Valley News: February 4, 2021 by grainvalleynews

February 4, 2021 Vol. 4 No. 5

O n l i n e w e e k l y a t w w w. g r a i n v a l l e y n e w s . c o m

Good News: GVHS Dance Team prepares for state competition The Grain Valley High School dance team, fresh off a successful regional competition in which they placed 1st in the mix competition and 3rd in the jazz competition, are headed to state competition on February 27th. While the state competition may be virtual this year, the preparation that goes into the event is just as intense. Head coach Natalie Upton, in her third season as head coach, is impressed with the focus of the thirteen girls on the team. After missing out on spring practices, summer camp, and some of the traditional performances on their annual schedules due to COVID-19, the team rallied and their hard work paid off at the recent regional competition.

“It was a really an awesome experience for us to bond as a team and have that in-person performance experience this year,” Upton said. “They’ve actually been really awesome and flexible. They’ve just been very positive and made the best of a tough situation. I don’t know if we are all more focused or if the little break in the spring was what we needed, but we are much more prepared this year going into state competition than we have been in years past.” In a normal year, the dance team performs at each football game and at least one basketball game a week in addition to their competition schedule. The team was able to perform at football games this year, and is now

see DANCE on page 2

Photo credit: Grain Valley High School Dance team prepares for State competition, which will be held virtually on February 27th. Photo credit: Valley News staff

In This Edition: Looking Back: The Jackson County Democrat

Business: Hy-Vee launches virtual dietitian services

Your Health: Heart healthy foods to love

Sports: A thousand reasons to smile in clash between Lady Eagles and Lady Bears

Cover Photo: Guard Jayden Yung uses the crossover dribble to elude pressure in setting up the Eagles offense. Photo credit: Valley News staff

FREE

Board continues discussion regarding City facility needs The Board of Aldermen met for a workshop session on February 2nd, with facility needs on the agenda once again. The same refrains were heard from past meetings, with all members agreeing that facility needs for the police, city hall, and community center need to be addressed, but with no consensus on how to proceed after the sound defeat of the June 2020 bond issue. ETC Institute presented on the recent survey they conducted of registered voters, which attempted to understand why voters did not approve both issues related to the Sni-A-Bar community complex in June 2020. 448 survey respondents provided input, which echoed feedback heard in previous discussions regarding the failed measure. 76% of survey respondents indicated they voted in the June election. Those who indicated they voted against the measure most often cited the cost of the project as the deterrent. Those voting for the measure indicated the project ﬁt within their vision of the needs of the community. Pastor Wayne Geiger with the First Baptist Grain Valley Church spoke after the presentation by ETC regarding the church’s continued interest in the former Nichols building, which had been purchased by the City with the intention of using the space for youth and senior activities. The City has not put the space to use, and has no immediate plans or projects at the site. Geiger reminded the board the church had placed a bid on the building prior to the City placing a bid and ultimately purchasing the building for future use. “We decided to back out. We weren’t going to get into a bidding war with the City,” Geiger explained. Geiger shared the church is growing, despite COVID-19, and is landlocked. “We are committed to being here. We like being downtown. We would like to see the building become a youth center. That was our vision three years ago, and from what I understand was the vision of the City three years ago,” Geiger said. “Personally, from my perspective, I see it as a win-win for us and for the City of Grain Valley.” Geiger stated the Grain Valley Assistance Council, currently housed in a part of the Nichols building, is welcome to stay in the building.

The Nichols building is just one of the existing buildings and parcels of land owned by the City discussed during the workshop, with the stated goal of determining how to move forward on addressing facility needs following the failed bond vote. City Administrator Ken Murphy noted the board has been discussing next steps since an initial workshop in August. “There are facility needs that have to be addressed. We just need to figure out the best way to address those needs,” Murphy said. “The reality is, the needs aren’t going away. So we need to start down that path of figuring out what that is.” The board once again reviewed options to build on the former Sni-A-Bar Farms site, the existing City Hall and community center buildings and surrounding land, and available sites near Butterfly Trail and James Rollo road. Johnston continued to press for utilizing existing city hall and community center buildings, and perhaps build a separate building for a new police station in the same area. In discussing community center needs, the board generally agreed that indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities for any proposed center are too cost prohibitive. The board also discussed the feasibility of a fitness center as a viable component of a community center facility. Johnston reiterated his concerns regarding the cost of community center facilities versus the potential use of all citizens. “I don’t think it’s fair to ask the majority of the city to pay for meeting rooms that they aren’t going to use for other people to use for their party,” Johnston said. Aldermen Stratton once again stated she felt the land currently occupied by city hall and the community center would be better suited for business development, given its proximity to 1-70. After extensive discussion, the board agreed the needs of the police department should be addressed first, asking City staff to compile options regarding location and facility needs of a building for the police department. The Board meets for its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, February 8th at 7:00pm.

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DANCE continued from page 1 preparing full time for their state performance. Team captains Abbey Neer, Reese Servi, Halle Harshman choregraphed one of the routines to be performed for the state competition. Each have been dancing for as long as they can remember, but performing virtually is new for all of them. “It was the ﬁrst time we gave the captains the opportunity to choreograph a routine, and they have done an amazing job with it. The visuals are really outstanding,” Upton said. “Virtual competition is not as exciting without an audience to perform for, so we have to work together and build each other up to create that energy,” Servi said.

While the complications COVID-19 has brought on their school and dance team schedules, the members are focused on the positives. “It’s allowed us to focus more on just our competition routines, because we are not going to basketball games and other events, we’ve been able to really focus in on our competition pieces,” Neer said. Edith Cruz, a nationally recognized choreographer, came in to work with the team on their jazz routine, which will be the second piece they perform for state competition. The team will record their performances next week in preparation for the virtual state competition on February 27th.

Team captains (left to right) Halle Harshman, Abbey Neer, and Reese Servi choreographed a piece for the team’s state competition performance. Photo credit: Valley News staff

Police Blotter The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of January 20-26, 2021.

January 20, 2021 700 Block Ginger Hill 400 Block Front St 1500 Block Highview Dr 100 Block Garden 700 Block Main 300 Block Rock Creek Ln 700 Block Main

Stop Arm Violation Suspicious Vehicle Harassment Check the Well Being Civil Matter Agency Assist (DFS) Citizen Contact

January 21, 2021 100 Block Main St 1000 Block Willow Dr 700 Block Main 1300 Block Jefferson 1200 Block Phelps Ct 1200 Block Golfview 500 Block Broadway

Suspicious Person Parking Complaint Hit and Run Alarm Agency Assist (CJC) Suspicious Activity Suspicious Vehicle

January 22, 2021 200 Block Barr Rd 1100 Block McQuerry Rd 700 Block Main St AA Hwy and EE Kirby dent 700 Block Main St Nelson and Meadowood 700 Block Main St 200 Block Main St 1300 Block Jefferson WB I-70 and Main St

Theft from Auto Hit and Run Citizen Contact Property Damage Citizen Contact Agency Assist (MSHP)

January 23, 2021 1200 Block RD Mize Rd 700 Block Main St 500 Block Brome 1300 Block Stoneybrooke Dr

Assault Animal Control Issue Property Damage Fraud

Parking Complaint Assault Citizen Contact Motor Vehicle Acci-

EB I-70 On Ramp 700 Block Main St 1300 Block Jefferson 700 Block Lakeview 700 Block Montana Ridge 700 Block Joseph Cir 700 Block Lakeview

Motorist Assist Recovered Stolen Vehicle Alarm Suspicious Activity Check the Well Being Agency Assist (CJC) Suspicious Activity

January 24, 2021 300 Block Eagles Parkway 100 Block Sibley 1400 Block Willow Dr 900 Block Sandy Ln 800 Block Montana Ridge 700 Block Foxtail Dr 1500 Block Nicholas 1200 Block Golfview 1400 Block BB Hwy

