Valley News: August 6, 2020 by grainvalleynews

Valley News www.grainvalleynews.com

AUGUST 6, 2020

Plans For Amended School Year Underway Grain Valley Schools, in line with several other districts in the area, has decided to delay the start of school and develop a hybrid model of instruction for students in grades 6-12. The School Board voted during a special meeting on July 30th to change the start of the school year to Tuesday, September 8th. The Board also approved a recommendation by the administration to change to a hybrid model of instruction for students in grades 612. Families will continue to have full time virtual as an option. Middle school and high school students with a last name beginning with A-J will be in person on Mondays

and Wednesdays and those with last names beginning with K-Z will be in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will learn virtually from home the other three days each week. Elementary students will attend school in person full time. The Early Childhood Center will also begin school with its traditional in-person model. “Jackson County health ofﬁcials have asked school districts to consider starting the school year virtually and to delay the start of the school year until after Labor Day - both due to case numbers in Jackson County trending the wrong direction. We have chosen the option we feel responds to county

see SCHOOLS on page 6

Good News: Stock Up This Tax-Free Weekend Missouri’s Sales Tax Holiday begins on Friday, August 7th and runs through Sunday, August 9th. Certain back-toschool 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. The following items are included in the sales tax holiday: “Clothing” - any article of wearing apparel intended to be worn on or about the human body including, but not limited to, disposable diapers for infants or adults and footwear. Each article of clothing must have a taxable value of $100 or less. “Personal computers” - a laptop, desktop, or tower computer system which consists of a central processing unit, random access memory, a storage

drive, a display monitor, a keyboard, and devices designed for use in conjunction with a personal computer. Personal computers and computer peripheral devices cannot exceed $1,500. “School supplies” - any item normally used by students in a standard classroom for educational purposes, including but not limited to, textbooks, notebooks, paper, writing instruments, crayons, art supplies, rulers, book bags, back packs, handheld calculators, graphing calculators, chalk, maps, and globes. The value of each school supply purchase is not to exceed $50. In addition, school supplies shall also include graphing calculators valued at $150 or less and computer software having a taxable value of $350 or less.

Vol. 3, No. 31

FREE

Grain Valley Fair To Continue With Modiﬁcations One of the beloved traditions of fall in Grain Valley, the Grain Valley Fair, plans to continue this year with modiﬁcations due to the ongoing COVID -19 pandemic.. The Fair, scheduled for Friday, September 11th and Saturday, September 12th, will be held in its usual location at Armstrong Park, but gone are many of the traditional events. Mike Todd, Grain Valley Fair committee member, said the carnival will not be held due to the complications of social distancing and safety protocols. “There will be no carnival because social distancing is almost impossible and the amount of riders they are limited to along with the additional staff they have to have to disinfect the rides each time makes it a non money maker for them,” Todd said. The parade has also been canceled because social distancing cannot be guaranteed along the parade route. “A lot of people are packed into a pretty small area standing shoulder to shoulder and we want to make sure to be as safe as possible,” Todd said. The 3rd annual Grain Valley Fair 5K is currently scheduled to continue as an in -person event, with a virtual 5K option as well. The 5K is planned for Saturday, September 12th at 8:00am. A link to register for the 5K event can be found on the fair website, www.grainvalleyfair.com.

Those who come to the fair for food are in luck. Friday evening will feature food vendors and some of the popular food trucks featured at this summer’s Food Truck Friday events. The food vendors and trucks will be located in the parking lots behind the Community Center where the fair is traditionally located. The committee is looking at starting the event around 5:00pm. With plenty of space in the area, the committee hopes to be able to include a beer garden that would meet social distancing requirements. “Music is still up in the air and will depend on where we are at on the county's opening plan at that point,” Todd said. Food vendors and select food trucks will be back on Saturday, September 12th in the parking lot area. A select number of non food fair vendors are also planned. “We will also have them set up around the track behind the pavilion. They will be in their own pop up tents and will all be spaced at least 10 feet apart,” Todd said. Much depends upon the status of Jackson County’s reopening plan, so many details remain tentative. Additional details will be provided on the Fair’s website, www.grainvalleyfair.com, and on the Fair’s Facebook page.

While the traditional carnival rides and parade are not possible this year, the Grain Valley Fair hopes to continue the annual tradition in some form September 11-12. Photo credit: Grain Valley Fair

3rd Annual Grain Valley Fair 5K Saturday, September 12, 2020 | 8:00am | Virtual 5K option. Proceeds from this event will be donated to the Mayor's Christmas Tree Fund, which donates money to local charities at Christmas time.

Local News

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Police Blotter

Jackson County Food Inspection Report Jackson County Public Works Environmental Health Division inspects all restaurants, grocery stores, schools, mobile food and temporary food establishments in the City of Grain Valley. The following violations were reported in the last 30 days: MO Country 401 East South Outer Belt Road Observed multiple chemical bottles not labeled. Corrected on site. Manager labeled all unlabeled bottles. Observed a leak under the three compartment sink in the Crown Bar. Correct by 9/1Â˝020. Broken ceiling tiles in the kitchen. Correct by 9/1Â˝020. Canteen Vending Ave. C (Kohl's Dist. Center) 2015 NE Jefferson St. No violations recorded. Dollar General Store #9597 105 E. Rock Creek Lane No violations recorded. Temp-Stop #117 723 Main Street No violations recorded. Taco Bell 1101 Buckner Tarsney Road Observed pieces of cardboard being used to separate pre-packaged sauces. Corrected on site. Manager placed cardboard with a corrosionresistant, nonabsorbent, and smooth material. Corrected by:7/20/2020. Observed sticker residue on shelves above the make table. Correct By:9/18/2020. Establishment was unable to provide valid food handler cards for all employees. Correct by 8/19/2020.

Valley Speedway - Candy Land Location:348 E. Old U.S. 40 Hwy. No paper towels at hand washing sink. Correct by 9/25/2020. Sonic Drive In Location:706 N. Main St. Soda nozzles have an accumulation of stuck on debris. Corrected on site. Manager had employee clean and sanitize the soda nozzle. Damaged ceiling tiles in the storage area. Repeat violation. The wall by the mop sink is falling apart and is in disrepair. Correct by 9/27/2020. There is an excessive amount of grease build up in between the fryers and the reach in cooler and on the side of the reach in cooler. Excessive amount of black build up on the walls at mop sink. Correct by 9/27/2020. Price Chopper #325-Grocery/Dairy/Produce Location:1191 NE. McQuerry Rd. No violations recorded. El Tequilazo Cocina Y Cantina LLC Location:522 S Main Street No violations recorded. Valley Speedway Food Service / Impact Motor Sports Location:348 E. Old U.S. 40 Hwy. Ice scoop holder was dirty. Corrected. The outside of popcorn tub had build-up. Repeat violation. Correct by 9/25/2020.

Temp-Stop #117 723 Main ST Observed cardboard being used to store bottle beverages on in the drive thru reach in coolers. Corrected on site. Manager discarded the cardboard. Massive black build up on the gaskets in the biscuit reach in freezer at the prep station. Correct by 9/19/2020.

