After approximately a year of construction, the new F&C  Bank’s main facility will open its doors for customers Tuesday, October 9.

Anticipation is high among F&C employees about the move and according to chairman of the board Marilyn Mickey-Clay, “We are looking forward to seeing and serving our loyal customers and friends at our new location”

The new facility on East Tenth Street at the entrance to the new Eagle Crest subdivision, will feature both expanded lobby and drive-through hours as well as a  drive-through automated teller machine (ATM).

Lobby hours will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.  Drive-Through hours will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.  In an effort to add convenience for drive-through customers, the new facility will accommodate four lanes of traffic.

“There’s a lot of excitement among the whole bank staff about serving our customers from this new facility,” explained bank president Bob Mickey.  “We’ve made this investment in the bank’s long-term future and see it as a commitment to provide our customers and the community with the best service we possibly can.”

There will continue to be bank services at the downtown location as the drive-through lanes will remain. The lobby, with a limited staff, will also remain open through November.  Lobby hours at the downtown location until it closes will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

All services at the East Branch in the Lloyd’s Shopping Center will be consolidated into the new facility after close of business Saturday, October 6. 

During the last week, while concrete is being poured outside, bank employees have been moving and setting-up inside in an effort to be completely ready for their customers on opening day Tuesday.  “We’re striving to make this transition to the new location as smooth as possible for our customers,” stated Kathleen Kephart, bank senior vice-president.

Although the bank was designed to be both convenient and functional, it will also be pleasing to the eye according to F&C officials.  The sign on East Tenth Street will provide motorists with community information on its color video message screen.  Inside the bank there will be video screens providing messages, entertainment and other information.

Mickey is also excited about customers and visitors to the bank seeing the large Holden Heritage wall display.  Inset within an approximately 9 by 10 feet photograph of historic downtown Holden will be historic items depicting both the city and bank’s heritage.  Included will be a copy of the original stock certificate issued to bank founder William Steele and a drawing of the original 1882 bank.

“As the pictures from the past 126 years of Holden’s heritage will show, the bank has evolved and continued to modernize over the years,” stated Mickey.  “This is the latest chapter in that history of progress.  With this new main office we’re looking forward to being a part of the Holden community for years to come.”

All telephone numbers for the F&C bank will remain the same.

By Steve Sullins
Editor


The City of Holden is about to set the course for its future growth and development and is looking to the citizens to help build that future.

“We are excited to initiate this process and want the local citizens and businesses to join in helping us to be a better and more vibrant community,” said Diane Klossen, local business owner and chair of the Holden Plan Advisory Committee.  “This planning effort is an outstanding illustration of how our residents come together to set our vision and goals for a better community.”

The endeavor, which will unfold over the next several months, will bring together Holden residents, businesses and community leaders to coordinate and develop a road map for the future growth and development of Holden.  The people will come together in a series of “hands-on” workshops to identify opportunities and examine issues that are important to them and set goals they hope to achieve.

Holden citizens will have a variety of ways to participate.  On Sunday afternoon, October 14, beginning at 1 p.m., the community will host a “Walk-About” and Community Opportunity Workshop/mini-charrette at Holden City Hall, 101 W. Third Street, to give citizens an opportunity to get out and show the community leaders and the team from Olsson Associates what’s good and what might need some help from a first-hand point of view.  Also on Monday, October 29, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at city hall, the Holden Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee will host a town meeting and issue forum in which the citizens will be asked to focus on some specific ideas and recommendations to set the course of Holden’s future.

A citizen planning advisory committee, comprising stakeholders from throughout the city, will guide the effort with the help of Olsson Associates.  Focus groups will be organized to evaluate specific issues; public forums will be provided for information as well as to solicit input from a variety of sources.

Additionally, a web site will be created specifically for this strategic planning effort and open opportunities for communication for this grass-roots process.

Klossen said this activity-based public process and the web site were just some of the ways the city was trying to communicate with its citizens.  On the website, residents will be able to find general information about the strategic planning process, including the project schedule; documents related to the process; and a feedback form.  This site will be updated routinely so that the most accurate information is available at all times.

For more information on the Holden Comprehensive Plan, contact Klossen, Advisory Committee Chair at 732-4131.




  Holden High School students are undertaking service learning projects which will help the community and also aid the students in learning as they work.

Each advisory class has been discussing different worthwhile projects they would like to do and what service learning is all about.

According to high school counselor Gerry Pierce, “Service learning is a blending of both service and learning goals in such a way that both occur at the same time and are enriched and supported by one another.  Service learning seems to be one of those rare education models that enable all of the participants to be winners.”

