Valley News www.grainvalleynews.com
APRIL 16, 2020
Economic Assistance Begins For Those Impacted By COVID-19 Nationally, many Americans will begin seeing stimulus payments in their bank accounts as a part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which will be a welcome cushion for many who are facing temporary unemployment due to the impact of COVID-19 on the economy. According to the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s March Jobs Report, employment in Missouri decreased by 20,900 jobs over the month. The unemployment rate grew one percentage point in March, from 3.5 percent in February 2020 to 4.5 percent in March. Unemployment benefits have been extended to self-employed, gig workers, and independent contractors whose businesses have been impacted by the coronavirus. Additionally, the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program provides an additional $600 payment per week to those eligible for at least one dollar in regular unemployment benefits during that week. The CARES act, signed into law on March 27, 2020, also includes several programs to aid small businesses who have been impacted greatly by stay at
home orders. Businesses have experienced mixed success in applying for and receiving funds through the various programs offered. Lorne Meinershagen, CPA, Managing Member of Meinershagen & Co. in Grain Valley, has seen some business clients successfully apply for assistance, including the Payroll Protection Program, a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. “We have had several clients get approved for the PPP loan, and we have had a few receive funding within the last two days. (But) not a lot have received funding at this point,” Meinershagen said. “The more immediate relief (for employers) is to place employees on unemployment which has a higher level of payout until late July, and the payouts do not impact the employers experience rating at this point.” “We have had clients apply for the SBA EIDL loans, but to date we are not aware of anyone receiving a call back from the SBA regarding the loan, or funding on the special $10,000 grant attached to this program. Within the last day I received an email from the SBA
see ASSISTANCE on page 2
Vol. 3, No. 15
Good News
Grain Valley Assistance Council Receives Sam’s Club Community Grant
The Grain Valley Assistance Council (GVAC) is the recipient of a $1,500 Community Grant from the Independence Sam’s Club to help fund their emergency assistance efforts in Grain Valley. GVAC Site Director Donna Compton states many individuals and businesses have also stepped forward to assist the organization as they meet the needs of
those in our community who need a hand up. Grain Valley Chiropractic has raised more than $1,200 in a recent fundraising drive for the organization, and many individuals have delivered food, clothing, and monetary donations. For more information on GVAC, visit www.grainvalleyassistancecouncil.org. Photo credit: Valley News staff
Looking Back: Raymond Cook Frantz by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
Ray Frantz (February, 1885 – March, 1977) moved his family from Benton County, Iowa to Kansas City, Kansas in the 1920s. He took a job as a brakeman for the railroad. According to the 1930 U. S. Census, he was living in Grain Valley with his wife, Ella Mildred (Kiff) Frantz (October, 1888 – August, 1963). Their two sons, Harold (June, 1913 – August, 1994)) and Roland (February, 1915 – September, 1994) are graduates of Grain Valley High School. The 1930 U. S. Census lists Frantz as an Oil Company owner. The exact details are unclear, however, at some point the family lived in a two-story home on the southwest corner of Main Street and Yennie. (The house was torn down a few years ago.) His Oil Company and Motor Service was housed in the old Royal Playhouse at the northwest corner of
see LOOKING BACK on page 3
FREE
The original Frantz Motor Service Company, circa July 1940. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
G R A I N VA L L E Y N E W S
LOCALLY FOCUSED. FAMILY OWNED. PUBLISHED WEEKLY.
Page 2 ASSISTANCE continued from page 1 indicating the $10,000 grant is now going to be $1,000 per employee you had on payroll as of January 31st,” Meinershagen said. Locally, the City of Grain Valley will not shut off water service due to nonpayment for at least three months or June 30th, whichever comes first. The City has also extended the deadline for homeowners and businesses to submit proof of backflow prevention device inspections, as required by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, to June 1, 2020. Residents or homeowners with questions may call Public Works at 816847-0091. Grain Valley Schools has canceled classes through the remainder of the
school year following Governor Parson’s order. The district continues to offer weekday meals to students who need them. Parents interested in meal assistance can reach out to a school counselor or administrator. The Grain Valley Assistance Council, (GVAC) an affiliate of the Community Services League, stands ready to assist those in need of emergency assistance. The organization ‘s food pantry is open on Wednesdays from 9:00am—Noon and 1:00pm—4:00pm. Requirements for receiving services have been waived during this time. Clients are asked not to get out of their cars. For more information on the Grain Valley Assistance Council, visit www.grainvalleyassistancecouncil.org.
Step Away From The Shears And Wait For The Pros Caution Stylists With the closure of most service businesses due to the stay at home order, many residents have a new appreciation for those who provide services that make daily life easier. After nearly a month at home, “quarantine hair” has become a topic of discussion and worry. Stylists and barbers caution against picking up the shears, instead encouraging clients to take only necessary steps to maintain their locks until the pros can get back to work. Jayci Stratton, owner of Studio Five Beauty Boutique in Grain Valley, offers a few tips for those feeling the urge to take matters into their own hands.
1. For those who are not working and do not need to maintain a professional appearance, home conditioning treatments are a great option. Use this time to take a break from heat styling and amp up the moisture treatments. 2. For those who do need to maintain a professional appearance for work, use a colored root spray (we like Kevin Murphy's RetouchMe) to help disguise the regrowth. These sprays won't be an exact match, but they can help to conceal your natural color until things get back to normal and you can come in for your retouch service. This is a much cheaper alternative than having to do a color correction because something went wrong with a home dye job.
Valley News
3. Avoid trimming hair if at all possible! If you have bangs, you can trim those by cutting up into your bangs and taking just the tips of the hair. Do not cut across the bangs. 4. For the guys, your best bet is to take beard trimmers and have a family member trim your neck hairs and sideburns around your ears. That will at least keep the cut looking cleaner and less undone. 5. Our lash and brow stylist suggests letting your eyebrows fully grow. When you are able to get to the salon, the pros will create a better shape for you. For those who like to wear eyelash extensions, right now is a good time to strengthen your eye lashes by using a lash serum to help your lashes grow longer and thicker. 6. If clients are in need of their favorite products, many salons are offering curbside delivery or drop shipping for very cheap. “Most importantly, the absolute best way you can show your stylist some love and support is to avoid doing your hair at home. We will be ready to get to work once this order is lifted! I think I can safely speak for most any stylist in any salon when I say that we miss you and we miss our friendships with you,” Stratton said.
