Valley News: October 1, 2020 by grainvalleynews

Valley News www.grainvalleynews.com

OCTOBER 1, 2020

Grain Valley Schools To Receive CARES Act Funds From County Jackson County legislators unanimously approved a funding plan on September 28th to distribute $5 million in CARES Act funds to school districts within Jackson County. Grain Valley Schools will receive $167,916.38 of these funds. The funding allocates money to the public school districts based on enrollment and poverty and allows each district signiﬁcant flexibility in determining how the funds are used. Examples include but are not limited to, enhanced wireless internet services, improved education technology, mental health services, COVID-19 testing, and nutrition programs. “The members of our Legislature have been very diligent and responsible with every single dollar the County received from the federal government to combat the unforeseen, devastating impacts of the coronavirus,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr said.

“Their support of this plan ensures teachers and staff have access to the resources they need to provide a quality education to our children no matter where they live. Jackson County is committed to serving our community during this critical time of need and I’d like to commend the Legislature for their valuable role in getting this important work done.” Grain Valley Schools Superintendent Marc Snow stated the funding will provide relief in a time when state funding for schools is in decline. “We are appreciative of the allocation of CARES Act money to help offset the increased costs associated with conducting business during a pandemic. Our teachers and staff are working harder than ever to support learning at a time when state revenues for schools are down signiﬁcantly. This funding is a welcome relief,” Snow said.

Missouri Trivia by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Editors Note: Marcia Napier with the Grain Valley Historical Society will share Missouri trivia regularly as the state looks forward to celebrating its bicentennial in 2021.

Missouri's ﬁrst oil well was drilled in Jackson County in 1860. Shortly after the Civil War, oil and gas were found when water wells were being drilled near Kansas City.

By the early 1930s, gasoline was needed to fuel American expansion and more than 2000 wells dotted the state. There currently are 323 producing oil wells in our state.

In This Edition:

Vol. 3, No. 39

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Board Passes Resolution Calling For County To Reduce COVID-19 Restrictions The Board of Aldermen met September 28th, passing a series of ordinances, hearing a presentation from the Grain Valley Partnership regarding their economic development efforts, and passing a resolution encouraging Jackson County Health Department to reduce COVID-19 related restrictions. The resolution, similar to one recently passed in Blue Springs, cites difﬁculties faced by businesses,

schools, and organizations in Grain Valley interpreting group gathering and social distancing rules in Phase 2.5 of the County’s Recovery Plan, and states the Board’s support for “those who have been negatively affected by the often confusing rules and Orders issued by Jackson County”. “In response to concerns raised by residents, business owners, and other organizations within the City, the Board

see BOARD on page 6

Online Squabbles Bring Up OOIDA Lawsuit Involving Mayor Ongoing squabbles on social media among current Mayor Chuck Johnston, former mayor Mike Todd, and Grain Valley resident and Planning and Zoning Commission member Scott Shafer over the recent mayoral campaign and community campus bond issue grew even more heated in mid-September. Former Mayor Todd posted criticism of Mayor Johnston to his former Mayor

Facebook account, renamed “Grain Valley Community Advocate Michael Todd” on September 16th. Todd criticized Johnston for not lowering the City’s property tax rate after Johnston stated during the mayoral campaign that the tax should be lowered further than cuts made under Todd’s administration. Johnston replied to Todd’s statement with the following statement:

see MAYOR on page 5

Good News: Grain Valley Recognizes National Newspaper Week

Looking Back: Pink Hill

On The Ballot: Amendment 3

Wayne’s World: God: The Author Of Life

Your Health: Boost Your Brain Health And Family Traditions

Sports: Attention To Detail Lifts Eagles to 5-0

Cover graphic: A picture perfect fall day at Armstrong Park. Photo credit: Kate Unrein

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Mayor Chuck Johnston (right) presented a proclamation declaring the week of October 410th as National Newspaper Week in Grain Valley to Cory Unrein, Co-Owner/Publisher, Grain Valley News during the September 28th Board of Aldermen meeting. National Newspaper Week recognizes the vital role newspapers play in raising the quality of life in a community by serving as the voice of the public good. Photo credit: City of Grain Valley

Looking Back

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Looking Back: Pink Hill by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society I know I have written many times about the beginning of our town. I’m going to share it once more, but this time in the words of Mrs. Birdie (Potts) Davidson. Each Sunday for a year, prior to the 100th Anniversary of the Methodist Church (circa 1889), Birdie would share “Reflections of our Church.” That first Sunday she told us about her big drawer where all of the old newspaper clippings and church related information was stored. She began with the following story of Pink Hill, Stony Point, the railroad, and finally Grain Valley. Among my clippings I find the 13 charter members of the Pink Hill Methodist Church, the nuclei of Oak Grove, Oakland, and Grain Valley Methodist. Because the hill about 3 miles Northeast of Grain Valley was covered with pink verbenas and wild roses the name Pink Hill was selected. The church was on the Main Street of the little village which also had 3 saloons, a store and a United States Post Office. Ground

for the church was purchased from George and Anna Carlyle for $10 and in 1871 the church was built. The lot was deeded to seven trustees and their successors. The seventh man named was Levi Potts (Birdie’s grandfather). The church sat on the south side of Pink Hill Road and faced west. The 36’ x 48’ structure was built by the community at a cost of $3,000. It had a second floor used as a Masonic Christian Lodge meeting place. Around 1854, the citizens had built a school house one-half mile to the south. In later years the school was moved one -fourth mile west of the church. The story behind the move was that an elderly couple lived across the road from the school and they were disturbed by the noise of the children. They told the ofﬁcials that they would donate a lot on their property on Pink Hill Road if they would move the school. When the R-5 school district was consolidated and the students were sent to Grain Valley the school house was sold and became a residence. It

Police Blotter The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department

Historical Marker at Pink Hill. Photo courtesy Grain Valley Historical Society later burned. According to the 1877 Atlas there were 1,000 plus residents; 482 men and 884 women and the children living at Pink Hill.. There were also 595 horses, 178 mules, 1019 cattle, 674 sheep, and 3,647 hogs in Pink Hill. The area had been surveyed by the Chicago & Alton Railroad in the early 1850s. The C & A had plans to extend the route from Mexico, Missouri , to Kansas City. The Civil War came, then the panic of 1873. During 1876, Sni-A-Bar Township began to rally. Pink Hill had renewed hope that the

railroad would go through their town, but alas, in 1878 it was built too far to the south. The residents were stunned and the little town began to die, except for the church. The Post Office closed in 1902. The first structure to be built in Grain Valley was a sort of railroad station, a shack of hewn lumber which was replaced by the first railroad station. In 1912 Mr. Ben Armstrong bought the shack from the Chicago & Alton Railroad and moved it to his farm. To be continued...

daily calls for service log for the week of September 16-22, 2020. September 16, 2020 1500 Block Hilltop Ln WB Ramp to I-70 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 900 Block Deer Creek 500 Block Hamilton 900 Block Abar Dr 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 600 Block BB Hwy 400 Block Hamilton 1400 Block Willow I-70 and Main St 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 900 Block Montana Ridge 800 Block Graystone Cir

