May 2, 2019
Valley News www.grainvalleynews.com
Vol. 2, No. 18
FREE
Grain Valley Students Learn Life, Leadership Skills While most high school students are dreaming of spending lazy days by the pool this summer, a few local students are preparing for the rigors of boot camp. Ryan Davis, a junior at Grain Valley High School and member of the Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC), is completing basic training this summer at Fort Leonard Wood. “I enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard on January 2, 2019. I enlisted as a 13B Combat Engineer. I will attend basic training this summer between my junior and senior year of high school. BCT (Basic Combat Training) is the first training all solders go through after enlisting,” Davis said. Davis credits his sister Kaitlyn Helm
with influencing him to consider joining the JROTC program. “My sister has been a big influence in my life. She was in the Blue Springs/ Grain Valley JROTC program during high school and encouraged me to do the same.” The Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (AFJROTC) program operates units in 48 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, and Guam. AFJROTC units are located within host high schools and instructors are employees of the host school. Lt. Col. Richard Yule instructs JROTC students at Blue Springs South High School, where around 40 cadets from Grain Valley participate. Yule has led the program for 8 years
and has seen the benefits the program brings to his students. “We look to instill the Air Force core values into each cadet. These consist of Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All You Do. We believe that what cadets accomplish and the leadership skills they develop through their years in AFJROTC will look good on resumes for jobs, on scholarship applications for college, or will aid them in any pursuit after high school,” Yule said. “It is important to note that JROTC programs are not recruitment programs and cadets have no military obligations. But we certainly have good relationships with the local Active Duty,
see STUDENTS on page 3
Valley Speedway Revs Up For New Season The familiar hum of race cars on the south side of Grain Valley is a sure sign that summer is on its way. The track, an oval 1/3 mile dirt track, was built in 2004. Dennis Shrout, owner of Valley Speedway, purchased it in 2008. “I sold my motorcycle dealership after 30 years, and I wasn’t ready to stop yet, so I thought this would be fun. It’s a lot more work than I thought it was going to be,” Shrout said. Shrout can be found at the track in the days leading up to the event, prepping the track and working with his
staff to get ready for weekend crowds. “On race day, we’ll have around 20 staff members on site,” Shrout said. The season begins in April and runs through September. Racers of all types compete at Valley Speedway. “I’ve had kids as young as 10 years old and guys in their 70’s on the track,” Shroud said. “We’ve had Tony Stewart race here before. The top racers in the country will come in for our specials,” Shrout said. Admission is $13/adults, $11/seniors, students, and military, and $6/for kids 6-
Cadet Airman Ryley Thompson (above) recently received recognition as Outstanding Cadet for his grade level. Photo credit: Aimee Thompson. Below, JROTC color guard presenting the colors at a Kansas City Royals game. Photo courtesy of Candace Jennings.
12. Parking is free, and concessions are available. Gates open at 6:00pm, and races begin at 7:00pm. “We’re usually done by 10:00pm. We try to be good neighbors,” Shrout said. First-timers to the track are encouraged to bring ear plugs, but the race track has ear protection available if you leave yours at home. Shrout offers another tip for first-timers: watch out for dirt clods flying in the stand. “A lot of people don’t mind that. A bit of dirt is all just part of racing.” see SPEEDWAY on page 7
Good News
Exchange Food For Fines May 6-12
After rainouts canceled early April races, enthusiastic crowds enjoyed a beautiful Friday evening of racing at Valley Speedway on April 26th. Valley Midgets, B Mods, E Mods, Pure Stocks, and Dirt Demons raced in the Valley Speedway points race. Results are listed on page 7. Photo credit: Valley News staff
The Mid-Continent Public Library’s (MCPL) biannual Food for Fines program returns May 6-12. During the weeklong initiative, MCPL customers will have the chance to donate nonperishable food items in place of money to pay off overdue fines or replacement card charges. Customers with no fines or fees can also donate to “pay it forward” toward another customer’s fees. Following the completion of the program, the food will be given to charitable organizations across the Kansas City metro. To date, MCPL has collected more than 115,000 items for local charities through its Food for Fines program. Suggested donations include boxed meals, canned food, peanut butter,
cereal, and pasta. Donations must not be expired, damaged, open, nonnutritious, or in a glass, plastic, or cardboard drink container. Each donated food item will count as $1 toward a customer’s fines and fees (up to $10). Donations collected at the Grain Valley branch will benefit Grain Valley Assistance Council.
