Valley News
SEPTEMBER 5, 2019
www.grainvalleynews.com
Grain Valley Fair This Weekend The Grain Valley Fair begins Friday, September 6th with a full slate of activities on Friday and Saturday. Local radio personalities Jayme and Wickett from 98.1 KMBZ will do a live remote from 10:00am—2:00pm, followed by KMBZ hosts Dana and Parks from 2:00pm—6:00pm. The beer garden, sponsored by the Grain Valley Partnership, opens at 2:00pm and the
carnival midway and vendor booths open at 4:00pm. FOCUS for Grain Valley will offer bingo on Friday evening and Saturday, and a full slate of activities at the fairgrounds are listed on page 2 of this edition. The 2nd Annual Grain Valley Fair 5K begins at 8:00am on Saturday. Registration for the race continues until
see FAIR on page 5
Neighborhood View
Community Pool Goes To The Dogs
Local dogs took over the Grain Valley Aquatic Center on September 4th for Dog Paddle Days hosted by Grain Valley Parks and Recreation. Photo credit: Valley News staff
Vol. 2, No. 36
FREE
Food For Fines Returns September 9th Mid-Continent Public Library’s (MCPL) biannual Food for Fines program returns Monday, September 9th through Sunday, September 15th. During the weeklong initiative, MCPL customers will have the chance to donate nonperishable food items in place of money to pay off overdue fines or replacement card charges. Customers with no fines or fees can also donate to “pay it forward” toward another customer’s fees. Following the completion of the program, the food will be given to charitable organizations across the Kansas City metro. Donations
received at the Grain Valley branch will benefit Grain Valley Assistance Council. To date, the Library has collected more than 130,000 items for local charities through its Food for Fines program. Suggested donations include boxed meals, canned food, peanut butter, cereal, and pasta. Donations must not be expired, damaged, open, non-nutritious, or in a glass, plastic, or cardboard drink container. Each donated food item will count as $1 toward a customer’s fines and fees (up to $10).
Good News:
Feed The Need Food Drive Collects Over A Ton For Those In Need Council’’s The Grain Valley Assistance Council (GVAC) August Feed The Need Food Drive Has Ended. The GVAC would like to thank the following businesses and organizations for participating: (Owner--Operator Independent OOIDA (Owner Drivers Assn.), State Bank, Grain Valley Schools Bus Barn, First Baptist Church of Grain Valley, and the City of Grain Valley. The GVAC collected over 2,000 food and toiletry items to help the less fortunate here in Grain Valley. This year’’s theme for our barrels that year were decoration was “Summer Beach.”” Splash At The Beach. Photo courtesy: Grain Valley Assistance Council
Grain Valley Fair Friday, September 6th | Saturday, September 7th
Fe s t i v a l S c h e d u l e
Fair presented to you by The City of Grain Valley, Kohl’s Distribution Center, Faurecia, Caster’s Tow and Transport, MO Country, and McCownGordon Construction. Schedule brought to you by Valley News, T & G Automotive, Metropolitan Community College, and Star Development
Friday September 6th 10:00-2:00pm
Midday with Jayme and Wickett from 98.1 KMBZ Live remote at the Fair Main Stage of the Pavilion Brought to you by The City of Grain Valley and Northrop Grumman
2:00-6:00pm
Dana and Parks from 98.1 KMBZ Live Remote at the Fair Main Stage of the Pavilion Brought to you by The City of Grain Valley and Northrop Grumman
2:00-11:00pm
4:00-10:00pm
4:00-10:00pm
4:00-11:00pm
Beer Garden Open Large Pavilion Brought to you by the Grain Valley Partnership Carnival Midway Open Fair Grounds Brought to you by CenterPoint Medical Center and Scotty’s Lawn Care Vendor Booths Open Fair Grounds Brought to you by Blue Springs Ford, KAT Excavation, Lauber Municipal Law, and Nick Mortallaro State Farm Baby Contest Voting Open Information Tent Brought to you by the Grain Valley Partnership
6:00-9:30pm
Bingo Inside the Community Center Brought to you by Grain Valley FOCUS Club
7:30-8:30pm
Local Talent Band Main Stage of the Pavilion Brought to you by the Grain Valley Partnership
8:30-11:00pm
Saturday September 7th 8:00-9:30am
Grain Valley Fair 5K (Starts at City Hall) Brought to you by Arndorfer Premium Realty Group, Oak Grove Animal Hospital and Temp Stop
9:30am
Disc Dogs Competition (East Ball Field) Brought to you by Kansas City Disc Dogs
11:00-10:00pm
Carnival Midway Open (Fair Grounds) Brought to you by CenterPoint Medical Center and Scotty’s Lawn Care
11:00-10:00pm
Vendor Booths Open (Fair Grounds) Brought to you by KAT Excavation, Blue Springs Ford, Lauber Municipal Law, and Nick Mortallaro State Farm
11:00-5:00pm
Baby Contest Voting Open (Information Tent) Brought to you by the Grain Valley Partnership
12:00-2:00pm
Grain Valley Community Parade (Starts at High School) Brought to you by the Grain Valley VIPS
2:00-7:00pm
Thorni Ridge Exotic Petting Zoo (Fair Grounds) Brought to you by Casey’s General Stores
2:00-11:30pm
Beer Garden Open (Large Pavilion) Brought to you by the Grain Valley Partnership
2:00-3:30pm
Slim Hanson and the Poor Choices (Main Stage of the Pavilion) Brought to you by Northrop Grumman
2:00-4:00pm
Bingo (Inside the Community Center) Brought to you by Grain Valley FOCUS Club
2:00-Finish
Cornhole Tournament (Fair Grounds) Brought to you by Wild Souls Wildlife Rescue and Rehab
4:30-6:30pm
Petty Theft: A Tribute to Tom Petty (Main Stage of the Pavilion) Brought to you by Lunar Bowl and Northrop Grumman
6:00-9:30pm
Bingo (Inside the Community Center) Brought to you by Grain Valley FOCUS Club
6:30-7:00pm
Baby Contest Winner Announced (East Stage of the Pavilion) Brought to you by the Grain Valley Partnership
7:30-9:30pm
Members Only (Main Stage of the Pavilion) Brought to you by Lunar Bowl
9:30-9:45pm
Fireworks Display (South of the Fair Grounds) Brought to you by St. Mary’s Medical Center, Sapp Design, Olsson, and Price Chopper of Grain Valley.
