Valley News: November 5, 2020 by grainvalleynews

Valley News NOVEMBER 5, 2020

www.grainvalleynews.com

Jackson County Voters Approve Question 1, Vote To Keep Jackson Statues Jackson County voters narrowly approved Question 1 on the November 3rd ballot, adding a fee of up to $1.00 for all subscribers to communication services that features the ability to call 911, with revenue going to the County’s E -911 System Fund. The measure is an attempt to ﬁx Jackson County’s current funding mechanism for the service, which is supported entirely by a 7% landline surcharge. Most 911 calls are made by cellphones and the number of landline users continues to decline. Jackson County states the declining revenues threaten emergency response. Voters overwhelmingly defeated Question 2, which asked if the statues of

Vol. 3, No. 44

FREE

City Survey Asks Residents For Feedback On June Vote

Andrew Jackson located outside the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City and the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence should be removed. The statues have been discussed by the legislature for nearly a year. Calls for the statues of the country’s seventh president to be removed intensiﬁed this summer in the wake of protests following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. The measure was defeated with 72.17% voting no. Jeff Coleman, State Representative D -32 (R), ran unopposed and was reelected to a second term. Unofﬁcial totals show voter turnout in Jackson County at 80.3%.

The City of Grain Valley released a survey to registered voters on October 28th, requesting feedback on the failed municipal complex vote in June. The Board of Aldermen requested the survey to attempt to better understand the desires of residents as they focus on how to address the future of City Hall, the Police Department, and Community Center, and the Sni-A-Bar property which was proposed as the site for the municipal complex. The survey, administered by ETC Institute on behalf of the City of Grain Valley, is intended to understand why

the June vote was not supported by voters. In addition to questions regarding how respondents learned of and understood the ballot measure, the survey asks respondents to share their opinion on the best use of the current land occupied by City Hall, the police station, and community center. Options offered include expanding facilities at the current location or continuing to pursue a plan at the Sni-A-Bar Farms site. Residents may complete the survey at http://bit.do/GV2020Survey .

Good News: Girl Scouts Invest Cookie Funds With Local Organizations

Missouri Trivia by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Donald Faurot, American football and basketball player, coach, and college athletics administrator best known for his eight-decade association with the University of Missouri.

A native of Mountain Grove, Missouri, he is best known for inventing the splitT in football. But did you also know that Dr. Forest Allen who served as head basketball coach at the University of Kansas for 39 years is also a Missouri native. Forest "Fog" Allen hails from Jamesport, Missouri.

In This Edition:

Looking Back: Number Please...

Neighborhood View: Trick-Or-Treaters Descend On Grain Valley Streets

Your Health: November Is American Diabetes Month

Sports: Eagles Football Gearing Up For Playoff Run

GVHS football team prepares to face William Chrisman on 11/6. Photo credit: Valley News staff

Girl Scout Troop 4280 put the proceeds from their cookie sale to use in the community through several donations to support local causes. The girls donated $340 to Foster Adopt Connect, $300 to the Grain Valley Assistance Council, and $340 to Angela Pagel, a Prairie Branch Elementary

teacher recovering from a stroke. Pictured left to right: Chloe Fisher, Riley Stoffregen, Madison Massey, Amelia Ackerson, Camila Montejo, Avery Wolf. Not pictured: Jaylee Dieckhoff, Easton Covert, Josie Dierking and leaders Marty Hunt and Stacy Fisher.

Photo credit: C. Massey

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Page 2

Police Blotter

Recorder Of Deeds Office Closed Due To COVID-19 The Recorder of Deeds office at Jackson County’s Historic Truman Courthouse, located at 112 W. Lexington Avenue in Independence, will be closed for the remainder of this week due to a County employee testing positive for COVID-19. Residents who need to conduct business with the Recorder of Deeds office are encouraged to: Go Online at www.jacksongov.org; Call (816) 881-3191;

Visit a surrounding county ofﬁce for a Missouri marriage license. The County emphasizes the closure does not impact the Assessment and Collection departments, both of which have ofﬁces inside the Historic Truman Courthouse and remain open to serve those who need in-person assistance. The County will provide any additional updates on its website and social media platforms.

