 Local and
area residents will be treated to a magical Christmas celebration
Friday night, Nov. 24, as Holden officially kicks off its holiday
season. In conjunction with the business districts annual customer
service night, those in attendance will be treated to a wide
venue of entertainment.
Co-sponsored by the chamber of commerce and the Holden Image,
festivities begin with Santa (sponsored by Godfathers Pizza)
arriving on a firetruck at 5 p.m. Once in Holden, he will light
the community Christmas Tree in the Dillon-Mickey downtown park.
Following the lighting ceremony, pictures with Santa will be
available at the chamber of commerce building with M&G Photography.
The downtown business district will also be lined with thousands
of feet of Christmas lights recently purchased and hung on the
rooftops of business buildings.
From 5 to 9 p.m., former Worlds of Fun artist Judy (sponsored
by F&C
Bank) will be available for free caricatures at the VFW building in downtown
Holden. Judy has established a 20-year reputation as one of the citys best
cartoonists and some of her work has been featured on the Kansas City Chiefs
website.
Trolley rides, provided by Steve Haller and sponsored by Bank
of Holden and Educational Textbook Services, also begin at 5
p.m. with rides beginning at the intersection of Main and Second
Streets in downtown Holden. The trolley will head south two blocks,
turn east two blocks, make a stop at Heimans True Value for finger
sandwiches and apple cider and return to the downtown area.
At 6:30 p.m. on a stage at the intersection of Second and Main
Streets, those in attenance will be treated to a grand illusion
show by someone who has been referred to one of the worlds finest
magicians.
Sponsored by the Holden Image and the local chamber of commerce
and booked by the nation-wide company, Phillip and Henry Magic
Shows, Duanes Magic will provide something for everyone. His
novel approach to, and great respect for, the art of magic makes
his shows outstanding. A professional magician for over 25 years,
Duane uses the craft of magic to create an atmosphere of mystery,
using lights and special effects. Then, he changes the tone of
the show using his personable style of drawing the audience to
him with a humorous audience participation portion of the show.
The effect is timeless, profound and unforgettable.
Look for the magic show to involve audience volunteers to be
levitated into mid air, someone being cut in half on stage only
to re-appear seconds later as a whole person, and numerous other
tricks and illusions. The show will last until 7:30 p.m. and
will be followed by a hour of individual magic tricks performed
for those in attendance.
At 7:30 p.m. on the stage donwtown, audience members will be
treated to 4s Company (sponsored by Heimans True Value), an energetic
quartet that has become a byword for entertainment.
Travelling all over the country, they love bringing their signature
sytle of barbershop and comedy with a twist to their favorite
audiences - and every audience is their favorite. From jazz to
rocknroll, or Glenn Miller to goofiness, this foursome is a delight
to behold and a natural wonder. So sit back and hang on to your
hats - its 4s Company!
Following 4s Company, the Holden High School Choir will perform
Christmas carols on stage.
Free coffee, hot chocolate and homemade cookies will be served
to those in attendance and Godfathers Pizza will also be giving
away free samples of their popular Monkey Bread.
Many businesses will be staying open late Friday night and will
be offering specials throughout the event.
By Rusty Hartwell
Publisher
Former businesswoman
and life-long resident of Holden Wilma Jean Arnold died Friday
at the age of 81 at the Western Missouri Medical Center.
Along with her husband Ernie, she owned and operated Holden Sundries
for 30 years and after retiring performed housekeeping duties
at the Bank of Holden.
A friend to the community and area as well, she volunteered for
both the Western Missouri Medical Center and Missouri Veterans
Home in Warrensburg. She was also a member of the Ladies
VFW Auxiliary and was an avid sports coach and fan.
Arnold coached the Holden Doves girls softball team for many
summers and bowled on a league for 32 years. She was also
the scorekeeper for HHS basketball for more than 20 years.
She was named Woman of the Year by the Kappa Nu Sorority and
was presented with the Holden Jaycees Distinguished Service Award.
Her funeral was held Monday at Williams Funeral Chapel in Holden. She
was buried at the Holden Cemetery following the services.
World-War II veteran and retired Holden-area businessman John
Kesterson died at the age of 88, Sunday at his home at the Missouri
Veterans Home in Warrensburg.