Local News
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Get Caught Reading In The Month Of May
by Jodi Vogler, Asst. Branch Manager, Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch
Did you know that May is Get Caught Reading Month? Established in 1999 by the Association of American Publishers, Get Caught Reading Month aims to promote the enjoyment of reading as a part of our daily lives. Get Caught Reading Month is supported by the Lois Lenski Covey Foundation and Every Child a Reader. You can find more information and fun resources at everychildareader.net. Your friendly neighborhood staff at the Mid-Continent Public Library – Grain Valley Branch want to support you throughout May as you make every effort to get caught reading everywhere you go. Here are some helpful tips for this month (and the other 11 months, too!): Always have a magazine tucked into your bag, backpack, or briefcase. Did you know that MCPL branches offer magazines for checkout? Back issues of popular periodicals such as Forbes, Magnolia Journal, and others are available to check out just like books. Take your selections to the front desk to check out, then drop them in our book return when you’re finished. Not really one to carry a bag? You can read digital editions of magazines using MCPL’s online resources, including RBdigital and Flipster, which are also available as apps for your phone or your tablet. Is the news more your style? Try PressReader. Like getting your national news each day, but can’t afford the subscriptions to the papers you enjoy? We’ve got you covered. You can read 2,000+ daily and weekly newspapers from all over the world through PressReader, another online resource from MCPL that is available as an app. (And if you prefer our local news, we have hard copies of Valley News, too!) Got littles? Kids can get caught reading, too! Picture books are shaped funny for a reason -- those thin-yet-oversized picture books are the perfect size to slide into the backs of the seats in your car for road trips. If your little digital native has a tablet or device for traveling, try the BookFlix and TumbleBooks apps using your library card. These are specifically designed for kids and give your little one access to all the titles it will take to get to Grandma’s house and beyond.
Listen to books anywhere with streaming audiobooks. Phones and tablets have made books even more accessible. Using the OverDrive and Libby apps, you can download a complete audiobook and play it while you work, work out, or during that morning commute. We’ll be glad to show you how to set up these resources on your device. Can’ Can’t get to the library for health reasons? We can bring it to you. Mid-Continent Public Library offers a service we call Library-By-Mail for our customers who can’t physically get to the library. With this program, residents can receive library books, movies, and music at no charge through the U.S. Postal Service. Visit mymcpl.org/Library-By-Mail to learn more and sign up for this service. Operating on a tight schedule? Set a reading reminder on your phone. We are all cramming as much into our hours as possible, and reading is a great way to un-stuff our brains at the end of the day. To make sure you’re always taking the time to read a few pages every day, try setting an alarm on your phone. When you sit down to enjoy your book, start your phone’s stopwatch so you’ll know when it’s time to do something else. (Or don’t. We won’t judge.) Create a reading nook for enjoying books at home. A designated reading spot complete with a cozy blanket, fluffy pillows, and your favorite novel can melt away the stress of the day. Create your reading nook, then take ten minutes for yourself every night after dinner or before bed. The reading spot is a great place to put a laundry basket for the kids to keep their library books in so they stay in one place. You can use the basket as a book bag when you come to the branch to get more books! You don’t have to break up with your love of reading at the end of the month. We want to make sure you have all the resources you need to keep enjoying the news, novels, and other reading materials you love throughout the year. Stop by and see us at the Grain Valley Branch so we can find the perfect delivery method or app for you to get caught reading everywhere!
