Image Publisher Dies at Age 47

The Holden community and surrounding area lost a true friend last week as Holden Image publisher Russel Lee "Rusty" Hartwell died in his home Thursday morning at the age of 47.

Besides publishing the Image, Rusty also published the Highway 50 Corridor, Long Jack and Crest Ridge editions. He was co-publisher of the PennySaver with the Pleasant Hill Times as well.

Behind the scenes, he was a tireless worker for the greater Holden community, spending many hours as a guiding force in the day-to-day running of the Community Activity Center (CAC).

He was also a major influence in helping Holden's youth, with the financing and coaching of his Holden Image youth basketball team. He spent much time and energy in arranging youth leagues and tournaments at the CAC.

Rusty helped initiate the Holden Middle School Booster Club in 2000. He was the president of the HMS club as well as the Holden Schools Booster Club for many years. He was very generous with the supplies and facilities of his publishing business to aid school projects.

He was also a major fundraiser and benefactor to the refurbishing of the HHS gymnasium in 2002. Besides the renovation and repainting of the gym floor, the walls and ceiling were also painted.

According to Chamber of Commerce president Dennis Mason, Rusty was the man behind the Customer Appreciation event during the holiday season in Holden and the Christmas lighting project as well.

"Rusty was so involved in helping, but always wanted to stay behind the scenes and take none of the credit," explained Mason. "He will truly be missed by this community."

Rusty was the founder of the Holden Community Betterment Committee, which took on the task of beautifying the city's downtown in 1986. The trees which now line Second Street were planted as well as the buildings painted. For their efforts, the committee received a Missouri Community Betterment award from then Governor John Ashcroft in ceremonies in 1987. He also spearheaded efforts to install new tennis courts, which became reality in the late 1990s when the Vietnam Memorial Tennis Courts were finished on South Main Street.

Mason's theme was echoed by Holden Mayor Mike Wakeman, who said, "One of the biggest things I liked about Rusty was that he was one of those people who did a lot for the other people but didn't want the credit. He was so willing to step forward as a citizen and businessman and see things through to their completion. He will be missed deeply."

Missouri State Representative David Pearce continued in the praise of Rusty's community involvement, "When I think of Rusty, I think of what a community supporter he was. He was like a community cheerleader. He made Holden a better place to live. I hope his legacy will live forward. He will be greatly missed."

Rusty and wife Cyndy founded the Holden Image newspaper in 1992, and purchased the Holden Progress newspaper in 1995. In 2000, the business was incorporated into The Holden Image, Inc.

The 1978 graduate of Holden High School attended the University of Missouri-Columbia and received a bachelor of science degree in journalism in 1982 from Central Missouri State University. In that degree, he had minors in both English and social studies.

In 1983 he began his career when he became publisher of the Albany Ledger in Albany, MO. A year later he also began publishing the Grand City Times Tribune in Grant City, MO.

The son of the late Donald and Myrtle Ann (Williams) Hartwell of Holden, Rusty married the former Cynthia Lou Schneider in Nebraska City, NE in 1986. He and Cyndy have two children, Kenton Thomas, 19; and Jack Austin, 14. He was known as a man who was deeply committed to his family.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, May 30, at Williams Funeral Chapel in Holden with Elder Jane Christenson officiating. Memorials are suggested to the Rusty Hartwell Memorial Scholarship Fund. These may be left at the chapel.

MoDOT Plans to Close Highway 58 West of Pleasant Hill

According to a Missouri Department of Transportation news release, State Highway 58 between Route BB and Gray Road, about two miles west of Pleasant Hill, will be closed from 9 a.m. June 4 through late August for bridge replacement at Middle Big Creek.

The release stated that detour south on Route 291 east to Route P, then north on Route 7. Traffic from the east will detour south on Route 7, west on Route P and north on Route 291 to continue westward on Highway 58.

County Clerk Sets Polling Places for Special Election

Gilbert Powers, county clerk, reminds registered voters of the Crest Ridge R-VII and Chilhowee R-IV School Districts that a special election will be held on Tuesday, June 5, 2007. For this election only, they will consolidate polling locations as follows: registered voters in the Post Oak and Chilhowee precincts voting in the Chilhowee R-IV School issue will vote at the Chilhowee Baptist Church and registered voters in the Rose Hill, North Holden, Pittsville, Centerview, Columbus, and Warrensburg NW and Warrensburg SW precincts voting on either the Crest Ridge R-Vii or the Chilhowee R-IV issues will vote at the Johnson County Fairgrounds. Voters in the Simpson and Hazel Hill precincts who vote on the Crest Ridge R-VII issue will continue to vote at the Liberty Baptist Church.