Students are choosing a wide variety of service projects to participate in.  Andrea Evans’ class has decided to adopt a baby boy who is awaiting a liver transplant.

Tyler Barker is an 11-month-old little boy who was born with biliary atresia.  His mother, Trish, explains that it is like an autoimmune disease that keeps Tyler from thriving and gaining weight like a healthy child should.  “Tyler was diagnosed at 11-weeks-old and had a Kasai procedure that is not working for him.  He is on the list for a liver transplant,” stated Trish.  Tyler is the son of David and Trish Barker of Kingsville.

Tyler now has a feeding tube to help with his nutrition and it seems to be helping him, since he has gained another pound recently.  He is now at 18 and one-half pounds, according to his mother.

Evans’ class was touched by Tyler’s story and decided to “adopt” him as their service project.  They have plans in the works to take donations at sporting events and at Lloyd’s parking lot.  They are anticipating great community support in their endeavors.

Also a bank account has been set up for Tyler.  Checks may be made payable to Tyler Barker, FNB of MO, P.O. Box 927, Oak Grove, MO, 64075.  There is also a benefit chili supper, auction and raffle for Tyler on October 19 in Blue Springs.  For more information on Tyler and to see pictures of the little trooper, visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/tylerbarker.

Evans’ class calls the project “Teaming up With Tyler” and are anxious to begin taking donations for him and his family.

The service learning projects the students are involved with will last until the end of the current school year and will help foster civic responsibility.

According to Pierce, there are many different projects the students are looking at doing including community clean-up projects, adopting elementary classes; adopting a class in Sierra Leone; time capsules; developing a mentoring program for eighth graders; adopting families; recording children’s books to donate to Children’s Mercy Hospital; raising money for the Make a Wish Foundation;  helping with the Harvesters and working with the nursing home.

Pierce added, “The service learning project enhances the academic curriculum of the students, or the education components of the community service program in which the participants are enrolled.  It also provides structured time for students or participants to reflect on the service experience.”

Students, faculty and staff members at Holden High School are anticipating successful projects and look forward to working to help better the community.

By Dana Neubert
News Staff
   Catherine Elizabeth Reed of Austin, Texas and Douglas Edward Jones of Harrison, New York were married on August 4 at 6 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church in Austin.  The Reverend Dr. Norbert Firnhaber was the celebrant.

Catherine is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joel E. Reed, III (Laurel Mickey Reed) of Austin and the granddaughter of Marilyn Mickey Clay and Jack Clay of Holden.  Doug is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher J. Jones of Harrison, NY.

Tamara Gomez of Austin served as maid of honor, and Mike Jones of Harrison, NY and brother of the groom, served as best man.

Bridesmaids were Kyla Edmonds of Houston, TX; Kimberley Zeitman of New York, NY; Elizabeth Wetterhahn of Washington, D.C.; and Krista Duke of Denver, CO.

Groomsmen were Daniel Campisi of Hoboken, NJ; Jonathan Campo of Brooklyn, NY; Adam Zaiger of Iowa City, IA; and Sherman Yang of New York, NY.

The bride and groom are graduates of Washington University in St. Louis.  The bride graduated from Columbia University in May, 2006 with a master’s degree in social work.  She is employed by the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, NY, where she works as a counselor in the Victim Services Unit.  Doug graduated from Pace University School of Law in White Plains, NY, in May of 2007. He is employed by the law firm of Shearman and Sterling in New York City.

A reception followed the wedding ceremony at The Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin.   After a honeymoon trip to Tahiti, Mr. and Mrs. Jones will be at home in Manhattan.



Junior running back Dennis Hutchings powered his way to four touchdowns and 160 yards of rushing as he led the Holden Eagle football team to a 46-7 rout of the Butler Bears Friday night in Butler.

Hutchings struck from 90 yards, 23 yards and two two-yarders for his hat trick plus one as backfield mate Ryan Spilman had his second outstanding game in a row, rushing for 127 yards of his own.

The win kept the Eagles’ record perfect for the season at 2-0 and gave them their first win in the Show-Me West Conference.  Holden and Lone Jack remain the only undefeated teams in the league.  They will meet October 12 at Eagle Stadium at Holden’s homecoming.

“We just physically and mentally dominated the whole game,” explained head Eagle football coach Rich Johnson who picked up his 20th win as the Holden mentor.  “We went out there and jumped on them early.  Our kids were very prepared to play and motivated.  Butler is a big rival and it was their homecoming so they really wanted to beat them.  When you’re as prepared as they were you usually play well - and they did.”

