July 15, 2021 Vol. 4 No. 29
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
Back to school reminders as the first day nearly a month away While students enjoy a few final weeks of summer fun, back to school reminders have begun. Jackson County Health Department has joined with countless other health entities to encourage COVID-19 vaccines for students 12 years of age and older prior to the start of school. In order to be fully vaccinated prior to the first day of school on August 23rd, the first dose should be completed by July 19th. For more information on COVID-19 as well as other vaccinations required for Missouri students, visit www.jacohd.org/ events. Registration has opened for returning students at Grain Valley Schools, with August 3rd as the deadline for families to complete the online registration process. Parents of
incoming kindergarten students do not need to complete the process unless their address has changed since enrollment. In-person assistance will be available at South Middle School on August 4th from 11:00am—7:00pm for families who need additional assistance. Back to school shoppers may want to mark August 6-8th on their calendars, as the state’s sales tax holiday begins on the first Friday in August and continues through the following Sunday. Certain back-to-school purchases, such as clothing, school supplies, computers, and other items as defined by the statute, are exempt from sales tax for this time period only. In 2021, the Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01am on Friday, August 6, and runs through Sunday, August 8.
Board of Aldermen Recap: July 12, 2021 In a brief meeting chaired by Alderman Shea Bass due to Mayor Johnston’s absence, the Board approved a liquor license for Shifting Gears Bar and Grill and approved a liquor license renewal for El Tequilazo Cocina y Cantina LLC. Police Chief James Beale shared information on an upcoming community
forum for residents on July 20th at 6:30pm. The forum will be held at First Baptist Church Grain Valley, 207 W Walnut, and will focus on current events and the impact of social media. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Aldermen will be held Monday, July 26, 2021 at 7:00pm in council chambers of City Hall.
by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society As an 18-year-old Bass moved to Mexico to become an apprentice of Joseph Potts, an influential horseman and owner of the Mexico Horse Sales Company. In 1892, Bass and his wife moved to Kansas City, Missouri to open a livery stable and eventually helped start the American Royal Horse Show. Tom Bass was the first African-American to exhibit a horse at the American Royal.
I've been to the museum. It's worth your time if you like horses (or history).
In This Edition: Looking Back: Minnie Louisa Zohn Sebolt
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Your Health: What are the essential vitamins for people over 50?
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Sports: Former Chapman finds success after move to JCCC
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Cover Image: Thunder in the Valley begins Friday, July 16th. See page 11.
Rental, utility assistance program funding available for Jackson County residents Community Services League and United Way of Greater Kansas City are assisting the Jackson County government in implementing their Emergency Rent Assistance program, which assists households in Jackson County. Funding for the program was made possible through COVID-19 pandemic relief passed in December 2020. The fund can assist with past due rent and utilities going back to April 1, 2020. This fund cannot assist with mortgage payments or cable/internet bills. Households in a rent-to-own contract are considered in a mortgage, and are unable to receive assistance through this fund. Applicants are welcome to apply for both rental and utility assistance or just utility assistance if rent is not past due. Applicants need to Identify one head of household to be the “Primary Applicant.” The Primary Applicant needs to have an identification to upload into the application. Many types of identification are allowed, including: any State-issued driver license, State-issued ID, military, US or foreign passport, US or foreign birth certificate, US permanent resident, Tribal card, college/university, corporation, Social Security card, work permit, ITIN, Matricula Consular, voter
card, or student visa. If an applicant can’t produce one of those types of identification, then a utility bill and a lease that have the same person’s name on them is acceptable. Any adult (18+) that is currently employed will need to upload 60 day’s worth of paystubs. If an adult works, but does not receive a paystub (i.e. selfemployed or contract worker) then that person can upload a self-declaration of income. If the adult has filed their 2020 federal taxes, then they can simply upload their 1040 or 1040EZ, and do not have to upload any paystubs or other income documentation. The applicant will need to upload their signed lease agreement with their landlord. The applicant will also need to upload an invoice from the landlord showing the amount of past due rent. Additionally, the applicant will need to upload an IRS Form W-9 for their landlord. Applicants requesting utility assistance will need to upload an invoice from any utility (electric, water, sewer, gas/propane, trash) showing the amount past due. Visit the Jackson County ERAP website, https://www.jacksoncountyerap.org/ home, to learn more about this fund.
Good News:
Missouri Trivia Mexico, Missouri claims the title of “Saddle Horse Capital of World” And they have a museum to prove their claim. Much of their exhibit is dedicated to Tom Bass. His mother was a slave and his father a white Boone County plantation owner known for his fine horses. By the year 1862 William Bass, Tom's father, was taking his three-year-old son for rides across his vast plantation.
FREE
Registration open for Parks & Rec Fall Youth Baseball/Softball Registration for Grain Valley Parks and Recreation’s Fall 2021 Youth Baseball/ Softball youth leagues is now open. Information and links to register can be found on the Parks and Recreation section of the City’s website, www.city ofgrainvalley.org. Leagues include boys and girls T-Ball for ages 5-6, machine pitch for boys and coach’s pitch for girls 7-8, and boys and girls 10U, 12U, and Boys 14U leagues. Youth Football, Basketball, and Cheerleading are administered through the Grain Valley Sports League. Visit https://clubs.bluesombrero.com/ gvsl for information. Call the Community Center at 816-847 -6230 with any additional questions.
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Jackson County approves purchase of property for new detention center On July 12th, the Jackson County Legislature approved the purchase of a property to be the site of a new Jackson County Detention Center. Budgeted funds of $7,050,000 will be used to acquire the property located at 7000 E. U.S. 40 Highway. The site location meets all of the criteria established by the County’s consultant, JCDC Partners, LLC of Kansas City Missouri, including: At least 50 acres; Travel time distance of 20-30 minutes from both county courthouses and Truman Medical Centers; Ease of highway or arterial access and other forms of transportation including the bus line and transit opportunities; Surrounding area deemed safe and visible; Efficient and cost-effective facility operations; “Before today, we couldn’t directly contact the residents of the community,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. said. “But now that we have completed this step, it allows us to reach out immediately to discuss our plans to take care of them appropriately, fairly and respectfully, which is my top priority. The County will be meeting and
communicating directly with the residents in the coming days.” The County has allocated $240,000 in relocation costs and will, in addition, give $5,000 to residents in support of other associated expenses. County Executive White has tasked County Administrator Troy Schulte with overseeing the relocation efforts, as well as engaging the site location’s residents and broader community. The relocation will be managed by an individual thirdparty to ensure a fair process. Further details of the plan will be presented to the Legislature for approval within the next 30 days. “It’s exciting to have a path forward for a new Jackson County Detention Center,” said Jackson County Legislative Chairman Dan Tarwater, III, who represents the 4th District. “We are equally committed to treating the site’s residents fairly and equitably by taking care of their moving expenses.” Resolution 20721 authorized the County to purchase the site located at 7000 E. U.S. 40 Highway, which is approximately 107 acres, for approximately $7 million. For more information about the detention center project, visit www.jcdetentioncenter.com.
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 John Overstreet | Contributing Photographer Michael Smith | Staff Writer, Sports Mail: PO Box 2972 Grain Valley MO 64029 Phone: 816.809.7984 Email: news@grainvalleynews.com
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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 June 30—July 6, 2021.
