 It’s that
time of year again when all the Holden and Johnson County areas gather
in Holden for the annual Fall Fiesta beginning tonight (Thursday)
and continuing through Saturday night.
According to Dennis Mason, president of the Holden Chamber of
Commerce, this year’s theme will be “dancing in the
streets.” Mason continued saying, “We are committed
to carrying on the tradition of making the fair bigger and better
each year.”
Activities begin Thursday evening at 5 p.m. at the main grandstand
with Anna Herod singing the national anthem. From 5 to 6:30 p.m.,
the Country Pride Band will perform followed by the king and
queen contests which begin at 7 p.m. All You Can Eat Deathray
will perform on the east stage at 9 p.m.
On Friday, the Holden High School Chamber Choir will perform
the national anthem at 5 p.m. at the main grandstand. From 5
to 6 p.m., the Relics will perform followed by Girl Trouble from
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Johnson County’s Hickory/Pine Men’s
Club Meeting will be on stage from 7:30 to 8 p.m. At 8 p.m., the
talent show will kick off at the Community Activity Center and
Half Empty will perform from 8 to 9 p.m. on the east stage. Doghouse
Daddies will perform from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the grandstand.
On Saturday, things get started early with the annual 5k run
beginning at 7 a.m. at city hall. At 10 a.m., the baby contest
will be held at the Community Activity Center and the car show
will open at 11 a.m. at Tilden’s Quick Lube. From 12 noon
to 1 p.m., children’s races will be held near the grandstand
followed by the kids tractor pull at 1 p.m. at the Holden Library.
At 1:30 p.m., Misty Terrell will perform at the grandstand and
Blackened will entertain on the east stage from 1:30 to 2:30
p.m. At 2 p.m., tails will be wagging at the annual dog show
scheduled at the grandstand followed by the Relics from 3 to
4 p.m. On the east stage, Canaan will perform from 3 to 4:30
p.m. and a verterans ceremony will be held on the east stage
at 3:30 p.m. At 4 p.m., Don Henson will be featured at the grandstand
followed by Misty Terrell singing the national anthem at 5 p.m.
The annual parade begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by another performance
by the Relics at 7 p.m. and Blackwater Union will take the east
stage from 8 to 10 p.m.
There will also be agriculture, craft, 4-H and art exhibits at
the Community Activity Center and a flower show at the Hallar
Building as well.
Once again, Gopher State Expositions from St. Cloud, MN, will
provide the rides and midway.
The Holden
Planning and Zoning Commission was scheduled to meet Tuesday
night to approve a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) from economic
development planners who would be interested in developing a
comprehensive plan for the community.
According to Mayor Mike Wakeman, the purpose of the RFQ is to
seek qualified applicants who will be reviewed by the planning
and zoning commission and the Holden Economic Development Committee
and official bids will then be solicited from the most qualified
companies.
Wakeman says once the RFQ is approved, advertisements seeking
interested companies will be distributed to the media and he
anticipates it will take three to six months to review the bids
and make a final selection.
“After we select a company, we are probably looking at another 12 months
to finish the plan,” said Wakeman.
Wakeman added he considered this a big step for the community.
“I consider it a first big step in moving in the right direction. Things
will continue to get better and better as we go. Once we hire a company, things
will really take off.”
The mayor says developing a comprehensive plan is the best thing
for the future of Holden but adds it will be a community effort.
“It will take a community effort to do the plan. Questionnaires will
be sent out and there will be a lot of little things citizens will have to
do to help us. Hopefully, everyone will rally together as we head in a positive
direction. In the next year and one-half, we will see some positive results
out of the plan which will help us develop a community-wide focus.”
Although Holden’s declining infrastructure has been addressed
many times in the past, Wakeman says once the plan is completed,
it will give the city direction.
“We can take steps according to their reccomendations. Without the plan,
it would be tough to do anything. We are in a stage where we have to develop
a plan before we can address the infrastructure including sidewalks, roads,
parks, etc.”
One area that Wakeman says the plan will address is annexation.
Although the topic has been addressed in the past, the plan,
Wakeman says, will help guide them as they plan for the community’s
future.
Wakeman added that a handful of residents living in areas bordering
the city limits have inquired about volunteer annexation. Although
he did not rule that out, Wakeman says the city must decide if
they are ready or need to wait until the completion of the plan.
Annexation, he added, however, does not guarantee that city utilities
will be available.
By Rusty Hartwell
Publisher
Last March,
when damaging hail storms roared through Holden, one of the things
damaged was the American flag in front
of the Holden Library.
The flag had been ripped down due to the storm and was drenched and lying in
the mud. Local attorney Karl Timmerman found the flag and called Holden
police chief Ed Bone. Together, they properly folded the flag and sent
it out to be cleaned.
The lanyard on the flag pole was severed and had worked its way free of the pulley
at the top of the pole. According to librarian Jeannae Dickerson, over
the next few months, several people volunteered to thread a new lanyard through
the pulley but no one ever followed through.
Last week, Timmerman, who is also a candidate for associate circuit judge, decided
to do something about it in time for the Holden Fall Fiesta. According
to the attorney, he contacted a lineman for Embarq who “tested” his
company’s cherry picker and while doing so, threaded the lanyard through
the pulley so that the flag could again be raised.
Timmerman, a 29-year member of the American Legion, then contacted Sam Raber
who organized a brief re-dedication ceremony by Holden’s American Legion
and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts last Saturday.
Once again, the American flag flies proudly in front of the library.
