ashland

While a host of Tigers look on, Bella Palmer tips the ball over the outstretched hands of a couple of Rockets.

High School volleyball roundup – Beardstown, PORTA/A-C, Triopia results

All three Cass County high school volleyball teams finished up their regular seasons last week and will be competing in regionals this week.  

   Beardstown wrapped up their season with two home matches. On Monday, the Tigers fell in a tough three set match to West Central 25-17, 19-25, 18-25. Against a talented Brown County team on Thursday in the Annual Volley for the Cure match, the Tigers treated a nice crowd to a good comeback in game two but fell in straight sets 15-25, 22-25. Beardstown, now 9-25 on the season and seeded 11th in the regional, was scheduled to take on the 5th seeded Macomb Bombers at their place on October 23 to open postseason play.

Trick or Treat

Cass County Halloween Events & Trick or Treat times

Arenzville: October 31 - Town Trick or Treat, 6:00-8:00 p.m. | Ashland: October 29 -  Halloween Parade lineup starts at 3:00 p.m. and will go from Editor Street to the Fire House followed by Trunk or Treat on Yates Street in front of City Hall.

Jayce Privia

Bartels, Privia  A-C State Scholars

A-C Central students, Lainey Bartels and Jayce Privia have been named as Illinois State Scholars for 2023-2024 school year.

   The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), the state’s college access and financial aid agency, recently announced the 2023-24* Illinois State Scholars. These high-achieving students are selected annually based on their ACT or SAT exams and sixth semester class rank and are recognized for their exceptional academic achievement. The scholars rank in approximately the top ten percent of graduates from Illinois high schools. More than 16,770 students from 690 high schools were selected for this prestigious honor.

Ashland, IL

Ashland finalizes stop sign locations

Taking up business left over from last month, the Ashland Village Board finalizes the locations for new stop signs in the village. The ordinances passed at last week’s meeting of the village board authorized stop signs at the intersections of Alta St. and Topeka St., Progress St. and Alta, Richards St. and Hardin St. and Richards and Niagara St. Adding new stop signs was advocated by police Chief Martin Fanning. A new stop sign at Winooski St. and Forest St. had been authorized by the board last month.

volleyball

Two times the titles for Bluejay Volleyball

The PORTA-AC Central Lady Bluejay volleyball team continues to play excellent volleyball, winning tournaments over back-to-back weekends at Beardstown and Waverly.  Counting a win the week before the Beardstown Tourney and two wins between the tourneys, the Lady Bluejays are riding a ten-game win streak and sit at 24-6 on the season.

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.

Pictured on the left is PORTA/A-C Central Sectional Golf Qualifiers Brady Kinney (left) and Trace Donnan. Pictured on the right is Austin Strubbe, shown with Redbird Coach Jeff Bennett, qualified for the Sectional Golf Meet for Virginia-Triopia.

Three area golfers make sectionals

PORTA-AC Central senior golfer Brady Kinney has qualified for the IHSA Class 1A State Finals by shooting an 82 in the Auburn Sectional.  Kinney claimed the Auburn Sectional’s final individual spot and will compete in the finals starting on Friday, October 6 at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington.  

The PORTA-AC Central golf team after finishing in second place at the Sangamo Conference Tournament. (L/R) Keagan Dale, Griffin McClure, Trace Donnan, Brady Kinney, Brody Pettit, and Brody Landon.

PORTA/A-C Golf rolls on

Last week was a busy one for the PORTA-AC Central boys’ golf team as they roll closer to the postseason.  

The week started with them hosting the North Mac Panthers on a typically breezy day at Shambolee Golf Course last Tuesday.  Both the varsity and JV teams played very well.  The Jays took home the win with a team score of 163 on the back nine.  PORTA A-C was led by medalist Trace Donnan who shot a two over par 38.  He was followed by fellow senior, Brady Kinney, at 39.  Keagan Dale fired a 41 and Brody Pettit rounded out the Varsity scoring with a 45.  Griffin McClure shot a 48 and Brody Landon shot a 49.  North Mac had a team score of 174.  In JV action, Nash Donnan and Kolin Johnson led the way with a pair of 48’s.  Drew Carter shot 52, Colton Wankel shot 58, Avery Jockisch shot 59, and Dillon Stremsterfer had a 62.

The PORTA-AC Central freshman volleyball team is pictured with the First Place Plaque from last week's Virginia Tournament.

PORTA/A-C Volleyball on win streak 

The PORTA-AC Central volleyball team pushed their winning streak to eight games and their overall record to 9-3 with two wins last week.  

On the road at Riverton last Tuesday, the Bluejays flew past the Hawks 25-12, 25-16 to win in straight sets.  Carson Arthalony had seven kills and two blocks and Caitlyn DeFreezer had 13 assists and a block.  Jayce Privia also had seven kills, Mikaela Clary had four aces, Chloe Maltby had 13 digs and Shae Bell handed out 11 assists in the win.  At home last Thursday the Jays won two close ones over their archrivals, the Athens Warriors 25-21 and 25-19.

Crime Scene Tape

Drug search uncovers explosive devices – Authorities still trying to locate suspect

Cass County Sheriff Devron Ohrn said his office has yet to locate Geoffrey M. Atterberry, 35, Ashland, who was not at home when the sheriff’s department executed a search warrant at 517 South Sylvan Street, Ashland, on September 15. At the time, Atterberry was not at home while the search was conducted. During the search, deputies located two explosive devices. The Illinois Secretary of State bomb squad was contacted for assistance in the removal of the devices, due to the real and present danger of the devices.After the SOS bomb squad was able to safely remove and check the residence, two more explosive devices were located. After they were removed, the deputies were able to complete the search.