Valley News www.grainvalleynews.com
OCTOBER 3, 2019
Vol. 2, No. 40
FREE
OATS Bus Service Improves Transportation Access For most adults, easy access to transportation means the process of getting to and from work, daily errands, and medical appointments is not given much thought. However, for the elderly, disabled, or those in need for a variety of reasons, wondering how they will get to the grocery store, doctor, or work is a legitimate concern. Enter OATS Transit, serving 87 counties in Missouri, including Jackson County. OATS mission is enhancing the quality of life by providing safe, caring, and reliable transportation services. The company celebrated its first anniversary in Grain Valley this June. OATS provides a variety of services in the communities they serve, including deviated-fixed routes, medical and dialysis transportation, disability programs, intercity express routes, rural general public transport, senior transportation, and transportation for
veterans hospitals and clinics. Chris Fox is an OATS Driver in eastern Jackson County. He’s a retired business office manager from AT&T who also served in the Air Force and worked on B -52 bombers during his career. Fox says that his current role with OATS is the most rewarding job he’s ever had. “Being able to help folks is important. I come across many people in need who are seeking transportation. Without OATS, I’m not certain what the quality of life would be like for those people. Many don’t have family support or a network of friends to get them where they need to be. This service provides independence for the handicapped or those who don’t have reliable transportation,” Fox said. Fox is consistent in greeting everyone with a “good morning” and a smile in those he encounters on his route. Equally as important to him is
that everyone is buckled up and that no one has stress about their wheelchair or personal support scooters having to be secured. Fox’s three years of experience as an OATS driver is apparent in the way he navigates the back of the bus with the hydraulic lift and assuring things are locked in place. Riding the OATS bus in Grain Valley compared to the neighboring communities of Lee’s Summit and Blue Springs is a bargain. “I drive in all three communities. In Lee’s Summit it’s a $1.50 a trip. Blue Springs is $3.00 a trip. Grain Valley is only $1.00 at trip and that’s due to Grain Valley being very generous in its
subsidy of the program. That works out well for the residents of this community who need affordable transportation support,” Fox said. “Seeing people be able to get out and about and do things that are important to them makes them happy. The mobility that OATS Transit provides helps build community through keeping people socially active and contributing to the economy.” Cheri is a retired nurse who resides in eastern Jackson County. She prefers to use the OATS service instead of taking a taxi due to the storage that
Good News:
see OATS on page 3
GVHS Crowns King and Queen
Missouri Town To Host
44th Annual Fall Festival
“Seeing people be able to get out and about and do things that are important to them makes them happy. The mobility that OATS Transit provides helps build community through keeping people socially active and contributing to the economy,”” Chris Fox, OATS bus driver in eastern Jackson County. economy, Photo credit: Valley News staff
Grain Valley High School (GVHS) seniors Joseph Pittman and Ryan Deaton were crowned 2019 Homecoming King and Queen during halftime festivities on 41--20 September 26th. GVHS Eagles Football defeated the Winnetonka Griffons 41 (story on page 11). Photo credit: John Overstreet
G R A I N VA L L E Y N E W S LOCALLY FOCUSED. FAMILY OWNED. PUBLISHED WEEKLY.
Page 3 OATS
continued from page 1
may be provided on the OATS bus for her personal support scooter. Cheri was one of three passengers on the Grain Valley OATS bus making its rounds on a weekday during the first week of October. “I try to book my trips a week ahead. The staff is nice and always patient with me. I don’t have to memorize new routes to the places I travel or deal with road construction,” Cheri said. “As you get older and your driving privileges are restricted or taken away due to cataracts or medical concerns, having a service like this is a necessity.
My stress is reduced because this is a part of my life.” OATS provides door to door service from residence to destination. Those interested in using the OATS bus service may contact the local office at 816-3807433. It is recommended that a phone call is placed the day before a trip is needed. How to ride an OATS bus as well as other frequently asked questions may be answered by visiting https:// www.oatstransit.org/ride
Police Blotter
The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of September 18-24, 2019. September 18th 700 Block Main St 100 Block Eagles Pkwy 500 Block Broadway, OGMO 500 Block Elizabeth 700 Block Main St Sni-A-Bar/Lakeview 700 Block Main St 1100 Block McQuerry 700 Block Main St 1100 Block Ephraim 600 Block Montana Ridge 1100 Block Valley Ridge Dr
Citizen Contact Found Property Agency Assist (OGPD) Parking Complaint Citizen Contact Check the Well Being Stolen Auto Shoplifting Tow Release Verbal Disturbance Citizen Contact Alarm
September 19th 1100 Block Dean 600 Block Yennie WB I-70/23 MM 1200 Block Pamela 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 1700 Block Minos 500 Block Eagles Parkway 700 Block Main St
Agency Assist (CJC) Stolen Auto Agency Assist (CJC) Area Check Recovered Stolen Auto Citizen Contact Parking Complaint K9 Search Warrant Confirmation
September 20th 1400 Block Nolan 700 Block Main St 800 Block Albatross 200 Block Broadway 700 Block Main St BB/Woodbury 900 Block Ryan Rd 300 Block Old 40 Hwy
Alarm Citizen Contact Property Damage Alarm Citizen Contact Motor Vehicle Accident Area Check Child locked in car
September 21st 400 Block Main 700 Block Joseph Circle 700 Block Main St Armstrong Park 200 Block Gregg
Property Damage Harassment Citizen Contact Suicide Threat Property Damage
September 22nd 1200 Block Eagle Ridge 1100 Block Hickory Ct Montana Ridge/Windcrest Ct 200 Block Cross Creek Ln 600 Block EE Kirby RD Mize/Barr
Motor Vehicle Accident Alarm Road Obstruction Animal Complaint Found Property Area Check
700 Block Main St 600 Block Parr 700 Block SW Tisha Ln 700 Block Main St 2100 Block Sweetgum Ct 1100 Block Baytree 1100 Block Main St 500 Block Centurion Unfounded
Citizen Contact Alarm Agency Assist Suspicious Person Check the Well Being Property Damage Suspicious Activity Possible Shots Fired –
