 Three separate one-car accidents involving Holden and Kingsville area citizens resulted in two fatalities and two others injured over last weekend.
Killed were Kenneth D. Alterman, 39 of Holden; and Lawrence A. Cooper, 41, of Kingsville. Injured in another one-car mishap were Jamie M. Ring, 17, and Jordan A. Ring, 9, also of Kingsville.
Alterman was killed early Sunday morning as his 1979 Chevrolet was traveling eastbound on I-470 at US 50 Highway in Lee’s Summit in the far right lane, when his vehicle began to skid for an unknown reason. It went off the south side of the roadway, over an embankment, overturned and landed on its top. The car became fully engulfed after impact. Alterman was pronounced dead at the scene by Jackson County medical investigator Georgianne Bear at 2:55 a.m.
Less than a half of an hour prior to that accident, Cooper was pronounced dead at the scene also by Bear at 2:27 a.m. Cooper’s fatal accident occurred on the ramp from westbound US 50 Highway to eastbound I-470 when his left tires went off the shoulder. He overcorrected and the vehicle exited the right side of the road and struck a guardrail. It then rolled over and struck a rock and came to rest.
Both Jamie and Jordan Ring were LifeFlighted to area hospitals after their accident on Highway 58 Friday afternoon at approximately 3 p.m., just two-tenths of a mile east of Route AA near Kingsville.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Jamie lost control of her 2001 Chevrolet while traveling westbound on MO 58. The vehicle travelled off the right side of the road, struck an embankment and overturned several times, ejecting the driver and passenger before coming to rest.
Jamie was taken to Centerpointe Hospital in Independence, where she was treated for cuts and bruises and released Friday evening. Jordan was transported to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City where she is still a patient being treated for broken bones.
According to their mother, Julie Ring, Jordan should be home in a few days and doctors have told her that she should fully recover from her injuries.
By Steve Sullins
Editor
With existing parking lots filled with construction equipment and supplies, and normal entrances blocked off and under construction, Holden High School opened its doors Monday morning to a record number of students.
Bolstered by a freshman class of 133-strong, the high school welcomed 514 students on the first day of school. The mark tops last years’ record first-day attendance of 501. All total, the district was only six students shy of 1,500 with 1,494 for first-day attendance. That tops last school years’ final count of 1,483 taken on January 31, 2007.
Monday’s totals for the elementary school were 309 while the intermediate school had 331. The middle school started the first day with 340.
Even with the limited parking areas and heavy traffic, interim district superintendent Dr. Bob Watkins said that it was a successful first day. “I though we had a very smooth opening,” the superintendent related. “The parking went well and administrators and teachers were available to help direct traffic.”
School Resource Office Scott Brandt was on hand to send vehicles in the right direction off of Eagle Drive.
New HHS principal Rebecca Gudde also donned a safety vest and helped direct the large number of vehicles parking and dropping off students.
“I think the morning went incredibly smooth for the condition,” Gudde stated. “I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that information and maps were publicized ahead of time and when students and parents got to school they already had a good idea where they were going.
“I really want to thank everyone for their patience,” she continued.
The principal also stated that 50 parking spaces were opened for students and staff on the west side of the existing parking lot, closest to the tennis courts. They were to be available Tuesday.
According to district officials, the new administrative offices and front entrance and lobby are projected to be released to the school by the third week of September.
By Steve Sullins
Editor
Head librarian of Trails Regional Library, Holden Branch, Jeannae Dickerson, gave her branch manager’s report to the Trails Regional Library Board at their regular meeting held August 16.
In an activities update, Dickerson reported on Storytime which was held in July. She read several stories to the children and they had an opportunity to make crafts after the stories.
In other activity news, she told the board the Holden branch presented its second summer outdoor movie night on July 13. “Approximately 90 people attended the movie ‘Bridge to Terabithia.’ It was viewed on a 12-foot inflatable screen with people sitting on blankets or lawn chairs. Free popcorn and bottled water were supplied by local merchants and the Friends of the Library,” said Dickerson.
In related news, Dickerson said the Friends of the Library elected new officers this month. “Donna Chaney is the new president; I am vice president; Amie Tillotson, secretary; and Kristel Spies is treasurer. Plans were also made for the reward party for the children who had accomplished their goals in the summer reading program,” stated Dickerson.