June 30, 2021 700 Block of Main 200 Block of Cypress 700 Block of Main 700 Block of Main 1500 Block of Eagles 1200 Block of Willow Main & RR Tracks 400 Block of Eagles 700 Block of Whitestone 1400 Block of Eagles 100 Block of Rock Creek
Citizen Contact Welfare Check Trespass Citizen Contact Suspicious Person Disturbance Suspicious Person Alarm Welfare Check Suspicious Person Alarm
July 1, 2021 1400 Block of Highview 500 Block of Woodbury 1500 Block of Eagle Ridge 1100 Block of Main 1400 Block of Nolan 300 Block of Coldwater Creek 1500 Block of NW Eagle Ridge I 70 & Main 200 Block of Jefferson 200 Block of Michael DR 700 Block of Main ST 700 Block of Main 300 Block of SW 1st 500 Block of Main 1000 Block of Dean 200 Block of W Harris
Area Check Fireworks Fireworks Welfare Check Fireworks Fireworks Fireworks Traffic Control Stealing Area Check Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Courtesy Ride Business Check Disturbance Stolen Property
July 2, 2021 Rosewood & Brentwood 1300 Block of NW Sycamore 90 Block of Cooper 1200 Block of Eagles PKWY 1000 Block of Stone Brook LN Sni A Bar & 40 HWY Woodland Cir 900 Block of SE Foxtail 1100 Block of NW Pamela 100 Block of S Buckner Tarsney 700 Block of Main 100 Block of McQuerry 200 Block of E 3rd ST 400 Block of Laura LN
Fireworks Noise Complaint Agency Assist-BPD Stealing Fireworks Motor Vehicle Accident Noise Complaint Assault Agency Assist-BSPD Business Check Civil Matter Area Check VIN Verification Disturbance
July 3, 2021 600 Block of Thieme 200 Block of NE Hannah CT EE Kirby North White Oaks 700 Block of Main 1200 Block of SW Dean DR 800 Block of SW Woodland 300 Block of NE Coldwater Creek 900 Block of NW Persimmon CT I 70 West Bound Mile Marker 25 700 Block of Whitestone 700 Block of RD Mize
Civil Stand By Fireworks Area Check Agency Assist-OGPD Warrant Suspicious Activity Welfare Check Alarm Alarm Agency Assist-OGPD Stealing Stealing
1100 Block of SE Ray DR 1200 Block of Eagles 600 Block of Walnut I 70 & BB 1600 Block of Jacyln DR
Agency Assist-OGPD Disturbance VIN Verification Motor Vehicle Accident Animal At Large
July 4, 2021 BB & Rust 600 Block of Gateway 400 Block of Woodbury Hedgewood & Sycamore 2100 Block of Sycamore Sweet Gum CT 1000 Block of Sycamore Elmwood & Honey Locust 1300 Block of Sycamore Dean DR & Joseph LN 1000 Block of NW Sycamore Sawgrass & Scenic Sawgrass & Bar Main & Woodbury Nelson & Lee Ann 500 Block of NW Bailey 1400 Block of N Buckner Tarsney 700 Block of Squire CT 700 Block of Main 800 Block of Country Hill 1700 Block of Cottonwood CIR 1600 Block of NE Jaclyn DR 300 Block of NW Yennie 700 Block of Main
Motorist Assist Fireworks Property Damage Area Check Disturbance Structure Fire Area Check Suspicious Vehicle Suspicious Activity Fireworks Fireworks Fireworks Fireworks Disturbance Barrel Fire Agency Assist-CJC Alarm Alarm Citizen Contact Motor Vehicle Accident Welfare Check Animal At Large Verbal Disturbance Citizen Contact
July 5, 2021 200 Block of Main 700 Block of Main 800 Block of Willow 400 Block of Woodbury 2100 Block of Sweetgum CT 2100 Block of Sycamore 700 Block of Main 700 Block of Whitestone
Suspicious Activity Citizen Contact Welfare Check Fireworks Fireworks Disturbance Citizen Contact Disturbance
July 6, 2021 300 Block of SW Creekridge DR 1200 Block of NW Ashley DR 700 Block of Main 100 Block of S Buckner Tarsney 700 Block of Main 200 Block of NW Barr RD 700 Block of Main
700 Block of Main 1500 Block of Nicholas 700 Block of Main 700 Block of Main 700 Block of Main Additional calls for the week: Suicidal subjects: 2
Harassment Disturbance Citizen Contact Trespass Theft Parking Agency AssistHealth and Senior Services Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Harassment Citizen Contact Tow Release
Looking Back
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Looking Back: Minnie Louisa Zohn Sebolt by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society When someone with a connection to Grain Valley moves, we (the Historical Society) get “stuff.” Sad to say, when someone dies, we get stuff. Within the past month we had gotten lots of stuff. Some of the items we have received have come from old Grain Valley families; names that will be familiar to some of you. Names like Gibler, Williams, Herrington, Sebolt, Stephenson, Baumgardner and Doty. The individuals that go with these names include teachers, college athletes, Hall of Fame coaches, successful farmers and business owners, postmen and policemen, a couple of city mayors and a veterinarian to name a few. I look forward to sharing some of their photos and memorabilia with you. The first photo I chose is from Kathy Doty, great, great granddaughter of the lady in the center of this photograph. Her name is Minnie Louisa Zohn Sebolt. She was born in Wurttemberg, Germany in 1837 and emigrated to the United States on April 13, 1860. On March 3, 1861 she married Frederick Sebolt in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. When their son Frederick was born in 1868, they were living in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Their last four children were born in Independence, MO. Eight of their ten children survived infancy and seven are in the photograph. Frederick Sebolt, Minnie Sebolt (seated) and Charlie Sebolt are in the front. The second row (left to right) includes Annie Sebolt Stephenson, Christian Sebolt, Bertha Sebolt Hamilton, Luke Sebolt, and Minnie Sebolt Stephenson. Absent from the photograph was another daughter, Julia Sebolt Hawkins.
Charles Sebolt was the father of Hubert Sebolt, a veterinarian in Buckner, Missouri from 1957 to 1993. After his father’s death, when Hubert was about 6 years old, he was raised by his Uncle Luke Sebolt and his wife. Luke’s daughter, Imogene, was the postmaster in Bates City, Missouri through much of the 1950s and 1960s. Annie Sebolt Stephenson was the grandmother of Les and Loyd Stephenson, the twin brothers who grew the family apple orchard on Lee’s Summit Road into Stephenson’s Apple Farm Restaurant from 1946 until 2007. Annie and Minnie Sebolt married brothers. Minnie and her husband, Charles Franklin Stephenson located on the family farm, south of Grain Valley on Nebgen Road. I have written several articles about this family which includes Ona Bumgardner, the young teacher that put Oak Hill School on the map. Ona’s daughter. Erma Doty, wrote the often copied and quoted “History of Stony Point,” and was a beloved teacher at Grain Valley High School. Minnie and Charles had children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren that have made a contribution to our community. Thank you, Kathy Doty for sharing this old family photo.
Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society during its Missouri Centennial Celebration through August 15th. The museum, located at 506 Main, will be open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00am—4:00pm, and Sunday from 1:00pm—4:00pm. For more information on the Grain Valley Historical Society, visit www.grainvalleyhistory.com.
