Valley News www.grainvalleynews.com
JULY 18, 2019
Vol. 2, No. 29
FREE
Experts Warn Of Silent Killer In Your Home While most homeowners are aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide and the importance of maintaining smoke detectors, there is another potential hazard to be aware of in your home. Excessive levels of radon in the home is a prevalent issue and agencies such as the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) are working to educate homeowners about the risks. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the nation and is classified as a "Class A" carcinogen. Radon (Rn) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gaseous radioactive element that occurs from the natural breakdown of uranium in the soil and rocks. According to DHSS, radon becomes a risk indoors because as it continues to break down, it emits atomic particles that upon entering the lungs can alter the DNA and increase lung cancer risk.
Radon is measured in picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air and there are estimated risks to health from the exposure depending on the concentration. DHSS and the EPA recommend if the concentration of radon is 4 pCi/L or greater, then remediation should be done to lower risks. Smoking greatly increases the risk of cancer in environments with elevated radon exposure. Tom Manz with ResCom Radon Solutions in Blue Springs, is certified for residential, multi-family and large building testing and mitigation, and has had the opportunity to test and mitigate several school district buildings in the West-Central Missouri area. “Radon is a serious health hazard but thankfully there is a simple and relatively inexpensive solution,” Manz said. “The EPA has determined that the KC Metro area is in radon intensity level 1
which means that 40-50% of the homes tested would have an elevated level above 4.0 pCi/L (picocuries of radiation in a liter of air). The World Health Organization which primarily covers Europe and Canada has set their “action” level at 2.7. Action level is a term used to alert homeowners that radon reduction is strongly recommended. We frequently find homes in the Eastern Jackson County area that test in the 8.0 – 12.0 range. However, we have had some test as high as 50.0 – 60.0”. Despite the health risks, public health experts and practitioners such as Manz find that most homeowners are unaware of the issue. “Homeowners and buyers are generally unaware of the health hazard of radon as well as the frequency of elevated radon in this area. Realtors are home sellers’ and buyers’ primary source of information and many realtors are encouraging buyers to do radon testing
during the home inspection process. However, there is still a large percentage of realtors that are uninformed or don’t promote testing. Most newer homes have finished basements frequently used for bedrooms, home offices, media rooms, etc. where family members spend a large amount of time. This makes radon testing and awareness even more of a critical issue. More education is definitely needed as state laws in Missouri do not require radon testing be done in the sale process.” DHSS provides a wealth of information on their website, https://health.mo.gov/ living/environment/radon/, for homeowners and potential buyers. Manz also offers to meet with realtors, HOA’s and other community groups to provide radon information presentations. “At our annual Region 7 EPA radon stakeholders meeting, there is always a
see RADON on page 2
Good News: Summer Break Edition
We asked readers to share their summer break Good News with us. Thanks to everyone who shared their business news, school news, vacation photos, and community news. We want to hear from you! Have a story for our Good News feature? Send us a message on Facebook, Twitter (@grainvalleynews) or email news@grainvalleynews.com.
Nene’’s Attic Thrift Store in Nene Grain Valley has been open less than three months and has already donated seven times to help save shelter pups! And….$.59 And….$.59 clothes!” clothes!”
We just got back from a very tough dance competition for our daughter Harper, and she got to dance in 3 National dances!”” Champion dances! - Cathy Allie, Grain Valley
Teachers and administrators from Grain Valley High School canvassed the community to place 176 signs in front of the residences of students who earned a score of "3" or higher on one or more of the Advanced Placement (AP) exams this spring. Photo credit: Grain Valley Schools
Swam in the deep blue ocean. It was over 1000 feet deep here! Atlantic Ocean, on the Bahamas.”” way back from the Bahamas. - Nicki Garrett
G R A I N VA L L E Y N E W S LOCALLY FOCUSED. FAMILY OWNED. PUBLISHED WEEKLY.