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Police Blotter
The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of April 17-23, 2019. April 17, 2019 1800 Block Rosewood
Agency Assist (JCSO) Blue Springs Detention Center Prisoner Transport 500 Block South Street Citizen Contact Bucker Tarsney/Rock Creek Lane Area Check 700 Block Main Street Citizen Contact Baytree Drive Suspicious Vehicle 1100 Block Golfview Alarm 800 Block NW Williow Agency Assist (Clay CO) 700 Block Main Street Citizen Contact 1500 Block Highview Area Check 100 Block SW Eagles Parkway Child Endangerment 1400 Block Willow Citizen Contact 200 Block Cypress Citizen Contact 100 Block Barr Road Citizen Contact 100 Block SW Eagles Parkway Suspicious Activity April 18, 2019 Sni A Bar/Cross Creek 700 Block Main Street EE Kirby/Eagles 700 Block Main Street 1600 Block Hilltop 500 Block Eagles Parkway 1200 Block Duster Court 1400 Block Amanda Jean
Suspicious Person Citizen Contact Suspicious Person Warrant Arrest Disturbance Vehicle Accident Citizen Contact Noice Complaint
April 19, 2019 Sni A Bar/Lakeview 800 Block Foxtail 1200 Block Eagles 600 Block BB 700 Block Main Street
Area Check Alarm Agecny Assit (CJC) Burglary Stealing
April 20, 2019 700 Block Main Street 900 Block Sandy 100 Block Sunny Lane Baytree Drive 100 Block Pebblebrook 700 Block Main Street 900 Block Sandy 700 Block Tisha Lane 700 Block Main Street
Citizen Contact Parking Violation 911 Hang Up Area Check Check the Welfare Stealing Citizen Contact Unattended Death Citizen Contact
April 21, 2019 700 Block Harvest 700 Block Shorthorn
Citizen Contact Assault
1500 Block Nicholas Drive 1100 Block Pamela Jefferson/Tyre 1900 Block Broadway 800 Block Woodland Nelson/Meadowood 100 Block Rock Creek Drive April 22, 2019 600 Block RD Mize 1200 Block Woodbury Court Rosewood Hills 1200 Block AA 1400 Block Amanda Jean Way Woodbury/Burr Oak 1800 Block SE Oakridge Drive 1300 Block Valley Woods Court 1100 Block Christie Lane 700 Block Main Street South Caseys Webb Park, Oak Grove Nicholas/Whitney Main/Walnut Woodbury/Pecan 700 Block Main Street April 23, 2019 Hanna/Greystone 100 Block Locust Sibley Street/AA 700 Block Main Street 1000 Block Stoney Point 900 Block Sandy Lane 700 Block Main Street 1200 Block Eagles Additional calls for service: Suicidal subject: 5
Domestic Violence: 1
Parking Violation Alarm Vehicle Accident Agency Assist (OGPD) Disturbance Area Check Agency Assist (Louisberg PD) Alarm Citizen Contact Suspicious Vehicle Suspicious Person Shots Fired Suspicious Person Agency Assist (OGPD) Abandoned Auto Agency Assist (EMS) Citizen Contact Disturbance Agency Assist (OGPD) Parking Violation Motorist Assist Suspicious Person Citizen Contact Animal at Large Agency Assist (OGPD) Area Check Citizen Contact Check the Welfare Agency Assist (EMS) Citizen Contact Disturbance
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Looking Back: Murphy School by Marcia Napier Grain Valley Historical Society
Originally named Latimer School, Murphy School was renamed for the road beside which it was located. John B. Campbell donated the land for the school, located north of Truman Road and east of Buckner Tarsney Road in the late 1800s. In 1948 when Jackson County schools were reorganized, Murphy School was positioned in the Fort Osage R-1 School District. However, the actual school was within 4 miles of the Grain Valley High School, over 5 miles from the Buckner High School and more than 10 miles from Fort Osage High School. Since many of the students had lived south of the school, they came into Grain Valley for their high school education. Murphy School was a white frame building with plenty of windows for light. The students shared a cloakroom at the entrance and a big stove with a metal jacket sat in the back of the classroom. A teacher’s platform and chalkboards were in the front. The teacher did most of the janitorial work with help from the older students. There was a well for drinking water near the entrance, a hitching post for the youngster’s horses, a coal shed for fuel and, of course, outdoor toilets for girls and boys. The teachers generally followed the state course of study, so four days each week were used for regular classroom work, but on Fridays there were spelling bees, geography matches, and math races. One of the most popular teachers at the school was Mr. Robert
STUDENTS
Cary who went on to teach at both Buckner and Fort Osage High Schools. Dorothy Stump Wolfe was one of the last teachers at Murphy School (194043, 1945-46) prior to reorganization. These were the years of World War II. In addition to regular classroom activities the children collected old newspapers, had scrap-iron drives and supported wartime conservation in every way possible. Another special project was the printing of a school newspaper with the aid of a Hectograph kit. Visit the Historical Society Museum, and you can read a copy of one of the Murphy School newspapers.
(Some of the information for this article came from “In the Beginning,” a book complied by members of the Fort Osage Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution)
Next Week: Learn about Round Grove School.
