Valley News: April 4, 2019

April 4, 2019

Valley News www.grainvalleynews.com

Vol. 2, No. 14

FREE

Despite Depressing Turnout, Voters Approve Bond Issue To say voter turnout for the April 2nd General Municipal Election was light might be the understatement of the year.

The Jackson County Election Board reported 19,364 votes were cast in a county with 179,308 registered voters.

This represents a 10.8% voter turnout in the county. Turnout in Grain Valley was also extremely light.

Voters overwhelmingly approved the Grain Valley School’s $7.5 million bond issue, with 76% of voters giving the green light on a planned addition at Grain Valley North Middle School and other projects around the district.

In a statement, Grain Valley Schools Superintendent Marc Snow expressed gratitude to the voters.

“Thank you to our community for your continued support and trust in the Grain Valley School District. We look forward to getting this work started very soon,” Snow said.

Voters were also asked to vote for two directors to serve on the Grain Valley School Board. Only two candidates, Julie Groff and Michael Hackett, filed and were elected to serve on the board.

In Ward 1, Tom Cleaver defeated Dale Arnold 156-141. Incumbent Nancy Totton won the Ward 2 seat with 94 votes.

Totton’s opponent Chuck Johnston received 72 votes. Ward 3 Alderman Shea Bass ran unopposed and received 225 votes to retain his seat.

Good News

Voters approved a $7.5 million bond issue on Tuesday, April 2nd to build an addition on to North Middle School and complete additional projects throughout the district.

Above: Rendering of the addition planned for North Middle School.

Graphic credit: Grain Valley Schools

Students To Fill Trucks For Those in Need Students in the 190 member Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) Youth Advisory Council have organized an 8-hour food drive to benefit residents of their communities.

The students have the goal of collecting 10,000 donated items at each location and filling a box truck in 8 hours.

THCF’ THCF’s Youth Advisory Council “Fill Those Trucks” Trucks” Drive Saturday, April 6, 2019 8:00am – 5:00pm Blue Springs Hy-Vee

Donations benefit Community Services League. The Grain Valley Assistance Council is an affiliate of Community Services League.

Truman Heartland Community Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a program to involve young leaders in changing the future through the power of philanthropy.

YAC engages more than 190 student leaders annually representing 13 area high schools, committed to improving the lives of children and young people throughout our Eastern Jackson County community.

Students in the 190 member Truman Heartland Community Foundation Youth 8--hour food drive on Saturday, April 6th Advisory Council (YAC) have organized an 8 to benefit residents of their communities. YAC members will be accepting donations from 8:00am— 8:00am—5:00pm 5:00pm at HyHy-Vee in Blue Springs.

Local News

Page 2 Safely Dispose of Medications at Drug Take Back Event April 27th The Grain Valley Police Department (GVPD) will host its annual Drug Take Back Event on Saturday, April 27th from 10:00am—2:00pm in the GVPD parking lot, 711 Main Street.

The event is part of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Take Back Day. The last TakeBack Day brought in more than 900,000 pounds of unused or expired medication nation wide.

Residents are encouraged to bring unused or expired prescription and over the counter medications to the event on April 27th. No questions will be asked. No syringes will be accepted.

For more information about the national event and tips on how to properly dispose of your unused medications, visit www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov.

Police Blotter

The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of March 20-27, 2019.

March 20, 2019 900 Block NW Persimmon Court Jefferson/Valley Ridge Drive 600 Block NW Jefferson 200 Block NW Kimberly Court 3000 Block S Outer Road 1200 Block SW Lakeview Drive RD Mize/Meadow EB I70 On Ramp 100 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street 1100 Block Buckner Tarsney 300 Block NE Coldwater Creek 800 Block Lakeview 700 Block Main Street March 21, 2019 100 Block Sunny Lane Drive 400 Block Joseph Lane Minter Road 100 Block NW Woodbury

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 Cathy Allie | Staff Writer, Proofreader Diana Luppens, Switch Focus Studios | Contributing Photographer John Overstreet | Contributing Photographer

Mail: PO Box 2972 Grain Valley MO 64029 Phone: 816.809.7984 Email: news@grainvalleynews.com Sign up for our weekly emails and join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @grainvalleynews).

Alarm Agency Assist (MODOT) Citizen Contact Agency Assist (CJC) Citizen Contact Alarm Suspicious Auto Motorist Assist Abandoned Auto Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Agency Assist (CJC) Fraud ExParte Violation

1400 Block Eagles Parkway 100 Block N Main Street Sni-A-Bar/Eagles Parkway BB/RD Mize 500 Block NW Woodbury 700 Block Main Street 600 Block Tisha 400 Block S Broadway 1300 Block Stoneybrook 1300 Block Stoneybrook

Stolen License Plate Animal at Large Area Check Motor Vehicle Accident Agency Assist (CJC) Animal Bite C&I Driver Area Check Child Exchange Warrant Verification Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Citizen Contact

March 22, 2019 700 Block Misty Glen 1300 Block Phelps I70/24 Mile Marker 100 Block NW Locust, Oak Grove BB/Duncan 600 Block Tisha 700 Block Main Street I70/Main Street 700 Block Main Street 200 Block E Broadway 700 Block Main Street 500 Block SW Greystone Drive

Stand by to Prevent Alarm Agency Assist (MHP) Property Recovery Area Check Missing Juvenile Citizen Contact C&I Driver Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Disturbance

March 23, 2019 1100 Block NW Golfview Drive Stockman/Whitestone 1000 Block Sunny Lane AA/Woodbury 1100 Block S Buckner Tarsney Rd

Area Check Area Check Found Property Agency Assist (MHP) Disturbance

400 Block S Broadway, Oak Grove 600 Block Yennie 800 Block Sankar 700 Block Main Street 300 Block Crestview 600 Block Walnut 200 Block Front Street 1100 Block Cedar 700 Block Main Street March 24, 2019 700 Block Main Street 1100 Block Valley Ridge 600 Block Yennie 1200 Block Golfview Drive 1200 Block Golfview Drive 1300 Block Golview Drive 100 Block Sunny Lane Drive 1400 Block Persimmon Drive 500 Block SE 21st, Oak Grove 800 Block Sankar March 25, 2019 700 Block Main Street 400 Block Orion 400 Block Laura Lane 700 Block Main Street 1100 Block SE Prairie Lane 700 Block Main Street US 40/7 Hwy 1300 Block Golfview Drive BB/Duncan Rd