Photo courtesy Kathy Doty
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Business
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June Jobs Report With the initial wave of COVID-19related layoffs now more than a year in the past, the six-figure over-the-year job losses that had characterized the Missouri labor market for the last nine months of 2020 and the first three months of 2021 were replaced with an increase of more than 130,000 jobs from June 2020 to June 2021. Missouri nonfarm payroll employment increased from May 2021 to June 2021, but the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also increased by a tenth of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 4,200 jobs over the month, with job gains in both goods-producing and service-providing industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in June 2021, up from 4.2 percent in May 2021. Short-term shortages of semiconductor chips may hold down employment in manufacturing in the next few months. Missouri’s smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by a tenth of a percentage point in June 2021, rising to 4.3 percent from the May 2021 rate of 4.2 percent. With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic now more than a year in the past, the June 2021 rate was 3.8 percentage points lower than the
June 2020 rate. The rate had reached a low of 3.1 percent starting in July 2018, before gradually edging up to 3.5 percent by the end of 2019, and then to 3.7 percent in March 2020. The COVID-19 effect hit in April 2020, spiking the rate to 12.5 percent for that month. The rate decreased monthly for the rest of 2020, reaching 4.4 percent in December, and continued gradually downward through the first four months of 2021. The increase of twotenths of a percentage point over the last two months appears to be related to a temporary shortage in the supply of semiconductor chips, which caused production slowdowns in some manufacturing industries. Due to benchmark revisions, Missouri’s unemployment rate rose a tenth of a percentage point higher than the national rate in January and February of 2020, but has been below the national rate for every month since February 2020. The national unemployment rate increased from 5.8 percent in May 2021 to 5.9 percent in June 2021. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 133,380 in June 2021, up by 4,343 from May’s 129,037. The state’s not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate also increased in
June 2021, rising by four-tenths of a percentage point to 5.1 percent from the May 2021 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 4.7 percent. The shortage of semiconductor chips was a factor in the increase. The corresponding notseasonally-adjusted national rate for June 2021 was 6.1 percent. A year ago, the state’s seasonally adjusted rate was 8.1 percent, and the not-adjusted rate was also 8.1 percent. Missouri’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment was 2,823,400 in June 2021, up by 4,200 from the revised May 2021 figure. However, the May 2021 total was revised upward by 1,200 from the preliminary estimate, producing a revised increase of 7,200 jobs from April 2021 to May 2021 and a revised increase of 196,100 jobs from May 2020 to May 2021. Goods-producing industries gained 200 jobs over the month, in construction and manufacturing, with gains in nondurable goods and electronics manufacturing. These gains were enough to offset an employment loss in motor vehicle manufacturing, which was hampered by a shortage of semiconductor chips for on-board computers. Meanwhile, service-providing industries gained 4,000 jobs between
May and June 2021, with increases in professional & business services (+2,700 jobs) and leisure & hospitality (+1,600 jobs) at least partially attributable to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. However, not every major industry group shared in the increase, with educational and health service losing 900 jobs over the month. Government employment showed an increase of 1,600 jobs over the month. Total payroll employment increased by 133,800 jobs from June 2020 to June 2021, reflecting the recovery from the job cuts brought on by the initial wave of COVID-19 restrictions. All but one of the major private-sector industry groups shared in the increases, with the largest gain in leisure & hospitality (+48,400 jobs), followed by educational & health services (+22,300 jobs), professional and business services (+21,500 jobs), and trade, transportation & utilities (+12,900 jobs). The sole private-sector exception was financial activities, which lost 3,400 jobs. Government employment also increased over the year, with a gain of 18,100 jobs concentrated in state and local government.
Partnership welcomes new partners The Grain Valley Partnership recently welcomed the following new partners: Nelson Brothers Construction Kansas City Cannabis WPL Mortgage Solutions Country Oak Village
For sponsorship opportuni es and to register, call Tasha at 816‐443‐5162 or email info@growgrainvalley.org.
Rising Construction Services
Silent auc on item dona ons are also welcomed. Please contact Tasha (816‐443‐5162) to donate an item for the silent auc on.
No Borders Real Estate
www.growgrainvalley.org
Matthew Gass Law
For more information on the Grain Valley Partnership and its business partners, visit www.growgrainvalley.org.
State News
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Fate of Missouri Medicaid expansion in the hands of the state Supreme Court by Rudi Keller, Missouri Independent After an eight-year fight over Medicaid expansion, the arguments are over. The question of whether 275,000 people will receive state-paid health care coverage is in the hands of the Missouri Supreme Court. Oral arguments took place Tuesday in an expedited appeal. The seven judges must decide whether Medicaid eligibility will expand, as directed by the constitutional amendment approved by voters, or, as Cole County Judge Jon Beetem ruled, if it was fatally flawed because it did not include a new source of revenue to pay the anticipated costs. The court’s only other option, suggested by Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office in its final written brief, is to leave people eligible for coverage without actually providing it unless lawmakers explicitly fund it. While there is no deadline for the decision, the expedited schedule indicates the court will rule soon, because coverage was supposed to start July 1. “What is at stake here is life-saving health care,” Joel Ferber, director of advocacy for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri said to reporters after oral arguments concluded. “Our lead plaintiffs and our clients are desperate for the health care they need.” In the days and hours leading up to the oral arguments, the judges received plenty of advice on how they should rule. The final written arguments from Schmitt’s office, which wants the court to uphold Beetem, were filed Friday. Friend-of-the-court briefs, along with the final filings from the plaintiffs seeking an order in favor of expansion, were being filed as late as Monday afternoon. The court, however, heard only from John Sauer, representing the state, and Chuck Hatfield, representing three women who sued when Gov. Mike Parson announced the state would not open enrollment for the expansion group. Amendment 2, passed last August opened Medicaid eligibility to
adults ages 19 to 64 who earn less than 138 percent of the federal poverty guideline. Sauer told the court that while that group is eligible, lawmakers control state spending and did not make room for them in the budget. “Their intent was not to fund the expansion population and only fund the pre-expansion population,” Sauer said. Reading the same appropriation bills, Hatfield found a different interpretation. While the spending bills didn’t include the estimated $1.9 billion to cover the expansion population, he said there is money for every service available under Medicaid and there are options to control spending that would provide coverage for everyone eligible. “The legislature must, of course, follow the priorities the people put in the constitution,” Hatfield said. The path from passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010, with a requirement that states expand Medicaid coverage, to Tuesday’s arguments, has been dominated by politics, with Democrats and their supporters pushing the state to go along and Republicans just as strongly resisting. Then-Gov. Jay Nixon first asked lawmakers to expand coverage in 2013, but here was never a realistic chance the Republican-dominated General Assembly would go along. Passage of Amendment changed some minds, but not enough. Parson, who opposed Amendment 2, put money for the anticipated costs in his January budget proposal. When the final vote on funding came in May in the Missouri Senate, only four Republicans joined 10 Democrats in support of Parson’s request. Since 1945, the Missouri Constitution has prohibited initiatives that require appropriations if the same ballot measure does not generate the needed revenue. That is why Beetem ruled Amendment 2 is invalid, writing that because it requires the state to spend money, it is unconstitutional. “How is it you can look back on an