Property Damage Agency Assist (BPD) Citizen Contact 911 Hang up Fireworks Animal Complaint Harassment Follow Up Alarm

January 25, 2021 300 Block Rock Creek Ln 4800 Block Lefholz US 40 Hwy and Sni-A-Bar dent 1300 Block Jefferson 1300 Block Jefferson January 26, 2021 800 Block Country Hill 1000 Block Scenic Dr

Residence Check Agency Assist (OGPD) Motor Vehicle AcciAlarm Alarm

Follow Up Disturbance

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Valley News Grain Valley News is a free community paper, published weekly on Thursdays online at www.grainvalleynews.com and on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month in print. Cory Unrein | Co-Owner/Publisher John Unrein | Co-Owner/Production Manager

In addition to a full competition schedule, the GVHS Dance team performs at football and basketball games throughout the year. Photo credit: GVHS Dance Team

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Looking Back

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Looking Back: The Jackson County Democrat by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society When I view the personality descriptions, I ﬁnd myself identifying with characteristics from each personality type, but I’m deﬁnitely Type A when it comes to being rigidly organized. So, when I attempt to write I always want my research to be organized, usually chronologically. I’m sure I have spent far too much time attempting to identify all of the newspapers that have served our community. Still, that is the challenge I have given myself and frustrating as it is, I continue to try and “get it right.” At the risk of too much repetition, I have mentioned The Kansas City Times and Star and its’ sister publications, circa 1880, The Oak Grove Banner, circa 1880 to 1985, The Buckner Star, circa 1890s, Buckner Tribune, circa 1897, The Jackson County Examiner, circa 1898, or The Examiner, circa 1898, which became The Independence Examiner in 1905. I have written about The Sni-A-Bar Voice, circa 1901-1923, The Grain Valley Herald, circa 1914-18, and the Grain Valley News in The Oak Grove Banner. That brings me to The Jackson County Democrat. There was a paper by that name in Independence, Missouri from 1907-12, however, I do not believe that newspaper covered Grain Valley.

The Jackson County Democrat (Fairmount Station) was published in Kansas City until 1951. At that time several newspapers sprang up. The Blue Springs Herald lasted only a few months in 1951. It was followed by The Herald-Democrat, published in 1951 and 1952. The publication moved to Buckner in April of 1952, apparently replacing the Buckner Record, 1907-1951. All of these papers were printed by Herald Publishing Company. And now enter, Lois Lauer. Miss Lauer was a KU journalism graduate from Abilene, Kansas. From her 1955 engagement announcement which appeared in the Kansas City Star, I learned she was the publisher of The Jackson County Democrat in Buckner, Missouri. Her soon to be husband was James F. Wolfe of Leeton, Missouri. He was a graduate of Central Missouri State College (now University of Central Missouri) and was a reporter for The Kansas City Star. I can ﬁnd no record of when the

newspaper returned to Blue Springs or when Lois and Jim Wolfe bought the paper. I can tell you that in 1959 my brother Charlie wrote the sports for Grain Valley High School and turned his stories in to the newspaper office on the north side of Main Street in Blue Springs. During the summer after his senior year, he was employed as a reporter for the paper. He returned to work at the paper after his freshman year at Mizzou. (No, Lois did not talk him into a journalism degree from KU.) He covered traffic accidents and house fires, learned to set type and delivered papers to the area post offices, usually in the wee hours, on Thursday mornings. With Lois as the editor and Jim as the publisher, they ran the paper until 1966. One would think the Historical Society would have many articles from the paper but after searching for several hours, I determined we do not have a single story. The only page from the paper I found at home was from May, 1964. This is my graduation class - - all 26 of us. Moody Murry (football field) was our superintendent and he also taught us World History in the 10th grade. Romulus Malone was our principal and 11th grade American History Teacher. We had to write a term paper in American History on any topic we chose. I got an “A” on my paper titled “The Four Horseman of Notre Dame.” Did I mention, Mr. Malone was also our football coach! Other items in the May 21, 1964 edition included: Kathleen Barnard (Barnett) was our valedictorian and Loye Henrickson ranked first in the 8th grade. The 8th grade teacher was Mr. Gil Nichols. The theme for kindergarten graduation was the Old South. The recessional was “Camptown Races” and other songs included “My Old Kentucky Home” and “Oh, Susanna.” Mrs. Gil Nichols was the kindergarten teacher. The senior class motto was “From dreams to reality” while the 8th grade motto was “Knowledge and work are the keys to success.” Seniors who have attended Grain Valley Schools all 12 years are Kathleen

The 1964 Grain Valley High School graduating class. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society Barnard, James Brown, Janice Cogan, Diana Elliott, Lane Lasher, Karen Lindsay, Marcia Napier, James Payton, Donna Roberts, and Carolyn Taylor. An oriental theme was used by the juniors for the junior senior banquet and prom. Tight security measures were in effect to keep the gym locked down before the event. I ‘m sure that during the years 19521966 there were many more interesting and exciting things to read about in The

Jackson County Democrat, but I rather enjoyed looking at these two old pages! Next week: The Jackson County Sentinel, 1966-1974 Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society at 506 S. Main on Wednesdays or visit us online at ww.grainvalleyhistory.com and Facebook (@grainvalleyhistory).

Missouri Trivia by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society The American Royal began in Kansas City in October 1899 as the National Hereford Show, the ﬁrst nationwide show for the exposition and sale of purebred cattle. In 1902, the show ofﬁcially became the American Royal after C. F. Curtiss, dean of agriculture at Iowa State College of

Agriculture, compared the show with the British Royal Agricultural Fair. In 1926 a carload of Sni-A-Bar calves won the Shorthorn Championship and sold at 26-cents per pound, establishing a price record at the Kansas City markets. It was one of many championships won by Sni-A-Bar over the next twenty years.

Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society

Business

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Extension approved for state coronavirus relief funds to reimburse substitute teachers The Governor’s Office recently approved an extension of the allocation of funds from the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) to support Missourians wishing to serve or currently serving as substitute teachers during the staffing challenges Missouri schools are facing because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This opportunity for reimbursement, as well as the newly-approved alternative route to obtain a substitute teaching certificate, was first announced in October as a way to address the substitute teaching shortage exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This alternative certification route allows individuals who possess a high school diploma (or its equivalent) to complete a 20-hour online training to be eligible for a substitute certificate. There is a $50 application fee for the certificate as well as a $175 online training fee. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will use the identified CRF funding to reimburse any individual who has paid the application fee between November 5, 2020 and March 31, 2021. Reimbursement will begin after March 31, 2021. DESE will also use CRF funds to reimburse any individual who has paid the online training fee from November 5, 2020 through February 28, 2021. The online training program, Frontline, will begin processing those reimbursements after February 28, 2021. There is no action required by the

substitute teachers to be reimbursed; the payment method used to pay these fees will be automatically credited. To qualify for the alternative route to substitute teacher certification, individuals must complete the online training by February 28, 2021; the emergency rule that allows this alternative route, approved by the Missouri State Board of Education to address pandemic-related staffing shortages, expires after that date. Substitute teacher candidates must also pay $41.75 for a fingerprint background check for each local education agency (LEA) in which the substitute teacher intends to work. Substitute teachers may sometimes pay this fee multiple times, if they work in multiple LEAs. CRF funding is also available for LEAs that choose to reimburse substitute teachers working in their schools for the required background check fee. The individual must have completed their fingerprint background check between November 5, 2020 and March 31, 2021. To access these CRF funds, the LEA must submit to DESE an application and a list of those individuals to be reimbursed. The application is due by March 31, 2021. More information about these reimbursements, as well as recent updates to substitute certification rules, can be found on DESE’s substitute teacher webpage, https://dese.mo.gov/ educator-quality/certification/substitute -teachers.