The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of July 22-28, 2020. July 22, 2020 1300 Block Pecan Dr 100 Block Sunny Ln 200 Block Broadway 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 600 Block Jefferson St 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 700 Block Albatross 700 Block Main St July 23, 2020 700 Bay Tree Circle EB I-70 300 Block Front St 1100 Block McQuerry 700 Block Main St AA Hwy 1200 Block Long BB Hwy and McQuerry 700 Block Main St 1100 Block Ephraim

Agency Assist (CJC) Disturbance Abandoned Auto Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Agency Assist (DFS) Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Suspicious Vehicle Citizen Contact

700 Block Main St 1000 Block Ryan Rd

Check the Well Being Agency Assist (CJC) Harassment Area Check Abandoned Auto Area Check Suspicious Vehicle Area Check Citizen Contact Stealing from Motor Vehicle Citizen Contact Suspicious Vehicle

July 24, 2020 1400 Block Olympic Dr Main St and US 40 Hwy 700 Block Main St 700 Block Ridgeview Kirby and Willow Dr Sandy Lane 200 Block Jefferson St 1100 Block Buckner Tarsney Rd Broadway and Young 1200 Block Scenic Dr

Alarm Motor Vehicle Accident Fraud Area Check Suspicious Juveniles Area Check Stealing Check the Well Being Area Check Noise Complaint

July 25, 2020 1300 Block Stoneybrooke Dr 600 Block Lakeview 34000 Block Old 40 Hwy 400 Block Graystone Dr 600 Block Woodbury Dr 600 Block Woodbury Dr 1100 Block Dean Dr

Agency Assist (CJC) Citizen Contact Motor Vehicle Accident Disturbance Suspicious Person Recovered Property Stealing

July 26, 2020 35000 Block Old 40 Hwy 1800 Block Nicholas Dr 700 Block Main St Duncan and BB Hwy 1200 Block Stockman Ct July 27, 2020 600 Block Yennie 1500 Block Erin Ct Vehicle 700 Block Main St Jefferson St RD Mize Rd & BB Hwy SW Eagles Pkwy & Sni-A-Bar 400 Block Wolf Creek Rd Main St & US 40 Hwy 2100 Block Dillingham 300 Block Valley Dr 600 Block Jefferson St 3000 Block Jefferson St 500 Block Capelle 1100 Block Ephraim 700 Block Nelson Dr 700 Block Main St 1400 Block Olympic Dr 3300 Block South Outer 100 Block Buckner Tarsney Rd 200 Block Jefferson St

Disturbance Birthday Drive By Citizen Contact Agency Assist (Public Works) Citizen Contact

Citizen Contact Stealing from Motor Citizen Contact Alarm Motor Vehicle Accident Motor Vehicle Accident Check the Well Being Check the Well Being Suspicious Person Suspicious Person Suspicious Person Alarm Open Door Agency Assist (CJC) Check the Well Being Citizen Contact Alarm Alarm Illegal Dumping Area Check

July 28, 2020 600 Block Yennie 500 Block Capelle 4800 Blk Buckner Tarsney Rd Sni-A-Bar & Cross Creek 1000 Block Dean Dr 200 Block Sni-A-Bar Pky

Motor Vehicle Accident Fireworks Animal Complaint Road Obstruction Property Damage Agency Assist (Hays KS PD) Web Park Agency Assist (OGPD) 1500 Block Jaclyn Dr Stealing from Motor Vehicle Bates City Prisoner Transport 3000 Block S Outer Belt Rd Alarm 100 Block Buckner Tarsney Rd Disturbance

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 Mail: PO Box 2972 Grain Valley MO 64029 Phone: 816.809.7984 Email: news@grainvalleynews.com Join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @grainvalleynews

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Looking Back: Early Additions To Grain Valley by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society James H. Cannon, Notary Public, acted on behalf of James Lucas to establish the town of Grain Valley on September 5, 1878. The town was situated on land flanking the newly laid tracks of the Chicago and Alton Railroad. Mr. Cannon, an astute businessman, had recently built his new mercantile business on land adjacent to and south of the new town. The land was purchased and platted in his wife’s name, Mary Elizabeth (Dyer) Cannon. The Cannon Addition 2 consisted of 13 lots and a small undefined triangle west of Main Street (or for a time, Broadway) and south of the railroad one block to Harris Street (known then as Main Street) Cannon Addition 1 was made up of 26 lots on block one and two between Harris Street and Broadway. Although there were 39 lots in total, only a few lots near the railroad and along the main north/south street were developed. When U. S. 40 Highway was complete in 1926 businesses were built on the southern edge of her property. But the majority of the Cannon Addition was not completed until the 1970s housing addition from Main Street west about four blocks. The final phase to Kirby Road wasn’t completed until the late 1990s. The Graves & Ashcraft Addition may have been the first property added to our town. It was made up of two blocks stretching 220 feet from Walnut Street

on the North to Front Street (then North Main Street) on the South. Block one was 245 feet wide and had twenty-one lots of varying sizes. Block two was slightly wider art 270 feet, but had only 19 lots. Twelve of the lots were 50 X 125-feet. John Graves was born in Howard County near Glasgow, Missouri, in 1852. According to the History of Jackson County Missouri, published in 1881, “In 1869-’70 he attended the State University at Columbia, Boone County, and in 1871 came to Kansas City, where he was employed ad clerk in a bank. In the fall of 1874 he commenced the grocery business, and two years later traded this for a farm in Johnson County, Kansas, where he resided two years. Then commenced business at this place; in engaged in the lumber business and is express agent.” He married Ida Porter in April of 1872. When his wife died in 1891 he packed up his children and moved to Kansas City to be closer to family. The 1880 U. S. Census names ﬁve different Ashcraft families living in Sni-A -Bar Township. John and Susan Ashcraft were married in Virginia before settling in Cooper County, Missouri. The other families all came from Cooper County, near Columbia. Could the small Graves & Ashcraft Addition have been owned by John & Sarah? Maybe Peter Ashcraft owned the land briefly before his wife died and he moved his family to

The Cannon Family Back row: Addie (Minter), Dermont, William, Annie (Luttrell) Front row: Blanche (Marmion), James H. & Mary, Mary (Williams) Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society Montana. Did William Otto and his wife Betty (St. Clair) Ashcraft own the land? Or maybe it was one of John and Susan’s sons. Perhaps Otto and his wife Rebecca sold the land before moving to Kingsville, Mo. The last possibility could be William T. Ashcraft and his wife Matilda. They had three daughters who remained in the area: Verdie Phillips, Rhodie Pearson, and

Lilly Tesch. Until COVID-19 is under control and I can do more research at the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds ofﬁce, the owner of the land in the Graves & Ashcraft Addition will have to remain a mystery. In the meantime think of the Ashcrafts as a big family that chose Grain Valley for their home in the 1880s and beyond.

Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society at 506 S. Main on Wednesdays or visit us online at www.grainvalleyhistory.com and Facebook (@grainvalleyhistory).