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).
teacher’’s contract for Dorothy Stumpp. Below: An undated photo of the Above: A teacher Murphy School. Photos courtesy of the Grain Valley Historical Society Museum, located at 510 Main Street.
continued from page 1
Reserve, and Air National Guard recruiters. When cadets show interest in the military, we suggest they speak to the recruiters for the latest in job availability and benefits. Typically, taking JROTC for 3 or 4 years offers an increase in rank and pay after basic training.” Cadet Airman Ryley Thompson joined JROTC “part of something bigger than myself and have an opportunity to serve my community.” Thompson emphasized the program is not just for those students who are intent on a career in the military. “This program is a great opportunity for cadets to find their true path. It might not be military related and that is okay. This program teaches its cadets some important life skills, such as public speaking and the confidence to successfully lead a group of individuals,” Thompson said. Thompson, a freshman at Grain Valley High School, recently received recognition as Outstanding Cadet for his grade level.
JROTC cadets participate in community service, compete in drill and color guard competitions, and learn about aerospace. “Since the class is held in Blue Springs South High School, the best part is meeting and building relationships with other cadets from Blue Springs, as well as the activities, trips, and confidence we gain in ourselves. The worst part is during drill season when we are at the school for practice at 6:00am. But even that’s not too bad,” Davis said. Junior Candace Jennings has participated in JROTC for three years and credits the program with teaching her how to adapt in tough situations. “I’ve learned a lot, but particularly this year I was a commander of one of our flights and worked a bit with commanding for our color guard, which presents the colors at football games, and events like Royals games. The biggest thing I’ve learned is not everything goes the way you think it will, but the biggest thing is how well you
adapt and make sure everything still goes right,” Jennings said. Jennings plans to sign with the military shortly but will wait until after graduation to go through basic training. “When my training is over, I plan to go to a college nearby and join the full ROTC there so I can try to commission as an officer in the future.” “We've had a successful year. While weather impacted some of our competitive drill competitions, we did bring home several first-place trophies with some of those routines led by Grain Valley cadets. Around the Kansas City area, our cadets performed over 1500 hours of community service. We are most visible in Grain Valley presenting the colors before each varsity football game and during our fall and spring road clean-ups along SW Eagles Parkway,” Yule said. For more information on the Blue Springs South Air Force JROTC program, visit their website at https:// bssafjrotc.wordpress.com/.
Junior Candace Jennings, pictured with her father Roger Jennings. Photo courtesy of Candace Jennings.
Read Valley News online weekly at www.grainvalleynews.com.
Business News
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Partnership Celebrates Local Businesses
Pictured left to right: Ryan Hunt, Grain Valley City Administrator; Dr. Garret Dee’’s; Dr. Catherine Dowd; Jan Reding; Guthrie, DDS; Sandy Shaddox, Sandra Dee Dr. Brad Welle, Grain Valley Schools/Bright Futures; Tasha Lindsey, Executive Director, Grain Valley Partnership. Photo credit: PC Photography
The Grain Valley Partnership held its annual banquet to honor local businesses and business leaders on Friday, April 26th at the Adams Pointe Golf Club. Jan Reding received the Mary Strack Community Advocate of the Year award. Bright Futures Grain Valley was awarded Non-Profit of the Year. Retailer of the Year award was presented to Sandy Shaddox, owner of Sandra Dee’s Gifts, and Guthrie Family Dental received Business of the Year honors. Dr. Catherine Dowd, owner of Grain Valley Chiropractic, was presented with the Business Person of the Year award. For more information on these businesses and all the member businesses of the Grain Valley Partnership, visit www.growgrainvalley.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
Teaching Our Future Community Leaders About Philanthropy by Phil Hanson, President and CEO, Truman Heartland Community Foundation
On Saturday, April 6th, students in the Youth Advisory Council (YAC) of Truman Heartland Community Foundation were once again out doing their part to feed the hungry in our community. Students from the 13 participating high schools were at four Hy-Vee locations in Eastern Jackson County from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Through their efforts and the generosity of people in our community, we estimate that our YAC students collected more than 40,000 food items and personal hygiene items for Community Services League, Lee’s Summit Social Services and Raytown Emergency Assistance Program. We are very proud of the students in our YAC program, one of the only opportunities for high school students from across the region to come together to work as a team to benefit the community. Any other time students from different high schools
come together it’s about competition, not community building. Students see the value in this program, and membership continues to grow. Starting with just 12 students in 1998 to nearly 190 participants this year. We are forever grateful to Henri Goettel, the YAC volunteer Adult Facilitator, who has led this program since its inception. Henri is a great mentor for our students, and it is clearly a labor of love. Henri is the “secret sauce” that makes this program a success. Very soon we will be celebrating with our graduating YAC students, as they prepare for high school graduation and the future. At our annual Senior Recognition Dinner, attended by our Board and the parents of YAC students, these graduating students share their experiences in YAC. It is always inspiring to hear what they have learned about philanthropy and life as a result of their participation in YAC and the impact it has made on them.
