May 6, 2021 Vol. 4 No. 18
O n l i n e w e e k l y a t w w w. g r a i n v a l l e y n e w s . c o m
Lofts at Old Towne takes shape, first building to open in June The Lofts at Old Towne, located on Eagles Parkway near the Old Towne Marketplace is abuzz with activity as the apartment development works toward a June 2021 opening for the first of four buildings at the site.
The development includes 156 apartments over four buildings and a mixed-use indoor amenity center. The rental units will consist of one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units.
see LOFTS on page 5
FREE
“Cruise for Consciousness” car show returns August 1st The Purple Peace Foundation for Epilepsy Awareness hosts the annual “Cruise for Consciousness” car show annually to raise funds for its programs which provide resources and support for families impacted by epilepsy. The 2020 car show was canceled due to COVID-19, which makes this year’s event even more exciting for event organizer Stacey Perry. Perry has missed the car show participants, her “car show guys”, just as much as she’s missed the in-person programs hosted by the Purple Peace Foundation. The event returns on Sunday, August
1st at Armstrong Park from 11:00am— 3:00pm. While it remains to be seen how ongoing COVID-19 related restrictions will impact the event, Perry promises a good time for car show participants and the public. The first 100 vehicles to pre-register will receive a goodie bag and dash plaque. All registrants will be entered into participant-only drawings throughout the day. A popular part of the event, and a major ingredient in the success of the fundraiser, are the raffle baskets
see CRUISE on page 3
Good News: GVPD Camp Focus offers free camp opportunity this July
The Lofts at Old Towne on Eagles Parkway are taking shape, with the first building scheduled to open this summer. Photo credit: Valley News staff
Missouri Trivia by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society For centuries, people have eaten crushed and ground peanuts, but it wasn't until 1890 that peanut butter was invented by Ambrose Straub, a St. Louis doctor. Straub wanted a healthy and easy-to-digest good for his elderly patients, so he experimented and made
a spread from ground peanuts. In 1903, he patented a "mill for grinding peanuts for butter." It was introduced at the St. Louis World's Fair. The most popular sandwich spread in the United States, about half of the peanuts grown in this country are used for peanut butter.
In This Edition: Looking Back: Grain Valley Football
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Business: Protecting yourself from data scraping
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Musings from the Middle: Dream a little dream of me
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Sports: Valley Speedway results, GVHS Boys Golf Earns Conference 13 Championship Cover Photo: Grain Valley High School 1922-23 Football team. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
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First Baptist Church welcomes Wyatt at Minister of ROCK Student Ministries First Baptist Church Grain Valley welcomes Blake Wyatt as Minister of ROCK Student Ministries (6th-12th grade). Blake has served in various capacities of youth ministry for several years and is a student at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminar completing a degree in youth ministry. Kelsay, Blake's
wife, is graduating this semester with her Master of Social Work degree. Blake says, "I'm excited to be a part of what God is doing in the Grain Valley community and excited to serve students and their families at First Baptist." Blake and his wife, Kelsay, have been married for a little over a year.
Police Blotter The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of April 21-27, 2021. April 21, 2021 200 Block of Cross Creek 600 Block of NW Woodbury 100 Block of S BT RD 700 Block of Main 40 HWY & Sni A Bar 700 Block of Main 100 Block of McQuerry 900 Block of Pecan 700 Block of Main 400 Block of Rock Creek LN 700 Block of Main 500 Block of N Main ST 700 Block of NW Scenic DR 1100 Block of Buckner Tarsney 100 Block of N Lee 700 Block of Main April 22, 2021 Armstrong Park 100 Block of Eagle PKWY 400 Block of Rock Creek LN 500 Block of Eagles PKWY 1100 Block of Ephriam Eagles & Jackie 700 Block of Main
Photo courtesy First Baptist Church Grain Valley
Sustaining Members Thank you to our first sustaining members for their support of local news. Join them in supporting YOUR local news at https://www.grainvalleynews.com/store/p7/sustainingmember.html.
Cathy Allie
Marcia Napier
Rose and Steve Brashears
Mike and Tosha Todd
Dennis and Deborah Ellsworth
Sarah and Jerry Vaughan
Shannon Grubb
Courtney and Jeff Williams
Phillip Hanson
Wesley Wolski
Chuck Johnston
Jeff Wolff
Leon Maberry
John and Cory Unrein
Katherine McCarthy
Les Unrein
1300 Block of RD Mize 1000 Block of Willow 700 Block of Main 700 Block of Main April 23, 2021 200 Block of Lindsey LN 500 Block of S Hudson 900 Block of NE Deer Creek Sni A Bar & Hamilton 600 Block of Yennie 200 Block of Lindsey 400 Block of Elizabeth 900 Block of NW Sycamore 700 Block of Main 40 & Sni A Bar 1200 Block of NW Willow DR 7600 Block of Prospect Ave
Disturbance Noise Complaint VIN Verification Motor Vehicle Accident Motor Vehicle Accident Traffic Complaint Business Verification Abandon Auto Stealing Animal at Large Citizen Contact Suspicious Activity Agency Assist-BSPD Suspicious Vehicle Agency AssistBuckner PD Agency Contact-JCSD
Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Animal Complaint Parking Complaint Welfare Check Parking Complaint Agency ContactCass County Welfare Check Parking Complaint Prisoner Transport Area Check
Citizen Contact Agency AssistBuckner PD Agency AssistBuckner PD Motor Vehicle Accident Harassment Citizen Contact Suspicious Vehicle Welfare Check Stealing Motor Vehicle Accident Citizen Contact Warrant Pick Up
April 24, 2021 1400 Block of Valley Woods CT 900 Block of NW Maplewood CT 100 Block of SW Michael 200 Block of NW Willow CT 400 Block of S Outer RD 700 Block of Main 900 Block of Ryan RD 100 Block of S Main ST 1400 Block of High View DR
Area Check Welfare Check Assault Area Check Motor Vehicle Accident Agency Assist-MSHP Alarm Welfare Check Area Check
April 25, 2021 400 Block of Woodbury 400 Block of S Outer RD 400 Block of Eagles PKWY 600 Block of SE Tisha LN 100 Block of Cross Creek DR 700 Block of Main 1300 Block of NW Sycamore 700 Block of Main 700 Block of Main
Welfare Check Agency Assist-CJC Suspicious Vehicle Suspicious Vehicle 911 Hang up Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Found Property
April 26, 2021 BB & N C&I Driving 700 Block of Montana Ridge Armed Disturbance 700 Block of Main Transport 1300 Block of NW Valley Woods Ct Disturbance 1200 Block of Pamela Blvd Stealing Eagles & EE Kirby Animal Control 500 Block of Front ST Citizen Contact Greystone & Sni A Bar Area Check 1200 Block of SW Eagles Motor Vehicle Accident 700 Block of Main Stolen Property 1400 Block of Willow Parking Complaint 1100 Block of McQuerry Stealing April 27, 2021 1200 Block of Eagles 1200 Block of NW Phelps DR 1100 Block of SW Scenic DR 100 Block of Jackie 700 Block of Main Persimmon CT 1000 Block of Primrose CT 700 Block of Main Kirby & RR Tracks
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Looking Back
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Looking Back: Grain Valley Football by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society According to the early history of Grain Valley High School, athletics were introduced in 1914 with the first men’s basketball team. However, football was not introduced until 1923. This week’s photograph is of the 1923-24 football team, presumably the first. The photograph was found in a scrapbook kept by Goldie (Russell) Montgomery. Goldie was the only child of Andrew and Ida (Shippy) Russell. Her father died in 1906 when Goldie was only 4 years old. She and her mother left the farm and moved to a house on Walnut Street. Goldie graduated from Grain Valley High School in 1919. Over the next few years she both taught and attended classes at Central Missouri Normal School (UCM.) Her teaching assignments included Round Prairie and Oak Hill rural schools. By 1923 she was teaching at the Grain Valley School and she would eventually complete three years of college. She married Dow J. Montgomery, also a graduate of GVHS and he farmed south of town with his father Roy. In the late 1940s Goldie and Dow bought land on Missouri 7 Highway, about 3 miles south of Blue Springs. There they
established Montgomery’s Orchard which they ran for more than 30 years. Mrs. Montgomery was a beloved teacher. I remember my mother and my aunts would tell stories about the opportunities she gave her students. In addition to being a good teacher, she also encouraged book clubs and social gathering like teas and dinner parties. They remembered the great fun they all had! But, back to the photograph… During the years 1924 through 1927 there were only 22 boys that graduated from the high school; three seniors, five juniors, eight sophomores, and six freshmen. Not all of the football players in the photo were ever recorded to have completed high school. Back Row: Ernest Dobson, junior ; Tom Heidelberger; Spurgeon Duncan; Lawrence Cannon, senior; (unknown first name) Medcalf, and (unknown). Front Row: H. O. Tate, sophomore; Theodore Holman; Herman Stokes, senior; Harry Herrington; Byrl Ellis and Lawrence Williamson, junior . The coach was Mr. Holman, also the history teacher and the superintendent. He left Grain Valley that spring and is
1923-24 Grain Valley High School football team. Photo courtesy Grain Valley Historical Society. presumable that is why Theodore Holman is not listed among the graduates. Because a yearbook was not printed at Grain Valley High School until 1936, I can find no further information about this team. I do not know what other school they might have played and I
don’t have any knowledge of their winloss record. I really wish I knew “the rest of the story!” Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society at 506 S. Main on Wednesdays from 10am—3pm and Saturdays from 11am—3pm, or online at www.grainvalleyhistory.com.