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Business

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6 Tech Tips To Help Your Entire Family Work From Home by Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we function as a family. I know many of you have experienced social distancing family gatherings. Going out for dinner means staying in as some of you opt for using dinner delivery services rather than eating in a restaurant. Movie night means a social distancing trip to the drive-in or streaming a movie because theatres are closed. The pandemic has also changed the way you work and how your kids go to school with your family huddled around tech devices as home as opposed to being in school or at the office. Doesn't matter if your family is new to 'working' from home or if you're an expert, here are a few tricks and tips to help you and your family stay productive and keep a healthy balance. 1. Call your Internet Service Provider and increase your Internet speed. Everything revolves around the Internet. If you and your family will be working from home every day, you need better and faster Internet. Your Internet download speed should be no lower than 50 Mbps (Megabits Per Second) if you have multiple people working and doing online schooling from home. If you're curious about how fast your Internet speed is, check out SpeedTest.net (www.speedtest.net). Regardless of your Internet provider, you can find out what speeds your household is experiencing. Check-in with your provider to see if you can take advantage of any special deals for Internet. If you've had some challenges with your home internet, visit HighSpeedInternet.com (www.highspeedinternet.com) to find out if there are providers in your area that can offer higher speeds. 2. Extend wireless to every corner in your home. Imagine how happy everyone in your household will be if you can extend the Internet to the dead zones. Unless you want your entire family huddled around the dining room table when it's time to

work, you need to get Wi-Fi everyone in your home. The most effective method is to have cable professionally run in your home so you can install Wi-Fi extenders, but this process isn't in everyone's budget. Google and Netgear make Wi-Fi Mesh networks that can help eliminate those dead areas. A Mesh network works by repeating your wireless signal from your router to those weak spots. My favorite method is to use a Powerline adapter from TP-Link or Netgear. A powerline adapter uses the power lines in your house to send a wired or wireless signal to those weak areas. Powerline adapters are very easy to set up which makes them the ideal solution to help you give the power of wifi to your family. 3. CyberSecurity is a Must. Don't forget to keep you and your family educated on the latest scams to make it during this pandemic. I know I share this in just about every blog post I make, but remember that 99% of cybercrime requires user interaction. As long as you're careful not to click on any strange emails, texts, web sites, download unknown apps, and don't give any personal information out, you're safe from most threats out there. If you're running a Windows or Macintosh computer, you already have anti-virus built-in. No need to spend extra money on those packages like Norton, McAfee, or Avast. If you are using video conferencing tools with your office, make sure you keep those secure conversations away from your smartphone hubs like Google Home or Amazon Alexa. These devices are designed to listen in to your conversations. Unplug them or work in a room without them during office hours. Finally, set up automatic backups for your information. Doesn't matter what device you work at home from, back up your stuff. Using cloud backup is the most beneficial way to get up to the minute backups. If you have a tablet, take advantage of Google Backup, or iCloud backup If you're using a computer, use Carbonite (www.carbonite.com) for your backups.

4. Purchase a good All in One printer. You never know when you or other members of your family might need to print, scan or fax (yes, I said fax) something out. When looking for an All in One printer, get one that holds half a ream of paper, has a sheet feeder, when scanning in documents and is AirPrint compatible (you don't know what you're missing until you print something from your, iPhone, iPad or Android phone or tablet). You should expect to spend over $100 for a good home printer which means stay away from those cheap printers. They will cause you nothing but headaches. Two of the best brands of printers to purchase are HP OfﬁceJet Series of printers and Epson's EcoTank printers. 5. Monitor your children’s online activities. The Internet is a pathway to many sites that many consider being dangerous for children. Keep them safe. When kids are using tech devices, it's so easy for them to get distracted. You can't watch them every minute, so you need to make sure they are doing what they should be doing. All Windows, Apple, and Android devices have parental controls on them, but having them use Apple and Android tablets are the best method, as the parental controls on those devices are very robust. Make sure you keep an eye on those gaming devices. Download and use the parental controls apps for the family XBOX, Playstation and Switch so you can lock them down. Keep them out of chat rooms on social media and on games. That friend your child is talking to could be an online predator grooming them. Finally, check those devices daily to make sure they aren't getting around parental controls and using safe Internet habits.

6. Create set 'office' hours. Working from home for your family can be distracting as there are so many things that pull you and your kids from those tasks you should be doing. First, make sure all of your household duties are done before your family workday. Dishes, making the bed, breakfast and other household chores that are unfinished can the eternal distraction that prevents you and your family from getting anything done. Next, create set hours for work and play in your household and stick to them. Finally, don't overdo it. If you or your kids need to take a break from working and tech, do it. Yes, you and your kids need to focus on the 'grind', but never isolate yourself too much. Make the most of your time at home to enjoy the company of your family. Once you get into a set pattern of working at home with your family, you might find it more relaxing and productive than the normal grind. Gone are the hectic schedule of trying to rush you and your kids out of the house to get to school and work. If you follow these steps and get into the groove of having your family work from home, you may never want to leave your house again. Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. If you prefer to connect with me on social media, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and watch great tech tip videos on my YouTube channel. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I want to make technology fun and exciting for you. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.

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Toast Of Towns Gala To Recognize Citizen Of The Year Honorees Truman Heartland Community Foundation will present this year’s Citizen of the Year honorees, selected by area mayors as a part of its 25th Annual Toast to Our Towns Gala, presented by CommunityAmerica Credit Union, online on Saturday, September 26, 2020. These local volunteers were chosen because they lend their time, talents and position to promote our communities. Grain Valley’s honoree will be Christina “Kiki” Claphan. A pillar in the Grain Valley community for over a decade, friends and family were shocked when Christina “Kiki” Claphan passed away suddenly in February 2020. Kiki’s legacy of kindness continues to make an impact throughout Eastern Jackson County. During her life, Kiki’s joyful spirit helped her connect with and instill conﬁdence in every child with whom she taught. A paraprofessional, Kiki spent the last ten years working with students with special needs in the Grain Valley School District. An active member of East Side Church in Independence, in 2017, Kiki developed and led a Sunday school class for children with special needs at the church. Kiki was always willing to lend a hand at school and in the community. For several years, Kiki played the role of Mrs. Claus in Grain Valley’s annual Holiday Festival and in the summer months, she supervised teenagers who worked for the city’s Parks & Recreation Department. Kiki went above and beyond to make the programs fun and exciting for participants with her contagious sense of adventure and excitement. A thoughtful mentor, she went to great lengths to ensure that each child in attendance felt special and important.

Known for her big caring hugs, the Grain Valley community celebrated her

Christina “Kiki” Claphan will be honored as Grain Valley’s Citizen of the Year as a part of the Truman Heartland Community Foundation’s Toast of Our Towns Gala. Claphan passed away February 2020; Claphan’s siblings Leslie Keys and Don Claphan will accept the award on her behalf. Photo courtesy: THCF life by championing the motto “Love Big, Hug On” and using #KindLikeKiki on shirts and social media. Kiki’s siblings, Leslie Keys and Don Claphan, will accept the award on her behalf. The Toast to Our Towns Gala will be held online on September 26, 2020. This one-hour celebration of philanthropy will start at 7:00 p.m. and broadcast to more than 40 different watch parties throughout Eastern Jackson County. Information about sponsoring a watch party is available at www.thcf.org/Gala.