10:00-11:30pm
Simple Shot (Main Stage of the Pavilion) Brought to you by Lunar Bowl
Grain Valley Dance Party with DJ Joe
Community Tent brought to you by Legacy Iron, Summit Trucking, Bank of Grain Valley, ORI, KCP&L, Truman Medical Center, Acquaint Gathering, and Temp Stop Make sure to grab a Can Koozie from the Beer Garden sponsored by Boot Barn, Blue Springs Optical, OOIDA, State Bank, Edward Jones of Grain Valley, Blue Moon Lounge, Molle Chevrolet, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #50, Spare Garage Storage, Lies Trash Service, and Show-Me Hydro
Page 3
Looking Back: Every Gravesite Has A Story by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society While not all of the cemeteries in and around Grain Valley have mysteries buried within their walls, they do have stories of pioneer families that shaped the history of Grain Valley, Jackson County, Missouri and indeed, our country. From the hardworking farmers, shop owners, teachers and postmasters to the county sheriffs, legislators, Civil War soldiers and pioneer women, these final resting places do hold the history of our town. As I mentioned at the beginning of this series of articles, there are more than sixteen cemeteries within a close proximity of Grain Valley. In addition to Green’ Green’s Chapel, St. Clair and Slaughter, Slaughter you will find the names of early residents in all of these graveyards. Many originated as family burial sites and they include the following. Chiddix/ Johnson Cemetery is on Murphy School Road. David Johnson, a founder and original trustee of the Methodist Church
is buried there among his relatives and neighbors. Gosney Cemetery on Corn Road, Alley Cemetery on Webster Road and Purdue Cemetery south of Colburn on S. Brown Road are but a few of those family sites in Eastern Jackson County. All of these cemeteries no longer have burial spots. The remaining cemeteries that I will mention still have burial sites available. Once a family cemetery, now called Grain Valley Cemetery, Cemetery Herrington Cemetery on Seymore Road is located on land once owned by Merrick Herrington and the first nine gravesites were family members. Along with the graves of Sarah and Merrick Herrington are the graves of an infant son, a teenage son, a daughter, and six more of their children buried beside their spouses. Of their 10 children, only one is not buried there. In fact, four generations of the Herrington family are buried there and include
Police Blotter
The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of August 21-27, 2019.. August 21, 2019 Woodbury/Valley Ridge Dr 700 Block Main Street 600 Block Valley Ridge Ct 400 Block Joseph Lane 1900 Block Eagles Pkwy 800 Block Lakeview Dr 700 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street 1100 Block Main St 100 Block Old US 40 Hwy 200 Block Barr Rd 200 Block Royer Sni-A-Bar/BB 1300 Block RD Mize 600 Block Yennie 400 Block Orion 1000 Block Foxtail
Area Check Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Property Damage Suspicious Person Residence Check Citizen Contact Fraud Disturbance Suspicious Auto VIN Verification Stand By to Prevent Disturbance Citizen Contact Stealing Alarm Noise Complaint
August 22, 2019 1000 Block Ryan 700 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street 1700 Block Helen Ct 40 Hwy/Barr Rd 1000 Block Deer Creek Dr 40/Sni-A-Bar 600 Block Creek Ridge
Alarm Agency Assist (BSPD) Stealing Citizen Contact Alarm Debris in Roadway Citizen Contact Motor Vehicle Accident Citizen Contact
August 23, 2019 Eagle Ridge Area 100 Block Sunny Ln Jefferson and Pamela 1300 Block Stoneybrook 100 Block Main St 700 Block Main Street 1000 Block Dean Dr 700 Block Main Street 1100 Block Blue Branch Dr 700 Block Main Street 900 Block Sandy Ln 1200 Block Phelps Dr 300 Block Old 40 Hwy 600 Block Yennie
Motor Vehicle Accident Citizen Contact Motor Vehicle Accident Open Door Stolen Auto Citizen Contact Disturbance Area Check Open Door Citizen Contact Suspicious Activity Dog Bite Disturbance Noise Complaint
August 24, 2019 700 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street 600 Block Yennie
Harassment Suspicious Auto Public Works
300 Block Monroe 700 Main St 1100 Block Blue Branch Dr Eagle and Royer 9 Block Broyles WB I-70 MM 24 Meadow and Long
Agency Assist (BPD) Stealing Citizen Contact Motor Vehicle Accident Agency Assist (BPD) Suspicious Person Area Check
August 25, 2019 200 Block Memorial Drive 700 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street 1300 Block Persimmon 200 Block 13th St 900 Block Shorthorn Dr 1200 Block Ashley Ln 100 Block Lee St 100 Block Rock Creek Ln 1500 Block Erin Ct 1000 Block RD Mize Rd 800 Block San Kar
Prisoner Transport Stealing Citizen Contact Welfare Check Agency Assist (OGPD) Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Agency Assist (BPD) 911 Hang Up Suspicious Vehicle Animal Neglect Area Check
August 26, 2019 700 Block Main Street 1500 Block RD Mize Rd I-70 MM27.8 700 Block Main Street 300 Block Valley 700 Block Eagle 1100 Block Ephraim 1200 Block RD Mize Rd 700 Block Main Street 1100 Block Willow Dr 800 Block Nelson Ct 800 Block Brome 1200 Block Pamela Blvd
Stealing from Auto Agency Assist (BSPD) Agency Assist (MSHP) Stealing from Auto Stealing from Auto Citizen Contact Agency Assist (JCSO) Stealing Citizen Contact Noise Complaint Area Check Area Check Suspicious Activity
August 27, 2019 700 Block Main Street US 40 Hwy & 10th St 700 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street 1100 Block Golfview 100 Block Rock Creek Ln 700 Block Main Street Nicholas & Duncan 1511 Block Pond
Citizen Contact Agency Assist (BSPD) Fraud Citizen Contact Disturbance Stealing Suspicious Activity Suspicious Juveniles Suspicious Activity
Taylors, Elliotts, Renicks, Grahams, Rumbos, Sanders, Peals and many more descends. Koger Cemetery on Corn Road was originally a family cemetery but soon land became available for nearby relatives and friends. In addition to Kogers, early pioneers buried there include Ashcrafts, Russells, Teachs, and Crenshaws. Several area cemeteries are attached to churches. They include Oakland Cemetery on Truman Road with gravesites for Campbells, Dillinghams, Necessarys and Slaughters. Lobb Cemetery, just off 7 Highway, is where Britton & Sarah Capelle and several family members are buried along with more Slaughters, plus Brizendines and Greggs. The Perdee Cemetery on Moreland School Road (yes there is a Perdee and a Purdue Cemetery) was started next to Perdee Chapel before the Civil War. After the war the church was moved closer to Stony Point. The new Church was called Pleasant Valley, however it only existed for a few years before the small Methodist congregation moved to Grain Valley. Finally, many early Grain Valley citizens are buried in cemeteries in nearby towns. The Blue Springs Cemetery has Greggs, Heidelbergers, Kirbys,
McAlexanders, Napiers, O’Connells and Stephensons, to name a few. Elijah Gardners, one of the three killed at Pink Hill, is buried at the Buckner Cemetery. Cemetery Others from the Pink Hill area also buried in Buckner include members of the Adams family, Manns, Neers and Campbells. After the shooting at the Pink Hill Methodist Church, Granville Love was buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery. Cemetery Other pioneers there are Capelles, Corns, Duncans, Fristoes, Greggs, and Kirbys and Nebgens. Two newer cemeteries in the area are Valley Memorial Gardens and Swan Lake. In a few years another writer can tell you about the people buried there and their contributions to our town. As I look back over what I have just written, it almost seems like I’m reading street and road signs instead of listing early pioneers in their final resting place! Coming downtown for the Grain Valley Fair parade? The Historical Society Museum will be open during the parade for visitors. Ice water and coffee is available and new exhibits on Sni-A-Bar and children’s toys will be featured. The Historical Society is located at 506 South Main.