Local News
Page 2
RADON
continued from page 1
speaker who has radon-induced lung cancer, most of the time having been unaware their home or workplace had unsafe levels of radon. We also know people who have lost family members to radon-induced lung cancer locally which needlessly takes the lives of over 20,000 people each year. This really drives home the importance of the radon testing and mitigation industry. The frequently used motto for radon awareness is, TEST – FIX – SAVE A LIFE,” Manz said. Manz emphasizes the need for homeowners and potential homebuyers to seek out qualified radon contractors. “Reputable radon contractors are certified through the AARST – NRPP (American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists – National Radon Proficiency Program) which is the leading EPA-recognized organization that oversees training and certification of radon contractors.
Missouri does not currently require state certification for contractors, but a listing of certified radon contractors may be located and verified at www.AARSTNRPP.com or https://health.mo.gov/ living/environment/radon/. Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services currently offers free test kits for Missouri residences from October 31 – March 31 each year. Radon test kits are also available year -round for purchase at most home improvement stores and online. Most kits run $10—$20, which includes the cost of mailing and reading the results. If elevated levels are found in a home, a contractor can install a mitigation system to lower radon levels. A standard radon mitigation system ranges from $700—$850, according to Manz. For more information, contact Missouri’s Radon Program at 573-7516102. Manz can be reached by phone at 816-804-1791.
Valley News
Grain Valley News is a free community paper, published weekly on Thursdays online at www.grainvalleynews.com and on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month in print. Cory Unrein | Co-Owner/Publisher John Unrein | Co-Owner/Production Manager Cathy Allie | Staff Writer, Proofreader Diana Luppens, Switch Focus Studios | Contributing Photographer John Overstreet | Contributing Photographer
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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 July 2—9, 2019. July 2, 2019 700 Block Main Street 1300 Block Stoneybrook 900 Block NW Long Drive 800 Block Meadowood Yennie/Walnut 700 Block Main Street 300 Block Woodbury Eagles Parkway/Minter Rd 1300 Block SW Graystone Circle 1100 Block NE McQuerry
Citizen Contact Unattended Death Suspicious Person Animal at Large Area Check Citizen Contact Fireworks Motor Vehicle Accident Fireworks Citizen Contact
July 3, 2019 1100 Block Ashley Lane 200 Block Kate Ct 400 Block Walnut 1100 Block RD Mize 300 Block Front 1100 Block Golfview 600 Block Walnut 700 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street 1000 Block Ryan Rd 1200 Block Hillsboro Dr 1100 Block NE McQuerry 300 Block Front Street
Alarm Alarm Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Found Property Disturbance Citizen Contact Stealing Stealing Alarm Citizen Contact Stealing Area Check
July 4, 2019 700 Block Main Street Rosewood Subdivision Sni-A-Barr/Eagles 900 Block Valleywoods Drive Lifestyle RV Park I 70 EB Ramp 1200 Block Cedar Lane Walnut/Main Street 600 Block Yennie 200 Block Parker 1500 Block Eagles Old 40 Hwy/Monkey Mountain 500 Block Woodbury
Citizen Contact Area Check Check Well Being Disturbance Alarm Motorist Assist Citizen Contact Suspicious Person Disturbance Fireworks Alarm Area Check Fireworks
July 5, 2019 700 Block Main Street Community Center 100 Block Broadway Old 40 Highway Old 40 Highway 300 Block Front Street 400 Block Orion 1200 Block Willow 200 Block Cypress 600 Block Yennie 700 Block Main Street 40 Highway/Meadow
Citizen Contact Tresspassing Disturbance Area Check Animal at Large Citizen Contact Fireworks Property Damage Disturbance Agency Assist (CJC) Citizen Contact Area Check
500 Block Woodbury Hackberry Court Honeylocust Ashley Drive 1200 Block Phelps Ct BB & Duncan Rd 800 Block Valley Woods Ct 700 Block Albatross Greystone/Erin Monkey Mountain 700 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street 400 Block Woodbury 700 Block Main Street
Fireworks Fireworks Fireworks Fireworks Fireworks Motorist Assist Agency Assist (CJC) Fireworks Fireworks Area Check Warrant Arrest Citizen Contact Animal Control Fingerprints
July 6, 2019 900 Block Sandy 1500 Block Red Oak Ct 600 Block Silverstone Ct 600 Block Walnut 700 Block Greystone 700 Block Main Street 100 Block Rock Creek Lane 700 Block Main Street 100 Block Sunny Lane 1300 Block Willow 1400 Block Mary Court
