 Members of the Holden R-III School Board approved revisions to the 2007-2008 calendar and accepted the proposed 2008-2009 school calendar recommended by Dr. Paul James, interim district superintendent.
Taking place at the board’s regular monthly meeting held Monday night at the Holden Intermediate School, this year’s calendar revisions were made to make up for days missed due to inclement weather. Added to this year’s calendar was February 18, March 10-12 and May 30, which will now be the student’s last day of school.
With high expectations of the High School construction project being completed, the board set August 14, 2008 as students’ first day of school next year. They will be scheduled for release on May 19 with May 20 serving has a teacher workday.
Priority of makeup days will be May 20 and 21, February 13, February 16 and March 16-17 - the first two days of spring break.
Thanksgiving break is scheduled for November 26-28, while December 23-31 will serve as holiday break. Students will report back to school January 5 after holiday break. Spring break is set for March 16-20 and using any of those days for inclement weather makeup days will be the last priority.
In other business during the meeting, district representative Gordon Sunderland recommended approval of $9,500.14 of change orders to the HHS renovation project. Nearly $9,000 of that amount was running conduit for the vocational-agriculture building and from the new transformer to pole. The board approved the recommendation that was required by Aquila.
Sunderland explained to the board that with the construction of the new north wing at 75 percent completion and estimated completion time for the entire construction project to be early may if spring weather is good, there should be very few new change orders. He also said that the district will have some credits coming due at the end of the work.
In the area of transportation, the board approved the purchase of two new buses from Allied Bus Sales in the amount of $147,846.
During executive session, the board accepted the resignations of Tammy Vogler, HHS assistant student council sponsor and Travis Williams, middle and high school band teacher. Hired were Lyn Villalobos, bus driver; and Darin Sehlke, freshman baseball coach.
Action was also taken during executive session to re-employ the present administrative staff for 2008-09 including: Rebecca Gudde, HHS principal; Nancy Daniel, HHS assistant principal; Mark Hedger, Pre-K-5 principal; Donna Fizer, director of curriculum and instruction; Larry Arnone, director of auxiliary services and Julie Brunner, director of technology.
By Steve Sullins
Editor
JoAnn Alpert presided over her first meeting as Chamber of Commerce president on last Thursday morning at Strate’s Drive-Inn.
Dennis Mason, retiring president, presented backgrounds on chamber committees. Mason said there will be a prime focus this year on downtown because of four empty buildings. He said, “The problem of how to get the buildings filled will be a challenge for the chamber.”
Mason explained the membership committee is charged with recruiting new members and retaining current members. He reported that 50 applications have been received so far and another notice will be sent out on March 15. He said the membership committee needs to meet once a month.
Mason said the community betterment committee has been working on putting up welcome signs and directional signs for the city.
He stressed the importance of the comprehensive development plan to finding funding for city improvements.
The chamber’s part in planning is to promote economic development. They have looked at funding for sidewalks and street lights. The installation of the downtown park came from economic development work.
In the education segment, Andrew Wakeman, Holden High School student, spoke on behalf of the FBLA. The Future Business Leaders of America would like to be involved in chamber activities and is considering becoming a chamber members.
The economic development committee meets on the third Monday at O&M at six PM. The comprehensive plan is the committee’s current focus.
In another area, Alpert reported on the Farmers’ Market announcing that the Missouri Farmers Market Association will give the Holden Farmers’ Market a million dollars liability coverage at a reduced rate as a benefit of joining the market association. The state organization will place flyers at highway welcome stations. The flyers will highlight local market locations. Some of the state markets are accepting food stamps with a good increase in income shown and that might be a good economic move for Holden market for next year.
Alpert said the Sesquicentennial reenactment event will be featured by Winding River.com, a website highlighting historical sites, books, and events in the Kansas City to St Joseph corridor.
For the Whiteman report, anyone interested in attending a lunch meeting on the first Thursday in March, call the Dryers at 816-732-4469 for details. Cost is $8.50 and there will be a tour of the B2 or a simulator.
There was a discussion of moving the Chamber after Hours meetings to another date because of scheduling conflicts.
Upcoming events include the St.Patrick’s Day parade and hat contests called Hatitude-Finding the positive about ourselves.
The next chamber meeting is scheduled for 7:00 a.m. Thursday March 6 at Strate’s Drive-Inn.
By Terri Vinck
News Staff
The Holden United Methodist Church is excitedly preparing to move to their new location on 58 Highway on the east side of Holden.
Tentative plans call for the church to hold its last worship service in the former church at Fourth and Main on February 24 and have the first service in the new church on March 2.