September 23rd 1700 Block Nicholas Dr 700 Block Main St 100 Block Rock Creek Ln 1600 Block Hilltop Ln 100 Block Main St 1100 Block Casey Blvd 900 Block Deer Creek Rd 700 Block Main St 1100 Block McQuerry 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 600 Block Thieme 400 Block Elizabeth St 800 Block Graystone Dr 100 Block E Old 40 Hwy 1100 Block Golfview Dr 1100 Block Buckner Tarsney 700 Block Joseph 1100 Block Buckner Tarsney
Alarm Citizen Contact Motor Vehicle Accident Parking Complaint Harassment Disturbance Verbal Disturbance Citizen Contact Recovered Stolen Auto ID Theft Civil Matter Warrant Confirmation Disturbance Citizen Contact Agency Assist Disturbance Suspicious Person Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Vehicle Check
September 24th 700 Block Main St 800 Block San Kar Dr 1100 Block McQuerry 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 200 Block Harris 900 Block Persimmon Ct 700 Block NW RD Mize Willow / Parker 700 Block Main St 300 Block Front St 300 Block Minter Ave 200 Block Main St 400 Block Main St Montana Ridge / Graystone
Citizen Contact Private Property Tow Trespass Fingerprints Lien Fraud Citizen Contact Suspicious Person Alarm Stealing Unlicensed Solicitor Civil Matter Noise Complaint Disturbance Citizen Contact Suspicious Vehicle Suspicious Vehicle
Valley News
Grain Valley News is a free community paper, published weekly on Thursdays online at www.grainvalleynews.com and on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month in print. Cory Unrein | Co-Owner/Publisher John Unrein | Co-Owner/Production Manager Cathy Allie | Staff Writer, Proofreader Diana Luppens, Switch Focus Studios | Contributing Photographer John Overstreet | Contributing Photographer
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Page 4
Looking Back: Hometown Hero Ed Elliott by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
When graduates of Grain Valley High School choose the University of Central Missouri (UCM) for their college education, they will no doubt become familiar with the ESU, the student union at Central. But do they know the union is named for a fellow alumnus of GVHS? Known as the “campus living room,” the Elliott Student Union is located in the center of the main campus. The original union was built in 1962, with an addition completed in 1966 and a complete facelift in 1990. The Union was named for former UCM President Ed Elliott upon his retirement in 1999. The Sandra Temple Elliott Ballroom is one of many features within the building which also houses a bowling alley, a recreation center, the Student Success Center, the Veterans Success center, meeting rooms and numerous dining options including a food court. Eddie Mayes Elliott was the third of seven children born to Edna Mae (Rowe) and Franklin Elwood Elliott. He had two older brothers, Claude and Frank; and two younger brothers Robert (Bert) and Dan. After five boys, two sisters, Diana and Judy, completed the family. Like their parents, aunts, uncles and cousins, they all attended school in Grain Valley. Ed “Mick” Elliott began elementary
school in the fall of 1944. By the time he graduated from GVHS he had already made a name for himself, both academically and athletically. On the 1956 Treasure Chest (yearbook) Senior Who’s Who page, Ed was voted “Most Athletic” and “Most Likely to Succeed.” He played three sports and was senior co-captain of both the football and basketball team. He was a class officer every year and Student Council President during his senior year. He was also in music, the senior play, and held a position on the staff of both the yearbook and newspaper. His football skills and leadership won him not only the Napier Award for 1955 but also a scholarship to play football at William Jewell College. Ed Elliot earned ten varsity letters as a student-athlete at William Jewell, including four in football and wrestling and two in track and field. As the captain of the wrestling and football teams, he was the only signal caller in Norris Patterson's 18 seasons as coach to call his own plays on offense and defense. He actually played in front of former Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder. Following his senior season, he was named first team All-Missouri College
Athletic Union. In addition, he was the recipient of the Cecil Martin Award for Male Athlete of the Year in 1960. For the next twenty-five years, Ed and his wife, Sandra Sue Temple (GVHS Class of 1957, Central Missouri State University, 1961) were at various colleges where Ed coached, taught and completed his Masters and Doctorial degrees. They also raised two sons. In 1985 they returned to Missouri. Ed became President of Central Missouri State University and Sandra was the popular “First Lady” until their retirement in 1999. Ed was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at both William Jewell College and UCM. The first induction for his athletic success and the second induction for his leadership in the fundraising effort for the building of Walton Stadium, as well as Crane Stadium and the South Recreation Complex at UCM. After retirement, Ed and Sandra moved to Lee’s Summit. They are regular attendees at the Grain Valley Alumni Banquet each year. Dr. Elliott is a board member of the Grain Valley Education Foundation.
Former University of Central Missouri (UCM) President Ed Elliott was born and raised in Grain Valley and graduated from Grain Valley High School in 1956. A standout athlete, he continued his academic and athletic career at William Jewell College and then went on to teach and coach at a number of colleges before returning to Missouri as 1985--1999. President of UCM from 1985 Photo courtesy of Grain Valley Historical Society.
QBs, RMDs And The Bunching Play by Phil Hanson, President and CEO, Truman Heartland Community Foundation
It’s officially fall, and we are all hoping for some great fall football weather that will complement our incredible Chiefs team this season. Not that we have fair weather fans, but after the monsoon weather on home opener weekend, they deserve a break. And Patrick Mahomes is certainly a fun QB to watch both on and off the field. Do you know what our QB Patrick Mahomes and RMDs have in common? Fall is a critical time for optimum performance. RMDs are Required Minimum Distributions that those who are 70 ½ or older must take as a distribution from an IRA. Now is the time to plan for your RMDs so the IRS referee does not throw a flag and penalize you, not with a 15-yard personal foul but a 50 percent penalty of the amount not taken as required. As you design your plans for this year’s RMDs, keep in mind that a contribution directly from your IRA to a charity will satisfy your RMD. This is known as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) and with the higher standard deduction, a smart tax strategy since QCDs are not reported as income on your tax return.