The retired U. S. Postal Service rural mail carrier was born
in Herman, NE, in 1918 and graduated from Kingsville High School. He
later attended the University of Missouri-Columbia before joining
the U. S. Army.
Kesterson served in the Army from 1942 to 1945 and fought at
Normandy during World War II. He was a member of the Munday-Hancock
Post 90 of the American Legion and a life member of the Holden
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5844 in Holden.
He married Lola Jean Brendel in 1947 and they owned and operated
Kestersons Antiques on Highway 58 between Holden and Kingsville
for many years. He specialized in buying and selling Antiques
and restoring juke boxes.
An avid fisherman, Kesterson shared his lake on his property
with many other anglers over the years.
His funeral was held Wednesday, November 15, at Ben Cast & Son-Wood
Funeral Home in Holden. He was buried at the Holden Cemetery
with military honors provided by the Holden American Legion and
V.F.W.
By Steve Sullins
Editor
Four Holden
homes will be among those featured in this season's Holiday Homes
Tour sponsored by the Johnson County United Way. The tour is
an annual fundraiser which helps to support approximately 30
organizations and agencies in the county, including five in the
immediate Holden and Kingsville area.
From 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, a total of eight Johnson
County homes will be open for individuals to tour, visit with
the hosts and pick up some holiday decorating tips. Homes in
Holden on the tour include those of Bob
and Linda Mickey (481 SW 1351 Road), Rusty and Cyndy Hartwell (475 SW 1351
Road), John and Sandy Roberts (1317 SW 500 Road) and John and Kristy Talley
(300 West 3rd Street).
Also part of the tour are four residences in Centerview and Warrensburg.
On display in Centerview are the homes of Hugh and Janet Smith
(468 SW 200 Road) and Larry and Phyllis Steinbach (43 Southwest
M58 Hwy.) In Warrensburg, the homes of Ed and Joyce Barnes (210
East Gay) and Joan Mees (34 Timberline Drive) will be shown.
Tickets for the tour are $10 per person. The cost includes all
of the homes in Holden, Centerview and Warrensburg. Ticket outlets
are as follows: (in Holden, the Bank of Holden and F&C Bank;
and in Warrensburg, Care Connection, Greater Warrensburg Area
Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center, University Of Central
Missouri Office of Community Engagement and the Warrensburg Senior
Center). Tickets can be purchased as well at any of the homes
the day of the tour, Dec. 3. For more information or tickets,
interested individuals are invited to call Penny Lund at 1-660-543-4156
or 1-660-747-7477.
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The Holden-R-III
School Board met Monday night at 7 p.m. in the intermediate school
library where they heard a presentation on alternative health insurance
for the districts 200 employees. Scott James, area vice president
for Gallagher Benefit services, a St Louis health benefits management
firm, made a presentation on behalf of the West Central + Health
Consortium. The WC+ HC consists of twenty-seven school districts
that total over twenty-one hundred employees.
The consortium was formed because it is believed by cooperating
together to form a group consisting of a large number of insured,
the risk of substantial increases in premiums can be reduced. The
board of directors of the WC+HC consists of nine superintendents
from participating school districts, including Scott Slava, superintendent
of Holden R-III. Mr. James stressed that health care consortiums
carry leverage for better price and service and long-term price
stability because of the higher number of participants. It is expected
that district employees would have three United Health Care plans
to choose from, but it has not yet determined if all three would
be offered. It is also expected that the plan would at first be
only for medical and prescription drugs. No dental or vision benefits
would be available at the initial plan adoption.
Robyn Sisk, elementary principal, presented the elementary achievement
report. Students in kindergarten through grade two were given the
Terra Nova test in the spring of 2006. Test results are used to
recognize students who scored below grade level in reading, math
and language. Those students are the first to be placed in TAP
and Title 1 programs for extra help in their areas of need. All
students in grade one and two were given a Developmental Reading
Assessment when school started. Two additional benchmark assessments
will be given, one at the end of the semester and one at the end
of the school year. In addition, all students K-2 were given a
fall benchmark writing assessment, with two more scheduled for
the end of the semester and the end of the year. Currently kindergarten
students are testing at the 86th percentile in reading, language
and math. First graders are at the 82nd percentile and second graders
at the 81st percentile.
