Johnson County’s brand new “state of the art” Central Dispatch Center will open its doors to the public Friday and Saturday in their new location in the basement of the new Johnson County Justice Center.

There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. Friday, with tours of the facility afterward.  Saturday will be a day that is geared to the general community and kids, with tours of the dispatch center from noon-5 p.m.  According to team leader and center public relations liaison, Becky Parkey, “We’ll also have a lot of emergency equipment available to tour as well.”  Highlighting the exhibits will be the Staff for Life helicopter, ambulances and other interactive displays.

Parkey also explained that the number of workstations will expand from four stations at the old location in the Sheriff’s Department to six at the new site.  Within each station will be four computer screens, two of which are a radio and telephone equipped with touch screens.

Present plans are to have at least three dispatchers on duty at one time, eventually moving to four.  The additional stations will allow for better training for new employees, having the opportunity to get hands-on training with supervision in close proximity.

Parkey also explained that everything is new and “state of the art” and “gives us the room to grow.  The county is really growing and we need to keep pace with that growth to be able to get our ‘first responders’ to emergencies as quickly as possible.”

She also said that the new system will save valuable time in life-threatening situations and allow the dispatchers to access information and relay that information to the agencies that need it faster.

By Steve Sullins
Editor

image The Kingsville R-I School District is among 178 Missouri schools that have earned the state’s “Distinction in Performance Award” in recognition of their academic progress and achievement last year.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Distinction in Performance Award recognizes outstanding academic performance and consistent progress on the Missouri Achievement Program (MAP) test scores, ACT test scores, attendance and school dropout rates.

Last year, 21 fewer schools qualified for the awards.  Of the 178 schools that earned the honor this year, 154 are K-12 districts and 24 are K-8 districts.

Kingsville Superintendent Kevin Coleman said he believed the students were taking the tests more seriously.

“Our teachers are emphasizing the importance of the tests and the students are more motivated to do better,” added Coleman.

“We also have been able to acquire and retain quality teachers and that makes us more successful,” said Coleman.

To qualify for the award a K-12 school must meet 11 out of 12 standards - at least 91 out of 100 points - and all of the MAP-based standards.

Under the state’s accreditation process, school districts are formally evaluated every five years.  The Distinction in Performance Award is based on the same performance criteria used in the accreditation review process.  This is the third year in a row that Kingsville R-I has received this honor.   The school will be formally recognized at a regional banquet this winter.


image School Board Slots On Ballot April 4

Two three-year school board terms will be contested in the April 4, 2006 school election, with the opening day for filing set for Tuesday, December 13 at 8 a.m.

Deadline for filing for the Holden R-3 Board of Education slots will be at 5 p.m., Jan. 17, 2006.

Candidates interested in the positions should declare their intent in person and in writing to Patricia Raker, Board of Education secretary.  Forms may be completed at her office at 1612 S. Main Street in Holden, during regular office hours.

Board candidates may file from:  December 13-20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The office will be open over the holiday break on December 21 and December 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Candidates may also file from Jan. 3, 2006-Jan. 13, 2006 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and January 17 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A school board member must be 24 years of age, a citizen of the United States and must have paid a state or county tax within one year next preceding his or her election.

According to the board secretary, the school district will not have an election if the number of candidates filing is the same as the number of positions open.


image County Sending Out Voter Cards

Holden area residents should be receiving their voter identification cards in the mail this month as Johnson County Clerk Gilbert Powers announced that the 2006 canvass of voters will be conducted during the month of December.

Each registered voter in the county will receive their voter identification cards.

The canvass is required to be conducted prior to each general election held in even numbered years.  This mailing is to provide the voter with a card that reflects any changes that may have taken place since they last received a card, and to confirm the voter still resides at the address under which they are currently registered.

If the mailing is returned undeliverable the voter could be removed after two general elections unless they vote or otherwise update their voter registration before that time.  That is why it is very important that a voter update their registration any time they have a change of address or name change.

The voters will be asked to examine their voter card and take not of changes that affect where they cast their ballot and the districts for which they can vote.  Their card replaces any previous voter card.  The voter should only use the new card, as it was created under the new Missouri Central Voter Registration System and their voter ID number has changed under this program.

If the voter finds there are changes to be made to their card information, they can note them on the backside of the card, sign, and return it to the Johnson County clerk office.