election that is past and decide it is invalid?” Judge W. Brent Powell asked Sauer. “How long can you continue to do that?” “That is not our argument,” Sauer replied. In his brief for the state, Sauer of the attorney general’s office argued that the judges have only two choices – find that Amendment 2 is valid but subject to appropriation, or that it was not validly enacted. “This conflict is real, and it stubbornly resists plaintiffs’ belated attempts to explain it away,” Sauer wrote. Last year, the court decided lawmakers could not use appropriation bills to make Planned Parenthood ineligible to provide Medicaid-paid family planning services. Sauer asked the court to overturn that decision and allow lawmakers to determine which legally eligible people will and will not receive Medicaid coverage. The judges don’t have to stretch logic that far, Hatfield argued. The three women who initiated the lawsuit are eligible, the legislature appropriated money for every service provided by Medicaid and therefore they cannot be denied, the attorneys wrote. “This court has consistently held that every doubt, and every ambiguity, should be resolved in favor of upholding the will of the people,” Hatfield said. The governor has various methods to control spending and though some may be painful, the options are real, Hatfield said Tuesday. In the brief filed Monday, Hatfield and his co-counsels in the case wrote that the program’s cost, whether for traditional Medicaid or the expansion population, is uncertain every year, they wrote. First, no one has any idea whether the amount of money the General Assembly appropriated is too much, not enough, or just right, they wrote. “The number of enrollees in the MO HealthNet program fluctuates from year to year, as do the quantity and types of services used.” The amicus curiae, or friend of the court, briefs have come in from conservative groups, health care providers, backers of Amendment 2 and lawmakers. There’s even a secondary dispute, with Missouri House Democratic Leader Crystal Quade of Springfield and Assistant Democratic Leader Richard Brown of Kansas City asking the court to reject, or at least ignore, the brief filed in the name of the full House. The stakes are enormous, both for those who would receive coverage and for the state’s treasury. In the brief for the state’s 12 Federally Qualified Health Care Centers, which serve 600,000 patients, Jim Layton, formerly the state’s top appellate attorney, wrote that it is essential that the clinics serve paying patients to support their work for those without
John Sauer of the Attorney General’s office argues Tuesday for the Missouri Supreme Court to allow lawmakers to decide if the state will spend money to expand Medicaid under Amendment 2. (Screenshot from pool video provided by KMIZ-TV) insurance. Of the people using them, he wrote, 46 percent are on Medicaid already and another 25 percent are without insurance. Many of the uninsured would receive coverage, he wrote, and lawmakers funded all services provided by Medicaid. “But the General Assembly cannot, merely by changing a dollar figure in a line of an appropriation bill, change a parameter of the program that was constitutionally defined by the people by initiative, any more than it can, by changing a dollar figure or including a proviso in an appropriations bill, change eligibility for any other program,” he wrote. Before passage of Amendment 2, Missouri was one of 14 states that had not yet expanded Medicaid under the 2010 Affordable Care Act. The law originally made expansion mandatory but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that penalty provisions that made Medicaid an all-or-nothing program were unenforceable. Under the terms of the ACA, states pay 10 percent of the cost of expansion and the federal government covers 90 percent. In the traditional Medicaid program, Missouri pays about 35 percent of the cost. Amendment 2 extended coverage to people aged 19 to 65 with household incomes less than 138 percent of the federal poverty guideline, or $17,774 a year for a single person and $36,570 for a household of four. Under the current Medicaid program, adults without children are not eligible unless they are blind, have another qualifying disability or are pregnant. The traditional Medicaid program is expected to cost about $12 billion in the current fiscal year. In his January budget proposal, Parson estimated the total cost of expansion at $1.9 billion, with $130 million from general revenue, $1.65 billion from the federal treasury and the remainder from taxes on medical providers. If Missouri does expand Medicaid coverage, it will become eligible for additional support for the traditional program estimated to save the state $1.2 billion over two years.
www.missouriindependent.com
Technology
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Keeping your personal data safe during vacations by Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert Vacations are an exciting, happy time for you to get away and tune out the everyday worries of your day-to-day work and home routine. Before you head out for a day trip, stateside vacation, or international vacation, you need to take some steps to prevent your personal information from being stolen. There are things you need to be cautious about, including who you book your vacation with, how you use your tech devices, and what you share on your social media accounts. If you're looking for ways to avoid having your information stolen while vacationing, check out these quick and easy tips to help keep your personal data safe. 1. Book your vacation from secure websites. Most of you probably know this, but it's always good to reminder to remember to make sure you go directly to the official website of the company you're making reservations from rather than a link. Before you enter in any personal data, make sure the website has "HTTPS" in the URL or address bar of your browser. If you can, stick with the following websites: hotwire.com cheaptickets.com Expedia.com
Kayak.com Airbnb.com Priceline.com Also, consider working directly with a travel agent to make sure your data is kept safe and secure. With an agent, you don't have to worry about if your data will get compromised on a website. 2. Make sure you have passwords or PIN numbers on all of the tech you carry with you. Mobile tech items like smartphones, tablets, and laptops are high theft items, and you don’t want your data to wind up in the wrong hands. When picking a PIN or a password, use a strong one that will have the most skilled cybercriminal scratching their head. I know I don't have to tell you never to leave your devices unattended ... right? 3. Keep an eye on those financial accounts while you're traveling. You know you're on your phone when you first workup, so rather than hopping on social media or email first, log into your financial accounts to keep an eye on suspicious activity. If you catch fraudulent transactions quickly, the easier it will be to recoup your money if something bad happens. 4. Never use public computers. My advice is to just avoid them like the plague because you never know what information it may collect, but if
Letters to the editor and guest columns are welcome. This is YOUR community news source. Send your letters, comments, and story ideas by email, mail, or send us a message on social media (@grainvalleynews). Email: news@grainvalleynews.com Mail: Grain Valley News: PO Box 2972, Grain Valley MO 64029
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you must use one, always make sure you’ve logged out of your accounts before leaving. This rule applies to both major hotel chains and Air-B&Bs. 5. Avoid connecting to free public WiFi whenever possible. If you’re traveling abroad, keep in mind some countries may not have the same regulations on public Wi-Fi as we do in the US. If you have to connect to Wi-Fi, using the ones offered at most major hotel chains is your safest bet. If you're staying at a privately owned establishment, don't risk it. If you absolutely, positivity have to use that free public Wi-Fi, use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your computer or smart device to keep cybercriminals from intercepting your personal data. 6. Turn off Bluetooth on your devices ... and your Wi-Fi Hot Spot too. Bluetooth headphones and other devices are great to use, but you want to turn off your Bluetooth and your WiFi as criminals can use these connections to access your devices without your knowledge. 7. Put Your Devices in the hotel safe if you don't take them. It's worth the price of using the hotel room safe to store your smart devices if you decide not to take them with you. Things you should consider putting the safe are things like laptops, USB drives, external hard drives, or and portable technology. Never leave these things
lying around your hotel room and don't think housekeeping won't check out your drawers to see what goodies you have lying around.
It's not like you need one more thing to worry about on vacation, but you should take a few moments to take steps to protect your personal information while on vacation. If you follow the above steps for all of your gadgets before you leave can help you enjoy your vacation with peace of mind.
Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. Need computer or technology help? If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.