Hy-Vee launches virtual dietitian services Hy-Vee, Inc. announces the launch of its new, virtual dietitian services platform, Healthie, as another way to connect with its customers during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Free services include virtual store tours, dietitian discovery sessions and monthly virtual classes led by a HyVee registered dietitian to help customers start – or continue – their wellness journey. Other services are available for a fee, including the Healthy Habits menu program ($99) that provides meal plans and product recommendations to support nutrition

goals and health needs, and personalized nutrition counseling packages (which range from $125 to $250 depending on a customer’s individualized need). To learn more about Hy-Vee’s new virtual dietitian services and to create a Healthie account, visit www.hyvee.com/health/hy-vee-dietitians and select a dietitian. From there, customers can schedule an appointment, chat with their designated dietitian, create goals, track their progress, and browse other offerings and classes.

Technology

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How to avoid the top home and business cybersecurity threats by Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert As we evolve into more of a digital world, every year cybercrime becomes more of a problem. With many of you and your businesses moving to a remote workforce because of the COVID19 pandemic, it has made criminals increase their focus on attacking both home and business users. 99% of crime requires user interaction which means if you take the time to educate yourself about the different cyber threats on the Internet, you can keep yourself and your business safe. Read on to see what threats you might encounter this year and how to protect yourself from them. 1. Accidental Sharing. This occurs when you or a friend accidentally shares sensitive information such as hitting 'reply all' to an email or when you use Carbon Copy (CC) to send out an email to a lot of connections rather than clicking on Blind Carbon Copy (BCC). Cybercriminals love when you send out emails with email accounts exposed. This gives them a list of new people they can trick with the latest scams. With many of you working from home, you can easily make the mistake of sending out a sensitive email to your friends and social media connection rather than your co-workers. How to Stay Safe: Don't be in such a rush when sending out emails and other information. When you fail to take the time to watch what information you're sharing, you're risking exposing sensitive information such as passwords to home and work accounts, company sensitive emails, and more. 2. PDF Scams. If you aren't familiar with what a PDF is, it stands for "Portable Document Format" and was developed by Adobe. These scams are on the rise because even though you will probably avoid clicking on a link on an email or downloading most attachments, you probably will attempt to open up a PDF file. Why? Well, if you see a PDF file as a file attachment, you will assume it's an important document and open it up.

How to Stay Safe: Beware of generic emails that show up in your inbox that come from unknown sources and have generic greetings. Also, if you get a PDF file unexpectantly if possible call the sender of the email to verify they were the ones who sent it. 3. Credential Stuffing. The act of credential stuffing means using the same user name and password information to log into online accounts. This form of cybercrime relies on people not changing their login credentials on a regular basis. Cybercriminals get on the dark web to look for user name and password data dumps. Once they get this information, they use bots to automatically your information to attempt to log into common social media and email sites to get the personal data stored in these accounts. Once they get more information about you and where you visit on the internet, they will use this information to log into your financial accounts and even work accounts. How to Stay Safe: It's important that you keep an eye on large-scale data breaches to verify your information hasn't been leaked as well as making sure you don't use the same user names and passwords for your online accounts. Check to see if your information has been leaked at www.fightingidentitycrimes.com and at www.haveibeenpwned.com. Keep track of all of your pesky passwords by storing them in your favorite web browser or use a password management software program like LastPass (www.lastpass.com) 4. Vishing and SMShing. Vishing or voice call phishing has been around for a while (think tech support scam phone calls), but SMShing or SMS Text phishing has risen during the pandemic because people respond to text messages easier making it more likely that you'll fall for a scam. Both use a technic called "social engineering' which is designed to get you to react to a phone call or email rather than taking the time to think if it's a legit call or not. Samples of these

types of attacks usually involve there is a problem with a personal or work account, problems with your computers and technology, or a subtle sales pitch to get you to purchase something you don't need. How to Stay Safe: The best defense against voice phishing and SMS phishing is to ignore the message if you don't recognize who's calling or leaving a message. If you're a small business or home user, limit who you share your home or mobile phone number with. If you have to share a number with the public, create a 'free' phone number with Whatsapp (www.whatsapp.com) or Google Voice (www.google.com). If you have a lot of incoming spam calls coming in, sign up for the Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov. Check to see if your mobile carrier offers spam call and text protection. You should also consider download and using the RoboKiller app (www.robokiller.com). 5. Ransomware. Ransomware is probably one of the most devastating cyber threats on the web today. If your home or office computer is infected with ransomware, it could mean the files on your devices are lost forever. Ransomware encrypts or locks up the pictures and documents on your devices. Ransomware is so lethal, it will infect multiple devices that are connected together on your home or office network, including cloud storage services and external hard drives used for backup. You are only able to gain access to them if you pay the ransom criminals will put up. How To Stay Safe: Ransomware normally shows up in the form of a phishing email, so think before you click on any link or attachment that shows up in your inbox. Set up an automatic backup system for all of your home and

ofﬁce devices. Services like Carbonite (www.carbonite.com) can keep your Windows and Macintosh safe in the cloud with automatic backup. For your smartphones and tablets, it's worth it to pay Apple and Google the extra money for storage to allow you to backup your information to their cloud services. In a world where the internet connects all your devices and allows you to work from home and communicate with your loved ones, staying on top of cyber threats has never been more important. If you need additional help, don't hesitate to reach out to me. Looking for More Useful Tech Tips? Our Tuesday Tech Tips Blog is released every Tuesday. If you like video tips, we live stream new episodes of 'Computer and Tech Tips for Non-Tech People' every Wednesday at 6:00 pm CST on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Technology product reviews are posted every Thursday. You can view previous episodes on our YouTube channel. Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. Need computer or technology help? If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.

Seeking New Voices! We welcome guest columns, editorials, articles by experts in their ﬁeld, and partnering with local organizations to share the work they are doing in the community. Email us at news@grainvalleynews.com for more information.

Community Voices

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Wayne’s World Changing Grain Valley to Train Alley by Wayne Geiger You’ve probably noticed that our culture is in the process of renaming things—or de-naming things. It’s a confusing, but concerted effort to erase and eliminate uncomfortable history. That’s, perhaps, an article for another day. But here’s something I can get on board with. I would like to suggest that we change the name “Grain Valley” to “Train Alley.” I’m a newcomer and only moved here in 2015. Since arriving, I have not seen any grain. Come to think of it, visiting Monkey Mountain, I saw neither monkey or mountain. However, what I have seen and heard—is the train. In our divided country, we have been united by memes of Bernie Sanders. In Grain Valley we have been united by the train. Think about it. We argue about roundabouts, masks, political ideology, and people who cut in the drive thru at McDonalds. These are all sources of contention. But, we all hate to get stopped by the train and all love to talk about it! On Wednesday, January 27 of this year, we were holding our weekly kid’s program at the church. At check out time, several kids had not been picked up. There was some concern until we found out—the train was blocking the road—again! I’ve always heard it’s hard to stop a train, but apparently not so much in Train Alley. We’re kind of used to it. Not so much fun when you’re just making a Sonic run or have to pick up the kids, but, it does bring us together if only for a moment. And, it is a source of entertainment. Seeking the latest fodder, I hurried to social media to the Residents of Grain Valley Facebook page. Melissa, an unfortunate newcomer to town, perhaps out looking for grain wrote, “Okay, I’m fairly new here... why the heck does the train always park itself in the middle of GV?” Thankfully, many residents, concerned about her plight, offered their assistance. At last check, about ninetyone comments. Some of the comments were extremely witty. Some were informational. Some offered sympathy. Some welcomed Melissa to town. Most complained about the train. For a brief moment, we forgot about our differences and, our lives intersected— albeit at a railroad crossing. My ﬁrst memory of a railroad was at my grandmother’s house in Hialeah, Florida. My family tried to visit weekly. When I got bored wandering the backyard and throwing mangos at lizards, I wandered off to the train tracks. I was fascinated by their construction and wondered where the trains came from and where they went to. It was fun to think about.