Education

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SCHOOLS continued from page 1 concerns, while ensuring at least some in person instruction for all students. Going with our hybrid model for middle school and high school students hopefully sets up everyone involved with the greatest chance of a consistent and predictable routine,” Brad Welle, Deputy Superintendent, Student and Community Services, said. “By reducing the number of students who are in our middle schools and high school at one time, we reduce the likelihood that a confirmation of a positive case with one student leads to large numbers of students being excluded for 14 days at a time. Elementary students, by comparison, stay with the same group of classmates much of their day. If the need arises for a classroom of students to stay home along the way due to exposure, we are less likely to need to close an entire elementary school due to widespread inter-mingling of students like what you find in a middle school or high school operating at full capacity.” In an email to parents announcing the decision, the district stated it is committed to the hybrid model through at least September. In an effort to further reduce course loads at the high school level during this time, students will follow their “A” day schedule for the first nine weeks of the school year and their “B” day schedule for the second nine weeks. Middle school students will be equipped with Chromebooks, and high school students will be receiving Dell 3100 Chromebooks this fall. “The current plan is for students to come to the high school during their assigned date and time window for a ‘Chromebook swap’ where they will

receive their new device,” Welle said. Details regarding the Chromebook swap for high school students will be communicated by the school in the near future. The district had already planned to replace high school student Chromebook devices this school year. Devices still in good working condition will be used to supplement devices in elementary schools. While the elementary schools are planning in-person learning full-time, the district is implementing a new learning management system, called Seesaw, at the elementary level to support virtual learning. Families without access to the internet may contact their schools to request mobile hotspots for student use. While students have gained a few extra weeks of summer break, teachers and administrators have been hard at work preparing for the new school year. “By delaying the start of our school year by two weeks and beginning after Labor Day, we are able to front load a year's worth of teacher professional learning days before the ﬁrst day of school. The focus of our teacher training in August will be to support the adoption of the hybrid model in middle school and high school, and to prepare for any other need for online learning K-12 this year that arises. Our goal is for any virtual experience this year to look very different from last spring. We intend to set our parents up to be supportive parents to their children, rather than feeling like too much of the teaching burden for all these subjects is on them,” Welle said. Dr. Amanda Allen, Principal at Grain Valley North Middle School, said that

Missouri State Spring Graduates Missouri State University awarded 2,872 degrees to students in spring 2020. Students earned a total of 2,168 bachelor’s degrees, 592 master’s degrees, 98 doctorate degrees and 14 specialist degrees. Past the standard expectations, the university recognized 117 students for their work with a more rigorous curriculum in Missouri State’s Honors College. Several hundred students also received scholastic honors: 202 students graduated summa cum laude (with grade point averages of 3.94.0 on a 4.0 scale). 220 students graduated magna cum laude (with GPAs of 3.75-3.89). 398 students graduated cum laude (with GPAs of 3.5-3.74).

While Missouri State’s May 2020 commencement ceremony was canceled due to COVID-19, spring 2020 graduates have two opportunities to participate in an in-person commencement ceremony later this year at JQH Arena. The dates are Oct. 18 or Dec. 11. Grain Valley Graduates: Kaylyn Jean Gasser: Bachelor of Science in Education, Elementary Education , Summa Cum Laude Sydney L. Holcomb: Bachelor of Science, Marketing Grant Alexander Jones: Bachelor of Science, Exercise and Movement Science Christopher Ryan Minx: Bachelor of Science, Mathematics , Summa Cum Laude

teachers and administrators are excited to have students return to school this fall. “We are so thankful for the opportunity to see our students in person. Being in-person is essential to building relationships and connections with students. Ever since the decision for hybrid learning was made, I have witnessed our teachers immediately shift their planning to accommodate for part in-person and part virtual instruction. They are eager to meet their new students and see the new opportunities this learning model will bring, such as increased one-on-one time with smaller daily in-person numbers and more personalized and individual attention,” Allen said. Parents had a taste of online learning this past spring, but Allen explains the focus will be different in the fall. “Hybrid learning will vary greatly from the virtual learning last spring. While I believe our staff did a fantastic job of staying in contact with students last spring, our primary focus was not the learning of new material. In the spring, we focused mostly on maintaining school-home connections and making sure students knew that we cared and were there to support them. This fall, our teachers will receive extensive training in blended learning and virtual learning models. All teachers will have a learning management system and proper tool training for conducting online courses.” “With the hybrid learning model, secondary teachers will work to flip much of their direct instruction. Flipped instruction asks students to watch videos, complete and annotate readings, actively research, or practice new skills that will then be put to use during the in

-person instruction. Many of our teachers have spent their summer ﬁlming direct instruction videos for the upcoming school year. The in-person instruction will be a valuable time where students can collaborate (safely distanced), hold discussions and discourse, participate in hands-on activities (with elaborate cleaning protocols), and receive inperson feedback from their teachers.” While families had to adjust quickly in the spring to home-based learning, Allen has some tips for families to create the best learning environment at home. “Based on child development research and our own experiences as a district this past spring, we know that students perform better when a consistent routine is in place. Keeping a regular sleep schedule, establishing regular learning hours, and maintaining regular mealtimes on both virtual and in-person days will keep students more attentive and engaged in their learning. The other beneﬁt of keeping a schedule throughout the week is that it will better serve students when teachers are available for ‘live’ online help on Fridays during regular school hours,” Allen said. “The other key to success at home is frequent communication. Teachers, students, and parents/guardians should be in constant contact. With students attending in person two days a week and virtually three days a week, we want to ensure that the two in person days are not the only days that students interact with their teachers. Students will receive feedback virtually on online assignments that are essential to their education. It is essential that teachers and parents/guardians partner to keep students actively engaged and adjusted to the new instructional strategies.”

Community Voices

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Musings From The Middle All I Needed To Know About Life I Learned In High School Marching Band by Cathy Allie In honor of my daughter’s entry into high school marching band, I would like to dedicate this tribute to Mr. Leslie S. Anderson, my high school band director. Little did he know all these years later, that I finally figured out most of my useful life skills were learned in marching band. Initially a flute player, I drifted to the challenge of a piccolo, not just because it sounded all 1776’ish drum and fife like, but selfishly because the case was so small it could fit in my bookbag. Later, I joined the percussion section (certainly not based on a sense of rhythm, but more likely a crush on a bass drummer), where I flashed the biggest set of cymbals, creating pecs and shoulder muscles the likes of which I have not seen again on this aging body. I made some lifelong friends. My bandmates from back in the day are doctors, lawyers, dentists, actors, singers, parents, teachers, and columnists. Their lives well-led bring me joy. I traveled to some fabulous places for competitions, and I fundraised fiendishly. I learned the obvious things like discipline, teamwork, sacrifice, dedication to task, and that competition is healthy. A few more really important lessons, however, have served me very well through the years. Be on Time We practiced early in the morning on the day before our shows, and that meant being at school by 6:00 a.m. Mr. Anderson had the advantage of a very large band, and he told us at the beginning of the season we might not march if we were not on time, as he had plenty of subs. I made the rehearsals on time despite having to get up early enough to carefully apply my Love’s Baby Soft lotion and perfume and my bubble gum flavored Kissing Potion lip gloss. Mr. Anderson’s lesson was that being on time shows respect for the person you are meeting or the event you are attending. I like to be on time to this day, even though I have learned to give myself and others grace for tardiness. Measure Your Steps One of the beauties of marching band is that musicians have a designated number of steps to get to the next place they are going, and others are counting on them to be there to continue the show. And that is not just metaphorical waxing—literally, someone is counting on them to hit that mark. “Hey, Piccolos, by measure 48, you need to be at the 30 yard line. Got it?” A fellow marcher, Danny, was always in a hurry to get to the space, and my