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
Police Blotter
The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police
Department daily calls for service log for the week of April 1-7, 2020. April 1, 2020 1100 Block Main St 1700 Block NW Creekland 100 Block Rock Creek Ln 400 Block Main St 100 Block Old US 40 Hwy Ryan Rd/Buckner Tarsney 100 Block Eagles Pkwy Graystone/Sni-A-Bar 900 Block Dogwood
Stealing Check the Well Being Alarm Property Damage Vin Verification Dirt Bike on Roadway Citizen Contact Suspicious Person Citizen Contact
April 2, 2020 Minter/Capelle 600 Block Yennie 600 Block Jefferson 600 Block Brome Sni-A-Bar/Greystone 800 Block Thieme 700 Block Main 1000 Block Ryan Rd
Suspicious Vehicle Suspicious Vehicle Suspicious Activity Disturbance Suspicious Person Burglary Suspicious Person Alarm
April 3, 2020 800 Block Highland 500 Block Shorthorn 700 Block Main 700 Block Squire Ct 700 Block Main 1200 Block Pamela Blvd 700 Block Main St
Suspicious Person Death Notification Citizen Assist Alarm Agency Assist (IPD) Open Door Citizen Contact
April 4, 2020 900 Block Dogwood 700 Block Albatross 700 Block Main St
Juvenile Issue Open Door Agency Assist (CJC)
400 Block Woodbury 1600 Block High View Dr 1100 Block NW Scenic Dr 500 Block Shorthorn
Disturbance Peace Disturbance Harassment Burglary
April 5, 2020 1600 Block NW Pin Oak 1100 Block NW Pamela Blvd 2100 Block Hedgewood 1200 Block NW Ashley Ln 800 Block Lee Ann 700 Block Thieme I 70 Hwy
Alarm Alarm Suspicious Activity Parking Complaint Agency Assist (BSPD) Suspicious Person Agency Assist (MSHP)
April 6, 2020 1000 Block Foxtail 1200 Block SW Windcrest Ct 500 Block Woodbury
Suspicious Vehicle Unattended Death Suspicious Person
April 7, 2020 1100 Block SW Greystone Ct 700 Block Main US 40 Hwy/OOIDA 1100 Block Sawgrass 100 Block SW Eagles Pkwy 1000 Block SW Dean Dr 600 Block Gateway 700 Block Main St 900 Block Ryan Rd 100 Block Royer 200 Block Young 500 Block Woodbury 1300 Block High View Dr
Alarm Runaway Juvenile Check the Well Being Disturbance Abandoned Vehicle Juvenile Issue C & I Motorcycle Citizen Contact Alarm Injured Animal Citizen Assist Found Property Agency Assist (CJC)
Page 3 LOOKING BACK
continued from page 1
Main and Walnut Street. The photo does not include the gas pumps which were on the corner near the intersection. During this time, Ray “Pop” Frantz owned and drove a school bus for Grain Valley. This photograph (or a similar one) appeared in the 1938 yearbook. At that time, he owned and drove the only bus used by the school. Wouldn’t you like to know his route? In a September 1942 Broadcaster (school newspaper), there was an article that included a second bus, one with a route north of town and one with a route south of town. At some point, after World War II, the old Royal Playhouse was sold to Robert’s Salvage Company, who turned it into a
salvage yard for planes, tanks and jeeps used by the armed services during the war. Mr. Frantz moved his service station 3 blocks south to the northeast corner of Main and Harris street. Their home was on the north side of the station. It still stands today, although not as a home. The station was torn down and has been replaced by a muffler shop.
For more information on the Grain Valley Historical Society, visit www.grainvalleyhistory.com and follow the Historical Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@grainvalleyhistory).
G R A I N VA L L E Y N E W S
Pop”” Frantz and his bus. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society. “Pop
Ray Frantz with his new truck (1952). Note he aged a bit, but his hat style never changed. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society.
LOCALLY FOCUSED. FAMILY OWNED. PUBLISHED WEEKLY.
Solutions For Stress Eating And Avoiding The “Quarantine 15” by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD You may have heard of the “freshman 15”, describing the 15 pounds college freshman supposedly put on during their first year away at college, but there is a new term buzzing around, the “quarantine 15” which applies to all of us quarantined at home and in close proximity to our pantries. The combination of the stress of the uncertainty of COVID-19 and being cooped up at home makes the munchies even worse. And starchy carbohydrates like crackers, cookies and other baked goods can be a source of comfort in a time of crisis. Here are some tips to avoid stress eating, improve your mood and make healthier choices without tipping the scale:
Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD is a registered dietitian and owner of KC Nutrition Coach, online nutrition and fitness coaching. She can be reached at tracey@kcnutritioncoach.com
Don’ Don’t stress about your diet or your weight. In these uncertain times the last thing you want to do is add extra stress to your life. There are already too many other things causing us stress right now. Now is the time to take care of yourself, not beat yourself up. Keep a regular schedule. Try to go to bed and get up in the morning at the same times every day. Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at regular times and if
you need a snack plan a time between meals when you will have it. Don’t graze all day on snacks without a routine. Buy better foods to have on hand. Keep your pantry stocked with fewer processed, high-salt or high-sugar snack foods and put more produce in your fridge. Some foods that have been shown to have some mood-boosting effects are avocados, nuts, salmon, sweet potatoes and chia seeds. Become more aware of your emotions. If you are bored find something to do that keeps you busy. If you feel stress or anxiety try meditation or go for a relaxing walk outdoors. Sometimes identifying your feelings is the hardest part. Try to be more aware. Stay in touch with family and friends. Touch base through phone calls, video chats and virtual happy hours. Keep your support system going. Move. Exercise is critical for both mental and physical health. Go for a brisk walk, hop on your bike or try a new online class. You might find something new that can be long-lasting. Try this Easy Chia Pudding for a moodboosting snack or breakfast.
Easy Chia Pudding
Prep Time: 10 minutes Total Time: 10 minutes Yield: 1 serving
INGREDIENTS: 3–4 Tablespoons chia seeds 1 cup milk (or try unsweetened coconut, almond or cashew milk) ½ Tablespoon maple syrup, honey or sweetener of choice* ¼ teaspoon vanilla (optional) Toppings of choice: fresh berries or other fruit, nuts INSTRUCTIONS: In a bowl or mason jar, stir together chia seeds, milk, maple syrup and vanilla, if using. If you’re using a mason jar, you can put the lid on and shake the mixture to combine everything. Once the chia pudding mixture is well combined, let it sit for 5 minutes, give it another stir/shake to break up any clumps of chia seeds, cover and put the mixture in the fridge to “set” for 1-2 hours or overnight. The chia pudding should be nice and thick, not liquidy. If it’s not thick enough, just add more chia seeds (about 1 Tablespoon), stir and refrigerate for another 30 minutes or so. You can also prep you pudding the night before and let it sit in the fridge overnight if that’s easier. When ready to serve, top the pudding with berries and enjoy. Note: Chia pudding can be stored for up to 5-7 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Source: eatingbirdfood.com
Business
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Valley News is pleased to provide a free business directory to encourage our readers to support local businesses in this unprecedented time. Listings are provided at no cost to businesses and all local businesses are welcome to add their information. Visit www.grainvalleynews.com to view the Business Directory and/or add your business listing.
SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESS. SHOP LOCAL. AD SPECIALTIES/EMBROIDERY/ SCREEN PRINTING Jeff Barnard Barnard Sports & Apparel 617 NW Valley Ridge CT 816-355-0297 barnardsports@comcast.net barnardsportsandapparel.com Screen printing, Custom Embroidery, Advertising Specialties and uniforms Hours open: 9 to 5 M - F We have been in business since 1999, family owned and operated. We do embroidery and screen printing in house. Come by and see us for your company, team sports or organization needs. We would appreciate your business.
