 With very
little fanfare and in unanimous fashion, the Holden R-III School
District’s Board of Education passed the district’s
proposed 2006-2007 budget at a special meeting of the board held
Thursday night in the school’s central offices.
The budget, submitted by district superintendent Scott Slava,
for the R-III district encompassing 208 square miles in western
Johnson and eastern Cass Counties, calls for proposed expenditures
of $12,716,769. Estimated revenue amounts to $11,678,466.
The district will start the budget year with a balance of $3,945,511,
leaving an ending year expected balance of $2,907,330.
The superintendent explained to the board in his budget message
that, “The budget represents our best estimates of revenues
and expenditures for the coming school year.”
Expenditures were developed keeping the following priorities
in mind: salary and benefit increases, additional staff
increases, needed instructional supplies and materials, continued
capital improvement projects and maintenance of a balance that
will continue to insure financial integrity.
Slava stated, as he has in the past, that deficit spending continues
to be an area of concern and will need to be dealt with in the
near future.
In closed executive session, the board accepted the resignation
of former intermediate school assistant principal Gary Manning
and hired Chris Hunt as a high school social studies teacher.
By Steve Sullins
Editor
Upgrading
technology was the main topic of Public Water Supply District
#2’s monthly meeting Monday night.
A military grade Panasonic laptop may be purchased by Public
Water Supply District #2 in order to control operations from
a remote location as opposed to driving back and forth to check
pressure and leaks. All commandments would be given through a
website using wireless internet.
The laptop is a waterproof, vaporproof, shockproof piece of field
equipment and was originally designed for civilian emergency
response teams as well as soldiers in the field.
Ron Brockhaus, manager, told the board the need for such a high
grade laptop is necessary to ensure valuable information is not
lost while using the computer in the field. It might go through
different situations and survive, he added, whereas a normal
laptop cannot survive a spilled cup of water. Dependability
is something the board indicated was most needed in making a
switch to controlling operations online. As for the system itself, “Everything
is going smooth,” added Brockhaus. The board
stated they would like to have a firewall installed and tweak
a few other things but believe the idea will make everyday
duties much more efficient.
In other business, approximately $80,000 will be spent painting
two water towers outside of the Holden city limits. Ozark was
the company chosen by the board to paint the stand pipe, located
near 50 Highway and the tower located just off of 58 Highway.
The board was told the new paint will be mildew resistant with
a zinc primer coat.
The board also discussed the possibility of purchasing a new
truck. In considerations is a 2006 Ford extended cab with four-wheel
drive and a short bed. “ We have a 1994 Chevy that’s
only a two-wheel drive and needs to be replaced,” stated
Brockhouse. The board decided to weigh out their options and
research the decision more extensively before making a decision.
The board will meet next on Monday, July 24.
By Brandon Foster
News Staff
“Got
Stress? Aches and Pains? Who you gonna call?”
“The Stress Buster,” according to massage therapist and owner of
Holden’s new massage business, Connie Crawford.
Crawford is a licensed massage therapist (LMT) and has
opened her new business at 103 West Second Street (next to Galle’s
Smokehouse Grill).
Crawford offers a basic Swedish relaxation therapy, a trigger
point therapy, hot stone massage, chair massage and corporate
massage.
In the near future, Crawford says she will have her own line
of soy lotions, body cream and lip balm and will also offer soy
candles for sale.
The Swedish full-body introductory price is $45 and lasts approximately
one hour. For half an hour of back, shoulders and neck
massage, the charge is $30. This can be given on the massage
table or in the massage chair.
These prices are good within a 25-mile radius of Holden which
includes the areas of Warrensburg and Pleasant Hill. Outside
the 25-mile radius, there will be a $20 added charge. All
prices are subject to change, according to Crawford.
Massages are available by appointment only and can be made by
contacting Crawford at 816-456-5600. She recommends calling
at least 24 hours in advance.
Crawford received her training and certification from Pinnacle
Career Institute in Kansas City, Missouri after completing a
nine-month course in massage therapy.
“I don’t think a lot of people realize I’m open yet,” she
says. She encourages the public to call and make an appointment for a
massage.
Crawford lives in the Holden area with her children Rebeccah,
James and Samuel. Her other daughter, Elizabeth lives nearby also.
She would also like to inform the community that she has gift
certificates available and says, “You can’t go wrong
with a gift certificate for a massage!” Call Crawford
for the perfect gift or to make an appointment.
By Dana Neubert
News Staff
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To
enjoy a little bit of gracious, country living, take a short drive
to Centerview, and head for Doubletree Acres Bed & Breakfast. You’ll
be warmly welcomed by Susie, part border collie, part lab, and
Larry and Phyllis Steinbach, co-owners of the establishment.
Built in 1896, the large, rambling Victorian home can offer peace and quiet in
an all-too-busy world. The house, known as the J.F. Wells place, boasts
two comfortable rooms for rent, complete with breakfast, bath, a large front
porch and back deck and 240 acres of timber and pastureland that includes grass
runways for those approaching from the air.