marching shoes and heels felt his rush as he bumped into me more than once along the way. I always wished Danny would measure his steps a little more, and I have no doubt I let him know or returned the pain on occasion. There is a beautiful simplicity to having someone help you set a goal and expect that you will achieve it. Feel the Rhythm Every once in a while, Mr. Anderson had us practice with our eyes closed, just to feel the rhythms (and no doubt to encourage the required memorization). “We have done this show so many times, you ought to be able to do it with your eyes closed,” he would shout into the megaphone from his perch above the field. That was the intro to what we knew would produce some pretty comical outcomes, as the lead marcher misjudged the yard line and created a scene not unlike the one in Animal House, where row after row of the band just marches right into one another on the dead end street. But there was a method to Leslie Anderson’s madness. I literally knew that music by count and by step, its rhythm firmly entrenched in my brain. It took me a long time as an adult to realize that our lives are just a series of complicated rhythms, to which we should pay careful attention, and when we have our rhythms interrupted, we usually end up off track, looking to catch back up with the beat. Look to Your Colleagues to Stay in Line The difference between a championship performance and second place in many band competitions is something as simple as staying in line. We practiced staying in line all the time. Mr. Anderson would stand at the end of a line and look down it, hoping to see us in one myopic string. But there were lots of marchers over the years who just couldn’t stay in line. They would drift a little, and before you knew it, our line looked like a garden snake wending its way through the yard. We tried to gently adjust those out of line marchers, and sometimes we purposefully moved them back in line. Knowing how to stay in line myself, and help others do the same, came in handy in many jobs over the years. It doesn’t make me a wimp or an overzealous rule follower, rather one who escaped without reprimand, by fixing my eyes on solid colleagues who towed the line. Pay Attention to Appearance Despite the fact that my Farah Fawcett hairdo didn’t fit too well under our marching band hats, which were the

tall British soldier looking ones with white fur and a maroon feather plume, I loved my band uniform. We cleaned our white spats, worn snapped over our unattractive black shoes, until they were Clorox white. We actually brushed the fur on our hats, and

at the end of a ﬁnished project, where I can see all the small parts that made it a whole. It has helped me as a parent, to teach my daughter to take small steps toward big things she hopes to achieve. Be Prepared for Unexpected, Perhaps

Mr. Leslie S. Anderson, then and now. Photos courtesy Cathy Allie. we routinely did epaulet checks on the beautiful gold braided parts of our jackets, right before parade marches. Rain or shine, Mr. Anderson also dressed the part, wearing a collared shirt and tie to our performances as well, usually under a snappy looking windbreaker. And always, there would be a mention of how nice our band looked in the judges’ remarks, encouragement enough to give us the pride to keep up that appearance. Later, in the work world I noticed that neat appearances were appreciated and noted. It isn’t that we have to look a certain way to do a good job, but rather that by taking pride in our personal appearance, we create a culture of taking pride in other things we do as well. Lots of Small Parts Make a Pretty Good Whole Marching band taught me a sort of patience for the evolution of small parts which eventually join to form a whole. We trained in sections, and then eventually joined each other to run the whole show; not to say that our curiosity didn’t sometimes get the best of us, and we would peak at what the other folks were doing. Perhaps you can relate if you work jigsaw puzzles. I will stay up into the wee hours of the night just to finish a section because I know the next day we can find the piece that hooks it into the adjoining section. On a side note, my mother-in-law calls those puzzle pieces hookers, which I think is hilarious, especially when she says, “We just need to find a hooker, Cathy!” There is real satisfaction that comes

Unfair, Outcomes Every year, my band competed in the Lion’s Contest, one of the ﬁercest battles in the world for bands. That may be a slight exaggeration, but it was “bigly.” For weeks, we would tweak our show and add stunning details which were designed to boost us past our arch nemesis, Lafayette High School, and their crafty director J. Larry Moore. There were whispered rumors that Lafayette sent spies over to watch our practice. It seemed like someone’s cousin always marched for our big rival, and they would report that Lafayette had stolen our music or our formations. During that cold, crisp October, certainly families were divided over which band would hold the title that year, and even local businesses were asked to take a side and support a band in their advertisements. The contest winner would be named Kentucky’s Musical Ambassadors for the year. For weeks before the competition, Mr. Anderson hinted at an element of surprise he would add to the Saturday show. On Thursday night after rehearsal, he called us together and asked if we would be willing to practice on Friday night after the football game. “Yes!” we cried in unison, abandoning visions of Shakey’s pizza dates with boyfriends and best friend sleepovers! Mr. Anderson’s elaborate surprise involved our flag corps. My high school was in Lexington, Kentucky, and our corps wore white go-go boots, white shorts, and then the authentic thoroughbred jockey silk of a local horse farm as a top. Their flags matched their tops, the corps brought tears to people’s eyes, as people in Kentucky take horses seriously.

see MUSINGS on page 8

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MUSINGS continued from page 7 The demo Mr. Anderson showed us with a couple of privileged seniors who had been in on the planning shook us to the core! At one point late in our show, the flag corps literally laid down on their backs on the ﬁeld, where we stepped over them at the last minute, and then their flags shot immediately in the air behind us after we passed. Surely with this kind of pageantry, nee magic, we would beat Lafayette! We practiced well into the night, with parents posted like vigilantes in wood paneled station wagons at the chain link fence around the ﬁeld to make sure no one knew our secret. The Saturday morning of the

competition was sunny and cool, the perfect October day. Our rifles competed well. The drumline battle was masterful. And our parade performance was without flaw. All the was left was to march our newly revised show. We were second to last to compete, with Lafayette, as host school, holding the coveted last spot. Our drum majors led us onto the ﬁeld to the showy stick work and cadence of our drum corps. Rap tat tat tat. Boom bah bah boom bah bah boom. We launched into the show of our lifetimes. High steps, side steps, all crescendoing to the big moment where we stepped over the flags. I could feel

the whip of wind that came from the flag directly behind me. The crowd went wild. At least my parents and a few others did, I am told by legend. We retreated to the side hill to watch Lafayette perform. They plodded through their show, in our minds, shocked by our outstanding performance. We anticipated our big win. That is until the very end of Lafayette’s show, where they had a twist of their own. Instead of a fully advancing big brass sideline ﬁnish they were known for, they launched the beginning notes of a song that we all knew by heart…. Queen’s We are the Champions, while they marched into the shape of a #1. It was a snarky reminder of their win from the year before and a portent for the eventual outcome. Lafayette beat us that night, by a point. One point. Fair or unfair, they had played the same game as we did, and they beat us. Gentle readers, you can likely tell that I hold no enmity toward Lafayette, Lion’s Grand Champions that fall. But I did learn a valuable lesson. Our best efforts are just that-efforts. They may or may not produce the

outcome we hope for. And we must cope. And not some decades later write a whiney review of their performance. Mr. Anderson, thank you for the dedication you showed to band, to your marching family, to promoting good musicianship, and to the multiple lifelessons you taught, with just a wave of your baton. Harper Grace and band companions, you are in for the treat of having great fun marching, all the while learning truly valuable life lessons. I will be there to cheer you on!