CRUISE continued from page 1 featuring items from local businesses. Perry is mindful of the toll COVID-19 has had on small businesses, and has a suggestion for those who would like to support the cause and do some good for local businesses. Gift cards and products are needed for raffle baskets, and Perry suggests donors support local businesses while supporting Purple Peace Foundation by picking up a gift card or item for the
raffle from a local business. “The businesses benefit immediately from the purchase, and we’ll raise money at the event from people buying raffle tickets to win these great items,” Perry said. Volunteers are also needed to help spread the word to local car enthusiasts at area car shows, and Perry will equip volunteers with all the materials and directions to help market the event.
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For more information on the “Cruise for Consciousness” car show as well as the programs and services the Purple Peace Foundation provides for families impacted by epilepsy, visit www.purplepeacefoundation.org. To volunteer or for information on registering to participate in the car show, call Stacey Perry at 816-847-6856 or email Stacey@purplepeacefoundation.org.
The Cruise for Consciousness car show returns August 1st at Armstrong Park. Visit www.purplepeacefoundation.org for more information.
Business
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Protecting yourself from data scraping by Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert Are you one of the millions of people who are worried about the data breaches that have occurred with Facebook, Linkedin, Clubhouse, and Qlink Wireless? Well, the good news is none of these companies has recently been breached, so your user name and password information is safe. The bad news is cybercriminals have resorted to a 'data scraping' to obtain your personal information off social media to either sell the highest bidder or to use it to target you with personal cyber-attacks to get your money. How can you protect yourself from this emerging new threat? Here are 5 tips you can use to keep your data safe. What is data scraping? The term data scraping refers to a bot or a computer program that extracts data from websites or other platforms. Data scraping, also known as harvesting has been around since the beginning of the World Wide Web. The information normally collected includes data, such as names, email addresses, phone numbers, and more. This technology is normally used by marketing companies that want to conduct advertising research or to find sales leads, but like many technology tools, programs that were created to benefit people can also be used to take advantage of them as we've seen with several social media websites suffering a data breach due to data scraping. Why is data scraping a problem? Just like a data breach in which a hacker breaks into secure computer systems, data scaping can expose your important
data which leaves you open to the following attacks: Protect your data from data scraping. Ultimately it's up to big data companies to enable practices to keep your information from falling into the hands of criminals, but in the meantime, there are some things you can do to protect yourself: 1. It's time to become a Cyber Liar. Yes, you want people to know who you are, but you need to your information safe. Don't be so forthcoming about what you share online. If you can, change your social media profile names and create an online alias to keep your personal information off websites. This also includes using a fake address, fake phone number and being dishonest about those security questions you fill out. 2. Time to change those passwords and start using passphrases. Again, it's rare that a password would be leaked with data scraping, but if you're like most people, you're still using passwords. Make the switch to Passphrases is a sentence-like string of words used for logins that is longer than a standard password. They are easy for you to remember and difficult to crack. An example of a passphrase would be 'yellowmicrophonestand!' or stinkyvioletchicken45? 3. Setup two-factor authentication on all online accounts. There's always a good chance a criminal can get access to your online accounts which is why you need to enable 2-factor authentication can keep your accounts secure. When it's enabled, you get an email or text alert that someone is trying to get access to
your accounts. If it's you or someone you trust, you can allow access. If it's a crook, you can deny them access. 4. Use a password manager to manage your account passwords. If you're like most users, you have a ton of online accounts, and keeping on top of all of those passwords is a challenge. Stop the struggle and utilize a password manager such as Lastpass, Dashlane, and your own browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge to keep track of all of those account passwords. A bonus which password managers are they are always scanning the web to see if any of your passwords have leaked on the dark web. 5. Keep ahead of data breaches by making sure you’re haven’t been pwned. Many of the companies you deal with aren't forthcoming if they experience a data leak. Websites like
Haveibeenpwned www.haveibeenpwned.com allow you to stay ahead of the game and track breaches that involve your information. Data breaches can change the course of your life. Businesses and individuals alike can experience huge complications from having sensitive information exposed and gathered by criminals. In this digital age we live in, make sure you're taking steps to stay safe and keeping up to date with how to protect yourself from data breaches. Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. Reach out to us at www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.
Business Office of Workforce Development awards grants to pre-apprenticeship programs throughout Missouri The Missouri Office of Workforce Development (OWD) recently released a list of pre-apprenticeship programs that will be receiving grants of up to $50,000 as part of the Missouri Apprentice Ready initiative. Pre-apprenticeship is a program or set of services designed to prepare individuals to enter and succeed in a Registered Apprenticeship program. Missouri Apprentice Ready, which launched in February 2021, is an initiative that invests U.S. Department of Labor funds toward the development of preapprenticeship opportunities, supporting pathways to Registered Apprenticeships. Community colleges, local workforce development boards, and career and technical education programs submitted proposals to apply for the grant funding. Approximately $1 million in federal funds will be disbursed among these programs, serving roughly 350 potential pre-apprentices across 40 different occupations. The following applicants have been awarded grants: AFLCIO Missouri Works Initiative East Central College
SLATE Full Employment Council Jefferson College Northeast Missouri Workforce Development Board Metropolitan Community College Special School District of St. Louis County – Adult Technical Education Department – STL Training St Louis Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Program Workforce Development Board of Southeast Missouri The goal of Missouri Apprentice Ready is to create new preapprenticeship programs, increase the diversity of Registered Apprenticeships, and increase active apprentices in existing programs through preapprenticeship. Missouri saw 3,388 Registered Apprenticeships completed in FY 2020, more than any other state except California. Missouri has more than 13,000 active apprentices participating in more than 400 programs. Learn more about Apprenticeship Missouri at https://dhewd.mo.gov/ apprenticeship_missouri.php.
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LOFTS continued from page 1 Wheelchair accessible units are available on the first floor. Each unit includes a patio, washer/ dryer, and refrigerators with ice makers. Attention to the “little things that matter” are what make the units stand out, according to Property Manager Megan Osborn. Granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, ceiling fans, generous walk-in closets, and other high-end finishes give each unit a modern appeal. The mixed-use amenity center is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year and will include an indoor pool, pickle ball courts, exercise room, media/ theatre room, tenant co-op workspace and Wi-Fi café, leasing office and tenant storage units. For more information on the development and leasing opportunities, visit https://www.loftsatoldtowne.com/.
Kitchens include granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Image credit: Valley News staff
Above: The one-bedroom “Snowmass” layout. Base rent for a first floor unit is $1000/month; $950 base rent for a second floor unit, and $900 for a 3rd floor unit. Image credit: Lofts at Old Towne. Applications are now being accepted and limited tours are available for prospective tenants. Visit www.loftsatoldtowne.com for more information.