Gregg Montgomery, middle school principal, reported results were
below the state percentage by 3, 7% on 6th grade communication
arts MAP results. He also reported students were at but not above
the state percentage on 2006 6th grade math. He stated that
projectors were now in use in all core classes and praised the
technical staff for their hard work in setting up the projectors.
He also extended his gratitude to the PTO for providing white boards
for the sixth grade classrooms. He reported the 7th and 8th grade
math scores were good this year but the 7th grade will need more
work in geometry. He stated predictive tests give a more accurate
assessment of current acuity rather than looking at last years
goals.
Lisa Ambrusko,
School Resource Officer, stated three reports each were made for the elementary
and intermediate schools. At the high school, she reported one drug paraphernalia
incident, two assaults and one stolen property incident. In addition, some
students were counseled over driving, both on school property and on State
Route 131.
Donna Fizer
reported the district met 13 out of 16 performance standard points. Standards
were not met in the areas of grades 3-5 math, high school science and college
placement. She reported the percent of graduates entering college is 47.9,
down from 2004 high of 56.3
Larry Arnone,
Director of Auxiliary Services, reported bus evacuation drills have been completed,
in an emergency; the goal is for the evacuation to be accomplished in under
a minute. The standard is one second per student. Mr. Arnone remarked
it was heartening to hear how the older students took it upon themselves to
help the younger students who were unfamiliar with the procedure. He stated
the drivers all did a super job of conducting the drills.
In the food service
area, the food service is showing a positive balance. In the elementary grades
there is an increase in lunch consumption, while both the intermediate and
high school grades show a decrease. Breakfast service is increasing. He
reported the track project is nearing completion. The rubber surfacing is finished
and weather permitting, the striping is to be done this week. The wrought iron
entry way fencing is to be started soon, and the chain link fencing is completed
on the east side of the track. The 4-bar fencing circling the track will begin
this week as weather permits. Landscaping, seeding, trees and shrubbery will
be scheduled next. Also, the middle school entryway has been cleaned up. The
sidewalk has been extended four feet on both sides and a bike rack pad has
been poured. Benches will be placed for outside seating.
Scott Slava,
Superintendent of schools, reported a higher participation in parent-teacher
conferences this year, attributing the increase to the addition of sessions.
He also stated student attendance was at 95 percent. He offered it was not
perfect, but still outstanding for October.
Election
results for the proposition I bond issue were certified with total yes votes
at 1857 and no votes at 1305.
The Holden
R-III Board of education has set December 12, 2006 at 8:00 A.M. as the opening
of filing for candidates for School Board members at the April 3, 2007 annual
school election. The deadline for filing will be 5:00 P.M. on January 16, 2007.
By Terri Vinck
News Staff
Chamber Banquet
Set For November 27
Recently re-elected Missouri 121st District State Representative
David Pearce will headline the list of speakers scheduled for the
annual Holden-Area Chamber of Commerce banquet to be held Monday
November 27 at the Holden Community Activity Center.
The event will start at 5:45 p.m. with dinner served at 6 p.m. A
buffet dinner will be catered by Tiger Jacks and a dessert bar
provided by Galles Smokehouse Grill. Dinner music will be
provided by the Holden High School Jazz Band under the direction
of Travis Williams, Holden schools instrumental music instructor.
Also scheduled to speak will be representatives from the State
of Missouri Economic Development Department, Johnson County Economic
Development Corporation and Administrative Enterprises of Warrensburg.
Advance tickets for the banquet, with a theme of Looking Toward
Tomorrow, will be available through November 22 and may be purchased
at local businesses and from chamber officers.
Liz Johnson
Wins National Award
Liz Johnson, owner and photographer for Little House Photography
in Holden, and a local three-year-old girl were recently honored
with a first place win in a National Childrens contest.
With over 1,500 entries nationwide, Mira Gartens portrait was chosen
first in her three-year-old category. Her photograph will
be used in advertising and promotional advertisements for the upcoming
year.
Mira is the daughter of Ashley Garten and Scott Rampone.
Johnson has been in the photography industry since 1993, and has
owned her own studio for four years. She is also the director
of photography for the Holden Image.
She is married to Rich Johnson, Holden High School football coach,
and they have a 12-year-old daughter, Hailey.
When not busy with her photography business, Johnson enjoys attending
Rich and Haileys sporting events. |