Agency Assist (OGPD) Area Check Suspicious Person Citizen Contact Check the Welfare Disturbance Check the Welfare Suspicious Auto Tow Release Assault Alarm Alarm Stand by to Prevent Citizen Contact Illegal Dumping Area Check Suspicious Auto Agency Assist (OGPD) Assault Citizen Contact Alarm Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Tresspassing Citizen Contact Agency Assist (LTPD) Suspicious Person Multi Vehicle Accident

March 26, 2019 700 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street 400 Block Woodbury Minter Ave 700 Block Main Street

Citizen Contact Fingerprints Alarm Suspicious Auto Warrant Verification

March 27, 2019 500 Block Woodbury 100 Block Sunny Lane Drive

Citizen Contact Suspicious Activity

Additional calls for the week: Suicidal Subject Domestic Violence Order of Protection

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Page 3

Looking Back: Grain Valley’s Early Schools

by Marcia Napier Grain Valley Historical Society

Missouri became a state in 1821, and Jackson County was purchased from the Osage Indians in 1825 and divided into nine townships. In those early days, long before the Civil War, there were no public schools in Eastern Jackson County.

Schools that did exist were called subscription schools, meaning parents had to pay for their children to attend.

If folks were poor and had no money, their children did not have the opportunity to read and write.

As small communities sprang up, these subscription schools began to dot the landscape throughout the county including those of Sni-A-Bar Township.

Classes in these early schools were set up for grades one through eight. There were not enough interested students to warrant a high school in those early years.

Grain Valley was established in 1878, and the first school was located on the Corner of Walnut and Capelle Street in 1887. In 1908 four students became the first graduates of a two-year high school, and by 1919 Grain Valley School included a four-year school.

I hope to tell you about the oneroom rural schools that eventually became a part of the Grain Valley Reorganized School District #5 in 1949.

While Capelle School was the oldest

recorded Grain Valley School, there were schools at Stony Point and Pink Hill prior to the Civil War. If you drive around the area you see Owens, Murphy, Oakland, and Oak Hill School Roads, all a testament to the importance education has always been to the citizens living in and around Grain Valley.

While the Grain Valley School district is growing and changing rapidly in the new millennium, what hasn’t changed is the commitment to make education a priority for the children of our community.

Next week: Read about the Stony Point and Pink Hill schools.

The Grain Valley Historical Society Museum, located at 510 Main Street, 10am— is open Wednesdays from 10am —3pm and by appointment.

Society’’s website, Visit the Historical Society www.grainvalleyhistory.com, and follow the Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@grainvalleyhistory).

Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society

MDC Offers Free Native Plant Landscaping Workshop April 20 in Kansas City Native plants from the wild can benefit birds, bees, and people in home landscaping layouts. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer free lessons on using native plants in lawn and garden settings from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave., in Kansas City.

MDC staff will discuss the wide variety of native plants suitable for landscaping needs. Visitors can make a seed ball to take home that will help them get started. Free native plant and tree seedlings will be available for visitors to take home and plant. Also, visitors can tour the native plants in the Discovery Center’s outdoor garden.

All ages are welcome on a walk-in basis.

The Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) will also offer a native plant sale in conjunction with the event. Various native vendors will sell seed and seedlings. Vendors will contribute a percentage of plant sale proceeds to

benefit MPF’s prairie conservation programs in Missouri. Visit https:// www.moprairie.org for participating vendors and information about preordering plants.

For more information, call 816-7597300 or visit http://mdc.mo.gov/ discoverycenter. discoverycenter

Native plants are climate adapted and provide colorful wildflowers when used in lawn and garden landscaping.

Another benefit, useful pollinators such as butterflies and bees are adapted to utilizing native plants for food.

Photo by MDC Staff, courtesy Missouri Department of Conservation.

City Wide Clean-Up Scheduled for Saturday, June 1st The City of Grain Valley will hold its annual City Wide Clean-Up event Saturday, June 1st from 8:00am— 11:00am.

This free community event is for Grain Valley residents to dispose of unwanted items. Proof of residency (water bill or driver’s license) is required. Metal recycling is available.

Residents are asked to bag loose items, such as insulation and other

small items. Items that are not accepted include tires, paint, oil, refrigerators, air conditioners, bagged trash and yard waste or clippings.

Senior Citizen Curbside pick-up is available on Thursday, May 30th and Friday, May 31st, but must be scheduled before May 28th by calling 816-847-0091.

Business News

Page 4

Kansas City Region Kicks Off One-Year Countdown to Census Day 2020 Marking the one-year countdown to Census Day, April 1, 2020, the MidAmerica Regional Council (MARC) is joining forces with philanthropic partners, local government and other community leaders to achieve a complete and accurate count of the region’s population. Census data determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives; is used to redraw federal, state, and local election districts; and provides the basis for distributing more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to support programs in states and local communities.

With funding support from the Health Forward Foundation and the

REACH Healthcare Foundation, MARC recently convened the first meeting of the Kansas City Regional Complete Count Committee, which includes local government officials, communitybased organization and business representatives, faith-based leaders, school officials and others.

“It’s important we work together at the regional level to ensure every person is counted,” REACH President and CEO Brenda Sharpe said. “This grassroots effort, led by trusted voices in the community, will result in a more comprehensive count that will benefit our region, especially individuals who are most vulnerable.”

Over the next year, the committee will work to:

Promote the census through locally based, targeted outreach efforts.

Coordinate a regional information campaign.

Assist local communities in supporting their own complete count committees.

Engage hard-to-count populations.

Increase digital access to online census forms.

In the 2010 Census, experts estimate that the census undercounted the population by 1 percent. The undercount was even higher for minorities — an estimated 2.1 percent of blacks and 1.5

percent of Hispanics were missed. A similar undercount in 2020 could cost the Kansas City region more than $48 million each year over the next decade.

