 In a closed executive session, the Holden R-III School Board voted to restructure the elementary and intermediate schools, consolidating them into one school, encompassing pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.
In a report from the Holden R-III School District website, the board believes the restructuring is in the best interest of the students and it will begin with the 2008-2009 school year.
The district will hire an assistant principal for the school and current intermediate school principal Mark Hedger will be the principal of the newly-aligned school.
A committee is being formed to develop a plan to implement the restructuring and more information will be provided as plans are developed.
The board’s decision came shortly after present elementary school principal Robyn Sisk made official her plans to retire at the end of this school year. Sisk has been an educator in the district for the past 31 years and has been the elementary principal for 22 years.
According to Holden school board member Pat Zvacek, “Consolidation of PreK-5 in my opinion will give the elementary/intermediate campus the continuity that is needed when a leader retires and the district is looking for someone to fill that position - which is a very key position.
“With Mark Hedger previously serving as principal of grades three through five, he already knows the students, teachers, parents, the buildings and the district as a whole. The board’s main concern is how this plan will affect the students, their academic experience and teachers already in place.
“As this plan unfolded, I felt very confident that this will work for our district. The curriculum discipline will be consistent and I feel very positive that Mr. Hedger has formed a committee to work on other issues of concern.”
By Steve Sullins
Editor
Frigid January temperatures are making it nearly impossible for some people in the community to stay warm.
Some people have problems with their furnaces and other heat devices and turn to the HOPE Center for help during this dangerously cold time. Blankets are what they are seeking and they come to the Community Clothes Closet to see if there are any available for themselves and their children.
Clothes Closet Coordinator Melody Nalls recently reported that they are very low on blankets this winter and she is imploring anyone in the community who is able to help, to give blankets to HOPE for those in need.
“We have about half of the blankets available this winter that we did last winter,” Nalls said. “And we are inundated with requests from those who need them including the elderly and those with small children.”
HOPE serves Holden and the surrounding communities and Nalls says they are unable to help some who need it due to their lack of blankets. “We are asking anyone who has a blanket to consider giving it to HOPE and also encourage community, church and civic organizations to get involved in this effort,” stated Nalls. “If we could get everyone in the community to donate only one blanket, we would be able to meet our clients’ needs.”
She said they really could use all types of bedding but right now blankets are the number one request she has been receiving from clients.
Nalls works with a number of volunteers to make the Clothes Closet a nice place for people to come and shop.
If anyone has a blanket they wish to donate, Nalls says to please bring them to the HOPE office during office hours, which are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Don’t leave the bedding in the back alley as there is a lot of theft that occurs and we usually don’t get the donations that people leave back there,” Nalls said.
“Perhaps some of the organizations in town could make this a service project,” said Nalls. “We welcome any type of blankets but could really use some heavy ones. We are in a desperate situation right now and are looking to the community for help.”
If anyone has a new or used blanket they would like to donate, please drop it off at the HOPE Center and help them to help others.
By Dana Neubert
News Staff
The Holden NAPA Store has new owners as of December 1, 2007.
Matt and Kim Morrow of Garden City have purchased the business from John Spencer. They also own a NAPA store in Garden City so have experience in the automotive field.
NAPA has been a long-time Holden business and has been in the same location since 1974. It is located 2 blocks south of Second Street at 106 West Fourth Street in Holden.
When asked what prompted the couple to buy the Holden store, Matt said, “The opportunity presented itself and we couldn’t pass it up. We have family ties here in Holden and attend church at Forward Community Church.”
Matt is originally from Holden and graduated from Holden High School in 1988. He is the son of Kris Morrow of Clinton and the late Ken Morrow. The Morrows were formerly of the Magnolia community. Kim is the daughter of Edith Newman of Chilhowee and the late Wayne Newman. She is originally from Blairstown.
Working for the Morrows are Bob Strate, manager, and Chris Spillman, employee. Strate has managed the store for four years and Spillman has three years experience with NAPA. Kim works in the Holden store two days a week and Matt works full time at the Garden City NAPA.
Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Morrows say the business will remain pretty much the same as it has been but some prices have been lowered such as five gallons of hydraulic oil has been cut from $42 to $26.95. They will also continue to have monthly and quarterly sales on merchandise.
Their inventory covers automobiles from the early 1900s to current models. They have a large variety of inventory for more popular models as well as farm tractor engine parts. The Morrows plan to increase their inventory to better serve their customers. “We have a lot of repeat customers, some account holders, and we always welcome new business,” stated Kim.
They would like their customers to know they will be holding a Customer Appreciation Day filter and tool sale on March 1. They plan to serve lunch, offer door prizes and have huge discounts on filters. This is a time people usually stock up on their filters, according to Kim. Also on that day, Clark Tool will be on site having a sale on a variety of tools.
The Morrows welcome the public to stop by for their auto parts needs and meet them, along with Bob and Chris. “They are here to serve the customers’ needs and are very customer oriented. They install wipers, test batteries, alternators and starters for people who need the help,” said Kim. Overall, the staff at Holden NAPA has a lot of knowledge about the business and Chris went to school at vo-tech to learn about automobiles. Both Bob and Matt have had a lot of experience in the field and are prepared to help customers in any way they can.
In their spare time, the Morrows enjoy spending time with family and friends, although they say they stay very busy running two stores.
“Stop by and see us and see how we can help with your automotive needs,” said Matt.
By Dana Neubert
News Staff
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The Holden High School boys’ varsity basketball team took a giant step toward the driver’s seat of the Show-Me West Conference hoops race by crushing rival Sherwood, 57-36 last Tuesday in the HHS gymnasium.
The decisive victory gave the Eagles a 2-0 mark in early season league race and a leg up over the Marksmen who many feel will be fighting for the conference crown.
The Eagles led by six at the end of the first quarter and stretched the bulge to 27-18 at the intermission. A 17-point third quarter gave them a 20-point lead at the end of three periods and won going away by 21.
“This is one of our best team efforts of the year,” praised head Eagle varsity coach Dale Wescott. “We shared the ball well and defensively we put a lot of pressure on their perimeter shooters.”
Holden had three players in double figures scoring and a total of eight Eagles cracked the scorebook. Travis Wescott scored 14 while Andrew Sanderson, 12, and Deron Binkley, 10, led the way offensively.
“I though we placed especially well defensively,” Coach Wescott continued. “Mike Garten came in off the bench and gave us some good defensive pressure. Our inside guys did a great job too. They rebounded well. I still feel we’re not finished improving. I know we can play even better on defense.”
Looking at the schedule the rest of the way, Coach Wescott says he likes his team’s chances in all the games. “The tough slate we played early has prepared us for the conference stretch drive and advancing in postseason,” the coach added.
Statistics in the win included: Wescott, 14 points, nine rebounds and three assists; Sanderson, 12 points and three assists; Binkley, 10 points and eight rebounds; Garten, seven points; Trevor Yancey, five points; Zak Anstine, five points; Bryce Evans, two points, seven points and three assists; and Crosby Coleman, two points.
After a week off, the Eagles will get back at it Tuesday night with a home matchup with league foe Butler beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday they will travel to El Dorado Springs.
Clinton 63 Eagles 51
Foul trouble bit Holden’s big guns Wescott and Sanderson and handcuffed the Eagles’ pressing efforts in a the non-league tilt at the Clinton gym.
Holden led 14-13 after one quarter and was behind by only a bucket at the intermission. In the second half, however, the Eagles’ point guard Sanderson was only able to play a handful of minutes before fouling out. From that point forward, Holden struggled with the Cardinals pressure and their quickness.
Holden was down in double digits late in the fourth quarter, but fought back to within four at 55-51 with about two minutes left. they would get no farther as Clinton reeled off the last eight points of the game.
“Our offense is pretty good, but we turned the ball over 18 times and you can’t do that and beat a good team. Also, our defense can’t allow 30 points in the first half,” the coach continued.