ATTORNEYS Lorri WilbeeWilbee-Kobe Law Office of Lorri L. WilbeeWilbee-Kobe, LLC 510 Main Street, P.O. Box 309, Grain Valley MO 64029 Lkobe@lwklaw.com Www.lwklaw.com Law Office: Family law, Custody, Divorce, Support, Mediation, Traffic, Municipal Court matters, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Directives Hours open: Normal hours are M-Th 8:30 to 6 and Friday 8:30 to 3. During the Order, we are handling new consultations by phone only and are accepting most payment by credit card (except initial deposits on hourly matters). Due to the significant need for Health Care Powers of Attorney and Directives, we are drafting them with phone consultations for $100.00. We are also accepting credit cards, temporarily, for attorney fees, fines and costs on traffic and municipal court matters. We have been your hometown lawyer’s office since 2006!
AUTOMOTIVE Absolute Automotive LLC 104 E AA Hwy sam@absoluteautomotive.net https://absoluteautomotive.net/ https://www.facebook.com/ AbsoluteAutomotiveLLC/ Auto Repair Hours open: Monday - Friday 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM Hight Automotive, Inc 103 Armstrong Dr 816-229-9919 hightauto@sbcglobal.net Facebook: @Hight Automotive Auto Repair and Machine Shop Hours open: 8am - 7pm Monday thru Thursday Missouri State Inspections by appointment only. We have a drop slot with envelopes provided for dropping off keys with area to specify problems to examine on vehicle. We can take credit card info for payment over the phone and lock keys in vehicle if preferred. Justin Nicholls Nicholls Performance Transmissions 1200 D Nw Pamela Blvd Grain Valley Missouri 64029 816-522-7227 NPT7227@gmail.com Automotive transmission repair Hours open: 7am-6pm Monday-Thursday We’re open! Valley Synthetics David Abrams, Independent Dealer 816-699-2563 djaabrams@gmail.com www.valleysynthetics.com Walker Tire Truck & Tow Service 403 Action Road, Odessa 816816-230230-5752 Facebook: Walker Tire Truck & Tow Towing Company & Tire Store
Hours open: 8-6 M-F 8-2 SAT / TOWING & ROADSERVICE 24/7
AWARDS AND ENGRAVING Melonie Hale MVP Awards & Engraving 805 C West Main, Blue Springs 816-224-6687 mvpawards@sbcglobal.net www.mvp--awards.net www.facebook.com/mvpawards www.facebook.com/ Awards and Engraving engraved gifts, plaques, trophies and sublimation Hours open: Mon, Wed, Fri 10-5 Tues, Thurs 10-6 Sat 10-1 Temporary hours 11-3 Tues & Thurs. Phone answered at all times. Curb side service.
Hours open: Tuesday-Saturday While we currently cannot perform any services, we are still able to get your favorite Kevin Murphy & Unite products to you! Just contact us via Facebook and we will get you taken care of. Fredericos Nail Bar 512 Main St. Suite A 816-288-6449 Ffredericosnailbar18@gmail.com www.vagaries.com/fredericosnailbar Facebook: @Fredericos Nail Bar, @ Instagram: @fredericosnailbar Nail salon Hours open: 10:30-8 Closed for services but gift certificates are available website.
CBD PRODUCTS
BALLOONS Funtastic Balloon Creations 1103 NW Casey Blvd. Grain Valley, Mo 64029 816-598-0690 Info@funtasticballooncreations.com Arches, columns, bouquets, balloon creations, party twisting, helium Hours open: Currently closed to walk in service. No contact delivery provided. During the stay at home order, you may order balloons online ( please give a 24 hour notice) and pick up at the store or we can do porch delivery.
BEAUTY SALONS/NAIL SALONS Studio Five Beauty Boutique 1440 SW Eagles Parkway 816-443-5193 Facebook: @Studio Five Beauty Boutique, Instagram: @Studio Five Beauty Boutique Hair salon, lash & makeup boutique, airbrush spray tan
CBD American Shaman 1402 SW Eagles Parkway, Grain Valley M 64029 816-726-4615 kcbdamericanshaman@gmail.com https://cbdamericanshaman.com/ grainvalley Facebook: Grain Valley American Shaman https://www.yelp.com/biz/americanshaman-grain-valley-grain-valley Retail store specializing in CBD products Hours open: Sun 12-6 M-F 10:30-7 pm For home delivery please order at https://cbdamericanshaman.com/ grainvalley Feel free to call our store 816.726.4615 for curb side pick up and to check as we may flex our hours for the short term.
Business News is sponsored 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
G R A I N VA L L E Y N E W S
LOCALLY FOCUSED. FAMILY OWNED. PUBLISHED WEEKLY.
www.grainvalleynews.com
Business CHILDCARE Eagles Academy 1438 S Minter Way 816-355-0663 eaglesacademy.gv@gmail.com https://eaglesacademygv.wixsite.com/ website Facebook: @eaglesacademyllc Childcare Provider Hours open: Monday thru Friday 6am to 6pm We are remaining open so essential employees can have care for their children during this time. We are a state licensed facility and the state has asked us to remain open so those on the front lines can still receive quality care. We are waiving all enrollment fees until May 1st for all essential workers. Milestone Academy Child Development Center 1401 Buckner Tarsney Rd Grain Valley, MO 64029 816-847-0204 milestoneacademy@gmail.com milestoneacademycdc.com Child care services Hours open: 6:00am-6:00pm Hours reduced to 6:30am – 5:30pm during stay at home order.
CHIROPRACTIC Dr. Catherine Dowd Grain Valley Chiropractic, LLC 203 South Main Street 816-443-5485 grainvalleychiro@gmail.com www.grainvalleychiro@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/ grainvalleychiro/?ref=bookmarks Chiropractic We are reaching out to ensure your patient care and safety is our highest priority. We are going above and beyond CDC guidelines to safeguard your health and safety. During this time, we have arranged appointments to help with social distancing and limit patient exposure. As you arrive for your appointment, we are asking that you remain in your vehicle and we will contact via text or phone call when you may enter. We do not foresee a long wait time as we have arranged our schedule to accommodate this.
CHURCHES crossroads Church 900 NW Jefferson ST 816-847-7621 http://direction4living.com First Baptist Church Grain Valley 207 W. Walnut www.grainvalleyfirst.com
Faith United Methodist Church 1950 SW Eagles Parkway 816-847-0008 www.valleyfaith.church
CLEANING SERVICES Kade Cleaning Systems, LLC 500 James Rollo Dr 816-888-9653 kadecleaningsystemsllc@gmail.com kadecleaning.com https://www.facebook.com/ kadecleaning Emergency Water Damage/Clean-up, Fire Damage and Mold Clean-up 24 hours for emergency services We are available 24/7 for any emergency needs you have.
DENTAL
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Lodge of the Four Paws 511 James Rollo Dr 816-847-7777 Facebook: Lodge of the Four Paws Dog & cat grooming & boarding Hours open: M-W 8-6, Th 8-4, F 8-6, Sat 8-3, Sun 5-6
DOG TRAINING K9 Diversity Dog Training 515 Main St k9diversitydogtraining@gmail.com k9diversitydogtraining.com facebook.com/K9DiversityGrainValley Dog training Hours open: 4-8pm during the week 10-8 on Saturday Open for phone consultations during the stay at home order.