Up to $100,000 in QCDs can be utilized each year. And if you are one of the more than 20 million people who discovered they could not itemize their deductions for 2018 because of the higher standard deduction, a QCD from your IRA could be a useful strategy. For 2019, the standard deduction for a married couple filing jointly is $24,400, up $400 from 2018. With the higher standard deduction, many charitable people found themselves in an unfamiliar situation last year and were not able to itemize for the first time in many years. If this sounds familiar to you, talk to your financial advisor about making a QCD from your IRA. Another good tax play is charitable bunching with a donor advised fund. A donor advised fund, like a charitable giving savings account, is an ideal way to strategically plan charitable gifts and when you make contributions to your donor advised fund you immediately receive a charitable contribution. With a charitable bunching strategy, you put two- or three-years’ worth of charitable contributions into your donor advised fund. This allows you to exceed the new standard deduction and provides additional tax savings. Then in the following years you take the standard deduction and continue to support your favorite charities by
making grants from your donor advised fund. However, please note that donor advised funds are not allowed to accept QCDs, so talk with your financial advisor about these charitable giving strategies. So, as you are cheering for the Chiefs this fall, take time to design some plays for your charitable giving and effective tax planning before the clock runs out. We all need well-designed plays for success.
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.
Business News
Page 5
Do You Really Need To Worry About Your Car Getting Hacked? by Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert
It's amazing how our cars are becoming more high tech. Many of us get to enjoy features such as hands-free conversations via Bluetooth technology, WiFi Connectivity, and cars that can correct our bad driving habits going as far as to be able to drive themselves. With all of the gadgets that come included in our automobiles is a growing fear that hackers can get into your car. The fear is they can steal your personal data, take over your car or even take your vehicle. How is this possible? Vehicle manufacturers are developing cars in which their components and networks act like smartphones and tablets. With more of these smart vehicles connected to the Internet, it opens up many possibilities for hackers which will allow them to gain access to your vehicle remotely. Should you be concerned and what can you do? Read on and I will share more information to help you stay educated and secure. Auto hacking got its first scares back in 2015 when two security researchers used a laptop to remotely take control of a Jeep Cherokee. You will be shocked to find out what parts of the Jeep were remotely controlled. They were able to take control of the digital display, windshield wipers, climate control, radio, brakes, and transmission.
Following up on that research, the researchers were able to access the same Jeep by placing a device in the OBD (On-Board Diagnostics Port) and control the same features. There is also the growing problem of Key Fob security as thieves have the ability to steal the code as it’s being sent to your car. Once armed with this information, thieves can steal your vehicle. Another thing to consider as smart devices are becoming more secure, cybercriminals may turn to vehicles and the systems that feed information to them to steal your personal data. Think of all of the data that your car holds such as your home address, frequented destinations and your current information. This data could become a gold mine for thieves who can take that information and sell it on the dark web...information that could help criminals build a profile of you in an attempt to steal your identity. Fortunately for us, auto manufactures take cybercrime seriously and update their software on a regular basis which cuts the risk of having your car hacked, but as smart gadgets, hacking is possible. If you want to take some extra precautions to keep safe, here's what you need to do: 1. Update your car’ car’s software. Like your smart-devices, if you see an alert that your car wants to perform a software update, let it happen. Most cars will download updates automatically, but if your car has the
option to delay your update you don't want to do it. Software updates for your electronics is a sign that a flaw has been discovered and needs to be fixed. 2. Stay in touch with your car’ car’ s manufacturer. Give your auto manufacturer your contact information so they can reach you about software updates or vehicle recalls if necessary. For extra protection, check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall page. Just enter your vehicle identification number (VIN) there to see if there’s been a recall for your vehicle. 3. Hide your car’ car’s WiWi -Fi password. If your car has Wi-Fi, don't share the password. Doing so will leave you open to an attack. 4. Protect Your Key Fob. The signal from your fob can pass through doors, walls and windows, but it can't pass through metal. Consider storing your keys in a metal container or a signal blocking wallet will safeguard your vehicle against an attack. All it takes is for a thief to amplify your fob signal and they have access to your car. 5. Turn off your car’ car’s Bluetooth and Wi -Fi when you're not using them. A wireless or Bluetooth connection could allow criminals to access your car and take control of one or more parts of the vehicle.
6. Check that USB drive before you plug it into your car. Most of you are probably streaming your music from Spotify or Pandora, but I know there are some of you that like to play music from a USB drive and that's ok. Just make sure you scan any USB drive before plugging it in your car to verify it's virus-free. As I stated, car hacking isn't very likely at this time, but they are possible. This is bound to change as more vehicles get connected to the Internet. In the meantime, you should be aware of the risks out there. Make sure your car's software is always up to date. If you notice anything that appears out of the ordinary from your car, report it to the proper authorities. Want to ask me a tech question? Click here and send it in! If you prefer to connect with me on social media, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and watch great tech tip videos on my YouTube channel. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I want to make technology fun and exciting for you. If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. My team of friendly tech experts are always standing by to answer your questions and help make your technology useful and fun. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.
