 Although the act of placing a county zoning issue on a future election ballot is in the process, the Johnson County Commissioners are looking for other avenues to bar sex offender facilities from coming into the county.
With the passage of a Pettis County ordinance banning such facilities in that county, the commission is presently studying that ordinance to see if it can be tailored for use in Johnson County.
According to Scott Sader, eastern commissioner, they have asked county prosecutor Lynn Stoppy Brackin to review that ordinance. Sader stated that Stoppy Brackin is presently in a jury trial and has not finished her review, but would do that as soon as possible.
A highlight of the Pettis County ordinance states that no halfway house shall be created, established, maintained or operated in Pettis County, MO, which has as occupants, inmates, detainees, parolees, probationers or multiple residents who have been found guilty of being a sex offender.
Since the large outcry of Johnson County citizens, there has been no word from the Kansas City developer who had asked to speak to the commission about the possibility of placing a sex-offender halfway complex north of Holden near Highway 131.
By Steve Sullins
Editor
The Holden Art Farm will hold its grand opening and fundraiser on Saturday, April 28 from 3-9 p.m. They are located at 708 W. Second Street in Holden.
Owners Heather Rozzo and Eli Pupovac invite the public to come and see the art work they have on display.
Their grand opening will feature art from Michael Wickerson, assistant professor and chairman of the sculpture department at the Kansas City Art Institute. He will also do artist talks throughout the day enabling patrons to get a better understanding of his ideas and inspiration for his sculptures. Some displays will be in the sculpture garden and some in the Midland Trail Gallery which is the big barn on the property that used to be Holden’s stagecoach stop.
Wickerson will also bring his display of miniature covered wagons and puppets for the public to enjoy.
The Holden Art Farm is a non-profit organization and the grand opening is also a fundraiser to raise money to help support the growth of the farm, according to Rozzo. “We are trying to make art available and affordable to area residents,” she said.
Also at the opening, they will have their schedule of upcoming classes open to the public including painting, tile making, writers’ workshops and yoga classes. Some classes they hope to offer in the future include pottery, welding, metal class and wood shop. “We will add classes as we continue to renovate the seven outbuildings located on the property,” said Rozzo.
Those attending the grand opening will have an opportunity to see a pottery demonstration, an opportunity to make and decorate their own hula hoop from 3:30-5:30 p.m., and a chance to take part in an interactive activity, the graffiti cube. The farm will take donations to participate in some of the events. There will also be food available the day of the grand opening.
One display created by Pupovac is called “Seeing the Child” and is an oversized table and chairs and according to Rozzo allows people to sit in the chairs and revert back to their childhood. She commented that Pupovac creates a lot of interactive art to draw people in.
Pupovac and Rozzo would like to extend a welcome to everyone in the area to come out and see all they have to view and participate in. “We would love to see support from the community; if people are interested in art, come on out and see us. We will also take suggestions for future classes. There will be random tours of the property at different times,” said Rozzo.
“The Holden Art Farm is a non-profit art community designed to work with the community in all phases of artistic endeavors,” stated Rozzo.
By Dana Neubert
News Staff
According to Missouri River Valley Conference (MRVC) president Sandra Sloan of Odessa, Holden was unanimously accepted in the eastern division of the MRVC for the 2008-2009 school year after a vote taken by conference schools Friday and Monday.
The vote came after the conference received a letter from Holden R-III School District Superintendent Scott Slava. Slava had been given the authority by the Holden School Board to make the move or stay with the Show-Me West Conference (SMWC) as he felt best.
Beginning with the ‘08-’09 school year, Holden will join Richmond, Knob Noster, Higginsville, Lexington, Boonville and Carrollton in the conference’s eastern division. Presently, the western division is made up of Pleasant Hill, Odessa, Oak Grove and Grain Valley.
Prior to sending his letter of acceptance to the MRVC, Slava, who is also the current SMWC president, had scheduled meetings with other league schools to try to “beef up” the SMWC. The league had sent offers to three schools - Crest Ridge, El Dorado Springs and Clinton - to join the Show-Me West. Of the three institutions, only El Dorado Springs accepted the offer.