In 1990, my wife and I moved to New Orleans into a one-bedroom apartment at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Several years later, we decided to buy a trailer in the trailer park on seminary property. Like the Jefferson’s, we were “movin’ on up” and thought we reached the big time. The only drawback, other than living in a metal box in Louisiana’s sweltering heat, was the fact that we lived right next to the train tracks. A small price to pay for luxury. It was apparent when the train came through. The foundations upon which our metal box rested shook violently, sometimes causing pictures to fall off the wall. Over time, we removed anything breakable, and kind of got used to the train. When friends would visit, and the train would come rumbling through, rattling our world, they would say, “Oh my goodness, doesn’t that train bother you?” Our response was usually, “What train?” There were really only two times the train bothered us. First, when the train came around a bend and the light faced directly toward our bedroom window. Thankfully, the aluminum foil we put on the windows put an end to that. The second issue was that the train would often stop on the track and just sit. After some time, it would start again. The roaring locomotive leading the pack chugged on its way, but the cars in tow hadn’t figured it out yet. However, when they were arrested to attention and commanded to move, there was a huge “clang” that sounded like Thor wielding a sledgehammer and striking a large anvil with incredible force right outside our bedroom window. The aluminum foil didn’t help with that problem. It was enough to make us shoot straight up in bed in the middle of the night. Over time, however, the frequent sound of the train brought a strange comfort and tranquility. It just made me feel like, “all was right in the world.” Trains can do that. The First Transcontinental Railroad was constructed between 1863 and 1869. It connected the existing eastern U.S. rail network at Council Bluffs, Iowa with the Pacific coast at the Oakland Long Wharf on San Francisco Bay. The railroad officially opened for travel between Sacramento and Omaha on May 10, 1869. That’s when the golden “last spike” was driven in by a silver hammer in Promontory Summit. According to, “A History of Grain Valley,” by Michael Gillespie, the Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago Railroad obtained a state charter to build a line from Mexico, Missouri, to Kansas City. By August of 1878, railroad work was in high gear as more than one-thousand laborers prepared the area for track gangs who laid an average of 1-¼ miles of rail per day.

The tracks reached our area in January of 1879. In fact, Grain Valley, like neighboring towns, received its name from the C&A who had a say in naming the city. We didn’t name the train. The train named us. The first passenger trains roared through our city in May of 1879 and, according to Gillespie, after one year of operation, Grain Valley generated over 260 carloads of outbound freight per year — mostly grain and livestock. Even though we have other forms of mass transit, the trains are still used today. In fact, freight trains are cheaper, more economical, and better for the environment. The majority of trains in the U.S. are diesel-electric, which means, a diesel engine runs a generator that supplies electric traction motors that turn the wheels. They can also move more cargo more efficiently. On average, freight trains are about 11 times more energyefficient than trucks. “Well, maybe so,” you might argue, “but why don’t we just force the trains to stop blocking the intersection? It’s complicated. By law, all passenger and freight rail travel in the U.S. is subject to regulation by the Federal Railroad Administration. Rail travel has been under federal law since 1887. According to MODOT, it’s “unlawful for a train to prevent the use of any street for purposes of travel for a period of time longer than five minutes. This does not apply to a moving train or to one stopped because of an emergency or for repairs necessary before it can proceed

safely.” I’m no legal expert, but there are enough holes in this statement to call it swiss cheese. So, when all is said and done, the train is good news/bad news. The bad news is, since the train was here before we even existed and is subject to federal legislation that is somewhat nebulous, crossing the track means that we will likely one day get caught by the train. Sorry, Melissa. As I write this ﬁnal line, the train whistle is blowing in the background. I can’t help but smile at the impeccable timing. I also have a strange sense of history and nostalgia. I also wonder if the train is just passing through or if he plans to stop and run down to Sonic. Either way, the passing train passes the time. Its constant rumbling, horn-tootin’, and intermittent stopping on the tracks bring us together—if only for forty minutes. So, rather than ﬁght the impossible, let’s embrace the inevitable and see the opportunity before us! To naysayers, it’s 2021. The grain is gone. The train is here to stay and sometimes to stop. Here’s my passionate plug to rename Grain Valley to Train Alley. I would also like to suggest a tagline: “Train Alley: the town where if you’re just passing through, you’re probably on the wrong track.”

Dr. Wayne Geiger Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Professor of Speech, and freelance writer.

Education Park University announces fall 2020 graduates Park University announces its Fall 2020 graduates from the University’s flagship Parkville Campus, as well as the Downtown Kansas City (Mo.), Independence (Mo.) and Lenexa (Kan.) campuses. The list of graduates also includes fall online graduates worldwide and graduates from the University’s other campuses across the country not previously announced this year. Park hosted a virtual all-University commencement ceremony on December 12, featuring keynote speaker Anthony Melchiorri, host, co-creator and coexecutive producer of Travel Channel’s “Hotel Impossible” series of shows, and a 1990 Park graduate and U.S. military veteran. The graduates were originally scheduled to participate in an in-person ceremony that day at the Community of

Christ Auditorium in Independence, Mo., but the event was cancelled earlier in the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic. The University had 607 students eligible to graduate — 260 students received a master’s degree and/or a graduate certiﬁcate, and 347 students received a bachelor’s degree, associate degree and/or undergraduate certiﬁcate.

Master of Business Administration Amanda M. Ransdell, Finance, Grain Valley, MO

Bachelor of Science Mariah E. Gilbertson, Business Administration/Marketing, Grain Valley, MO

University of Missouri announces fall 2020 Deans List The following students from Grain Valley made the Dean’s List for the fall 2020 semester: Kendyll L Bailey, Senior, Health Professions Claudia Genevieve Chambers, Senior, Arts & Science Warren Godfrey Haralson, Senior, Arts & Science Joseph Conrad Hays, Senior Meagan Janeen Hodges, Junior, Journalism John Daniel Hodson, Sophomore, Engineering Payton Monroe Holstine, Sophomore, Business Jackson Adam Hoover, Sophomore, AgrFood & Nat Resources Madyson Lynn Marrs, Sophomore, AgrFood & Nat Resources Keely Michelle McElligott, Sophomore,

Journalism William H Perry, Freshman, Journalism Julian Mikel Sanjur, Sophomore, Health Professions Hannah Raleigh Sears, Junior, Arts & Science Victoria Gabrielle Seever, Freshman, Business Kendra Renea Sibert, Sophomore, Arts & Science Brett M Tieman, Senior, Education Benjamin M Totta, Junior, Health Professions Mackensie Danielle Wagner, Sophomore, Agr-Food & Nat Resources Vanessa Carla Watkins, Junior, Arts & Science Hannah Lynn Welty, Senior, Health Professions Kaylee Michelle Williams, Junior, Health Professions