THEME: BACK TO SCHOOL ACROSS 1. *Egg-like curve in math class 5. a.k.a. stand-up paddleboard 8. Not in good health 11. Flick part 12. *Roll ____ 13. Aerosol can emanation 15. On the mountain peak, e.g. 16. Arm bone 17. Grind down 18. *Proud jacket owner 20. Trident part 21. "Walking ____ ____" 22. Blazer or Explorer 23. Unit of money in Norway, pl. 26. Semiconductor additives 30. Farm layer 31. Agave alcoholic drink 34. Amos or Spelling 35. Analyze 37. Geisha's sash 38. South Korean metropolis 39. Capital of Ukraine 40. T.S. Eliot's "Old ____'s Book of Practical Cats" 42. Get ﬁrm 43. Temporary 45. Table linens 47. Where bugs are snug? 48. Nostradamus and such 50. Type of rich soil 52. *Where one graduated 56. Boatload 57. *Chemistry classrooms 58. Lake in Scotland 59. Arabian chieftain 60. Corset rod 61. Encore! 62. Former Chinese leader 63. "____ the ramparts..." 64. Arctic jaeger

DOWN 1. *Type of spoken test 2. *Class president candidate wants it 3. Loads, two words 4. Greek money 5. Game ragout 6. Of #16 Across 7. Architect's drawing 8. Used to eliminate wrinkles 9. Serve soup, e.g. 10. Sodium solution 12. Arrow poison 13. Establish, two words 14. *As opposed to public 19. Hostile force 22. "La" precursor 23. Shade of Dockers 24. Pine juice 25. Beginning of illness 26. *Valedictorian's spot 27. Gallows' rope 28. Comparative form of "true" 29. Muddy or sandy 32. *2020 classroom venue? 33. NCIS network 36. *GPA, technically 38. Ingratiating behavior 40. George Orwell's Napoleon 41. On pins and needles 44. Grapevine news 46. Part of Old Testament 48. *Olden day notebook 49. Imprison 50. Dharma teacher 51. Three-layer cookie 52. "The Sun ____ Rises" 53. Pippin's last name, "The Hobbit" 54. Boring hue? 55. Actress Perlman 56. Eric Stonestreet on "Modern Family"

Home & Garden

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Fall Gardening Feeds Your Body And Spirit by Roger Meissen, from interviews with Dr. David Trinklein, University of Missouri Extension Don’t forget about fall gardening! Dr. Trinklein, Assistant Professor of Horticulture with MU Extension, reminds us that August and September offer a reprieve from the scorching heat of summer and an opportunity to put vegetables on the dinner table well into fall. Fall planting, sometime called succession planting, puts summer garden plots back into production. Successive sowings of appropriate crops can help you eat from the garden into fall and sometimes into the winter. Falling temperatures means a fall crop often ends up higher in quality than produce grown in the spring and summer. Succession planting begins with selecting the right crop. Since there is limited time until the ﬁrst fall frost, choose crops that mature quickly or crops that hold up against freezing temperatures without severe damage. Seed envelopes often have important information on the back telling you “days to maturity”. You can use that information to help you decide which vegetables you can plant and still get a crop before a frost or freeze. Bush beans, cucumbers, and summer squash often will bear fruit if planted before late August. These fast-growing plants will have a chance to produce before cold weather. With a little luck

and a fall that is warm and long, these vegetables will reward the gardener with a good crop. Some vegetables can withstand a light frost. Arugula, beets, Chinese cabbage, collards, lettuce (leaf and Bibb types), radishes, spinach, and Swiss chard are some cool-season crops that thrive in the fall. Leftover seed potatoes can also be planted. They will produce fresh, small potatoes to eat in the fall. Gardeners should not plant recently harvested potatoes. Fall potatoes often do not store well. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, and turnips are also good potential fall crops. These hardy vegetables will withstand low temperatures and provide a bountiful harvest well into the fall or early winter. Plant transplants of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower. Kale and turnips can be planted by seed. Sugar Snap or snow peas are additional possibilities for fall gardening because their pods can be eaten at any stage if an early frost cuts short the growing season. Again, use the days to maturity information to help you plan and plant. Sanitation is the ﬁrst step in disease and insect management in the garden. Removing the previous crop and cleaning up plant debris and weeds help

lessen problems in the fall garden. Next, lightly till or hand cultivate soil. Add a general-purpose fertilizer such as a 5-10-5 or 12-12-12 according to label recommendations. (These numbers represent the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium, in that order, contained in the fertilizer.) Seeds sown in the fall should be planted slightly deeper than they would normally be planted in the spring. Water often to keep the seed bed moist. This helps with germination. For crops grown from transplants such as cabbage, transplanting in afternoon or early evening reduces transplant shock. Vegetables need 1-2 inches of water per week. If weather is dry, some watering will be required. Avoid watering plant leaves to reduce the chance of foliage diseases. Since rust and fungal diseases thrive on heat, they are less of a problem in the fall. Continue to monitor plants for disease and insect damage. In October, row cover can add a few degrees of protection against frost. Floating row cover is a translucent, spun polyester material that traps the soil’s heat underneath it when it is spread over plants. Since sunlight can pass through, it can be left in place for several days during a cold snap. This product is

Summertime Hydration by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD

Tracey Shaffer is a registered and licensed dietitian and owner of KC Nutrition Coach in Eastern Jackson County. She can be reached at tracey@kcnutritioncoach.com.

Did you know that the human body is about 70% water? During hot weather, it’s more important than ever to replace this water when we sweat. The process of replacing fluid in the body is called hydration. When we’re active, we use muscles. Muscles generate heat and the body responds with sweating to maintain a normal temperature. If we get dehydrated, we lose the ability to regulate body temperature and lifethreatening heat injuries can follow. Thirst is not a good indicator of hydration. Early symptoms of dehydration are headaches, dizziness or fainting, cold clammy skin, rapid heartbeat, nausea, drowsiness, loss of concentration, irritability, decreased performance, heavy sweating and muscle cramps. Beyond heat cramps comes heat exhaustion and even heat stroke. All these stages of dehydration are dangerous and must be treated. If you have these symptoms, get out of the

heat; drink water, juice or sports drinks (unless your doctor tells you otherwise); and get medical attention. Water is always a good choice for fluid replacement. You should drink at least one pint every 30 minutes during activity and even more when it’s hot outside. At a minimum, you should drink about eight glasses of water each day. Sports drinks are good, though the extra electrolytes may not be necessary for normal hydration. Juice works but contains too much sugar to drink as your only source of hydration. Alcohol, energy drinks and coffee are not good hydrators because they work as diuretics in the body making you less hydrated. Get a variety of liquids in your diet. Drink plenty of water and drink more when it’s hot outside. If you see any of the symptoms of heat injury, take action immediately. Don’t like plain water? Try infusing your water with fruit!

