Surrounded by several supporters at a press conference held Monday at the Holden City Hall, State Representative David Pearce announced his plans to offer legislation to require private jails to fully report to local law enforcement agencies.
A candidate for the Missouri State Senate District 31, Pearce said the legislation he will introduce if elected would require private jails to notify local law enforcement immediately upon the escape of prisoners.  Also, a reasonable effort must be made to notify local landowners and residents.
The legislation is prompted by the recent escape of two prisoners at the Integrity Corrections Center near Holden.  The Johnson County Sheriff’s office was not notified of the incident until 15 hours after the escape.
Pearce was joined in his support of the legislation by members of the local, county and state law enforcement.  On hand to speak to the media which included Fox 4 News from Kansas City, and print media members from Warrensburg and Holden, were Cass County Sheriff Dwight Diehl, Johnson County Sheriff Chuck Heiss, Executive director of the Missouri Sheriffs Association Mick Covington, Missouri Department of Corrections inspector general Steve Ahlers and Johnson County Prosecuting Attorney Lynn Stoppy.  Also adding their support were Holden mayor Mike Wakeman and Holden acting police chief Rick Martin.
Expanding what the legislation would accomplish, Pearce said that they were looking at ways to report abuse,  and making escape from a private jail a felony by state statute.
Speaking for the DOC, Ahler said that his organization had no authority or oversight of private jails.  “This legislation is talking about common sense issues that the jails should be doing automatically.”
Sheriff Heiss made mention of the fact that the private jail had shown an unwillingness and reluctance to coordinate with the county sheriff’s office.  “I have no interest or desire to operate a private jail,” the sheriff explained.  “What I want is cooperation.  I have asked for it and now we need legislation.  Not reporting an escape for 15 hours is simply unacceptable.”
According to Pearce, the new legislation which will be introduced in the Senate if elected, would also require private jails to notify local law enforcement of all incidents of assaults, injuries and death.  Penalty provisions could include fines and possible criminal penalties for those individuals who knowingly violate the law.
By Steve Sullins
Editor


As a safety precaution for fire protection the Holden Board of Public Works is notifying  the Fire Department and public that the south standpipe is being taken out of service for routine maintenance and painting both inside and outside of tank.  While the standpipe is out of service the normal storage for the City of Holden (600,000 gallons) will be limited to 100,000 gallons of water storage.
In order to ensure there is always a constant supply of water for fire protection, the BOPW is asking customers to limit non-essential use of water externally during the period the south standpipe is out of service. This voluntary restriction will be effective during the rehabilita from October 1 to November 1.
Removing the  standpipe from service may impact the water pressure in residences.  The elevated tank and water booster pump station will maintain the system pressure.  However, during periods of high water usages customers may experience lower than normal or fluctuations in the water pressure.
The BOPW is attempting to minimize these impacts to residents in this area and will complete the project as quickly as possible. They will strive to make sure thatresidents have adequate and safe drinking water during this project. If anyone hasquestions, or needs additional information, please contact the water department at  732-6343.



Johnson County Christian Academy welcomes a new administrator but a familiar face to the  position. 
Liz Deno has taken over duties as administrator of JCCA as of August 1, 2008.  She formerly was assistant administrator of the school, with her husband Rick Deno being administrator.  Rick has left JCCA to take a new position and Liz now has the reins of the christian academy.
She brings a lot of experience to the position and has a strong background in business.  She was selected by the JCCA board to fill the position out of 16 candidates.  Board members consist of community members, parents, pastors and aldermen of the area.
JCCA has an enrollment of 63 students and serves those 0-eighth grade, as they have a day care, preschool, and kindergarten through eighth grade classes.
Liz lives in Warrensburg with Rick and their two daughters Ashley and Amber.  In her free time she enjoys cooking and is very active at her church, the First Church of the Nazarene.
Daniel Thessen, JCCA board vice president said of Liz, “She has a tireless devotion to JCCA.  Her service to the school is a model christian attitude all of us would be wise to emulate.”
By Dana Neubert
News Staff


The Holden Elementary School will be celebrating International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 8.
Students, along with parents, teachers and community leaders are invited to participate in this special event.  Students are encouraged to wear their “Walking School Bus” t-shirts they received at the Walk to School Day held last May.
Students, parents and community leaders will meet at the parking lot directly across from the Community Activity Center at 100 S. Market in Holden between 7-7:15 a.m. and start walking at 7:15 a.m. to the school.  The group will parade down Market Street, guided by school resource officer Scott Brandt, school staff and parents. The Holden Police and Fire Departments will be on hand to block traffic at the intersections of Second and Market Street and Ninth and Market Street. Walkers will arrive at the school at approximately 7:45 a.m.  After the walk, students will receive a healthy snack at the school.
The Walk to School event is being organized by school resource officer Scott Brandt as part of the school’s “Walking School Bus” initiative and the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School program.  Walk to school events work to create safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the importance of issues such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, concern for the environment and building connections between families, schools and the broader communities.
For additional local information if one is interested in volunteering with the “Walking School Bus” program, please contact school resource officer Scott Brandt at 732-5568.