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Community Voices
Page 6
Wayne’s World The Carpenter’s Rule by Wayne Geiger
The film, “Free Solo,” is a 2018 National Geographic documentary. The film centers around mountain climber, Alex Honnold, who desired to be the first person to climb Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan, without ropes—or free solo. El Capitan is a 3200-foot climb. Honnold knew the task before him. One slip or stumble could be tragic or as Honnold noted, “The stakes were high: climb perfectly, or die.” That’s why I prefer running. It’s a low impact sport. If I hit the ground, the impact is minimal. Spoiler alert: Honnold made his climb in 2017! He made no critical mistakes. The old joke in woodworking is, “I cut this board three times and it’s still too short!” The carpenter’s rule is “measure twice, cut once.” The obvious meaning is, double check before you cut, because once you cut, there’s no going back. As a speaker and writer, I recognize the power of words and the need to communicate accurately and properly. I’ve learned some hard lessons about doing it improperly. As a younger man, I had quite the temper and quite the tongue. Together, they were a recipe for disaster. I, like many people, have said things that I later regretted. Although you can always go back and say, “I’m sorry”, our words often leave an indelible mark. That’s the power of the tongue. Researchers tell us the average tongue is made up of eight different muscles. They also tell us; it never gets tired. At this point, someone you know comes to mind. The Bible says, “… the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great
things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell…. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:5-6, 8). Wow! Talk about a concealed weapon! When used improperly, there is often a price to pay. There’s an old tale of an ancient sage who lived high atop the mountain. A woman who lived in the town below visited the sage to acquire wisdom. She confessed, “I just can’t seem to control my tongue. It gets me into trouble and then I feel bad about it. I need to find some relief from this guilt.” The sage told the woman to take a feather pillow and count out 100 feathers. She was told to take them to the top of the mountain and allow the wind to blow them away. The woman did as the sage instructed and came back saying, “I did what you asked.” The sage then said, “Now, grab a bucket and find each of the feathers.” The woman was shocked and said, “It’s impossible!” The sage smiled and said, “Although you can receive relief over the guilt that you feel, it is extremely difficult to undo what has been done.” From time to time, you’ll find a wonderful acronym going around on social media. I refer to it as the THINK principle. Each letter stands for a helpful question to ask before something comes out of our mouth. This principle can help us in our conversations with others. The principle is not original with me.
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N - Is it Necessary? Sometimes, some information simply just does not need to be shared to or about people. Sometimes, information is on a “need to know” basis. Some people just don’t need to know.
allow my brain to process. I also try to remember the THINK principle. When sending an email on a sensitive subject, I always try to put my initial thoughts down in the email—without putting the person’s name into the send line. I don’t want it to be sent by accident. I never send the first email. I will wait for at least an hour and revisit the email. I try to ensure that I THINK through the process. My general rule of thumb is I send email #3. At times, and when appropriate, I often let my chief editor (my wife) read over material before I send it out or before I hit the “send” button. My wife will quiz me about what I am intending to say and what my motivation is. One email or conversation can go awry in a hurry and I prefer to prevent fires rather than having to put them out. Naturally, we all make mistakes and often get it wrong. Most of the time, it’s just a bump in the road and we go on. At other times, though, conversations can go terribly wrong and people get hurt. I’ve learned some lessons the hard way. Oftentimes, my simple prayer is from Psalm 141:3 which says, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” And then, before saying amen, I add my own thought, “and Lord, at times when I wander from your truth, use duct tape as necessary.”
K - Is it Kind? The surgeon uses a scalpel to bring healing. But, the same instrument in the wrong hands can be deadly. In the same way, our words can heal or hurt.
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.
Brainyquote.com attributes the quote to Bernard Meltzer. However, other sources track the quote back to a book of Victorian poems entitled, “Miscellaneous Poems,” by Mary Ann Pietzker, published in 1872. Personally, I think it’s just one of those phrases that was probably collected from bits and pieces over time and it’s not possible to credit one source. T - Is it True? Naturally, before information is shared, we want to ensure that it is true and not hearsay or fabrication. H - Is it Helpful? Sometimes, information may be true, but it’s not helpful. In fact, sometimes, information can be downright hurtful. I - Is it Inspiring? How wonderful it is to get a compliment from others. We should seek to inspire others to become the best that they can be. In love, we should seek to bring out the hidden beauty deep with them.
When talking, I try to pause often and
Community Voices
Page 7
Musings From The Middle:
Confessions Of A Bibliophile by Cathy Allie
I had really good parents growing up, and looking back, they probably didn't mean to corrupt me; but when they supplied me with rich literature at a young age, they had no idea the impact it would have later, when I turned into a bibliophile. Truly, I am a lover and collector of books, and in full disclosure, pretty much anything I can read. My earliest memory of reading was a board book of Eugene Field poems and stories. It featured Wynken, Blynken and Nod and The Sugar Plum Tree. It was beautifully illustrated with soft pastels, the way books of old were. Nestled in the arms of my parents or my grandparents, after only a couple of reads, I already knew what would appear on the next page. Their fingers ran underneath the words as they read them, and soon, those words were ones I knew how to read on my own. We got books for birthdays, Christmases, even tucked into an Easter basket or two. Golden Books graced our shelves in numbers too high to count. That collection alone would be worth a mortgage payment or two in today’s market. Since I already knew how to read when I went to school, I was surprised when many peers did not. When we started into reading Dick and Jane books, my teacher sounded out the words and turned the pages ever so slowly, moving side to side for all of us seated on the floor to see. The cadence of the words and the lack of text bored me. Who didn’t know the word cat for crying out loud? I wanted to hold the book and move at my own pace. That’s probably why I began a shortlived criminal career when I popped up and snatched the book from the teacher and hid it. Luckily, that teacher was my mom (a perk of living in small town) and she found the book before the authorities could intervene. At home and with family, I read street signs, and travel brochures, and cereal boxes, and instruction manuals for my toys. I read to my baby sister, one of the few times I can remember purposefully being nice to her. Then came elementary school, and the SRA reading modules, with their colorful tabs. We took a test to see the level at which we would start reading, and then the teacher would give us a story on card stock labeled with a particular color. We answered comprehension questions to see if we could move through all the stories in that color, and then move to the next. I loved the 64 Crayola box feel to the tabs, which once I breezed past the primary colors of red, blue and yellow, had names like lime, aqua, carnation, olive, lilac, violet, mahogany, plum, silver, bronze, and gold.
