The City of Holden continues to battle tall grass and weeds within the city limits but according to code enforcement officer Mike Wakeman, the city is facing some issues they didn’t have last year.

“We’ve had a few more yards with problems because of all the recent rain but this year we are having problems with people not cutting the grass in their ditches,” said Wakeman.

Wakeman said the city had begun sending out courtesy letters reminding residents that city ordinances require them to cut their lawn and ditches and that there are penalties for not complying. Wakeman, added, however, he has only had to issue two tickets for tall grass at this point.

As far as junk accumulation, Wakeman is pleased with the strides made in this area.
“The city-wide cleanup was a huge help. We still have some yards that need to be cleaned up but the grass is our top priority right now. “

This fall, Wakeman says his department will begin working on several dangerous buildings including houses and outbuildings.

“We’ll start hitting that aspect harder when the grass quits growing.”

Wakmeman reminds citizens that a clean community always makes a nice community to live in.

“It helps property values and I encourage everyone to help their neighbors as well. If people have elderly neighbors, it would be great if they would offer help but if they are not in a position to do so, I encourage them to contact me because there are several community organizations who might be willing to help.”

Wakeman says the city continues to “plug along” in their fight to clean up the city and to reach their goal of cleaning up every problem area in the city.

“I can’t do it by myself, however. I need help so we can all reach that goal.”

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By Rusty Hartwell
Publisher

Larry Arnone, director of auxiliary services, told the Holden R-3 School Board the food service department ended the year with a positive balance of $21,692.44 at their meeting Monday night. Arnone attributed the balance to good management and team work in the department.

In related news, he informed the board a food service workshop would be held to give the cooks an opportunity to be more creative in menu planning and how to attract more student participation in the lunch program.

Participation figures from last year, however, increased as Arnone told the board there was a three percent increase in lunch service from the previous school year. He said the department would work at maintaining that level of participation as well as making efforts to increase it during the upcoming school year. The numbers for breakfast participation remained steady, he added, with participation of approximately 14 percent for the past two years.

Arnone also addressed district transportation and told the board according to the state report, the department’s efficiency factor was 104 percent.

“Having all the schools on one campus will help in keeping inter-district travel miles down, also consolidating the activity bus trips,” he added.

Board members were also told that water hookups are being completed by the Holden Water Department at the Intermediate School under construction; the heating and cooling project at the high school is one scheduled and the high school gymnasium will be rewaxed on July 30.

In relation to the construction project, the on-going debate over whether to move the high school baseball field continued at Monday’s meeting. Parking and playground location were also discussed as well. Dr. Lindell Harrison, superintendent, said a decision needed to be reached by July 30.

In other business, the board designated Donna Fizer as non-discrimination compliance, Title IX compliance, section 504 compliance, Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, Homeless, Non-Discrimination and Grievance officer and curriculum director. Larry Arnone was designated as alcohol and drug testing coordinator and asbestos manager.

The board also accepted a milk bid from Roberts Dairy; a bread bid from Interstate Brands and a fuel bill from MFA Oil.

The August board meeting was also changed to August 16 with the tax rate hearing to be held prior to the regular meeting. A joint meeting with the Holden School Board, Holden City Council and Johnson County Commissioner will be held July 29 at 6 p.m.
In executive session, the board approved the hiring of Travis Scrutchfield as a high school assistant football coach and Susan Roller and Mike Niemeier as custodians.

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Randy Timmons, a local contractor and his son, Zachary, were killed in a one-vehice accident Friday afternoon on Z Highway, 1/2 mile south of the Lafayette County line.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Timmons, who was driving a dumptruck loaded with gravel, was headed southbound when he travelled off the right edge of the roadway. When he came back on the road, the report said he overcorrected and his vehicle travelled off the left side of the road, striking an embankment before overturning.

The report said both Timmons, age 45 and his son, age six, were pronounced dead at the scene by Johnson County Coroner C.L. Holdren.

Funerals for Timmons and his son are Wednesday at the Ben Cast and Son-Wood Funeral Home in Holden.

The Farmers Market was again busy this weekend and continues to grow with the addition of several new sellers. According to Jo Ann Nolan, everyone is learning that many of the popular items sell out quickly so she says it is best to get there early.

“We had visitors waiting in the parking lot before many of the sellers arrived or were set up. The long awaited arrival of corn and tomatoes has finally made it to the market. The tomatoes sold out quickly but there was plenty of corn,” she said.

Nolan says Allan Dean of Holden brought two truckloads this weekend. “One of his trucks was filled with just corn and the other truck had his huge assortment of fresh fruit and vegetables.”

Other sellers who returned this week were Clyde Perdue of Kingsville with tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers and squash; Marcia Smith of Holden with eggs, jellies and jams, fresh baked pound cakes and silky chicks and Clair Wadel of Holden with potatoes, onions and fresh baked goods.

“A couple of our other regular sellers were out this week due to previous commitments but returning next week will be Lisa Wright of Holden with her all natural Farmhouse Soaps, body lotions, and some new natural bath products and Bryan Coffman of Holden with eggs, poultry, and fresh vegetables.

We had several newcomers to the market this week. St. Patrick’s Church was selling their cookbooks; Don Kueser of Kingsville had potatoes; Mike Frazier of Holden had tomatoes; Louis Cutbirth of Holden had corn and a large variety of fresh vegetables and Jack Phelps of Holden arrived with his smoker and we had his fabulous smoked ribs.”

Nolan says she is in the process of applying for several of the USDA’s Food Nutrition Programs including the WIC Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program; the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program and the Food Stamp Program. “These programs will allow the Farmer’s Market to accept low-income food coupons for the purchase of locally grown, unprepared fruits, vegetables and herbs. The addition of these programs will be a huge benefit to the people of this community.”

The great thing about the Holden Farmer’s Market, Nolan says, is that you will only find locally grown produce or locally made products. “All of the sellers are our neighbors. Every penny that is spent at the Farmer’s Market is going right back into this community. There is no fee to sell at the Farmer’s Market but everyone is required to register so that we can stay within the guidelines and requirements of all the programs that are available to us.”

Nolan says the group has received their membership certificates from the Missouri Farmer’s Market Association and Missouri Department of Agriculture’s AgriMissouri Program. “These memberships allow us to participate in contests and promotions, and we can purchase sales materials at cost. We also have our membership certificates on display at the market.”

The Farmer’s Market is sponsored by the Holden Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee and is open every Saturday morning from 7 a.m. until 12 Noon, rain or shine at the Holden City Park. Anyone who would like to participate or needs additional information, should contact Jo Ann Nolan at 597-3353 or by e-mail at info@holdenmarket.com. Complete details and items that each seller will have available can be found at www.holdenmarket.com.

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