After exhausting efforts to make the SMWC more competitive, Slava decided it would be best for the district to join the MRVC.
“I was looking at what was best for the Holden students and patrons and I feel that moving to the new conference will benefit us the most,” explained the superintendent. “I’m very excited about joining a conference so steeped with tradition. The MRVC is very well thought of in the state and I feel the competition will better prepare our kids for going further in state competitions.”
Slava also stated that as far as he knew, El Dorado Springs will still join the SMWC.
News of Holden’s acceptance in the MRVC was met with mixed reactions by coaches and staff members.
District activities director Kelli Spies was excited at the opportunity to join a new conference. “Especially one as prestigious as the MRVC,” Spies added.
The future move was not met with the same excitement by head Lady Eagle volleyball coach Julie Carver. The two-time state champion coach explained, “I am happy with our present conference. I like the competition and tradition of the Show-Me West. Plus, going to the MRVC, the volleyball program will have to compete with fall softball and cross country for girls.”
League softball competition is scheduled in the fall in the MRVC, while the SMWC competes in the spring.
“Our volleyball competition won’t be that much different as we play most of the MRVC schools on a regular basis. As a matter of fact, a great deal of my non-conference schedule is made up of MRVC schools,” Carver continued. “However, since we are going to be moving to the new conference, I am confident that the Holden Lady Eagle volleyball program will be just as successful in the MRVC as we have been in the SMWC.”
Head football coach Rich Johnson felt that the conference change would be a good move. “For the programs that I’m involved in - football and track - moving to the MRVC is a step up. I feel that we’ll be taking strides to put ourselves into a more competitive situation. This will be good for the kids in that they will have better competition and more recognition because of the conference they will be participating in.”
Head Eagle basketball coach Dale Wescott is also looking forward to competing in the MRVC. “I will miss some of the good basketball rivalries we had in the Show-Me West such as Sherwood and Butler, but I think we will be getting into a more challenging schedule. We’ll just get ready to play whoever is in our conference and hopefully it will make us a better team.”
Like Coach Wescott, head baseball coach David Riley will miss some of the old rivalries he’s made over the years in baseball. “Hopefully we’ll be able to keep some of them alive in our non-conference scheduling,” Riley commented. “This will be a challenge, and I like the fact that most of the MRVC schools take baseball as seriously as we do. For baseball I think it’s a great move. Some of the other sports it might be not as great or just a status quo move, but I hope it will work out well for everybody. I know that it will give us a lot more opportunity to play more junior varsity and C team games.”
Without the knowledge of how the two-division system will work for track, head HHS track coach Anita Anderson doesn’t know how it will affect her program.
“If the conference track meet is only the eastern division, then the competition will be very much the same as we’re all pretty comparable. But, if both divisions are together, then it will be a very competitive, tough meet. Maybe one of the toughest in the state.”
By Steve Sullins
Editor
HHS Students Enjoy
MAP Activities
Holden High School held many activities last week in coordination with the annual MAP testing.
Days observed were Bed Head Day, PJ Day, Comfort Day, Celebration Day and Hawaiian Day. Sarah Mills was in charge of the spirit days and committee.
MAP testing was held Monday through Wednesday. The sophomores tested in math and science and the juniors in communication arts and social studies. While the sophomores and juniors were testing, the seniors did the following activities: Monday, college visits; Tuesday, community service projects; and Wednesday, job shadowing. Jerry Crouse was in charge of these activities.
The freshmen participated in Seven Habits for Highly Effective Teens Monday through Wednesday. Stacey McCune was in charge of this committee.
Then for Aloha Day, the students signed up to participate in a number of activities including movies, karaoke, guitar hero, Madden, board games, card games, Texas Hold’Em, flag football, rohlfball, kickball and conversation rooms. They dismissed early, at 12:30 p.m. They were the only building in the district to release early.