Missing Juvenile Area Check Citizen Contact Warrant Surrender Property Damage Area Check Parking Complaint Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Property Damage Animal at Large Suspicious Activity Agency Assist (CJC) VIN Veriﬁcation Citizen Contact Suspicious Vehicle Juveniles playing on 911 line

September 17, 2020 BB Hwy & Nelson Dr 700 Block RD Mize Rd 700 Block Main St 1200 Block Walnut Ct 800 Block Highland

Agency Assist (JCSO) VIN Veriﬁcation Fraud Citizen Contact Disturbance

September 18, 2020 800 Block NW Long Dr 700 Block Main St 300 Block Front St 600 Block BB Hwy 700 Block Scenic Dr 1200 Block Golfview Dr 800 Block San Kar 800 Block San Kar 1200 Block Dean Dr Pink Hill / BB Hwy

Suspicious Activity Citizen Contact Suspicious Person Trafﬁc Accident Disturbance Suspicious Activity Noise Complaint Assault Assault Area Check for Drunk Driver

September 19, 2020 1200 Block SW Eagles Pkwy Motorist Assist Butterfly Trail Area Check for Abandoned Bicycle 400 Block S Outer Belt Rd Shots Fired 1400 Block Jaclyn Verbal Disturbance Agency Assist (OGPD) 12th / Broadway 1100 Block Golfview Dr Stolen Auto 1100 Block Valley Ridge Dr Suspicious Person

September 20, 2020 1300 Block Valley Woods Ct AA Hwy / Graham Bridge 800 Block San Kar 200 Block W Jefferson 1100 Block NE McQuerry Rd SW Michael Dr 700 Block Main St 400 Block Main St 600 Block Yennie 200 Block Aaron Ln 1300 Block Broadway

September 21, 2020 1100 Block Christie Ln 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 900 Block Stonebrook Dr Hickorywood / Rosewood Dr 1000 Block Sandy Ln 700 Block Main St 500 Block Hamilton 100 Block Buckner Tarsney 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 600 Block Sunset 500 Block Woodbury September 22, 2020 600 Block Yennie 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 1300 Block Hilltop Ln 1600 Block Hilltop Ln 700 Block Main St Tall Chief & Lookout 700 Block Main St 1300 Block Graystone Cir 1100 Block Ephraim Dr 400 Block Eagles Parkway

Missing Person Area Check Citizen Contact Property Damage Private Property Accident Kids on Mini Bikes Citizen Contact Suspicious Person Disturbance Disturbance Agency Assist (Camden County)

Open Garage Door Citizen Contact ID Theft Walk-in Report Stealing from Auto Suspicious Vehicle Stealing from Auto Citizen Contact Civil Standby Follow-up / Citizen Contact Check the Welfare Citizen Contact Area Check Disturbance

Alarm Civil Matter Disturbance Animal Complaint Runaway Juvenile Citizen Contact Agency Assist (BPD) Citizen Contact Agency Assist (CJC) Disturbance Suspicious Activity

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

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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Business

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Celebrating Commitment To Community And A Call To Action by Phil Hanson, President and CEO, Truman Heartland Community Foundation For 25 years, Truman Heartland Community Foundation has been bringing people and businesses from our region together annually to celebrate the community servants and philanthropic organizations who make a difference in Eastern Jackson County. In this time ﬁlled with crisis’s, distress and divisions, this year’s event was a celebration and a call to action. On Saturday, September 26, we hosted our 25th Annual Toast to Our Towns Gala. Presented by CommunityAmerica Credit Union and broadcast online to more than 80 watch parties, this dynamic one-hour program reminded us of the many ways that philanthropy strengthens our community. Together, with seven local mayors, Truman Heartland awarded the Citizen of the Year awards. Brent Schondelmeyer and Lee Williams were recognized as the Heartland Humanitarians of the Year. Speaks Chapels was honored as the Heartland Corporate Citizen of the Year. Junior Service League of Independence, celebrating their 75th anniversary, received the Heartland Service Award. Adam Kliethermes was awarded the Dr. Paul M. Thomson Professional Advisor Award. This inspiring group of honorees has devoted countless hours, ﬁnancial support and resources to help bring about positive change in our community.

Although they come from different backgrounds, with unique skillsets and philanthropic interests they are united by their willingness not only to lend a hand to help others, but with the conviction that it is a responsibility to do so. This was a reoccurring message from our honorees - the privilege and responsibility of giving back to the community. We also had a call to action from our 2020 Heartland Humanitarians, Brent and Lee. For more than 30 years, the couple has been working behind the scenes to drive community initiatives throughout the region. In their remarks they noted the many ways they are privileged, including race, education, opportunities, the transfer of generational wealth, and extraordinary friendships. They also announced that they have established the Racial Equity Action Fund at Truman Heartland Community Foundation. The fund aims to recognize, identify and address the racial inequities in our community. Led by an advisory committee, which includes a member of Truman Heartland’s Youth Advisory Council, the fund will make grants for the following purposes. Support community organizing efforts within communities of color that promote voter registration, voter engagement and community involvement. Support racial equity projects

identiﬁed by the Truman Heartland Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council. Support projects that increase the diversity and effectiveness of public boards and commissions. Strengthen relationships among Eastern Jackson County residents, particularly across racial and ethnic groups. Increase awareness of resources and best practices related to advancing racial equity. Increase understanding or our community’s challenges with racial equity and race relations. Provide access to stories and diverse perspectives on the lived experience or racial inequity in Eastern Jackson County. I was very pleased to hear about Brent and Lee’s plans for this fund, yet another example of why they deserved to be recognized as the Humanitarian of the Year. Brent and Lee made the initial gift to establish the fund and I was pleased to make a grant from my CEO discretionary fund to support this effort. The Racial Equity Action Fund has already received $19,000 in contributions and I know many others in our community will also want to support this effort. As your Community Foundation, we are committed to strengthening the community and believe that we have a responsibility, like our honorees, to use our position in the community to promote initiatives that support collaboration to make immediate and substantial changes that will have a long -term impact in Eastern Jackson County and the surrounding communities.

If you are interested in making a contribution to the Racial Equity Action Fund, I encourage you to visit www.thcf.org/donate/racial-equity. Truman Heartland donor advised fundholders can also make a grant from their fund to support the Racial Equity Action Fund. Our region is full of diverse and caring individuals. We are deeply grateful that we had the opportunity to come together as a community to celebrate this year’s honorees and inspire giving during this historic and challenging time. The Toast to Our Towns Gala would not be possible without the continued support from our generous sponsors and the Truman Heartland Community Foundation Board and Advisory Board members who helped plan this year’s virtual event. My sincere thanks to everyone in the community who supported our 25th Annual Toast to Our Towns Gala. And congrats again to all our honorees.

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 $50 million and annual grants surpassing $4.8 million. For more information on charitable giving, visit www.thcf.org or call Truman Heartland at 816.836.8189.