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Speech & Debate team racks ups wins while keeping morale high The success of the Grain Valley High School speech and debate team is nothing new, but the fact that the team continues their winning streak in the face of so many changes this year is what impresses their head coach Brian Winckler. “It’s been kind of up and down. I think every student started out excited and they wanted to make the best of their year, the seniors in their last year, the freshmen in their first year, and everything in between. And then we went virtual in school, and that hit the morale a little bit. So, our cabinet members led by Hannah Lytle, Mia Powell, and Alex Kroenke, came up with ideas like a virtual holiday party that really helped with morale,” Winckler said. “Kids are starting to turn around, which is great. Now that they can see what they have been working toward as well, with conference and state and national qualifying events coming up, we are starting to get to the point where they are excited again and working together to accomplish the goals that we set out to accomplish.” “It’s definitely been more difficult. My favorite part of the activities are having people react and be interactive in the event. It is definitely more difficult to set up a video of the event, rather than have people react to what you are doing in real time,” Lytle said. “But, I also think it has helped us be more focused on our research and making sure things are clean. We’ve gotten a lot more technically strong, because video allows you to look at your performances much more intensely.” Senior Alex Kroenke participates in the Congress event, and agrees there are some positives that have come from this unique school year. “I think oddly enough, having to adjust how the team bonds and comes together has been really difficult but has worked out really well. Primarily, most of the bonding that happened before occurred during tournaments. But, when you are at a live tournament, you cannot see how your teammates are doing in the moment. Using video allows you to

see performances you otherwise wouldn’t see, and it’s made prepping better. It’s made people less afraid to make their voices heard,” Kroenke said. In a normal year, students prepare for their event and then perform in a room with their fellow competitors and the judge(s). “Now, we just record our performances and submit them for judging. Which is sad, because it is interesting to watch other people’s performances and learn about what they care about,” Lytle said. “Debate is now a lot of just sitting in a room in front of a camera, rather than all of the interaction and relationship building that happens in a normal year.” “Something that has been cool is the amount of judges and different types of people when have been able to meet. You no longer have to drive to where you compete, so for instance, Hannah and I got to compete in a Texas tournament without having to make that drive. Overall, the amount of diversity and different opinions we have heard this year has allowed us to have more productive conversations,” Powell said. Both Kroenke and Lytle are planning to put their skills to practice in the future with degrees in law. “I think advocating for people and making positive change where I can, these are areas where I can do the most,” Kroenke said. While current events have influenced both Kroenke and Lytle’s desire to pursue a career in law, Lytle has always known she wanted to pursue law as a career. “It’s always been a big thing for me. I hate seeing innocent people go to jail and seeing the experience of those people when it’s absolutely unnecessary,” Lytle said. Grain Valley will host the MSHSAA District 9 competition virtually the week of March 14-20, and volunteer judges are needed. Volunteers may contact Brian Winckler at bwinckler@gvr5.net. (See results of recent competitions at www.grainvalleynews.com.)

(Left to right): Speech and Debate cabinet members Senior Hannah Lytle, Senior Alex Kroenke, and Junior Mia Powell have been instrumental in keeping morale going while they rack up wins in competition this season. Photo credit: Valley News staff

Your Health

Page 8

Heart healthy foods to love by Megan Callahan, Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitian There’s been a popular, yet confusing, message being relayed over the past five years that there isn’t a causal relationship between eating saturated fats and heart disease. Scientists aren’t saying that saturated fat is good for you, but perhaps neutral for those that are healthy and active with no disease risk. If you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure or are at high risk for heart disease, you may want to take note of these two key points from the research: If you replace saturated fats in your diet (examples: butter, cheese, coconut oil, palm oil) with unsaturated fats (examples: nuts, seeds, fatty fish like tuna and salmon, olive oil, avocados), you may reduce your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. (1) If you replace the saturated fats in your diet with low-fiber, fast-digesting carbohydrates (examples: fruit juice, pop, candy, pasta, rice, energy bars), you’ll likely increase your risk for a heart attack or stroke. (1) So don’t be deceived by this message being relayed that saturated fat is good for you; it’s still not “good” for you and when eaten in excess can increase your risk for heart disease leading to a heart attack or stroke. (1) Here are 3 foods you could eat to show your heart some love: Low-carb Vegetables – serving size is ½ cup cooked or 1 cup raw or 2 cups raw leafy greens. Examples: green beans, broccoli, spinach, kale, mushrooms, zucchini, yellow squash,

Brussels sprouts. These veggies are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber and are low-calorie in comparison to other food groups. Walnuts – serving size is 1 ounce or approximately 7 walnuts. Walnuts are primarily a healthy fat source with some carbohydrate and a little bit of protein. They are high in vitamin B6, folate, thiamin – playing a role in cellular energy and a healthy nervous system. Salmon/Tuna – salmon and tuna are both fatty fish and are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, a polyunsaturated fat. Studies have found when participants replaced just 1% of their saturated fat intake with the same amount of calories coming from polyunsaturated fats, their risk of heart attack or stroke decreased by an average of 7%. The American Heart association considers 3.5 ounces of cooked fish or ¾ cup to be a single serving. For adults, two servings per week are recommended to help lower risk for heart disease. This warm salad contains all three of these foods and is rated 5 stars! It’s a simple one-pan meal that is rich with heart-healthy ingredients. Citations: (1) Clifton PM, Keogh JB. A systematic review of the effect of dietary saturated and polyunsaturated fat on heart disease. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2017 Dec;27(12):10601080. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2017.10.010. Epub 2017 Oct 18. PMID: 29174025. https:// pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29174025/

Walnut-Crusted Salmon Winter Salad Serves 4 All you need: 12 oz. baby red or yellow potatoes, halved 12 oz. Hy-Vee Short Cuts sliced Brussels sprouts 1 tbsp plus 1/3 cup Gustare Vita olive oil, divided 1 large Honeycrisp or Gala apple, cored and cut into ½-inch-thick wedges 3 tbsp Gustare Vita balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp packed Hy-Vee brown sugar 1 tsp Hy-Vee Dijon mustard ⅛ tsp Hy-Vee salt 4 (5-oz.) pieces skinless fresh salmon ﬁllets, ¾- to 1-inch-thick ¼ cup Hy-Vee chopped walnuts 6 oz. mixed salad greens cup Hy-Vee Short Cuts chopped red onions All you do: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place potatoes and Brussels sprouts in a large bowl; toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Spread in a single layer on a 15x10-inch rimmed baking pan; add apple wedges. Roast for 10 minutes, stirring once halfway through. Whisk together vinegar, brown sugar, mustard and salt in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in remaining 1/3 cup olive oil. Divide vinaigrette into two portions and set aside. Push vegetables and apples to edge of pan, leaving them in a single layer. Pat salmon dry with paper towels; place in center of pan. Lightly brush salmon with one portion of vinaigrette; sprinkle with walnuts. Roast for 6 to 10 minutes or until salmon flakes with a fork (145 degrees) and vegetables and apples are tender. Drizzle with half of the remaining vinaigrette; sprinkle some of the greens around the salmon. Place remaining salad greens on four salad plates; sprinkle with red onions. Arrange salmon, vegetables and apples on top. Drizzle with remaining vinaigrette. Nutrition Facts per serving: 600 calories, 33g total fat, 4.5g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 65mg cholesterol, 260mg sodium, 42g total carbohydrates, 5g dietary ﬁber, 19g total sugars, 7g added sugars, 36g protein. Daily Values: Vitamin D 80%, Calcium 8%, Iron 15%, Potassium 30%

The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. Megan Callahan is one of your Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitians. She is dedicated to helping people live healthier and happier lives. Megan received a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Missouri State

University. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she also received her Master of Science degree in dietetics and nutrition. Megan has been working with Hy-Vee full-time for 10 years. Megan lives in Lee’s Summit with her husband Matt, and their 2 children Kennedy (4) & Carsyn (2).

Hobbies to keep your body and mind healthy and happy (StatePoint) As the pandemic continues to restrict many of the places you are able or inclined to go, ﬁnding ways to stay active is important for keeping the body and mind healthy and happy. Here are some ideas for new hobbies to try. Learn a language: Bonjour! ¡Hola! With an array of online language classes and tutorials available at your ﬁngertips, learning a new language is more accessible than ever. Start now while you fantasize about a post-pandemic vacation overseas. Play an instrument: Learning to play

an instrument is not only a great distraction for the current moment, it can provide you with years of joy as your skill develops. Become a home chef: From sushi to soufflé to dumplings, there are likely a range of dishes you have never attempted making at home. Tackle your culinary bucket list, one-by-one. Go hiking: There is no better hobby for staying ﬁt and communing with nature than hiking, which works every muscle of the body, boosts cardiovascular health and even improves mood and mental well-being.