Fireworks Fireworks Barking Dog Disturbance Alarm Citizen Contact Alarm Citizen Contact Disturbance Area Check Check Well Being
July 7, 2019 Minter/AA 1400 Block Blue Branch Phelps Drive 1500 Block Nicholas Drive 700 Block Baytree Circle 700 Block Main Street McQuerry/Seymour
Agency Assist (JCSO) Fireworks Fireworks Stand by to Prevent Disturbance Stolen License Plate Animal at Large
July 8, 2019 1100 Block Willow Dr 700 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street West Bound I-70 23.6 MM 1100 Block RD Mize 200 Block Sni-A-Bar 500 Block Woodbury
Area Check Fraud Burglary Welfare Check Stop Order Citizen Contact Property Damage
July 9, 2019 700 Block Main Street 1200 Block Pamela 300 Block Hudson Barr Rd and Sawgrass 100 Block Cross Creek 1200 Block Willow Dr
Fingerprints Disturbance Agency Assist (BPD) Suspicious Person Citizen Contact Check Well Being
Page 3
Looking Back: History of Grain Valley High School by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
In 1868, just three years after the Civil War, one-half acre of land situated in the NE corner of the W ½ of NW, NE of section 34, township 49, range 30, was issued to the Board of Education, District No 3. This was granted by Britton M. Capelle and his wife. The year 1906 found the people of Grain Valley community very much interested in the establishment of a high school. At the spring election, the six school districts including Grain Valley, Pink Hill, Round Grove, Oak Hill, Stony Point and Capelle were consolidated and a three room, two-year High School was built. Now the proposition, which had been almost defeated before was growing rapidly under new school board officials, with Dr. W.B. Johnson as president. On the 19th day of July, 1907, the Board of Education received and additional one and one-half acres from Mr. James N. Hall and wife, Nettie B. Hall. In September, 1907, when the first high school was opened at Grain Valley, only four students entered under the direction of Mr. Lawrence Dimmit. The subjects offered were Algebra, English, Ancient History, and Physical Geography. The next year the enrollment increased to fifteen and another teacher was added. Those graduating this year were Ora Morrison, Curtis Houston, Madge Butler Wagner, and Lily Ashcraft Tesch. These four received the honor of being the first to graduate from the Grain Valley High School. School interest increased, and in 1916 the third year was added, making it a first-class high school. At the same time another member was added to the faculty. In 1918 it was made a four-year high school. Athletics were brought into the school 1914 when basketball was introduced. However, the did not attempt football until 1923. The school has had many winning teams in both sports. The enrollment reached its peak in 1933, with 88 students enrolled. On November 7, 1925, we had the misfortune of losing our building by fire. Though the people fought it bravely, it was all in vain, nothing was saved from
Grain Valley Class of 1913 Mae Costigan. Anna Stephenson Otis Williams (Pictured at right. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society)
Graduation Program Class March
Miss Ollie Curry
Class Essay
Otis D. Williams
Tenor Solo.
Wayne Hudson
Oration
Anna Stephenson
Song
Otis (Brownie) Williams
Oration
Mae Costigan
Song
Male Quartette
Annual Address
E. C. Hamilton
Piano Solo
Miss Ollie Curry
Solo
Pearl Stillwell
Presentation of Diplomas Dr. W. B. Johnson Music by Oak Grove Orchestra the burning structure. The term was finished in business houses, and churches while $60,000 bonds were voted and with the aid of the insurance the new $75,000 building was constructed. It was dedicated in the fall of 1926. There are at present seventy-two students enrolled in our high school under the direction of our four teachers: Mr. Paul J. Farley, Superintendent; Mr. Noel Wilkinson, Principal; Miss Lela Gutherey and Miss Esther Humphreys. The school now takes part in the many contests conducted by the
Western Missouri Conference, of which Grain Valley is a member. Some of the contests in which we have entered in the past are: debating, declamation, oration, one-act play, music, basketball, baseball and track. Grain Valley has had the honor during the past few years of holding the music contest and the basketball tournament for the Western Missouri Conference. - Frank Sebolt
The article you just read was written for Grain Valley’s first yearbook, published in 1936. Frank Sebolt was a member of the senior class and their class motto was “Not at the top, but climbing.” I know I said this would be the final week for the school series, but when I found this history in the old yearbook, I thought it needed to be shared.