Community Voices
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Musings from the Middle: Dream a little dream of me by Cathy Allie The dream sequence in every movie either ends with something so sickly sweet it gives us a cavity when we watch it or so terrifying it causes nightmares. The sleeping character awakes either with a dreamy smile or having sweated through the sheets in sheer terror. I am a dreamer. Not the pleasant kind, like a daydreamer, or one who dreams of a perfect future. But I dream all the time. I know this because my husband tells me the conversations I am having with someone when I talk out in the night, and also because sometimes when I wake up, I can remember what I dreamed. Some days I wake with just the vague idea that I was in the middle of a big adventure, and even if I fall back asleep, I can rarely get back into my dream. Other days I can remember the whole thing, and I am primed for a re-telling. “You won’t believe what I dreamed,” I say to my husband. That’s his cue to immediately stop whatever he is doing and listen intently to whatever longwinded thing I have to tell. And generally he is rewarded with something pretty good. My dreams have included things like the time I was leading a hiking expedition up to a very snowy mountain top. My group of about 20 had very expensive backpacks, healthy pink cheeks, and can-do attitudes. Here’s the thing. I don’t like to hike. At all. I don’t even really like to walk and have to carry anything. There is no way I am hiking to a mountain top, and surely no way anyone is following me there. When I told my husband that dream, he said it probably meant I was looking for something to lead or maybe already getting ready to take on a leadership role. His practicality in interpreting my dream left me wanting more. Who were all the people? Where was that mountain? How much did the gear weigh and how did I know what to pack? Why were we dressed in shorts when we were hiking to the top of a snowy mountain? I spent about two cups of coffee drinking time ruminating about it and decided he was probably right. I mentioned it at work that day, and a co-worker said, “Did you eat popcorn last night?” Turns out some foods make us dream a little more than others. She shared that popcorn, cheese, smoked meat, pizza, spicy foods, candy and sweets, milk, and pickles also create more intense dreams. “I don’t think you have to eat them all at once,” she said. Thank goodness. But could my pickle and candy milkshake could have been the culprit? I have a friend who has put a lot more time and effort into collecting and interpreting her dreams than I have. She placed a tape recorder by her bed in case she woke up and wanted to record a dream she had. She bought pretty notebooks to chronicle her dreams. She gave great thought to where she was sleeping
when she had her best and worst dreams and what kind of pillow she had used. She bought books, attended a kind of shady seminar held in a hotel ballroom, where she was the only one not wearing a turban or weird hat of some kind on her head, and she even did a little online research to formulate her own dream database. She came up with some pretty good stuff. When she dreamed she was falling off a cliff, the shady seminar lady told her it meant she was afraid of failure and that the average person has at least five falling dreams in his or her lifetime. As is per usual, I am below average, as I cannot remember one falling dream. When my friend dreamed she was pregnant, although far past childbirthing years and with no one around with whom to conceive a baby, one of her books told her that meant she was just searching for what kind of legacy she could leave. When she dreamed about driving really fast and recklessly in her car, she saw online that it meant she was headed off track in her life and needed to slow down. I shared my mountain climbing expedition dream with her ,and she became very animated. “That’s on the list of top 100 dreams,” she said. “It’s number 64!” Sure enough, other people were dreaming about mountain climbing as well. “It means that you have an obstacle in front of you. If you are leading the climb, it says you are feeling confident you will overcome the obstacle,” she said. I tried to tell her I don’t know anything about climbing. “Oh, it doesn’t matter,” she said. “The mountain is just a symbol.” She spent about ten minutes telling me the symbolic meaning of everything from elephants to grapes in dreams. She urged me to tell her more of my dreams. I shared with her another dream about being in Europe with my whole extended family and losing our passports. Fear of closed doors and missed opportunities in your life, she replied. What about a cake falling apart? She thumbed through her resources. “Was the icing slipping off or did the cake just crumble?” she asked. “It just crumbled,” I said, frantically trying to remember the status of the icing. “Oh, bummer” she said. “If it was just the icing, it means you can repair or smooth out the problem, but crumbling means you are struggling trying to pick up a bunch of pieces and can’t get ahold of them all.” She sighed heavily, either for effect or with genuine dismay at my crumbling life. Three of four more dream scenarios, and three or more pat answers. I was beginning to think I was a very pedestrian dreamer. Was everybody dreaming the same things as me? There were already books and lists about my boring dreams?
My friend said hearing about my dreams just made her think I was a normal person, with normal thoughts that translated into normal nighttime visions. Those of you who are regular readers know by now that I have been called a lot of things, and normal is not one of them. And maybe in that moment I didn’t want to be so normal. I opened up and spilled out something that might change her mind. She wants a dream to interpret? How about this one? I detailed for her the dream about the day when my former administrative assistant, then in her late 50’s, asked for time off to be in a beauty pageant, during what was an incredibly busy time in our five person office. Carmen was a great assistant. She was creative, good with the public, good with budgets, not at all scared of technology. Basically the yin to my yang. I had given her great job reviews complimenting her on her skill sets. Efficient. Fast worker. Paid attention to detail. Good project manager. But never once had I commented on the fact that she would do well in a pageant. In the dream, she asked to see me in my office, and reserved about a half hour to do so. In the dream I was scared to death she was going to quit. FYI: I would also have been scared in real life. After what seemed like an eternity, with her first telling me about a cute thing her granddaughter had done, sharing a recipe for sweet potatoes cooked in olive oil she had found, she got around to the point. She needed some time off, she said, to pursue something that had been a lifetime goal of hers. She knew the time to get this done was running short, and she had found a small window of opportunity. She wanted to enter a local beauty pageant, and she needed time to train and practice. I need to supplement the narrative at this time by saying that Carmen might have done pretty well in a pageant. She was a good conversationalist, so the interview question was a cinch. She was in shape, so the bathing suit competition wouldn’t scare her off. Friendly as all get out, just hand her Miss Congeniality. And Carmen was pretty. Very pretty. But what happened next in my dream is the most bizarre part. Instead of saying, “Well, let’s see if your leave request fits within our policies and start from there,” like a smart boss would have, I said, ”Yes! Of course! But what will you do for your talent?” Within minutes in my dream, our whole office was buzzing around Carmen like something between a cross from Cinderella and the beauty shop scene from Grease. People were pulling dresses and wraps out of desk drawers for her to try on. Someone had created a fundraising flier for her that would guarantee her travel funds if she won and needed to go to the next level. The phones were blowing up with congratulations. John was snapping black and white head shots, with Danielle
and Phyllis holding fans to blow Carmen’s hair back for a sexy, tousled effect. I determined the best talent would be for her recite a poem from memory, accompanied by interpretive dance moves, and she agreed. We began vocal lessons in earnest, and she used silky lilac -colored scarves to emote. Her arms waved furiously, and I corrected her and demonstrated what the move should actually look like. She was a natural. The day of the pageant came, and I had rented a charter bus to take us to the auditorium, where we all snuck back stage and delivered flowers to her. Her husband had saved a block of seats for us. Her sister had come from California, but was leaving on her oversized sunglasses and a scarf for fear of being recognized. How did I not know Carmen had a famous sister? Her granddaughters were dressed alike, beaming at their competitive grandma killing it on stage. In fact, we all cheered each of her appearances on stage, the loudest contingent present. When the emcee asked her, “What would be even better than world peace?”, we applauded her cleverness when she said, “Flavored coffee creamers at every work place.” Genius. My dream goes right up to the point where they announce the winner. Carmen is a finalist, one of five. I am already planning the purchase of a file cabinet where she can lock her tiara during the day. And then… the dream stops. In all the technicolor detail I could remember, nearly crying when I reached the part where there is no resolution, I finished my tale. Had Carmen won? I would never know, despite repeated attempts to reconstruct the dream for the finish. “What do you think it all means? Isn’t it crazy? ” I said breathlessly. My friend didn’t frantically type into her dream database. She didn’t immediately go to a special chapter in one of her dream books. She didn’t phone-a-friend her shady dream seminar lady with whom she had become quite close. “Aren’t you going to look it up?” I practically screamed. Had I gone too far, and my friend thought I was a nut? “I don’t have to look it up. I myself have had this dream. Lots of women have had this dream. It could mean you are questioning your own self-esteem if you were the contestant, or you would rather see someone elevated above you if you dream it about a friend,” she said. Relieved to be a humanitarian, placing others above me, I decided to save my dream about waking up being able to speak fluent Chinese and Russian interchangeably for another day. It’s probably normal. Probably.
Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer.