I was excited to read about Tarzan, heroes in the Navy, astronauts, Babe Didrickson Zaharias, the Presidents, life on the farm, flying an airplane, bank heists, madcap playground antics, and mothers who baked pies and set them on window ledges to cool, only to have them stolen by neighborhood thugs. Selfishly, I wasn’t focused on my reading purely to improve my comprehension; I was driven to compete with other good readers in those years. When my teacher sent me to the box to pull a new color, I looked around to see who else had it. In my case, it was generally no one…except that old Jennifer Tucker. I read at lightning pace and had good comprehension. Jennifer, in her snow white cardigan sweater and perfect auburn curls, did too. I finally got the jump on her one day when she had an upset stomach. The chocolate milk from lunch didn’t sit well with her, and she made elementary fame by throwing up in the hall. Her cardigan wasn’t so white anymore. I marched right back into the classroom and snagged the tangerine SRA card she was getting ready to start on, and I never looked back. I heard she became an accountant, probably embarrassed to this day that I bested her. But the SRA stories were chosen for me, and it was when I had full reign of the library and could choose what to read, that I knew I had a problem. I dutifully signed my name on the checkout cards, which the librarian, using her handheld inked date stamp, marked with a due date. If I was at school, I could hardly wait to read until I got home. I ignored math- and sometimes social studies—and let’s face it, science, just to spend time reading. If I was with my parents, I started reading on the way home in our fauxwood paneled station wagon. At first it was Ramona Quimby, then quickly Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys, and Little House on the Prairie. I would become 'bookklempt' when I reached the end of a series. Those elementary years were also magical for me, as we lived in a neighborhood where they ran Book Mobiles, and library staff drove the books to us. Those of you who know my age are thinking how cool it must have been to have books delivered by horsedrawn carriage or a Model-T, but alas, it actually happened on beautiful, airconditioned modern buses, somewhat like today's fancy RV's. We marked the next Book Mobile dates on our calendars, and the morning of the visit, we raced on our bananaseated Huffy bikes to be one of the first readers to arrive so we had the best selection. The fact that parents didn't have to accompany us and oversee our book choices was an added bonus.
The only problem was that I read fast, so a bi-weekly Book Mobile visit wasn’t going to work for me. In a move I can only call crazy, desperate, and disobedient, I obtained information about a Book Mobile visit in an adjacent neighborhood, and I rode my bike across the four lane road separating the neighborhoods to meet it. Mom, if you are reading this, I am sorry. I promise it’s the worst thing I did as a kid. During my junior high years, I took to reading books my parents had read in previous years and left sitting on the shelves, so I spent some time with paperbacks that may or may not have been an approved SRA reading level for me. I can remember reading Airport, Jonathan Livingston Seagull (for which I somehow also ended up owning a silver necklace), The Thorn Birds, Watership Down, and The Deep. One summer I discovered Agatha Christie, the Queen of Mystery and hung out on hot July days by the pool with baby oil and iodined legs, and Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple as companions. Those novels exposed Nancy Drew for the amateur detective she was. I suppose the only reading I did for a few years post junior high was high school and college textbooks and novels. To Kill a Mockingbird impacted me so profoundly I can still quote passages from it today. Actually being excited to own my own hard back copy of New Hopes for a Changing World by Bertrand Russell, suggested by a favorite teacher, solidified my nerdy bibliophile status. Well-lit bookstores like Barnes and Noble, Borders, and B.Dalton beckoned us to malls, during my college years, but the only outside class reading I did was on the parking tickets I seemed to get almost every week at the dorm, makeup and fashion magazines, and my sorority's by-laws. In class, Professor Herman Wilson beckoned me to world literature, and I dredged through it. It was likely the only time I experienced 'readgret' at having spent so much time reading something I didn't enjoy. When I became an English teacher, I re-read the classics so I could teach them, surely creating lessons so much better than the ones my teachers had shared with me. As a single person, perhaps my commitment phobia led me through a period where I only read short stories and magazines, as a novel would perhaps have attempted to tie me down. By the time I was a graduate student and working full time, I read for escape, needing a release from statistics class and course work, so there was no fiction book that was too silly or too trashy for me. And then I started to build my own library. And when I say build, I really
mean amass. I bought books at an alarming rate. Before online sales heightened, I snatched books off shelves like a stockpiler before a natural disaster. I rabbit trailed down religious roads, I became a groupie for multiple authors, I owned a How-To book on everything from plumbing issues to estate planning. I attended book signings, participated in chat groups, even had a chance to review a book for a friend turned author. When my husband and I married, I imagined blending our lives and of course, our books. But he had so many. So, so many! And they covered history and sports and war and conspiracy theories. They had cracked spines and funny man-like smells about them. I became 'shelfrighteous' and I morphed into a home-librarian, carefully separating such nonsense away from my books. In a cleaning fit, I once grabbed a short stack I had never seen him touch, must less look at, and I donated them. Mind you, these books belonged to the man who never noticed when I replaced an entire room of furniture when he was gone for the weekend, but who miraculously, through some spideysense, knew I had purloined his page turners, vamoosed with his volumes, toted away his texts, bagged his bestsellers, filched his fiction. You get the idea. We are still married. Barely. Now, as a semi-retired person, I have returned to the library-- the one you can actually walk in, and not online models for reading on a device. Paperbacks I check out just might have a chlorine splash or two on them from afternoons at the pool, because I still like the feel of the book in my hand; I just don't want to find a place for it and have to dust it next week-- or a month-- from now. As I 'Marie Kondo' my house and possessions in a decluttering effort (I do still have HER book), I am parting ways with some of my collection, and it really is like saying goodbye to friends. Occasionally I pause long enough to convince myself that a book can stay. I think about a friend who might like it, or I even think about my daughter enjoying it someday. Most moments I question my parenting skills, and those of you who are regular readers of this column no doubt question them as well. But my daughter Harper just recently asked for more shelves in her room on which to keep her books. She is a full-blown bibliophile as well, so I must be doing something right.
Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer.
Page 8 Superheroes To Fight Alien Invaders October 5th At Burr Oak Woods by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation Not all aliens arrive in spaceships. Some send seeds floating in the wind or drifting in the water. Property owners sometimes unknowingly allow them to proliferate in backyard settings. People aware of problems posed by nonnative, invasive species are a first line of defense. But alas, the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) staff at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center has also lined up some superheroes that will hike to the rescue from 4:00pm to 9:00pm on Saturday, October 5th, at the Nature Center in Blue Springs. All ages are welcome for lighthearted but informative trailside theater as the Burr Oak Woods staff presents Superheroes and the Curse of the Alien Invaders. Fear not, good people, this is a free event. In a fun and family-friendly way, visitors can take a guided trek through the forest and meet the Incredible Hulk, Batman, Aqua Girl, Spiderman, Captain Marvel, and even Superman along the trail as they battle against troublesome exotic species. Nature fans donning
their Halloween costumes early are welcome. The superheroes will talk about the role of native species in nature and how nonnative, invasive exotics negatively affect people, wildlife, and forest and grassland habitats. Visitors will also get to enjoy nature in the autumn-tinged woods. Those who are dealing with a troublesome invasive species on their property will have a chance to discuss management approaches with experts. Trail tours start every 15 minutes, with the last tour departing at 7:00pm. There will be a final performance at 8:00pm in the nature center auditorium. Registration is not necessary. But visitors can reserve a tour time by picking up tickets at the nature center’s front desk. Visitors can also enjoy nature activities, crafts, prizes and free refreshments. MDC’s Burr Oak Woods Nature Center is located at 1401 NW Park Road. For more information, call 816-228-3766, or visit http://mdc.mo.gov/burroakwoods.
Mark Your Calendars For Trail Or Treat October 25th An evening of spooky fun is promised for trick or treaters at the annual Trail or Treat event on Friday, October 25th at Butterfly Trail Park in Grain Valley. The free event will be held from 6:30pm—8:30pm. More than 30 local businesses and organizations will be stationed along the trail distributing
treats. Attendees can also enjoy a haunted hayride, silly slides, the gruesome graveyard, and more. Trick or treaters are asked to bring a non-perishable food item or toiletry item for the Grain Valley Assistance Council.
Meet Your Neighborhood Firefighters Sunday, October 6th
Central Jackson County Fire Protection District invites their neighbors to CJC Station 4 at 700 SW Eagles Parkway to tour the station, grab a cookie, and chat with their neighbor
firefighters on Sunday, October 6th from 2:00pm—4:00pm. There is no registration required and no cost to attend.
Read Valley News online weekly at www.grainvalleynews.com.
Superheroes such as Superman will help visitors join the battle against troublesome invasive species during free guided hikes 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5, at MDC's Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs. Little superheroes donning their Halloween costumes are welcome, too. Photo credit: Missouri Department of Conservation
Page 9
Trick Or Toy! How To Make Halloween Food Allergy Friendly by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD
You may have seen teal-painted pumpkins decking out a neighbor’s porch, or teal pumpkin signage on front doors and staked in yards. These are welcome Halloween decorations for the nearly 15 million Americans living with food allergies. It’s all part of a nationwide effort called the Teal Pumpkin Project, and it’s designed to create a safer Halloween for all. What Do Teal Pumpkins Mean? Placing a teal pumpkin (the color of food allergy awareness) outside your home means that non-edible items are available for trick-or-treaters with food allergies. In addition to peanut allergies, other common food allergies include wheat, eggs, milk, tree nuts, and soy—all
of which may be found in a variety of popular Halloween candies. Participants in the Teal Pumpkin Project, however, offer items such as glow sticks, crayons, stickers, spider rings, stencils, and bubbles instead of chocolate and candies. It’s a way of helping all kids feel included in the Halloween fun. It’s also okay to still pass out candy to kids without food allergies. Just remember to keep the edible treats in a separate container. How to Get Involved It’s easy. Simply paint a pumpkin teal and place it visibly in your front yard for trick-or-treaters to see. Some people even like to host teal pumpkin painting
Play free puzzles online:
parties as a way to get friends and neighbors involved. Then stock up on a variety of non-edible items to offer kids. Alternatively, you can visit FoodAllergy.org and print free signage to place in your yard, rather than painting a pumpkin. The website also offers free flyers and educational materials to help you spread the word and have a happy, healthy, and safe Halloween.
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.