At the same time, we are welcoming new students to the YAC program. Prospective students and their parents recently attended orientation to learn more about the “school of philanthropy” at Truman Heartland. And in this school, there is no summer break. In fact, YAC students will be very busy this summer assisting our grants committee. YAC students review grant proposals from nonprofits seeking support through our competitive grants process, make on-site visits and then share their experience with our grants committee. Additionally, YAC students will award grants to youth-serving nonprofits from their self-fundraised endowment fund. We greatly value their perspective and contributions to our annual grants program. At your Community Foundation, we are grateful for the opportunity to educate and engage our students in fundraising, grantmaking and
volunteering through our YAC program, helping these future community leaders see the value of coming together for a purpose greater than themselves and helping build community.
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 $47 million and annual grants surpassing $4 million. For more information on charitable giving, visit www.thcf.org or call Truman Heartland at 816.836.8189.
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Build A Better Jar Salad by Tracey Shaffer, RD, LD
We all would like to be eating better, but how do we translate that to our brown bag lunch? Why not try a salad in a jar? Jar salads are quick and easy to make and can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator. You only need to remember a few simple steps and the rest is up to you and your imagination. When building your jar salad, start with your favorite dressing on the bottom of a jar or container. This keeps delicate greens from getting soggy. The next salad layer may include a protein, like chicken or nuts, or more hardy vegetables or fruit such as celery, apples or pears. The third layer may include cheese, dried cherries or seeds. The fourth layer could include fruit such as berries, mandarin oranges or grapes. The final layer is salad greens. Leafy greens provide vitamins A, C and K. Vitamins A and C may play a role in skin health and immune function; vitamin K may be beneficial to bone health. Leafy greens like spinach, kale and Swiss chard may contain eye-healthy antioxidants. Baby kale is tender with a pleasant taste and gives any salad a nutritious boost with extra vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. To save additional time, try using a bagged salad for your top layer. Your work week just got a little easier. No last-minute decisions about what to make for lunch, no vending machine lunch fare, and no trip to the nearest drive-through restaurant. Your jar salad is quick, easy and affordable. Share your Good News! Send your story ideas to news@grainvalleynews.com.
Southwest Chicken Taco Salad with Baby Kale Serves 4.
All you need: Southwest Chicken Taco Salad 1 (12 oz) bag salad blend with Baby Kale 2 oz baby kale Serves 4. ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese All you need: 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped 1 (12 oz) bag salad blend 2/3 cup chopped jicama 2 oz baby kale 1 (15 oz) can no-salt-added black beans, drained and ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar rinsed cheese 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken breast 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped ½ cup salsa ranch dressing 2/3 cup chopped jicama Crushed taco or tortilla chips, optional 1 (15 oz) can no-salt-added All you do: black beans, drained and Combine salad and kale, cheese, tomatoes, jicama, rinsed black beans, chicken and dressing in a large bowl. 2 cups shredded rotisserie Toss gently to combine. chicken breast Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. ½ cup salsa ranch dressing Garnish with crushed taco or tortilla chips, if deCrushed taco or tortilla chips, sired. optional Nutrient-boosting tip: Organic Baby Kale is tender with a All you do: pleasant taste and gives any salad a nutritious boost with extra vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. Nutrition Facts per serving: 380 calories, 13g fat, 4.5g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 60mg cholesterol, 530mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate, 12g fiber, 7g sugar, 31g protein. Daily values: 130% vitamin A, 50% vitamin C, 25% calcium, 20% iron.