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On The Ballot

Page 5

On The Ballot: Constitutional Amendment 3 Voters will be asked to reconsider how state legislative districts are determined through Amendment 3 on the November ballot, after voting to approve Amendment 1 in 2018. Voters approved Amendment 1 with 62% of the vote. Amendment 3 would return the state to the use of bipartisan commissions appointed by the governor for legislative redistricting and eliminate the nonpartisan state demographer, created by the approval of Amendment 1 in 2018. The bipartisan commissions would be renamed the House Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission and the Senate Independent Bipartisan Citizens Commission and consist of 20 members each. The amendment would also change the criteria used to draw district maps. Included in the amendment are slight changes to the threshold of lobbyist gifts and campaign contribution limits for state senate campaigns. It would change the threshold of lobbyists' gifts from $5 to $0 and lower the campaign contribution limit for state senate campaigns from $2,500 to $2,400. Opponents of Amendment 3 contend it is an effort to undo the will of the people, using the issues of reducing lobbyist gifts and campaign contribution limits to detract from an effort to allow

lobbyists and politicians to rig district maps. A bipartisan group of leaders have come out in opposition to Amendment 3, including former Republican Senator Jack Danforth, former Democratic Senator Jean Carnahan, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, as well as AARP Missouri, AFL-CIO Missouri, NAACP Missouri Conference, and Missouri NEA. State Senator Mike Cierpiot (R – 30th District) and State Representative Jeff Coleman (R – 32nd District) both support Amendment 3. “There are detractors who say that we are just trying to change to a method that would allow us to maintain our super majority. That is not the whole process here. We are trying to keep things the same so that we can continue to try to represent everyone instead of having districts carved up that are not representative of those communities,” Coleman said. “Everything they (Amendment 3 opponents) say we are doing now is what they were trying to do with Amendment 1. They reduced lobbyist gifts down to $5. Why didn’t they reduce it down to zero? We are going back and trying to fix these things that should have been fixed the first time around.” “Our caucus hired a demographer to

draw district lines based on the priorities of the new law. The demographer said there’s no way to draw lines that way and create a district in the way in which the law states, which says the most important thing is to create a district that is competitive and as close to a 50/50 split as possible,” Coleman said. Cierpiot also points to the weaknesses he sees in Amendment 1 as his reasoning for supporting Amendment 3. “I support Amendment 3 to correct the weaknesses that passed in 2018. The old, original redistricting plans only moved forward if a bipartisan majority of a redistricting committee (14 of 20, 70% of 10 Democrats & 10 Republicans) voted for it, stopping partisan tampering. The new way turns that on its head and now it takes 14 of 20 to stop it. That means if the Democrats are happy and the Republicans are being hurt it goes into effect, or vice versa. If anyone questions the intent of those pushing this plan in 2018, ask yourself why they chose the auditor’s ofﬁce to control it when other election responsibilities rest with the Secretary of State. I’m conﬁdent it was because they were quite certain the Auditor would be a Democrat,” Cierpiot said. “There are many other parts of the 2018 amendment that are problematic. I

haven’t found anyone that can say how it’s going to work with certainty. Compact and contiguous are now low on the list of descriptors for new districts where they were primary. In my view, communities of interest are what politics are all about. They must now be divided to align with the 2018 amendment.” “And to satisfy the description of Non Partisan Demographer you have to be out of partisan politics for 4 years, meaning former Governor Nixon or former Senator Ashcroft qualify,” Cierpiot said. Clean Missouri, the committee that sponsored Amendment 1 in 2018, is leading the campaign in opposition of the amendment. The committee maintains Amendment 3 is a last ditch effort to set up a process that will affect district maps through 2030. Opponents maintain the amendment is an effort to create unfair, noncompetitive districts to limit voters’ ability to hold leaders accountable, not count children and noncitizens, and create unprecedented restrictions on citizens’ abilities to challenge unfair maps in court. The full resolution (Senate Joint Resolution 38) outlining details of the proposed amendment can be found at www.grainvalleynews.com.

at a faster rate. So far I have not seen any of this happen, in fact the city just passed the tax levy with no change. Under Mr. Johnston’s leadership, as for wasteful spending, Mr. Johnston has ran for Mayor three or four times in the past on how he was going to stop the wasteful spending. But when asked, no reply on where the city has and is wasting tax payers money,” Shafer said. “After asking him questions on his Mayor (Facebook) page which, he said he would reply to, I’ve not received any reply other than criticizing my spelling. I attended a City meeting, asked questions with no reply other than ‘thank you’. Whether Mr. Johnston likes me or not, I do pay taxes and should get some answers to my questions. After all, he is the one that made all these accusations and promises. I think it’s only fair he should give answers.” “My disagreement with him is that for years he had constant complaints about me. He said I wasn’t a leader and just a yes man. He said that everything that happened in town would have happened regardless of me and that I didn’t have a part in any of it. He also complained that I wasn’t on the Residents of Grain Valley Page to respond to residents and that he didn’t like the responses I gave to citizens during the citizen comment time at Alderman meetings. He ran on a platform of better communication with residents, lowering taxes, better streets happening faster, and cutting wasteful spending,” Todd said. “He will have been in ofﬁce 100 days as of September 30 I believe, and I haven’t seen any of that. Actually, I have seen the exact opposite of that in pretty much all of those areas. I would argue

that his communication has been well below what mine was. On his Facebook page he has made very few posts since becoming Mayor and most of them are him complaining about what someone has said about what he is or isn’t doing or a conflict of interest he may or may not have. He also is not responding on Residents of Grain Valley (a Facebook group) and is hiding behind the social media policy that is in place.” “I guess the bottom line is that I spent 10 years as Mayor and Grain Valley means a lot to me. It bothers me that he ran on all these promises and we haven’t seen action towards any of them and in most cases, we have seen actions that are direct opposites of what he said. He ﬁrst ran for Mayor 10 years ago so he had lots of time to prepare for this, so he should have hit the ground running on day one with his ideas, and that is not what we have seen at all. I guess I call it like I see it and right now I’m not seeing anything that he sold the citizens of Grain Valley on,” Todd said. Public posts and comments from the trio have been quiet in recent weeks. Johnston shared he plans to discontinue responding to posts on social media to the issues raised. “Regarding Mr. Todd and Mr. Shafer, they are private citizens and entitled to their opinions. I have already spent too much time addressing their personal attacks on me and I will not spend any additional time responding or commenting on those issues. There are too many good things happening in Grain Valley and I intend on devoting my time and efforts towards working on those and additional improvements to our City,” Johnston said.