Please Join Us!
Grain Valley Historical Society's Annual Ice Cream Social Armstrong Park
Thursday, July 25 | 6 PM to 8 PM Homemade ice cream and desserts
$6 for adults and $4 for children under 12.
Business News
Page 4 August Events At Library
Focus On Building Your Business The Grain Valley branch of the MidContinent Public Library (MCPL) is offering a series of free events in August for job seekers and those seeking to start or build a business. Tools for Job Seekers: Resumes and Online Applications Tuesday, August 13, 2019 10:30am—Noon Acquire the basic tools needed when applying for jobs online. This class will include resume assistance and tips for filling out online job applications. Daycare Resources Open House Wednesday, August 14, 2019 6:30pm—8:00pm Looking for ways to grow your business? The Library has free resources to help you. Whether it is adding value to your childcare services or bringing more excitement and enjoyment to your families, the library has the tools you need. During the open house, attendees can advantage of resources that MCPL has to offer such as taking a personalized a tour of the Library, exploring library resources to help small businesses grow, learning about keys to kindergarten readiness,
checking out the new early literacy kits, and enjoying an opportunity to network with other local child-care providers. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. For more information, please contact Scott Rader at srader@mymcpl.org or 816.521.7228. Tools for Job Seekers: Online Presence Tuesday, August 20, 2019 10:30am— 10:30am—11:30am 11:30am This class will include tips for creating a professional social media presence or cleaning up your existing online profiles to help you put your best foot forward in today’s tough job market. LinkedIn Tuesday, August 27, 2019 10:30am— 10:30am—11:30am 11:30am Are you interested in learning how to make connections with peers in your profession and stay up to date with the latest business trends? Come learn about LinkedIn and how you can get started. Registration is required for all events. To register, visit www.mymcpl.org/ events.
Upcoming Partnership Events Unwind After 5 Thursday, July 18, 2019 NeNe’s Attic Thrift Store 110 S. Buckner Tarsney Road 5:00pm—7:00pm
State of the School District Luncheon Tuesday, August 6, 2019 Grain Valley High School 11:30am—1:00pm Visit www.growgrainvalley.org for more information and to register.
Business News is provided weekly by the Grain Valley Partnership, whose mission is to be a leader in the growth of Grain Valley.
The Grain Valley Partnership is located at 1450 SW Eagles Parkway, and can be reached by phone, 816-443-5162 or via email at info@growgrainvalley.org.
Learn more about the Partnership: www.growgrainvalley.org
Community Voices
Page 5
Wayne’s World
A Story I’ve Been Itching To Tell by Wayne Geiger
As an adult, I have always been a student at heart and loved to learn. My high school days were a different story and perhaps the subject of a future article. But, as an adult, I love to do research and expand my horizons. At times, I tend to be a skeptic and a frequent visitor of Snopes.com. Perhaps, that’s why I can identify with Nathanael. In the Gospel of John, a guy named Philip tells Nathanael that he has found the Messiah—Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael’s response is classic, and he says, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip says in response, “come and see” (See John 1:45-46). Maybe Nathanael knew that Jesus was to come from Bethlehem and not Nazareth. From Nathanael’s perspective, Nazareth was a little hole in the wall town with not more than a couple hundred people who lived there. What’s worse, Nazareth was a city of revolt. Several times in history the Roman army came to Nazareth to execute judgment—on one occasion crucifying 2000 Jews—many of whom in Nazareth and surrounding areas. The thought of Jesus coming out of Nazareth was beyond his comprehension and way outside of his box. Philip didn’t try to argue, he simply invited Nathanael to see for himself. Some years ago, my family and I had just moved to South Louisiana. We were super excited to be moving into a new home and city—and all the new experiences that went along with it. One of the first things I needed to do was some lawn maintenance. The grass needed to be cut, the bushes needed to be trimmed, and there were vines growing all over the place. It looked really messy. It was a full day of