The 2020 census offers options for residents to complete their forms by phone, mail, and for the first time, online. People will be encouraged to use the online option if possible. In mid -March 2020, most addresses in the United States will receive a postcard with instructions on how to participate.

Federal law requires everyone living in the nation to complete the census survey.

For more information about regional census outreach efforts, visit www.Census2020KC.org. www.Census2020KC.org

Business News is provided weekly by the Grain Valley Partnership, whose mission is to be a leader in the growth of Grain Valley.

The Grain Valley Partnership is located at 1450 SW Eagles Parkway, and can be reached by phone, 816-443-5162 or via email at info@growgrainvalley.org.

Learn more about the Partnership: www.growgrainvalley.org

Upcoming Partnership Events: Business After Hours Thursday, April 11, 2019 5:00pm—7:00pm April Coffee Connection Friday, April 19, 2019 8:00am—9:00am Grain Valley Cosentino’s Price Chopper Annual Banquet Friday, April 26, 2019 6:00pm—11:00pm Adams Pointe Golf Club

Register online:

https://www.growgrainvalley.org/livinghttps://www.growgrainvalley.org/living-here/eventshere/events-calendar/#!event/2019/5/3/kissickcalendar/#!event/2019/5/3/kissick-classic

Kissick Classic Friday, May 3, 2019 Adams Pointe Golf Club

Page 5 4 Things You Should Do Before Connecting to Public Wi-Fi

by Burton Kelso, Integral Computer Consultants

Who can resist the urge to connect to free public WiFi networks? I know many of you prefer using Wi-Fi as opposed to using up the data with your plan from your cellular provider. Also, many of you with mobile businesses need to access Wi-Fi to get work done.

Free Wi-Fi is everywhere we go, like malls, restaurants, schools, hotels, airports, libraries, and coffee shops. It's free, but it doesn't mean that it is safe to use.

When you connect to public Wi-Fi and send your personal information through websites and mobile apps, it can be accessed by cyber criminals who are waiting to pounce on the data you send out through an unprotected network.

There are some free Wi-Fi networks that have passwords on them. Don’t assume that since the network has a password, it has to be safe.

This is your friendly reminder to let you know if you need to access public

wireless networks, you need to make sure the information on your laptop, smartphone and tablet are safe by doing the following things.

1. Disable File Sharing.

Sharing files is something many of your do when you are sitting in your office or home office. It's great to be able to have a system where you can swap files with your family or co workers.

When you're connected to public WiFi, you need to have this feature turned off. Public Wi-Fi is essentially a large computer network. If you have file sharing turned on everyone can have access to the files on your device.

You should also turn off Windows and Macintosh network discovery. This feature allows your loved ones and co workers to see your computer to access your files, but not a good thing for public networks. Turning off this feature will prevent others from even seeing your device when you connect to a wireless network.

2. Turn on that Firewall.

Windows and Macintosh computers

have a firewall built into the operating system. If you're one of those folks who has Norton, McAfee or any other third party anti-virus software installed on your computer, you can take it off. It's just a waste of money - but that's for another article.

By default, your firewall is turned on, but whenever you connect to public networks, go to your settings and make sure it's turned on.

3. Verify the WiWi-Fi connection.

You ever notice nowadays when you attempt to connect to a public network, there can be many network connections to choose from? By looking at that list, can you tell which networks belong to the establishment providing the Wi-Fi and which ones don't?

Of course you can't, and criminals count on this. This allows to criminals to create bogus Wi-Fi connections for people to connect to and steal their data. Verify which Wi-Fi connection you should connect to before you connect your devices.

4. Protect Your Data.

It's important to only use websites that are fully encrypted when using public Wi-Fi. You will know a website is encrypted when you see HTTPS:// in the address bar of your browser for each web page you visit.

If you find yourself on an unencrypted page, log out right away. Also, remember not to use the same password for your online accounts.

If you have any questions about your technology and your devices, please feel free to contact us at Integral. Our friendly tech experts at Integral are always standing by to answer your questions and help make your technology useful and fun.

Reach out to us a www.integralcomputerconsutants.com or phone at 888.256.0829.

Burton Kelso is the Chief Technology Expert at Integral. He can be found on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and watch great tech tip videos on his YouTube channel. Reach him by email at burton@integralcomputerconsultants.com

Spring and Tax Season

by Phil Hanson, President and CEO, Truman Heartland Community Foundation

Has spring truly sprung? I sure hope so, after the brutal winter we experienced. Even still, while enjoying the nice weather and working in my yard this past weekend, I decided I better not tempt fate and store my snow blower away just yet.

No matter the weather, it is tax season and April 15th is just around the corner. Most of you have probably filed your taxes for 2018 and you may have found that with the new higher standard deduction you could not itemize your deductions for the first time in many years.

Although you may not want to keep thinking about taxes, now is the best time to start planning for next year.

The higher standard deduction has many charities, including your Community Foundation, encouraging donors to use a tax-advantaged planning tool. That tool is a Donor

Advised Fund.

A Donor Advised Fund is like a charitable giving savings account and a great way to establish a family foundation. When you make contributions to your Donor Advised Fund you immediately receive a charitable contribution.

You can make grants out of your fund at a later time to the nonprofits of your choice. So, for charitable couples who may not have itemized deductions exceeding $24,000 each year using a Donor Advised Fund to bunch two- or three-years’ worth of contributions into one calendar year may exceed the new standard deduction and provide additional tax savings. And if you establish your Donor Advised Fund by donating appreciated stocks you can also bypass the capital gains tax.

For example, let’s take a couple with state and local tax deductions, plus mortgage interest deductions that total $15,000 per year. They’re charitably minded and currently donate $7,000 to

support their church and favorite nonprofits. As such, they have $22,000 total in itemized deductions.

Since the standard deduction is now $24,000, they cannot itemize. However, if they use a Donor Advised Fund to bunch their charitable giving and put three years’ worth of contributions or $21,000 into their fund, then they would have $36,000 in deductions this year and could itemize and receive the additional tax savings.

In the next two years they would take the $24,000 standard deduction on their tax return. They can continue to donate their typical $7,000 each year, but by bunching contributions and using their Donor Advised Fund to make grants to charities they can still benefit from a larger charitable deduction in year one.

