The Holden Image

Rick Grabill, Public Affairs Manager for Sprint, presented the Holden Chamber of Commerce with a $1,000 check to be used in construction of Dillon-Mickey Community Park during the chamber’s regular meeting last Thursday morning.

“Spring serves Holden and surrounding area, and we thought the downtown park would be a good project for us to get involved in,” Grabill said. “We like to be involved in the communities we serve.”

According to recent information received from the chamber, construction of the park will begin in March when the first bricks are scheduled to be laid. Work on the fountain is also expected to begin soon, and applications to purchase personalized pavers are available on the chamber’s website.

In other business, chamber member Linda Frazier announced the Holden Rodeo has been scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25. Frazier said although she is fairly certain that is the same weekend as Odessa is holding their rodeo, the chamber can expect a successful rodeo again this year.

The chamber discussed sending a member to each meeting of the Holden City Council as a liaison in order to encourage cooperation regarding projects between the two groups. This month, Verna Jenkins was selected as the chamber to council liaison.

Chamber member Jenny Sollars announced March 19 at 1 p.m. is the date and time for Holden’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Sollars said 1 p.m. was chosen because she is hoping people will stay around town, attend the parade and participate in the community after the banks and other businesses close that day.

Michael Rodriguez, Account Executive for the youth soccer division of the Kansas City Wizards Soccer Club, gave a presentation to the chamber regarding sponsorship of the Holden Firehawks youth soccer team.

Rodriguez proposed the chamber sponsor a partnership between the Kansas City Wizards and Holden Firehawks by paying a sponsorship fee to have the chamber’s logo appear on magnets featuring the Wizards 2005 game schedule.

The cost for the chamber to participate in the sponsorship would be $50 per member or a total fee of $2,500. According to Dennis Mason, Holden Firehawks Coach, part of the money would go to pay for a coach and player clinic for the Firehawks, taught by Wizards players and coaches. A number of ticket vouchers to be used at 2005 Wizards games would also be awarded to the chamber for their participation. Rodriguez said the vouchers could be used by chamber members or other purposes. “This would be a great way to get involved,” Rodriguez said.

In addition, April 2 will be the first Holden Soccer Night at the Wizards game at Arrowhead Stadium. During Holden Night, the Firehawks will be able to play on the field at Arrowhead Stadium for 15 minutes prior to the Wizards game.

Mason said the Wizards mascot will be visiting Holden area schools in the near future to promote the soccer clinics and Holden Night at Arrowhead Stadium.

Rodriguez encouraged the chamber to participate in promoting the Holden Firehawks team. He said that in addition to sponsorship through the Wizards, local businesses could sponsor the team by purchasing their playing shirts, which in return would have that businesses logo on them.

Rodriguez said the Wizards have also made a commitment to help children by participating in the “Dual Reading Program,” a program in which school children are asked to read a certain number of books to better their reading skills. “Once they fulfill the program, they get tickets to a Wizards game,” Rodriguez said.

Chamber president Sam Raber told other chamber members that he felt the issue of financial sponsorship should be discussed during the chamber’s monthly board of directors meeting. Other members were in agreement. That meeting is to be held Thursday, February 17 at Route 58 Drive-In.

By Christi Stowe
News Editor