Valley News
Grain Valley News is a free community paper, published weekly on Thursdays online at www.grainvalleynews.com and on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month in print. Cory Unrein | Co-Owner/Publisher John Unrein | Co-Owner/Production Manager Cathy Allie | Staff Writer, Proofreader Diana Luppens, Switch Focus Studios | Contributing Photographer John Overstreet | Contributing Photographer
Mail: PO Box 2972 Grain Valley MO 64029 Phone: 816.809.7984 Email: news@grainvalleynews.com Sign up for our weekly emails and join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @grainvalleynews).
Page 4
Business News
Planning Now Can Save Money On Taxes Later by Lorne Meinershagen Nobody looks forward to estimated tax payments, but paying more than necessary is even worse. When freelancers and business owners miss or underestimate their tax liability, the IRS charges them interest and penalties. The penalty for estimated tax underpayment is calculated and assessed separately for each payment period. Therefore, taxpayers may owe a penalty for a previous period even if they later pay enough estimated tax to make up for the previous underpayment. As a reminder, estimated tax is the method used to pay tax on income that is not subject to withholding. This income includes earnings from selfemployment, interest, dividends, pensions and alimony. Estimated taxes are required when your total year-end liability is greater than $1,000. To avoid IRS penalties, most self-employed taxpayers must ensure all four
estimated tax payments add up to the lesser of these two amounts: 90 percent of the tax they estimate they will owe for the current year, or 100 percent of the tax they owed last year. Understanding your tax liability can be complicated, since you have to take into account fluctuating income, peak business seasons, planned equipment purchases, employee bonuses, new benefits plans and other variables that affect taxes. Tax experts recommend reassessing your finances in the third quarter before making the last two estimated payments for the year – due September 15, 2019, and January 15, 2020 – to gauge any income variations since your last payment or changes that could affect the amount of taxes you will owe for 2019.
If your CPA or tax advisor has not contacted you about a tax-planning session, be proactive and schedule time to discuss how to minimize the amount of taxes you will owe on April 15. A good accountant can help you determine whether the best way to achieve your financial goals is to accelerate, defer or reduce your taxable income for this year. Keep these tips in mind as you prepare to make the last two estimated tax payments for 2019: Update your financials so you know both your year-to-date income and year-end projections. If your income is up, look for opportunities to shelter some money. Your CPA or tax advisor can provide guidance on various strategies, including equipment purchases, bonuses through your business, health savings accounts, retirement accounts, college
savings, itemized deductions and other ways to help reduce your personal taxable income. If cash is tight, consider a bank loan or line of credit so that you can continue to pay taxes as you go and avoid IRS penalties associated with missed, delayed or inadequate quarterly payments. Remember it is financially ill-advised to use the IRS as a financing tool. For expert advice on how to lower your tax liability in a free initial consultation, please contact Floyd, Meinershagen & Co. in Grain Valley at 816-847-0536, or visit www.floydmeinershagenandco.com to schedule an appointment.
Chamber Benefit Plan Health Insurance Now Available Across Missouri With the rising cost health insurance, many small businesses in Missouri have found themselves either priced out of the market or being forced to offer plans with fewer benefits. A health insurance model offered through the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and local chambers of commerce is poised to change that for thousands of small businesses across the state. The Chamber Benefit Plan is a joint effort between the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the local chambers of commerce that comprise the Missouri Chamber Federation. The health insurance offered by the Missouri Benefit Plan first rolled out to a limited number of small businesses in 2017. The plan became available statewide on August 28th. The plan uses a multiple employer welfare arrangement model. This model enables smaller employers to join together and share in the overall claims risk by being part of larger self-funded pool. Currently 1,200 small businesses are part of the plan which is providing coverage to 17,000 Missourians. Those numbers are expected to increase under a new law passed by the Missouri General Assembly and signed by Gov. Mike Parson. “We are thrilled that the Chamber Benefit Plan is now marketable to all eligible businesses in Missouri. Members tell us frequently how the plan has stabilized and reduced their insurance costs while offering great coverage for their employees,” Daniel P. Mehan, President and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry said. “We are grateful to the leaders in the Missouri Capitol who took swift action to clear the way for small employers to gain access to medical coverage and savings that directly impact their bottom line, and we look forward to spreading the word about this valuable health insurance option.” The plan is offered across Missouri to businesses with 2-50 eligible employees. Small employers who want to learn more can start by visiting www.chamberbenefitplan.com.
Business
News
is
sponsored
weekly
by
the
Grain
whose mission is to be a leader in the growth of Grain Valley.