Talk to your financial advisor and do some tax planning now to ensure you have the most effective charitable giving plan to minimize your 2019 taxes and maximize your giving. Don’t

procrastinate.

Waiting until later in the year may keep you from taking full advantage of this tax-saving tool. Plan ahead, put tax season out of mind and hold out hope that spring has truly sprung.

Phil Hanson is the President and CEO of Truman Heartland Community Foundation. Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) is a 501(c) (3) public charity committed to improving the communities in and around Eastern Jackson County through cooperation with community members and donors. THCF serves the region with assets of more than $43 million and annual grants surpassing $4 million. For more information on charitable giving, visit www.thcf.org of call Truman Heartland at 816.836.8189.

Community Voices

Page 6

Wayne’s World

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

by Wayne Geiger

As a kid, I remember watching Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.

Although I was a little freaked out by some of the characters in Mr. Rogers, “Neighborhood of Make Believe,” he was always loving and kind and reminded me to be a good neighbor. Whatever that meant. It was always “a beautiful day in the neighborhood.”

When you’re a kid, neighbors are just folks you don’t know. When you grow up and move to a community, you define neighbor as the person who lives next door, across the street, or just down the way. The definition is influenced by proximity.

Sometimes, having a neighbor can be a pleasant experience. There are other times, when it may not be the most pleasant experience. We would prefer a selection process or an HOA’s list of requirements. We would prefer to ask, “Won’t you be my neighbor? Here, fill out this three-page application and get in line for the psych test. Don’t call us, we’ll call you.”

Being a neighbor is extremely important and apparently a hot topic.

Just in the last week, I’ve had two specific conversations about neighbors

(which provided the fodder for this article). The first conversation was sparked by a lady who lives down the street. Honestly, I’ve only seen her a couple of times and really wasn’t exactly sure where she lived.

Our first introduction was the day I almost hit her with my car. I was pulling out of the driveway and didn’t realize she was walking down the sidewalk and in my blind spot. My wife and chief navigator saw her and said, “Watch out!” I stopped quickly. The neighbor also froze in her tracks. I motioned for her to pass, but it was too late. She, now suspicious of my otherwise superior driving skills, waved me on to go first. Sheepishly, I obliged. It seems she preferred to be in front of me rather than behind me.

Fast forward a couple of days and I was carrying some boxes into the house.

This same neighbor, wisely in a vehicle this time, saw me and stopped. She rolled down her window and with a concerned look on her face asked, “Are you guys moving out?”

“No,” I chuckled, “I’m just moving a few boxes in.” “Oh,” she said. “One of the other neighbors down the street is moving out and I wasn’t sure if something was going on in the neighborhood that I didn’t know

about.” I laughed and responded, “Not that I know of, but let me know if you hear something.”

The next day, my wife ran into her (figuratively) and apologized that I, her husband, had almost run her over. Our neighbor chuckled and said, “Oh, don’t worry, I was watching.” That’s excellent advice. Neighbors should keep an eye on one another. That’s what neighbors do.

My second conversation about neighbors was at a social gathering. I was talking to a guy I just met. He shared a story with me about how when his father -in-law had gotten seriously ill, he invited him to come and live with him and his wife to spend his final days. “That’s wonderful and very kind,” I said. He noted, “That’s just how I was raised.”

Apparently, the conversation struck a deeper chord, or he was raised on Mr. Rogers, too. “That’s what’s wrong with people nowadays,” he frowned, “They just don’t care about anybody else.” He then transitioned in thought, smiled and said, “When I go out of town, my neighbor watches our house and I watch his. I even have one neighbor who gives me a Christmas present every year.” I chose not to share the story with him about almost hitting my neighbor with my car.

Being a good neighbor can be challenging. Especially in our everchanging world. Older folks remember the “good ol’ days” when people used to sit out on the front porch and talk about the latest news in the world. People have changed. Neighborhoods have changed.

We now have smart phones, no soliciting signs, and Google.

In this electronic and cyberspace world, many of us just don’t see our neighbors. We work out of town. At the end of the day, exhausted, we hit the garage door opener, pull in the garage, shut the door behind us, and spend most of our time indoors—never meeting our neighbors. We have hundreds of friends on Instagram and Facebook, but as far as brick and mortar friends, not so much. It seems that the Neighborhood of Make Believe isn’t so distant after all.

The ant can teach us a lot about community and being a good neighbor.

Ants live and work together in highlystructured communities. Within these

communities, the ant colonies are united toward a common purpose of survival.

Although they are a colony, they work together with one mind and purpose.

An ant colony is much like a factory. All the ants have different tasks, but one purpose. The queen has the very specific role of laying eggs. Younger ants work inside the nest, taking care of the queen and her brood. Older workers go outside to gather food and defend the nest against enemies. Workers decide which tasks to perform based on personal preferences, interactions with nestmates, and cues from the environment.

They live together, work together, and face obstacles together. One ant can’t do much. But, if you’ve even stepped in an ant pile, you know, an ant colony is a major force to be reckoned with.

Somehow, they stealthily climb on your shoes and up your leg and after given the command, they all bite at the same time. Ouch!

My wife and I have the best neighbors.

If you look up “amazing neighbors” in the dictionary, you will find their picture. Our neighbors are always kind, caring, and giving back to the community—always asking for ways to help.

They’ve also been extremely kind to us. For the last couple of months, my wife and I have been in transition. We moved out of one house and had to wait for our future home to be ready for occupancy.

There was some light construction, painting, etc. During the period of transition, our neighbors welcomed us into their home. They also helped out with basic remodeling of our home and were always there to lend a listening ear or helping hand. I’m not sure what the difference is between “neighbors” and “friends who live really close.” Maybe, they are the same. My overall goal is not to have a good neighbor, but rather, to be a good neighbor. I could learn a lot from mine.

Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Church Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech at Johnson Country Community College, and a freelance writer.

Community Voices

Page 7

Musings from the Middle

The Real Heroes

by Cathy Allie

We used to find our heroes in the form of conniving military generals, cowboys, Betsy Ross like seamstresses, dare-devil high wire artists, and astronauts. An occasional politician caught our fancy, before our country became a divided mess. The Sully Sullenbergers of the world, landing struggling planes in the Hudson river captured headlines then captured our hearts.