work with the lawnmower, weed eater, rake, and other lawn equipment. When I finished, it looked great! The next morning, I noticed a bumpy rash on my arm that was a little itchy. No big deal. As the day went on, it itched occasionally, but it wasn’t too bad. That night, however, the need to scratch woke me up out of a sound sleep and I found myself itching feverishly, not only a small spot on my arm, but my entire arm—and now my other arm! I figured I had contracted some type of an allergic reaction to something that I had eaten or drank. I got up and took some Benadryl and put calamine lotion on my arms and tried, somewhat unsuccessfully, to go back to sleep. The next day, I kept calamine lotion on and it wasn’t too itchy. I figured whatever it was would work its way out of my system. Again, that night as I tried to sleep, I tossed, turned, and itched all night—not only my arms, but I realized the blistering rash had now spread to my legs. I applied more lotion. I looked like a leper and was extremely miserable. The next day, I connected with a friend and showed them my arm. Thankfully, they identified my problem: “Oh, you’ve got poison ivy!” Whatever you do, do not scratch. If you scratch it, you’ll break the blisters and it will spread!” Too late I thought. Growing up in Miami, and not spending much time in the woods, I had never seen or experienced poison ivy before. But my guess was that’s exactly what the vine was that was growing up all over the back yard that I had ripped down and placed in garbage bags. Apparently, the ivy was not willing to go quietly and had inflicted one final revenge. “How long will it
last?” I asked. “I could last a week, or so,” was his reply. I counted the days and realized I was about halfway to a week by now. “I’ll just ride it out” I thought. I was now blistered on my arms, legs, and torso and was scratching like crazy. “Dummy me,” I thought, “I’ve been itching and have spread the stuff all over my body.” Now, I wondered how long this would last and was it possible that I would perpetually scratch, break the blisters, and cause the blisters to spread (rinse, repeat)! My first thought was just wrapping myself up in ace bandages, but I feared looking like a mummy or a victim of an unfortunate accident. My wife took great pity and went to the store and found every type of itch relief and poison ivy cream and remedy that they offered. They helped a little. But, as much as I tried not to scratch, I just couldn’t help it—especially at night. I would wake up scratching like a wild animal. I neglected to take my wife’s advice and go to the doctor and decided to go online and read up on poison ivy. Turns out, my research was extremely helpful. The truth is, poison ivy does not spread from scratching. The problem with poison ivy is the oil that the plant produces. When the oil gets onto your skin it causes an allergic reaction for many people. The problem is not the blisters, but the oil. The oil is bad stuff and can spread by simple contact. For example, if you have the oil on one arm and touch the other arm it could spread and get into your system. Or, worse, if you have it on your shoe from the day before, you could get it—or even if your dog goes outside and gets into it and you pet the dog!
Thankfully, there are preventative measures that you can take to prevent the oils from getting onto you. In addition, a simple shower can wash off the oils (depending on the timing, it might have still gotten into your skin, but at least it won’t spread). However, scratching it and breaking the blisters do not cause the poison ivy to spread. Looking back, when I asked a friend what I had—he knew it was poison ivy. However, he didn’t know much more than that. His knowledge was based upon information that had been handed down to him. He wasn’t trying to be deceitful but was just passing on information that he believed to be true and helpful. It wasn’t. It turns out, research into the truth was the key. Philip simply invited Nathanael to come and see—to check it out for himself and do his own research. That was great advice. An interesting twist to Nathanael’s story is that, unbeknownst to many, Jesus was not born in Nazareth, but simply grew up there. He was born, as was prophesied in the Old Testament, in Bethlehem and was, indeed the promised Messiah. It turns out some of the information Nathanael had was a little jaded and a little research was all that was needed. Philip’s invitation led to Nathanael’s personal investigation and eventual transformation.
Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer. He can be reached at waynegeiger.com.
Home & Garden
Page 6
Herbs—A Fresh Idea by Tracey Shaffer, RD, LD
Planting a garden? Plant herbs.
Getting ready to grill? Grill with herbs.
