Holden-area Chamber of Commerce president Dennis Mason will ask chamber members to decide on what course of action to take with the chamber offices, which are costing approximately $400 per month in mortgage and utility payments.

It was decided in the June meeting of the chamber held last Thursday to send letters to all members to study four options and vote on them in the July meeting.

Option number one is to tear down the present structure and build a new building at a cost of a minimum of $70,000.

Option number two would spend approximately $30,000 to do necessary renovations and rent the building.

Option number three calls for sale of the building.

Option number four is do nothing and continue to pay $400 per month in mortgage and utility payments for a building which Mason states is unusable on a daily basis.

“The building really needs a lot of work,” stated the president.  “From the windows to the doors to the heating system, it’s just not set up to where somebody could work in the building everyday.”

Mason stated that it wasn’t a good situation paying money on a building which was vacant when people would call and ask for Holden city information.  “Ideally we would like to have a person manning the office full time.  We would have to start with volunteers, but in any case, something would have to be done to change the condition of the building before that could happen.”

During the meeting, it was announced that Whiteman Air Force Base would host their annual air show June 17-18.  Also coming up is the annual Holden Rodeo, to be held the weekend of June 23-24.

The membership committee reported that the next chamber after hours meeting will be Monday, June 12 at City Hall.  Embarq (Sprint) will host the event.  The chamber is also asking for volunteers to host after hours meetings.  Any interested business should contact Diane Klossen at Heiman’s, 732-4131.

By Steve Sullins
Editor

Editor’s Note:  The following news release is reprinted from the American Metal Market online newsletter dated June 6, 2006.  The newsletter can be found at website:  www.amm.com.  No other information about the sale could be found at this time.

CHICAGO -- ThyssenKrupp Budd Co., Troy, Mich., a unit of ThyssenKrupp AG, Dusseldorf, Germany, has sold its Missouri-based aluminum casting operations to an equity investor group.

No purchase price was announced for the sale to Speyside Equity LLC, a Delaware company.  Speyside was formed in 2004 to invest in profitable companies, leaving competent management teams in place.  It previously purchased a unit of Degussa AG, which also is based in Dusseldorf, according to a Speyside website.

Speyside contacts didn’t respond to requests for more information on their plans for the acquired operations.

The sold business, ThyssenKrupp Stahl Co., has foundries about 50 miles southeast of Kansas City, MO, in Kingsville and Warrensburg.  It is described on ThyssenKrupp’s website as one of the largest permanent mold aluminum foundries in the United States, with more than 55 million pounds of annual aluminum casting shipments.

According to a spokesman for ThyssenKrupp Budd, the unit employs 813 workers.  He said the sale was part of  a North American automotive segment restructuring plan the company announced earlier this year that included the closure of the company’s stamping plant in Detroit (AMM May 16).

Reports from Germany at that time said ThyssenKrupp also was planning to dispose of ThyssenKrupp Budd Plastics, which makes sheet-molded composite automotive body parts.  However, the spokesman declined to confirm those plans.

ThyssenKrupp Budd currently supplies about 100 vehicle models with sheet metal stampings and assemblies, composite auto body panels and pickup boxes, chassis modules and subframes, bumpers and bumper reinforcements.

By Philip Burgert

Holden R-III School  District  Superintendent Scott Slava and Holden High School Principal Matt Lindsey expressed the need for major additions to HHS facilities in a slide show presentation given at a special meeting and public forum in the high school cafeteria last Thursday.

The small audience who attended was told additions and renovations will reach a total of approximately $5 million.

The current High School building was constructed forty-one years ago and was intended to house 350 students. Currently, the school is educating nearly 500 students a year.  “With the new wrap-around addition we could comfortably house 600 students”, stated Lindsey.

The new wrap-around renovation would add about 13 more classrooms, a brand new cafeteria and kitchen, more than double the amount of parking spaces, and add a lobby area at the front entrance.

“We need to eliminate the temporary trailer classrooms that we have now. They are a safety hazard, they need repair, and after nine years they aren’t temporary anymore,” commented Lindsey.