Valley
Partnership,
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
Page 5
FAIR
continued from page 1
race day. The following roads will be closed or have limited access from 7:50am— 9:30am to allow for the Grain Valley Fair 5K: -Main Street from James Rollo to Eagles Parkway -Eagles Parkway from Main Street to Cross Creek Drive -N. Cross Creek Drive from Eagles Parkway to Broadway -Broadway from N Cross Creek Drive to NW Parker -NW Parker from Broadway to NW Willow -NW Willow from NW Parker to Kirby -Kirby from NW Willow to Yennie -Yennie from Kirby to Main Street -James Rollo Drive The Grain Valley Parade begins at Noon on Saturday. The following roads will be closed or have limited access from 11:55am— 2:00pm during the parade: -Eagles Parkway from Kirby Road to Main Street -Main Street from Eagles Parkway to Walnut Street
-Walnut Street from Main Street to Kirby Road -Kirby Road from Walnut Street to Eagles Parkway Several bands are scheduled to perform Saturday evening at the Pavilion behind the Community Center and fireworks will begin at 9:30pm. Security at large public events is increasingly a concern, especially given recent shootings throughout the country. Mayor Mike Todd said the Grain Valley Fair committee has taken another look at security measures for the festival and feels confident in their plans. “During the evening hours of the Fair both nights we have two off duty Grain Valley police officers who are brought in to patrol the fair grounds. They do that by foot and via one of our UTVs we have. Fair staff is able to communicate directly with them via radio and in turn they can communicate with our other on duty officers via radio if they were to need additional assistance,” Todd said. “In addition to that we have VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service) volunteers
The Grain Valley Fair Parade begins at Noon on Saturday, September 7th. Photo credit: Diana Luppens, Switch Focus Studios who also patrol the fair grounds and parking lots as well. Another thing we have going in our favor is that the police station is adjacent to the Fair as well so that is a deterrent plus helps out with response times if we were to need additional assistance.”
Read Valley News online weekly at www.grainvalleynews.com.
For more information on the Grain Valley Fair, including a listing of vendors and schedule of events, visit www.grainvalleyfair.com.
Community Voices
Page 6
Wayne’s World The Great Flood by Wayne Geiger
It was a busy day. I rushed in the front door to quickly change clothes and head back out to another meeting. I heard the sound of the hairdryer coming from the bathroom. My daughter, home from school already, was holding the cat and said proudly, “I got the cat dry.” I was a little perplexed. “How did the cat get wet?” I asked. “You don’t know?” came back the reply. “Know what?” I said. She directed me to the basement door. Our home, at that time, was a little small for our six-member family. It’s redeeming quality was a sizable finished basement with additional restroom. It was like another home downstairs. Part of it served as a perfect space for our two boys while the girls stayed upstairs. I loved it too because we were able to line one of the rooms with bookshelves which was perfect for all my books. Clutching the cat, my daughter opened the basement door and awaited my reaction. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. It had been raining extremely hard all day. Our home was located on a corner where two streets met. The phrase, “it’s all downhill from here” would have described our home at the time. That day, there was a great deal of rain and a lot of runoff. Unfortunately, it all headed in our direction. There was too much water, too fast and no way for our sump pump to handle that amount of water. In one day, our basement had become a sizable swimming pool. In our family, we refer to that time as “the great flood.” In horror, and almost in a dreamlike state, I pulled off my dress shoes, put on some old sneakers, and ran down the stairs to access the damage. Halfway down, I felt the cold water surround my ankles and I was still pretty high up on the stairs. I decided to keep going and get a closer look. As I walked down the stairs, the water came up to my thighs and eventually just below my chest. I wondered how many steps were left and if I needed to get my floaties. After reaching the floor, the water in our basement was about four-feet high. As I waded through the water, I had no idea what was below the surface. The water was dark, murky, and mysterious. I felt like I was in the ocean. The theme music from Jaws would have been appropriate. Although I couldn’t see in the water, I was cognizant of what was around me. There were bits and pieces of all sorts of debris floating in the water—including tiny particles. I was bewildered as to what these particles were and then it finally dawned on me! It was a mixture of cat litter and cat food. Days before, we had bragged about being such frugal shoppers and the great deal we had gotten on the “big bags”. “Why did we have to buy the giant bags,” I wondered? Then, I witnessed a small miracle, for which I am thankful. The plastic cat box,
driven by unknown undercurrents, came floating by. It was well-used, but thankfully, it was above the water. At least one catastrophe avoided (emphasis on the cat in catastrophe). I wondered what other mysterious messes laid below the abyss. For a brief moment, I remembered the bathroom in the corner of the basement. No doubt, the toilet, like most everything else, was below the water. I hoped my sons had remembered to flush the last time they used it. I quickly removed the thought from my mind. Now was not the time for speculation and I did not own a decontamination suit. The basement looked somewhat familiar—at least from the waterline up. In the first room, were the particleboard bookshelves that housed my college, seminary, and other personal books, along with my wife’s cookbooks and other personal items. There were five bookshelves. Three of them had buckled and toppled because of the water and weight of the books. The other two remained at their post victoriously displaying several rows of books that were saved from the flood. The kid’s beta fish was also on the shelf. The little guy had missed his chance at freedom by a foot or so. In the next two rooms, I examined my sons’ living quarters and play area. Beds, toys, chest of drawers, guitars, saxophone, handheld portable devices, gaming systems, and more were all underwater. There was also the antique chest of drawers handed down to me from my grandparents who came to this country from Italy. The last room was a storage area, of sorts. In this room I kept some of my “extra” books and Bible commentary sets that would not fit on the shelf. I left them packed in the boxes for safe keeping and even put a dehumidifier to keep the moisture out. Dehumidifiers are not rated for floods. Always read the fine print. Thankfully, we had several friends who came to our aid. They offered some great advice and help. These dear friends came alongside and helped us carry everything upstairs and outside. This was quite the process. Because everything was soaked, normally heavy books became extremely heavy. In addition was the odor of wet materials. The immediate goal was to get it all outside and pile it in an area in the corner of the lot. A friend’s trailer, which would serve as a dumpster, would be coming soon. During the cleanup time, both my wife and I checked out emotionally. Typical human nature. A coping mechanism. We had to push down the intense pain in order to deal with the immediate problem. We each had our job. I worked in cleanup. She worked in restoration. She had rescued the clothes from downstairs and the plan was for