While there is still much work to be done to finish the classrooms and other rooms, the main part of the building should be operational, barring any unforeseen delays.
“We are thankful to God for providing the church we have been in the past 100 years and for the lives He has touched through the Methodist Church in Holden and we are also excited about what God is doing to provide a new facility to help us tell more people about Jesus and help us serve the people of Holden,” said Pastor Pat Kelley.
The church will hold the Ministerial Assocation’s Easter Sunrise Service on March 23 at 6:30 a.m. as well as have its own special Easter service at 9 a.m. Pastor Pat said, “Our new facility will have enough room to seat up to 500 people and is able to have indoor sports activities and have several meetings at the same time. We want everyone in Holden to feel welcome to use the facility for activities they might have or come and take part in the church’s activities. We also want everyone to know that Jesus loves them and so do we and we invite anyone who is looking for a church home to join us as we seek to grow closer to God and each other together.”
For more information, one may call the church at 816-732-4817.
The Holden High School boys’ varsity basketball team kept their perfect Show-Me West Conference record intact last week as they defeated league opponents Lone Jack and St. Mary’s.
Standing 5-0 in the conference and 11-6 overall, the Eagles topped the Mules 56-49, and dismantled the Trojans, 73-38. Both were home contests.
The remaining conference games will all be on the road. Holden will travel to Butler Friday night for a showdown with the bears and then go up against Sherwood in their gym Saturday. The Eagles will wind up league play Friday, February 22 at Lone Jack.
“We should have a pretty good idea of where we’re going to finish in the conference after Saturday,” explained head Eagles varsity coach Dale Wescott. “Both Butler and Sherwood are tough places to play.”
If Holden wins both games, they should have a lock on a conference championship. Closest to the Eagles are the Marksmen who have only one loss in the conference. They stand 4-1 with two games with St. Mary’s and one with Holden remaining in their league schedule. Their loss was to the Eagles at Holden January 15.
Eagles 73 Trojans 38
Seniors Andrew Sanderson and Travis Wescott led the way for the Eagles with 21 and 20 points respectively.
Holden grabbed a 21-6 lead after the first quarter and still led by 13 at the half. The Eagles outscored the Trojans 21-9 in the third period and carried a 25-point lead in the final stanza. Most of the second half of the fourth quarter was played with a running clock.
“We really came out well from the start,” praised Coach Wescott. “Our defense was good and we were controlling the class which led to some great outlet passes and fast break points. We also played well in the second half. We always talk about playing four good quarters. I’d say we played three to three and one-half good periods tonight.”
The Eagles also had it going from long range in the contest. The boys hit on nine of 17 trifectas in the blowout for a percentage of 53 percent. Most of the three-pointers came from Sanderson and Wescott. Also scoring in double figures was junior Bryce Evans who tallied 11. Coach Wescott said that Evans is “really coming on offensively and I look for him to be a big part of our success down the stretch.”
Statistics in the league win include: Sanderson, 21 points and five assists; Wescott, 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists; Evans, 11 points and five assists; Deron Binkley, seven points and six assists; Zak Anstine, seven points; Taylor McConville, four points; Trevor Yancey, two points and David Lerda, one point.
Eagles 56 Mules 49
In a game where the Eagles just didn’t seem to have the same energy as their opponents, Holden built a 14 point lead in the third quarter and hung on to win by seven.
Holden led by one at the end of the first quarter and six at intermission. They built their lead in the third quarter, but the Mules whittled away at the advantage mostly by getting to the charity stripe and making their free throws.
“We played alright,” the coach admitted. “But we couldn’t seem to stop their dribble penetration in the lane where we would end up fouling. This was a workmanlike conference win.”
Giving credit to the Mules, the coach stated, “One thing about Lone Jack, they show up to play and they played well. We were up by 14 and couldn’t put them away and that’s to their credit.”
Wescott led the way in the stats column with another double-double. He had 19 points, 15 rebounds and three assists. Evans totaled 12 points and five boards while Binkley was also in double figures with 11. Sanderson with nine and Michael Garten, five, rounded out the Eagles’ scoring.
Sandwiched in between the final conference games will be two non-league affairs. Holden will entertain Archie Monday night and travel to El Dorado Springs next Wednesday.
By Steve Sullins
Editor |
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Reserve sophomores Dani Jo Riley and Kelsey Whitehead played big parts in the Holden Lady Eagles’ two wins last week as they came off the bench to spark the Holden girls to victories over Show-Me West conference opponents Lone Jack and St. Mary’s.
The two girls combined for 34 points and 11 rebounds in the two crucial league tilts which pushed the Lady Eagles conference record to 4-0. Overall, Holden carries a 12-5 record.