Seniors Advised To Be Organized And Proactive To Protect Against Financial Abuse, Scams It’s easier than ever to handle our finances without setting foot inside a bank with so many advances in technology, but these changes have also made fraud and financial abuse a prevalent problem for older adults. Most elder financial abuse involves scams, forgery, identity theft, or undue pressure to give someone access to property or funds by simply providing information over the phone. Older adults are often targeted for such exploitation because they may be perceived as trusting, they may be cognitively impaired, they may have more funds available after a lifetime of saving, and potentially less exposure to technological advances. Alan Lefko, Chairman of the Bank of Grain Valley, encourages seniors and their family members to be aware of these attempts. Banks locally continue to encounter cases of attempted fraud and abuse of older adults, and the FDIC offers several tips for protecting against financial abuse and scams. Tips for Protecting Finances Seniors can protect themselves from financial abuse by making sure financial records are organized and being aware of how much money is in all accounts. In addition, you can protect your assets by talking to someone at your bank, an attorney, or a financial advisor to discuss your options for ensuring your wishes for managing your money and property are followed in the event you become incapacitated. Other activities to help protect yourself include: Carefully choosing a trustworthy person to share your financial planning matters with so they can assist you with tracking your finances if you are unable to do so yourself. Locking up your checkbook, account statements, and other sensitive information. Ordering copies of your credit report to review for suspicious activity. (You are entitled to a free copy of your credit

report from each of the three major credit bureaus once every twelve months. To order your free annual reports, go to AnnualCreditReport.com or call toll- free 1-877-322-8228.) Never providing personal information, including your Social Security number, account numbers, or other financial information to anyone over the phone unless you initiated the call. Asking for details in writing and getting a second opinion from a financial advisor or attorney before signing any document you don’t understand. Paying with checks and credit cards instead of cash to have records of transactions. Tips for Family and Friends Family and friends can also help by being aware of the many ways in which an older person may be financially exploited. There are many scams and frauds that attempt to get bank account information or Social Security numbers from the elderly to steal their identity or money. Be on the lookout for signs of possible financial abuse, including: Unexplained account withdrawals. Another individual unexpectedly making financial decisions on the older person’s behalf. Disappearance of funds or valuable possessions. Unanticipated transfer of assets to another individual. Sudden changes to a will or other important financial documents. Suspicious signatures on checks. You should also contact any bank or other financial institution involved to notify them of the potential abuse, and they may be able to assist you. They may not be able to provide you with specific information about accounts or transactions due to privacy laws, but they have the ability to review information for potential abuse as well as the resources to report abuse.

The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of October 21-27, 2020. October 21, 2020 1200 Block Phelps Ct 900 Block Broadway 200 Block Cypress 700 Block Main St 1600 Block Hilltop Ln October 22, 2020 700 Block Nelson 700 Block Main St 600 Block Tisha Ln 100 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 1200 Block Ashley Dr 400 Block Wolf Creek Dr 800 Block Country Hill Dr 100 Block Main St

Parking Complaint Check the Well Being Disturbance Infant Choking Child Custody

Check the Well Being Civil Standby Agency Assist (CJC) Trespassing Citizen Contact Run-A-Way Juvenile Alarm Motor Vehicle Accident Burglary

October 23, 2020 1200 Block Woodbury PL Hudson & Madison 1500 Block Highview 400 Block Laura Ln 1100 Block Scenic 1200 Block Ashley Ln 1200 Block Ashley Dr 200 Block Lindsay Ln 1000 Block Dean Dr

911 Hang Up Agency Assist (BPD) Suspicious Person Suspicious Person Harassment Agency Assist (CJC) Disturbance Animal at Large Disturbance

October 24, 2020 1300 Block Hilltop 10 Block and Salem 100 Block Main St

Barking Dog Agency Assist (OGPD) Assault

1900 Block AA Hwy 600 Block Yennie 400 Block Montana Ridge October 25, 2020 Sni-A-Bar and Sni-A-Bar

South Bound Buckner Tarsney 1100 Block Foxtail 100 Block Michael Dr 600 Block Yennie October 26, 2020 500 Block Montana Ridge Main and I-70 800 Block Parr 1200 Block Burr Oak Ct 700 Block Harvest Cir 1600 Block Eagles Parkway Duncan and Dillingham