Guthrie Family Dental 1203 S Buckner Tarsney Rd guthriefamilydental@gmail.com Guthriefamilydental.com Dentist Hours open: Monday 8-7, Tuesday 9-4, Wednesday 85, Thursday 8-5, Friday 7-12 Emergency treatment only all other nonurgent appts will be rescheduled.
EDUCATION
DIRECT SALES
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/ CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Catrina Brunk Scentsy Consultant 816-769-0485 mombrunk3@gmail.com www.whoiswickless.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/ CatrinasVIPgroup/ Scentsy warmers, wax, oils , diffusers, and more You can shop online anytime. I am available for pick up or shopping from my home by appt. Courtney Williams ThirtyThirty-One Gifts - Independent Senior Consultant 913-548-7297 criceproverbs31@gmail.com www.mythirty-one.com/williamsc http://www.facebook.com/groups//toteallyblessed All orders will be shipped directly to your door. New Insider Rewards and Flat Rate Shipping. Online parties available.
DOG GROOMING Exclusively Dogs KC 1060 NE McQuerry Road, Suite F 816-721-5486 www.exclusivelydogskc.com
Crider’ Crider’s Institute of Welding Technology 300 NW Jefferson ST ciwt.mo@gmail.com cridersinstitute.com Welding School Hours open: 7:00 am - 10:00 pm
Tasha Lindsey Grain Valley Partnership 1450 SW Eagle Parkway 816-443-5162 info@growgrainvalley.org growgrainvalley.org Facebook: @growgrainvalley, @ValleyGrain (Twitter) Hours open: 9 am - 5 pm Even though I am splitting time spent working between my office and my home, I am still working to bring as much information regarding this COVID19 crisis to our business community. I am available to help in any way that I can. The Grain Valley Partnership is committed to supporting Grain Valley's business community to ensure growth, creating a positive atmosphere and as a connector to available resources. Promotion, Networking, Advocacy, Credibility, and Education are the top services that we offer year-round!
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR A&A Electrical Inc. 705 Squire Court ADMIN@AAELECTRICALINC.COM WWW.AAELECTRICALINC.COM https://www.facebook.com/ aaelectricalinc Hours open: 6 AM TO 3 PM We have been in business in Grain Valley
since 1994. Residential service calls, commercial small to medium projects, swimming pool equipment, bucket truck work.
EVENT FACILITIES Acquaint Gathering 512 Capelle St hatfieldl87@gmail.com www.acquaintgathering.com Facebook: Acquaint Gathering, Instagram: Acquaint Gathering_kc Weddings and special events
GARAGE DOORS Andrew Powell State Line Door & Lift 816-616-8352 Statelinedoorlift@gmail.com www.statelinedoorlift.com www.facebook.com/statelinedoor Garage door supplier Business as usual. Taking precautions with necessary PPE while in your home. We have a no contact service, for your safety, if you wish. See our Facebook page for more information.
GROCERY Cosentino’ Cosentino’s Price Chopper 1191 NE McQuerry Road 7:00am – 8:00pm 7:00am – 8:00am reserved for seniors, expectant mothers, and customers with compromised immune systems. Mactan Asian Market 1438 SW Eagles Parkway mactanasianmarket1438@yahoo.com Facebook: Mactan Asian Market Asian grocery store Hours open: 9:30 to 7:00 Monday thru Saturday Open during stay at home order.
HOME INSPECTION Lawrence Baker Homesweet Home Advisor, LLC hshadvisor@gmail.com www.hshadvisor.com Home Inspection Hours open: Monday thru Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday 9:00 am to noon. $275.00 home inspection (up to a 2,500 sq/ft home) - valid thru June 30, 2020. 10% Discount Mold testing and reporting; Radon testing and reporting; Asbestos testing and reporting; Termite inspection and reporting; Sewer Scope inspection and reporting.
Business
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INSURANCE
PEST CONTROL
RESTAURANTS
Andrist Farmers Insurance Agency 203 A S. Main St, Grain Valley MO 64029 816-759-8640 mandrist1@farmersagent.com https://agents.farmers.com/mo/grainvalley/margie-andrist Facebook: Margie Andrist Agency, Farmers Insurance Home, Auto, Life, Umbrella, Motorcycle, RV, Business Hours open: 8:30-5:30 M-F Please call my office at for help with any insurance needs.
Ben Stowe Echo Pest Control 1251 NW Pamela Blvd suite A ben.moxie@gmail.com www.echopestcontrol.com https://www.facebook.com/echopestkc/ Pest Control Hours open: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Sat 8am-12pm Echo Pest control offers service to all homes and businesses during the stay at home order. We will be limiting inside treatments on a case by case basis. Technicians will practice safe distancing and not have customers shake hands or sign work orders. Many common pests carry disease and viruses. Control is recommended in all times but stressed during current health concerns. We do have access to disinfectant sprays that are labeled to kill bacteria and viruses.
El Maguey 102 S Main ST 816-443-2794 Available for carry out orders.
Farmers Insurance - Brown Agency 630 NW Jefferson Street 816-220-3637 jbrown5@farmersagent.com https://agents.farmers.com/mo/grainvalley/janette-brown Facebook: @tylerbrownfarmersagent Insurance for Life, Home, Auto, Umbrella, etc. Hours open: Working remotely from 8:30-5:30 Tanna is answering the phones and can answer most of your policy questions as well as making changes to your policy if necessary. This is a great time to give her a call and review your insurance with her. There may be some adjustments that we can make to help with your rates. If you are not our customer, this is a great opportunity to get a review of your current insurance policies and discover any risks and/or savings.
MASSAGE Ananda Therapies 816-943-9157 www.massagebook.com/biz/ anandatherapies
MEDICAL SERC Physicial Therapy 103 SW Eagles Parkway 816-443-2375 tkrska@serctherapy.com Physical Therapy Hours open: 7:00am – 6:00pm M-F
MERCHANT SERVICES Ed Thomas Blue Payment Systems Bluepaymentsytems@gmail.com www.BluePaymentSystems.com https://m.facebook.com/EdtheCardMan https://Twitter.com/Edthecardman We are a full-service merchant service brokerage we offered a better way to get paid call for details 816833097 Hours open: Open Monday through Friday from 8 to 7 PM call 816-833-0975
Kevin Girtz Moxie Pest Control 1251 NW Pamela Blvd Suite A kevin.moxiemo@gmail.com www.killbugsfast.com https://www.facebook.com/ MoxiePestControlKansasCity/ Pest Control service Hours open: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Sat- 8am-12pm Moxie Pest control offers service to all homes and businesses during the stay at home order. We will be limiting inside treatments on a case by case basis. Technicians will practice safe distancing and not have customers shake hands or sign work orders. Many common pests carry disease and viruses. Control is recommended in all times but stressed during current health concerns. We do have access to disinfectant sprays that are labeled to kill bacteria and viruses.
PHOTOGRAPHY Diana Luppens Switch Focus Studios 816-809-8868 diluppens@sbcglobal.net www.switchfocusstudios.com Facebook/Instagram: Switch Focus Studios Photography: Family, Newborn, Seniors, Wedding Hours open: Appt only
RENTAL SERVICES Dave Kennedy Grain Valley Rental, Inc. 209 James Rollo Drive gvalleyrental@aol.com www.grainvalleyrental.com Lawn Mower Sales and service / Equipment Rental, Propane Hours open: Mon - Fri 8am - 4pm Subject to Change Open with shortened hours. Mon-Fri 8-4 no weekends.