In addition to eliminating the trailer classrooms, the library will be modified to come in line with MSIP standards. The library is too small and is becoming increasingly important due to the technology that it supports, including the main computer lab for the school.

Also, the stage and band room are without handicap access, preventing easy entrance to the stage for concerts, graduation, or plays.

The locker rooms will be expanded to accommodate the growing number of student athletes and the addition of new sports such as wrestling, which did not have a designated practice center.

The lack of practice facilities will also be pursued so that sports teams such as wrestling will not have to move from building to building everyday.

Only one science classroom has an actual lab. With the new configuration and additions,  two science classrooms will be added to better equip students with the necessary laboratory facilities.

Inadequate concession stands and restrooms will no longer be a problem for outdoor events.  Plans call for a new concession area with windows to the outside to serve spectators of baseball, football, or track. Indoor bathrooms will also be accessible for events.

Drainage has been a problem on the sidewalks and around sports facilities and money will go towards alleviating those inconveniences as well. Concession areas for indoor events will be accommodated with a new lobby area. The lobby will be near the front entrance of the school and allow for a serving area for fans to purchase and eat or drink their items without problems.

Another main purpose of the renovations is to eliminate the need for students to walk outside to get to and from classrooms.    “Our students have been walking in and out of the main building for quite some time now, and not only is it a safety hazard but it will save us money in trying to heat and cool the building. If we had an intruder we would be in a terrible position to defend ourselves,” explained Lindsey.

Walking in bad weather will no longer be a problem because the trailer classrooms will  no longer be needed and a walkway will be constructed leading from the main building to the vocational tech building.

Parking has always been  an issue at the high school, especially for events such as graduation. The bus route  used to pick up students from each building is not paved. With the renovations, the  amount of parking will be tripled, and the lots and bus route will be paved. “The parking lot additions allow for us to split up student and staff parking, something we haven't been able to do for a while,” explained Lindsey.

“Our building is in great shape now, so tearing the building down completely would be a waste of money. Adding to the current building is going to make the school look much better from an outside perspective. This helps when people walk up to our school and ask themselves if this is where they want to send their children,” explained  Slava.

Slava also provided the financial aspect of the situation. The 36,970 square feet of additions and 11,500 square feet of renovations, along with 9,100 square yards of new parking add up to $5 million of work.

The total levy would increase from 3.61 to 3.98, which is still well below average.  “Our surrounding schools are much higher than we are,” exclaimed Slava.

Lone Jack’s levy is set at 4.6878; Kingsville, 4.323; Odessa, 4.54; and Warrensburg, 4.4. “People have to realize that if this is passed we will still be well under the average for our area.”

The levy increase would not take effect until June  2008.  “People keep telling me that I shouldn’t get excited, but I can’t help it. I really think that the people of Holden will come through on this one and realize that this is something that is really important and can benefit everyone,”  concluded Slava.

Brandon Foster
News Staff

  

A new procedure for food distribution during Harvesters day at the HOPE Center will take effect on July 14, according to Harvesters coordinator Aline Kirchhoff and assistant coordinator Donna LaHue.

The new procedure will involve loading patrons’ cars with pre-packaged boxes at the garage door on the west side of the HOPE building on Olive Street.  Those receiving food from Harvesters currently park on Second Street and line up on the sidewalk in front of the Community Service Center (CSC).  The new procedure will alleviate the need for both of these actions.

Under the new guidelines, people will park behind the Community Activity Center (CAC), walk to the drop-off garage door in the back alley and register.  The volunteers ask that people please do not block the alley.  The HOPE board hopes to have the parking lot behind the CAC graveled by July.  To register, patrons must have a picture identification and proof of a current address.  After registering they must put their registration tickets in the passenger side of their car window, return to their cars, circle around the block and turn north on Olive Street to the garage doors located on the west side of the CSC.  At that location their cars will be loaded with the pre-packaged boxes of food by volunteers.  This will allow people to get in and out quicker with their packages.

Registration begins at 1:30 p.m.,  when the doors will open and will remain open until 4 p.m.  The front door to the CSC will be locked so there is no reason for anyone to line up on the sidewalk to wait for their food, according to LaHue.