Warm Weather Fitness
Photo credit: iStockPhoto
by Sally Whitaker
When the temperature rises and the sun shines, the outdoors become a great place for fitness. Walking, running, and biking are all popular options, but you will also see a variety of outdoor fitness offerings throughout the spring and summer months. Read on to learn more about a few popular outdoor options. Paddleboarding A paddleboard looks like a surfboard, but wider and thicker. There is typically slip-resistant treads to stand on and a
paddle with a long handle. Paddleboard fitness classes pop up as the weather turns warm. A standard class may consist of learning how to balance and paddle along with time to practice your skills on open water. Some classes will incorporate yoga, Pilates, or other body weight exercises performed on the board while floating. Goat Yoga Exactly as the name sounds, participants will practice yoga with goats. Typically held at a farm or petting zoo, goats will roam around during a yoga class, and some may even crawl under you, stand on top of you, or sit at your feet. While you probably wouldn’t want to make this your weekly workout, it will be fun and provide lots of laughs and photos. Make sure to sign up early, as these classes tend to sell out fast. Running Club While many running clubs function all year, there are many more offerings during the warmer months. Typically hosted by a gym or running shoe/ apparel store, the club will usually meet once or twice a week. This is a perfect spot for beginners or those that like to find friendship and motivation with their workouts. Participants will range from those that have never run a mile before to seasoned marathon runners. It is a great opportunity to learn about safety, pacing, breathing, and so much more. Course options will range from short distances of a mile or less to
several miles, and progress as the weeks go by. Water Aerobics Pool exercises are low-impact and provide a moderate cardiovascular workout perfect for all fitness levels. A typical class involves standing in water up to the torso, walking laps, hopping, stretching, and circling the legs. When the body is submerged chest deep, 50% of the pressure/weight of the body is reduced. When the body is submerged neck deep, 70-80% of the weight is relieved. This means that the joints take on considerably less stress when walking, jumping, or balancing in water. If you cannot walk or run due to painful joints, feet, or legs, water fitness can allow you to move more freely.
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.
Photo credit: iStockPhoto
Community Voices
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Wayne’s World
Sleep—Leaving The Land Of Nod by Wayne Geiger
“I don’t want to go to sleep,” my five-year-old grandson protested defiantly. “Why not?” my wife asked patiently. “I hate to sleep” he grumbled. For the next twenty minutes, he tried to argue and delay the inevitable. But, five minutes after his head hit the pillow-he was out. The crazy thing is, he hates to get up. It’s easier to pull wallpaper off with a plastic spoon than to get him out of bed in the morning. I enjoy sleeping. I also love my pillow. My wife is somewhat grossed out that I have had the same pillow for longer than I have been married to her (33+ years). She has washed it, re-covered it, and sewed it up on more than one occasion. Reading that sentence kind of freaks me out, but I do love my pillow. For the last couple of years, I’ve been trying to figure out how to sleep. Decades of working on a morning show have wreaked havoc on my sleeping patterns. While working in radio, I was up about 3:15 AM. I set a minimum of two alarms. One of them was across the room so that I literally had to get out of bed and walk across the room. I also made sure the coffee pot was on auto brew. Getting up was a continuous challenge. Going to bed was a challenge, too. Unfortunately, with kids and a busy life, I rarely got to bed before 10 PM which meant, I generally got about 5 ½ hours of sleep. The weekends were reserved for sleeping in. What goes up must come down. By early afternoon I’d crash. I can remember nodding off at my desk at work or crashing in the easy chair when I got home. Sometimes, the nap affected my ability to sleep that night. It was a vicious cycle. Transitioning out of morning radio was pretty easy. I figured my body might instinctively arouse from slumber at 3:15 AM. It did not. But, I did learn how to enjoy staying up a little later and