El Tequilazo 522 S Main ST 816-355-0258 Available for carry out orders. www.eltequilazorestaurant.com
SMALL ENGINE REPAIR The Small Engine Shop 311C James Rollo Rd, Grain Valley, MO 64029 816-215-8766 https://www.facebook.com/ SmallEngineShop Small Engine Repair Shop Hours open: M-F 8 AM-5 PM, closed 11:30 AM-12:30 PM for lunch + Sat 9 AM-Noon
TAX SERVICE Gail Boyson Boyson Tax Service. LLC 1000 SW Cross Creek Dr gail@boysontaxservice.com Tax preparation for individuals and businesses Meinershagen & Co. Certified Public Accountants, Accounting and Tax Services 107 SW Eagles Parkway 816-847-0536 www.floydmeinershagenandco.com Valley Tax Service 210 Cannon Street 816-847-2180 valley210@sbcglobal.net www.ValleyTaxService.tax Tax Preparation all year, Notary and Fax services during off season Hours open: January-May 9:00am – 5:00pm., June -
December 9:00am – 4:00pm Office is open for clients to come and leave documents to file taxes. Clients will be called when tax returns are completed for signing and pickup. Office is cleaned between visits.
TRAFFIC SAFETY PRODUCTS J A Traffic Products LLC 627 NW Valley Ridge Circle 816-220-0450 amindham@jatps.com www.jatps.com Traffic Safety Products/ Road Construction Products Hours open: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm Please contact via phone or email if you are interested in placing an order.
VENDING SERVICES David Carter Carter’ Carter’s Sales LLC Vending Company 649 SW Gateway Ct 816-876-7998 Carterd2004@yahoo.com Food and drink vending machine company Hours open: 5:00 am — 5:30 pm We own and operate a full service vending machine service for local businesses. We place vending machines in local businesses and keep them fully stocked at your convenience. Our goal is to offer on-site food and drinks at a fair price to help keep employees and customers happy.
Community Voices
Page 7
Wayne’s World
The Times Are A Changin’ by Wayne Geiger
I can’t help it. I rip up boxes into little pieces before throwing them into the trash. It's in my blood, I guess. As a little boy, I watched my grandfather do this. He never told me why, but I think it was because he liked to get the biggest bang for his buck using a garbage bag. At least that’s why I do it. My grandfather, who came to this country from Italy, lived through the Great Depression. An experience like that changes a person. I remember he would even save his leftover coffee so he could microwave it and enjoy it later. I’m not there yet. People who lived through that dark time in history were deeply affected. Recently, I was talking to a friend who said, “my grandma was such a packrat. She never threw anything away. She lived through the Great Depression, you know.” The Great Depression affected our nation for many years. Many people struggled as the unemployment rate in 1933 was twenty-three percent. You’ve probably had conversations with those who were affected by those times. For the most part, those who remember those times would say, “we didn’t know we were poor. We were just like everybody else.” And yet, the events of that time deeply changed the attitudes and behaviors of those involved. I can’t claim to be a Bob Dylan fan. I was born too late for that. But, I do remember hearing his mid-60s song, “The Times They are A-Changin.” The phrase would make a nice refrigerator magnet to describe where we are right now. We are living in an amazing time in history. In my opinion, what we’re experiencing now will leave an indelible mark upon our world, our nation, and our families. Some of the changes on the horizon will be good. Others, not so
much. I believe it will go down in history as one of those “defining moments” of our culture. I’m not a prophet or philosopher, but as a pastor and professor, I have had the chance, like you, to evaluate human behavior and form an opinion. Throwing a wider net, I’ve also asked friends on social media sites to offer their opinion on how they believe these “times” will change us. Originally, I thought I would be able to squeeze the information into one article, but the box was too big and, taking a lesson from Papa, I’ll have to tear it into several parts. I believe one of the ways we will be affected is the resurgence of selfreliance and minimalism. This will be a good thing (at least for the family). Facing empty store shelves was a real eye-opener for many people. “I can’t believe there’s no toilet paper” we heard people complain. A relatively “minor issue” (relatively speaking) caused major panic at the time. The problem was, people who complained about the selfishness of others, rushed to the stores themselves and left with carts full of toilet paper uttering the manta, “the one with the most toilet paper wins.” This was nothing less than fear and panic. This panic unearthed a deeper issue. The issue at hand is that we are not products of the Great Depression. Just the opposite, we are products of times of plenty and abundance. Most of us have enjoyed wonderful prosperity in this country. It’s all we have known. We’ve always lived in a time when if you needed it you could get it. I’ve had the wonderful privilege of visiting some very poor places in the world. Probably the worst was Haiti. Most of the people in Haiti have no electricity, no running water, and no modern conveniences. They walk everywhere they go, often without shoes. They spend most of their day just
trying to survive. As Maslow’s hierarchy of needs suggests, they can’t move up the ladder of success because they’re too busy just trying to stay alive. They don’t know any different. Most of us simply can’t process that. We’ve been blessed in this country—we just didn’t know it. Here in the States, what we have experienced is, if you had the money--you could get it. Hit the easy button. But, in the midst of this crisis, that has not been the case. Even Amazon was not delivering toilet paper. That concept is difficult for us to process. These experiences have taught us what it means to struggle—at least a little. This has caused us to do some deep, introspective thinking about what is really important and has caused us to appreciate the simple things maybe that we took for granted. “I’m looking forward to just going out to eat a meal,” my wife said the other day. I agreed. Generally, on Sunday afternoon, after a busy day at church, my wife and I would go out to eat. It was a wonderful, relaxing time. I think when things get back to “normal” we will appreciate these times so much more. Some of the items that have been missing from store shelves were basic foods and staples. I don’t think this was a result of panic, but a result of necessity. According to an article in Business Insider, before this challenging time, Americans ate out about six times a week. In Missouri, that adds up to about $2500 per year. I think one of the reasons the shelves were so empty is because people began eating at home— again. Some families are learning what it means to cook and eat at home. Not too long ago, we had some friends surprise us with some farm fresh eggs and home-canned veggies. It was such a sweet and thoughtful gesture! It also made me think “hmmm… maybe I should think about that a little more seriously.” But then again, I didn’t
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even know how to grow toilet paper. I’ll definitely pay more attention to my garden this year. In recent years, we just gardened for fun and complained about the squirrels taking one bite out of every tomato. I just loved seeing them grow, and honestly, squirrels have to eat too. But, in the future, we might take it a little more seriously. We might even have squirrel soup (with a tomato base, of course). I have sat back in amazement and watched friends and neighbors practice resiliency, self-reliance, and minimalism. I’ve been so encouraged by folks who have been innovative and discovered different ways to survive and thrive during this challenging time. Families are eating together, playing games together, and getting to know one another. Parents are taking responsibility for their child’s education. People are stepping out of their comfort zone and taking responsibility for things that, in times past, we paid others to do. We’re also becoming more frugal and saving for a rainy day. One friend said, “I’m evaluating everything that I have and determining what I really need. It’s been eye-opening.” Another friend said, “One thing I’ve learned is that I will always have a month of toilet paper on hand.” The times, they are a-changin’. They always have and they always will. There is no such thing as a “new normal”. Normal is simply a product of an everchanging environment. The great hockey player, Wayne Gretzky, had the uncanny ability, as he said, not to skate to where the puck was—but to where the puck is going.
Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer.
Community Voices
Page 8
Musings From The Middle: The Fabric Of Our Lives by Cathy Allie
My mom and grandmother both sewed and luckily, somewhere along the line, my mom taught me some sewing basics. I have a serviceable sewing machine, tons of thread, some supplies passed down from her and some of my own. Like many other frustrated designers, I threaten my family routinely not to use my sewing scissors to cut paper, even though I rarely use them at all. I have a special shelf and box for all my bobbins, my seam ripper, elastic, bias tape, ricrac, and extra needles. I am not designing haute couture fashion or something you will see on a runway, and my daughter won’t pass on any clothes I made for her to her own children. My expertise lies in small, one afternoon projects; I can make a straight stitch and can follow a pattern. So over the course of this quarantine time, I have been sewing face masks. Some of them are made from a very special fabric provided by St. Luke’s through a group One Mask at a Time, begun by a friend. My mom and even my husband helped cut them out, and I pray over each one I sew, that a professional healthcare worker will be safe and can continue to care for the infirm. Other masks are from cotton fabric that has just been waiting to be included in such a special project as this. Boy, if that fabric could talk. Anyone who has been to Joanne’s on a rainy Sunday afternoon may relate to my fabric stash. In fact, if someone says you have too much fabric, stop talking to them. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life. Much of my fabric stash was purchased with good intentions. There is a cheery Hawaiian look cotton print that thought I would make fun, matching mother daughter skirts with. My charming then four year old would come out of her room, dressed in some
wild looking outfit, and say, “Match me, Mom! Match me!” I tried. I really did. When I could not re-create her special brand of pattern mixing, I decided I would sew some things for us to match. She is 14. Trust me when I tell you, she no longer wants to match. There were various, beautiful deep purple fabrics that were meant to pay homage to my alma mater, Truman State University (just FYI, when I attended, it was Northeast Missouri State University, where my piddly ACT score was still perfectly acceptable). I visualized myself sitting in Stokes Stadium on a beautiful fall afternoon, under a handmade quilt of many purple shades and hues, taking compliments on my loyalty to my school as well as excellent sewing skills. “Bulldogs, Bulldogs, bow wow wow!” I yelled, as I stood up to cheer on the team, gathering my quilt to place it back across my lap, a potential future alumnus of the year, just waiting for the call. I haven’t been to Homecoming in about five years, due to the aforementioned 14 year old’s schedule, and the fact that I cannot hold my liquor like I used to, and reunions tempt me to try. Well, that and the fact that I never finished the quilt. There are whimsical fabrics in my stash as well, like a black and white cow print, cute little cowboys standing near a covered wagon, and a yard or so of red bandana like cotton. I feel like they were going to be a part of a Halloween costume that likely got purchased at the last minute and not handmade after all (think Toy Story’s Jessie). Or maybe I wanted cute scarves or headbands for a trip we had dreamed of taking out West. Turns out the farthest west I have been lately is Olathe, Kansas, and it seemed like such a long trip that I had to take snacks. I must have gone through a bird
phase as well. My flock of fabric included owls, eagles, and the cutest fat breasted bird in a repeating pattern. I can’t remember any reason for having purchased these at all. I am guessing that I got to that section and glanced lovingly at the bolts, unable to leave any of them behind. Or maybe they were 50% off. Yep! That’s it. My plaid phase is a little easier to explain. You see, the plaids were going to serve two purposes. The first is, like many ill-informed middle class moms, I assumed I would own a cute little lake house or country retreat by my late 30’s, where my family would go each weekend every Friday, right when we got off the clock, and where we would stay and commune with nature until late Sunday afternoon, where we would grudgingly head back to our daily lives. And, like all good woodsy retreats, it would be decorated in homey, comforting plaids. I mean, that’s what’s in the movies, right? If not a house or cabin, at least a back yard She Shed, like Sheryl’s right? Silly little things like a mortgage on a real house, a car payment, and the need for groceries got in the way of that dream. But the plaid evidence still exists. The second way I wanted to use the plaid was for an ill-conceived conversion for my husband from regular ties to bow ties, ones that I would of course make. I have written about my husband The Coach before, so many of you are wondering if you missed the chapter where he trades in his baggy elastic waist shorts and screen printed t-shirts and becomes a dapper businessman, who eschews tradition of boring long ties, and shows up at his appointments in a neatly pressed oxford cloth button down with a bow tie and matching pocket square. You did not miss that chapter. But I did miss the mark. As with many of my mistakes, I blame Pinterest. Darn that
perky housewife who talked her husband into wearing bow ties and then posted her finished projects, complete with a PDF of the instructions. When I approached my husband with the idea, after he checked for all the signs of me having had a stroke, determined I had not, realized I was quite serious, and then took a deep breath, he explained what I had missed. He said it was not that he would not want to wear anything that I had handsewn, but more that he felt the longer ties really made him appear thinner— you know, vertical lines and all. The plaids took their place in the stash. And finally there were dog prints in my stash. I love dogs. In fact, after having been in the house for almost a month with my family, my dog is easily my favorite family member. In a well-trained stash of fabric were French bulldogs wearing jaunty scarves and long-legged greyhounds frolicking with Pekinese on turquoise backgrounds. There were dogs wearing glasses and ties, because who doesn’t like dogs who look like people? There were dogs with Christmas wreaths and dogs breaking out of Easter eggs. There were no dogs who had been COVID-19 quarantined and desperately in need of grooming. Since I had apparently been working on my PhD (projects half done), all these fabrics and a few more from my Oriental phase, made their way into cotton masks for family and friends. If you got a mailbox or driveway delivery, maybe you will read about your fabric here. I can promise you, each mask was made with only a little regret over the project it was originally meant for, but with much love and hope for the person it was made for. I will leave you with a poem that I wish was my own, but for whom I can find no attributed author: Soft Fabric, Warm Fabric, Buy it by the Yard Happy Fabric, Pretty Fabric Here’s my Credit Card! Please stay safe and at home!
Home & Garden
Page 9
5 Tips To Spring Clean Your Diet by Megan Callahan, Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitian
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. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association). Formerly, Megan served as the President and Vice President of the Kansas City Dietetic Association. With a passion for nutrition and wellness, Megan is dedicated to educating customers and promoting healthy lifestyles to our HyVee community. Megan lives in Lee’s Summit with her husband Matt, and their 2 children Kennedy (4) & Carsyn (2).
Spring is here! While your neighbors and friends are focused on spring cleaning their living space, have you thought about spring cleaning your diet? We’re not talking about starting the next trendy diet in the news, but rather using spring as a time to reflect on what “basic” healthful diet habits you forgot about over the long cold winter months.
