Bits and pieces

Bits & Pieces – Celebrating another year ‘younger’

Eleven days ago I celebrated my birthday. Yes, friends, it’s great to be 78! There were no sirens, whistles, but there was a parade in “my” honor. Actually, it was the Fall Fun Festival parade. I just like sharing it with them.Every few years the festival falls on the 23rd and 24th of September. This was one of those years. The 23rd of September was also the birthday of my late husband, Chuck. Chuck and I always had a good time together and even more so on our birthdays.When our three kids were little, we used to tell them there was a parade uptown for our birthday.

Letters to Editor

Questioning changes in the nation

Any opinions expressed in Letters to Editors do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cass County Star-Gazette. Dear Editor,I really wonder what the vietnamese interpreter told his superior what Biden was saying.I’m tired of woozy Republicans telling us how wrong Biden is about National Security, energy, the border and everything else. He’s mostly wrong when he allows handlers to easily overthrow their own country.

Looking Back – A nation based on law

“The government was set to protect man from criminals, and the Constitution was written to protect man from the government.” ~ Ayn RandFrom the founding of this republic, the United States has been a bold experiment as a nation of laws enacted by the representatives of her citizens.“A nation that will not enforce its laws has no claim to the respect and allegiance of its people.” ~ Ambrose BierceThis new century has seen both – a growing disregard for law and a decline in patriotism. Places like Chicago, San Francisco, Portland, Los Angeles, and New York are witnessing growing lawlessness. There are prosecutors have refused to prosecute criminals. Illinois has abolished cash bail which often is labeled “catch and release.” Police morale has declined. In fact, it has become increasingly difficult to find men and women who want to be officers of the law. This is what happens when police no longer believe government has their collective backs.

The Tim Thompson Family

Evangelist Thompson to be at Mt. Olive Baptist Church

Mt. Olive Baptist Church, Chandlerville, would like to invite everyone for Christ-centered preaching, spirit-filled music and Christian fellowship! 

Evangelist Tim Thompson will be at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 28334 Oakford Rd., Chandlerville, on October 15-19, 2023; Sunday morning, 9:30; Sunday evening, 6 p.m.; Monday-Thursday 7 p.m. 

There will be special church music by the Henry family and  children’s church Monday through Thursday. 

Please call Pastor George Garnot, (217) 720-7403 for a ride or more information.

Bread of Love Menu for October 9- 13

Monday - Pork loin, mashed potatoes & gravy, creamed corn, dinner roll, peaches, Rice Krispie Treat, milk

Tuesday - Baked ham, scalloped potatoes, broccoli, dinner roll, apricots, milk 

Wednesday - Country fried steak, mashed potatoes & country gravy, stewed tomatoes, bread, pears, apple crisp, milk 

Thursday - Chicken & noodles, green beans, dinner roll, pineapple tidbits, milk

Friday - Fried fish & tartar sauce, cheesy rice, pickled beets, bread, mixed fruit, milk

Trivia Night #2 set this Saturday

It’s time for Trivia Night Round 2! The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 at the historic Grand Opera House, 123 State Street, Beardstown. 

The cost is $100 per team and there can be up to ten people per team. There will be nine rounds on various categories.

Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase and you can bring your own adult beverages.

Basketball

Virginia-Triopia Jr. High Basketball

Yes folks, that thump, thump thump you have been hearing at the local schools is the sound of basketballs bouncing in the gym as the sports first season, junior high girls, has officially gotten started. For the Virginia-Triopia Redbirds that meant a busy start to the season with three games in the opening week.  The 7th grade girls got off to a 1-2 start losing to Winchester 36-4 and AC Central 35-15 before righting the ship and knocking off Jacksonville 30-21.  Scoring leaders in the three games were A. Petefish with 14 total points, M. York with nine, A. Wessler with seven, N. Wessler with five, K. Hardwick and S. Wells with four, and H. Clement and P. Angelo with two points each.

Get it off our chests – 8 Facts about Breast Cancer

The World Health Organization reports that roughly 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. By the end of that year, there were nearly eight million women alive who had been diagnosed with the disease in the previous half decade.

A breast cancer diagnosis inevitably leads to questions about the disease. The bulk of those questions undoubtedly are asked by the millions of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. But millions more individuals, including friends and family members of recently diagnosed women, may have their own questions. Women can discuss the specifics of their diagnosis with their physicians. In the meantime, the following are some frequently asked questions and answers that can help anyone better understand this potentially deadly disease.

volleyball

BHS and PORTA/A-C Volleyball results

Three wins and two losses last week has the PORTA-AC Central volleyball team sitting pretty with a 12-5 overall record and a 4-1 mark in the Sangamo Conference.  The Lady Bluejays opened the week with a 25-15, 25-16 conference win over Auburn on the road.  Jayce Privia had eight kills and seven digs, Cassie Cox had three aces and four blocks, Mikaela Clary had three aces, Chloe Maltby had seven digs and Caitlyn DeFreezer had 13 assists in the win.

Track

Beardstown Cross Country

On Tuesday, September 26, the Beardstown Middle School Cross Country team traveled to Liberty to run in the Liberty invite.  The boys’ team took fifth place and the girls’ team brought home tenth place. On the very tough Liberty course, several athletes were able to clinch a new personal best. Elsa DeWitt shaved thirteen seconds off her two-mile run.  Jomary Rodriuez shaved 1:27 off her previous best.  Liam Hymes finished his race 13 seconds faster than his best time, placing 14th and earning another medal.  Oscar Cortes cut 27 seconds off his previous best race time. Santiago Quintana was 29 seconds faster, John Haverback shaved 12 seconds off his time, Uriel Torrijos-Gil was 42 seconds faster than his best time. According to Coach Kelly, “all in all, the athletes did a great job representing the Beardstown Tigers on a tough course.”