her to go to the laundromat while I pitched our belongings into the dumpster. She couldn’t handle the sight of throwing our possessions in the trash. I’m not allowed to do laundry because of my failed attempt to wash her cashmere sweater early in our marriage. So, we each had our duty to do. Now was not the time to mourn. That would come later. As I stood before the huge, mangled pile of my past, I held a little, reddish, brown book in my hand. Hebrew grammar was one of the most-difficult classes for me in seminary. I spent hours studying every night. To the chagrin of my wife, I had 3x5 cards of Hebrew vocabulary and conjugated verbs taped all over the walls in my study room. My professor was Dr. Waylon Bailey and we used his textbook in class. I remember spending hours in that grammar book underlining, circling, highlighting, and adding notes. As I held the waterlogged book in my hand, the memories came in like a flood. Unfortunately, the book could not be saved. Naturally, I could buy the book again, but I would never have the same attachment or notes. There was nothing that could be done. I looked at the cover, flipped through a couple of pages, and with a heave threw it in the dumpster. I had dozens of books and the same number of untold stories. The books were a personal loss to me, but not the biggest loss. The wound that cut the deepest was the pictures of our family and personal documents. My wife and I lost many of our wedding photos and pictures of our children growing up. These pictures were taken before the digital age and could not be replaced. We also lost videos we had taken of the kids, awards, and other memorabilia that we
had kept from their growing up years. To say that this was an extremely difficult time in our life would be an understatement. The great flood taught me several lessons. Interestingly, I can now see some of the beauty that grew up out of the ashes of despair. First, it reminded me that I cannot do life alone. During that time, I was overwhelmed, but caring friends came to our aid offering their wisdom, time, and resources to assist. I will never forget their kindness. I could not have done it without them. The second thing that I learned was, although our waterlogged and ruined material possessions ended up in a landfill somewhere, I still have the memories. No one can remove them from my mind. The great flood is one of those landmark events in our family that we talk about from time to time. It's actually brought us closer. And finally, I am reminded that things could always be worse. I am very grateful for the marvelous blessings of God. I also realize that there are many people who have suffered tremendous hardship and heartache. My story would be minuscule in comparison to theirs. So, things could always be worse. Sometimes, it’s the little, gentle reminders of that fact. On that fateful day, when I first looked upon that dreadful scene to see the destruction and mess, I was thankful that the dirty cat box came floating by.
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.
Community Voices
Page 7
Recognizing Our Community’s Unsung Heroes: Citizens Of The Year by Phil Hanson, President and CEO, Truman Heartland Community Foundation I am pleased to tell you about the seven 2019 Citizens of the Year who will be recognized at this year’s Toast to Our Towns Gala, presented by Speaks Chapels. It’s a great honor for your Community Foundation to be able to join with area mayors to recognize individuals who have worked for many years serving their community in various capacities. In my eyes unsung heroes, working behind the scenes to improve their community. It’s truly our privilege to recognize them. Selected by their mayor, these individuals exemplify a spirit of service to their community. While we honor them as the 2019 Citizens of the Year, they’ve been chosen for their years of consistent involvement. Blue Springs Mayor Carson Ross recognizes the Meyers family for 20 years of philanthropy and community engagement. Owners of Meyers Funeral Chapel, Marty and Kim Meyers are committed to helping families honor their loved ones. Along with brother Dennis Meyers and his wife Julie, Meyers Funeral Chapel supports many Blue Springs nonprofit organizations, including Rainbow Center, Blue Springs Rotary, Community Services League, Blue Springs Historical Society, St. John LaLande Catholic Church and Blue Springs Downtown Alive. Grain Valley Mayor Mike Todd recognizes Dr. Brad Welle for his profound impact in Grain Valley and in the lives of students across Eastern
Jackson County. Brad is the Deputy Superintendent of Schools for the Grain Valley School District. Brad plays an instrumental role with Bright Futures Grain Valley, which served approximately 300 students in the last school year. He serves on the board of both Kansas City Young Audiences and Eastern Jackson County Youth Court and volunteers with the Grain Valley Assistance Council. Independence Mayor Eileen Weir recognizes Randy (posthumous) and Kathleen Vest, long-time supporters of the Japanese Sister City program and dedicated volunteers. Kathleen taught in the Independence School District for 17 years and has supported many Independence nonprofits as a grant writer and board member, including the National Frontier Trails Museum and the Puppetry Arts Institute. During his life, Randy was a Project Engineer for Missouri Water Company for 13 years and served as Director for the City of Independence Water Department for 17 years. In retirement, Randy served on the Public Utilities Advisory Board and led tours at the National Frontier Trails Museum and the Chicago and Alton Train Depot, where he was a board member. Lake Tapawingo Mayor Tom Goddard recognizes Tomi Bellinghausen for more than 30 years of service to the Lake Tapawingo Women’s Club. Serving as the Club’s president for the last 10 years, Tomi’s leadership has helped with park improvements, beautification efforts, community fundraisers, wildlife management and lake events. Additionally, she has spearheaded
initiatives that focus on building community and enriching life at Lake Tapawingo, including scholarships for graduating high school students and monthly community programs and activities for lake residents. Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird recognizes Dr. Jay Rapley as an example of extraordinary character and conviction. In 2017, Jay, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Rockhill Orthopaedics, was hit by a car and suffered a severe spinal cord injury that has left him paralyzed. However, with the help of technology and through phenomenal determination, Jay made a successful return to the career he loves and continues to give back to the community as the team physician at high school sporting events. Raytown Mayor Michael McDonough recognizes Vicki Turnbow, President of the Raytown Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. Vicki goes above and beyond her position, providing support to the Raytown Main Street Association, Raytown Quality Schools Citizens Advisory Committee, Community Emergency Response Team and as a Trustee of the Raytown Education Foundation Board. She has worked on the Deron Cherry Invitational Golf Tournament, a fundraiser for Raytown’s Score One for Health program, since the early 1990s. And in 2012, the Raytown Women of Today awarded Vicki with its coveted Outstanding Woman Leader Award. Sugar Creek Mayor Mike Larson recognizes Don Border for 45 years of service as a reserve firefighter. After
serving four years in the United States Marine Corps, Don joined the Sugar Creek Fire Department as a reserve firefighter. Over the years, Don has received numerous firefighter and medical certifications from the state and now plays an important role by transporting a second pumper to the scene of a fire and establishing a water supply. Outside of the station, Don volunteers to cook at community events, including the Sugar Creek potluck, back to school night and teacher recognition lunch. As you can see, we have a great group of Citizens to honor this year. I hope you will join us when we recognized the Citizens and our four main honorees at the 24th Annual Toast to Our Towns Gala, presented by Speaks Chapels, on Saturday, September 28, 2019 at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center.