Stats for the loss dropping the Eagles to 8-6 on the year were: Wescott, 17 points, five rebounds and four assists; Sanderson, 10 points and three steals; Evans, nine points and three assists; Binkley, eight points and seven rebounds; Garten, three points and Anstine and Taylor McConville, two points each.
Coach Wescott named players of the week, with Wescott rating offensive, Garten, defensive and Yancey, sixth man.
By Steve Sullins
Editor
OBITUARIES
MILTON HERCHEL GREEN
Milton Herchel Green, 78, Independence, died Saturday, January 19, 2008 at the Oak Grove Nursing Home in Oak Grove, MO.
He was born April 26, 1929 in Pittsville, Missouri, the son of Moman Dowdy Green and Edna Jewel Patterson Green.
Milton worked at and retired from Westinghouse Electric Supply Co. in 1986. He was a former member of the Teamsters Union Local #838. Milton graduated from Odessa High School in 1947. In August of 1951 he was inducted into the Army and served one year, eight months and 22 days. He served in the Korean war and was a Medical Airman in the Ambulance Co. #120 Medical Battalion.
Survivors include two brothers, Noel Green, Odessa; Aubrey Green, Memphis, TN; two nieces, Anita Dukes, Odessa; Gretta Green, Memphis, TN; two nephews, Tom Winemiller, Lexington, MO; Gary Green, Memphis, TN; one great- niece, Fallon Dukes, Odessa; and one great-nephew, Grant Winemiller, Lexington.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, January 24 at the Odessa Cemetery with Rev. Herman J. Hudson, Jr. officiating. Cremation. Military honors will be presented by Odessa Funeral Honors Team #5675 at the Odessa Cemetery.
MARGARET D. NELSON
Margaret D. Nelson, 94, of Holden, MO passed away Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at the Holden Manor Care Center.
Margaret was born May 11, 1913, eight miles west of Liberty, MO to Fred M. Pine and Katherine J. (Kohnle) Pine. The family moved to Sturgeon, Missouri in 1919 where she attended Flint Hill and Tucker country schools. They moved to Holden in 1926. Margaret graduated from the eighth grade at Roberts country school in the spring of 1926. She attended her freshman year of high school at Centerview and her sophomore year at Holden.
On May 9, 1930, Margaret and Alma Christenson were married in Warrensburg. The couple made their home on a farm three miles north of Holden. On February 15, 1931, a son, James Albert was born; April 6, 1932, another son, Fredrick Charles was born; and on January 5, 1934, a daughter, Doris Una, was born. They lived in the Holden area with the exception of 1935 when they resided in Lawrence, Kansas. Alma preceded Margaret in death January of 1959 in Holden.
Margaret worked at Ritner’s Grocery Store from 1937 to 1939 and M&M (Moore & Mooney) from 1939 to 1944. She worked as a linotype operator at the Holden Progress from 1944 to 1961. She worked as a bookkeeper/sales clerk at the Heiman Elevator from 1962 until retiring in 1975. On January 14, 1962, Obed Nelson and Margaret Christenson were married at the Holden RLDS Church. The couple made their home one mile north of Kingsville until Obed’s death in 1997. Margaret was very active in her retirement. She had made 48 quilts, 30 of which were completely handmade. She shared her talents and achievements with all those around her. She was an active member of the Community of Christ Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Doris Enke and her husband Charles of Holden; a son, Fred Christenson and his wife Jane of Holden; a daughter-in-law, Phyllis Christenson of Blue Springs; 14 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Margaret was preceded in death by a son, James and a grandson, Jared Christenson.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 26, 2008 at the Community of Christ Church in Holden with Elder Sharon Briscoe officiating. Visitation will be held from 9-10 a.m., prior to the service.
There will be a private interment in the Fairview Cemetery in Holden at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be left to Butterfield Youth Services in care of Williams Funeral Chapel in Holden.
Online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net |