Registered voters in the Crest Ridge R-VII and Chilhowee R-IV School Districts who wish to vote absentee may do so at the voter registration office of the Johnson County Courthouse during regular business hours until Monday, June 4 at 5 p.m. The voter registration office will also be open Saturday, June 2, 2007 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For questions regarding the June special election, contact the voter registration office at (660)747-7414.
  Kingsville Medical Clinic Sets Appreciation Day

The Western Johnson County Medical Clinic, LLC will hold its first Community Appreciation Day on Saturday, June 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

According to executive director Wendy Blaylock, there will be a lot of act ivies and events for the whole family to enjoy and participate in.

"This day is about thanking the community for their support," said Blaylock. The clinic opened its doors in 2004 and has built up a large patient base. They pride themselves on serving the Kingsville, Holden and surrounding areas, who were in need of such a service.

Among those who will be participating in the special day will be Wilkinson Pharmacy, Lin-Care, the Kingsville volunteer fire department and the Johnson County Sheriff's Department who will be fingerprinting children for identification kits.

They will also have fun games for children and adults, one of which will be "Dunk the Doctor" in which patrons will get the chance to dunk Dr. Maxwell and Dr. Prendes.

The clinic's social worker, Amy Perkins, BSW, will be on hand to help people fill out advance directives and livings wills. Blaylock is a notary public and will notarize the documents without charge.

They will also offer free blood pressure and glucose checks throughout the day.

Food will be available including hotdogs and hamburgers. There will also be balloons, games, clowns and face painting.

Blaylock invites all of the community to stop by and take part in the special day. "Even if you're not one of our patients, I encourage everyone to come out and get a child identification kit and advance directive," said Blaylock.

The clinic is located at 305 E. Pacific in Kingsville.

Obituaries
Rusty Hartwell
Russell Lee "Rusty" Hartwell, 47, Holden, MO passed away, Thursday, May 24, 2007. He was born in Holden, MO on January 8, 1960, the son of Donald and Myrtle Ann (Williams) Hartwell. On July 12, 1986, he married Cynthia Lou Schneider in Albany, MO. Their two sons, Kenton Thomas and Jack Austin, were born in 1988 and 1992, respectively.

Rusty was a 1978 graduate of Holden High School. He attended the University of Missouri at Columbia for the first part of his college career. On August 4, 1982 he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism with minors in both English and Social Studies from Central Missouri State University.

In 1983, he moved to Albany, MO and began his career as publisher of the Albany Ledger. A year later, he also began publishing the Grant City Times Tribune in Grant City, MO.

In 1992 Rusty and Cyndy founded The Holden Image Newspaper. In 1995, they purchased the Holden Progress Newspaper, which had been in existence since 1904 and the business was incorporated in the year, 2000 as Holden Image, Inc. In addition to the Image, Rusty copublished the PennySaver with the Pleasant Hill Times and they own two monthly publications, the Highway 50 Corridor, Lone Jack and Crest Ridge editions.

Rusty was extremely committed to his family and community. He was well known for his generous acts of kindness to people of all walks of life throughout the community. He will be missed by many people.

Survivors include his wife Cyndy and sons, Kenton and Jack Hartwell of Holden; one sister, Vicky Hartwell-Ivins and husband, Grey of Fulton, MO; two nieces, Melissa and Stephanie Ivins of Princeton, NJ, and three cousins, Sandy Roberts and Jackie Hartwell of Holden, MO and Rebecca Ansley of Overland Park, KS.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at Williams Funeral Chapel in Holden. Elder Jane Christenson will officiate and John Roberts will deliver the Eulogy.

Pallbearers will be Virgil Pemberton, Jeff Terry, David Loveall, Randy Henderson, Duane Williams, Danny Manford, Jim Reynolds and Ted Quick. Honorary pallbearers will be J. R. Gudde, Mike Daldrup, John McClennan, Jr., Ted Guinn, Derrick Sommerville, David Riley, Bob Mickey and Nathan Wittmaier.

Friends are welcome to call at Williams Funeral Chapel in Holden anytime after Noon on Monday, May 28. Visitations will be held from 5 to 8 PM Tuesday, May 29 at the Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Rusty Hartwell Memorial Scholarship Fund. These may be left at the Chapel. (Arrangements: Williams Funeral Chapel, 609 E. 10th St., Holden MO 64040 (816)732-4188)

Pauline Mary McConville
Pauline Mary McConville, age 90, Holden, MO, passsed away Monday May 28, 2007 at Holden Manor Care Center in Holden, MO.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 1, 2007 at Ben Cast & Son-Wood Funeral Home, Holden, MO with V.F.W. Auxiliary Services by Holden Post #5844. Dr. Lindy Reed will officiate. Interment will follow at the Holden Cemetery, Holden, MO.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Holden Senior Center.

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