MAYOR continued from page 1 “I’m sure that the former Mayor knows that the Mayor can’t reduce taxes he can only try to influence the Board of Aldermen in those decisions. It is ultimately their decision. He also fails to mention that the City’s accounting firm had made the recommendation to the BoA (Board of Aldermen) to maintain the existing tax levy which in turn would pay off the entire city debt a year earlier and create a substantial savings in interest over the remaining term of the debt.” Todd, Johnston, and Shafer continued to argue via Facebook, with Shafer posting a screen shot of a 2015 lawsuit filed by Diane Adams vs. Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Inc. (OOIDA) in Jackson County Circuit Court. Valley News was subsequently contacted by Shafer, who shared a copy of the suit filed in Jackson County Circuit Court. Shafer stated he felt compelled to visit the courthouse and request a copy of the suit after receiving emails and calls about the case from unnamed sources. The case was filed in October 2015 and dismissed by both parties in March 2017. The suit states the plaintiff, Ms. Adams, “was subjected to an unwelcome, hostile work environment including physical and verbal harassment by supervisor Chuck Johnston, causing PTSD, anxiety, and depression.” The suit also alleges the plaintiff registered several complaints with OOIDA President Jim Johnston, and was notified Chuck Johnston would be terminated. The suit alleges Chuck Johnston was reinstated and returned as an employee on January 7, 2015. Reached for comment, OOIDA shared the following statement regarding the

case: “Diane Adams, a former employee of OOIDA, filed a lawsuit against OOIDA in 2015 alleging that she was subject to disability discrimination in connection with her employment. OOIDA denied Ms. Adams’ allegations and vigorously defended against the lawsuit. OOIDA and Ms. Adams agreed to resolve the lawsuit after approximately more than a year of litigation, with no admission of liability by OOIDA. Because the matter has been resolved by the parties, OOIDA will not provide further comment on this matter.” Johnston declined to comment in detail regarding the suit. “Ms. Adams didn’t file a lawsuit against me. Her claims were against OOIDA. However, because this matter involves personnel issues relating to OOIDA and because I’m still an employee of OOIDA it would be inappropriate for me to provide any further comment on this matter,” Johnston said. Reached for comment regarding the recent arguments via social media, Shafer and Todd point to unmet campaign promises and lack of communication on the part of Johnston as their source of frustration. “Let’s just say people that live in glass houses shouldn’t throw rocks. You never know who’s going to throw it back,” Shafer said. “Mr. Johnston to start with ran a campaign on a lot of misleading information on the new complex. Mr. Johnston ran on a platform of better communication, better leadership, lowering taxes, cutting wasteful spending, and how he was not only going to fix more streets, but get it done

Community Voices

Page 6

Wayne’s World God: The Author Of Life by Wayne Geiger “I’m not really sure if I’m having contractions,” my wife said, “Aren’t they supposed to hurt a little more?” My wife, close to her delivery date, was laying on a bed in an examination room of the hospital. She had been experiencing birth pangs for a little while and we decided to come in. This was our first baby and although we had attended the mandatory classes, it was all new to us. “Sweetie, you’re not going to have this baby tonight,” the nurse said gently after examining her, “You’re only at about two centimeters. You’ve got about fourteen hours left.” However, they decided to monitor her and got her hooked up to all the equipment. We got comfortable and waited. Not soon after, for some reason, the baby’s heartbeat dropped. A little concerned, they decided to hook her up to an internal monitor. To do so, they broke her water. A couple minutes later, my wife felt that first wave of “real” pain and grabbed me by the shirt collar and pulled me close to her. With fire in her eyes, and the voice of a drill sergeant, she said, “Get me the epidermal, now!” I stared at her in disbelief and horror, but I was not going to argue. The nurse came in to check on things and told my wife that they would call for the anesthesiologist when she was at about four centimeters. It was going to be a long night. It just so happened that our doctor was at a seminar at the hospital that night. “I thought I would stop by and say hello,” he said with a smile. “I’ll see how you’re doing, head home and get some sleep, and come back.” He checked on my wife, sat down near us, and watched a portion of the old show, “Moonlighting” with Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd. “I love this show,” he said. “Are we paying for this?” I wondered. By now, about 9:15; she was at four centimeters. At 9:38, my wife frantically tried to get off the bed saying, “I need to use the restroom.” The nurse interceded and said, “That’s a premature urge to push, but I’ll check you.” Upon inspection, there was a look of shock on the nurse’s face. My wife was now at ten centimeters. The doctor and I quickly exited to wash our hands while medical professionals quickly rolled my wife into the delivery room. As we scrubbed up, I heard a sound of panic from the delivery

room, “Doctor, your hands are clean enough! Get in here!” We both ran into the delivery room. Nurses were attending my wife and the doctor just barely made it to the foot of the bed to deliver our baby into this world. My wife had gone from four to ten centimeters in twenty-three minutes and our daughter was born eight minutes later. The doctor handed me a pair of scissors allowed me to cut the umbilical cord. I wondered if he was going to give me a discount for only delivering half a baby and then having me saw through this rubbery, hose-like tube. When I was done, he then handed me this fragile, whimpering, slimy…thing! It was the grossest and most beautiful thing I had ever witnessed. Tears welled up in my eyes. This was nothing short of a miracle. My wife and I have four children. We call them all, “our children.” To our delight, and sometimes, dismay, they have our DNA, our personality, and our mannerisms. As they say, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” As humans, we mistakenly think that because we are the vehicle that brings children into this world, we are also the agent and, thus, have control over the process of life. Nothing could be further from the truth. The concept of life is not just biological. That’s the byproduct. Life is primarily theological. From a theological perspective, the question to “how” we were created is actually pretty simple. God created life. In the very beginning, “God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness….So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Gen 1:26-27). As the Psalmist acknowledged, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb” (Psalm 139:13). Creation: it’s a God thing. Mankind was created in the image of God, to rule over, and take care of the environment. Mankind is superior to all the created order and has more value than all the other creatures. It may be true that you care for your dog more than some people you know, but any human life, even people you don’t care for, have more value in God’s eyes than any other creature. Only humans were created in the image of God. The scientiﬁc community has a lot to

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offer us. But when it comes to our existence, the humanistic/ontological and biblical/theological views of our existence are “kissin’ cousins.” They both begin with a leap of faith. You either believe in a Big Bang or a Big God. Either nothing created something or Someone created everything. Both are leaps of faith. Only one of those views comes with an instruction manual. An old story is told about a group of scientists who decided to take God on in a creating contest. God went first and reached down into the dust of the earth, formed man in His hands, and breathed into him the breath of life. The scientists were impressed, but confident. They got out their instruments and meters and said to God, “watch this.” They too reached down into the dirt… but God stopped them and said, “wait a second. I created that dirt. Go make your own dirt.” Humans can only take raw materials that God has created to manipulate and form them into other shapes—much like a carpenter who takes a tree and makes it into a chair. He made the chair but did not grow the tree. The question is generally asked, “when does life begin?” Thanks to science and the study of fetal development, at twenty days, the baby’s heart is in the advanced stages of formation. The eyes begin to form. The brain, spinal column, and nervous system are virtually complete. At twenty -four days, the baby’s heart begins to beat. The answer to the question, “When does life began,” is simple. It is not a scientific question. It is a theological question. God says very simply, life begins at conception. As God told the prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jeremiah 1:5). From the womb to the tomb, life is sacred and should be protected. Human life has value, meaning,

purpose, and accountability. God said, “Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind” (Gen 9:6). Mankind cannot create life, nor should he take life—except in accordance with the will of God. God allows life to be taken in a judicial sense. This is the “eye for an eye” principle. This is not to be done in vengeance, but this necessity (really obligation) is given to governmental entities (Rom 13). Similarly, governments, in order to protect their citizens, may ﬁnd it necessary to engage in warfare against hostile enemies. In short, life is a gift and a trust. The Author of life is God Himself. At the birth of our ﬁrst child, we were convinced that we were having a boy. Back in the day, before advanced technology, everybody said it would be a boy. We were so convinced that we had a boy’s name picked out and some ideas of what a girl’s name might be. In that birthing room, when the doctor said, “You have a beautiful baby girl” I said, “Yea, everybody told us it was going to be…” I was speechless. We were shocked and surprised and a little overwhelmed at the time. However, God, the Author of life, was not shocked. From heaven, I believe God smiled and said, “Surprise!” God preordained this moment from the foundation of the world. He may also have said, “Here’s a beautiful gift Wayne. Take good care of her and make sure you tell her who gave her life—both in this world and in the next.”