In other activity news, she reported the Holden Library held a Harry Potter contest last month with the winner being awarded a copy of the new Harry Potter book on its release day.
In finance news Dr. Foley made a motion to establish the levy at .2545. The motion was unanimously approved. Foley noted the levy has been lowered from .2669 to .2545 due to reassessment and rollback. Foley also made a motion to approve the fiscal year 2008 budget as updated based on a levy rate of .2545. The motion was approved by the board.
In new business, the board consensus was to hold the staff appreciation dinner on September 29, if possible.
In other new business, the board discussed the possibility of holding a special planning meeting to discuss facilities. Board members will bring suggestions to the September board meeting for dates to hold the special meeting in October or early November.
The next meeting of the Trails Regional Library Board will be September 20 at the Holden Branch at 7:30 p.m.
By Dana Neubert
News Staff
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OBITUARIES
JAMES ROBERT WILKES, SR.
James Robert Wilkes, Sr., 78, Kingsville, MO (formerly of Unity Village and Slater, MO) died Monday, August 13, 2007 at the Holden Manor Care Center in Holden, MO.
He was born January 29, 1929 in Gilliam, MO, the son of Dave Wilkes and Ella Moore Wilkes.
Jim graduated from Gilliam High School in 1947. He then went to the Army Air Corps now known as the Air Force and served from April 4, 1948 until April 27, 1951 with an honorable discharge as a sergeant.
On July 17, 1957, he married Viola Mae Arbough in Marshall, MO. She died January 20, 2003.
Jim worked for Unity School of Christianity as an electrician and in the maintenance department from 1969 until retiring in 1991. He had worked for International Shoe Co. in the Sedalia and Slater, MO factories. He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Slater, MO.
Survivors include two daughters with spouse, Bonnie B. and David Giro, Independence, MO, Linda Wilkes, Belton, MO; a son, James R. Wilkes, Jr., Independence, MO; one grandson, Derek Agee; two sisters, Doris Matthews, Independence, MO, Wanda and Jerry Webster, Shelton, WA. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Dave Calvin Wilkes.
Funeral services were held Friday, August 17, 2007 at Ralph O. Jones Chapel with Reverend Herman J. Hudson, Jr. officiating. Burial was in Odessa Cemetery, Odessa, MO.
The family received friends from 9 a.m. Friday at the Ralph O. Jones Chapel.
Pallbearers were Derek Agee, David Giro, Tim Taylor, Jim Knotts, Ryan Dettmer and Michael White.
LORETTA POWELL
In the obituary of Loretta Powell, dated August 9, 2007, some family members were inadvertently omitted due to lack of information given to The Holden Image.
They are: daughter, Sue Sargeant; grandson, Mike Sargeant and wife Kim; and great-granddaughter, Krista Sargeant, all of West Fork, Arkansas.
RUTH L. AKINS
Ruth L. Akins, 87, of Latour, Missouri passed away Sunday, August 26, 2007 at Holden Manor Care Center in Holden.
Ruth was born May 28, 1920 in Ft. Scott, Kansas, the daughter of Jesse I. Giddens and Gladys E. (Manion) Giddens. She married Clyde W. Akins on March 17, 1937 in Butler, Missouri.
Ruth operated the switchboard in Latour at one time. Later, she and Clyde owned and operated a restaurant and gas station business. More recently, she operated a grocery store in Latour. Clyde preceded her in death on November 14, 1967.
She enjoyed gardening, flowers, woodworking and sewing for her grandchildren. Ruth was known for her cooking.
Survivors include five children, Bonnie Riffle of Latour, Clyde Akins and his wife Phyllis of Wheatland, Patricia Thurman and her husband Mike of Kingsville, Beatrice Wurdeman of Cole Camp and Ted Akins of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two brothers, Tom Giddens and his wife Ruby of Arcadia, Kansas, and Ike Giddens and his wife Wanda of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Survivors also include 15 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, August 30, 2007 at the Williams Funeral Chapel in Holden, with interment to follow in the Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Missouri. Visitation will be at Williams Funeral Chapel on Thursday, one hour prior to service.
Pallbearers will be Michael Thurman, Bobby Ward, Wes Wurdeman, Rick Snell, Rodney Snell, Donnie Akins, Shannon Akins and Travis Lutz.
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