Phil Hanson is the President and CEO of Truman Heartland Community Foundation. Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) is a 501(c) (3) public charity committed to improving the communities in and around Eastern Jackson County through cooperation with community members and donors. THCF serves the region with assets of more than $49 million and annual grants surpassing $4.4 million. For more information on charitable giving, visit www.thcf.org of call Truman Heartland at 816.836.8189.
Troop 744 Earns Bronze Award Creating Space For Butterflies In May 2019, Junior Girl Scout Troop 744 of Grain Valley, earned their Bronze Award. Their project was about the significance and sustaining butterflies. The girls raised funds, became educated about the importance of butterflies in our environment, and built a butterfly garden at Faith United Methodist Church. They also spent time educating the community on what they learned. Below is an article written by one of the members on their project:
Devoted to Delightful Butterflies by: Clara, Troop 744 Girl Scouts
Girl Scout Troop 744 has been working very hard to make a butterfly garden at Faith United Methodist Church in Grain Valley, MO. Scientists know that if we don't do something soon, we will lose these stunning insects quickly. How will you contribute to helping the butterflies? Why Did We Choose This Project? We wanted to do this project because for our citizen scientist badge we went to an event at Burr Oak Woods, where we learned about a website called www.naba.org (North American Butterfly Association. People take a picture of a photo and then upload it onto their website. The scientists use this data to learn things
such as the time of year the butterflies go down south or the amount or population of butterflies over time, and even more. Butterfly population has decreased 90% in the last 20 years. How You Can Help We are helping the butterflies by building a garden at Faith United Methodist Church. In this garden, when you drop by, take a look. If you see a butterfly snap a picture and upload it. This helps scientists and butterflies, so help today. If you can't come to the garden you can always make a butterfly garden at home. How To Make A Butterfly Garden To make a butterfly garden, you need
Junior Girl Scout Troop 744 of Grain Valley stands with their recently completed butterfly garden. Photo credit: Troop 744 to find a place to put the butterfly garden. Try to keep it in a low or wet spot so it can stay moist. Then find seeds, we chose perennials. Make sure you have milkweed, these
are monarchs favorites, a few more that butterflies are attracted to that are perennials are: lilies, liatris spicata, columbine, daylilies, coneflowers, and asclepias.
Page 8 MDC Offers Free Monarch Butterfly Programs In September by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation The popular monarch butterflies become a bit more numerous in the Kansas City area during September. Successive generations build numbers as summer wanes and migrating monarchs from northern states travel south. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will celebrate the beauty and wonder of this remarkable butterfly with a series of free programs at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City and the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs. The programs range from fun activities for toddlers to serious science efforts. Monarch butterflies have declined nationally in recent decades due to habitat loss and other challenges. People can help by adding some monarch-friendly native plants to home gardens or rural acreages. The Gorman Discovery Center will kick off a new Citizen Science Saturday series with a program on monarch butterflies on Saturday, Sept. 7th. Participants will learn how to use the iNaturalist and Monarch SOS apps on digital devices to identify butterflies and wildlife, record encounters, and contribute the information to science data bases. This walk-in program is open to participants age 9 and older. Two sessions are offered, from 10 to 11:30am, and from 12:30 to 2:00pm. Participants will need to bring their cell phones or tablets. Burr Oak Woods Nature Center will offer a “Flutter Like a Butterfly� program from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11. This program is designed for children age 3 and younger. Toddlers and babes and accompanying adults are welcome. The toddlers will learn about the magical trek monarchs make to Mexico in autumn and back north in the spring. Participants should dress for an outdoor trek for a portion of the program. Burr Oak Woods will offer visitors a chance to tag monarch butterflies from 1:00 to 3:00pm on Saturday, Sept. 14th. The small paper tags affixed to the wings, when recovered, help scientists track monarch movements and populations. No registration is required, and the program is open to all ages. Gorman Discovery Center will offer a Monarch Mania event from 9:30am to 2:30pm on Saturday, Sept. 21st. This walk-in program for all ages will give visitors a chance to tag migrating monarchs. Milkweed plants will be given away and various other exhibits and activities will be offered. Also, the Missouri Prairie Foundation will offer native plant seeds and seedlings for sale. A portion of the proceeds will benefit prairie preservation and restoration in Missouri. For more information, or to register for an event that requires registration, visit the Burr Oak Woods and Discovery Center pages at http://mdc.mo.gov, and MDC’s online events signup portal at https://mdc.mo.gov/events-s3.
The Missouri Department of Conservation will offer free monarch butterfly programs in September at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs and the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City. Butterfly tagging to help scientists study population trends will be among the activities. Photo credit: Missouri Department of Conservation
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Dorm Room Nutrition by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD The mini-fridge is an essential appliance for college living. But with limited space, it is crucial to fill it with healthy staples that will provide numerous meals and snacks to fuel those early morning classes and latenight study sessions. Plan your grocery shopping trip around MyPlate recommendations. Start with fruits and vegetables for quick snacks or meal add-ons — pre-washed and pre-cut vegetables are convenient and fruits of all kinds fit, but be sure to avoid added sugar. Fill the fridge with lean proteins, such as eggs, turkey, pepperoni, or peanut and other nut butters. Dairy foods including low-fat cheese, milk and yogurt can round out a meal or snack. And pick up healthy whole grains such as whole grain bread, oats, crackers, tortilla chips, low-fat popcorn and microwavable rice cups. With a plan and a well-stocked mini-
fridge, there is no excuse for not having a healthy meal or snack on hand. The following list from USDA’s choosemyplate.gov will kick-start your grocery list: LowLow -fat cheese - eat as a snack, on a sandwich or to top cooked eggs Vegetables - choose a wide variety and add to egg dishes or pair with a dip like hummus or peanut butter Fruit - fresh, frozen, dried and canned will work, but avoid added sugars Water - try water before sugary drinks or add a flavor packet for a new taste Nuts and nut butters - use on a sandwich, as a snack or as a dip for fruits and veggies Eggs - if you’ve got a microwave, then you have a quick and easy breakfast
Milk and yogurt - choose fat-free or low-fat milk and yogurt Hummus - this bean spread is perfect as a veggie dip and on sandwiches or crackers Salsa - a great way to add veggies to your day, salsa pairs well with whole-grain chips or tortilla chips Use the Nutrition Facts Panel helpful for monitoring sugar, fat, calories and serving size Try this recipe for Peanut Butter Chocolate Yogurt Fruit Dip to help treat that hunger on a study break. It’s an excellent way to satisfy a sweet tooth and get some well needed nutrition.