Take a minute and think: How many servings do I typically consume? The reason to include all the colors of the rainbow: Each color carries different phytochemicals and antioxidants that may help you fight off cancer and reduce the risk of metabolic diseases. Dietitian Tip: Try to get 2 colors of fruits and vegetables on your plate at each meal.
Remember Hydration Arguably one of the most important aspects of your health is staying hydrated, but typically it gets lost in the shuffle when focusing on our diets. We have a tendency in winter months and colder weather to naturally decrease water intake to stay warm. Springtime is the perfect time to again focus on this. The average adequate fluid intake, according to The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, should be between 92 and 124 ounces a day. Several factors would either increase or decrease that amount, but this gives you a rough starting point; it’s much more than the 64 ounces once recommended. Dietitian Tip: Start your day off with a water bottle before you drink your typical morning beverage!
Skip the Added Sugar Added sugars can be found in just about everything, from peanut butter, bread and crackers to sauces. It’s important to differentiate between natural sugars and added sugars. Natural sugars are those that are “naturally” found in food. Foods including fruits, vegetables and many dairy products would fall into this category. Added sugars, just as it implies, are sugars that are added to a food to enhance flavor or texture. The newest Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest limiting our added sugar intake to less than 10% of our total daily calorie intake. Food labels show the total sugar in a serving and what portion of that is derived from added sugars. Dietitian Tip: Make it a habit as you purchase a food product to look for the added sugar amount in the nutrition label. Check similar products to compare and find the option with the lowest amount of added sugar.
Eat the Rainbow This advice, used to encourage kids to get a variety of fruits and vegetables in their diet, is important for adults as well. According to the CDC, only 1 in 10 adults are meeting the recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake.
Consume Healthy Fats Not all fats are created equal. Saturated and trans fats may have
negative effects on your cardiovascular health; monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats and omega-3s are better for you. You can find these fats in foods like fatty fish, flax/chia seeds, avocadoes, olive oil, nuts and seeds. Per the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, your fat intake should be around 20% to 35% of your total caloric intake. Dietitian Tip: Consume 2 servings of fatty fish a week. Examples of fatty fish include salmon, sardines, albacore tuna and trout. Be Mindful of Portions Looking for defense against weight gain? Being more aware of your fullness and portions can help. Most individuals eat out of habit and routine, so use strategies like the hunger scale, smaller plates and meal duration to find your appropriate meal or snack size. Dietitians will tell you: There are no food rules. Using mindfulness is a healthy key and looks different for each person. Dietitian Tip: Get evening cravings? Stop yourself and reflect on why you are going back to your pantry. Is it out of hunger? Is it out of emotion, like boredom? Or is it a habit? Instead of working on your obligatory spring cleaning list, follow these tips toward taking a fresh look at your diet and feel the difference.
The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.
Simple Plantings Can Create A Prairie At Home by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation
Prairies and flowery woodlands once covered most of western Missouri. A living piece of the past can be grown at home, and the easiest way is to take a small and simple approach to gardening with native wildflowers and grasses. Native wildflowers and grasses are adapted to local climate and soils, which along with deep roots, helps makes them hardy through Missouri’s weather variations. However, they are not maintenance free and may need some help getting established. Once growing, a native plant restoration makes an interesting plot to watch plants emerge in spring and change through the seasons. Here’s a prairie patch that’s easy for young and old to establish in a home garden plot. They can provide history and biology lessons, too, when combined with books and online information. Pick a corner of the yard for a triangle shape, maybe three or four feet deep. Or pick out a circular spot elsewhere in the yard, or a rectangle. Don’t make it too big. Use found stone or wood to make a border edge.
Unfold a cardboard box or layers of newspapers over the plot. Punch holes in a pattern with even spacing between planting spots. Order native plant seedlings from companies specializing in providing species found in Missouri prairies and woodlands. The Missouri Prairie Foundation can connect gardeners with plant sources through its Grow Native! web page, https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ Znn. Many of the commercial growers also offer colorful and highly educational catalogs with information on plant heights, bloom times, and soil moisture requirements. What to order? First, note how tall plants grow. For the triangle shape, put tall plants in the rear and the shorter growing species in front. For circles or squares, place tall species in the middle and surround them with the shorter plants. Suggestions for a first garden. Big bluestem is a tall growing and iconic native of the tallgrass prairie. The turkey -foot-shaped seed stem is eye catching in late summer and fall. A caveat, big bluestem in good soil can top six feet in
height. Some gardeners might want to make a shorter species such as prairie dropseed the backrow grasses. Next in height, moving shorter, purple prairie coneflowers or some variation of coneflower species are showy in growth and blooms and do well in garden plantings. Little bluestem makes a very ornamental bunch grass and provides gorgeous golden-red color in autumn. Coreopsis with yellow blooms is a reliable first-year bloomer. Purple poppy mallow will grow along edges and provided colorful blooms. When your mail-ordered plants arrive, plant them according to height in the soil where you punched holes in cardboard or paper. Water well. Cover the cardboard or paper and soil near plants with mulch. Leaves from the fall compost pile will work, or use commercial mulch made from native trees. The cardboard and mulch will block sunlight and keep unwanted grasses and weeds from intruding. By the time the prairie garden is growing well, the cardboard and paper will decay into the soil. Keep your plants watered well in
Purple poppy mallow makes a good edge flower for landscape plantings. The yellow flower is prickly pear cactus. Photo credit: MDC Staff drought times. Once they mature in a few years, however, they can stand dry weather. Though adequate moisture keeps all flowers and grasses hearty and healthy. Remember, it can take a few years for prairie plants to sink their roots deep into the soil and fully express their growth. You may need to install a short fence to keep rabbits from eating small plants. Planting a native garden takes patience and time but is very rewarding. For more information about native plants for landscape gardens, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zc8.
Sports
Page 10
Honoring 2020 Grads With Senior Send Off Profiles Jase Tipton
Sports: Swim, Golf, and Tennis Plans after high school: Enlisted in the United States Army. Highlights of your career as a student athlete: Conference swim meet this year when we beat our goal and got our state consideration time. Also our Team bonding and El Maguey team dinners as well as pasta dinners. What were some of the biggest lessons you learned as a student athlete? Nothing worth having is easy to get.
To say this has been an unusual and disappointing end to the 2019-20 school year would be quite the understatement. With the cancellation of the spring sports season and the postponement or cancellation of many of the traditional year-end activities to honor the senior class, Valley News wanted to highlight some of the wonderful student athletes who make up the Class of 2020. In the coming weeks, we will
highlight senior athletes in our Senior Send Off Feature and give them the spotlight they deserve. Seniors: You should receive information from your coaches with a link to submit your information for our Senior Send Off profiles. If you have not received this information and would like to participate, please send us an email to news@grainvalleynews.com. We will publish profiles in the order received.
Thank You: Shout out to Coach Vanfleet and Coach Byrd who always pushed me to be the best version of myself and to be an athlete I didn’t know I had in me at some points.
Haylee Vermeland
Sports: Swim and Dive
Plans after high school: I’m going to school at UMKC to become a dentist. Highlights of your career as a student athlete: Making friends with all the girls. The team really just felt like one big family. What were some of the biggest lessons you learned as a student athlete? To challenge yourself. You’re only going to get better if you’re willing to put in the work that comes with it. Thank You: Thank you coach Liddle, Byrd, and Vanfleet for everything you have done for me. Swim was definitely my favorite part of high school, so thank you for making it so much fun.