G R A I N VA L L E Y N E W S LOCALLY FOCUSED. FAMILY OWNED. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. www.grainvalleynews.com

Photo credit: iStock Photo relatively inexpensive, can be found at many local gardening stores, and can be reused for several years. With the right preparation, love and attention, a fall garden can feed the body and soul. “Gardening is good for the ‘inner self’,” Dr. Trinklein said. “Working in the garden eases tension, restores our spirit and tends to make us feel good about ourselves.” Contact Cathy Bylinowski, Horticulture Instructor, MU Extension, bylinowskic@missouri.edu, 816-4825850, if you have more fall gardening questions. August gardening information- https:// ipm.missouri.edu/MEG/2020/7/ August_Gardening_Tips/

Fruit Infused Water Fruit infused waters are a great alternative to water because they taste amazing and they’re made with super healthy ingredients. Ingredients 1 orange, sliced 6 strawberries, sliced 10 mint leaves 4 cups water (1 l) Instructions Place the sliced fruits and the mint leaves in a glass jar. Pour the water and refrigerate for at least 1 or 2 hours (can even do overnight). The longer it sits, the more flavorful the water will be. Keep it in a sealed jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 or 2 days. Feel free to use any fruits you have on hand. I prefer to use fresh fruits on a daily basis, but frozen fruit also works great, especially during summer as it will make your water more refreshing. Add ice cubes if you want to enjoy your water immediately. You could also add other ingredients like spices (like cinnamon sticks), other herbs (like rosemary), or even veggies (like cucumber). Nutritional information: this recipe contains little or no calories. The water may contain some of the water-soluble vitamins of the fruit. Calories: 0 Source: https://simpleveganblog.com/fruitinfused-water/

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Top 5 Reasons You Need A Travel Advisor In Your Life by Katie Quirarte, Travel Advisor, Be Our Guest Travel Company My name is Katie Quirarte and I am a Travel Advisor with Be Our Guest Travel Company. I help families, couples, grandparents, and groups plan their vacations, and I get to see the joy that traveling brings to their lives. I specialize in planning vacations to Disney destinations (including the Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, and Disney Cruise Line), Universal Orlando Resort, and National Geographic Journeys vacations. I help make your vacation planning stress-free and can save you time and money. When you plan your vacation with me, my services are complimentary. Think of me as your vacation coach, executive producer, dream maker, fairy godmother, cheerleader, and friend! From the start of planning to the specialized travel folder you receive before you leave, I am here for you.

These are my top ﬁve reasons you need a travel advisor like me in your life: #5 – Extras I take the time to develop a relationship with my clients, which translates into a better vacation experience for you. I create extra experiences that clicking a button on a website can’t. I also give you my best tips and consider your family’s likes, dislikes, and preferences. #4 – Emergencies Let’s be real. Things happen – storms, stomach bugs, flat tires, and more. I am here to HELP! I have relationships with my suppliers that I can leverage to help you and advocate on your behalf because I know how to help and want to make your vacation memorable. #3 – A better vacation for your money Your time and money are valuable. I

help you ﬁnd the best value all around for your budget, wishes, interests, and time. I want you to have the best vacation to add to your family’s collection of memories. #2 – VIP Connections To me, you’re not a number. I know how important vacations are. I know how important time away with your spouse is. I understand the need for a girl’s trip. I see those grandparents that want to create memories for their family. You are a VIP to me. When you work with me, you get my best! #1 – Expertise I am a specialist. I keep up to date with travel news, participate in trainings, and have direct contact with my suppliers. No one wants to spend their time researching just to end up feeling overwhelmed and confused. I take the stress away and take your

vacation seriously. I work with an agency that includes 35 travel advisors. If I’m not an expert in the place you want to visit, I’ll connect you with one of my colleagues. We are all in this together to create a memorable vacation for you! When you are ready to travel, use your time and money wisely and contact me! My favorite part of being a travel advisor is seeing the joy I help bring to travelers. Moments and memories are priceless, and it brings me great joy to help create moments and memories… one vacation at a time! Katie Quirarte Travel Advisor, Be Our Guest Travel Company Katie@BeOurGuestTravelCompany.com 816.590.5304 (Sponsored article)

Foods On A Stick On A Healthful Twist by Megan Callahan, Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitian “Our state fair is the best state fair – don’t miss it, don’t even be late.” Unfortunately, we have to miss out on all the fabulous state fair festivities due to the effects of COVID-19. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t reminisce about the way food is consumed while walking around the fairgrounds – on a stick. From one delicious bite after another, try some of these unique sandwiches that’ll be just the ticket to take you to fair memories of the past. From wacky food combinations to melt-in-yourmouth meals, your Hy-Vee dietitian encourages you to bring the fair food home. Italian Club Sandwich: The crunchy baguette gets the blue ribbon with this stick. Simply drizzle a little Italian salad dressing over each piece and alternate the baguette slices with low-sodium Di Lusso ham, cherry tomatoes, torn lettuce leaves, and provolone cheese. Serve with a side of baked veggie tots and – bam! – you’ve got a fair-tastic meal. Meatball Sub: Your whole family will never want to eat this popular sub on a hoagie bun again. Heat up some Italian meatballs and thread onto a skewer. With a strip cut from refrigerated pizza dough, wrap around each meatball. Add a mushroom

to each end and brush your masterpiece with marinara sauce. Bake and your typical sub may taste better with this new linear look. Chicken Parmesan: Rather than dirtying a dish, just dirty a napkin or two. This satisfying stick creation alternates between fully cooked cubed chicken breasts, garlic bread sticks, and half slices of zucchini. Drizzle with marinara sauce, top with mozzarella cheese and bake until cheese melts and your mouth is watering. When a meal covers three food groups, you know you’re in for a filling treat. Philly Cheese Steak: This skewer is stacked with sirloin steak strips, onion wedges, bell pepper pieces, and cubed hoagie buns. Grill to your liking and add a slice of provolone cheese at the end of cooking. No need to wait in long lines under the blazing sun for this one – enjoy a finger-licking skewer without the heavy feeling you’d expect from your favorite fair vendors. Fruit Kabob: The grand final is dessert, and – get this – you can even eat the stick with this one. Simply thread your favorite fruits onto pretzel rods and dip in vanilla or strawberry yogurt. Cleanup is simple and the natural sweetness from the fruit won’t even make you miss the funnel cakes (well, for a little while at least).

Truth be told, people don’t actually go to the fair anticipating healthy options galore, but with little tweaks here and there, you can make celebrating the typical end-of-summer event a little lighter without limiting flavor. Remember, it doesn’t have to be deep-fat-fried to be delicious. Pull out the sticks and get to creating some skewers that’ll make you forget the fair was ever canceled. Fork-free is the way to be – ﬁnd all the recipes for the above foods on-a-stick in the August issue of Hy-Vee’s Seasons magazine.

The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. Megan Callahan is one of your HyVee Corporate Dietitians. She is dedicated to helping people live healthier and happier lives. Megan received a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Missouri State University. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she also received her Master of Science degree in dietetics and nutrition. Megan has been working with Hy-Vee full-time for 10 years. With a passion for nutrition and wellness, Megan is dedicated to educating customers and promoting healthy lifestyles to our Hy-Vee community. Megan lives in Lee’s Summit with her husband Matt, and their 2 children Kennedy (4) & Carsyn (2).