As of late, social media elevates people to hero status overnight, tales of their valor being tweeted and retweeted with a frenzy. Just as quickly, the heroine is vanquished to old news reels and replaced by a reality show star who invented an eyelash growing solution or a bankrupt tycoon who is selling his plasma to cure children with severe warts.

Instead of firefighters rescuing kittens from trees (and by the way thank you for that), I propose we take a look at some heroes and heroines who come from our normal, everyday lives and give them credit where credit is due.

Take for instance Heather who only circled the Target lot twice before landing a prime parking spot, allowing her to have three extra minutes in the dollar aisle. Or maybe today we should honor Paul, who used the gas points from the grocery store for a full tank of gas, prior to said points expiring.

It is easy to give props to Kelly, who was able to quickly determine which of the 5 pair of virtually identical black leggings was her daughter’s favorite and

deliver them to the school in time for the unanticipated after school practice.

For this tribute, I nominate Donna, who held on to the one unmatched sock through not one but two laundry cycles to be rewarded when its mate emerged from the pocket of a pair of snow pants triumphantly re-connecting for another week of wear.

Perhaps Janet deserves our applause today. Five years into her quest for the perfectly curated pantry, she has not only labeled all her spices with permanent marker and alphabetized them, but actually found a recipe that uses the obscure spice she once purchased at Harry and David’s.

I am enamored with Tiffany, who I have only heard about by rumor, as her feat is almost too grand to perceive. The legend goes that she drove car pool for five straight days with her middle school riders without beginning a conversation with any of them that had the potential to embarrass her daughter. I can hardly imagine how tough it was for her to persevere in leaving tempting teen topics untouched, practically biting through her tongue while waiting for the light to change.

And speaking of rumored heroes, there is a tall tale of a man named Dave who does the grocery shopping for his wife. The story goes that his wife makes a list, and he drives to the store, uses coupons, and brings the groceries home.

Several claim to have seen him in the act of shopping, but there is no video of the actual event. I pray this is not some Big Foot myth.

I want to be like Leah when I grow up.

She grabbed two pair of Spanx, wedged herself into them and wore that matron of honor dress that her bridezilla sister bought one size too small like a queen.

Take that size six! And perhaps her husband Kevin deserves an honorable mention for purposefully leaving the room during the Spanx portion and returning just in time to say, “That dress almost looks too big on you.” Stud.

Heroes and heroines are as close to you as a co-worker, neighbor, or friend of a friend, too numerous to count, but perhaps you know some of these: Ashley, the mom who recently headed to the dealership and traded in her car, and no seat had an unidentified stain on it. Not one.

Jackie, the grandmother, who cooked just the right amount of pasta to match the sauce she made. Not a single unsauced noodle.

Cory, the daring mom who survived shopping for a dress for her daughter’s dance without swallowing a sequin or taking money from her 401K. Gavin, an expectant father, who not only withheld a sigh when asked to change the nursery paint color one more time, but actually remembered the baby’s due date and delayed his Vegas guy’s weekend plans for a bit.

Molly, headed on a date with her husband, who successfully applied liquid eye-liner on BOTH eyes without finishing looking like a black-eyed prizefighter.

Amanda, the clever mom who coordinated all her children’s sleep overs to happen on one night, so she could go

out to eat at a restaurant that didn’t even serve chicken nuggets.

Pete, the only male in a household with a beautiful wife and three daughters, who fashioned his own Drain Weasel from a ball point pen and a paper clip and whisked away a week’s worth of shampooing before it could ruin his plumbing.

Val, the Girl Scout mom, who was able to remember where she stashed the patches, and also managed to have just the right amount of Badge Magic to affix every patch to her scout’s vest right before the big parade.

Debbie, whose son’s football pants were so white from her excellent laundry skills that they literally blinded his opponents. They simply could not see past those pants’ brilliance as he streaked toward the goal line for a touchdown.

Eric, who anticipated all the winter flattened bike tires prior to the first warm day and filled them for his anxious bike-riding kids, buying himself precious time on the porch with his wife.

Linda, whose Tupperware lids all match and whose earrings all have backs. Crazy, right?

Pinterest, for giving us something to blame when one of our crazy ideas falls flat. “I saw it on Pinterest and thought it would work—should have known better.”

Congrats to all of you. I hope you receive the accolades you so richly deserve.

Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer.

Community Profile: Tracy Sappenfield

In this week’ week’s Community Profile, we introduce Tracy Sappenfield, who works in Human Resources for Grain Valley Schools.

What drew you to working in the Grain Valley School District?

Years ago, we moved our family to Grain Valley because we wanted our kids to experience living in a smaller town atmosphere with more opportunities than a bigger school district.

I had been driving to Kansas City for years to work and I just wanted to be closer to home. And not deal with that traffic every day! I thought working for the school district would be a great choice because it is a job that is always here and needed and would be rewarding. Plus, I could see my kids participating in things I might have otherwise missed.

What's the most enjoyable part of your role?

I began with the district in 1999 and throughout my 20 years of service the most enjoyable part of my job has always been being able to help people (employees and the public) in any way I

can.

I have to say it has gotten harder to remember names because we have grown so much (and I’m older of course). I used to know who was in which school and what grade/subject they taught. I think we had a little over a hundred employees when I started, and we have over 600 employees now!

What has been key to the longevity you've had in your position?

Well I think it is a combination of things. First, I took a cut in pay to work closer to home but my reward has been the days we get off when the students are off. Most corporate businesses don’t have that. The snow days that we have means we don’t risk our life getting to work when the weather is so dangerous. Those are enough reasons to stay, but I also feel devoted to the district especially after all of these years.

What are you proudest of in our community?

I do feel proud of this community and the school district. I think people have worked hard together to improve the area and our schools! So, I am proudest

of all our schools and our support staff, teachers, and principals.

Tell us about your family.

I am a proud mother of two daughters who both graduated from Grain Valley Schools.

My oldest, Kara, in 2001 and my youngest, Emily, in 2004. They both live and work in Colorado and both have children.