NonNon-Food TrickTrick -oror-Treat Ideas: Glow sticks Bracelets or necklaces Pencils, pens, crayons or markers Bubbles Halloween erasers or pencil toppers Mini Slinkies Whistles, kazoos or noisemakers Bouncy balls Coins Finger puppets or novelty toys Spider rings Vampire fangs Mini notepads Playing cards Bookmarks Stickers
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www.bluebranchmanor.com ACROSS 1. Will alternative 6. Put into service 9. Ball on a string 13. Conversation starter 14. "Platoon" setting 15. "Four" prefix 16. Macaroni shape 17. Dunk value 18. *"The Dark Knight" star 19. *Marion Crane stops at a motel 21. *Eccentric scientist teleports himself 23. Sonny and Cher, e.g. 24. *What "The Swarm" attackers do 25. Hot tub feature 28. Think, archaic 30. Kentucky Derby sound 34. *"American Psycho" weapon, pl. 36. Andy's radio partner 38. Dished out 40. Drunkard 41. Type of turn, pl. 43. Spare in a trunk 44. Pore in a leaf 46. Straight out of bottle, as in whiskey 47. Port of Yemen 48. Angry growl 50. Whiskey grain, pl. 52. Is in Paris 53. "What a ____!" 55. Car nut 57. *Chris Washington meets his girlfriend's family 60. *Girl bullied at school 63. Type of renewable energy 64. Caviar 66. Abstains from food 68. Opposite of binary 69. Barley bristle 70. Web mag 71. Department store department 72. *Sematary resident 73. Saw again
DOWN 1. *"____-Wolf of London" 2. Counseling, e.g. 3. Priestly vestments 4. Frank Wright's middle name 5. Showing cleavage 6. "Do ____ others..." 7. *Photographer and oncologist trapped by Jigsaw 8. Bring character to life 9. Bone to pick 10. And others 11. Pretentiously artistic 12. Morse Code dash 15. Like Murder Mystery Party 20. Pertaining to hours 22. Type of farm house 24. Two for the price of one deals 25. *It terrorized Amity 26. Highway departures 27. Part of mortise joint 29. *Boy brings grief to adoptive parents, with The 31. 9th letter of Greek alphabet 32. Move like on ice 33. *Jack Torrance's catchphrase "____ Johnny!" 35. "Brave New World" drug 37. Don't go 39. Fender-bender damage 42. Funerary art form 45. Weapon storage 49. Romanian money 51. The Beach Boys' "____ Girl" 54. Seatbelt, e.g. 56. Feed in a meadow 57. *"____ Girl" 58. Panache 59. Before feathers 60. One tenth of a dime 61. a.k.a. The Islamic State 62. Tallest volcano in Europe 63. Math class total 65. Be in the red 67. Do needlework
Sports
Page 10
Eagles Swim And Dive Continues Strong Season by John Unrein
The Grain Valley Boys Swim and Dive team competed at the 2019 COMO Invite in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday, September 28th. Several personal best times were posted by Eagle swimmers, including Wyatt Huffman. The senior would go onto a 4th place finish and his personal best time in the 100 Freestyle. Eagles Head Swim and Dive Coach Kara Liddle continues to be impressed by the progress of her squad. “We have had a great season so far. All the boys are working hard day in and day out and it’s paying off in the pool. I was very excited for the boys to have the opportunity to compete at the COMO Invite at the Mizzou Aquatic Center. Many of the top teams in both classes were present at this meet and it was a great experience for everyone,” Liddle said.
“This is the toughest part of the season both mentally and physically. These boys are tired but dedicated to coming to practice each day and working their hardest in the pool and on the board. I’m excited to see their hard work pay off at Conference and State.” Sophomore diver Eli Hendricks qualified for State at the Eagles first meet of the season with a score of 250.05. Huffman has qualified in the 100 Freestyle and is getting closer in several other events through shaving time. Liddle is also excited by the progress of the team’s 400 Meter Free Relay. They continue to drop time each week and has a target of qualifying for state. “Our goal is for all of our State athletes to return this year as well,” Liddle said.
Prep Report Softball October 1st vs. Kearney Varsity wins 14-4
Girls Golf Taylor Hileman and Laney Rose earn all conference honors on September 30th.
September 30th vs. Platte County Varsity fall 2-1 in 8 innings
Girls Tennis September 30th vs. Blue Springs Lady Eagles win 5-4
Boys Soccer October 1st vs. Raytown South Varsity wins 4-3 JV wins 3-2
September 24th Senior Night vs. Winnetonka Lady Eagles win 9-0
Next Week Swim October 4th—Boys Varsity Classic @ Henley Aquatic Center 4:00pm
Cross Country October 5th—Varsity Invitational @ Grain Valley North Middle School 8:30am
Football October 4th vs. Raytown @ Raytown 7:00pm
Girls Golf October 7th @ Fred Arbanas Golf Course 9:00am
Senior Wyatt Huffman placed fourth at the 2019 COMO Invite in Columbia on September 28th. Photo credit: Grain Valley Swim and Dive
Lake City October Events Include Women On The Range Lake City Shooting Range is offering a number of programs in October, including “Women on the Range”, a daylong program on October 12th. This program is a safe and fun way for women (age 18+) to enjoy a day of shooting in a friendly, safe environment. This all-day event will cover everything from rifles and pistols to shotguns and archery in an effort to introduce the different shooting disciplines offered. The one-on-one coaching offered by Lake City staff will provide the support needed to obtain the skills of a basic shooter. Registration is required. Refreshments will be provided; attendees will need to bring a lunch and snacks. A Handgun Basics course for women is scheduled for Saturday, October 19th from 8:00am—11:30am. The program
includes handgun safety, operation, shooting fundamentals, maintenance, and safe storage. Equipment and ammunition will be provided. Additional programs in October include a Trap Shooting course on Saturday, October 26th from 9:00am— 11:30am. The program is designed for those who have had some experience with shotguns. Topics to be covered include safety, appropriate guns and ammunition, rules of the game, etiquette on the field, and field layout. Firearms and ammunition will be provided, or registrants can bring their own. Lake City Shooting Range is located at 28505 E. Truman Road. For more information and to register for programs, call 816-249-3194 or visit www.mdc.mo.gov/events.
