1971 that is exactly what happened to Kenneth (Ken) Capps. He had plans. He had a life that he was planning to live. Then the draft happened for him. His country needed him. He had to answer the call no matter what else was happening in his life.

Joe and Ryan McClenning

Joe and Ryan McClenning 

It’s been noted that many times when one family member is a veteran, it almost seems like it’s contagious. Because of the pride of serving their country, other family members join to do their part. So it is with Joe McClenning and his son, Ryan. Joe, Beardstown, graduated from BHS with the Class of 1991. He joined the U.S. Army in 1994 and served three years.  He felt like he was “spinning his tires” and wasn’t sure where life was taking him.

John Quigley

John Quigley

After 35 years in the military, John Quigley, Beardstown, retired in 2002. He’s proud of his service but there’s a lot that he won’t talk about. 

John graduated from Beardstown High School in 1968. He entered the U.S. Army in 1967 and served in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. He served with the 25th Infantry and the First Calvary. He was in Vietnam for a little over a year.

Bill “Pawnee” Fischer

Bill “Pawnee” Fischer Fought from Normandy to Frankfurt 

After graduating from BHS in 1941, Bill “Pawnee” Fischer entered Rankin Trade School in St. Louis to become a machinist. From there he worked in the Curtis-Wright airplane plant in the tool and dye department for about five months before being drafted in the summer of 1943.

He spent five months at the armored training center in Ft. Knox, Ky where the Sherman M4 tank would become his machine of focus.  He said, “We marched five to ten miles each morning and trained with tanks all afternoon.”