Page 7 Barnes researches opioid reversal agents for bio-med capstone project Grain Valley High School senior Carter Barnes has been researching opioid reversal agents as a part of his biomedical sciences capstone project. Students in the program are tasked with looking at ways to address health related problems in the community. After working at a pharmacy, Barnes became aware of the prevalence of opioid overdose and the medications available to help reverse overdoses. “There are thousands of deaths each year from opioid overdose, and there are drugs available to help reverse opioid overdoses,” Barnes said. “When I worked at the pharmacy, we would suggest drugs such as naloxone (brand name Narcan) to people who take opioid medication, and many people were not aware of the drug or its purpose.” “It’s a really good idea for people to know these reversal agents are available to them. Not just for themselves, but for dogs or other people in their homes who may accidentally take a medication.” Barnes said that physicians often prescribe reversal agents such as
naloxone when prescribing an opioid medication, and pharmacists will also consult with patients regarding the medication. Barnes has planned a marketing campaign to spread awareness of opioid reversal agents, including reaching out to local media and distributing informational flyers to post around the community. Barnes plans to study biology at UMKC, and is interested in the research side of the profession. Barnes credits the biomedical science program at GVHS as a major influence in his college plans. “Throughout the classes, you’re able to explore different careers in the biomedical field. It definitely helped increase my interest in studying biology in college.” Barnes has been active in the GVHS Scholar Bowl and is a member of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America).
Image at right: GVHS Senior Carter Barnes researched opioid reversal agents as a part of his biomed capstone project, and is distributing
Your Health
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Pre-diabetes: what is it and what can be done by Sean M. Crosetti, MBA, PharmD, Crosetti Health & Wellness Pre-diabetes is the bodies inability to either produce sufficient amounts of insulin or the body becomes resistant over time to the insulin it does produce. As of the latest report from 2018, 88 million (1 in 3) people have pre-diabetes. “Wow that is quite a few people, but I thought you were either diabetic or you were not.” I have heard that several times over the past few months. The thing is, just like many other diseases (high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, arthritis, glaucoma, obesity, etc.) this is a gradual migration that, if identified and corrected early, it will not only be easier to treat, but the detrimental side effects of pre-diabetes can also be stopped or even possibly reversed. If pre-diabetes is not corrected it can lead to kidney damage, unrecognized heart attacks, and of course full-blown diabetes. So how do you know if you have prediabetes? There is only one potential symptom of pre-diabetes, darkening of the skin on
certain parts of the body: Neck Armpits Elbows Knees Knuckles The best way to decide when you should talk to your health care provider is to count the number of risk factors you have (more than 2 then schedule a visit for an A1c test): Weight. Being overweight is a primary risk factor for pre-diabetes. Waist size. The risk diabetes goes up for men with waists larger than 40 inches and for women with waists larger than 35 inches. Diet. A diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains and olive oil is associated with a lower risk of prediabetes. Inactivity. The less active you are, the greater your risk of pre-diabetes. Age. Although diabetes can develop at any age, the risk of pre-diabetes increases after age 45. Family history. Your risk of prediabetes increases if you have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes.
Race or ethnicity. Although it is unclear why, people of Black, Hispanic, American Indian or Asian American decent are more likely to develop prediabetes. Gestational diabetes. If you had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes), you and your child are at higher risk of developing pre-diabetes. Polycystic ovary syndrome. Women with this common condition have a higher risk of pre-diabetes. Sleep. People with obstructive sleep have an increased risk of insulin resistance. Tobacco smoke. Smoking may increase insulin resistance. When you do get an A1c test (per your request or normal screening) please look at the chart below to see where your results pertaining to diabetes with your A1c score fit: Below 5.7 Normal Between 5.7 and 6.4 Pre-Diabetes 6.5 or above Diabetes Now that you know you have prediabetes (or diabetes), what can be done with it? Have a discussion with your care provider to see his/her viable options.
Jackson County amends health order Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. – in consultation with Jackson County Health Department Director Bridgette Shaffer, MPH and Emergency Management Coordinator Troy Schulte – amended the health order effective April 30th to reflect recent guidance from the CDC. The revised protocols include: Masking and social distancing are no longer required outdoors, although masking is recommended with medium to large gatherings. Small gatherings, indoor and outdoor, of fully vaccinated individuals are permitted without restriction. Large gatherings are still discouraged at this time. All persons, including those who are vaccinated, must still wear masks in
public indoor settings. Social distancing is no longer required indoors, although distancing is still recommended wherever possible. “We are slowly restoring some normalcy in our daily lives by doing activities we love and enjoy without restrictions,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. said. “With the science-based guidance of our health department, I am proud of the progress we have made together, as a community, to reach this point. Moving forward, we must remain vigilant in protecting one another from the virus, and we know the most effective way to do that is by getting vaccinated.” “We thank the community for the sacrifices they’ve made over this past year to help control the spread of COVID -19 and keep each other safe,” Jackson
County Health Department Director Bridgette Shaffer, MPH, said. “The COVID-19 vaccines offer hope, but we are not out of the pandemic yet. We must continue to wear masks, avoid crowds, get tested when sick, and get vaccinated." To sign up to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, visit the Jackson County Health Department website at https:// jacohd.org/covid-vaccines. Jackson County residents and businesses can find additional resources and information online at www.jacohd.org/coronavirus, by phone at (816) 404-6415, or via email at COVID19@tmcmed.org.
Healthy lifestyle choices can provide non-medication based correction of your blood sugar levels to return them to the normal levels. Try to: Eat healthy foods (reduce processed foods, simple sugars, increase vegetables and fruits, etc.) Get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity a week, or about 30 minutes on most days of the week Lose excess weight Control your blood pressure and cholesterol Don't smoke The main idea behind this is the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” whereby, identifying this issue early and making some simple, yet life challenging, choices, you will not have to deal with all the complications and hardships facing the person with full-blown diabetes for the rest of your life. Please feel free to reach out to us at Info@Crosettis.com with any questions about this article or if you would like me to write about a topic of your interest.
KC hits 500,000 vaccination milestone The Kansas City region hit a major milestone May 4th with 500,000 vaccinations completed, just four weeks after Comeback KC launched the metrowide Two Million Arms KC campaign. “We are in a race to get area adults vaccinated before another COVID-19 surge arrives, fueled by new virus variants and a loosening of public health restrictions,” according to Mark Logan, Communications Director for Comeback KC, which launched the regional education and communications campaign to help with that life-saving effort. The Two Million Arms KC campaign is designed to help the Kansas City region recover from COVID-19 by providing vaccine information and encouragement to help residents protect themselves, their families, and their communities. “If we’re going to beat COVID-19, it will take all of us. Getting the vaccine not only protects you, it protects your family, your neighbors, and your community,” Qiana Thomason, President/CEO, Health Forward Foundation said.
Your Health
Page 9
Celebrate Mom!
Parmesan Spring Chicken
by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD Mother’s Day is Sunday, and what better way
toast and some sliced strawberries and you have a complete meal. Don’t forget the coffee! Adorn her
Dine in for dinner. If dining out isn’t
Prep time: 10 min Serves 4
her style, bring the restaurant to her with some candlelight, a beautifully set
1 egg white
to celebrate Mom
tray with some fresh flowers and a
table and a glass of wine. Try the recipe
than with a
homemade card letting her know how
below for a delicious and easy Mother’s
healthy and
much she means to you and you are
Day entrée. Add a piece of angel food
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
bound to put a smile on her face.
cake with some sliced strawberries and
1 ½ cups cubed new potatoes
delicious meal. Ideas for Mother’s Day fit for a queen: Breakfast in bed. Pamper Mom by letting her sleep in and enjoy a fresh cooked breakfast in bed. Whip up a
Let young kids get involved in the kitchen with supervision. They can stir the eggs, set up the tray and toast the bread. Make it brunch. If Mom isn’t much
nutritious breakfast with all the food
for an early breakfast, serve her up a
groups. A good source of protein is an
yummy brunch. Some quick and easy
omelet with Mom’s favorites.
choices are whole grain banana
Some good choices are asparagus
pancakes, a breakfast casserole
and salmon, ham and bell peppers or a
assembled the night before and some
vegetarian omelet with mushrooms,
smoked salmon and avocado toast.
spinach, and some sliced grape
Serve a mimosa on the side to make it
tomatoes. Add a piece of whole grain
special.