Your Health
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What are the essential vitamins for people over 50? by Sean M. Crosetti, MBA, PharmD, Crosetti Health & Wellness Last week I had the pleasure to speak to a group of people about the needs of supplements for people over 50 years of age; it included specific supplements for people taking certain classes of medications and the vitamins essential for that age group. In that spirit I will discuss with you the vitamins/minerals that are essential to those people (daily amounts based on a person with normal body functions): Vitamin D Without this vitamin, the body is not able to efficiently absorb Calcium; so this vitamin is essential for the maintenance of bone density and health. Vitamin D may also help reduce the risk of heart disease, inflammation, and diabetes. You can get this from fatty fish, fish liver oils, fruit juice, dark green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, fortified dairy, and fortified cereals. The other way to get Vitamin D is through sunlight on the skin. The amount received is dependent upon the strength of the sunlight, the use of sunscreen, the amount of time in the sun, and the degree of pigmentation of the skin. As we are spending more time
in inside instead of outside the need for supplements has increased. The daily recommended amount of Vitamin D if you are age 51–70, is at least 15 mcg (600 IU) each day, but not more than 100 mcg (4,000 IU). If you are over age 70, you need at least 20 mcg (800 IU), but not more than 100 mcg (4,000 IU). Calcium As stated above, this mineral is essential for the maintenance of bone density and health. Something to keep in mind, it is much, much, much easier to maintain good bone density than to try to repair bone loss (actually it is almost impossible to repair bone loss). You can get calcium from milk and other dairy, some forms of tofu, darkgreen leafy vegetables, soybeans, canned sardines and salmon with bones, and calcium-fortified foods The daily recommended amount of Calcium for men 51-70 is 1,000 mg and for men over 71, it is 1,200 mg per day. For women, no matter the age, is 1,200 mg per day. One other thing, if you are being treated at all for bone weakness/low bone density/osteoporosis and not taking a Calcium and Vitamin D supplement, you are wasting your time/
effort/money. Your current intake of Calcium got you to this state of poor bone density, only an increase in Calcium absorption will allow the other changes to take affect. Vitamin B12 This Vitamin keeps the body’s nerve and blood cells health which can help with anemia, Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration, etc. You can get this vitamin from meat, fish, poultry, milk, and fortified breakfast cereals The daily recommended amount of Vitamin B12 is 2.4 mcg for both men and women Vitamin B6 Vitamin B6 aids in the production of neurotransmitters. These help brain and nerve cells transmit to each other with key benefits to metabolism, immunity, memory loss, arthritis, and diabetes. Vitamin B6 is found in a wide variety of foods including: fish, beef liver, starchy vegetables, and fruit (other than citrus). The daily recommended amount of Vitamin B6 for men is 1.7 mg. For women 1.5 mg per day.
Plants on your plate: Tomatoes by Denise Sullivan, University of Missouri Extension America’s most popular home garden plant happens to be my favorite (and most successful crop) as well. It doesn’t matter if it is fresh from the garden or prepared into a favorite sauce or salsa, the versatility of the tomato makes it easy to understand why it is America’s favorite. Tomatoes belong to the Solanaceae family, more commonly known as the nightshade family. Other members of the Solanaceae family include peppers, potatoes, tomatillos, eggplant, and even tobacco. For centuries, the association with the nightshade family coupled with the strong scent given off by the plant, led to the myth that tomatoes were truly poisonous. Long before it was considered fit to eat, it was grown only as an ornamental garden plant, sometimes called "love apple." Tomatoes are native to the Andes of Peru, where they first grew in the wild as a bright red, marble-sized, cherry-
type tomato. Gradually, they would spread throughout South America and north into Central America but then the trail goes cold until Christopher Columbus’ travels to and from the ‘new world’, which would eventually land the fruit in Spain in the mid-16th century. Over the next several decades, different cultivars spread through Spain, France and Italy and became a widely accepted food in the Mediterranean region. As the tomato varieties spread north and east through Europe, they were not as widely accepted among the English and German and were thought to be poisonous. As the colonies established in the United States, the tomato became less feared. One of the earliest notable growers of tomatoes was none other than Thomas Jefferson, a remarkably progressive Virginia farmer as well as a statesman, who grew them in the late 1780’s. By the early 1800’s, tomatoes had become a common enhancement in the Creole gumbos and jambalayas of Southern cooking. By 1850, the tomato
had made its way into most American urban markets and today is grown world -wide, where the temperate seasons allow. California, Florida, and Georgia lead tomato production in the US. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and fiber. They are also one of the richest sources of lycopene, a phytonutrient that shows great promise in cancer prevention. It’s worth noting that the amount of lycopene increases when tomatoes are cooked, as in a sauce. Regardless of that fact, salsa is still my favorite way to enjoy tomatoes. This Greek salsa recipe is a twist on the southwest favorite and gives a nod to the Mediterranean region who first accepted tomatoes. Denise Sullivan is a Nutrition and Health Education Specialist for MU Extension in the Urban West Region, serving Jackson and Platte Counties. For research-based nutrition and food safety information and programs, visit https:// extension.missouri.edu/counties/urbanwest-region
Vitamin B9 Studies have shown the Vitamin to slow or prevent memory loss, helps convert carbohydrates in energy, protect skin from premature aging, and increase red blood cell production. Vitamin B9 can be found in vegetables and fruit, such as broccoli, brussel sprouts, spinach, and oranges. It can also be found in nuts, beans, and peas. The daily recommended amount of Vitamin B9 is 400 mcg DFE (400 mcg as food, 667 mcg as supplement with food, 800 mcg as supplement without food) Almost all these essential elemental needs can be met with a good daily vitamin taken every day. Please remember each person is different and the required dosing to maintain efficient body function may differ from what is written in this article and to consult with your care provider when you are going to start/stop/ change any prescribed medication or over the counter supplement. Please feel free to reach out to us at Info@Crosettis.com, or your care provider, with any questions about this article. Let me know if you would like me to write about a topic of your interest.
Greek Salsa with Pita Chips 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tsp. dried oregano 1 tsp. sugar ¼ c. red wine vinegar ¼ c. extra-virgin olive oil 2 c. tomato, diced 2 c. cucumber, diced ½ c. pitted Kalamata olives, chopped ½ c. red onion, diced ½ c. Feta cheese, crumbled 8 pita rounds 1. Wash hands and preparation surfaces. 2. To make dressing, combine garlic, oregano, sugar, red wine vinegar, and olive oil in a small jar and shake to combine. Set aside. 3. Wash tomatoes, cucumbers, and onion. Dice tomatoes, and onion and place in a large bowl. Add the olives and toss with dressing to coat. Chill for at least 30 minutes. Add feta cheese just before serving with pita chips. 4. Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut each pita round in half, then split to separate halves. Cut each pita section into four wedges. (Each pita round will make 16 wedges.) Place wedges on baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes or until lightly browned and crisp. Nutrition information: Calories: 157, Total Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 262mg, Carbohydrates: 20g, Fiber: 2g, Protein: 4g Recipe adapted from delish.com, analyzed by verywellfit.com
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Home & Garden
Protect your feet when tackling home improvement projects (StatePoint) Did you know many home and yard projects contain hidden dangers for your feet? The good news though, according to foot and ankle surgeons, is most injuries are avoidable if you take appropriate precautions. Amber Shane, DPM, FACFAS, an Orlando-area foot and ankle surgeon and Fellow Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, sees many patients coming in with foot and ankle injuries from home improvement projects gone wrong. “Feet may be the last thing people think about while working on home improvement projects, but we see so many different types of foot and ankle injuries in our office -many of which can be avoided with proper shoe wear and extra caution,” Dr.
