Tag Archives: Holden

Questions

15 Sunday Sep 2024

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Last night I rode on the Johnson County Democratic Party entry in the Holden, Missouri Street Fair parade. I have a passing familiarity over the years with the town a shortish drive from the county seat on 58 Highway. During the 2008 Obama campaign I walked the town door-to-door for a literature drop.

“Holden, Missouri is a small town in western Johnson County with a static population of a little over 2000 people…” The 2000 Census reported a population of 2,210. The 2010 Census reported a population of 2,252. That’s the definition of static.

By observation Holden doesn’t appear to be a wealthy town, but neither does it appear to be destitute in comparison to others. There’s a modernish high school and middle school complex on the south side of town. The four acre site of the 1928 school in town, buildings still standing, though boarded up (with some broken windows), has apparently been sold for development or salvage or both.

Generally, homes in Holden are nicely-kept, some, like all communities, showing more personal prosperity than others.

Which brings us to the question. Why Donald Trump (r)?

A veteran, by his cap, exhibited his sustained displeasure to Democrats:

I wanted to ask, would you pose for a photo with a grin and a thumb up at a gravestone at national military cemetery? Or vote for someone who did?

As the Johnson County Democratic Party entry proceeded along the parade route we were greeted with blank stares from a significant number, as if those observers were looking through us, enthusiastic MAGA adherents perfectly happy to show us their hats or their opinions, friendly waves from neighbors waving back to folks on the parade entry, just to be neighborly, applause and cheers from Democratic supporters happy to see us there, and one shout of “Baby killers!”

Welcome to out-state Missouri.

These are images similar to those in the previous post about yesterday’s Holden Street Fair parade – with a wider field of view for the most part.

There is not a monolithic view of the world in Holden, Missouri. On the parade route, downtown:

There is no monolithic view of the world anywhere in America.

A vendor, along the parade route, also downtown:

A question. What is the significance of the “Q” on the tee-shirt? “I don’t always ride through Lawrence, Kansas, but when I do it smells like smoke.” Celebrating murder and terrorism appears to be a thing.

Another nicely-kept house:

The lawn statue on the lower right appears to be a soldier carrying a comrade. Again, I wanted to ask, would you pose for a photo with a grin and a thumb up at a gravestone at national military cemetery? Or vote for someone who did?

If you believe?:

If not the first two, then what?

Previously:

Street Fair Parade – Holden, Missouri – September 14, 2024 (September 14, 2024)

Street Fair Parade – Holden, Missouri – September 14, 2024

14 Saturday Sep 2024

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Holden, Missouri is a small town in western Johnson County with a static population of a little over 2000 people. This weekend the community hosts its Fall Street Fair. This evening the Street Fair parade started at the high school on the south end of town and proceeded north through a residential area to downtown.

Holden, Missouri has been commonly labeled as a typical MAGA sympathetic small town over the past few election cycles. However, while going door-to-door in 2008 we noted a surprising number of Obama yard signs. It’s been a while.

The county Democratic Party participated in the parade for two reasons. 1) To let local Democrats in town know that they’re not alone. 2) To let the MAGA world know that some of their friends and neighbors are Democrats. This appears to harsh the mellow of the MAGA crowd.

The Democratic Party entry in the parade:

The Democratic Party flatbed trailer, with a number of riders, was at the tail end of the parade.

Along the parade route, just north of the high school.

Eric Stevens, the Democratic Party candidate in the 54th Legislative District, worked the parade route.

Eric Stevens (D).

MAGA, and proud of it:

We did get a few enthusiastic cheers and applause from some along the route.

Before the trailer reached downtown a supporter shouted to us from a yard, “You’re all brave.” Think about that for a second. This in 21st Century America.

Erics Stevens (D) – downtown:

There are freethinkers everywhere:

“Vote Like Your Daughters’ And Granddaughters’ Rights Depend On It”

Downtown vendor, normalizing treason:

The only Confederate flag that ever mattered was a white rag on a stick.

In yards on the way back to the high school:

“Jesus, Bible, America”

There appears to be fewer Trump yard signs this cycle.

Never assume:

A veteran for Kamala Harris (D).

Only one person along the parade route yelled “Baby killers!” at us as we passed.

Trails Regional Library – Board of Trustees – Holden, Missouri – June 21, 2023

22 Thursday Jun 2023

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The Trails Regional Library is a public library consortium for Johnson and Lafayette Counties in Missouri. Over the past month there has been discussion on a social media platform in a community forum dedicated to Warrensburg about unhoused/homeless individuals at the Warrensburg library branch.

There are shelters in the Warrensburg area, but for the most part there are no daytime shelters. For an unhoused/homeless person this can be an even greater challenge in hot, cold, or inclement weather. The public library is a public library – it’s open to all, there is air conditioning or heat appropriate to the season, there is access to the Internet, and it’s a safe space.

Individual(s) brought their concerns to the Trails Regional Library Board of Trustees. The board met on Wednesday night at the Holden, Missouri branch with the concern(s) on the agenda.

“Core Values”

Trails Regional Library Core Values

We are kind.
We treat each other and those we serve with empathy and compassion. We see every day as an opportunity to inspire new ideas and make someone smile.

We are inclusive.
The library is for everyone, and everyone is welcome here. We recognize and value diversity and intellectual freedom and believe it makes us stronger. Though we may be different, we always begin each interaction with the belief that others’ intentions are good.