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.
Theme: Football ACROSS 1. Tax evader's fear 6. "You betcha!" 9. Fill to satisfaction 13. Crocus, pl. 14. Reef dweller 15. Freeze off 16. Buzz Aldrin's first name 17. Wildebeest 18. Reduced, often paired with down 19. *____ back 21. *#1 NFL pick in 2019 23. Precedes whiz 24. Bald eagle's nest 25. Summer sandwich? 28. Past tense of reave 30. Bee's favorite drink 35. German currency 37. Shower with affection 39. Africa's horned herbivore 40. Battery fluid 41. Bad-tempered 43. All over again 44. Ticked off 46. Cut with a beam 47. Rip or pull 48. Pico de gallo and such 50. Abe's coin 52. Hog haven 53. Refuses to 55. Likewise 57. *Team gathering 60. *Common play on 3rd and long 64. Committee of judges 65. One of the five W's 67. Ranee's wrap 68. Sheep-like 69. Auction set 70. Romanov's edict 71. Type of message 72. Aye-aye 73. *Worn atop thigh pads
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DOWN 1. Maple tree and laptop brand 2. Pakistani language 3. *First ____! 4. Cupcake topper 5. Smaller than tiny 6. Safecracker 7. Poetic "even" 8. On D'Artagnan's hat 9. Practice in the ring 10. Certain sensation 11. *NFL Primetime and NFL Draft host Wingo 12. *Type of zone 15. More spry 20. Must-haves 22. Funerary vase 24. What opposites do? 25. *Soldier Field's team 26. "____ di Lammermoor" 27. Do-re-do-re-do-re-do-re, e.g. 29. *Blindside block, e.g. 31. Burn to a crisp 32. Fork prongs 33. Beside, archaic 34. *"All my ____ friends are coming over tonight..." 36. Words from Wordsworth, pl. 38. Other than what is 42. Gossipmonger 45. Waste time 49. La precursor 51. *A game that could go either way 54. Very recently 56. Port city in Japan 57. Possess 58. Windows alternative 59. *Football Hall of Famer Richard 60. Cooking vessels 61. Turkmenistan's neighbor 62. Egg holder 63. #23 Across, pl. 64. Winner's take 66. Gardening tool
Peanut Butter Chocolate Yogurt Fruit Dip © The Weary Chef 2013-2018.
Servings: 4
Ingredients 5oz. nonfat vanilla Greek yogurt 2tbsp. creamy peanut butter tbsp. mini chocolate chips fruit for dipping Instructions Vigorously stir together yogurt and peanut butter until smooth. Stir in chocolate chips. Serve with apple slices or other fruit for dipping. Pretzels would be great too!
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Sports
Page 10
Eagles Dominate In Home Meet by John Unrein The Grain Valley Eagle Cross Country Teams got their season underway with a dominant showing during their home meet at Grain Valley North Middle School on August 31st. The boys and girls teams each took first place with scores of 21 and 20 points respectively. Both Eagles teams placed five of the top seven runners in the meet. Teams competing at the meet included Grain Valley, Fort Osage, Excelsior Springs, and Cameron. The two-mile course with gradual slopes ran fast despite wet conditions. The lowest score of the top five runners for each team determines the outcome. Michael Reddick of Fort Osage was the overall boy’s winner with a time of 10:58. Close behind him for the Eagles were second place finisher Junior Collin Clemens at 11:11, third place finisher Senior Jaxson Jarman at 11:33, fourth place finisher Senior Jake Sanders at 11:44, fifth place finisher Sophomore Mason McCain at 11:49, and seventh place finisher Sophomore Isaac Burd at 12:10. Grain Valley Sophomore Ella Casey continued her ascent as a runner from her strong showing last year. She was the girls overall race winner with a time of 13:22. That was 30 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher for the girls in what was stout display of running.
Rounding out the other top five Eagles finishers were third place finisher Freshman Lexie Nicholson at 14:07, fourth place finisher Junior Valerie Holcomb at 14:10, fifth place finisher Freshman Peyton Bell at 14:20, and seventh place finisher Junior Annalynn Earley at 14:50. Head Cross Country Coach Nick Small was encouraged by the performance of his kids. “This was a great opportunity to get to see how the work they have been putting in from the end of Track season through the summer to now has led to some early season success. It was nice to get a team championship on both sides and we are looking forward to continuing to develop through the season as we now turn to our fivekilometer schedule,” Small said. “On the girl’s side, aside from another great performance from Ella Casey, Freshman Lexie Nicholson had a fantastic race. We are very excited about her potential moving forward. For the boys, honestly, we had a solid performance all around.” The Eagles Cross Country Team returns to action on Saturday, September 7th at 8:00 am during the Cross Country Invitational at Liberty North High School.