“D.J. (Riley) and Kelsey (Whitehead) have both put together a couple of solid games,” praised head Lady Eagle coach Travis Fleming. “D.J. knocked down two big threes to really put the St. Mary’s game out of reach and Kelsey was very workmanlike rebounding and scoring on the interior. I’m very pleased with the lift we’ve been getting from our bench.”
Holden 50 Lone Jack 26
Last Monday, the Lady Eagles put away the Lady Mules by 24 in a game played at the Lone Jack gymnasium. Holden’s balanced scoring attack was led by Riley who threw in 10 and the Lady Eagles totaled eight girls scoring between four and 10 points in the contest.
The girls sputtered for a little while, leading by only four at the end of the first quarter, but caught hold in the second and third quarters where they outscored Lone Jack 28-10.
“I was pleased with the toughness our post showed inside,” explained Coach Fleming. “We struggled shooting the ball from the perimeter and had to rely on our pressure defense and post game for points. Whitehead, Lauren Geisler and Call Burden all battled on the boards and cleaned up a lot of garbage around the rim. Riley came off the bench and gave us a big lift for the second game in a row. We needed her perimeter game against Lone Jack and she came through in a big way. Defensively, we were aggressive but just a step slow. We limited the Lady Mules to only six field goals, but they had 23 foul shots - 20 of them in the second half. We have to do a better job of recognizing when we’re in a position to make a steal and when we aren’t.”
Statistics for the conference victory included: Riley, 10 points, one rebound, two assists and four steals; Whitehead, seven points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal; Kelsey Carver, six points,s three rebounds, three assists and two steals; Burden, six points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal; Geisler, six points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal; Valerie Lambert, five points, one rebound, five assists and four steals; Stacey Calhoun, four points, three rebounds, two assists and five steals; Deanna Quisenberry, four points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal; Emily Collett, two points, one rebound and one assist; and Eleanor Brown, two rebounds, two assists and two steals.
Holden 50 St. Mary’s 41
The Lady Eagles displayed another balanced scoring attack to down the Lady Trojans of St. Mary’s by nine points. The girls actually led by 23 at the end of the third quarter, but according to Coach Fleming, “after controlling the game for three quarters, we got away from the fundamentals and lost our intensity in the fourth quarter.”
Individually, the coach praised Burden for her second double-digit effort against St. Mary’s. “She did a good job of attacking,” he added. “Also, Stacey (Calhoun) and Valerie (Lambert) combined for 13 points, 13 assists and five steals. They’re doing a good job of making the extra pass.”
Statistics for the Lady Eagles’ fourth conference win of the season included: Burden, 10 points, three rebounds, one assist and three steals; Whitehead, nine points, five rebounds, one assist and two steals; Riley, eight points, three rebounds and one assist; Calhoun, seven points, one rebound, six assists and two steals; Lambert, six points, three rebounds, seven assists and three steals; Geisler, four points and one rebound; Carver, two points, one rebound, two assists and one steal; Quisenberry, two points, one rebound, two assists and two steals; and Brown, two points and one rebound.
After playing at Grain Valley Monday, the Lady Eagles will take on Sherwood at home February 13 and Butler, also at home February 14. They are scheduled to play at Sherwood Tuesday night and finish the regular season with a home game against the Lady Mules next Thursday, February 21.
By Steve Sullins
Editor
Four Holden High School wrestlers qualified for the Missouri State Tournament to be held in the Mizzou Arena on the campus of the University of Missouri-Columbia beginning today (Thursday, February 14).
Those qualifying at the district tournament held last weekend at Knob Noster High School, were senior Kyle Airrington, wrestling at 135 pounds; junior Zach Lavely, 160 pounds; and freshmen Jacob Reiman, 152 pounds and Stephen Parker, 125 pounds.
A wrap-up of district action for the four state qualifiers include:
Airrington - pinned Dan Chase from Blair Oaks in the second period and defeated Cody Bennett from Butler, 4-1. Those two wins put Airrington in the finals against Knob Noster's Quincy Hawkins. Airrington lost the match, 13-0 giving him a second place finish.
Lavely - lost his first match to Knob’s Aren Thorsen, 16-4, so had to compete in the wrestle-back round. There he pinned Jimmy Grant of Sherwood in the second period and strained his back. Injured, he was able to pin Daniel Hedrick of Lone Jack in the next round and was to compete for third-place, but was hurt too badly and was not able to answer the bell dropping him to fourth place.