There was an excellent turnout for the JCCHS Virtual Walk kick-off at the Community Activity Center (CAC), according to HOPE executive director Danny Crews.
“There were more than 20 people who attended the program and almost all signed up for the preassessment that day.  Some will walk at a later date.  Four of those attending are from our regular morning walkers at the CAC.  All participants are encouraged to do their best during the eight-week program, whether they walk in the CAC, open from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m., or elsewhere.  The objective is for better health.  Holli Dodd and Marty Shook from JCCHS gave the program and CAC director Jen Loos assisted,” said Crews.


An individual within the area that Community Blood Center serves needs a blood transfusion every four minutes.  That individual could be one’s friend, neighbor, or family member. 
Please help save lives in the community by giving blood at the Community Blood Center blood drive on Thursday, October 9 from 2-7 p.m. at the Community Activity Center (CAC) in Holden, 100 S. Market Street.
To make an appointment online go to www.esavealifenow.org and use sponsor code holdencomm.  One may also contact Diane Klossen at 816-732-4132 or 816-739-5269 or Mary Martin at 816-967-6623 or gnndmartin@earthlink.net.
Join Community Blood Center, one’s local community blood provider, by donating blood Thursday, October 9.


The Holden High School Marching Band is preparing for another competition this Saturday, October 4 in Blue Springs.
According to Holden Music Booster Club president Denise Hobbs, the band would appreciate support from the community as they go and perform at these competitions.
"We could use donations of food, water, drinks, or just having community members come out and support the band.  These kids have worked really hard and they're doing a great job under the direction of Jon West," said Hobbs.
Saturday's competition will be at Blue Springs North High School and the band performs at 10:30 a.m.; the bus leaves the school at 8:45 a.m.  "Parents or other community members are welcome to come along with us on the bus or follow us in their own vehicles," said Hobbs.  "It's nice to know we have people at home backing us up."
October 18 is the Festival of Champions at UCM and Holden's Marching Band performs at 10:30 a.m. that morning, according to band director Jon West.
On October 25, the band will march in the homecoming parade at UCM as it is a parade competition and they will be judged while playing and marching, West added.
The band plays songs to the theme of "An Aquatic Adventure", with numbers including Canyon River, Under the Sea and Pirates of the Caribbean.  This is the same show they perform at half-time of the home football games, according to West.
Hobbs added they appreciate support from parents and from Lloyd's grocery store as they supplied a meat tray last Saturday for the Carrollton trip.  "They have always been a big help to us and have always been there for us; they are wonderful," said Hobbs.  The Carrollton trip was an all-day event for most of the band members as they left the school at 6 a.m. and didn't return until 11 p.m. that night.  They actually ran out of water toward the end of the day to give to the band members, according to Hobbs.
That's why they are requesting support from citizens and parents who might like to help out.
"I encourage everyone to come to these competitions, learn what goes on at them and see how hard our kids have worked," stated Hobbs.
West would also like to thank the parents and others who have been so supportive of the band as they take these out of town trips to make Holden proud.
Both the middle school and high school bands performed in Carrollton and both did very well, according to West and Hobbs.  "Even though it was their first competition, they really worked hard and did a great job," Hobbs said.
If anyone is interested in helpiing the band with donations or support, they may contact Jon West at the school or Denise Hobbs at holdenmusicboosterclub@yahoo.com.