Blue Ribbon Pizza Sticks Serves 6 All you need: 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted 1 tbsp minced garlic 1 tbsp dried oregano Pepper to taste 1 (13.8 oz.) can Hy-Vee refrigerated pizza dough 1 (6 oz.) pkg turkey pepperoni 3 bell peppers, seeded and cut into chunks 1 cup shredded Italian cheese blend 1 cup pizza sauce Crushed red pepper, for garnish All you do: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil; spray with nonstick spray. Combine butter, garlic, oregano and pepper. Unroll pizza crust on a lightly floured surface. Brush dough with half of the butter mixture; cut into six strips. Alternately, thread pepperoni and bell pepper onto each skewer. For each pizza stick, skewer one end of dough strip and wrap around the pepperoni and bell peppers. Arrange skewers on prepared baking sheet. Brush with remaining butter mixture. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until light golden brown. Spoon pizza sauce on skewers and, if desired, garnish with crushed red pepper. Recipe source: www.hy-vee.com

S i g n U p t o R e c e i v e Va l l e y N e w s w e e k l y i n y o u r i n b o x ! Go to our website, www.valleynews.com, enter your email address in the Subscribe box and press “Subscribe”. We’ll do the rest!

Sports

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MSHSAA Board Grants Relief Of By-Laws The Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Board of Directors met virtually August 4th, voting to allow schools beginning the school year virtually to participate in MSHSAA events. The following changes were for the 2020 – 21 school year only. The Board discussed a request made by member schools to grant relief of the MSHSAA Constitution, under the Hardship Provision of the MSHSAA Constitution, for the 2020-21 school year only, waving the requirement for member schools to provide instruction in a building or buildings. The Board granted relief of the MSHSAA Constitution which provides a MSHSAA Member School the ability to participate in activities if the school begins the school year or transitions to entirely virtual instruction, provided they are following all health department requirements and phases, if applicable. Following lengthy discussions, the Board determined this should be a local school decision. Upon the approval of the Board, a member school may now determine if its teams will participate in MSHSAA activities while its students are receiving virtual instruction only, while following all requirements and guidelines set forth by their health department officials. Students must meet all requirements of the local school, with the local school having the ability to always be more restrictive. It is a local school decision on what criteria it puts in place in order to earn the privilege to represent the school in interscholastic competition. MSHSAA member schools may always be more restrictive than the minimum requirements of the MSHSAA By-Laws put in place by the member schools; however, they cannot be less restrictive. The Board also took up two requests for relief of By-laws for the 2020-21 school year. The first was concerning By -Law 3.16.6 and in conjunction with Board Policy 23. These two areas of the MSHSAA Handbook define a “preseason

jamboree”. The Board granted relief from a portion of the terms and conditions to allow for an additional option of a two-team jamboree. This action was done to help schools wishing to take part in a preseason jamboree. The Board also granted relief from By -Law 5.1.2, which deals with postseason eligibility. This by-law states “To be eligible to enter a team or individual in any preliminary or state event, a school must have competed in at least half of the number of contests permitted under the by-law pertaining to that particular sport.” Given the sudden changes that may occur during the season, the Board voted to grant relief of this section of the by-law to allow teams that complete less than half of their scheduled contests to remain eligible for the postseason in their sport or activity. Due to the ever changing procedures on how member schools are handling the start of this school year, the Board discussed and approved moving the release date of the classification and district assignments for the Fall seasons. Originally scheduled to be released on Friday, August 21st, the assignments will now be released on Friday, September 18th. Member schools will now have until September 11th to notify the MSHSAA office if they have a sport that will not be able to participate in the postseason. Those teams that will not be participating in the postseason will be removed from the classification process for that specific sport. Districts around the state, including Grain Valley, have announced plans to delay the start of school and engage in a mix of in-person and online learning this fall. Grain Valley Schools extended their first day of school to September 8th and has announced a hybrid learning plan for students in grades 6-12. Practices for several fall sports are set to begin in Grain Valley the week of August 10th.

Races Return This Weekend Following Wash Out At Valley Speedway Following a rainy week that caused the cancellation of last weekend’s scheduled races, racing returns to Valley Speedway on Saturday, August 8th. Valley Speedway owner Dennis Shrout said the points race will feature B Mods, E Mods, Pure stocks, Dirt Demons, Non wing sprints, ATV Open Money and ATV Open Amateur. Pits will open at 4:00pm, with a driver’s meeting at 6:00pm, hot laps at 6:30pm, and heat races beginning at 7:00pm. General admission is $15. Senior, military, and students are $13; children 6 -12 are $6, and free for ages 5 and under. Valley Speedway is located at 348

Photo credit: Valley News staff East Old US 40. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.valleyspeedway.com.

5-Stand Friday Event At Lake City Shooting Range Lake City Shooting Range will host a 5 -Stand Friday event on Friday, August 7th from 10:00am—3:00pm. 5-Stand is a combination of trap, skeet, and sporting clays affords the challenge of all three games, but with less walking. The activity is a great way to improve on shotgun shooting skills.

No registration is required; event will be held weather permitting. Lake City Shooting Range is located on the north side of Landahl Park at 28505 E Truman Road. For more information, call 816-2493194 or visit http://www.mdc.mo.gov.

Registration Extended For Fall Youth Baseball And Softball Season Registration for the Grain Valley Parks and Recreation Youth Baseball and Softball Fall Season has been extended through Friday, August 7th. Programs include T-Ball for Boys and Girls, Machine Pitch for Boys, Coach Pitch for Girls, as well as Girls and Boys 10U, 12U, and 14U for Boys.

Practices begin the week of August 17th. The registration deadline for all programs is Monday, August 3rd. For more information and to register, please visit https://cityofgrainvalley.org/ departments/parks-and-recreation/ programs-events/youth-leagues/.

Community Calendar Thursday, August 6, 2020

Monday, August 24, 2020

Resume Learning Circle: Week 1 4:00pm—5:00pm Join the MCPL Career Services Specialist for this four week, in-depth series on resume building for beginners.

Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 S Main

Friday nights—4:30pm—7:30pm Corner of walnut & Main

Monday, September 7, 2020 Labor Day

Friday, August 7, 2020 Virtual Storytime (MCPL360) 10:00am—10:30am Join library staff for Virtual Storytimes for your littles (and maybe for you too)! We will have stories and songs, brought directly to your home. www.mymcpl.org/events Romance GenreCon Although romance fans won’t be able to gather in person this year, Mid-Continent Public Library will host virtual programs for romance fans on August 7-8. www.mymcpl.org/events

Monday, August 10, 2020 Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 S Main

Wednesday, August 12, 2020 Planning & Zoning Commission 6:30pm Visit www.cityofgrainvalley.org for meeting location/dial-in information.

Tuesday, September 8, 2020 First Day of School Grain Valley Schools

Wednesday, September 9, 2020 Planning & Zoning Commission 6:30pm Visit www.cityofgrainvalley.org for meeting location/dial-in information.

September 11—12, 2020 Grain Valley Fair www.grainvalleyfair.com

Saturday, September 26, 2020 City Wide Clean Up Event www.cityofgrainvalley.org

Tuesday, November 3, 2020 General Election Polls open 6:00am—7:00pm Visit www.jcebmo.org to request a mailin or absentee ballot.

Add your community event at www.grainvalleynews.com.

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Trucks scheduled for August 7th: Twisted Tater Pita For Good Hannah Bananas Coffee & More Jus Chillin Sweets and Treats Mr. Bevis BBQ

B’s Kitchen Mister DipZ Steve’s Lemonade and Kettle Corn Snowie Shaved Ice

Thank You To Our Sponsors: Acquaint Gathering BD Electric Boyson Tax Brown Agency Eagles Academy

Edward Jones Faith United Methodist Church Grain Valley Chiropractic I Noah A Guy

Lies Trash ServPro Shor-Line Valley News