October 27, 2020 1300 Block Stoneybrook 100 Block Eagles Parkway 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 100 Block Garden 1100 Block Sawgrass 1300 Block RD Mize Rd

Suspicious Person Suspicious Vehicle Citizen Contact

Leaving the Scene of Motor Vehicle Accident Careless and I Imprudent Driver Alarm Abandoned Vehicle Suspicious Vehicle

Suspicious Person Motor Vehicle Accident Suspicious Vehicle Alarm Area Check Abandoned Vehicle Motor Vehicle Accident

Agency Assist (CJC) Follow Up Road Rage Child Abuse Harassment Animal Neglect Disturbance

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Valley News Grain Valley News is a free community paper, published weekly on Thursdays online at www.grainvalleynews.com and on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month in print. Cory Unrein | Co-Owner/Publisher John Unrein | Co-Owner/Production Manager Cathy Allie | Staff Writer, Proofreader John Overstreet | Contributing Photographer Mail: PO Box 2972 Grain Valley MO 64029 Phone: 816.809.7984 Email: news@grainvalleynews.com Join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @grainvalleynews

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Looking Back

Page 3

Looking Back: Number Please... by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society 48, 61, 22, 102-N-5. Aunt Opal, Grandma Rumbo, Loring Hardware, Grandma Napier. Those were the number I committed to memory in my childhood. Those were all of the “important” numbers I needed to know besides my own, 102-N-4. In case of an “emergency” those were the numbers I could call after I ﬁrst called the telephone operator. If you had lived in Grain Valley prior to May 20, 1956, then you would have been familiar with the old bell ringer phones. But, do you remember your phone number? My family lived in the country, just north of town. People in the country had “party lines” which were shared with the neighbors. There were 4 families on our line, including my grandparents who lived next door. When the telephone rang 4 short times it was someone calling us because the last digit of our number was 4. My grandparents were N-5; ﬁve shorts. Our party line also included the Becks (N-2) and the Coopers (N-3) who lived further north on Buckner Tarsney Road. In the early 1950’s there were no homes between Duncan Road and Pink Hill road with telephones. In fact, the phone directory had fewer than 280 listings for Grain Valley and the surrounding area. As a young child I loved to call my aunt or grandparents on the telephone. But, there was one call I always dreaded. In the evenings when my dad would end up at our hardware store talking, my

mother would tell me to call and let him know dinner was waiting…it was time to eat. I would ring the phone and on came the operator, “Number, please.” I would give her the number I wanted to call, “22.” And then came her dreaded reply, “Is the train coming?” It would make me so mad! She never said that to my mother, or my older brother. Just me. I was sure it was her way of telling me I was just a little kid and not nearly as grown up as I thought I was. I was nine years old when we got dial phones in Grain Valley. What a joyous day! And then, of course, there was the whole party line problem! Any conversation that lasted longer than 3 minutes would be interrupted by others on the line. Sometimes they would hear the line was busy and hang up immediately. But, some people would stay on the line and listen to your entire conversation. Do you wonder how “gossip” started? In 1956 dial phones came to Grain Valley and Blue Springs complete with instructions on how to use them. It wasn’t many years before we got push button telephones. Maybe we should hang on to the instruction book. I’m sure the present generation of young people have never used a dial phone either. Do you think they understand the term “land line?”

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

Above: Party line phone. Bottom left: Telephone directory for Blue Springs and Grain Valley, May 1956. Bottom right: Instruction booklet for dial telephone. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society

Business

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Home Office Essentials To Streamline Your Work Week (StatePoint) If you’ve been working remotely for months, you’re likely long overdue for a home office upgrade. Having the right tools can make working from home easier and less stressful. Here are a few small tweaks and essentials to consider: Scene change: Is your home “office” actually the kitchen table or a couch? Keep a healthy boundary between your personal and professional life with a visual cue that indicates when the work day has started and when it’s ended. That cue could be the strategic use of a room divider to hide personal items and keep you focused. Or, it could be as simple as plopping a desk lamp onto the kitchen table during work hours to give the surface a professional, task-oriented feel. Number crunching: Make number crunching and recordkeeping easy with a printing calculator. With Cost/Sell/ Margin functionality as well as the ability to check and correct up to 150 steps and print after correction, Casio’s HR-170RC is a versatile choice. Printing two lines per second with two-color