Dr. Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Professor of Speech, and freelance writer.

BOARD continued from page 1 of Aldermen felt it appropriate to pass a resolution in support of those who are affected during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Grain Valley Mayor Chuck Johnston said. Tasha Lindsey, Executive Director of the Grain Valley Partnership, presented the organization’s annual report to the board, highlighting efforts made to attract new businesses and support existing businesses, especially given the impact of COVID-19 on small businesses. Lindsey said several of the organization’s projects, including a business retention and expansion program at the top of their list of priorities, has been delayed due to COVID -19 related complications. Alderman Cleaver suggested the Partnership

report to the board more than once per year; Lindsey welcomed the opportunity to update the Board more regularly on the organization’s goals and activities. The Board also passed a series of ordinances, including the adoption of license requirements for mobile food units, merchandising guidelines on park property, an ordinance approving the ﬁnal plat approval for the Valley subdivision, and an ordinance to amend code to set requirements pertaining to construction contractors operating within City limits. The Board will meet October 6th at 6:00pm for a budget workshop in council chambers at City Hall.

Community Voices

Page 7

Galloping Goats, Biting Gators And More In Your Local Newspaper by Dan Ridings, CEO, America’s Newspapers If you happened to read the

Albuquerque Journal recently you would have learned about a family who used their (galloping) goats to gobble up weeds and earn some extra money while keeping the city’s weeds and grass trimmed. In the Orlando Sentinel, you would have discovered that a man was attacked and bitten by an alligator while hunting near one of the local lakes. Neither of these stories are life-anddeath issues, unless you happen to be the hunter, but they provide interesting glimpses into life in their communities. While these headlines easily grabbed your attention, these same newspapers also covered the more important stories, like the actions of the local city council, the school board and state government, and you probably won’t see those stories elsewhere. Journalists tell the stories that are fun to read, but even more importantly, the ones we need to know. America needs journalists!

While you can’t turn on a TV, radio or even look at Facebook without seeing mentions of COVID-19, there has been as much misinformation disseminated as actual facts. Chances are your newspaper has covered the pandemic and its real impact on your community. Your newspaper is a reliable source that provides information about the number of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths, so you are better equipped to make an informed decision about how best to cope with these new challenges. America needs journalists! And what if you really need to know the details about which face mask works better and which ones you should avoid? Check your newspaper. It probably has the information, or you could give Google a try. Many of the results will be from newspapers. America needs journalists. I happen to live in Florida, the state with the most hurricane landfalls. Hurricanes are a big deal here, and if I want to know the path of the storm,

there are lots of options. But if I want to know where my local shelters are located, where I can get sand bags, the expected impact on my city, and what I need to do to prepare, there is no better source than the local newspaper. And yes, Florida needs journalists. Whether you live in Iowa and face routine tornadic activity, or live in Montana with its blizzards, newspapers provide insights into dealing with those routine challenges better than any other source. Newspapers also provide real beneﬁts to those who never read them or even glance at a headline. Last year, the Anchorage Daily News did a series of investigative stories that showed how a third of Alaska’s villages had no police protection. The series led to the U.S. Attorney General declaring an emergency for public safety in rural Alaska, and he was able to free up $10.5 million to support local police efforts and public safety. While many people in the affected villages never saw or even heard of the series in the Anchorage Daily News, they all reaped the beneﬁt. America needs

journalists. Newspapers, and journalism in general, is under siege as the disruption of the internet, the rise of Google and Facebook and their use of newspapers’ content without payment have all wreaked havoc on the industry. With many restaurants and retailers closing the past few months due to the pandemic, advertising revenue has plummeted even further. While newspapers continue to tell the story, it has gotten more difﬁcult. While America needs journalists, journalists need you. Your paid subscription and support of local journalism matters. Consider taking one additional step in support of your local newspaper: Ask your Congressional representative to support the Local Journalism Sustainability Act.

Dean Ridings is CEO of America’s Newspapers, a national trade association representing more than 1,600 newspapers across the US and Canada. Ridings received his B.A. from Flagler College and he now lives in New Smyrna Beach with his wife Kellie.

Jeff Koterba’s award-winning cartoons have appeared around the globe in such publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today. His drawings have also flown around the globe aboard space shuttle Discovery.

Your Health

Page 8

Boost Your Brain Health And Your Family Traditions by Megan Callahan, Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitian Let’s face it, the complexity of today’s world may leave you looking for a way to boost your ability to focus. Increasing your seafood intake can be the answer. According to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, eating fish just once a week increased the gray matter volume in the hippocampus part of the brain – your memory and learning center. Researchers pointed out that more gray matter can lead to a lower chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease. It’s worth noting that brain benefits were seen in seafood recipes that were baked or broiled, not fried. Regular consumption of baked or broiled fish has proven to have such a positive effect on health that current dietary guidelines recommend 2 servings of fish per week (8 oz./week) for adults eating around 2000 calories per day, and less for young children, starting with 1 oz. per week at the age of 2 and increasing to 4 oz. per week at age 11. For pregnant and breastfeeding

women, 8-12 oz. per week is recommended, emphasizing lower mercury seafood choices. Some of the more common fish that have low mercury levels include salmon, skipjack tuna (canned), shrimp, scallops, tilapia, cod and crab. For more information on this topic, check out this article on the fda.gov website. https://www.fda.gov/food/ consumers/advice-about-eating-fish September is National Family Meals Month. Here’s an idea to celebrate and begin a healthy tradition: Have one fish dish together as a family each week. Think about the brain boost and family benefits that you’ll gain! Studies have found families that eat more meals together have better communication, and their kids perform better in school and are less likely to use drugs. There are many quick, delicious seafood recipes at www.hyvee.com; there’s even a how-to cooking guide for seafood! Try this quick and easy salmon recipe for your next family meal night. For sides, cook 4-6 servings of brown rice and microwaveable green beans, adding butter and salt to season. Cooking salmon only takes 10 minutes,

Jackson County Offers COVID-19 Testing Jackson County continues to provide COVID-19 testing opportunities throughout the county at mobile locations. Events next week include: Monday, October 5th: Lee’s Summit: Old Fire Station #3, 210 Sw Pryor Rd. Tuesday, October 6th: Metro Christian Fellowship, 2217 High Grove Rd, Grandview Wednesday, October 7th: Blue Springs: Vesper Hall,

400 NW Vesper St Thursday, October 8th: Connection Point Church, 10500 E 350 Hwy., Raytown Friday, October 9th: St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 603 N Jennings Road, Independence Advance registration is requested and may be completed at https:// jacohd.org/events/ Walk-ups will be taken on a limited basis.

so you may want to start cooking your sides ﬁrst. Pair your meal with a glass of low-fat milk and, for dessert, a piece of sliced fresh fruit topped with whipped cream. Resources: https://www.theatlantic.com/ health/archive/2014/08/this-is-your-brainon-ﬁsh/375638/

The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. Megan Callahan is one of your Hy-Vee 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 fulltime 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).