Kara has an almost 10-year-old son Gavin. Emily has a 3year-old daughter Halleigh. I love being a mom and grandma! I Grain Valley resident Tracy Sappenfield enjoying time with her love to travel to visit children and grandchildren. them as often as I can.

Photo credit: Tracy Sappenfield What do enjoy doing when you are not at work?

When I am not traveling, I love to paint, read, do yoga, and hike. And so I

can do those things more often, I will retire December 2021!

Page 8 State Auditor Claims Withholding Changes Made Unlawfully Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway released an audit on April 2nd detailing uncertainty and confusion related to the state's individual income tax withholding tables. The report found that changes made to withholdings in January 2019 were done unlawfully and will result in overwithholding for the majority of individual Missouri taxpayers.

"For more than six months, this administration failed to communicate with Missourians on how changes to withholdings would affect their bank account. Then, despite bipartisan calls for answers, they attempted to downplay the issues," Auditor Galloway said. "Taxpayers deserve honesty from the administration.

Instead, the Department of Revenue continues to operate in secrecy."

In December, as a part of the audit of the timeliness of tax refunds, Auditor Galloway directed her team to begin asking questions about the withholding tables. The report outlines multiple changes made to the

withholding tables and the administration's failure to effectively communicate with the public about those changes.

New tables were released in March 2018 and October 2018. As a result of these changes, taxpayers are expected to pay an additional $134 million when they file their returns, and there will be $232 million less in tax refunds issued.

Changes were made without explanation and resulted in confusion for individual taxpayers.

While department officials contacted employers and payroll agencies directly about the changes, they failed to adequately notify all taxpayers. As a result, many taxpayers were unaware of the changes, unclear on what adjustments to make to their withholdings, and have encountered an unwelcome surprise in the form of unexpected tax payments.

In January 2019, the withholding table calculation was changed to over withhold. This change is expected to result in an additional $62.9 million

coming from Missourians with adjusted gross incomes under $125,000 annually, 53 percent of Missouri taxpayers. The audit states the administration failed to follow the appropriate legal process for the changes despite state law requiring legislative and public review.

On March 8, the Department of Revenue received the Auditor's draft report. Less than a week later, the Governor announced the department director's resignation.

"Over and over, this executive agency makes decisions that directly impact the daily lives of Missourians without clearly communicating with the citizens who are affected. The decision to take more money out of paychecks without going through the legally required process shows a clear pattern of mismanagement," Galloway said. "It should be simple: follow the law, get it right, and stop misleading taxpayers."

The report also found that the timeliness of refunds in fiscal year 2018 improved after an audit last year

brought to light increasing delays in issuing refunds. Eighty percent of total refunds were paid by May 9, 2018; in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 the state did not reach that payout level until late June. The audit also found 3 percent of total refunds were paid with interest in 2018, as opposed to 24 percent in 2017.

Concerns remain, however, as the state continues to rely on borrowing to supplement cash flow and pay operating obligations. Cash reserves have not recovered since the recession in 2008, even as the economy has improved.

In past years, the state's decreasing cash balance resulted in less money to pay Missourians' tax refunds. In fiscal year 2019, the state's general revenue fund has not had sufficient cash to cover expenditures, resulting in high levels of borrowing to make ends meet.

The state has borrowed $500 million from the budget reserve fund, the maximum level of borrowing for the year. By law, that money must be repaid before May 16.

April Marks Autism Awareness Month April marks National Autism Awareness Month, and Governor Parson and First Lady Teresa Parson are joining with citizens across the state to increase the awareness, understanding, and acceptance of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), also known as Autism.

Autism is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges.

The learning, communication, and problem-solving abilities of people with autism can range from gifted to severely challenged. Those living with autism and their families face a number of challenges, often needing supports and accommodations in their daily lives.

“Autism is one of the fastest growing developmental disorders in the United States,” Governor Parson said. “There are no cures today, but early diagnosis and intervention are a child’s best hope for reaching his or her full potential.”

In the State of the State, Governor Parson advocated for $1 million increase to ensure families and parents have access to the right resources and are equipped to deal with the challenges that come with caring for loved ones with Autism.

Signs of autism begin during early childhood and usually last throughout adulthood. The Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) most recent data indicates autism impacts 1 in 58 children, which is a 30 percent increase from the previous estimate in 2012.

Throughout April, there are a number of ways we can work together to increase awareness and acceptance

of people with autism and their families including participating in Autism Speaks Wear Blue, Share Blue, and Light It Up Blue campaigns.

Everyone is encouraged to wear blue during the month of April, especially on April 2.

“For all of the children and their families who deal with autism on a day -to-day basis, there is no doubt that attention needs to be given to the hurdles they face,” First Lady Teresa Parson said.. “As an advocate for special needs children, I am honored to support autism awareness and pray that the understanding and acceptance of this condition will increase as a result.”

“Autism Spectrum Disorder affects more than 70 million people globally—

and this number likely includes someone you know,” Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick said. “April may be Autism Awareness Month, but working to increase understanding of those living with autism should be something we all do year round.”

“My son Stephen was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, and while it’s been challenging at times, he has been an incredible blessing to our family. Stephen has taught me a deeper sense of compassion and instilled in me the importance of defending and protecting the most vulnerable members of society, something that I’m able to do every single day as Attorney General,” Attorney General Eric Schmitt said.

“I’m grateful that Governor Parson

and people across the state are recognizing and celebrating the sacrifice and dedication of Missouri families who care for children on the autism spectrum. It’s my hope that Autism Awareness Month will spark renewed faith among Missourians who care or advocate for children on the autism spectrum, lead to more innovative and unique treatments, and remind families that they aren’t alone in this journey.”

Autism Awareness Month is a great time to raise awareness of the disorder, but individuals and families need support and acceptance all year.

For more information on autism, visit the Department of Mental Health, Office of Autism Services website at https://dmh.mo.gov/dd/autism/.

Page 9

Simple Holiday Hams (Family Features)

Whether you’re new to hosting or simply looking for ideas to make Easter entertaining easier than ever, there are plenty of ways to save time and stress in the kitchen.

kitchen and enjoy the day right along with them.

Go with what you know. Trying out new recipes is fun, but it can also add stress when they don’t turn out like you expected. Stick to tried and true dishes you can prepare and serve with confidence and save the experimenting for another time.