Eagles runners push the pace of race. Pictured front left: Junior Collin Clemens. Center: Sophomore Mason McCain. Photo credit: Valley News staff
Assistant Cross Country Coach Brian Winckler encourages runners a half mile from the finish line. Photo credit: Valley News staff
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Sports
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Eagles Win Battle Of Wills by John Unrein The Eagles football team ground out a tough win against the visiting Savannah Savages on Friday, August 30th. Both teams had game planned each other well in attempt to shut down what the opposition did best. The ability of Grain Valley’s offense to churn out yards on the ground along with their defense being able to hold Savannah’s rushing game largely at bay led to the 14-12 victory. Savannah deployed a 3-3 stack defense (three down linemen with three stacked linebackers behind them) and played games by blitzing their linebackers through a variety of gaps all game. Grain Valley responded by running trap as a safe gap run against the blitz along with blending in jet sweeps and option. The combination of runs led to two touchdowns along with 261 yards rushing. Contributing ball carries for the Eagles included Senior Running Backs Jamore Goulden and Tanner Bailon, Junior Quarterback Cole Keller, as well as slot receivers Junior Parker Bosserman and Sophomore Logan Pratt. Goulden and Keller each found pay dirt with rushes of three and ten yards respectively. Goulden turned in a gritty performance in his first time starting for the Eagles at running back. His individual effort of 73 yards on 21 carries drew the praise of Eagles Head Football Coach David Allie. “Hats off to our running backs. They got the yards when we needed them tonight. Jamore was elected a captain this year based on his hard work and effort. He always has a smile on his face, puts his head down and gets what he can get, and comes back to carry the ball on the next play,” Allie said. One of the linemen assigned the task of pulling on trap runs to kick out the defensive end was Offensive Guard Jack Bailey. The returning starter and junior praised his opponent along with sharing his joy for run blocking. “Savannah was physical. They flowed to the football very well. We found that if we ran trap away from motion, it would be successful for us. Getting to earhole block an unsuspecting defender is awesome,” Bailey said. Goulden was satisfied with his efforts along with being respectful of his opponent in his post-game comments. “They are a tough team that fights hard. I wanted to go toe to toe with them on every play. They hit you hard and let you know about it. Getting to score a touchdown in the second half and helping my team win was special,” Goulden said. Wide Receiver Gavin Oyler also turned in one of the key offensive plays of the game with 6:17 left in the third quarter after the Eagles scored to go up 12-6. The senior came out after halftime suffering from cramps. Oyler kept the extra point attempt hold and rolled to his right. He was greeted by a Savannah defender only to absorb the contact and stretch the
football across the goal line for a successful two-point conversion that put the Eagles ahead 14-6. Defensive Coordinator Pete Carpino chose to deploy an even front (four down defensive lineman) against Savannah. The linebacking corps and defensive ends were disciplined in reading their keys to eliminate big gains. Option meshes by the Savages often were greeted by multiple defenders attacking the ball carrier. The big trio, as they affectionately refer to themselves, consists of Senior Steele Blackmon, and Juniors Quincy Jones and Donovan McBride. All three defensive tackles were consistent in coming off the ball low, getting their hands on the offensive lineman in front of them first, while maintaining leverage and finding their keys. “First off, they had a good offensive line. We were physical though and kept our eyes on our reads,” McBride said. Jones added, “It was hard tonight, but we fought through it. Thanks to the coaching we got this week, we knew to sit down and keep ahold of the man in front of us. We spent a lot of time in the pit during practice leveraging our hips and it paid off tonight.” Blackmon put his summation of on the defensive line’s effort for the evening. “They are a good offensive line. We are a better defensive line. I was in a two technique, head up on the guard getting double teamed most of the night. It was hard with their full house formation to make sure your eyes were in the correct gap while holding down the man in front of you.” The Eagles success in limiting Savannah’s rushing attack led the Savages to turn to the fade pass. Savannah connected on a deep vertical touchdown pass between Senior Quarterback Chase Spoonemore and
Junior Quarterback Cole Keller hands off the football to Senior Running Back Jamore Goulden. Photo credit: John Overstreet Senior Running Back Noah Bodenhausen. The score would tie the game with 6:08 left in the second quarter. Savannah would miss the subsequent extra point. The Eagles would only give up one more score on the evening. “We were trying to prevent big plays. They hit us though on a couple of big plays on third down. We are a little beat up in the secondary and we had to rotate guys. The cohesiveness we usually have in the secondary was different tonight,” Allie said. “Hats off to our defense though. That front did a great job stopping their run game. You have to love one of the things
Left photo: Senior Running Back Jamore Goulden and Junior Right photo: Senior Steele Blackmon, and Juniors Quincy Jones and Donovan McBride. Photo credit: Valley News staff
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we can’t coach and that’s the size of our guys up front along the defensive line. On top of that they are aggressive. Those three big boys anchoring inside allows our linebackers to flow freely.” Allie indicated that red zone efficiency on offense along with reading their keys better would be a focus for the upcoming week of practice. Defensively, he wanted the Eagles to work on not giving up things over the top in the passing game as well as prepping for the speed that they will see against the Grandview Bulldogs on Friday, September 6th, in their first Suburban Conference matchup of the season.
Offensive
Lineman
Jack
Bailey.
Community Calendar
Friday, September 6, 2019 Grain Valley Fair See schedule on page 2 for or visit www.grainvalleyfair.com for more information.
Shotgun: 5 Stand Lake City Shooting Range Noon—4:00pm This combination of trap, skeet, and sporting clays affords the challenge of all three games but with less walking. No registration required; weather permitting.
Saturday, September 7, 2019 Grain Valley Fair 5K: 8:00am on Saturday Parade: Noon on Saturday See schedule on page 2 or visit www.grainvalleyfair.com for more information. Archery Basics Lake City Shooting Range 9:00am—11:00am Registration required: https:// mdc.mo.gov/events
Monday, September 9, 2019 Senior Coffee Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 9:00am—11:00am 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 Book Group Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 6:30pm—7:30pm www.mymcpl.org/events Board of Aldermen Meeting Grain Valley City Hall, 711 S. Main 7:00pm
Wednesday, September 11, 2019 Faith UMC KidzConnection Faith United Methodist Church, 1950 SW Eagles Parkway Wednesdays 9/4-10/16 6:00pm—8:00pm Kindergarten—5th grade. 7 weeks of campfire fun, dinner, games, and more. Register vbspro.events/p/ kidzconnection Thursday, September 12, 2019 Using Interlibrary Loan for Genealogy Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 2:00pm—3:00pm Register: www.mymcpl.org/events
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Friday, September 13, 2019 Cosplay Your Way Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 6:00pm—8:00pm Register: www.mymcpl.org/events Saturday, September 14, 2019 Shotgun – Skeet Lake City Shooting Range 9:00am to 11:30am Register by September 12th https://mdc.mo.gov/events-s3? field_event_activity_location_tid=Lake% 20City%20Shooting%20Range. Family Fishing Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center 9:30am—11:30am Learn fishing basics as a family. Equipment provided. Register by September 13th: 816-2283766.
Monday, September 16, 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 Helping Your Child With Homework Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 6:00pm—7:00pm Learn to use the library’s online resources to help your student with those tough assignments. Register: www.mymcpl.org/events Saturday, September 21, 2019 Handgun: Handgun Basics Lake City Shooting Range 8:00am to 11:30am Instructors will provide information on the different types of firearms, ammunition, marksmanship skills and care and cleaning, plus much more. Register online: https://mdc.mo.gov/ events Trivia Night hosted by FOCUS for Grain Valley Saturday, September 21, 2019 Grain Valley High School Commons Doors open at 6:00pm; Starts at 6:30pm $100 per team/table Register by calling Jan Reding, 816-2250713 or email janreding@earthlink.net.