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Sports
Page 11
Eagles Dominate On Ground Against Griffins by John Unrein
Junior Wide Receiver Parker Bosserman asserted with confidence that his team would work on the details in limiting penalties and mistakes that plagued the Grain Valley Eagles Football team after their loss to the Platte County Pirates in their week four matchup of the season. His team did just that in their 41-20 victory over the visiting Winnetonka Griffins on Thursday, September 26th. The win against a Suburban Conference opponent was as impressive as Bosserman’s faith in what his team would do. The Eagles churned out 308 yards on the ground along with 5 rushing touchdowns in route to their win. Game planning and coaching were a part of Grain Valley’s success as they used more double tight end sets against the Griffins 3-4 defense in making them defend two extra gaps at the line of scrimmage against the run. This put Winnetonka in a quandary for much of the game in figuring out how to stop the quarterback option off jet sweep. The outside linebacker for the Griffins had to decide if he was going to honor the motion and mesh of the wide receiver on jet sweep coming at him, or to stay at home and not widen due to the threat of the quarterback keeping the football and running inside of him. Junior Quarterback Cole Keller was the maestro who got to determine the key read on what to do with the football on jet sweep option for the Eagles. His decision making was continually accurate. It led to the signal caller amassing 110 yards rushing and 2 rushing touchdowns. Keller was pleased with his performance after the game. “We knew coming into this game that adding two tight ends might give us an advantage by alignment. When we add jet motion it puts their outside backer in a tough position. He had to decide if he was going to defend the receiver coming at him or stay at home with the tight end,” Keller said. “Most of the time he chose to defend the slot receiver, and it gives me a good running lane due to the blocking of our (offensive) line and magic happens.” Senior Linebacker Seth Dankenbring likes to get his hands on the football and enjoys contact. He got to do both more than usual against the Griffins when he opened the game at running back. Dankenbring ran with leverage and burst, getting his pads underneath the defenders and not hesitating in his assigned path with the football. “It’s a good change. Most of the time I’m running down people and tonight I got to run from them. Our line did a good job tonight. My philosophy was run hard and don’t go down,” Dankenbring said. Neither Keller or Dankenbring were surprised by Bosserman’s assurance that their team would bounce back in the manner they did. “Parker and I have been close our whole lives. That dude is undersized
Junior Wide Receiver Parker Bosserman looks for open space after a reception. Photo credit: John Overstreet compared to your typical receiver. He’s a gamer though. You can see it on the field in that his routes are great, he rarely drops a ball, and he runs hard when he gets the football. He loves the game and this team,” Keller said. Bosserman would contribute with actions as much as his words. He was good for 51 yards on six receptions and a touchdown grab. Equal to his stats were the blocking he displayed on the field in helping to secure some big runs for the Eagles. Grain Valley Head Football Coach David Allie was glad to see the effort put forth by this team during a short week of practice come to fruition. The Eagles played on Thursday night due to the threat of severe storms in the area the following day. Allie was pleased with Bosserman’s quote from the week before. “His quote is what we worry about all week. It’s about attention to detail. We brought it to the kids as what are you going to do individually to make us better this week? The kids did a great job of focusing all week long,” Allie said. “We got the look we wanted with what we come out in offensively and stayed in it. The big nasties up front did a pretty good job of blocking. Dankenbring and Goulden did a good job of hitting the hole off tackle. Bosserman and Pratt outside as well in taking advantage of what they gave us. The big thing tonight was we held on to the football and tackled well.” The Eagles defense was equally as prepared for the task of limiting the Griffins offense. They held Winnetonka to only 6 points through three quarters of play. Grain Valley’s secondary aligned with inside leverage to take away the slant and hitch within the Griffin’s quick passing game.
The strategy was successful despite two late forth quarter touchdowns by Winnetonka against a beat-up Grain Valley secondary dealing with injuries. The Eagles will next turn their attention to the Raytown Blue Jays, who they will travel to face on Friday, October 4th at 7pm. “The good thing about playing on Thursday night due to the severe weather warnings is we get to watch film tomorrow and the kids get a Saturday off. The extra day of rest is huge,” Allie said. “Raytown has a dynamic quarterback and offense. They are typically big and fast. We will head to their place and it will be a battle. The last two years we’ve played them, they got out to a huge start and we had to play catch up. Instead, we’re going to have to do what we did tonight. Control the football as well as tackle and not give up the big play in helping us to be successful.”
Junior Quarterback Cole Keller and Senior Linebacker Seth Dankenbring. Photo credit: Valley News staff
Community Calendar Saturday, October 5, 2019
Monday, October 7, 2019
Advanced (10-16 years) - 3:00pm— 4:00pm Register online https:// grainvalley.recdesk.com/Community/ Home, call 816-847-6230 or register at the Community Center.
Chili Cookoff to benefit Pathways of Honor Legacy Plaza Veterans Tribute Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 11:30am—3:00pm For contestant info, call Ben at Grain Valley Chiropractic, 816-443-5485. Event is open to the public. Tickets are $5/person and may be purchased at the event.
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
Thursday Bridge Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S. Main 12:30pm—4:00pm
Household Hazardous Waste Mobile Collection Jackson County Public Works Facility, 34900 E. Old US Highway 40 8:00am—Noon ID and proof of residency required.
Zoo to You Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 2:00pm—2:45pm Kansas City Zoo staff and docents will provide touchable artifacts and bring three to four animals for an informal presentation and discussion. Register at www.mymcpl.org/events
Sunday, October 6, 2019
CJC Fire Protection District Open House 2:00pm—4:00pm Station 4—700 SW Eagles Parkway Tour the station, grab a cookie, and chat with your neighborhood firefighters.
Senior Coffee Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 9:00am—11:00am Free.
Book Group Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 6:30pm—7:30pm www.mymcpl.org/events
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Artbots Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 6:00pm Register at www.mymcpl.org/events
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Homeschool PE Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main Wednesdays October 9—November 13th Beginner (5-9 years) - 2:00pm—3:00pm
G R A I N VA L L E Y N E W S LOCALLY FOCUSED. FAMILY OWNED. PUBLISHED WEEKLY.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Monday, October 14, 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 Board of Aldermen Meeting City Hall, 711 Main 7:00pm Add your community event at www.grainvalleynews.com.
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