Several area communities, including Holden, are reaching out a helping hand to a family who is need of that help.

The Lee Crabtree family is fighting a battle for their son, Nathan’s health.  Twelve-year-old Nathan was diagnosed with acute myelogenious leukemia (AML) last August.

Nathan has been receiving chemotherapy treatments at Children’s Mercy Hospital (CMH) in Kansas City since August 28, 2005 and he has not gone into remission.  A bone marrow transplant gives the family hope, but that procedure cannot be done at CMH because of the chromosomal abnormality preventing Nathan from going into remission.

Nathan needs a rare form of bone marrow transplant to help him recover and the Crabtrees’ insurance company refuses to pay for the treatment saying it is experimental and out of their network, according to family friend June Francy.  There are only two places in the country where Nathan can receive the needed treatment, the closest being in Minnesota.

Efforts to raise money for Nathan in the Holden area are underway and donations may be left at the Bank of Holden or the Farmers and Commercial Bank for the Nathan Crabtree Fund.  Anyone wishing to donate items for an auction may contact Pat Ring at 732-4544.

Other activities in the Holden area include the raffle of a  whole hog by the Holden, Odessa and Clinton FFA.  Tickets are $1 for one or six for $5 and can be purchased from any FFA member or from advisor Rusty Kephart or Tammy Vogler.  The hog was donated by the Holden Locker and tickets may also be purchased there.

Odessa FFA is having their Barnwarming on Feb. 25 and expect more than 38 schools to attend.  They will be sponsoring a jailhouse, where people will be locked-up for Nathan and it will cost $1 to get out of jail.  They also suggest to other schools to hold a Cap for Cancer Day during FFA week which is Feb. 20-25 in which students pay $1 to get to wear a hat to school one day.

The school who has collected the most money at Odessa Barnwarming will get to dress their advisors in clothing provided for a “Spotlight Dance.”  The theme of the Barnwarming is “Hicktown.”  The drawing for the whole hog will take place at Odessa’s Barnwarming on February 25.

The FFA will be selling tickets for the  whole hog this Saturday at the CMSU Trapshoot held at the university farm and the concession stand for that event will donate all proceeds to Nathan as well.

People from the First Christian Church of Warrensburg have also formed a group to help Nathan and his family raise the needed funds. 

One of the fundraisers they are initiating is a spaghetti dinner and auction to be held on February 4 at the Family Life Center of the First Christian Church located at 101 East Gay Street.  There will be a silent auction during the meal which starts at 5:30 p.m. and a live auction after dinner at 7 p.m.  They are soliciting donations from businesses or individuals willing to help. 

Donations of auction items can be made at the First Christian Church or by contacting the church office at (660) 747-6815.   Included in the auction items are two quilts, an antique hall tree; a one-year membership and four admission passes to Powell Gardens and  a certificate for a senior portrait session for two outfits, worth $35, plus an 8x10 retouched print worth $29, total value of $64 from Little House Photography in Holden. Anyone interested in making a cash donation for Nathan and his family can do so by sending checks payable to the First Christian Church Helping Hand Fund - Nathan Crabtree Project, and mail them to the church.

According to Francy, other events are being planned as fundraisers for the Crabtrees. 

•There will be an auction coming up which will have a “Thomas the Train” child’s quilt, homemade bread, a “New Holland” pedal tractor donated by Crown Power & Equipment of LaMonte, a pedal tractor from Heartland Farm & Lawn, Horse Shoe boot scrapers, made by Crest Ridge Ag Construction, materials donated by the Brooks family, tanning packages, donated by LA Tan & Spa, gift certificate from Rod’s Hallmark, gift certificate from Goody’s, gift card from Maurice’s, stud service and mare care, donated by Chris Simon, hay bale ring, from Crest Ridge FFA members, cookies, and a chocolate basket among other items.

•On January 28, men, women and children held a play afternoon at the church at 101 East Gay to play bridge, pitch, kids’ games and more.  It was held from 1:30 - 4 p.m. and the cost was $10 per person.  The cost included refreshments and a prize for each table.

•Northside Christian Church is having a pancake supper on February 10 from 5-8 p.m.  They are located at 500 North Ridgeview in Warrensburg.

•Grover Park Baptist Church took up a collection and donated.

•The Church of Hope donated money to help with travel expenses in December.

•The Optimist Club is asking 15,000 people to donate $20 each, which would make $300,000.

•A “Sweets & Treats” silent auction cancer benefit for Nathan was held Saturday, January 28 at the Rotary Building in Clinton from 2-4 p.m.  The donation for this event was $5 per person.  This event was sponsored by The Friends of Nathan in Clinton.

The Crest Ridge Schools are also involved as Nathan’s father, Lee, is the vocational agriculture teacher at the school.

•The Crest Ridge Elementary School held a “hat day” which raised over $1,000 and there was also a “Penny War” held which raised approximately $2,000.  The elementary school participated in a “Spirit” day, in which students got to wear their pajamas to school and for an extra $1 they could bring a favorite stuffed animal or pillow.  All proceeds go toward Nathan’s health care.

•The FCCLA has arranged a Nathan Crabtree night at McDonald’s on February 15 from 5-7 p.m.  During that time 20 percent of the receipts go to help Nathan.