10-Minute Stove-Top Salmon Serves 4 All you need: 4 (4- to 5-oz. each) salmon fillets, skin on Desired seasonings, such as salt, pepper and/or purchased seafood seasoning 1 tbsp Hy-Vee canola oil Desired toppers, such as purchased tropical pico de gallo, avocado pico de gallo, pesto and tomatoes All you do: Pat salmon dry. Season with salt and black pepper or rub your favorite seafood seasoning on fillets. Heat canola oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add salmon fillets, skin side up, to skillet. Cook 4 minutes. Carefully flip fillets, using a fish spatula. Reduce heat to medium. Continue cooking 4 to 5 minutes more or until done. Top salmon fillets with desired toppings, such as purchased tropical pico de gallo, avocado pico de gallo, pesto and tomatoes.

Sports

Page 9

Attention To Detail Lifts Eagles To 5-0 by John Unrein Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius once said, “The secret to victory lies in the organization of the non-obvious.” The attention to detail paid by the Grain Valley Eagles football team has lifted them to a 5-0 undefeated start to the season. Consideration for the aspects of the game that are precise is apparent to anyone who has followed the Eagles this season. Head football coaches from the high school to professional level will all tell you that culture is the hardest thing to build and has arrived in a program once accountability and intrinsic motivation is apparent among players and coaches. Grain Valley’s 38-14 victory over the visiting Kearney Bulldogs on September 25th was ripe with examples of both. The Eagles have scored 30 or more points in all five of their contests this season. Their offense under the direction of Head Football Coach David Allie has taken advantage of what defenses have offered. Wide defensive ends have led to the Eagles running their “down” (off-tackle trap with a backside pulling guard) rushing play with much success. Inside alignment of a defensive end against a tight end means the Eagles will look to run their “George” (two pulling guards leading the quarterback sweep outside) rushing play. If a defense brings extra defenders in the “box” (area along the line of scrimmage between the offensive tackles), the Eagles will start throwing play action passes. As easy as this sounds, it takes a coordinated effort by a coaching staff from the time they start watching film on Saturday, through teaching execution in practice of these plays against the defensive front they will face that week, to finally confirming what the defense is doing on Friday night and relaying that information via the headset to the head

coach so informed decisions can be made that rack up yardage. Kearney’s defensive scheme is a 3-3 Stack (meaning three down defensive lineman covering up three linebackers directly behind them). The goal of the defense is to protect linebackers so that they may roam freely and to break an offense’s blocking rules because of their unique alignment not being like a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. 3-3 Stack defense’s do not like seeing teams that get into unbalanced formations (multiple tight ends or a tight end and fullback to one side of the formation) because it forces them to break their “stack.” Furthermore, a 3-3 Stack defense may be susceptible to off-tackle “B Gap” plays that permit down blocks by offensive linemen that seal off the defense due to their alignment. Grain Valley rushed the football 45 times for 265 yards, good for 5.9 yards per rush against the Bulldogs. Most of Jaxon Wyatt’s 157 yards on 31 carries was on the Eagle’s “down” play through “B Gap”. The junior running back tallied 2 rushing touchdowns as well behind the ﬁerce effort of his offensive line. One of the main men responsible for the Eagles success up front this year is offensive guard Jack Bailey. The senior is easy to identify not just by his size, but by the loud crack of pads that accompanies his kick out blocks when pulling. Bailey relishes his role with the team. “Down was super successful tonight because of their ‘3-3 Stack’ alignment with one of their backers flexed out that left a huge bubble in B Gap. We would kick out their defensive end and the (play side) tackle would get up to the second level. We executed the play well repeatedly. Ear hole blocks against defenders are my favorite because they don’t know what’s coming until it’s too

Left to right: Jack Bailey, Jaxon Wyatt, Zach Kirk, and Hunter Newsom celebrate their 5-0 record. Photo credit: Valley News staff late,” Bailey said. The Eagles offense routinely watches game ﬁlm from the previous drive on the sideline during a game. An eye for detail prevails as assistant coaches Mike Tarrants and Gavin Grillo instruct players on their recent assignment and plays, including who to block or adjusting the path the running back should take on a play. This type of quick in game adjustment requires discipline in attention span for players and coaches and continues to pay dividends for the Eagles on the gridiron. The play of Grain Valley’s offensive line has earned the respect of opponents as well. Greg Reynolds who was the longtime head coach of the Park Hill Trojans, now coaches the

defensive line for the Oak Park Northmen. Reynolds shared with Allie after their week two matchup that the Eagles offensive line didn’t look like much until the ball is snapped. A compliment to how well the starting ﬁve for the Eagles execute their blocks. Skill players for the Eagles offense have done their fair share of work blocking this season as well. Senior wide receiver Carter Day helped spring Wyatt down the Eagles sideline during his 27 yard jaunt during the ﬁrst half. Day paid attention to detail by continuing to work his left arm under the defender in maintaining leverage and avoiding being flagged for holding.

see EAGLES on page 10

Left: Hunter Newsom tackles a Kearney ball carrier. Right: Carter Day clears a path for Running Back Jaxon Wyatt down the sideline. Photo credit: John Overstreet

Sports

Page 10

EAGLES continued from page 9 Eagles senior quarterback Cole Keller joined in on the block party as well. Keller was the lead blocker on a 4 yard sweep by Wyatt that ended in a touchdown with under three minutes left in the ﬁrst half. Grain Valley’s signal caller took out two defenders on the play by leading the way with his left shoulder. Keller was as excited coming to the Eagles sideline as he was after his two touchdown runs during the game. Keller would go on to compile 78 yards on the ground and 172 yards through the air. Wyatt was appreciative after the win with the efforts of his teammates. “This offense can’t do anything without our offensive line. The guys up front set the tone for what we do,” Wyatt said. The defensive side of the football for the Eagles has shown discipline in their attention to detail as well. The growth of senior linebacker Zach Kirk is a prime

illustration. Kirk shares his linebacker duties with fellow senior Hunter Newsom. Both have performed like they are attached by a bungie cord at the hip within their roles on the Eagles black shirt defense. When Newsom fills, Kirk replaces. When Kirk scrapes, Newsom shuffles that direction. This type of execution by the duo limits their opportunities in being out of position defensively. Kirk would turn in two sacks in the win against Kearney. The first would come with :08 left in the first quarter and the next with 2:08 left in the second quarter. Both were made possible by Kirk taking the correct angle of pursuit to the quarterback on “whip” blitzes (the linebacker exchanging gaps with the defensive end) and wrapping up securely. Each sack halted the offensive momentum of Kearney’s drives. “I want to think those around me. Me hitting someone doesn’t happen on my

