Voters will go to the polls next Tuesday to decide a number of Johnson County races, the fate of a Holden R-III School District building issue and voice their opinion on several state-wide amendments.

At the county level, Republican Karl Timmerman and Democrat Sue Dodson are vying for  associate circuit judge; Republican William (Bill) Brenner and Democrat John Hart are opposing each other for the position of presiding commissioner; Republican Lynn Stoppy Brackin and Democrat Monica Penrose are vying for the county prosecuting attorneys position and Republican Teresa Collins is opposing Democrat Kay Dolan for county auditor.

Of interest to Holden School District patrons, voters will decide the fate of a $5 million building issue that would allow the district to make a number of improvements and additions to the existing high school. Those include a new cafeteria, kitchen, restrooms, science laboratory facilities, activities area and academic classrooms.

Voters will also voice their opinion on several state-wide amendments.

Amendment No. 2, if passed, would allow and set limitations on stem cell research, therapies and cures.

Amendment No. 3, if passed, would generate funds to reduce and prevent tobacco use and increase funding for healthcare access and treatment for eligible low-income individuals by placing a four-cent per cigarette and 20 percent on other tobacco products tax.

Amendment No. 6, if passed, would approve a tax exemption for real and personal property that is used or held exclusively for nonprofit purposes or activities of veterans organizations.

Amendment No. 7, if passed, would require legislators, statewide elected officials and judges to forfeit state pensions upon a felon conviction, removal from office following impeachment or for misconduct and require that compensation for such persons be set by a citizens commission subject to voter referendum.

With proposition B, voters will also have the opportunity to decide whether to increase the state minimum wage to $6.50 per hour or to the level of the federal minimum wage if that is higher and thereafter adjust the state minimum wage annually based on changes in the consumer price index.  

By Rusty Hartwell
Publisher


Two Holden High School seniors received Missouri All-State Choir honors recently after auditions held at Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia.

Natalie Enneking was selected as a member of the elite choir, while Matt Green was chosen as an alternate.  The All-State Choir will perform during the Missouri Music Educators Association meetings held January 25-27, 2007 at Tan-Tar-A Resort.

Those students selected to all-district honors were given the opportunity to audition for all-state during the all-district rehearsals and performances held October 21 in Sedalia.  Enneking and Green were told of their selection after the evening performance of the district choirs.

I want to give Natalie and Matt a huge congratulations for their selection, exclaimed Jon West, director of choral music for the Holden school district.  Im very happy for them.  Im also very proud that we had 25 students representing Holden High School at the all-district choir performances.  We were one of the largest showings of any school in our district.

Those high school vocalists participating in the all-district event were:  Joni Woods, Breanna Sormani, Nikki Pirch, Tabitha Brants, Jessica Waldren, John Thomason, Caleb Gudde, Jacob Billingsley, Bryce Stout, Rob Curry, Tashina Caylor, MShale Gillroy, April Elliot, Jaide Wright, Curtis Christopher, Matt Green, Nathan Green, Scott Miller, Logan Evans, Sara Billingsley, Natalie Enneking, Brittany Lavely, Sara Bryant, Cassondra Pinnell and Faith Wood.

By Steve Sullins
Editor

The Holden business district will be a little brighter this holdiay season thanks to the local Chamber of Commerce and local businesses.

According to Dennis Mason, chamber president, the organization has contracted with Premier Lawn and Lighting to string Christmas lights along the roofline of all the downtown businesses on Second Street from Olive to Pine Street and the business buildings in Lloyds Shopping Center in east Holden.

Mason said the group hopes to expand into additional business areas next year as funds become available.

The group will also light the Bradford Pear Trees in the downtown business district as they have in past years.

Were very excited to be able to string this many lights after only one year of fundraising, said Mason. Although the initial year does not cover all commercial areas, we hope to add to the effort next year. We are also appreciative to all the local businesses who donated toward the effort.

Mason added the pole lights used last year have not been replaced since the 1980s and were definitely showing their age. Eventually something may be added in their place as well.