Many frozen hams are fully cooked and can be served as soon as they’re properly thawed, which is an ideal solution for a casual brunch with mini sandwiches on the menu. However, if you’re serving an elegant holiday dinner, you’re more likely to prefer a warm centerpiece dish. A fully cooked ham is still a time-saving option; you’ll just need to allot time to heat it in the oven once it’s thawed.

Take shortcuts. At the center of many Easter feasts is a ham that has been expertly cured and cooked to perfection. Even so, starting with a fullcooked ham is a shortcut that no one is likely to notice, especially if you heat it properly.

Work ahead. Plan your menu to incorporate items you can make ahead of time so you’re under less pressure the day of your dinner. Even handling the prep work like slicing veggies the night before can buy back precious minutes, that way when guests begin arriving, you can step out of the

How to Heat a Frozen Ham

Start by thawing a fully cooked ham in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours.

To keep your ham extra moist, always put the cut-side down. You might also consider placing a baking rack in the pan and adding a quarterinch of water before placing the ham on the rack.

For a spiral-cut, bone-in ham, heat the oven to 325 F. Remove ham from

film and foil. Place ham cut-side down on a raised edge baking pan lined with foil. Heat uncovered 60-75 minutes for the entire ham or 10 minutes per pound for smaller portions.

For a boneless ham, heat the oven to 350 F. Place the ham, cut-side down, on a raised edge baking pan lined with foil. Cover the ham tightly with foil and heat 35-40 minutes.

Photo credit: Family Features

Another option for adding extra juicy flavor is a glaze, which can be as simple as dissolving three parts brown sugar into one-part honey in a small saucepan. Or for a more elegant affair, consider a fruit-infused glaze to complement the savory pork.

Easy Fruit-Infused Glazes

Apricot Glaze ½ cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon cornstarch ½ teaspoon ground ginger cup apricot nectar, canned In saucepan, mix brown sugar, cornstarch and ginger. Stir in apricot nectar. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.

Cranberry Orange Glaze 1 can (16 ounces) cranberry sauce 1 cup brown sugar ½ cup orange juice ½ teaspoon cloves, ground ¼ teaspoon cinnamon, ground ¼ teaspoon allspice In small saucepan over low heat, combine cranberry sauce, brown sugar, orange juice, cloves, cinnamon and allspice; simmer 5 minutes, before serving.

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Health & Fitness

Page 10

Walnuts for On-The-Go Wellness

Lisa’ Lisa’s Granola

Makes about 10 cups

by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD

If you are looking for a delicious, nutritious and convenient snack to survive business travel or vacation, walnuts are the perfect choice.

The Nutrition Facts Walnuts have a unique fat profile when compared to other nuts. Walnuts are mostly comprised of heart-healthy polyunsaturated fats, including the essential alpha-linolenic omega-3 fatty acid. Just an ounce of walnuts provides 2.5 grams of alpha-linolenic acids, meeting the daily recommendation.

This high-fat, high-energy food is also a good source of protein, potassium, phosphorus and magnesium.

Health Benefits

Heart Health

A Harvard Public School study published in the 2009 American Journal of Clinical Nutrition concluded that heart-healthy diets supplemented with walnuts may help improve cardiovascular risk factors, specifically lowering total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Including walnuts in the diet may also decrease inflammation and oxidative stress due to the high antioxidant content. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a health claim for walnuts in March of 2004:“Supportive but not conclusive

research shows that eating 1.5 ounces of walnuts per day, as part of a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet, and not resulting in increased caloric intake may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.”

Add chopped walnuts to the top of a vegetable pizza.

Diabetes

Sprinkle walnut halves on oatmeal.

Make a yogurt parfait with chopped walnuts and fresh berries.

According to a Harvard study that focused on nut and peanut butter consumption and type 2 diabetes risk, women who ate one-ounce portions of nuts, such as walnuts or peanut butter, five times or more per week may lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to women who rarely or never ate nuts.

Weight Management

Controlling appetite is key to weight management. Walnuts are the perfect choice for curbing appetite since they are an excellent source of hearthealthy fat and a good source of fiber and protein. Try counting out 14 walnut halves and place them in snack-size bags to keep portion sizes in check.

Researchers noted in many studies that participants did not gain weight when walnuts were substituted for other fats in reduced-calorie diets.

Use & Storage Mix dried fruit and walnuts together for a simple snack.

Toss chopped walnuts in a salad with blueberries, strawberries, feta cheese and a light vinaigrette.

Coat fish or poultry with chopped walnuts and herbs.

Include walnuts in side dishes such as brown rice, quinoa or couscous.

Top pasta dishes with walnuts.

For optimal flavor and freshness, store walnuts in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If storing them longer than one month, place in the freezer.

One ounce or about ¼ cup (14 halves): 190 calories, 18 g total fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 2.5 g monounsaturated fat, 13 g polyunsaturated fat, 1 mg sodium, 125 mg potassium, 4 g total carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 4 g protein.

All you need: 6 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 1 cup chopped almonds 1 cup chopped walnuts 1 cup raw, unsalted pepitas (see Tip) ½ cup maple syrup 6 tablespoons canola oil ¼ cup honey 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ½ teaspoon salt All you do: Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a roasting pan or large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Combine oats, almonds, walnuts and pepitas in a large bowl. Whisk maple syrup, oil, honey, cinnamon, vanilla and salt in a medium bowl until blended. Pour over the oat mixture and toss to coat. Spread the mixture in the prepared pan.

Bake, stirring every 15 minutes, until lightly and evenly browned and starting to dry out, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool completely in the pan before serving or storing.

Per ½½-cup serving: 267 calories; 16 g fat ( 2 g sat , 7 g mono ); 0 mg cholesterol; 28 g carbohydrates; 8 g added sugars; 7 g protein; 4 g fiber; 60 mg sodium; 222 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Bonus Magnesium (32% daily value)

Fitness in our Neighborhood

by Sally Whitaker

Beyond Fitness opened in January of this year. Owner and Personal Trainer Casey Haase had been training clients in her home when the chance came to expand to Grain Valley, just off of the North Outer Road.