Oregano:
Known as the “pizza herb”, oregano,
Herbs have been grown and cultivated
along with basil, gives food an Italian
5000 BC.
oregano adds a wonderful flavor to egg
for thousands of years – as far back as
may help lower bad cholesterol and rev up metabolism.
flavor. Besides pizza and pasta dishes,
Parsley:
and cheese dishes.
garnish. But eat it instead. It will freshen
many meals. Ancient healers used
fried eggs instead of salt, or sauté fresh
many dishes. Sprinkle chopped parsley
conditions and for overall good health.
oregano. Yum!
Throughout the centuries, cooks have
used herbs to liven up the flavor of herbs as a remedy to treat various
You too can enjoy the health benefits
and flavor of herbs. Remember to add fresh herbs at the end of cooking and add at least twice as much as dried
Try sprinkling a dash of oregano on
vegetables in olive oil with garlic and
Remember to plant antioxidant-rich
oregano in your garden to enjoy all summer long.
herbs.
Chiles:
Basil:
penetrate even the most humble dish
most commonly used in Mediterranean
chiles tend to be milder, while small
A member of the mint family, basil is
and Asian cuisine. Add to salads,
linguine and other pasta dishes. It
grows easily in Midwest gardens. Basil is rich in antioxidants and acts as an anti-inflammatory.
Woodsy and warm flavors will
with a snip or two of chili peppers. Big chiles are the hottest. All chiles grow well in home garden plots.
In the fall, hang the plants upside
down to dry. Chili peppers contain
capsaicin, a powerful antioxidant that
Fall Vegetable Gardening Time by Cathy Bylinowski, University of Missouri Extension—Jackson County I hope you are enjoying some fresh summer vegetables from your own garden. Onions, green beans, potatoes, okra, Swiss chard, and turnips are just a few of the crops that you could be picking now or finding in your local farmers market. It might seem too early, but now is the time to start planting fall vegetable crops. Plant warm season vegetables crops that take 50 to 70 days to mature now for picking before a fall frost or freeze. Crops such as green beans, cucumbers, and summer squash are good candidates for this first round of fall planting. Later in August and September, we can start planting the cool season crops again. These crops prefer the cooler temperatures of fall and quickly mature. Some will even tolerate a light frost or freeze. Good examples of these later fall crops are arugula, lettuce, and spinach. Check the back of the seed envelope and the MU Extension vegetable planting calendar- https:// extension2.missouri.edu/g6201 for more detailed information on days to maturity and fall planting dates of
various crops. With a little extra work and attention to planting dates, you can be picking vegetables from your garden well into November and sometimes into December. University of Missouri Extension has a great resource called Seasonal and Simple. Simple It is a guide to a wide range of information on vegetables. You can go to the website seasonalandsimple.info or download the app. To download, simply go the App Store or Android Market and search “seasonal and simple”. Next month, we will get some tips and recipes from experienced University of Missouri Extension nutrition educators on vegetable recipes that kids will enjoy. Feel free to contact Tamra Reall, Field Horticulture Specialist or Cathy Bylinowski, Horticulture Instructor at University of Missouri ExtensionJackson County, 1600 NE Coronado Drive, Blue Springs, Missouri 64014, 816-2525051, if you have questions about vegetable gardening, ornamental landscaping, home fruit production, and garden insects.
Read Valley News weekly online at www.grainvalleynews.com.
Sure, parsley looks pretty as a
your breath and perk up the flavor of
on potatoes, toss into marinades and dressings and add as a seasoning to
most any type of salad. It is filled with nutrients such as vitamins A, C and K.
Crushed PeachPeach-Raspberry Tea with Fresh Basil
Naturally sweet and refreshing tea All You Need
2 fresh peaches
1 pint raspberries
Pinch of black pepper 2 cups black tea
1 tbsp fresh basil Sugar to taste
Parsley grows well in gardens.
Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD is a registered dietitian at the Blue Springs Hy-Vee. She can be reached at tshaffer@hy-vee.com. The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.
All You Do: Do
Puree peaches and raspberries with a sprinkle of black pepper. Strain into a
large jug. Add tea and basil. Add sugar
to taste. Garnish glasses with sprigs of fresh basil.
Nutrition Facts: 40 calories, 8 g carbs, 2 g protein, 150 mg sodium.