Track your hike using a wearable tech tool geared for outdoor enthusiasts, such as a watch from the Casio’s Pro Trek line. Quad Sensor technology packs all the measurements you need into one compact hiking watch, including a compass, altitude/barometer and temperature measurements, along with an accelerometer that tracks step count. Calorie calculations use both step count and altitude information to take upgrades and downgrades into consideration, and data is recorded by the Pro Trek connected app.

Volunteer: At a time when many people are struggling, consider volunteering your time to serve those in need. There are plenty of safe, socially distant volunteer opportunities, from delivering meals to the homebound, to video conferencing with socially isolated seniors to helping boost adult literacy via remote tutoring. Amid the ongoing pandemic, staying busy and positive may take creativity. However, discovering new hobbies and pursuits you love can nurture the body, mind and soul.

Your Health

Page 9

Hy-Vee Launches ‘Healthy Heart, Healthy You’ Campaign Throughout the month of February, Hy-Vee’s team of registered dietitians will host free, weekly virtual events – including store tours, adult cooking classes and live Q&As – to provide education about ways to shop and cook to promote heart health.

February 3-7: Heart Health Store Tour Hy-Vee dietitians will lead a virtual Heart Health Store Tour through the aisles of Hy-Vee, while sharing the basics of a heart healthy meal

plan. Shopping tips and product recommendations to help add more nutrition to the shopping list and meal plan are included.

February 8-14: Adult Cooking Class Hy-Vee dietitians will host a virtual cooking class with a twist as they demonstrate how to prepare three recipes and share fun wine pairings to enjoy with them, too. Visit https:// www.hy-vee.com/recipes-ideas/ recipes and ﬁlter by “heart healthy” for

additional recipe ideas.

February 15-21: Live Q&A with Hy-Vee Registered Dietitian Hy-Vee dietitians will be LIVE via our virtual tele-health platform to answer questions related to improving cholesterol levels, maintaining blood pressure, increasing activity level and more.

www.hy-vee.com/health/hy-veedietitians/default.aspx and clicking on the link for Healthy Heart, Healthy You. Classes will be offered consecutively each week for three weeks at the day and time the attendee chooses starting the ﬁrst week of February. Customers will have 10 date/time combinations to choose from each week, with a limit of 150 attendees per class.

Jackson County Health Department COVID-19 Testing Jackson County Health Department will offer the following COVID-19 testing locations next week (February 8January 12): Monday: Lee’s Summit This is a Drive-Thru Lee’s Summit- 505 NW Blue parkway, Lee’s Summit 64063 Registration link: https:// jacohd.jotform.com/210106123350132 Tuesday: Grandview This is not a drive-thru clinic Grandview- The View: Grandview- The View Community Center 13500 Byars Rd., Grandview MO 64030. Registration link: https:// jacohd.jotform.com/210105416754144

Wednesday: Blue Springs This is not a drive thru clinic Blue Springs- Vesper Hall 400 NW Vesper St. Blue Springs Registration link: https:// jacohd.jotform.com/210105362039140 Thursday: Lee’s Summit This is a drive-thru Lee’s Summit- 505 NW Blue Parkway, Lee’s Summit 64063 Registration link: https:// jacohd.jotform.com/210105591012135 Friday: Independence Not a drive-thru Independence- Independence Uptown Farmers Market- 211 W Truman Rd., Independence MO 64050 Registration Link: https:// jacohd.jotform.com/210105705139142

Page 10

Youth

Editors Note: We are pleased to begin offering Kid Scoop in our print editions. Kid Scoop offers award winning activities and resources for teachers and parents to foster a joy of learning and family discussions.

February Kid Scoop features are sponsored by:

Puzzles

Page 11

THEME: U.S. PRESIDENTS ACROSS 1. Newton's ﬁrst name 6. Part of smog 9. Hissy ﬁt 13. Human trunk 14. Form of "to be" 15. Illegal booze 16. Editorial changes 17. Crematorium jar 18. #56 Down, alt. sp. 19. *One of six Presidents named James 21. *First President previously divorced 23. Civil War's Johnny 24. Manage without help 25. Military procedures 28. Cone-shaped quarters 30. MLB bench 35. Cowboy's necktie 37. A whole lot 39. *Whig, e.g. 40. Resembling wings 41. Nightly necessity 43. Experience emotion 44. Large ray 46. Glacier's deposit 47. "Watch out!" on a golf course 48. Traditional sock pattern 50. Reduced Instruction Set Computer 52. Knight's title 53. Bypass 55. Foot digit 57. *President Chester ____ 60. *He signed legislation to create Medicare 64. Fauna, Merryweather and ____, fairy godmothers 65. Expert 67. Convex molding 68. Bumpkins 69. Café alternative 70. Car ways 71. Trans-Siberian Railroad city 72. Piercing part 73. Slightly drunk

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DOWN 1. Any thing 2. *Trump had button on desk to order his favorite one 3. Desertlike 4. Up and about 5. Coddle 6. Half-man, half-goat 7. Legendary NHLer 8. Tragedy, or comedy, or satire 9. Cheap form of payment? 10. Before Scotia 11. Clickable picture 12. Olden day "your" 15. Be in charge, two words 20. Newspaper notices 22. What all of #70 Across do 24. Painting or poetry 25. *He beat McCain and Romney 26. Kind of cap 27. Colloquialisms 29. *First "dark horse" 31. Gamecock's spur 32. Dessert sandwiches 33. Wombs 34. *#29 Down predecessor 36. Creative 38. 18-wheeler 42. Green pasta sauce 45. Big Island greetings 49. Australian flightless bird 51. Group of people, often in research 54. Extremely angry 56. Concluding stanza in poetry 57. *G. W. Bush to Yale, e.g. 58. Schneider and Lowe, e.g. 59. Major bike maker 60. Audience's rejection 61. Sold in bars 62. Auto pioneer 63. Like a busybody 64. Back, to a pendulum 66. Latin dance three-step move, once

Page 12

Outdoors & Recreation

MDC to reopen Kansas City regional offices to the public by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will reopen offices in the Kansas City region to public access on Monday, February 8th. They were closed earlier for COVID-19 safety precautions. Those reopening include MDC’s Kansas City Regional Office in Lee’s Summit, Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs, the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City, and the MDC office in Sedalia. MDC’s El Dorado Springs and Clinton offices have

remained open to limited public access. All staff and visitors at MDC ofﬁces and nature centers are required to observe COVID-19 protocols including face masks and physical distancing. MDC staff has continued to work in the ofﬁces during closures, serving the public by phone or no-contact services outside the buildings. Nature and outdoor skills programs have continued to be offered in outdoor settings. Virtual education programs are offered online. The re-openings will give the public

access to restrooms and some exhibits at Burr Oak Woods and Discovery Center. Youth play areas, touchable exhibits, and water fountains will remain closed. Restrooms and water fountains remain closed to the public at other ofﬁces. MDC regional teams statewide assess temporary closures or reopenings after evaluation of data provided by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) regarding COVID-19 positivity rates and case rates. The latest county-level

positivity rates provided by DHSS can be found at https://showmestrong.mo.gov/ public-health-county/. Information about hours and location for Burr Oak Woods is available at https://mdc.mo.gov/burroakwoods, and information about the Gorman Discovery Center is at https:// mdc.mo.gov/discoverycenter. For information about MDC’s Kansas City Regional Ofﬁce, visit https:// short.mdc.mo.gov/ZaP.