“I want to create a safe environment to work out in while also making it an enjoyable experience. The focus is on making families healthy, specifically moms. Our kids can sometimes become the reason we don’t work out, but, by making this a space where parents can bring their kids along, I want to flip that to show that our kids can be the reason we do work out,” Haase said.

There is a comfy space with chairs and a table for kids to hang out while mom (or dad) workout.

“There is a grandma that wears her grand baby in a carrier while working out. We are going to expand on that and will be offering a Mommy & Me TRX class soon,” Haase said.

Classes include TRX, which is suspension training equipment that works with body weight to develop strength, stability, and balance. TRX Yoga, Circuit Training with weights, medicine balls, and TRX, and personal training by appointment are also available.

Monthly workshops and special events are also offered, with Kids Yoga coming up on April 13. Pre-K at 11:00 am followed by Pre-Teen at 1:00 pm.

Classes are currently scheduled as early as 5:30 am through the afternoon.

New students can purchase a 4 pack for just $25. After that, a single class is $10, and there are packages that make it even more affordable. For more information visit the website, text, or call.

Beyond Fitness is located at 1151 C Pamela Drive. Haase can be reached at (816)204-6296 or caseyhaase.ptminder.com. Follow on Facebook @caseyhcpt and Instagram caseyh.cpt.

Sally Whitaker is a Pilates and Yoga instructor with 15 years of experience teaching group classes and private clientele, primarily in Independence, MO. During the summer months you can find her teaching Sunset Yoga at Armstrong Park in Grain Valley.

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Sports

Page 11

A Formula for Royals Wins

by John Unrein

Bill James is a noted baseball author and the father of Sabermetrics (Society for American Baseball Research). The Boston Red Sox employ him as a senior advisor on Baseball Operations.

His use of data to make predictions and decisions within the game has widely been recognized as pioneering.

The native of Holton, Kansas had a recent tweet related to the Royals that encapsulates the importance data has had on baseball in recent decades.

“When George Brett made a run at .400 in 1980, that was a big deal because no one had hit .400 in 39 years. That was 39 years ago,” James tweeted.

What is even more staggering about Brett’s run at immortality in trying to hit .400 in 1980 is not that he ended up with a .390 season average, but rather his on base percentage that season was .454. Brett would get on base approximately half of the time he came up to bat.

This would contribute to Brett going

on to be an All-Star that year along with being named American League Most Valuable Player. It no doubt was also a cog in the wheel that helped the Royals get to the 1980 World Series.

James has emphasized throughout his body of work how important on base percentage is in contributing to the probability of winning. It’s hard to win games if you don’t score runs.

The probability of scoring runs increases by the number of baserunners you produce in a game.

One of James earliest formulas on win probability was that runs scored divided by runs scored plus runs allowed would yield your winning percentage probability.

The Kansas City Royals had a .338 On Base Percentage through the first week of the season. This ranked them at 9th place within Major League Baseball for OBP. It’s a small sample size that’s significantly above their 2018 average of .305 OBP. During this same 2019 span the

Royals have compiled 16 total runs in their opening season series with the Chicago White Sox while allowing 15 runs. It yields a suggested winning probability of 51.6% moving into the next series of games for the Royals.

An emphasis by the organization has been put on the Royals getting back to their roots of speed and defense for the 2019 season. Hopefully, the organization and Quality Control Coach Pedro Grifol has a radar lock for On Base Percentage and its importance to contributing to wins.

Royals hitting coach Terry Bradshaw has emphasized the significance of two strike hitting, being a clutch hitter with runners on base, and not missing your pitch early in the count throughout spring training.

The Royals getting on base with high frequency will be key in leading to wins just as much as their ability to steal bases and play good defense.

Upcoming Games: Thursday, April 4th—12:10pm vs. Detroit Tigers @ Home Saturday, April 6th—12:10pm vs. Detroit Tigers @ Home Sunday, April 7th—12:10pm vs. Detroit Tigers @ Home

Community Calendar April 6, 2019

Shotgun - Patterning Lake City Shooting Range, 28505 E Truman Road, Buckner 9:00am—11:30am Bring the shotgun you want to pattern and your favorite load.

Register: 816-249-3194 We Do LEGO Robotics: Hungry Alligator Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 10:30am—11:30am Oh snap! Build a hungry alligator and program it to chomp down on anything that swims too close. Kids will work in pairs to make this simple robot.

Register: www.mymcpl.org/events

April 8, 2019

Senior Coffee Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 9:00am—11:00am Time to visit with friends and make new ones. Free.

Senior Yoga Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 10:30am—11:15am $2 or Free for SilverSneakers, Silver & Fit, and Renew Active Members Board of Aldermen Meeting Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main ST 7:00pm

April 9, 2019

Navigating Your Computer Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 2:00pm—3:30pm Register: www.mymcpl.org/events

April 11, 2019

Census Records Research Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 2:00pm—3:00pm Register: www.mymcpl.org/events

April 13, 2019

Animal CSI: What You Learn From a Skull Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 10:30am—11:15am Register: www.mymcpl.org/events Trivia Night Grain Valley High School Doors open at 6:00pm; Games begin promptly at 6:30pm Entry fee: $100 per team/table Mulligans: $10 for 10 (one per game) 16 years and older Cash awards for 1st and 2nd place teams.

50% of proceeds benefit scholarships for 2019 graduating seniors; 50% help provide shoes for students in need.

Email Jan Reding, janreding@earthlink.net or call 816-225-0713.

Registration deadline: April 5th.

April 15, 2019

Senior Coffee Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 9:00am—11:00am Time to visit with friends and make new ones. Free.

Senior Yoga Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 10:30am—11:15am $2 or Free for SilverSneakers, Silver & Fit, and Renew Active Members

Add your community event online at www.grainvalleynews.com.

Employment Opportunities The City of Grain Valley is hiring for the following positions:

FullFull-Time: City Engineer Community Development Director Public Works Maintenance Worker PartPart-Time: Seasonal Park Maintenance Apply online at https://

www.cityofgrainvalley.org/employment/

- WISE. ADVERTISE! Contact us for April advertising specials.

Ad packages starting at $25.

816.809.7984 or news@grainvalleynews.com

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