THEME: KIDS CLASSICS
Shane says. Dr. Shane advises to avoid working in bare feet or in sandals when engaging in any projects around the house, even the projects that seem harmless such as power washing decks or using a ladder. According to Dr. Shane, if you’re not paying close attention while power washing, and not keeping a firm grip on the machine, the stream from the washer can hit your feet instead of your intended object. “The pressure from a heavy-duty power washer is strong enough to take off the superficial layer of skin, especially on the toes. So, it’s best to wear fully closed-toed shoes to help avoid injury or damage to the skin,” she says. Dr. Shane recommends wearing a
sturdy, supportive shoe with good treads when doing roofing work or projects that require climbing up and down a ladder. “Sturdy shoes will provide proper traction to keep a good grip and prevent any slipping. Repeated climbing on ladders without good support can lead to injuries, including stress fractures and neuromas or nerve compressions,” she says. When working on wood surfaces such as decks or flooring, it’s best to wear closed-toe shoes to save your feet from slivers or puncture wounds from nails or wood splinters. Dr. Shane suggests, “To help protect your feet from injury, avoid wearing flip flops or soft-soled shoes, such as popular foamtype clogs, while in a construction zone
ACROSS 1. E-wallet content 6. Pen ____ 9. *Rubik's ____ 13. Bryan Stevenson's "Just ____" 14. *____-Wan Kenobi 15. Egyptian falcon-headed deity 16. Top of a steeple 17. *"____-I-Am" 18. Vernacular 19. *"Walking" spring toy 21. *Purple dinosaur 23. Foot the bill 24. Smidgen 25. *KIDZ ____ 28. Like a mattress? 30. Stay clear of 35. *Dumbo's were huge 37. *Arnold Lobel's "Frog and ____" 39. Emotional punishment 40. At the summit of 41. Young hooter 43. Shakespeare's hometown river 44. Increase rpms (2 words) 46. *Pinocchio or Baron Munchausen, e.g. 47. Retired, shortened 48. Soft palate vibrations 50. Bob of the boxing world 52. Bovine hangout 53. Give the cold shoulder 55. Unagi on sushi menu 57. *Place called Sesame 60. *Place for Pong and Pac-Man 63. Semolina source 64. It would 66. Mourning fabric 68. Arterial blood vessel 69. Atlantic catch 70. Partner of pains 71. Emeralds and rubies 72. *One of "Little Women" 73. Haul something heavy
with exposed wood.” If an injury does occur, Dr. Shane recommends contacting a foot and ankle surgeon near you to have the injury properly examined and treated, or for serious injuries, visiting the closest emergency room. To find a foot and ankle surgeon in your area and for more healthy feet tips, visit the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons’ patient education website at FootHealthFacts.org. DIY projects can bring tremendous joy and satisfaction to homeowners. At the same time, they are associated with certain risks. Use proper care and precaution to keep your feet safe and injury-free.
DOWN 1. German river 2. Large edible mushroom, pl. 3. Seed covering 4. Substitute for tender 5. *Shenzi, Banzai and Ed in "Lion King" 6. *One in a pocketful 7. Lawyers' league 8. Horizontal bar dance 9. It's knee high by the Fourth of July? 10. Strong desire 11. Channel marker 12. Eastern Standard Time 15. What bullies do 20. City in Japan 22. Past tense of eat 24. Popular salad dressing 25. *Winnie and Paddington 26. Derived from oats 27. Utah city 29. Thanksgiving turkey, e.g. 31. Burn to a crisp 32. Václav of Czechoslovakia 33. Be theatrical 34. *One of the Darling children 36. Horse prod 38. Letter opener 42. More true 45. Bygone Spanish money 49. "He said, ___ said" 51. Place that attracts visitors, pl. 54. Ancient city in Africa 56. Cooler clime conifer 57. *"One, two, buckle my ____" 58. Four years in the White House, e.g. 59. *"____ of NIMH" 60. *____ Walker, American Girl 61. *"Matilda" and "The Gremlins" author 62. *"The Three Musketeers" sword 63. Tail action 65. *Huck's friend 67. Sixth sense
Outdoors & Recreation
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MDC fall hunting booklets available for deer, turkey, dove, waterfowl by Joe Jerek, Missouri Department of Conservation Missouri deer and turkey hunters and waterfowl and dove hunters can get the most current information on upcoming fall hunting from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) 2021
Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting & Regulations Information booklet and Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest 2021-2022, available where permits are sold and online. The 2021 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting & Regulations Information booklet has detailed information on fall deer and turkey hunting seasons, limits, permits, managed hunts, regulations, conservation areas to hunt, post-harvest instructions, chronic wasting disease (CWD) updates, and more. The new booklet also has information on changes for the upcoming seasons, including: Camden, Laclede, McDonald, and Pulaski counties have been added to the CWD Management Zone. During Nov. 13–14, hunters who harvest a deer in the CWD Management Zone must take it (or the head) on the day of harvest to a CWD sampling station. Hunters may transport deer heads out of the CWD Management Zone and deliver them to any approved CWD sampling location within 48 hours of leaving the county of harvest, except on Nov. 13–14 when the head must be taken to a CWD sampling station on the day of harvest. The antler point restriction has been removed for Camden and Pulaski
counties. Hunters may now fill additional firearms antlerless permits in 17 counties. Hunters may now fill one firearms antlerless permit in Reynolds and Stoddard counties. Qualifying landowners may now receive two Resident Landowner Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits in Dent, Douglas, Maries, Phelps, Texas, and Wright counties. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season has been extended from three days to nine. New managed deer hunts have been added, and others have been removed or modified. Hunters without hunter education may now participate in most managed deer hunts, but they must hunt in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult hunter who is huntereducation certified or exempt. Deer hunting regulations have changed for some conservation areas. The 2021 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting & Regulations Information booklet is available where permits are sold and online at mdc.mo.gov/about-us/aboutregulations/fall-deer-turkey-huntingregulations-information. MDC’s new Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest for the 20212022 hunting season is now available where permits are sold and online. The handy, free guide has detailed information on waterfowl hunting along with hunting doves and several other
Lake City Range free day at the range on July 17th; shotgun reloading class on July 24th Lake City Shooting Range is hosting a free day at the range on Saturday, July 17th from 10:00am—4:30pm. During regular operating hours, the hourly fee is $4/hour for rifle, pistol, trap and skeet, and archery ranges. Lake City will also host a shotgun reloading class on Saturday, July 24th from 8:00am—9:30am. This class covers the basic equipment, materials, and techniques needed to reload ammunition and customize the loads to your firearms. We will demonstrate the process and then give you some handson experience reloading ammunition. All equipment and materials are provided. Registrants must be 18 years of age or older. Call 816-249-3194 to register. A crossbow shooting class will be held Saturday, July 31st from 1:00pm— 3:00pm at the range. Registration required (ages 10+, ages 10-15 must be accompanied by a participating adult). Crossbows have been used since the
Photo credit: MDC time of ancient Greece. Their design makes for a fast, efficient hunting device and they are also fun and exciting to shoot. Come learn how to properly handle these bows and see what it takes to be on target. Lake City Shooting Range is located at 28505 E Truman Road on the north side of Landahl Park. For more information or to register for upcoming events, call 816- 249-3194.
migratory game birds such as rail, snipe, and woodcock. It also has information on needed permits and duck-stamp requirements, hunting seasons and limits, hunting areas, regulations, and more. The new Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest also has new information for the upcoming season, including: New duck-season-date formulas were approved by the Conservation Department for 2021 through 2025. The boundary between the North and Middle zones has changed near St. Louis and between Columbia and Miami. Learn more about waterfowl hunting in Missouri and view the new Migratory
Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Digest online at mdc.mo.gov/huntingtrapping/species/waterfowl. Get more information on dove hunting, along with other game-bird species, online at mdc.mo.gov/huntingtrapping/species. Buy Missouri hunting and fishing permits from numerous vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/ permits , or through MDC’s free mobile
2021 hunting and regulations booklets for deer, turkey, dove, and waterfowl are now available where where permits are sold and online at www.mdc.mo.gov. Photo credit: MDC app, MO Hunting, available for download through Google Play or the App Store.