Once again, the Eagles shut their opponent down on defense with the exception of four big plays, which accounted for 223 yards of their 268 total yards.  One of those plays was a breakaway run by a Bear back who was headed for a touchdown with no time left on the first half clock.  With his speed, Eagle defensive back Zak Anstine was able to catch up with him and tackle before he reached the endzone.

When asked about Holden’s penchant to giving up big plays while shutting their opponents down the rest of the way, Coach Johnson stated, “We’re not going to be able to shut teams down on every snap.  Breakaways are caused by missed assignments or missed tackles.  This is something we continue to work on.  In the case of the Butler game, we made some adjustments to stop their offensive sets and we did shut them down in the second half.” 

The Eagles held the Bears to no first downs in the second half while causing them to punt three times and give up the ball once on downs.

Besides Hutchings four touchdowns which came at 8:10  and 2:16 in the first quarter, midway through the second quarter and at 8:08 of the third quarter, Aaron Johnson slipped around right end near the end of the half and sprinted 14 yards for his TD.  He also drilled a pass to receiver Crosby Coleman who carried the ball to the end zone unmolested with 3:21 remaining in the third quarter.  Holden’s final score came on a two-yard plunge by sophomore reserve running back James Gray after he had made a nifty eight-yard run to get close to the goal line.  Holden didn’t score in the fourth quarter, but junior varsity players and reserves saw plenty of action.

“This was a big win for us,” the coach continued.  “We’re undefeated with Lone Jack and hopefully we’ll be able to stay healthy and continue to play well and take home another conference championship.”

The coach also praised his offensive line for the third straight week.  He said they graded out well once again.  He did say that they still had to improve in finishing through their blocks to the whistle. 

He also had good words for the quarterback Johnson, who he said was 13-2 as a starter.  “He does what we need him to do.  He doesn’t turn the ball over and doesn’t make many mistakes.  He stays within himself - he knows his job and he does it.”

In addition to Hutchings and Spilman’s totals, David Lerda once again made the most of his carries, toting the ball only six times for 59 yards.  Johnson was three for 38 yards and four of nine passing for 42 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

Defensively, outside of the few breakdowns, the Eagles gave up very few yards.  More importantly, they only allowed seven points.

Leading the way in tackles was Jesse Baker with 13, while Lerda had eight and Aaron Ferguson, seven.  With six tackles was freshman Jacob Reiman, while Deron Binkley and Max Lloyd managed five.  Spilman and Jon Thompson finished the night with four apiece, while Anstine, Hutchings, Coleman and Jeff Johnson each had three.  With two was Clayton Hill.  Finishing with one apiece were David Carter, A. Johnson, Andrew Wakeman and Young.

In special teams play, the coach lauded Ferguson and Binkley for kicking the ball off three times to the endzone.

Next week, the Eagles will travel to St. Pius X in Kansas City North to take on the Warriors in their biggest test of the season.  The Class 3 powerhouse is once again ranked in the top ten of their class in the state and even without standout Pat Cashmore, who is now playing at Holy Cross, are still a formidable foe according to Coach  Johnson.

“They’re still a salty team,” he continued.  “They have a very athletic quarterback and a tight end who is very good.  They’re solid on both offense and defense and are very good on special teams.  They have ran a kickoff back for a touchdown this season.  This would be a great win for our program at Holden.”

Coach Johnson also said that he would like to see as many Holden fans as possible at St. Pius for the game Friday,.  For those who can’t make it, the game will be broadcast by Denny Campbell via the internet.  Go to website www.prepcasts.com.  Click on the MO-West link and then clock on the game.

By Steve Sullins
Editor


OBITUARIES

LOVINA MAE KOCI (SALING)
Lovina Mae Koci (Saling) passed away July 22, 2007, at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital.  She had been a resident of Wellsville Manor in Wellsville, KS.

She was born July 21, 1921, in Centerview, Johnson County, MO.  She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Grover Saling.

She was a homemaker.

She is survived by one brother, Albert Saling, Raytown, MO; one daughter, Lala Gail Rowland, Richardson, Texas; two sons,  Gary Don DeMasters, Holden, MO, and Jimmie Lynn DeMasters of Spring Hill, KS.  She is also survived by nine grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She had willed her body to the KU Medical Center for research.  No services therefore are planned.


IRA LANE
Ira Lane, 85, Warrensburg, passed away October 1, 2007.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 4 at 2 p.m.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home, Warrensburg.  Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Waneta (Bryant) Lane.

A full obituary will appear in next week’s issue of the Holden Image.

Maintained, Designed and Hosted by Suncoast Networks