5 tbsp finely grated parmesan
a dollop of fresh whipped cream for a light and satisfying dessert. Whatever you choose to do for Mom, the effort and thoughtfulness won’t go unnoticed and it lets her know you care.
Tracey Shaffer is a registered dietitian and certified health coach and owner of KC Nutrition Coach in Eastern Jackson County. She can be reached at tracey@kcnutritioncoach.com. You can visit her website at kcnutritioncoach.com.
½ cup frozen peas 1 cup baby spinach leaves 1 tbsp white wine vinegar 2 tsp olive oil Instructions: Heat grill to medium and line the grill pan with foil. Beat the egg white on a plate with a little salt and pepper. Put the parmesan onto another plate. Dip the chicken first in egg white, then in the cheese. Grill the coated chicken for 10-12 min, turning once until browned and crisp. Meanwhile, boil the potatoes for 10 minutes, adding the peas for the final 3 minutes, then drain. Toss the vegetables with the spinach leaves, vinegar, oil and seasoning to to taste. Divide between four warm plates and serve. Source: bbcgoodfood.com
State News
Page 10
Opponents scuttle effort to add benefit limits to Missouri unemployment debt bill by Rudi Keller, Missouri Independent A bill to forgive mistakenly paid unemployment benefit from 2020 will include a waiver for debts to the state but won’t include provisions limiting the duration of benefits, the sponsor, Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, said Tuesday. Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, triggered a Democratic rebellion Monday over the bill that previously had bipartisan support when he tried to add language to a House-passed bill on unemployment debt that would limit how long people can receive benefits based on how many people are jobless in Missouri. “It is going to cause a lot of heartburn and contention on the underlying bill, which is a very good bill,” Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, DIndependence, told Bernskoetter on the floor. The change would have reduced the current benefit standard of 20 weeks of payments to as few as 12 weeks. After more than two hours of debate, Bernskoetter set the bill aside. On Tuesday, he said it is being rewritten. “I am sure we will get it back on the floor,” Bernskoetter said. “The plan right now is to separate the two issues.” Since late last year, thousands of Missourians have received messages from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations demanding repayment of unemployment benefits paid by mistake. Estimates vary, but the total could be as much as $110 million from federal pandemic unemployment payments and an additional $50 million in state unemployment benefits. Missouri paid out more than $5 billion in combined state and federal benefits during 2020 as unemployment soared. The House passed a bill to forgive the federal portion of the debts by a 157-3 margin. There was little Senate opposition to also allowing the department to waive debts to the state fund and the Senate version of the budget includes $48 million to cover the anticipated cost. Many Republicans were reluctant to address state unemployment debt without assurances that the loss to the state unemployment fund would be offset to prevent a tax increase on employers. The Senate tapped unspent federal COVID-19 relief funds to cover the debt, the same fund Gov. Mike
Parson used to add $300 million to the state fund’s reserves. The error rate on unemployment claims in 2020 was lower than past years but the total amount is far greater because of the large numbers of claims, department officials have told lawmakers. Missouri has processed almost 1.2 million new unemployment claims since mid-March 2020. More than half those claims, 639,000 were filed between March 7 and May 6, 2020, as businesses shed workers because of the COVID-19 economic slowdown and state and local stay-athome orders were in effect. In addition to regular state benefits, which pay a maximum of $320 per week, the federal CARES Act created new programs that expanded who was eligible and provided supplements to regular payments. The CARES Act gave a $600 per week supplement to people who qualified for regular state unemployment benefits. Programs for workers who did not qualify for regular unemployment gave the $600 supplement plus an amount equal to what the worker would have received if their job had been covered by regular unemployment. There were other supplemental payments when the CARES Act supplement expired at the end of July and currently, people receiving unemployment receive a $300 federal supplement. The federal government anticipated that some people would receive payments they did not qualify to receive. A week after the CARES Act was passed, the U.S. Department of Labor issued guidance to states that overpayments could be forgiven “if the payment was without fault on the part of the individual and such repayment would be contrary to equity and good conscience.” Despite the outcry from lawmakers and constituents over the collection letters, Parson has refused to act on his own, prompting the legislative effort. Reducing the duration of state unemployment benefits when joblessness is low has been a goal of Republicans since 2015. Then-Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed the bill and lawmakers
Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City (Photo by Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications). voted to override the veto but the Missouri Supreme Court decided the override violated procedural rules in the Missouri Constitution. The language Bernskoetter tried to include in the debt relief bill is from a bill he has sponsored to set the duration of unemployment benefits between 12 and 20 weeks. When unemployment in a base period is below 5 percent, anyone making a claim would get a maximum of 12 weeks. When unemployment in the base period is greater than 9 percent, the maximum would be 20 weeks. Democrats denounced the proposal as cruel. “It is just another hateful act,” Sen. Brian Williams, D-St. Louis, said. “We are just trying to make it harder for working Missourians to survive.” If Bernskoetter’s language had been in effect in 2020, the limit on benefits would have been 12 weeks for the entire year. During the recession caused by the 2008 financial crisis, the limit on benefits would have been 20 weeks starting Jan. 1, 2010, and continued at that level to the end of 2011. Only four states – Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and Kansas – provide less than 20 weeks of unemployment payments. Most states allow up to 26 weeks of benefits. Many Republicans liked the change proposed by Bernskoetter. “I also want to say that separate from what my colleagues have already said on the floor, that putting in a modest
reduction in unemployment benefits when times are good has made a good bill a great bill,” Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, said.
Rudi Keller covers the state budget, energy and the legislature. He’s spent 22 of his 30 years in journalism covering Missouri government and politics, most recently as the news editor of the Columbia Daily Tribune. Keller has won awards for spot news and investigative reporting. www.missouriindependent.com
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Outdoors & Recreation
Page 11
Sorry allergy sufferers: Research shows KC’s pollen season is longer by Anna Funk, The Beacon Now that spring has sprung in Kansas City, plants across the landscape are ready to reproduce. That means they’re sending their pollen into the air, and allergy sufferers are starting to feel the effects. But with the pandemic still raging, snifflers may be wondering: Are my symptoms from allergies or COVID-19? Luckily, many of the symptoms of allergies and COVID-19 don’t overlap, so which ones you’re experiencing should be an easy tip-off for whether you need to hit the drugstore or a COVID testing site. Unfortunately, as climate change warms temperatures and lengthens the pollen season, allergy symptoms may last longer or be more intense. Recent allergy research shows the Kansas City region has recorded some of the most dramatic increases in length of the pollen season. Fever, coughing, fatigue: How to tell if it’s allergies or COVID-19 If you’re experiencing fever and chills, that’s a sure sign of a viral or bacterial infection, not allergies, said Dr. Angela Myers, division director of infectious diseases at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Allergies don’t typically cause muscle or body aches. Those are signs that your body is mounting an inflammatory response against an invader. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea also aren’t associated with allergies. And one of the biggest indicators of an infection, especially of SARS-CoV-2, is loss of taste or smell. “Part of the reason I believe that people love chicken soup so much when they’re sick is because it’s salty and you can taste it,” Myers said. “But with this virus, (loss of taste and smell) is even more apparent than it has been with other respiratory viruses. And so that’s a feature of COVID-19 that isn’t really apparent with allergies.” As for allergies, symptoms like itchy eyes or repetitive sneezing are common. Some people may get what are called “allergic shiners,” or dark circles under their eyes. Others may itch their nose by doing the “allergic salute” — an upward motion of an open palm on the tip of the nose. “People will have a crease across the top of their nose where they have been doing that,” Myers said. There are some symptoms that are shared between allergies and COVID-19, though. Both can lead to a cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or fatigue. “It makes you tired when you can’t breathe very well, or have a cough and you’re not sleeping very well,” Myers said. She added that if you’re only experiencing symptoms that occur in both COVID-19 and allergies, like cough and shortness of breath, it’s best to get checked out. “Even if you’ve had COVID in the past, or even if you’re vaccinated,” she said. “We know reinfection isn’t super common, but we know it happens, and