Students earned their way to Aloha Day by being present each day of MAP testing and receiving good scores on the grading rubric by the proctors. The seniors and freshmen earned their way through attendance and participation in activities. Kelli Spies oversaw the Aloha Day activities. Also, on Aloha Day, the students were provided a free barbecue lunch cooked by Mr. Lindsey. The teachers worked concession stands and hosted a rohlfball tournament to raise the money to pay for the food for Aloha Day and for the supplies for the senior and freshmen activities.
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Western Johnson County Medical Clinic in Kingsville has many new and existing services and programs that they offer to the community, according to full-time nurse practitoner Kristi Smith.
The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and two Saturdays a month for urgent care. They currently have nine people on staff at the clinic; a full-time physician, social worker, nurse practitoner, part-time medical director, medical assistant, LPN, receptionist, officer manager and billing personnel.
They take numerous types of insurance, Medicare and Medicaid and self-pay patients. They also offer some discounts to self-pay patients who have difficulty paying. The clinic is a non-profit operation, and relies on grants and donations to keep its doors open.
Smith is able to care for all ages of patients from newborns to seniors. She has worked in women’s occupational health for several years before coming to the Kingsville clinic in 2004. “I always wanted to work in rural care. My favorite part of the job is the challenge. There are lots of learning opportunities. We care for whole families here and the families in the community are all good, hardworking people,” she said.
Some of the programs offered include vaccines for children and the underinsured, a smoking cessation program, sports physicals for Holden High School students in August, EKG, pulmonary function tests, preventative screenings, chronic disease checks, monitoring of acute problems such as strep, ear infections, bronchitis, DOT physicals, holter monitors and WIC referrals, to name a few.
The clinic has seen over 5,000 patients since its opening in 2004. “There was a definite gap in this community being without health care and we’re starting to fill it,” said Smith. “We always welcome new patients, we always have room for more. We offer continuous, caring, compassionate family-oriented service and this has been a phenomenal experience for me,” she added.
Their staff social worker works diligently to help self-pay patients find ways to reduce their medical expenses and also does referrals.
The clinic will also be offering mammograms in the fall to correlate with breast cancer awareness month in October. They utilize a mobile mammogram unit. They also offer free breast exams.
They will be hosting a Community Appreciation Day on June 16 to thank the community for their support. “We will have balloons, hotdogs, advance directives, living wills, blood pressure and blood sugar screenings and child identification kits. Wilkinson Pharmacy will be participating in the day with us and they have been very supportive of us and have been a big help to us,” stated Smith.
Smith received her bachelor of science degree in nursing in 1992 and worked in a coronary ICU, medical and surgical halls and the emergency room until she went back to school and received her master of science degree in nursing .
“We are trying to become more involved in our community,” Smith said. “We are very patient-friendly and welcome walk-ins. We try to work them in if we can, especially children. Our goal in the future is to allow for more walk-ins,” she added.
“For all your health care needs, come visit us at the Western Johnson County Medical Clinic,” said Smith.
By Dana Neubert
News Staff
OBITUARIES
KAREN SUE SURBER
Karen Sue Surber, age 64, Independence, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at her home in Independence.
She was born March 26, 1943, in Kansas City, Kansas, the daughter of Jess and Gertrude (Coley) DeMaranville.
On November 10, 1962, she married Ronald Dean Surber in Miami, Oklahoma. He preceded her in death August 8, 1997. She had lived in Kansas City, Missouri, Raytown, Missouri, and Bonner Springs, Kansas, before moving to Independence eight and one-half years ago.
Mrs. Surber had worked as a telemarketer for Keystone Publishing in Shawnee, Kansas for many years, and also for Comfort Inn in Kansas City, Missouri.
Survivors include one son, Ronald Scott Surber, Kingsville, MO; two daughters, Kathi Elizabeth Surber, Independence, MO, and Teresa Ann Hubert, Independence, MO; one brother, Jess DeMaranville, CA; six sisters, Wilma Delong, Buffalo, MO, Peggy Livingston, Midland, TX, Leah Hayes, ID, Irma Mingham, Modesto, CA, Alpha Runge, CA, and Lynn Horn, Midland, TX; and six grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 21, 2007 at Ben Cast & Son - Wood Funeral Home, Holden, MO. The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 20, 2007 at the funeral home.