Sports
Page 7
Royals Increasing Homegrown Talent by John Unrein
The Kansas City Royals are mired in a losing season. It’s hard to hear a conversation or read a story about the team that doesn’t involve the word “rebuild.” Prognosticators are projecting when the trove of young arms within the organization is going to reach the major leagues. Names like Singer, Lynch, Kowar, and Bubic. Most of the names just mentioned, who were high recent draft picks, have an estimated time of arrival of 2020 or 2021 for the big leagues. This means the team’s window to compete again could be approaching faster than one may realize. Expediting this process would be the Royals ability to draft or sign and develop position players within the organization who are contributing steadily at the Major League level. It has not been uncommon for Royals Manager Ned Yost to send a lineup card to home plate with eight of the nine spots filled in with homegrown talent. Rounding out the eight would be Whit Merrifield, Aldaberto Mondesi, Alex Gordon, Hunter
Dozier, Cheslor Cuthbert, Nicky Lopez, Bubba Starling, and Cam Gallagher. That means every position on the field is filled within someone who originated within the organization. This is not as common of a feat as one might think within baseball or any professional sport for that matter. The ninth player rounding out the lineup would be Jorge Soler in the Designated Hitter spot. He’s on pace to have a 40-home run season after coming over from the Chicago Cubs for Wade Davis in a December 2016 trade. All of this highlights an important fact. General Manager Dayton Moore, Royals scouts, and the player development department are identifying and fostering the growth of talent. This allows an organization to be self sufficient in producing a lineup with a slighter payroll as a small market team. You don’t have to spend an abundance of money in free agency if you don’t have consistent holes to fill in your lineup. Furthermore, you know what you are likely to get from the players you developed having watched
Grain Valley Players Fare Well At Jaguar Slam Grain Valley was well represented in the Jaguar Slam tennis tournament, held as a part of the KC Summer Slam Series. The KC Summer Slam Series is a series of four tournaments hosted during the summer months. These events allow Kansas City area tennis players to work on their game outside the season. Players earn points for each slam event, and a KC Summer Slam Champion is crowned at the end of the summer. Additionally, each player earns points for their current high school team, and a KC Summer Slam Team Champion will be named at the conclusion of the series.
them grow up within your farm system. A statistic that’s used frequently to measure how successfully you are contributing to your team is Wins Above Replacement or WAR. Pro Baseball Reference defines WAR as a “non-standardized baseball statistic developed to sum up a players total contribution to his team. A players WAR value is claimed to be the number of additional wins his team achieved above the number of expected wins if that player were substituted with a replacement level player.” Wins Above Replacement is a statistic that tries to get the value of a player down to one number if you will. The Kansas City Royals WAR for the week of July 15th may be found at the end of this article for their starting lineup per Pro Baseball Reference. This only includes position players and not their pitching staff. The team is not out of reach of competing to win the American League Central Division again in the coming years. A lot will depend on the talent accumulated and
developed in the starting pitching rotation and bullpen. The Royals are on their way again to having that homegrown feel like they did during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Whit Merrifield Aldaberto Mondesi Alex Gordon Hunter Dozier Cheslor Cuthbert Nicky Lopez Bubba Starling Cam Gallagher Jorge Soler
WAR: 2.6 WAR: 2.1 WAR: 1.3 WAR: 1.8 WAR: 0.0 WAR: 0.3 WAR: -0.1 WAR: -0.5 WAR: 0.5
Jackson County Awards Contract To Sell Stadium Seats
Jaguar Slam Winners: Novice Girls Singles: Brooklyn Spencer, Grain Valley Varsity Boys Doubles: Tristin Whitton, Grain Valley & Brady Slater, Grain Valley Varsity Girls Doubles: Ryan Deaton, Grain Valley & Alyssa Owens, Grain Valley Mixed Doubles: Alyssa Owens, Grain Valley & Brady Slater, Grain Valley The final tournament of the series, Hornet Slam, will be held July 23-25 at Staley High School and Oak Park High School.