we know there are variants in our country that are continuing to rise. … It’s better to just go get tested and know for sure.” Why do my allergies feel worse? For allergy sufferers, Kansas City, Missouri, is a relatively good place to live. It ranks 71st out of 100 cities on the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America’s 2021 list of U.S. allergy capitals. The rankings are based on pollen occurrence, over-the-counter medicine use and the availability of allergists. (By comparison, Wichita, Kansas, just a few hours to the southwest fared much worse, earning the No. 3 slot in 2021.) Pollen concentrations are higher on sunny days with mild conditions. A light breeze can increase the pollen blowing off plants and into your nose, while rainfall can temporarily clear the air. “Allergies are definitely tied to weather, though what affects one person may affect another person differently, because we all have different allergies to different things,” Myers said. For instance, a rain that reduces allergens from pollen might ramp up allergens from mold. Children’s Mercy Hospital provides daily pollen and mold spore data for the Kansas City metro area as these levels wax and wane with the weather. Across the U.S., there’s been more pollen, and a longer pollen season, each year as climate change makes the weather warmer. Research shows the pollen season is already 20 days longer, and there’s a 21% increase in pollen concentrations across North America. The largest and most consistent increases found so far have been in Texas and the Midwestern United States, with Kansas City showing some of the starkest increases. Experts predict climate change will continue to make allergies and other respiratory health issues worse in the coming decades. Are all the flowers to blame for the pollen? In the early spring, the No. 1 source of allergy-inducing pollen is flowering trees. But these may not be the “flowers” you’d think. Showy blossoms like on cherry trees, redbuds or crabapples are typically pollinated by bees and other pollinators. That means their pollen moves around while latched on to the bodies of insects. It’s the wind-pollinated trees like oaks, sycamores, walnuts and more that are banking on reproduction by scattershot: sending out as much pollen as possible into the air in hopes some will land on another tree. That’s the pollen that gets into the air we breathe, dusting our cars and wreaking havoc on some people’s immune systems. For the past few weeks, the majority of pollen detected at Children’s Mercy Hospital has been from oak trees. Other culprits have been birch, sycamore,
sweet gum, ash and walnut. People with allergies to grass pollen won’t see their symptoms peak until midsummer, while people with ragweed allergies will suffer most as summer turns to fall. I love to garden but I have allergies. Am I doomed? It can be challenging to avoid pollen and other allergens produced by the environment. Staying home and staying inside — when it’s an option — can help quite a bit; in fact, allergy symptoms were at an all-time low last year when Americans were staying home due to the pandemic. Gardeners with allergies can plant for mitigation. Some tree species, like ashes, poplars and willows, have separate male and female plants, so only half the trees (the males) actually produce pollen. Gardeners can plant a female for a pollen-free tree. Focusing on big, showy flowers that are pollinated by birds, bees and other insects can also lessen the pollen load in the air in your own backyard. What kind of medicine is best for allergy relief? Many allergy sufferers can find relief from over-the-counter allergy medications. Myers said she recommends trying different ones until you find one that works for you — and keep an eye out for whether the medication makes you drowsy. “I take mine at nighttime before I go to bed, so that I’m sleeping through the first bit of it,” Myers said. Over-the-counter nasal steroid sprays can help as well, such as fluticasone. Myers stresses that these sprays work gradually and don’t offer instant relief. “They lower the inflammation that’s in your nose and decrease the swelling of those tissues so you can breathe better. But it’s a slower process. … Sometimes people are like, ‘Eh, this doesn’t work,’ and they toss it out, but you have to give it the college try, you
Tulips bloom at the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden, 4800 Rockhill Rd., on April 4, 2021. Focusing on big, showy flowers that are pollinated by birds, bees and other insects can lessen the pollen load in gardens. Kelsey Ryan/The Beacon have to give it a little time — a couple of weeks,” she said. In the end, it’s always best to see a medical provider if you’re not sure how to help your seasonal allergies — and especially if there’s any chance your symptoms might actually be caused by COVID-19.
Anna Funk is a freelance writer and editor based in Kansas City. After earning a Ph.D. in plant biology, she started her journalism career as a AAAS Mass Media fellow at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, followed by 2 years as editor at Discover magazine. She now covers health, science, and the environment for local and national outlets, but has the most fun with her email newsletter about her garden, The Funkyard. Follow her on Twitter @DrAnnaFunk. www.thebeacon.media
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Page 12
How to combat social isolation (Family Features) Even before COVID19 limited social contact with friends, family and colleagues, many adults experienced loneliness and depression due to limited contact with others. Now, a year after the pandemic forced many people into even greater levels of isolation, the issue of social isolation is especially prevalent in Americans over the age of 50. Despite the physical implications of a global pandemic, research shows the mental health stakes are high, too. A nationwide survey, commissioned by Barclays, found that half of Americans over the age of 50 said the isolation from their friends and family has been more challenging than concerns over health risks they may face. Social isolation has provided plenty of time for Americans to reflect on their
priorities. The majority of Americans surveyed (90%) have re-evaluated their post age-50 goals and put spending more time with family at the top of their lists. In fact, the most common first thing 50-plus Americans will do once COVID-19 is over is to see and spend time with their families (41%). "While restrictions are beginning to ease, many older adults are still isolated from friends and family, and that takes a toll on their mental well-being" said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of the AARP Foundation. "We must do all we can to help older adults, who have suffered greatly during COVID-19, strengthen the social connections that are so essential to their ability to lead longer, healthier lives." For example, AARP Foundation's Connect2Affect platform equips older
adults with the tools they need to stay physically and mentally healthy and connected to their communities. The AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard from Barclays is helping fund the foundation's work to increase social connection with donations based on new accounts and eligible purchases, up to $1 million annually. A little creativity and a commitment to filling time productively can help reduce the strain of being alone until it's safer to resume social activities. Use technology to connect with loved ones. Video chats and traditional phone calls can help you feel connected even when you can't be together in person. While a drop-in call can be fun, consider arranging regular visits with kids and grandkids. If you schedule calls throughout the week, you'll have something regular to look forward to and can benefit from a check-in that affirms everyone is healthy and safe. Make time for physical activity. Staying closer to home may mean you're not getting the exercise you once did, but it's important for your health to stay active. Regularly using your muscles helps keep your body strong, and even light physical activity a few times each week can help keep your cardiovascular
system fit for better heart health. Regular exercise can also provide a range of positive mental health outcomes, including reduced stress, anxiety and depression, and improved memory. Volunteer in your community or consider virtual volunteering. Helping others is a way to release feel-good endorphins for yourself. While your limited social calendar may afford you some extra time, inquire with local nonprofits about how you can contribute to their causes. Especially as funding for charitable organizations has dropped, volunteers are still essential to most nonprofit organizations, whether the help comes in person or virtually. Even from a distance, you may be able to help with tasks like making calls to donors, assisting with mailings or planning fundraising campaigns. Learn a new hobby or skill. Another way to fill your free time, and reap some positive energy, is to explore a new hobby or skill. The personal satisfaction of learning and focusing your mental energy on something that interests you can help offset the disappointment of being away from those you love. Find more resources that support older adults at connect2affect.org.