Voters in the Jefferson, Lowland, Simpson, Montserrat, Warrensburg SE-1 and Warrensburg SW precincts have already received their voter identification cards earlier in the year and will not receive a duplicate during this mailing.

For more information, visit our website at www.jococourthouse.com.  Any questions regarding registration can be directed to the Voter Registration Office at (660) 747-7414 or my e-mail to vote@jococourthouse.com.

  

The decision of the Holden Police Merit Board to terminate former Holden Police Sergeant Shane Hutchison was upheld recently in Johnson County’s Circuit Court.

The ruling was handed down by circuit judge Joseph Dandurand after hearing arguments from attorneys representing Hutchison and the city of Holden in the October hearing.

The former police officer had asked for the review after former Holden Police Merit Board member Jim Sollars had not withdrawn from the board’s hearing and that his failure to do so, Hutchison believed, had created undue influence on other members.

Hutchison’s attorney, Mary Ellen Young of Holden, had asked Sollars to withdraw from the hearing, citing a “letter to the editor” he had written to the  Holden Image on March 4, 2004.  The letter was critical of the city council and the merit board’s decision to reinstate Hutchison.

The merit board allowed Sollars to be present  at the hearing and to vote in the 6-0 decision to uphold the former police officer’s  dismissal.

Within the text of Judge Danurand’s ruling it states that the court finds that merit board member Sollars’ letter to the editor did create an apperance of personal bias and that he should have recused himself.  This lack of recusal did not, however, deprive Hutchison of a fair hearing and given the weight of the evidence in support of the decision, he suffered no prejudice.

The ruling continued, “In reviewing the case on the record and evidence presented, the court finds no grounds under Section 536.140RSMO to reverse, modify, ammend or remand this case and finds that the
judgement of the Holden  Merit Board should be affirmed.”

By Steve Sullins
Editor

 

image A friendly face and a warm smile have greeted holiday shoppers at the annual Christmas Bazaar for 25 years.  Beverly Stahl has set up her craft table at Laureate Delta Upsilon’s bazaar for almost as long as they have been sponsoring it.

“The sorority started holding the bazaar in 1979 and I started bringing my homemade crafts and other items in 1980,” said Stahl.

Usually occupying the very first table people see when they enter the building, Stahl has brought a dazzling array of craft items over the years including crocheted items, plastic canvas, knitted crafts, baby booties, baby quilts and afghans, snowflakes, embroidered beads, potholders, embroidered tea towels, pillowcases, and even skunk room fresheners.

The hobby turned into something of a career for Stahl as she says over the last 25 years she has participated in craft shows and bazaars in Kingsville, Warrensburg, Higginsville, Concordia, Knob Noster, Sedalia, Chilhowee, Clinton and Warsaw.  One show in Chilhowee was run out of a hog barn with an outhouse out back, but was usually well-attended, according to Stahl.

“Back in 1986, I did 14 shows between March and December,” said Stahl.
When asked what started her love of crafting she said in 1946 when she was stricken with polio, a friend gave her a small potholder loom to help pass the time.  She started making the potholders and selling them to friends and neighbors for 25 cents a pair.  She got a lot of repeat orders and branched out her business from there.

>From 1970 to 1980, Stahl operated a mail-order business, running ads in magazines.  Her work sold all over the United States and in Canada, Australia and other countries.

She said she has enjoyed the Christmas Bazaar each year because a lot of nice people stop by her booth to purchase gift items or just to visit.
Stahl is a native of Holden and still lives in the house where she was born 70 years ago.

Stahl said she is announcing her retirement, due to health issues, and is sad about having to give up her business.  However, she feels it is time she stayed home and concentrated her energy on getting well.  Stahl was diagnosed with ovarian cancer last spring and has been taking chemotherapy treatments for the last six months.  She said if people are still interested in buying her merchandise they can come to her home and purchase it there.

“I hated having to quit and am doing so with sad regrets,” she said. “I want to say thank you to all my many customers over the years, and a special thanks to the girls in Laureate Delta Upsilon, who have done such a fine job putting on this bazaar over the years.  They have always been available and willing to help me load and unload my car at their events,” she added.

Stahl said she has truly enjoyed her years making and selling her craft items and also said no one knows what the future may hold, and she may be back.

The sorority acknowledged Stahl at the end of the day on Saturday and she gave a speech to her friends and colleagues about 25 years of happy memories.

By Dana Neubert
News Staff
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