‘The June 16 Harvesters day will continue to work as it has in the past.  On July 14, the new procedure will be implemented,” said Kirchhoff.  Patrons are asked to bring back the boxes they received in June so they can be recycled for future use.

The Harvesters program serves approximately 150-200 families each month and patrons come from Cass, Lafayette, Johnson, Jackson and Henry counties to procure food at the CSC.  The program offers perishable foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits, milk, pastries, deli salads and more.  The program has been successful for the past two and one-half years and requires 25 volunteers to make the day run smoothly.

HOPE Coalition has to purchase any meat that they give away and have been told that this year Harvesters is running a little short on meat for the holidays.  Anyone in the community wishing to donate hams or turkeys should contact HOPE at the CSC building by calling 732-HELP.

“There are no income guidelines for patrons who are in need of food.  Everyone is welcome to come and take advantage of this program,” stated LaHue.  “We just give until all the food is gone.”

HOPE is in need of volunteers who can lift heavy boxes.  If anyone would like to help, contact HOPE at 732-HELP.  They also need donations of shopping carts which would be greatly appreciated, according to Kirchhoff.

“It’s a lot of work to make Harvesters day run smoothly and we have many wonderful volunteers and great teamwork.  It’s really a family atmosphere here and the work is very gratifying.  People who appreciate the service make the job worthwhile,” said Kirchhoff.

The volunteers hope to offer a Harvesters program on food preparation this summer to help people learn how to cook the food they are given.  If anyone is interested in learning about food preparation please contact the CSC.

New statistics from “Hunger in America 2006” show a dramatic rise in the number of people seeking emergency food assistance.  Harvesters network of agencies now serves an estimated 205,200 individuals annually.  That’s an increase of 26 percent since 2001.  Listed below are some facts about clients within the Harvesters’ network.

Forty-three percent of the members of households served are children under 18 years old.  Seven percent of emergency food recipients are elderly.  Forty-eight percent of households that receive assistance include at least one employed adult.  Sixty-nine percent of adult clients are high school graduates.  Thirty-six percent of Harvesters clients are served in programs located in rural or suburban areas.  Thirty-four percent of households report having at least one household member in poor health.  The average monthly income among client households is $1,070.

Kirchhoff and LaHue stress the importance of the service being open to the public with no income guidelines.  Anyone in need of food is welcome to be a part of Harvesters day at the HOPE center.

“Remember on July 14 the new procedures will be in place, so please don’t park on Second Street or line up on the sidewalk.  Follow the new guidelines and we can make Harvesters a continued success here at HOPE,” said Kirchhoff.

Harvesters will be at the HOPE Center on June 16, July 14, August 25, September 22, October 20, November 3 and December 1.

By Dana Neubert
News Staff

The Holden R-III School Foundation set levels of foundation membership at their regular meeting held May 25.

The levels were unanimously approved and include:  Founder, $500; Family, $100; and friend, $50.

During the finance committee’s report, P. Kay Chisler gave an update on the scholarships given this year.  It was decided that the school would write the checks and the foundation would reimburse them with one check.

It was also reported that Ann Cates had set up a safety deposit box at the Farmers & Commercial Bank to store original tax documents and other important papers.

Proceeds from the PTO carnival efforts netted the foundation $158, and the fund-raising golf tournament will be held Sept 30.  The tournament will feature a four-person scramble with a goal of 18 teams.  Prizes will be awarded to the top two-four teams.

In new business, the foundation will submit a new slate of officers and board members for approval at the June 22 meeting.  A motion by Bevy Fletchall, seconded by Kyndal Phelps to add Norma Johnson and Kelli Spies as board members was approved unanimously.  In a review of existing by-laws, it was decided to not change the by-laws at this time.

Also in new business, a donation was made by the Farmers & Commercial Bank and the Mickey Family in the amount of $1,500 to the Holden Football Quarterback Club for the high school football field’s sprinkler system.

By Steve Sullins
Editor

LOOKING FOR NEW OWNERS

The Holden Swimming Pool sits quietly this summer as the owners of the pool have placed the property on the market. According to an advertisement in this week’s newspaper, the owners are looking for someone to assume the payments with no money down. See advertisement on the classified page for additional information.

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