The Steinbachs have owned the house since 1976 when they purchased it from the
Wells family. It was originally built by J.F. Wells parents. J.F.
and his sister Nellie both lived in the house until they passed away in their
eighties. So the Steinbachs are only the second owners of the lovely, old
home. They moved in with their young daughters, Sheila and Stacy, and were
expecting their third daughter, Diane, when they bought the place back in the ‘70s.
The house originally had four bedrooms upstairs, one bath downstairs, a butler’s
pantry, a living room, formal dining room, parlor, sewing room and entryway. The
Steinbachs have remodeled the kitchen, making it larger, added an office, turned
the butler’s pantry into a bathroom, and converted the old bathroom into
a laundry room. The previous owners had never owned a modern washing machine
or dryer. They used a wringer washer that was stored in the basement and
hung their clothes out on the clothesline to dry.
There are still four bedrooms upstairs; one has been turned into a playroom for
the Steinbachs’ grandchildren, one belongs to the Steinbachs and the other
two are available to be rented out. One is called the “Americana” room
and its decor is all red, white and blue colors throughout the room. This
room can sleep up to four people and has three windows. The other room
available for travelers is the Thomas Kinkade room, decorated with the artwork
of Kinkade. Phyllis claims this is the most peaceful room in the house.
The house still contains all of the original woodwork; the only changes the Steinbachs
have made besides the kitchen, bath and office area, is in the wallpaper and
carpet. The entryway has beautiful, old, wooden floors, and brass door
knobs, with a lovely grandfather clock to greet visitors when they enter through
the front door. Although as in most farm homes, most visitors come through
the kitchen entrance, according to Phyllis.
When the house was built, the owners made sure every room had at least two windows
for cross-ventilation throughout the house. In some of the rooms, there
are windows that go all the way to the floor and used to be opened onto an outside
deck where people would sleep when the house got too hot in the summertime. There
are no fireplaces in the home; instead there were individual stoves in each room
to keep things warm in fall and winter. “The house was revolutionary
for a turn of the century house. Each bedroom has its own closet, which,
back then, was unheard of as most people still used wardrobes to store their
clothing,” said Phyllis.
Some of the original doors that were on the home are still being used there. There
are seven doors which open to the outside and approximately 45 windows in the
stately, old place.
“The people who built this home had the money to do it right, and I imagine
it was quite the talk of the town when it was being built. The building
process took four years to complete and we have found the original blueprints,” added
Phyllis.
Outside, visitors can enjoy the wrap-around front porch or the large back deck
and be close to wildlife and nature. The Steinbachs also offer horse-drawn
hayrides throughout the property at certain times of the year. One of the
grass runways is 1/2 mile long and the other is 1,400 feet long.
The Bed & Breakfast is located only 10 minutes from Warrensburg, 20 minutes
from Whiteman Air Force Base and only 45 minutes from Kansas City, so there is
always plenty for visitors to do, according to Phyllis.
“We try to keep up on community activities, such as fairs, or programs
at Central Missouri State University, the Air Force Base, Powell Gardens, the
winery at Montserrat, Starlight Theater, or the Royals games in Kansas City,
so we can let our guests know everything that is available to do,” she
added. “But the most common questions we get asked are about good
places to eat, so we try to keep up on that also.”
Prices range from $75-$100 per night at Doubletree Acres and that includes breakfast,
a queen-size bed, snacks, drinks, fruit and the wonderful peacefulness of the
Missouri countryside. The Steinbachs welcome families to come and enjoy
their lovely home. No pets, smoking or alcohol are allowed.
The full breakfast menu can include scrambled eggs, meat, fruit, juice or a breakfast
casserole, depending on the visitors’ wishes.
The Doubletree opened its doors to visitors officially in May of 2005 and they
are a member of the Bed and Breakfasts Inns of Missouri and the Warrensburg Chamber
of Commerce. They are located at 43 SW 58 Highway in Centerview, Missouri,
phone 660-656-3652, or one may email the innkeepers at 1psteinbach@earthlink.net.
When asked why they decided to turn their home into a Bed & Breakfast, Phyllis
said it was inspiration from her aunt that made them want to do it. “My
aunt was in the business and was successful at it and she encouraged us
to try it also. We have just loved everyone who has stayed with us, it’s
really been fun.”
In addition to running the Doubletree, Larry installs fencing and in his spare
time he enjoys flying his ultra-light planes, and working with his four Belgian
draft horses. Phyllis is an Avon representative and her hobbies include
sewing and playing with her grandchildren, who all live close by.
“Our slogan is ‘Come Back to the Country.’ We offer a quiet
place to rest and relax. We encourage anyone who may have friends or family
coming to visit in the area to give us a call,” said Phyllis.
By Dana Neubert
News Staff |