own. Our defensive line does a great job of holding down blockers. That allows me to make tackles for loss and sacks. This team has created something special and I want to continue the role we are on,” Kirk said. “Getting to play next to Hunter (Newsom) is awesome. I always know he will do his job. He’s the leader of our defense and one of the best players I’ve seen in high school football. I wouldn’t want to play next to anyone else.” Newsom added, “Zack has stepped up this year. We have great chemistry playing next to each other. There’s a high level of trust between us. Any mistakes made by us we meet with cheering for one another and moving on to the next play.” Allie was proud of this team after their victory. “Kearney has a reputation of being a physical football team. We answered the bell tonight,” Allie said.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t ﬁx it. We stuck to the crease we found in the running game. When they adjusted, we went to our ‘Q George’ (quarterback sweep) and play action game.” Allie continued, “Zack (Kirk) is a program kid. He worked his tail off in the off season to get himself bigger and stronger and he’s really shined. Him and Newsom feed off each other. His desire has led him to care about doing the little things right.” “The attitude this team has had over all is special. Especially, in the strange times we are living in. Nothing gets this team down. They want to work and enjoy playing the game.” Grain Valley (5-0) will next visit the Fort Osage Indians (1-4) on October 2nd. Suburban Conference bragging rights will be on the line for each team.

Top 10 Reasons Why Alex Gordon Deserves A Statue

Valley Speedway

At Kauffman Stadium

Results: John Helm Memorial

by John Unrein A fourth statue should be added to Kauffman Stadium. Currently, Ewing and Muriel Kauffman, George Brett, and Frank White are immortalized in bronze. Alex Gordon deserves to be among their company. Somewhere near left field would be the ideal location at Kauffman Stadium. Here are the Top 10 reasons why Alex Gordon deserves a statue. 10. Gordon spent his entire 14 year major league career with the Royals after being drafted by them second overall in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. The left fielder has embraced Kansas City and is proud to have only put on a Royals jersey. 9. Gordon was a three time American League All-Star selection (2013, 2014, 2015).

made a habit of standing closer to home plate when he had two strikes against him. The reward was twofold. Inching closer to the dish made it easier for Gordon to reach pitches on the outer half of the plate as well as being plunked if the target was inside or if the baseball got away from the pitcher. Gordon was tough enough to take a base anyway he could. 6. April 26, 2015 was the date of Alex Gordon’s greatest catch in a 5-3 losing effort against the Chicago White Sox. Gordon went on a dead sprint into foul territory in left ﬁeld at Guaranteed Rate Stadium. The result was Gordon timing his jump over the wall and into the stands two rows deep amongst fans on his way to securing the baseball. Royals announcers Steve Physioc and Rex Hudler compared the feat to something done by Superman.

8. Seven Rawlings American League Gold Gloves reside on Gordon’s mantle (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019), including a Platinum Glove for his 2014 campaign. Two Rawlings Platinum Gloves are awarded annually to one player in each league (American and National). Fan voting and the Society for American Baseball Research, or Sabermetrics SDI (SABR Defensive Index) is the criteria used to select the winner for each league. Gordon’s defensive aptitude was the hallmark of his playing career and it garnered him national attention to the point he became a household name.

5. Gordon was a solid offensive player for the Royals. He compiled 1,643 base hits (6th all-time for the Royals), 357 doubles (5th all-time for the Royals), 190 home runs (4th all time for the Royals), and 749 Runs Batted In or RBI’s (6th alltime for the Royals).

7. Four times during his career Gordon was in the Top Five in the American League for “Hit By Pitch.” He was ﬁrst in this category during the 2019 season after being plunked 19 times. Gordon

4. The Fred Hutch Award Luncheon is held annually. The Hutch Award is ranked as one of the top recognitions given to a Major League Baseball Player. It identiﬁes the player who best

“When I was going over, I knew when I jumped, I was going into the stands,” Gordon shared in his post-game comments. “I kind of had an idea of where the fence was and how low it was. I just said I gotta make the catch here and that was it.”

Saturday, September 26, 2020 Results: MWRA Sprints

exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson, the legendary pitcher and manager who died of cancer at the age of 45. The award was first handed out in 1965. The 2014 recipient was Alex Gordon. 3. Game one of the 2015 World Series saw Alex Gordon tie the game 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth with a home run to straight away center field off a fastball from New York Mets closer Jeurys Familia. It is still to this day one of the biggest clutch hits in team history. 2. Gordon displayed humility in becoming a left fielder after being deemed the franchise’s next George Brett at third base. Following a broken thumb suffered in Spring Training, Gordon began the 2010 season on a minor league rehab assignment with Class-A Advanced Wilmington. Gordon was activated from the disabled list on April 17th. He was demoted to the minors in May, where he started playing left field. 1. Gordon is a class act. Even if you pay close attention, you will not hear negative things about him as a person. Kansas City was blessed to have him share his baseball talent and personal character as a human being with us.

A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 12-Wesley Smith[3]; 2. 28-Kory Schudy[5]; 3. 90-Warren Johnson[1]; 4. 24X-Craig Carroll[14]; 5. 24-Ty Hulsey[12]; 6. 77X -Jack Wagner[8]; 7. 65-Chris Parkinson[2]; 8. 2 -Jason Billups[13]; 9. 37-Brian Beebe[18]; 10. 9W-Chris Morgan[11]; 11. 2X-Kyle Lewis[7]; 12. 41Brad Wyatt[23]; 13. 77-Danny Billings[19]; 14. 15E -Dakota Earls[20]; 15. 88-Chad Tye[17]; 16. 2HLuke Howard[9]; 17. 82-Vinny Ward[10]; 18. 9Casey Baker[16]; 19. 73-Samuel Wagner[15]; 20. 33L-Mark Lane[22]; 21. 7X-Lance Silvers[21]; 22. (DNF) 38-Cody Baker[6]; 23. (DNF) 11W-Wyatt Burks[4] Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 12-Wesley Smith[3]; 2. 65Chris Parkinson[2]; 3. 24-Ty Hulsey[1]; 4. 9WChris Morgan[5]; 5. 9-Casey Baker[4]; 6. 2Jason Billups[8]; 7. 77-Danny Billings[7]; 8. 41Brad Wyatt[6] Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 11W-Wyatt Burks[3]; 2. 2XKyle Lewis[1]; 3. 38-Cody Baker[8]; 4. 77X-Jack Wagner[6]; 5. 24X-Craig Carroll[5]; 6. 37-Brian Beebe[2]; 7. 15E-Dakota Earls[4]; 8. 33L-Mark Lane[7] Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 90-Warren Johnson[1]; 2. 28Kory Schudy[7]; 3. 82-Vinny Ward[2]; 4. 2HLuke Howard[6]; 5. 73-Samuel Wagner[5]; 6. 88-Chad Tye[4]; 7. 7X-Lance Silvers[3] B Modiﬁeds A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 81X-Dan Charles[3]; 2. 81A-Austin Charles[9]; 3. 42-Gene Claxton[10]; 4. 23-Danny Thompson[2]; 5. 73-Bobby Grove [6]; 6. 12-Olen Stephens[7]; 7. 11-John Murray[5]; 8. 51C-Cole Ryun[4]; 9. 02-Donald Johnston[8]; 10. (DNF) 73M-Charles McCartney[1]; 11. (DNS) 75Scotty Martin Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 81X-Dan Charles[1]; 2. 23Danny Thompson[4]; 3. 11-John Murray[5]; 4. 02 -Donald Johnston[2]; 5. (DNF) 81A-Austin Charles[3]; 6. (DQ) 75-Scotty Martin[6] Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 73M-Charles McCartney[2]; 2. 51C-Cole Ryun[3]; 3. 73-Bobby Grove[5]; 4. 12Olen Stephens[4]; 5. (DNF) 42-Gene Claxton[1]