We are open.
We cultivate a space where we can share differing opinions without judgment. We stay committed to each other by trusting, communicating, working through conflict, and being open to feedback. Each interaction is an opportunity to learn, even when it doesn’t go the way we hope.

Advocates and activists for unhoused/homeless individuals attended the meeting. Several signed in to speak at the public comment portion at the beginning of the meeting.

From the public comment portion of the meeting:

“…And in the mean time you’ll make them feel like productive members of society and not outcasts. We want to be welcoming to our housing displaced and provide additional support…”


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“…Librairies are for everyone…”


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“I run the homeless shelter in Warrensburg, one of them. And I am here to defend them all…They are displaced people. But displaced people are not bad people…”


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The speaker on the meeting agenda – on the subject of unhoused/homeless individuals utilizing the library:


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A response from an individual in the audience:

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The lack of sufficient resources in Warrensburg impacts the library branch which by all accounts – to the credit of its staff – tries to meet the challenges with compassion, service, and professionalism.

“Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten us into.”

24 Friday Aug 2018

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Why is it sometimes this way out outstate street fairs/festivals?

In the Kansas City Star:

Spotted at a Missouri fair: Uncle Sam manning a ‘shooting gallery’ of GOP opponents
August 24, 2018 02:06 PM
By Matt Campbell

A GOP “shooting gallery” manned by an Uncle Sam at the Holden, Mo., Street Fair has some people concerned….

[….]

Not to put too fine a point on it, yesterday an individual dressed up as Uncle Sam set up shop with a representation of shooting gallery, complete with a toy gun, made up of photos of Democrats – this next to a republican college student group booth at the Holden, Missouri fair. Of course, either intentionally or randomly, who knows, the fair organizers had placed the Johnson County Democrats booth directly across from the republican booth.

People took pictures and then posted them on social media.

Raymond James
Small town Missouri racism. Booth selling KKK/ Confederate flags with no US flags for sale or present. The US flag in the picture is the booth next door. You do not get to pick your neighbors.
GOP had a “game ” toy gun and a Shooting Gallery with Senators pictures on it. Great Family Fun shooting at Senators.

Raymond James is a Johnson County Democrat who was manning the Democratic party both at the fair.

The flag vendor booth was another booth which was in close proximity to the other booths.

A photo of the republican booth and shooting gallery posted in the Facebook post comments:

In case you’re not convinced, the shooting gallery is labeled “shooting gallery”.

We’ve seen this individual at public events before.

With a Hillary Clinton (D) effigy in a tiny jail cell outside the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast in 2016:

Outside the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast [August 2016 file photo].

And at the same venue a little over a week ago:

Outside the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast [August 2018 file photo].

In addition to the newspaper coverage we’ve heard that a Kansas City metro market television station sent a crew to the fair today.

In an interesting turn of events, demonstrating brilliant public relations and damage control strategies, the street fair authorities have apparently issued an edict of “a plague on both your houses” and booted the Democrats and republicans from the fair.

Don’t you just love small town Missouri?

Update:

Johnson County Missouri Democrats

This post is from Ray James Chair Johnson County Central Committee.

As previously posted, the Holden Chamber of Commerce asked the Democratic Booth to leave at the same time as the Republican Booth from the Holden Fair Tonight. We did not ask or discuss reasons why. We packed up when told to do so and left. We were told we may still participate in the parade 5 pm Saturday.

At this time we are considering it. I will post by 2 pm Saturday if we will participate.

For those scheduled to staff the booth I thank you for your time.

Any questions or concerns about the actions of the Holden Chamber of Commerce Fair Committee and what / how they reached a decision should be directed to them. Remember they put in long hours to put on a fair in a very thankless job.

There was no yelling, name calling, heckling, interference by Democrats staffing the booth with any other booths at the fair.

We did not complain to the Fair organizers, Holden Police or the staff at the Republican booth about any actions by any booths at the fair.

We did notify the Johnson County Republican Central Committee, Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler staff, Secretary of State [Attorney General] Josh Hawleys campaign staff of the unacceptable actions of the Republicans at the booth with their having a Shooting Gallery “Game” complete with Targets of US Senator Claire McCaskill and a toy gun.

Tonight the game was renamed as the words Shooting Gallery were replaced and the toy guns were not present. I did not see if the pictures had been changed. The Gentleman who brought the “game” was again in attendance. Interestingly he brought an American Flag and insisted he had one present on the 23 Aug. I refer you to the pictures posted from the 23 Aug. The Gentleman clearly has memory issues or was untruthful on this issue.

I was contacted by several media organizations and did give two interviews between 3:30 and 4:00 pm to Channel 5 and Channel 41. In which, I stressed the unacceptable actions of the Johnson County Central Committee Sponsored Booth.

It is never OK to Joke about shooting a person or to encourage others to actually commit violence. As to the intent of the “game ” I would direct all questions to the Johnson County Central Committee as it was their booth.

Any further questions by Johnson County Democratic Club members or Central Committee members please contact Ray James.

The CC does not intend to issue a press release or to contact media concerning this matter but we do anticipate further media interest. I have referred all questions, as to why we had to suspend operations, from media organizations back to the organizers of the Fair as we did not discuss/ask.

Previously:

Trumpoids at the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast (August 18, 2016)

Cargo cult (August 17, 2018)