The lights will be turned on previous to the annual Christmas season kickoff scheduled for Friday, Nov. 24 beginning at 5 p.m. A community Christmas tree lighting will be held in the Dillon Mickey downtown park in addition to Santas annual visit and various other entertainment scheduled. Local businesses will also offer specials that evening as part of the customer appreciation celebration.

The chamber of commerce maintains a small Christmas lighting account but significant fundraising efforts began last winter to update and improve the decorations. Additional fundraisers are also scheduled for this winter including a youth basketball tournament at the Community Activity Center the first weekend of February. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the effort can do so by making a check out to Holden Chamber Christmas Lighting and mailing it to the local chamber office at 100 East Second Street, Holden, MO 64040.

Mason said the company began hanging the lights on Monday and all the work should be complete soon.

By Rusty Hartwell
Publisher

   Lunar is a working dog and she loves her job. When she walks the halls of Holden Intermediate School, she gets a "Hi, Lunar!" from everyone she passes. She replies with a toothy smile and a wag of her tail. Lunar is a one-year-old black Labrador Retriever who is a certified Professional Therapy dog. She provides therapeutic support to the students and staff. Her mission is to build rapport between students with special needs and other students. She models good behavior, acceptance and tolerance. Lunar lives with her person, Mrs. Niki Wooster, special education teacher. She plays with the Woosters two other dogs at home, but once she is wearing her Therapy Dog harness, its time for work. When she arrives in room 149, Lunar gets down to business, providing unconditional love and acceptance. She can help motivate students by serving as a reward for appropriate behavior. She provides stress relief and helps ease depression. Even staff members have been known to stop by for a bit of Lunar love, just because one look at that laughing face and those mischievous brown eyes and whatever was wrong feels better.

It was a long journey to get where she is. Lunar was born on July 20, 2005. Her mother Ahsley is a breeding dog for C.A.R.E.S. (Canine Assistance, Rehabilitation, Education Services, Inc. of Concordia, Kansas. After passing her first temperament test at 8 weeks old, (puppies are held upside down with their feet in the air. Good therapy dogs will lay there submissively) she was fostered out to a puppy raiser chosen by C.A.R.E.S. She was placed at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility in Kansas where an inmate taught her all her basic obedience. A couple of months before her first birthday, she returned to C.A.R.E.S. where she received more training to become an assistance dog. She met Niki Wooster, who would be her person, and together they passed the access test on August 3, and on August 4, 2006, she and her person graduated as a Certified Professional Dog Team.

Niki says Lunar is different from other working dogs. People sometimes confuse Lunar with service or guide dogs. Service dogs assist those with physical disabilities and guide dogs assist those who are visually impaired. Social interactions are not encouraged with service or guide dogs. A service or guide dog should not be petted. Lunar wears a special vest that tells people she is a therapy dog and that if you ask; its okay to pet her. Lunar goes everywhere with Niki Wooster. As a therapy dog she has access to all public areas. Niki says most people are accepting of the canine presence, especially when they see the dogs harness, but surprisingly, there are still those few who object. It is necessary for Lunar to have ongoing access testing where Niki takes her into different areas to test her reactions. There are many things Lunar has to get used to. The world is full of buzzers, ringing bells, sliding doors, auto horns and sirens. Lunar has walked more than a few retail aisles. Niki has experienced what the disabled must feel when the public treats them differently. "They see the harness and Lunar and wonder what could be wrong with me. Some either go out of their way to help me or they act like Im not visible. Its a strange feeling to be treated differently because of what people assume when they see Lunar in her harness and vest. One man in a gas station thought I was blind, even though Id just driven up in the truck."