Sports

Page 11

Lady Eagles Blank Indians

by John Unrein

The Grain Valley Lady Eagles Softball team improved to 15-1 with their 8-0 victory over the visiting Fort Osage Indians on September 29th. Junior Avery Huffman went the distance for the Eagles on the mound racking up 14 strikeouts across seven shutout innings. The Eagles offense backed Huffman’s strong performance with nine hits, taking extra bases on passed balls, and exploding for four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Huffman used her changeup when ahead in the count to help put away Fort Osage hitters. Huffman’s off speed offering dipped late in the zone as it crossed the plate and was hard to pick up for Indian hitters. Her efficiency in throwing strikes allowed her to work with good tempo on the mound and permitted the defense behind her to stay on their toes. “I try to do my best each time I go out there. I have confidence in my defense behind me in their ability to make plays. That allows me to keep putting the ball over the plate,” Huffman said. “My off speed pitch I have some days

and others I don’t. It’s all by feel and today it was on. We are playing with a lot of confidence right now.” The corners of the Eagles infield ignited their offense in the bottom of the first inning. Junior third baseman Brileigh Sims collected two RBI’s on her bases clearing double. She would be followed three batters later by sophomore first baseman Ella Clyman who’s RBI double extended Grain Valley’s lead. “Avery (Huffman) is a great pitcher who holds the opposing team to low scores. We enjoy playing behind Avery and I am confident in our whole team,” Sims said. “I was a little bit ahead on the ball today at the plate and that’s why I pulled a few. Trying to center it up in the zone was my approach. I think we are playing great and I hope this momentum helps us to win conference.” Lady Eagles Head Softball Coach Garrett Ogle took advantage of the rainout on Monday before the game to take to the batting cages with his team and work on hitting. Ogle was equally pleased with what he saw at the plate

Left: Lauren Parker prepares to take a swing at bat. Right: Avery Huffman warming up. Photo credit: Valley News staff

by his team to go along Huffman’s excellent outing. “Avery has been developing her changeup for a long time. As far as what count it was used in the game during a hitting sequence, that was all on our catcher Riley Downey. She calls the game for us and she did a great job today,” Olge said. “The more signiﬁcant speed drop-off in a softball changeup like Huffman has makes the timing for a hitter that much harder. A softball changeup can be twenty miles an hour less than a pitcher’s fastball.” Ogle ﬁnished, “Our team had great at bats today collectively. Even if it wasn’t the result they wanted, we battled at the plate. This team likes to have fun, they know how to take care of business, and they like to be around one another. That makes them a joy to coach.” The Eagles glut of games in their schedule at this point in the season will continue as they travel to play William Chrisman on October 1st. Grain Valley will then turn their attention to the Blue Springs Softball Tournament from October 2nd-3rd.

Left to right: Avery Huffman and Brileigh Sims celebrate their team’s win. Photo credit: Valley News staff

Community Calendar Thursday, September 29, 2020

Monday, October 12, 2020

Rockin’ the Library with Mr. Stinky Feet 10:00am—10:45am www.mymcpl.org/events

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

Saturday, October 10, 2020

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Household Hazardous Waste Event 8:00am—Noon Jackson County Public Works Facility 34900 E Old US Highway 40 Oak Grove MO 64075

Stay-At-Home Book Club 7:00pm—8:00pm Virtual book group via Zoom. www.mymcpl.org/events

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 Skeet: Introduction to Skeet 8:00am—10:30am Lake City Shooting Range, 28505 E Truman Road Register: 816-249-3194

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

Friday, October 16, 2020 Native Plants: Wicked Plants of Missouri 10:00am—11:00am Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, Blue Springs Join us for a fun look at plants behaving badly. Registration required (adults) 816-228-3766

Biz Action Learning Circle Week 6: Look Before You Leap 10:00am—Noon Business owners can’t be strong in all areas. We will assess our strengths and explore resources to help account for the areas we need to grow or learn. www.mymcpl.org/events

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THEME: IN THE KITCHEN ACROSS 1. Capital of Ghana 6. Paris in Tour de France 9. Wild ox of India 13. Admiral's group 14. "Mele Kalikimaka" wreath 15. Julian Barnes' "The ____ of an Ending" 16. Telephone company 17. Acronym in a bottle 18. Birth-related 19. *Set briefly on ﬁre 21. *Separate solids from fat in melted butter 23. *Crusty dessert 24. Uncouth person 25. Westminster broadcaster, acr. 28. Coffee break spot 30. *Scald quickly in boiling water 35. Like desert 37. Like Civil War reenactment battle 39. *Like old chips 40. Delhi dress 41. Subculture language 43. *Good or bad it emanates from stoves 44. "As the World ____" 46. Like Jekyll and Hyde's personality 47. This over matter? 48. Encryption device, a.k.a. ____ machine 50. Practice in the ring 52. Low-____ image 53. Competitive advantage 55. NBA coach "____" Rivers 57. *Dissolve browned food bits with liquids 61. *Thicken by simmering 64. Love, to Catherine Deneuve 65. Pigeon sound 67. Pianist's exercise 69. Resembling a ﬁsh 70. Hawaiian Mauna 71. Smart candy? 72. Tire swing holder 73. Bruin legend Bobby 74. *Yummy reward

DOWN 1. Back of the boat 2. Staff symbol 3. Text messenger 4. Short version 5. Like number 1 to hydrogen 6. Besides 7. Opposite of paleo8. '70s music genre 9. Wheel in grandfather clock 10. ____-perspirant 11. Defender of skies 12. Count on 15. Growls angrily 20. What lighthouse does 22. Williams sister's return 24. On account of 25. *Turkey action 26. Hitler's Eva 27. Wispy clouds 29. *Incorporate an ingredient 31. Niels Bohr's study object 32. Rock bottom 33. Star Wars attacker 34. Shepherds' flocks 36. Sound at door 38. ____sack 42. Clearing in the woods 45. Viscous 49. Wood-shaping tool 51. Capybara, e.g. 54. GEICO's mascot 56. Like a button, but more so 57. Cuckoo 58. Dubai dignitary 59. Departed 60. Debussy's "Clair de ____" 61. Serengeti sound 62. *Preserve by adding salt 63. Old Norse texts 66. "____ the ramparts..." 68. D.C. time

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