Sports
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Chapman finds success after move to JCCC by Michael Smith Coming out of Grain Valley High School in 2020, Max Chapman had a lot of promise. He was ranked the third best lefthanded pitcher in Missouri and the 42nd best prospect in the state according to perfectgame.org. At the time, the lefty was committed to Wichita State, one of the top NCAA Division I programs in the Midwest. However, when Chapman didn’t feel like he was going to get enough playing time with the Shockers, he elected to play for Johnson County Community College (JCCC), and it turned out to be a great decision for the soon-to-be
college sophomore. During his freshman season, he made 13 appearances and started seven games for the Cavaliers and finished with a 4-2 record, a save, a 2.73 earnedrun average and a team-high 72 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings pitched, helping Johnson County break the school record for wins in a season with 43. “It’s a program I have been really familiar with. My dad went there,” Chapman said. “When I made the decision to transfer to Johnson County from Wichita State, I was comfortable with the decision.”
2020 Grain Valley graduate Max Chapman made a successful move from Wichita State to JCCC and is enjoying a successful summer in the Ban Johnson league. Photo credit: Cody Thorn His season was good enough to earn First-Team All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference East Division and Second-Team All-Region VI honors. In the Ban Johnson summer league, with the Building Champions team, Chapman has been just as good. Before Monday’s game against the Milgram Mustangs, had a 1.50 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 12 innings. “He was one of the league leaders in several categories,” Building Champions manager Jim Hernandez said. “He’s been pitching extremely well for us. “He has a bunch of different pitches that he can throw for strikes and he keeps the ball down extremely well. That makes him very effective. He is one of the main guys we go to for pitching.” Playing in Ban Johnson has allowed Chapman to catch up with former teammates as six others who graduated from Grain Valley play in the league. “It’s great to see old faces that I have not seen in awhile,” Chapman said. “It gets a little more competitive out there
when you face one of your friends. You compete for bragging rights. It was fun playing against Mason (Rogers) today.” Currently. Chapman primarily uses a fastball-curveball combination but he’s been working on adding a changeup to his repertoire. “The curveball is my best pitch,” Chapman said. “I get a lot of strikeouts on that. The fastball was good this season also. Hopefully next year I can have a full three-pitch arsenal. “I am working on stride length and trying to stay level to be more athletic on the mound.” Chapman has one more year left to play for the Cavaliers before possibly transferring and extending his playing career. The sophomore said he hopes to land with a Division I team again and get a similar amount of playing time that he received with Johnson County. “Being at the Division I level before, I obviously want to get back there,” Chapman said. “But I really want to find some place that’s going to get me the best opportunity.”
Childers named to All-Midwest team 2021
Grain
Valley
graduate Raena Childers
High
School
was named
to the 2021 United Soccer Coaches spring girls high school all-central region team. Childers is the first GVHS student to be honored at this level.
Photo credit: Valley News staff
Sports
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Smith having breakout season as hitter with Post 379 by Michael Smith Fans of the Grain Valley varsity baseball team had an exciting season to watch in 2021 after it went to the Class 5 state championship game and finished in second place. With some seniors graduating, there will be some new faces entering the fold in 2022. One of those could be Bryce Smith, who will be entering his senior year this fall at Grain Valley High School. Smith played for the junior varsity squad last spring and was exclusively a pitcher. During that season, he only had one at bat. This summer, with the Oak Grove Post 379 American Legion team, he’s having a breakout season as a hitter. Smith has a .375 batting average, a .979 on-base-plus-slugging percentage, 16 runs and 15 RBIs in 16 games played. On the mound, Smith has a 4.61 earned-run average, 1.97 walks and hits per inning pitched, 22 walks and 22 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings pitched. He’s shown his versatility by playing second base and pitching. He could be a valuable asset for the Eagles next season as he aims to make the varsity squad. “I definitely want to make that team and help them as much as I can at any
position and pitching especially,” Smith said. Post 379 manager Jeff Wright said he thinks Smith has what it takes to make the Grain Valley varsity squad. “I will be happy if the Grain Valley coaches give him a chance to play,” Wright said. “I know Grain Valley has a lot of talent and opportunities are few and far between with the numbers they have. He has the ability to warrant a spot on the roster.” While he’s been primarily a pitcher for Grain Valley, Smith said he could see himself getting more at bats for them in 2022. “Not hitting this past year really motivated me to go out and really hit the ball this summer,” Smith said. “Last year I really struggled, so this year I worked on a lot of things. I changed a lot.” And his bat has been a big reason Post 379 is one of the top teams in the American Legion Zone 2 division and has a winning record at 17-8-1. “He’s definitely provided a solid bat and has been a consistent run producer for us,” Wright said. “It’s pretty impressive considering he only had one at bat in high school.”
His pitching will be key for the rest of Post 379’s season, as well. A lot of his success depends on how well he locates and throws his off-speed pitches. “If I am not feeling my changeup or curveball really well, then I have to use my fastball a lot,” Smith said. “That’s when people start to make contact because they can read that. Sometimes when all my pitches are on fire, that’s when I can strike out a lot of people.” However, Wright and the rest of the Oak Grove squad hope Smith can get healthy in time for the Zone 2 Tournament next week. During last week’s annual Wood Bat Invitational, Smith suffered a hip injury. “It’s been going on for a month and it was so minor that I didn’t really think about it,” Smith said. “I just injured it in the Wood Bat Tournament really badly. I just hope I can play in the Zone 2 Tournament.” Added Wright: “If everything works out right, I am hoping to get him back next week. It makes it hurt that he’s not playing right now. He’s an important part of this team.”
Incoming GVHS senior Bryce Smith is having a breakout season as a hitter with the Oak Grove Post 379 American Legion team. Photo courtesy Bryce Smith.
Valley Speedway hosts Thunder in the Valley this weekend Valley Speedway will host some of the fastest Midget race car teams in the country at Thunder in the Valley Powri national Midget show Friday, July 16th and Saturday, July 17th. The event will also feature top non wing Powri WAR series sprint cars and SMVR Vintage car series. Event Classes Valley non wing Sprint car: POWRi WAR Sprints Valley Powri Midgets: POWRi National Midgets with POWRi West Midgets, POWRi SMVR Adults are $20 Kids 6 to 12 are $10 Free for 5 and under. Tickets can be purchased online at www.valleyspeedway.com or at the gate day of the event. Gates open at 5:30 hot laps start at 6:30. Valley Speedway is located at 348 E Old US Highway 40.