Music at the service was “I’ll Fly Away,” and “When We All Get to Heaven.”
Pallbearers were Eric Surber, Nicolas Hurbert, Mike Schneider, Steve Schneider, Ernie Smith and Dewey Corbett.
Interment was in Elm Spring Cemetery, Kingsville, MO.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Elm Spring Cemetery.
PATRICK ANTHONY TINNEY
Patrick Anthony Tinney, 52, died April 4, 2007 at his home in Vero Beach, Florida.
He was born May 16, 1954 in Saratoga Springs, New York, the son of Paul Tinney and Arlene Rose Folmsbee Tinney. His family moved to Florida in 1958.
He was a 1972 graduate of Fort Pierce Central High School in Fort Pierce, Florida. In 1974 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an aviation structural mechanic - hydraulics. In addition to that, he also became a P-3 flight engineer. His duty stations included Memphis, TN; Jacksonville, FL; Rota, Spain; and Patuxent River, MD. During his Navy career, he traveled to many different foreign countries, and in 1991 he served in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Pat retired from the U.S. Navy in July 1994 and he and his wife Dana then moved to Holden, where they lived until moving to Vero Beach, FL in June 2003.
On September 21, 1985, he married Dana Jones Wright in Vero Beach, FL.
He was a lifetime member of the VFW and a member of the Fleet Reserve Association.
Pat is survived by his wife Dana of Vero Beach; daughter Tricia Tinney and son Stephen Tinney, both of Orange Park, FL; three grandchildren, Christian, Mason and Zoe, all of Orange Park, FL; brother Bill Tinney of Fort Pierce, FL; brother Mike Tinney of Warsaw, MO; mother-in-law Jo Ellen Jones of Holden, MO; sisters-in-law Julie Fields, Bobbie Jones and Tracy Duffey, all of Holden, MO; brother-in-law Danny Jones of Oak Grove, MO; many nieces and nephews; and many, many friends all over the world.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Indian River Federal Credit Unit, Benefit for Patrick Tinney, P.O. Box 2080, Vero Beach, FL 32961.
Pat was cremated and a memorial service was held on April 10, 2007 at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home in Vero Beach, FL. His ashes will be spread at sea at a later date.
JOHN D. WELCH, JR.
John D. Welch, Jr., 81, of Holden, MO died Saturday, April 21, 2007 at the Abbey Woods Living & Rehab Center in St. Joseph, MO.
Memorial services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at the Enon Baptist Church, Highway 50 and 131 in Pittsville, MO.
Arrangements were under the direction of Cremation Society of KS and MO, 816-822-9888.
SARAH L. McCONNELL
Sarah L. McConnell, age 64, Holden, Missouri, passed away Monday, April 23, 2007 at Holden Manor Care Center, Holden, Missouri.
She was born, August 10, 1942, the daughter of William J. and Bessie (Wood) Kinne. On December 23, 1997, she married Gary McConnell, in Holden, MO.
Mrs. McConnell had lived in California, Lee’s Summit, and Independence, Missouri before moving to Holden 30 years ago. She had been a CNA and CMT for 20 years and was manager for Bristol Manor in Holden for five years. She enjoyed painting and sand art along with crocheting. She will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Survivors include her husband Gary of the home; one son, Robert Blackwell, Holden, MO; four daughters, Luanne Lloyd and husband Doug, Holden, MO, Lori Cochran and husband Carl, Warrensburg, MO, Lycia Sumner and husband Mike, Columbus, GA and Sarita Williams and husband Jimmy of Holden, MO; one brother, William Kinne, Jr. and wife Georgia, Orrick, MO; one sister, Janie Melton, Holden,MO; seven grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 2 - 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26, 2007 at Ben Cast & Son-Wood Funeral Home, Holden, MO.
Graveside service and burial will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 26, 2007 at Holden Cemetery, Holden, MO.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Holden Manor Care Center.
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