sleeping later. Several weeks later it dawned on me, “hey, I’m not falling asleep in the middle of the day!” I had been incredibly sleep-deprived. We’re all tired. I’ve even seen people fall asleep in church. These folks, like Adam’s eldest son, Cain, have “settled in the land of Nod” (Genesis 4:16). People, who perhaps stay up too late Saturday night, succumb to the rhythmic, hypnotic voice of the minister and helplessly wander off to the land of Nod. In the times of the Puritans, dealing with sleepers in church took a more radical approach. According to the New England Historical Society, sleepers in church were dealt with harshly. In 1667, one church in Boston considered building a cage to imprison and impose shame on sleepers. However, most churches employed the use of the beadles (men given the job of keeping order in the services), who carried threefoot long sticks to prod those who followed the line of Cain. Finding a sleeping rhythm for me has been difficult and, for a couple of years, I have been doing some reading on sleeping. Many people are just like me. We are sleep deprived and don’t know it. Multiple studies have shown that about half to two-thirds of all adults don’t get enough sleep. Sleep is critical to our physical, emotional, and even spiritual health and well-being. In fact, according to one study, if you’re trying to diet, but not losing weight, it may be connected to your sleep. If you’re not getting restorative sleep, 70% of the weight you will lose will come from lean muscle rather than fat. Our bodies become resistant to giving up fat when we haven’t had enough sleep. So, we can have the donut, as long as we sleep in an extra hour. Sounds good to me. The term “getting enough sleep” is a little tricky. As you probably know, there are stages of sleep. They are all
important and necessary as they contribute to our body’s circadian rhythm (natural body clock). REM, or rapid eye movement, is the deepest sleep stage. During this stage, the eyes move rapidly in all directions. Generally, it takes about 90 minutes to enter this stage. There is intense brain activity and you may experience crazy dreams. REM sleep restores the brain and helps with learning and memory. It’s like a ctrl/alt/del for the brain. Deep Sleep is different than REM and is sometimes called, NREM (non-rapid eye movement). During this phase of sleep, the body naturally heals itself replacing cells, healing wounds, and building muscle tissue. The five stages of sleep take time, and under normal circumstances, are somewhat predictable in frequency and length. The problem is, if you only sleep 5 ½ hours a night, there isn’t enough physical time for your body to naturally progress through the various stages of sleep designed to bring healing to your brain and body. Our brains and bodes may act like that little spinning wheel on our computers when they’re trying to think. Our biggest question is, “how much sleep do I need?” The answer is not the same for everyone. However, a rule of thumb is, sleep until you wake up— naturally. Like a toaster, your body should pop up when it’s done. As an experiment, shoot for 8 hours of sleep. Set an “emergency alarm” for when you absolutely need to get up, then count back 8 or 9 hours and go to bed. See what time you wake up naturally and adjust accordingly. Several sleep tips: Since our bodies circadian system is based upon daylight and dark, power down the lights and bright screens no less than an hour before bed. Benjamin Franklin said: "Early to bed and early to
rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Apparently, he knew something about circadian rhythms. Franklin was one of six, non-presidents to be featured on U.S. currency. Apparently, hitting the hay early worked out really well for him. Turn off all notifications from your phone at night. You can adjust these in your settings. My notifications go off at 10 PM and come back on at 5 AM. The nice thing is, my phone will still ring in case of emergency. However, I am not notified if someone likes my latest Facebook post. Concentrate on the look and feel of your bedroom. Is your bedroom relaxing? If you go to bed, opposite your computer desk with unfinished work laying there, there’s a good chance it will be on your mind. Also, a cooler temperature will help you sleep better. The best sleeping temperature is about 67 degrees Fahrenheit. Finally, avoid big meals and too much activity too close to bedtime. These can affect your quality of sleep. Some researchers say it’s best to avoid workouts and heavy meals 3 hours before bedtime. I never realized how sleep-deprived I was until I went from 5 ½ hours of sleep to about 8. I no longer fall asleep in the middle of the day and never head off to the land of Nod in church—which is a good thing considering that I am the pastor.
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.
Submit your community news and events to news@grainvalleynews.com.
Sports SPEEDWAY
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continued from page 1
Results from the Valley Speedway points race on April 26th: Valley Speedway 4/26/2019 Pure Stocks 1. Bobby Ohrenberg #23 2. Logan Headley #23X 3. Cody Ohrenberg #01 4. David Schirlls #10 5. Austin OBryan #25 Valley Speedway 4/26/2019 Dirt Demons 1. Richard Mccaulley #19 2. Gene McCaulley #1 3. Robert Loegering #20 4. Eric Schmidt #121 5. Will Guthrie #78 Valley Speedway 4/26/2019 E Mods 1. Trevor Hand #236 2. Kit Bailey #77 3. Shawn Burns #28 4. Jeremy Curless #33 5. Jeff Jackson #81 Valley Speedway 4/26/2019 Valley Powri Outlaw Midgets 1. Pat Schudy #7S
2. A.J. Gilbert #2 3. Brad Wyatt #41 4. Dustin Gilbert #3 5. Heath Murry #7M Valley Speedway next hosts the Powri National Midget Show featuring some of the top Midget drivers in the country on May 3rd. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.valleyspeedway.com.