Jackson County has awarded a contract to Schneider Industries, in partnership with S&S Seating, Inc. (SI TEAM), for the repurposing and selling of seats from Arrowhead Stadium. “I’m very excited the taxpayers of Jackson County will have an opportunity to own a piece of Chiefs history from the loudest stadium in the NFL,” said Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. “For many fans, these items hold sentimental value.” Under the proposed agreement, Schneider Industries will provide the County with an upfront payment of $75,000, which will cover the County’s costs for the storage and moving of seats. The County and Schneider Industries will share 50% of all net proceeds from sales. The County estimates the sale of 3,150 seat units, a mix of single and double seats, could result in approximately $266,675. Funds raised will be used to make all Parks system playgrounds fully accessible. “We have 21 playgrounds throughout our Parks system and of those, nine need to be upgraded to fully accessible,” said Michele Newman, Parks + Rec Director. Jackson County residents will have first priority to the seat sale for at least 24 hours before the start of sales to the general public. The SI Team will manage the sale via an online site, which is expected to launch close to the start of the Chiefs regular season. Final prices
Photo credit: Jackson County, Missouri
for seats are not yet determined. Schneider Industries project list includes work for the St. Louis Blues Hockey Arena (1994), Dallas Texas Stadium (2009) and the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit (2018). S&S Seating, Inc. has been involved in almost every single stadium seat extraction operation in the last 20 years, including projects at Atlanta Falcon County Stadium (1996), Milwaukee County Stadium (2000), RCA Dome (2008) and Atlanta Falcons Georgia Dome (2017).
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Community Calendar Saturday, July 20, 2019
Insects: Intro to Entomology Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, Blue Springs 9:00am to 11:00am Register by July 19 https://mdc.mo.gov/events-s3? field_rel_regions_tid=63. 3-2-1 Blast Off Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 2:00pm—3:00pm Travel back to meet Galileo and Isaac Newton to learn about gravity. Build your own rocket and launch it with a mixture of solid (NaHCO3) and liquid (HOH) fuels and see it rise off the launch pad. Register online: www.mymcpl.org/ events
Monday, July 22, 2019
Senior Coffee Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 9:00am—11:00am Time to visit with friends and make new ones. Free. Senior Yoga Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 10:30am—11:15am
$2 or Free for SilverSneakers, Silver & Fit, and Renew Active Members Board of Aldermen Meeting Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main Street 7:00pm
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Native Plants: Summer's Bounty Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, Blue Springs 9:00am to 11:00am Register by July 22 https://mdc.mo.gov/events-s3? field_rel_regions_tid=63. Now Playing for Kids: Space Jam Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 6:00pm—7:00pm Escape to the Library for an adventure on the Big Screen.
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Insects: It's a Bugs Life Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, Blue Springs Wednesday, July 24, 2019 10:00am to 11:30am Register by July 23 https://mdc.mo.gov/events-s3? field_rel_regions_tid=63.
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Thursday, July 25, 2019
6th Grade Transition Day Grain Valley Schools 8:30am—Noon Held at each middle school for incoming 6th grade students. www.grainvalleyschools.org Historical Society Ice Cream Society Armstrong Park 6:00pm—8:00pm Homemade ice cream and desserts $6/adults, $4 children 12 and under Outdoor Skills: Lure Fishing Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, Blue Springs 9:30am to 12:00pm Register by July 24 https://mdc.mo.gov/events-s3? field_rel_regions_tid=63
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Bright Futures Breakfast Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 7:30am—9:00am Bright Futures will host its annual breakfast to celebrate this past year's successes and to discuss goals to help our community work together as a network to help our students in need. https://grainvalleyschools.org/ get_involved/bright_futures
Sunday, August 4, 2019
5th Annual Cruise for Consciousness Grain Valley Community Center Pavilion 713 Main Street 11:00am—3:00pm Car show benefiting Purple Peace Foundation for Epilepsy Awareness $10 to pre-register, $20 day of event No charge for attendees www.purplepeacefoundation.org
Monday, August 5, 2019
Play and Learn Time Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 5:30pm—6:30pm Enjoy a special preschool playtime that is designed to stimulate young minds and strengthen early literacy skills.
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
National Night Out Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main Street 6:00pm—8:30pm Grain Valley Police Department hosts this event, inviting families to join in a night of free fun and education. K-9 and bomb squad demonstrations, free drinks and hot dogs.
Add your community event online at www.grainvalleynews.com.