MSHSAA official and Grain Valley resident John Kilmer officiates a high school basketball game. Photo credit: John Overstreet
Sports
Page 11
Economics Of The NFL Apparent In New CBA by John Unrein
According to the Green Bay Packers’ 2018 annual report, the National Football League earned over $8.1 billion in national revenue during 2017. The Packers are owned by their fans through the public sale of stock. Therefore, their franchise information is largely accessible to the public for transparency reasons. Darren Rovell of Action Network reported in the summer of 2019 that the NFL disbursed $8.78 billion in revenue to its clubs from the money it made during 2018. Under the former collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players association in 2011, the owners got 53 percent of football related income and the players got 47 percent. This means that the total revenue gained by the NFL before it was split two ways in 2018 was approximately $17 billion. The NFL makes its money in a variety of ways. The two biggest sources of its national revenue come from large and lucrative television deals along with selling companies the rights to sell
items that represent the NFL. It’s safe to say that professional football is alive and well in the United States. Statista cited on their website in 2019 that the average player’s career in the NFL is 3.3 years in length. That statistic explains why collective bargaining is so important to the players association each time a new agreement must be reached. The approximate 1,700 players who’ve made up the active rosters for the 32 NFL teams in the past know their window to earn income is limited. NFL franchise owners are also aware that labor disputes have the potential to lead to strikes by the players union, and as a result, the loss of revenue. This was apparent after the four and half month player lockout in 2011 prior to a new agreement being reached. It’s in both parties’ best interest to compromise and maintain peace through a collective bargaining agreement that benefits both sides. A new collective bargaining agreement that will start in 2020 and run through 2030 was approved earlier this year by league owners and the NFL
Players Association. NFL Football Operations recently shared some major parts of the agreement via their website. Highlights include: 14 team playoff: Starting in the 2020 season, seven teams from each conference will make the playoffs. Adding two playoff teams was not part of the bargaining process, but the owners were able to do so without union approval. Only the top team in each conference will get a wild-card round bye. 17 game schedule starting during the 2021 season: An extra regular season game will be added to the current 16 game schedule played by teams in the league. A reduction of the preseason will happen to offset the extra regular season game. The mechanics for an uneven number of games – neutral sites, or which teams get nine home games – will be worked out in the interim. Increased gameday active roster: The number of active players on gameday will increase to 48 players from 46. Teams must have at least eight offensive linemen on their active gameday roster. Improved health and safety: guaranteed funding for research on training methods, equipment, field surfaces, and medical care; the formation of a new committee to design safety standards for equipment; the extension of training camp acclimation periods; further strengthened credentialing standards for teaching medical and training staffs; enhanced enforcement of the concussion protocol; and additional joint research funding. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement in March on the agreed upon new collective bargaining agreement. “We are pleased that the players have voted to ratify the proposed new CBA, which will provide substantial benefits to all current and retired players, increase jobs, ensure continued progress on player safety, and give our fans more and better football,” Goodell said. “We appreciate the tireless efforts of the members of the Management Council Executive Committee and the NFLPA leadership, both of whom devoted nearly a year to detailed, good faith negotiations to reach this comprehensive, transformative agreement.” NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith posted to Twitter in March his thoughts on the new agreement as well. “The current proposal contains increases across almost every category for wages, hours, working conditions,
iStock Photo and benefits for former and current players,” Smith said. “This proposal was a contested negotiation that reflects trades with the counterparty which have to be carefully weighed and assessed across the entirety of the deal. Please be confident that I hear – loudly and clearly – those of you who have passionately expressed their perspective that these gains are not enough when weighted against, for example, adding another game. That position reflects how some members have chosen to weigh what aspect of the deal is important to them. Smith continued, “The fact is, however, that there are literally hundreds of issues in any collective bargaining agreement that affect thousands of circumstances and impact thousands of current and former players which we must consider carefully.” The NFLPA has reported on their website and through outgoing NFLPA President Eric Winston the gains made on behalf of the players through the agreement. Highlights include: An increase from the 47 percent of league revenues given to the players, with that percentage dependent on the length of the season. A reduction of the preseason, initially from four games to three. More time off during training camps. Upgraded pensions, with the addition of groups of previous players not included in past agreements. Two more roster spots per a team’s practice squad, with players having more freedom to move up to the regular roster and back. Two more will added later in the agreement. Narrowing the testing period for players for marijuana use, plus lowered discipline for using it; and a reduction in on-field fines. The avoidance of labor consternation for the next ten years means professional football will carry on uninterrupted. Negotiations will focus on a new topic. The NFL may continue discussions for new television deals with broadcasting partners. That has the potential to increase the financial windfall for owners and players alike.
THEME: FAIRY TALE CREATURES
ACROSS 1. *Like many mythical creatures 6. Second mo. 9. Spill the beans 13. Convex molding 14. "___ the President's Men" 15. Ankle support, e.g. 16. Make a logical connection 17. *E.T.'s craft? 18. Des Moines native 19. *Fire-breather 21. *Household spirit 23. Tucker of "Modern Family" 24. Antonym of is 25. *Grimm's Queen ____ 28. Tailor-made 30. Showing on TV 35. "All's well that ____ well" 37. Golly! 39. Punctuation mark 40. Seaport in Yemen 41. Hitching post? 43. Additionally 44. Poison ivy or Poison oak 46. One more than The Beatles 47. Hold as a conviction 48. *Mrs. Potts or her son Chip 50. Andrew Sean Greer's 2017 Pulitzer-winner novel 52. Toast choice 53. Jack and Jill's water jug 55. "____ Now or Never" 57. *Horse's cousin 61. *One of the seven dwarfs 64. Ascetic holy Hindu 65. HHS agency 67. Relating to #25 Across 69. Banana treat 70. Go bad 71. Australian canid 72. Lou of "Walk on the Wild Side" fame 73. Card in the hole? 74. "The Forsyte ____," pl.
DOWN 1. Wisecrack 2. Like a zealous fan 3. Regular attendee 4. Hipbone-related 5. Cuban music genre, pl. 6. *Half-man, half-goat 7. *Santa's helper 8. Splotches 9. Arch on a face 10. Croquet turf 11. Popular smoothie berry 12. Well, to Sofia Loren 15. Relating to living organisms 20. Opposite of alpha 22. Genetic initials 24. Parents hope to do this with values 25. *Beauty's beau 26. Empower 27. Dropsy 29. *Big Bad One 31. Yellow brick one 32. Feeling worse than before 33. *Like Curious George 34. *Garden dweller 36. Finger move 38. Moneyed one 42. Pine product 45. Choose not to do something, 2 words 49. Toni Morrison's "____ Baby" 51. 1862 plots, for short 54. Prefix for below 56. Old photo color 57. Stalin's domain 58. Back of the neck 59. Not active 60. Past tense of chide 61. Fill beyond full 62. Sound of passing bullet 63. *Baba ____ 66. *Who Bugs Bunny talks to? 68. Numbers, abbr.
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