Eagles Tennis Capitalizes
On Senior Night Celebration by John Unrein
Tennis rackets were raised by underclassmen creating a tunnel onto the tennis court as seniors were presented by their parents prior to the Eagles match versus Winnetonka on Monday, April 29th at Grain Valley High School. The Eagles would win 6-3 over the visiting Griffins on Senior Night. The win allowed for the team to improve to 5-8-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference. The Boys Eagles Tennis team has now compiled 4 wins in a row. “We have seniors in the top 4 singles spots and top 2 doubles teams. Their play is really solidifying our team right now,” Head Coach Randy Draper said. “We need to play really good doubles to start matches. If you win two of the three doubles matches it gives you an
advantage mind set wise. I am really happy for a couple of seniors that have worked at this and are getting rewarded. Joel Florida was our number six last year and is playing number one this year. He has improved dramatically in the past year.” Other players contributions have caught Draper’s eye as well. “Bryson Martin is playing number 4 this year. He hadn’t been on the Varsity until this year and just kept working at it and is having a lot of success.” District play start the week of May 6th. The Eagles have been seeded 3rd in the six-team district tournament. Grain Valley will host Fort Osage in the 1st Round on Monday, May 6th at 4:00 pm.
Valley Speedway is located at 348 E. Old 40 Hwy, Grain Valley. Visit www.valleyspeedway.com for racing schedule. Photo credit: Valley News staff
Senior Trenton Tarrants (pictured) and Senior Joel Florida were one of the doubles 6--3 over the teams who faced Winnetonka on Monday, April 29th. The Eagles won 6 visiting Griffins on Senior Night. Photo credit: Valley News staff
G R A I N VA L L E Y N E W S
LOCALLY FOCUSED. FAMILY OWNED. PUBLISHED WEEKLY.
Community Calendar Friday, May 3, 2019
Bingo for Books Prairie Branch Elementary PTA-sponsored family literacy night to promote childhood reading. Doors open at 6:00pm; Bingo for Books begins at 6:30pm.
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Zumba Passport Party: Passport to the Caribbean Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley branch 10:30am—11:30am Registration required: www.mymcpl.org/events
Monday, May 6, 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
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Storytime for Families Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley branch 10:00am—10:30am Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main ST 6:30pm—8:30pm
Monday, May 13, 2019
Board of Aldermen Meeting City Hall, 711 S Main 7:00pm
Saturday, May 18, 2019
City Wide Garage Sale Add your garage sale to the City-Wide Garage Sale Directory, which will be published in the May 16th print/online edition of Valley News. Listings are only $5. Reserve your ad by May 9th at www.grainvalleynews.com.
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Park Board Meeting Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 7:00pm—9:00pm
Add your community event online at www.grainvalleynews.com.
Children’s Day and Sheep Shearing at Missouri Town 1855 Jackson County Parks + Rec invites families to usher in the summer with a day of fun for the entire family during its Children’s Day and Sheep Shearing festivities on Saturday, May 4th at Missouri Town 1855. Children’s Day festivities will be held from 9:00am – 4:30pm. Admission is $7/adults, $4/children ages 5-13, $4/ seniors 62 and older. Admission is free for children under 4. Missouri Town 1855 is located at 8010 East Park Road, Lees Summit, MO 64064. Children will experience a variety of fun games and crafts including tin punch, stilts, game of graces, rope making, tug of war and more. Visitors of all ages can enjoy pie eating contests, log sawing and potted plant activities.
Additionally, Dr. Field’s “Good Medicine Show” featuring magic tricks will return this year with morning and afternoon shows. Along with the Children’s Day festivities, the resident flock of sheep will receive their spring haircuts. Attendees can watch as sheep are sheared and their wool is washed, carded, dyed, spun and woven into beautiful shawls and other crafts.
Missouri Town 1855 is an authentic, antebellum farming community owned and operated by Jackson County Parks + Rec. It is comprised of more than 25 authentically-furnished buildings dating from the 1820s to 1860s on 30 acres in Lee’s Summit, MO, on the east side of Lake Jacomo in Fleming Park.
The City Wide Garage Sale will be held Saturday, May 18th.
Reserve your ad in the directory today— today—the deadline for ads is May 9th.
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
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES The City of Grain Valley is now hiring for a Building Official, City Engineer and a Public Works Maintenance Worker. Apply online at https://www.cityofgrainvalley.org/employment/. https://www.cityofgrainvalley.org/employment/.