THEME: FICTIONAL FATHERS ACROSS 1. Like Annapolis Academy 6. Pine juice 9. One in a manger 13. Like a good athlete 14. Modern address 15. Printer cartridge contents 16. Cate Blanchett's movie "____ on a Scandal" 17. 2nd largest living bird in world 18. U in UV 19. *Honoré de Balzac's "Le Père ____" 21. *Nemo's dad, named after a sport fish 23. "____ of the morning!" 24. Seaside bird 25. Tax accounting specialist, acr. 28. Back of the neck 30. Chew the fat 35. Country dance formation 37. Greek goddess of fertility 39. Waterwheel 40. *Drunk and, incidentally, Huck Finn's Pap 41. Metallic sounding 43. Quite a stretch 44. Place to dry out 46. Like the White Rabbit 47. Dr. Robert Bruce Banner's green alter ego 48. Sun-____ 50. Toothy wheel 52. Bad-mouth 53. Made a rug 55. Low-____ image 57. *Simba's father in "The Lion King" 60. *Luke's and Leia's father 63. Golfer's sun protection 64. Romanian monetary unit 66. Introverted one 68. Follow as a consequence 69. Pooh's wise friend 70. Territory in China known as Las Vegas of Asia 71. Young woman 72. *"That '70s Show" dad 73. One-room school house "notebook"
DOWN 1. A Bobbsey twin 2. Awestruck 3. *The Godfather's given name 4. Heads-up 5. Wound 6. Cooking grease 7. Hammer holder? 8. D'Artagnan's hat decoration 9. Weevil's target 10. Not in favor of 11. Capital of Switzerland 12. Chapter in history 15. As opposed to turn-off 20. 1960s abstractionism 22. Rainbow shape 24. Like ones between 13 and 19 years old 25. *Griswold family patriarch 26. Mushroom caps 27. Egyptian symbol of life, pl. 29. *Jay is to Claire as ____ is to Haley 31. Flood survivor 32. Father of psychoanalysis Sigmund 33. Garlicky mayonnaise 34. *Both father in "Mary Poppins" and father in "Father of the Bride" 36. Unfledged hawk 38. Casino chip 42. Pine 45. ____ of dog! 49. "I ____" at the altar 51. Middle Earth and Kingdom of the North, e.g. 54. Courage in the face of danger 56. Smokeless tobacco brand 57. Short skirt 58. It was Brezhnev's domain 59. Unplayable baseball 60. Old in Scottish 61. Cuzco valley empire 62. Straight pour from the bottle 63. Chill in front of TV, with 'out' 65. Ovine mom 67. Beluga yield
Sports
Page 13
Valley Speedway Results: May 1, 2021 ATV Open Money A Feature 1 (6 Laps): 1. 21K-Jordon Krusemann[1]; 2. 22K-Chris Krusemann[2]; 3. 5 -Kammeron West[5]; 4. (DNF) 152-Jacob Schneider[3]; 5. (DNS) 30-Randy Horton Heat 1 (5 Laps): 1. 21K-Jordon Krusemann [2]; 2. 22K-Chris Krusemann[3]; 3. 152Jacob Schneider[4]; 4. 30-Randy Horton [1]; 5. 5-Kammeron West[5] Dirt Demons A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 121-Eric Schmidt [1]; 2. 13-Dylan Bruhn[3]; 3. 68-Darrick Brisbin[5]; 4. 25-COREY GERVAIS[4]; 5. 10B-Jeremy Byfield[2] Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 121-Eric Schmidt[2]; 2. 13 -Dylan Bruhn[1]; 3. 10B-Jeremy Byfield [5]; 4. 25-COREY GERVAIS[4]; 5. 68Darrick Brisbin[3] E Mods A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 1M-Mike Ryun[1]; 2. 86-Doug Brisbin[3]; 3. 33-Jeremy Curless[2]; 4. 33W-Kevin White[9]; 5. 75Rayce Martin[8]; 6. 118-Leland Quint[12]; 7. (DNF) 21K-Coleman Browning[6]; 8. (DNF) 41C-Chris Dishong[5]; 9. (DNF) 38Gary Mcginnis[4]; 10. (DNF) 65-Jason Smith[7]; 11. (DNF) 37-Nathan Asher[11]; 12. (DNF) 37C-Chance Brune[10] Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 1M-Mike Ryun[2]; 2. 86Doug Brisbin[4]; 3. 41C-Chris Dishong[3]; 4. 65-Jason Smith[5]; 5. 33W-Kevin
White[6]; 6. 118-Leland Quint[1] Heat 2 (6 Laps): 1. 33-Jeremy Curless[2]; 2. 38-Gary Mcginnis[4]; 3. 21K-Coleman Browning[3]; 4. 75-Rayce Martin[5]; 5. 37C-Chance Brune[1]; 6. 37-Nathan Asher[6] IMCA Northern SportMod A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 211-Tim Eaton[1]; 2. 81JR-Dan Charles[5]; 3. T25-Tim Stallbaumer[7]; 4. 73T-Truman Asher[3]; 5. 12X-Steven Clancy[2]; 6. 81-Austin Charles[6]; 7. 42-Gene Claxton[4]; 8. 41DRJ Dishong[9]; 9. 16-Josh Reisdorph[11]; 10. (DNF) 29-Stanley Boose[14]; 11. (DNF) 66X-Chris Wright[8]; 12. (DNF) 74-Justin Asher[10]; 13. (DNF) 24C-Marshall Cramer [13]; 14. (DNS) 81ISH-Jeff Jackson Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 81-Austin Charles[4]; 2. 211-Tim Eaton[1]; 3. T25-Tim Stallbaumer [5]; 4. 42-Gene Claxton[2]; 5. 41D-RJ Dishong[6]; 6. 16-Josh Reisdorph[3]; 7. (DNF) 24C-Marshall Cramer[7] Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 81JR-Dan Charles[3]; 2. 12X-Steven Clancy[1]; 3. 74-Justin Asher [7]; 4. 66X-Chris Wright[6]; 5. 73TTruman Asher[5]; 6. 81ISH-Jeff Jackson [4]; 7. (DNF) 29-Stanley Boose[2] IMCA Stars Mod Lites A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 46-Dillon Raffurty[10]; 2. 75-Justin Raffurty[9]; 3. 3XLJosh Guy[5]; 4. 4K-Garrett Stonum[8]; 5.
Photo courtesy Valley Speedway 64-David Raffurty[14]; 6. 3-Nathan Wolfe[7]; 7. 98-Jeff Raffurty[2]; 8. 73Tony Kerr[6]; 9. 36-Travis Alexander[4]; 10. 34-Tyler Furrell[1]; 11. (DNF) 03-James Beebe[3]; 12. (DNF) 92-Michael Everhart [12]; 13. (DNS) 17-Kyle Guy; 14. (DNS) 41Michael Raffurty Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 3XL-Josh Guy[4]; 2. 4KGarrett Stonum[6]; 3. 03-James Beebe [2]; 4. 34-Tyler Furrell[1]; 5. 3-Nathan Wolfe[5]; 6. 17-Kyle Guy[3]; 7. 41-Michael Raffurty[7] Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 46-Dillon Raffurty[7]; 2. 75-Justin Raffurty[6]; 3. 98-Jeff Raffurty[1]; 4. 73-Tony Kerr[4]; 5. 36-Travis Alexander[3]; 6. 92-Michael Everhart[2]; 7. (DNF) 64-David Raffurty[5]
IMCA Stock Car A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 34X-Mich Ross [2]; 2. 46-JJ Baumli[3]; 3. 20X-Carson Masoner[1]; 4. 99-Brian Labonte[9]; 5. 5Jim Adkins[5]; 6. 29X-Nate Barnes[8]; 7. 47X-Connor Masoner[4]; 8. 13-Jeremiah Asher[6]; 9. (DNF) 2X-Ricky Bobby[7] Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 34X-Mich Ross[4]; 2. 46 -JJ Baumli[7]; 3. 5-Jim Adkins[3]; 4. 20XCarson Masoner[6]; 5. 47X-Connor Masoner[2]; 6. 13-Jeremiah Asher[9]; 7. 2XRicky Bobby[8]; 8. (DNF) 29X-Nate Barnes[5]; 9. (DNF) 99-Brian Labonte[1]
GVHS Boys Golf earns first conference championship in school history
All 5 JV players earn All Conference honors! Troyer (JV Champion) McAnerney, Tyler, Hileman, Sallee. Photo credit: GVHS Boys Golf.
All 5 varsity players earn All Conference honors 1st Team Aldred, Herbert, Nadeau, Hake. 2nd Team Roach. Photo credit: GVHS Boys Golf.