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Formal notification
was received that the Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) application
had been approved in its entirety for the HOPE Coalition, executive
director John Roberts told the board
at their regular monthly meeting.
“The total NAP budget, which will run from July 1, 2006 through June
30, 2008, is $244,041. This means all of our donations up to that amount
may receive a 70 percent tax credit. Approximately $100,840 is earmarked
for utilities and other things including natural gas, water, insurance, internet,
electric and trash. Needless to say, solicitation begins immediately,” said
Roberts. NAP funds may not be used for repairs, capital improvements
or maintenance, he added. He also reminded the board the NAP program
may not always be available and they can’t rely on them every year.
In financial business, Roberts told the board he and board
member Dorothy Salsman had gone over audit recommendations made
by Westbrook and Company. Implementation of the recommendations
was discussed and included: closing out two of HOPE’s five
bank accounts; beginning a one computer - one bookkeeping system
January 1, 2007 so that accounting function between the Community
Activity Center (CAC) and the Community Service Center (CSC)
will be centralized and develop a cash receipts/reconcile method
for paying contract labor (such as referees) so they know
exactly how much and to whom cash is paid. Roberts also said
the CAC and the CSC could maintain separate accounts, as long as
they have a centralized bookkeeping system. “It’s
important that all records of any kind, be they I-9s, payroll,
income, expenses, cash dispersal, etc, are kept at the central
office. The central office at the CSC now does the taxes
and is responsible for annual audits so these records are absolutely
vital,” said Roberts.
In other CSC business, Roberts told the board a leak occurred in
the building during the Harvester’s food distribution. The
leak was repaired but extensive hail damage was discovered on the
roof that will require additional repair. “The leak
once again brings into focus the need to develop a plan for the
CSC building. We need to seriously consider whether the
building is worth rehabilitating and, if not, sell the building
or tear it down. Contingency plans also need to be made for
housing the programs we have at the CSC in the event it becomes
too costly to maintain. This is a problem that is not going
away,” stated Roberts. The board discussed selling
the building or obtaining bids on what it would cost to tear it
down and Roberts will look into the various options and get back
to the board.
In CAC financial business, Roberts shared with the board that the
CAC had approximately $500 remaining in its account. HOPE’s
general fund was used to pay last month’s bills. In
coordination with a member of the CAC volunteer board, Roberts
requested that Aquila put the CAC on a level payment plan. Board
members asked Roberts if he had considered having the gas bill
put on level pay as well and he said he would investigate the matter
further. He added that the general fund will be reimbursed
by the CAC when they have the funds. “Activity level
will increase in the coming months with volleyball and basketball
leagues and tournaments getting underway,” Roberts added.
In United Way business, the board was told by Roberts that Holden
will be participating in this year’s Christmas Homes Tour,
a fundraiser for Johnson County United Way (JCUW). The tour
is set for December 3 from 1-3 p.m. Tickets are $10 and HOPE benefits
from this activity.
In other CAC business, Roberts reminded the board plans for
the Pink Tea have been finalized. The second annual Pink
Tea will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 10 at the CAC. “The
purpose of the gathering is to observe Breast Cancer Awareness
Month and impart information about the disease,” said Roberts. He
added that Marilyn-Mickey Clay, Fred Christenson and Holly Dodd
will speak at the event. Invitations to a number of women’s
church and civic groups who support HOPE will be mailed in the
near future, according to Roberts.
In community affairs, Roberts told the board the Holden Area Ministerial
Alliance (HAMA) will hold a gathering hosted by Fred and Jane Christenson. “HAMA
and area churches have been an integral part of HOPE since its
inception, and it’s a pleasure to share a meal and some time
with some of those associated with the organization,” stated
Roberts.
In personnel business, Aline Kirchhoff was recognized for her work
with Harvester’s in a recent story in The Holden Image, according
to Roberts. Kirchhoff recently resigned her post as administrator
of the Harvester’s program. “It goes without
saying we are all better people for knowing and working with Aline. Her
recognition for helping so many people was well deserved,” commented
Roberts.
The regular meeting of the HOPE Coalition was closed and the board
voted to go into executive session.
By Dana Neubert
News Staff
An appliance
store has opened its doors in Holden as Mailen
Appliances opened for business on August 1.
Co-owner and operator Tom Mailen has worked in the industry
for the past 15 years. He offers quality used appliances
including washers, dryers, refrigerators, and ranges. Mailen
owns the business with his wife, Brandy Cay and offers a 30-day
warranty on all of his appliances.
Mailen also does in-home services making service calls to repair
appliances in the customer’s home.
Along with his appliances, Mailen offers a line of Natural Living
Products which include herbs, natural cleaning products (detergents,
laundry products, and dishwashing detergents), teas, and a collection
of books.
According to Mailen’s mother Pat, who helps out in the business,
they are in the process of getting everything in place in their
new store. “Tom hopes to have his Natural Living Products
on-line within a week,” she said. The web site is naturaltrends.com.
Mailen got into the appliance business by following in his father’s
footsteps. Jim Mailen was in the field for 50 years so his
son was fortunate to learn the business from him.
He likes people and wants to serve them well, added his mother. “He
wants to raise his family here and be able to make a living here
in town,” said Pat.
Mailen and his family have lived in Holden for seven years.
The new appliance store is located at 100 West Second Street and
they can be reached by calling 732-3368. Their hours of
operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; and 8 a.m.
to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
By Dana Neubert
News Staff
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