MDC offers free maple sugaring workshops by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation Trees provide a sweetener in late winter, but only if a person knows how to turn tree sap into syrup, especially maple syrup. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer several free programs during February teaching methods for making syrup. MDC’s Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs and the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City both have syrup making programs on tap. When warm days follow cold days in late winter, trees begin drawing sap upward into the limbs. Tapping this sap for syrup is a traditional way of using a forest resource for food. MDC staff will demonstrate and discuss the equipment and techniques for making syrup. Syrup can be made from many tree species. But maple is a favorite because the sap contains more sugar and requires less sap to boil into syrup. MDC’s Burr Oak Woods Nature Center will teach maple sugaring in two 90minute sessions on Saturday, Feb. 20. Participants can choose between a session starting at 11 a.m. or one beginning at 1:30pm. All ages are welcome. Registration is required. Burr Oak Woods will also offer maple sugaring classes on Saturday, Feb. 27. Those 90-minute classes will also begin at 11:00am or 1:30pm. All ages are welcome, and registration is required. MDC’s Gorman Discovery Center will host Urban Woodsman outdoor skill sessions on Saturday, Feb. 20, that will include syrup making. Taste tests may be offered for maple and other syrups such as walnut. One-hour demonstration

sessions will begin at 10:00am., 11:30am, and 1:30pm. Also on display will be fire building, wood splitting, and campfire cooking skills. These sessions are for ages 10 and older. Registration is required. A virtual Sap to Syrup cooking program will be offered from 10:00 to 11:00am on Wednesday, Feb. 10, from the demonstration kitchen of the Gorman Discovery Center. Steve Jacobsen, assistant manager, will lead the session. Participants will get tips on techniques for boiling sap into syrup. This program is for ages 10 and older. Registration is required. Discovery Center will also offer inperson Sap to Syrup cooking programs on Friday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, Feb. 27. MDC staff will be boiling tree sap into syrup and will discuss how participants can make syrup at home. These hourlong sessions will start at 10:00am and 12:30pm on both days. This program is for ages 10 and older. Registration is required. COVID-19 safety precautions and protocols will be followed by staff and visitors at these programs, including physical distancing and face masks. Most programs are being held outdoors. Participants should dress accordingly for winter weather. Registered participants will be notified if severe weather forces a cancellation or postponement. To register for any of these programs, visit the MDC events page for the Kansas City region, https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ Z6L.

MDC will host free maple syrup making events during February at Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs and the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City. Photo credit: MDC

Sports

Page 13

Strong second half leaves Eagles just short against Bears by John Unrein The Grain Valley Eagles nearly erased a sixteen point halftime deficit in their loss to the William Chrisman Bears by a score of 43-40 on February 2nd. The Eagles were short two players on their varsity roster and put forth a gutsy effort with a six man rotation. Grain Valley leaned on the rebounding of forward Cole Keller and the long range shooting of guards Nick Hooper and Owen Herbert to claw back into the game. William Chrisman under the leadership of head coach Jake Kates and the scoring of junior guard Dayne Herl jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first quarter in route to 27-11 halftime lead. Herl would lead all scorers in the contest with 16 points. The Bears were effective in switching between 2-3 zone and man defense in containing the Eagles early in the game. William Chrisman relied on their “4 out” offensive set to increase floor spacing and achieve open shots during the first half. Missed shots and unforced turnovers contributed to Grain Valley’s deficit entering the locker room at halftime. The second half would be a different story for the Eagles in outscoring their opponent by a 29-16 margin. Junior guard Nick Hooper would pour in 14 points for the Eagles, including a quartet of 3 pointers from behind the arc. Senior forward Cole Keller would

match Hooper’s output of 14 points for the Eagles while adding 11 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block. Sophomore guard Owen Herbert was also part of the comeback charge downing a trio of three pointers. “I was not very aggressive in the first half. I did not get to the spots I needed to be. I felt good coming out during warmups before the start of the second half. My teammates displayed confidence in me with the passes they provided for my open looks,” Hooper said. “We took a little step back tonight. We can recover that by avoiding the mistakes we made in our next game against Truman.” Keller added, “We started slow as a team and found some traction as the game went on. This stings with as close as we came in the second half. I am proud of what we did from the third quarter on in the adversity we faced and how we handled it.” The closing sequences of the fourth quarter were filled with drama for Grain Valley. Keller helped cut the William Chrisman lead to three points after two made free throws with 5:30 left in the game. The Bears would start to the hold the ball with two minutes left and intentionally stalled their offense. Grain Valley responded with fouls to gain back possession of the basketball. Herl would

Forward Cole Keller completes his post pivot to score in the paint. Photo credit: Valley News staff

Guard Jayden Yung uses the crossover dribble to elude pressure in setting up the Eagles offense. Photo credit: Valley News staff sink a total of three free throws for the Bears with under two minutes left in the game. Herbert would respond for the Eagles by hitting a three pointer with 1:15 left in the game prior to taking a charge under the Bears basket at the 1:06 mark. Keller’s subsequent made free throw with 50 seconds remaining brought the Eagles to within one point at 40-41 before the Bears would pull away for the win. Grain Valley head basketball coach Andy Herbert was pleased with the effort his team put forth in the last eleven minutes of their comeback effort. Being so close to a positive outcome and where his team is headed next was part of Herbert’s reflection after the game. “We have been playing so good lately. What you worry about is that you have a setback, and we did tonight. We played hard but did not feel like we were as sharp as we have been. The lesson is you can’t wait to start. You have to be ready as soon as the ball goes in the air and we didn’t do that tonight,” Herbert said. Herbert continued, “(Nick) Hooper is a tough minded kid. He was the spark plug that we needed. He made some big

threes, had a tough, tough ﬁnish at the basket, and played solid defense. He was part of the glue that held everything together. His effort gave us a chance to win the game.” “Keller did a good job ﬁnding open people around him. That is hard to do when you are getting that much heat around the basket. It is like having a swarm of bees around you.” “It takes a physical and mental toll on you to play 32 minutes and take that beating. To be expected to have a clear head and play, they (William Chrisman) did a good job defending him and he (Cole) has some bumps, bruises, and scratches to show for it.” Herbert concluded, “This team displayed toughness (with a limited rotation). You have to play through foul trouble and being tired along with ups and downs, and this team has done a good job of that so far. Before tonight we had won four of our last six games. We stubbed our toe a little bit tonight. We have a week to stew over it before we play again. We will learn from this and move on.” Grain Valley (5-11) will face another Suburban Conference rival with their next matchup against the Truman Patriots on February 9th.

Sports

Page 14

A thousand reasons to smile in clash between Lady Eagles and Lady Bears by John Unrein It only took Grain Valley sophomore Grace Slaughter 41 games to get to 1,000 points in her young varsity career. Slaughter drove the lane at the 3:16 mark of the second quarter prior to finishing with a layup under the basket and timeout called by Lady Eagles head basketball coach Randy Draper. Slaughter’s teammates rushed the court to adorn her with high fives and hugs. Fans in the stands were holding up a plethora of congratulatory signs for Slaughter as Grain Valley activities director Brandon Hart capped the moment with the announcement of her achievement. Slaughter paused during the celebration to acknowledge her parents and family in the stands. The milestone is significant as Slaughter has averaged approximately 24.4 points per game during the first 41 outings of her varsity basketball career. “I tried not to think about it (the milestone) tonight and wanted to focus on us winning the game. I try to be a team player and was so happy for Finley (LaForge) with the threes she hit early on. I thought for sure that would open things up for us,” Slaughter said. “We were able to stay with them (William Chrisman) and it was a close game until the second half. We recognized the box and one defense they were playing and wanted to get

the ball back out behind the arc to make some three pointers.” Slaughter concluded, “We need to be fired up coming out at the start of the 3rd quarter moving forward. We were only down two points at halftime. Rebounding, fast breaks, and good shooting will pump us up to the zone where we deliver as a team. The rest of our schedule this season is not easy.” Slaughter would finish the contest with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal on February 1st as the Lady Eagles lost to William Chrisman by a score of 51 -37. Grain Valley guard Finley LaForge opened the game on fire from deep, sinking a trio of three pointers during the first half in route to her stat line of 11 total points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. LaForge was pleased with her effort and thankful to Slaughter for the attention she drew that opened up outside looks for the rest of the team. “Grace draws a lot of attention, including being double teamed at times. That opens up my shot a lot and gives me time to look at the basket. Grace sees everything and she hit me perfectly with the assist she got on the pass for my layup,” LaForge said. “I was making quite a few shots during pregame warmups. I took the openings that presented themselves tonight.”