Reiman - opened action with a win against Cody Pitts from Butler who was defeated by a technical fall. Reiman’s semifinal opponents was Curtis Russell, a senior from Diamond who took sixth-place in the state last season. Russell’s experience prevailed as he pinned Reiman in the second period. Participating in wrestle-backs, Reiman caught fire, pinning Allen Painter from Warsaw and defeating Austin Connally from Versailles, giving him a third-place finish.
Parker - first faced last year’s fourth-place state finisher Grady Granger from Butler who pinned Parker with 40 second left. In wrestle-backs, Parker pinned Will Davidson from Warsaw. He then met Aaron Strope from Fatima for third place but lost by eight points, giving him a fourth-place finish.
Other wrestlers competing in districts included Billy Fannin, David Carter and Kevin Kephart
OBITUARIES
RONDA LENORA ATKINS
Ronda Lenora Atkins, age 89, Holden, Missouri, passed away, February 5, 2008, at Country Club Care Center, Warrensburg, Missouri.
She was born July 9, 1918 in Greenfield, Oklahoma, the daughter of Walter M. and Ethel I. (Albin) Doak. On September 28, 1937, she married James Curtis Atkins in Higginsville, Missouri.
She had lived in Holden, Missouri most of her life. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Holden, a member of the Presbyterian Women’s group, and a member of the Cameo Paint Club in Chilhowee.
She is survived by her husband, J.C. Atkins, of Holden; two sons, Larry Wayne Atkins, Holden, MO, and Edwin K. Atkins, Warrensburg, MO; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two sisters, Kathryn Atchison and Christina Doak, and brothers, Marion, Cecil, Paul and Don Doak.
Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, 2008 at Ben Cast & Son - Wood Funeral Home, Holden with Reverend Henry Gower officiating.
The family received friends from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Interment was in the New Liberty Cemetery, Holden, MO.
Pallbearers were Robert Parks, Lynn Gudde, Kenneth Raker, Lance Gabriel, Mike Doak and Bill Atchison.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Holden First Presbyterian Church.
JACK STANLEY BECHTOL, JR.
Jack Stanley Bechtol, Jr., age 44, Leeton, Missouri, passed away Saturday, February 9, 2008, at home.
He was born July 2, 1963 in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Jack, Sr. and Virginia (Dostie) Bechtol.
He had been employed as a packager by a shoe distribution company before his disability.
He leaves one daughter, Jaclyn Bechtol, Logan, OH.
Cremation, under the direction of Ben Cast & Son - Wood Funeral Home, Holden, MO.
MARY LOUISE GILLESPIE
Mary Louise Gillespie, age 69, Holden, Missouri, passed away Saturday, February 9, 2008, at Holden Manor Care Center in Holden.
She was born May 27, 1938 in Elmira, Missouri, the daughter of Ralph D. and Louise (Logan) Herod. She graduated from Lawson High School in Lawson, Missouri and on October 27, 1955, she married Howard Ray Gillespie. He preceded her in death May 31, 2001.
Mary had lived in numerous cities during her husband’s career in the U.S. Air Force. She had lived in Holden since 1980 and worked as a cashier for Lloyd’s Foods in Holden for many years. She was an avid Bingo player.
Surviving her passing are one son, Gary W. Gillespie, Holden, MO; one daughter, Deborah L. Hubbard, Polo, MO; one brother, Dainnie R. Herod, Mt. Vernon, MO; her step-mother, Mary Herod, Lawson, MO; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at Ben Cast & Son - Wood Funeral Home, Holden, MO with the Reverend Pat Kelley officiating.
Interment was in Lawson Cemetery, Lawson, MO
The family received friends from 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, at the funeral home.
Pallbearers were Larry Simpson, Ricky Simpson, Jerry Hubbard, Alan Lloyd, Doug Lloyd, Ken Conaway.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Shriners’ Hospital Burn Center.
KENNETH RICHARD MCDERMOND
Kenneth Richard McDermond, age 26, Knob Noster, Missouri, died as he was struck by a train on tracks near Knob Noster on February 9, 2008.
He was born August 25, 1981 in St. Cloud, Minnesota, the son of Micheal Eberle and Judy McDermond. He had been employed in lawn maintenance and moved to Knob Noster two years ago.
He leaves one son, Alex Peake, Sioux City, IA; one daughter, Isabella McDermond, Knob Noster, MO; his mother and step-father, Judy and Darrel Loch, St. Cloud, MN; one brother, Jeremiah Loch, St. Cloud, MN; and grandparents, Donna Richter, Sioux City, IA and Donald McDermond, Sauk Rapids, MN.
Cremation, under the direction of Ben Cast & Son - Wood Funeral Home, Holden, MO.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Kenneth McDermond Memorial Fund in care of the funeral home. |