Sports
Page 14
Bown and Prewitt form battery that powers Eagles win by John Unrein On a day that was intended to give Riley Bown a day off at third base, the designated hitter was called upon to pitch in relief during the top of the second inning. The senior would go on to hurl five scoreless innings, racking up four strikeouts along the way. This has become a knack for Bown. Grain Valley’s 18-7 overall record has been aided by Bown’s ability to come in and throw strikes. Behind the dish for Bown’s strong effort during the Eagles 14-4 win against the visiting Truman Patriots on May 3rd was catcher Blake Prewitt. The sophomore knows to put the sign down in a hurry when Bown is on the mound. Hitters do not have the chance to get comfortable in the batter’s box due to the pace at which the duo work. Prewitt also helped the Eagles win with his defense and bat against the Patriots. A strong throw by Prewitt to second base during the top of the second inning squashed a steal attempt. A play that drew praise from the Grain Valley dugout. A bases loaded single in the top of the third inning produced two runs batted in for Prewitt as well. Prewitt would an additional RBI in the top of the fourth inning on a sac fly that would expand Grain Valley’s lead. The battery of Bown and Prewitt offered praise for one another during their postgame comments. “I know the routine by this point. It is the same thing every time. I come in and throw it where Blake (Prewitt) wants it
and I let my defense make plays behind me. I do not mind if they hit the ball,” Bown said. “This win today was great. We are not nervous when we get behind. It may take a few innings for our bats to come alive, but it usually works out for us. We display good confidence.” Prewitt added, “I picked up today that Truman was trying to run on me when I went to one knee to receive. I knew that I could get the runner at second base (during the top of the second inning) if I threw it hard enough.” “I saw the ball well today at the plate. I was able to get deep into some counts. The single came on a curveball that I was able to hit hard.” “Riley (Bown) works fast on the mound and I love it. The batter struggles to get comfortable at the plate or think about what the next pitch might be.” Another strong contributor for the Eagles was shortstop Parker Bosserman. The senior would rack up 3 total RBIs on a single and a triple. Bosserman only knows one speed on the basepaths as his helmet typically leaves his head from the hustle exerted. The Eagles leading hitter by batting average so far this season is Bosserman, who is joined by teammates Bown, Cole Arndorfer, Cole Keller, Parker Stone, and Jacob Grasher in adorning the bleacher fences with their senior banners. Among those pleased with the senior leadership on the Grain Valley squad is head coach Brian Driskell. The Eagles
Reliever Riley Bown warms up in between innings. Photo credit: Valley News staff skipper encouraged his team to look at the scoreboard following the game. The request was to take notice that Truman did not get a hit after the first inning. The message continued with encouragement to stay in every game by fighting through every at bat and maintaining focus. “It was the same story, but a different day with Riley (Bown). We were laughing about it today in the locker room prior to the game. He has been battling through some small nagging injuries here and there. I told him we are going to have to get you healthy because we need you on the mound,” Driskell said. “I am not really sure why people do
not get hits off Bown. It befuddles him as well. The results have been good for us though. He is as cool as a cucumber on the mound.” “We give him a hard time about the face he makes when he delivers the ball home. Something is funky though because opponents do not pick up his delivery well.” The Eagles finish out the week with games against Belton and Fort Osage on May 5th and 7th, respectively. Grain Valley will look to add to their perfect 7-0 Suburban Conference record during those matchups.
Left: Shortstop Parker Bosserman looks the baseball in at the plate. Right: Catcher Blake Prewitt awaits the pitch at the plate. Photo credit: Valley News staff
Sports
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Eagles lifted by Bosserman’s play against Jaguars by John Unrein Parker Bosserman loves baseball. The Eagle senior, committed to Kansas City Kansas Community College to continue his career as a student athlete on the diamond, was a big part of his team’s formula for success in a 6-1 win against the Blue Springs South Jaguars on May 1st. Bosserman would produce four runs batted in through two home runs and being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Excellence would continue on the diamond for the shortstop with three defensive gems at timely moments for Grain Valley. Joining Bosserman’s output at the plate was Eagles first baseman Kaden Jeffries. The junior would find success late in the game with a single in the fifth inning and a two RBI home run in the seventh inning. The latter of which put the game out of the reach for the Jaguars who battled limited roster availability due to COVID-19. All three home runs collectively struck by Bosserman and Jeffries were pull shots for the right handed batters over the left field fence. “Yeah, I was struggling before my final at bat today. I was looking for something to put the barrel of the bat on. I was a little under the baseball and that lifted it out,” Jeffries said. “It was good to beat South today. We had a bitter taste in our mouth after the last time we played them.” Bosserman added, “If I am thrown an outside pitch, I will take it the other way. I have done that maybe three times so far this season. Otherwise, I naturally pull the ball with my swing. That was the case again today for me (with both home runs).” “I never take my eyes off the pitcher. Even in the dugout, I am seeking ways to find his timing. I continue to enjoy the competitive mentality of our team. It makes playing baseball with them fun.” Bosserman helps establish that competitive mentality through leading by example for the Eagles. The glovework on display against the Jaguars nullified would be baserunners throughout the contest. First, Bosserman made a nice double play in the top of the second inning. The Grain Valley shortstop displayed nifty footwork in fielding the baseball and shuffling across second base prior to firing a strike to first base. Next, was a sound read off a line drive in the top of the fourth inning by Bosserman behind second base prior to
doubling up the opponent at first base, who did the correct thing in freezing on a line drive to see if the baseball would get through the infield. Finally, the top of the sixth inning witnessed Bosserman’s best play of the day defensively. Bosserman would sprint to his right deep in the hole to make a sliding stop prior to hurling the baseball to first base. Jeffries would stretch to make a solid pick of the baseball out of the dirt to complete the out. Joel Palecek continued his strong campaign on the mound as a starting pitcher this season for the Eagles. The junior only needed a total of 85 pitches for a complete game outing. Palecek would scatter five base hits across seven innings to team with four strikeouts. Palecek’s demeanor never changed on the mound as he appeared to tire late in the game and pitched his way out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh. The ability to throw strikes is what impresses Grain Valley head baseball coach Brian Driskell the most about Palecek’s continued growth. “Joel (Palecek) only went ten pitches between the fifth and sixth innings combined. That allowed him to have the opportunity to finish the game due to pitch efficiency. I did not like the situation we were in late in the game. I may have gone somewhere else if we did not have the separation in the score,” Driskell said. “Our guys helped out at the plate today and did their part to support the starting pitching we received. The best thing about Palecek is that he lives in the strike zone and lets the defense dot their job.” Driskell finished, “I think we are playing well right now. There are some technical things that we need to work so that we stay humble and hungry. There are areas we need to get better at. Blue Springs South was down a lot of guys today due to COVID-19. It is still good to get a win. The biggest thing I want our guys to know is that there is more we have to do if we want to get where we want to be.” The Eagles win moves their record to 17-6 overall, and winners of their last eight straight games.
Joel Palecek has a strong outing on the mound for the Eagles. Photo credit: Valley News staff
First baseman Kaden Jeffries waits for the pitch at the plate. Photo credit: Valley News staff
Shortstop Parker Bosserman sits on a fastball at the plate. Photo credit: Valley News staff
Community Calendar Saturday, May 8, 2021
Saturday, May 29, 2021
Fishing Skills: Family Fishing 6:00pm—8:00pm Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, 1401 NW Park Road, Blue Springs This is a great time of year to take your family fishing. We will teach some fishing basics, provide equipment and worms, and then let you practice your new fishing skills. Kids who attend will be entered into a drawing at the end of the summer for a new fishing pole and tackle box. Registration required 816-228-3766
Grain Valley Aquatic Center opens For hours and admission information, visit www.cityofgrainvalley.org.
Monday, May 10, 2021 Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main ST
Wednesday, May 12, 2021 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting 6:30pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main ST
Saturday, May 15, 2021 “City Wide” Garage Sales The city wide garage sales are held the 3rd Saturday in May. This is not a citysponsored event. Add your garage sale to Valley News May 13th directory for only $5. https://www.grainvalleynews.com/ store/p2/garagesale.html Handgun: Basic Pistol 8:00am Lake City Shooting Range This is a novice class for people who have little or no experience in handling and shooting a handgun. Class includes range time. Register: 816-249-3194
Monday, May 24, 2021 Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main ST
Friday, June 4, 2021 Movie in the Park: Trolls World Tour Armstrong Park Movie begins at dark (approx. 8:30pm) Free event—bring your own chairs/ blankets.
Saturday, June 5, 2021 City Wide Clean Up event 8:00am—2:00pm 405 James Rollo DR, Grain Valley City Wide Clean Up is a free annual service by our Public Works division. It is an opportunity for Grain Valley residents to dispose of unwanted items. Items that are not accepted include: tires, paint, oil, refrigerators, household cleaners/chemicals, air conditioner units, bagged trash, yard waste or clippings. Proof of residency is required.
Monday, June 14, 2021 Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main ST
Sunday, August 1, 2021 Purple Peace Foundation’s “Cruise for Consciousness” Car Show 11:00am—3:00pm Armstrong Park, Grain Valley www.purplepeacefoundation.org.
September 13, 2021 Citizen’s Police Academy Sessions begins on September 13th Classes include: Informational classroom training Hands-on experience Interaction with Grain Valley Police Force For more information, email cvanderlinden@grainvalleypolice.org. Add your community event at www.grainvalleynews.com/ eventscalendar
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