Results from July 3rd Points Race Night: Dirt Demons A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 121-Eric Schmidt[2]; 2. 15-Roman Stump[3]; 3. 13JR-Nick Dangerfield[1]; 4. 117-Levi Cox[4]
Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 13JR-Nick Dangerfield[2]; 2. 121-Eric Schmidt[3]; 3. 15-Roman Stump[4]; 4. 117-Levi Cox[1] E Mods A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 21K-Coleman Browning[2]; 2. 33-Jeremy Curless[3]; 3. 86-Doug Brisbin[5]; 4. 1M-Mike Ryun[1]; 5. 22-Dustin Dillon[6]; 6. 65-Jason Smith[7]; 7. 75-Rayce Martin[4] Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 1M-Mike Ryun[5]; 2. 21KColeman Browning[2]; 3. 33-Jeremy Curless [4]; 4. 75-Rayce Martin[3]; 5. 86-Doug Brisbin[6]; 6. 65-Jason Smith[1]; 7. 22-Dustin Dillon[7] IMCA Northern SportMod A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. T25-Tim Stallbaumer[7]; 2. 81-Austin Charles[9]; 3. 93SS-Chad Shaw[10]; 4. 81JR-Dan Charles [6]; 5. 33-Jeremy Curless[5]; 6. 41D-RJ Dishong[3]; 7. 13M-Kraig Maple[1]; 8. 29-Stanley Boose[2]; 9. (DNF) 66X-Chris Wright[8]; 10. (DNF) 73-Bobby Grove[11]; 11. (DNF) 02Donald Johnston[4] Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 81JR-Dan Charles[3]; 2. 93SS-Chad Shaw[5]; 3. 66X-Chris Wright[4]; 4. 29-Stanley Boose[1]; 5. 02-Donald Johnston[2]; 6. 73-Bobby Grove[6] Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 81-Austin Charles[4]; 2. T25-Tim Stallbaumer[3]; 3. 13M-Kraig Maple [5]; 4. 33-Jeremy Curless[2]; 5. 41D-RJ Dis-
File photo. Photo credit: Valley News staff hong[1] IMCA Stars Mod Lites A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 46-Dillon Raffurty [8]; 2. 64-David Raffurty[5]; 3. 4K-Garrett Stonum[2]; 4. 75-Justin Raffurty[6]; 5. 3XLJosh Guy[1]; 6. 52-Clayton Hogie[10]; 7. 3Nathan Wolfe[4]; 8. 41-Michael Raffurty[7]; 9. 33-Marlin Hogie[9]; 10. 414-John Spitler [12]; 11. (DNF) 34-Tyler Furrell[3]; 12. (DNF) 84Joe Gunn[11]; 13. (DNF) X-Dayton Kelley[13] Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 46-Dillon Raffurty[5]; 2. 3Nathan Wolfe[3]; 3. 4K-Garrett Stonum[2]; 4. 75-Justin Raffurty[4]; 5. 52-Clayton Hogie [6]; 6. 84-Joe Gunn[1]; 7. X-Dayton Kelley[7]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 64-David Raffurty[3]; 2. 34-Tyler Furrell[2]; 3. 3XL-Josh Guy[1]; 4. 41Michael Raffurty[4]; 5. 33-Marlin Hogie[5]; 6. 414-John Spitler[6] IMCA Stock Car A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 46-JJ Baumli[6]; 2. X9-Brad Whitney[1]; 3. 211-Dale Eaton[3]; 4. 99-Brian Labonte[2]; 5. 94J-Josh Steele[5]; 6. 91-Brad labonte[4] Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. X9-Brad Whitney[1]; 2. 211Dale Eaton[3]; 3. 91-Brad labonte[4]; 4. 99Brian Labonte[2]; 5. 94J-Josh Steele[5]; 6. 46-JJ Baumli[6]
How to request public records in Kansas and Missouri
Community Calendar
by Emily Wolf, The Kansas City Beacon Journalists often request public records as part of their jobs, but anyone can do it. Court records. Government salary databases. Policies. Reports. Budgets. All that information (and more) can be requested by the public. In Missouri, public records can be requested under the Missouri Sunshine Law. All records of public government bodies within the state are available to the public unless otherwise specified with an exemption. Kansas has a similar law, called the Kansas Open Records Act. Both the Missouri Sunshine Law and the Kansas Open Records Act only apply to their respective states. These are separate laws from the Freedom of Information Act, which only apply to federal records. It’s best not to use the term “FOIA” when making requests to state or local governments. Interested in filing your own public records request in Missouri or Kansas? The Kansas City Beacon has put together a guide for requesting public records — including whom to contact, when they’re required to respond and what records might be closed by law. How to file a record request To file a public records request in Missouri or Kansas, find the records custodian of the department you’re requesting information from. A records custodian is the person who is in charge of fulfilling the request, and addressing your request to them will get quicker results. Some departments have their records custodians listed online. If it’s not online, email or call the department and ask for the custodian’s name and contact information. When writing your request, be as specific as you can. This will help the custodian understand exactly what records you’re looking for. If you know the name of the records you’re requesting, use that name in your request. For example, if it’s a specific report or document. If you know the general subject, but not what it’s called within the department, provide a clear explanation of what you’re looking for and ask that the custodian call you if there is any confusion regarding your request. Provide multiple means to contact you, including your email and phone number. You can request that records be sent to your email or that you receive physical copies by mail. It’s best to provide requests in writing so that there’s proof of when you made the request and what it was for. Kansas City, Missouri, offers an online records request portal where you can submit a request to any of the city’s departments. The portal will keep you updated on the status of your request, and you can send requests for more detailed updates through the portal as well. What are the response deadlines? In both Missouri and Kansas, records
custodians have three business days from the time they receive a request to acknowledge it. Acknowledging the request simply means responding and confirming that they received it; actual fulfillment of the request generally takes longer. You can ask for an estimate of how long it will take to fulfill the request. Time estimates can range dramatically depending on the kind and breadth of records requested. Records custodians may also ask for an extension past the time they initially promised, which is allowed under law. If a promised deadline comes and goes without results, reach back out to the records custodian using the same email chain you started initially. Remind them of the promised deadline, how long you’ve been waiting and your desire to get the documents as quickly as possible. How much does a records request cost? Departments may charge for the work required to produce and replicate the records. In Missouri, departments are required to have the lowest hourly paid employee do the work, and they can charge an hourly rate for that work. In cases where documents must be redacted by legal professionals before release, these hourly rates can get expensive. Just because an agency sends you a charge does not mean you have to immediately agree to pay the amount they’ve estimated. Ask for an itemized receipt explaining the charges for each document. In many cases, you can haggle your way into a cheaper records request — or get them for free. You may also request a fee waiver. Journalists often request waivers because they intend to use the records in a story for the public interest. While records custodians do not have to grant a waiver, asking never hurts. Records closed by law Some government records are protected by law. Records containing an individual’s medical history, for example, are protected under privacy laws. Contracts between an agency and a company that contain proprietary information can also be deemed confidential. The full scope of records that can be kept confidential is explained within the Missouri Sunshine Law and the Kansas Open Records Act. Before you send a request, read through the exceptions to your state’s law and ensure that you’re not requesting confidential information. If a records custodian refuses to hand over records, ask them to cite the portion of the law that allows for it. If they can’t, the records are rightfully yours — it just may take pointing that fact out to get them.
Monday, July 19, 2021
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Grow a Reader Storytime 10:00am—10:10am Join library staff for short and sweet storytimes. We say hello, read a story, and say goodbye. Perfect for on the go days when we are a bit wigglier. www.mymcpl.org/events
Creating videos for social media 6:00pm—7:00pm Join us for an hour-long discussion on the best practices to put in place when using video on social media. www.mymcpl.org/events
Tuesday, July 20, 2021 Police Department Community Forum 6:30pm First Baptist Church Grain Valley, 207 W Walnut Join officers for an opportunity to discuss current events and the impact of social media. This is an effort to join citizens and those who serve our community in an informal setting, to enhance knowledge of resources available to promote individual, family, business, and community growth.
Monday, July 26, 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.
Tuesday, August 10, 2021 Grain Valley Historical Society Ice Cream Social 5:00pm—8:00pm $6/adults, $4/students
September 10-11, 2021 Grain Valley Fair www.grainvalleyfair.org
Add your community event at www.grainvalleynews.com.
Grain Valley Community Calendar sponsored by
Crosetti Health & Wellness
PHARMACY C O V I D - 1 9 Va c c i n e — Wa l k - I n s We l c o m e R a p i d C O V I D Te s t i n g — Please call to schedule
Now Open at 510 N Main, Grain Valley 9:00am - 7:00pm Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 1:00pm Saturday
8 1 6 - 8 4 7 - 6 9 3 0 | w w w. c ro s e t t i s . c o m
This story was originally published by The Kansas City Beacon, an online news outlet focused on local, in-depth journalism in the public interest.
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