Lunar has a special sense for where she is needed most. When Nikis stepdaughter was sick recently, Lunar stayed at her bedside constantly. She started her vigil the night before the child showed symptoms, a complete departure from her usual active young Lab behavior. When a high fever appeared, Lunar maintained her presence through the illnesss course, only returning to her normal activities when the child improved. She has shown this same empathy in the classroom. If a student is having a bad day, Lunar pays special attention. The beginning of the new school year can be an emotional adjustment for some children, but since Lunars presence, Niki has noticed this year has been calmer and student adjustments easier. At recess, Lunar climbs the jungle gym and is an expert on the slide. In fact she goes down the slide, by herself, and sets an example for those who might hesitate at the top. If Lunar can do it, anyone can.

When asked about the origin of Lunars name, Niki explained that the breeder used themes when naming the dogs so they could relate the names to a particular litter. Lunars siblings were named Cosmo, Nasa and Calypso.The children can write letters and notes to Lunar, asking her questions, or even mentioning things that might be bothering them. Lunar, with Nikis help, will answer the letters with a note of her own. In fact, she personally delivers the notes to the students. She allows children to communicate in a non-threatening way. The children enjoy reading to Lunar, sitting on the class room bean bag. Lunar lies on her back, her feet in the air, listening as she is read to. To be allowed to read to Lunar is a reward for good behavior. Kids who have been good all week get to play ball with her, tossing her well worn orange tennis ball for her to retrieve, The dog serves as a safe connection from the student to the school. Any contact with Lunar is a day-brightener; She is a safe calming presence for an emotional child. With an enthusiastic hop and a wag of her tail, she invites a smile. You can lay a hand on her back and feel the calm presence of her gentle nature. Everyone in the classroom likes Lunar and if you ask them why they like her so much, they will answer in one voice, "Because she makes me happy."

She certainly seems to, and from the look on her face when she sees her kids, they make her one happy dog as well. It is a match made in heaven. 

By Terri Vinck
News Staff

United Way Chili Cookoff November 4

The 14th annual Johnson County United Way chili cook-off will be held on November 4 at the Warrensburg Community Center, 445 E. Gay Street, beginning at 4 p.m.  This event has 14 agencies planning on challenging each other as to the best chili in the county!  No tricks are held back as they vie for this title with agency members even stuffing the ballot box by purchasing extra tickets, chili dogs being offered for extra votes, and a good time held while raising funds.

Agency chilis competing are: Cant Possibly Resist (American Red Cross-Warrensburg Chapter); The Big Chill ( Big Brothers/Big Sisters); Patriotic Chili (West Central Learning Tree); Show-Mes Sensational Savory Chili (Show-Me Christian Youth Home); Homemaker's Health Care Chili (Homemakers Health Care); ABC Chili (Johnson County Adult Literacy); Habeas Corpus Chili (Legal Aid of Western Missouri); Daves Best Chili (Holden Sports Association); Dog-Gone Chili (The Food Center); Cats Chili (West Central Independent Living Solutions); Chill Chaser Chili (Pathway Community Behavioral Healthcare); Girl Scout Chili (Girl Scouts); The Melting Post (Catholic Charities); and Senor Chili (Warrensburg/Holden Senior Centers).

Also included in the event is a sweets auction where luscious baked and homemade items are donated and auctioned off.  This part of the event will change this year and items will be auctioned off at three different times, beginning at 5, 6 and 7 p.m.  Other items donated by agencies other than sweets will be a Longaberger basket, passes to the Warrensburg Recreation Center, and additional items.

Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance from the different United Way agencies or at the door.  Adult tickets are $5, seniors (55+) $4, and children under 12, $2.

The JCUW fund-raising campaign officially ends with this event.  To date approximately 65 percent of the $210,000 goal has been raised.  Results from various corporate campaigns and individual donations will continue to be received well in to the first quarter of 2007.  Donations are welcome and may be sent to the Johnson County United Way, P.O. Box 203, Warrensburg, MO 64093-0203.


Halloween Contest Winners

The Mark Barwick family, 500 South Clay, won first place in the annual Halloween decorating contest sponsored by local businesses. Second place went to the Carson family, 1306 S. Market and third place was awarded to the residence at 806 S. Pine. Winners may pick up their gift certificates beginning Friday at the Holden Image.

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