A raffle is also being planned, according to Francy.

•The friends of Nathan are also trying to get him on the Oprah Winfrey show.  To send a letter to Oprah go to www.oprah.com and click on the icon that says “Find out what we’re working on.  Share your story.”  It will bring up a page with a list of topics.  Go to the topic that says, “Need a Harpo Hook-Up to pull a few strings?” and click on it.  Once there, fill out the information and write a letter saying that Oprah’s help is needed for Nathan.  Be sure to start all letters with the sentence, “Please help Nathan Crabtree.”  The more people who write on Oprah’s website, the better Nathan’s chances are of getting on the show.

“Please help spread the word and attend any event you can!” said Francy.

Watch for future updates on fundraisers for Nathan and his family.

By Dana Neubert
News Staff

Holden High School all-state vocalists Natalie Enneking and Nathan Sullins performed with the 2006 Missouri All-State Choir Saturday during the Missouri Music Educators Association all-state festival concert.

The event, held during the MMEA convention at Tan-Tar-A Resort at Osage Beach, MO, featured concerts by the all-state band, orchestra, jazz band, as well as the choir.

Sullins had been selected as an all-state tenor during auditions earlier this year at Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia.  Enneking and Tim Billingsley were selected as all-state alternates.

Conducting the elite choir was David Rayl, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Programs at Michigan State University.  His duties there include conducting the MSU Chorale and Choral Union.  He also directs the master’s and doctoral programs in choral conducting.  He has been in his present position for four years.

Prior to his appointment at MSU, Rayl served in a similar position for 12 years at the University of Missouri-Columbia.  He is a native of Sedalia.  He has conducted his choral groups in concerts throughout the United States and many foreign countries as well.

The choir performed “Cantate Domino” by Claudio Monteverdi; “Liebeslieder Waltzes” by Johannes Brahms; “Spaseniye Sodelal” by Pavel Chesnokov; “When Music Sounds” by Ruth Watson Henderson; “Listen to the Lambs” by Nathanial Dett; “El Vito” by Mack Wilberg; and “Danny Boy” arranged by Joseph Flummerfelt.

The choir, made up of more than 125 high school vocalists from throughout the state of Missouri, performed selections in three different foreign languages, including German, Russian and Spanish.

By Steve Sullins
Editor

R-3 Kindergarten Screening Set

 The Holden R-III School District will conduct its annual kindergarten screening March 2-3 at the First Baptist Church, 601 S. Market, Holden.

Appointments are available from 12-6 p.m. on March 2 and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 3. 

Children who will be five before August 1, 2006, will be screened by appointment only.  Appointments can be made by calling the elementary office at 916-732-4136 or 816-850-4444 extension 4136, beginning February 13.

Parents will need to bring copies of the following information to the screening: the child’s official state issued birth certificate, social security number, proof of residency (can be rent receipt or utility bill with current address,) immunization record, and proof of a physical exam signed by a doctor (recommended.) 

Please note that children will not be assigned to a class list in the fall if their immunizations are not current and recorded in the office of the school nurse.  It is essential that all children residing in the Holden School District who will be entering kindergarten the fall of 2006 attend this screening. 

District personnel use the results of this screening to make important staffing decisions for the next school year.


Extension Council Holds Election

 The University of Missouri Extension Council of Johnson County recently held an election to select council members to serve two-year terms. 

Newly elected council members include: Carol White, Northwest District; Leo Watson, Northeast District; Julie Surprise, Southeast District; Virginia Koonse, Southeast District; Karen Stoner, Southwest District; Nancy Luchtel, City; Dale Jarman, North 1/2.

New members will begin their term on March 1, 2006.  Council membership is open to all citizens through the election process as established by Missouri law.  They provide oversight and guidance for all University of Missouri Extension programs conducted in Johnson County, including agriculture, 4-H and youth programs, community development, human environmental sciences, and others. 

Rural Centerview resident Alice Mistler recently announced her candidacy for Johnson County Auditor in the election to be held in November 2006.

Mistler lists her qualifications for the position as having 18 years of business management experience and 10 years of accounting experience.  She has two bachelor of science degrees in business administration from Central Missouri State University with functional majors in marketing and public relations.

“My education and experience makes me well-qualified to manage a county office,” the candidate explained.  “Johnson County auditor is a position where I can fully utilize my skills and knowledge in business management and accounting.”

According to Mistler’s press release, for the last several years she has been very interested in the events occuring in county government.  “It has upset me greatly to see the officials that I helped vote into office not live up to the ethical standards which I expect.

“I have always believed in the old saying ‘if you want something done right, do it yourself.’”

She also stated that in the past year, she has been observing and learning as much as she can about the different political processes.  She has become a member of the Johnson County Republican Women and “am impressed with their support and encouragement of elected officials and potential candidates,” Mistler stated.

“After much consideration, I have developed a strong desire to serve the citizens of Johnson County in this elected position,” the candidate said.

She has been married to Mark Mistler for eight years and has a step-son Josh, who is a senior at Crest Ridge High School, and a daughter Montana, who is three years old and getting ready for pre-school.