For the third consecutive year, the Holden Eagles football team has reached the halfway point of the season unscathed as they destroyed Butler, 49-22, in a homecoming matchup Friday night at Eagle Stadium to push their record to 5-0.
It was all Holden, as the Eagles shredded the Bear defense for 421 yards rushing and 52 through the air for a total of 473 yards.  The boys in blue, who were ranked 10th in the Associated Press Missouri Class 3 rankings last week, gave up only 187 total yards of which 175 were passing.  The Bears’ quarterback went 13 of 36 through the air with 100 of his yards coming in the fourth quarter after the Holden junior varsity and reserves had taken over.  Holden’s varsity only gave up six points in the game, while Butler scored 16 points on two meaningless touchdowns in the final period.
Once again, the offense was led by senior standout running back Dennis Hutchings who rushed for 199 yards and four touchdowns.  He struck for scores from 44, 40, 28 and 40 yards out.  His total rushing catapulted him over 1,000 yards in the 2008 season giving him a 1,000-plus year for the third consecutive season.  After five games, he has 1,007 total rushing yards.  Also getting into the act in a big way was senior quarterback Aaron Ferguson who carried a QB keeper for 80 yards, outracing everybody on the Butler team, for his first touchdown of the season.  He also passed for another on a 39-yard strike to wide receiver Crosby Coleman.  Scoring the other TD was senior running back David Lerda from 14 yards out.  He totaled 71 yards rushing in the game to move his game average to nearly 100 yards per outing. 
Giving the Eagles high praise in their victory was Butler head coach Jack Duda who said, “They play the way a football team is supposed to play.  Their offensive line gets off  the ball quick and stays together and their backs hit the holes fast and run hard.  Their defense is the same way.  They play old-time football – they line up and smash you.”
The coach also had praise for Holden head coach Rich Johnson who he said he remembers from his playing days in Stockton.  “I’m really happy for Coach Johnson.  He’s done a great job at Holden.  I remember in the 1980s we’d come up here and the scores would be the other way around.  He’s building a good program.  I’m really proud of Holden.”
It didn’t take long for Holden to make their statement as Lerda ran in the first touchdown from 12 yards out with only three and one-half minutes gone in the game.  Placekicker Deron Binkley, who was six of six on the night nailed his first extra point and the Eagles were on the board at 7-0.  Less than three minutes later, Hutchings scampered in from 44 yards out for his first TD of the evening.  On the ensuing kickoff, Butler took over on a good runback at the Holden 46 yard line. The return included a lateral which looked very much like a forward pass.  Aided by a pass interference call, the Bears were able to march down the field for a four-yard touchdown putting the score at Holden 14-6 at the end of the first period. 
Holden’s offense got right back at it on their next possession in the second quarter as they took over on their own 20 yard line.  On the first play, Ferguson faked a handoff to Hutchings and kept the ball for an 80-yard touchdown gallop.  The second period would be all Holden’s as they scored three more times on two runs by Hutchings and a 39-yard TD pass from Ferguson to Coleman who was all alone in the flat.  At intermission the Eagles held a commanding 42-6 lead
Starting off the second half with a running clock, Hutchings scored his final TD of the night on a 40-yard sprint with 5:20 left on the clock.  The extra point was kicked by reserve Jared Huffstutter and the Eagles led 49-6.  For the remaining quarter-and-a-half, the JV and reserves patrolled the field. 
Although not a match for Butler’s varsity offense – the young Eagles gave up two touchdowns – the offense put together another good drive in the fourth quarter.  They took the onside kickoff try on their own 45 yard line and drove all the way to Butler’s 10 before stalling out.  Highlights of the drive included a seven and six-yard scrambles by quarterback Dalton Smith and a 29-yard run by Billy McBride which almost broke for a touchdown.  McBride finished with 38 yards in the game and Smith, 25.
Defensively, sophomores Jacob Reiman and David Carter once again led the way.  Carter finished the night with 11 tackles and Reiman totaled seven.  Another sophomore, Kevin Kephart, totaled six and Hutchings had five on the night.  With four apiece were Max Lloyd, Jacob Borgen and Zak Anstine, while Smith, Andrew Wakeman Binkley, Lerda and Coleman each had three.  With two were Jared Anstine and with one apiece were Ryan Anderson, Eric Stout, J.C. McLennan, and Clayton Hill.
On special teams, Binkley had a good night.  Along with his perfect game kicking extra points, he also had seven kickoffs for an average of more than 48 yards per kick.  He put four kicks inside the 10 yard line.  Zak Anstine also was effective in returning punts and kickoffs, but was hampered by untimely penalties erasing many of his yards.  Huffstutter has one kickoff for 40 yards.
Speaking on the game, Coach Johnson was very happy that the Eagles came out of the contest with no injuries.  “That was a big positive,” he explained.  “Also, the fact that we won was a big positive.  It made for a nice homecoming night.  Butler is down right now.  They’re rebuilding and we beat them like we should have.    It’s also a plus when everybody gets to play.  Our JV and reserves have gotten a lot of varsity playing time this year and we hope this will bear fruit in the future.  Tonight they got some time playing against another varsity and that will help them too.”
On the negative side, the coach wasn’t happy with the way his team relaxed.  “Sometimes when you have a big lead at the half like we did, the team starts to relax.  I want our kids to play at 100 percent no matter what the score is.   
The Eagles will host the Higginsville Huskers in a Missouri River Valley Conference East Division contest Friday night beginning at 7 p.m. at Eagle Stadium.  The Huskers will be coming off a loss to  Richmond and have a 3-2 record overall, with wins over Braymer, El Dorado Springs and Trenton.  They fell to 0-1 in the MRVC East while Holden league-leading conference mark stands at 3-0.  A victory would give the Eagles a 6-0 start for the first time in many years and a 4-0 record in the conference with one game remaining with Carrollton who will visit Holden a week from Friday.  After that they will head into district play with a home game against the Clinton Cardinals and road games with Pleasant Hill and Oak Grove.
By Steve Sullins
Editor