Sophomore forward Ella Clyman attempts a shot from the wing. Photo credit: Valley News staff

Grace Slaughter holds a sign celebrating her 1,000 point score. Photo credit: Valley News staff William Chrisman Lady Bears head basketball coach Scott Schaefer deployed the box and one defense that at times smothered Slaughter. Senior forward Jolee Spinks had the arduous task of following Grain Valley’s leading scorer all over the floor in a man assignment. The rest of the Lady Bears played zone around the blocks and the

top of the key. Equally as impressive for the Lady Bears was the scoring effort of senior Jacqueline David. The 5’ 4” senior forward used positioning and muscle in the paint to put up 20 points in her team’s winning effort. Draper and his staff adjusted in the

see LADY EAGLES on page 16

Freshman guard Finley LaForge looks for an opening in the Chrisman defense. Photo credit: Valley News staff

Sports

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Lady Eagles ﬁnish second in Sonic Showdown by John Unrein The second half was unkind to the Lady Eagles basketball team on January 29th in their 49-33 loss to the Barstow Lady Knights in the championship game of the Sonic Showdown. Turnovers and missed shots by Grain Valley along with the athleticism of Jaelyn and Brylee Glenn for Barstow permitted the scoring gap to widen in favor of the Lady Knights. The Glenn twin sisters for Barstow are committed to play basketball at Kansas State University. Jaelyn led all scorers during the contest with 19 points, while Brylee added 7 points of her own. The length of both 6 foot sisters on defense hindered the operating space of the Lady Eagles offense to which they are accustom.

Both Glenn sisters and freshman guard Holly Woods were selected to the all-tournament team for Barstow. Grace Slaughter, Gabbi Keim, and Ella Clyman enjoyed being chosen as all-tournament team selections for Grain Valley. Slaughter’s stat line for the Lady Eagles included 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 steals. Keim would add 5 points and 6 rebounds, as Clyman would contribute 2 points, 8 rebounds, and 1 assist. “Both of the (Glenn) twins have really long arms and we were not use that. We have Grace (Slaughter), but one person can only do so much. There’s always room for improvement and we will work to get ready for some of the tough teams we will face down the stretch,” Keim said.

see SHOWDOWN on page 16

Senior Jordyn Weems attempts a free throw. Photo credit: John Overstreet

Pictured left to right: All-Tournament team selection members Ella Clyman, Grace Slaughter, Gabbi Keim. Photo credit: Valley News staff

LADY EAGLES continued from page 14 second half to the defensive pressure by applying screens to free up Slaughter. The result paid dividends during the 4th quarter for the Lady Eagles with William Chrisman having to close out on Slaughter as she drove the lane. Having answers for successful defenses that teams deploy is paramount in February basketball as teams acquire more ﬁlm to study of their upcoming opponents. “Shooting happens in rhythm. Movement of the basketball hurts the defense, and it helps the shooter. So, you probably ought to move the ball. Finley (LaForge) gave us another scoring option tonight. I told Finley after the game that this doesn’t need to be a special game for her, but who she is,” Draper said. “I was happy with what we did during the ﬁrst half. We ran the floor better tonight then we did against

Barstow. They (William Chrisman) are a really good basketball team. I am glad we got to play them.” Draper continued, “There is no such thing as a trip (possession) that doesn’t matter. A basketball game is just a series of one trip possessions. When you are done with a possession, is that what your team would vote on to win a game. It continues to be a part of our maturation process. Our ﬁrst half was pretty good tonight, but there are some things we have to learn from this game.” “Grace (Slaughter) accumulating a thousand points this early in her career is ridiculous. I told the team afterwards, I could’ve been left in the gym alone and not got to a thousand points,” Draper said with a chuckle. Grain Valley moves to a record of 9-5 with road games ahead against St. Joseph Benton and Truman.

SHOWDOWN continued from page 15 Slaughter added, “We struggled to get fast breaks tonight due to their (Barstow’s) quickness and speed. They were staring at us as we were trying to get our offense started on possessions. It was good for us to see this physical play in knowing what we need to work on moving forward.” Grain Valley (9-4) is scheduled to play ﬁve of their ﬁnal eight regular season games at home. Avoiding bus trips late in the season is typically welcome for a basketball team. Lady Eagles head basketball coach Randy Draper is cognizant of what he wants to see from his young team on the cusp of February basketball. “We need to get use to playing a team with that type of physicality. Our upcoming games are going to test us in that realm further,” Draper said. “I was pretty happy with our effort defensively. I told them we’re going to spend a lot of time talking about

defense, but this game will be decided offensively.” “At the end of the first half they only had 18 points, but we had 13. We have to learn how to open and close in the toughest games. You don’t learn that without playing though.” Draper finished, “We typically speed people up with the way we play, but that happened to us tonight. There were times when we were open and not ready. The film will open our eyes to that, and we can improve.” Grain Valley point guard Grace Slaughter moved closer to attaining 1,000 career points in the loss to Barstow. A crazy milestone to consider with Slaughter only being a sophomore. The Lady Eagles will take on William Chrisman and St. Joseph Benton the week of February 1st. The two opposing teams boast a combined record of 18-10, with both upcoming contests being a solid test for Grain Valley.

Grace Slaughter receives an entry pass into the post, looking for space. Photo credit: John Overstreet

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Community Calendar Thursday, February 4, 2021 Virtual Teen Book Club: Between Two Titles 4:00pm—5:00pm Join us for a virtual teen book group. With two titles to choose from, there are options for everyone. Friday, February 5, 2021 Grow a Reader Storytime 10:00am—10:20am Join library staff for virtual storytimes for your littles (and maybe for you too!). We will have stories and songs, brought directly to your home. www.mymcpl.org/events Monday, February 8, 2021 Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Virtual meeting via Zoom Tuesday, February 9, 2021 Discover Nature: Naturalist Hour 2:00pm—3:00pm Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, 1401 NW Park Road Magical moments in nature are waiting for you! Go on an adventure with a naturalist to make amazing discoveries as you explore on a trail close to the nature center. Registration required: 816-228-3766 Wednesday, February 10, 2021 Business Model Canvas Workshop 6:00pm—7:00pm via Zoom Is your business model working? Join Kimberly Beer to learn how to stop the chaos and create meaningful direction in your business while ensuring your business idea is solid. www.mymcpl.org/events

Wednesday, February 10, 2021 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting 6:30pm Grain Valley City Hall Friday, February 12, 2021 Grow a Reader Virtual Storytime 10:00am -10:20am Join library staff for virtual storytimes for your littles (and maybe for you too!). We will have stories and songs, brought directly to your home. www.mymcpl.org/events Monday, February 15, 2021 President’s Day City ofﬁces closed Tuesday, February 16, 2021 Park Board Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley Community Center Monday, February 22, 2021 Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Virtual meeting via Zoom Saturday, February 26, 2021 Fishing Skills: Reel Maintenance 3:30pm—5:00pm Get your trusty reels in tip top shape before spring weather arrives. Registration required: 816-228-3766

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