printing, you can quickly produce paper records of your work for more organized files. Caffeine fix: Now that your cup of joe is being enjoyed at home most mornings, consider upgrading your coffee maker to fit your tastes and your demanding schedule. If you miss the latte or cappuccino you used to grab on your morning commute, it may be time to replace your standard drip machine with a full-fledged cappuccino and café latte maker. Or, consider going hightech. New coffee maker models employing smart technology let you brew from bed using just your phone for a guaranteed caffeine fix by your early morning call. Get the full picture: If you were accustomed to a full-sized desktop monitor at work, but have working on a laptop at home, you may find you are more productive by adding an external monitor to your home office setup. With it looking more likely that remote working situations are here to stay, it’s time to make your home office work for you.

Neighborhood View

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Trick Or Treaters Descend On Grain Valley Streets While many residents reported a somewhat diminished crop of trick-ortreaters this year, costumed residents of all ages took to the streets on Halloween for socially distanced trick-or-treating. Pictured are just a few of the submissions Valley News received via social media. Visit Valley News on Facebook (@grainvalleynews) to view the hundreds of photos shared.

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Community Voices

Community Profile: Deputy Chief Eddie Saffell Eddie Saffell has hung up his helmet, having recently retired as Deputy Chief of Training and Education from Central Jackson County Fire Protection District (CJCFPD), after serving 30 years with the department. Saffell started his career as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown of Harrisonville before serving 30 years with CJCFPD. Saffell began as a Fire Inspector, conducting investigations, inspections and providing public education. His culminating role as Deputy Chief of Training and Education found him responsible for all internal training, the district’s paramedic program, and outside training for EMS. The fire service and CJCFPD has changed quite a bit since Saffell began his career over 30 years ago. “When I first started, we just grabbed the hose, ran in, and went to work on putting the fire out. Over the years, especially over the past 10-15 years, we really have to think about how we ventilate and having the incident commander control that, so we are doing it in a smart way,” Saffell said. “We are doing more analysis and evaluation before we go into a fire, just to try to make it safer for our guys and do the best we can for the public.” Saffell also notes that the majority of the department’s calls are EMS related and not fire-related calls. “We’re not firefighters as much as we are masters of everything. We have to be paramedics/EMTs, public educators, as well as firefighters,” Saffell said. The department has also been in a constant state of change throughout Saffell’s career. “We went from basically volunteer with some full-time staff to fully paid almost overnight. Then in 1992, we hired another crew to take over the ambulance from Blue Springs. So, we’ve had growing pains almost the entire 30 years. We were always adding a station

or adding a service,” Saffell said. Saffell is grateful for the opportunity to serve in the department as long as he did, noting that “thirty years in one job is almost unheard of anymore.” “I was able to go to school and earn three degrees. I was able to earn my paramedic license and other national recognitions, and all of it was geared toward making CJCFPD better. Being able to get to those recognitions and educational milestones was pretty special.” “I was lucky enough to be promoted a few times. I went from driving the fire trucks to being a Captain on a truck, and then was promoted to Assistant Chief of our Fire Prevention Division before being promoted to Deputy Chief. Those promotions are always fun.” “But, watching us add stations and our training facility was important as well. Every time we took a step, I felt like those of us who were there were part of being able to take that step.” “I feel really lucky. I think I got to do everything personally and professionally I wanted to do.” Nothing specific told Saffell it was time to retire, other than the desire to “let the younger guys come in and let them move the department forward”. “The fire service is changing, and it really is a young person’s job. I put my time in and I helped grow and improve the department. It is time to let the younger guys come along and see what they can do with it,” Saffell said. “I also preach to our paramedic students and the people we hire that the goal is make the CJCFPD and the fire service better than when you found it.” As for his plans in retirement, Saffell is staying busy in the short term helping to homeschool his first grade grandchild. “We have a six year old and five year old grandchild, and they keep us pretty busy,” Saffell said. Saffell expressed his gratitude for

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the District residents of Blue Springs, Grain Valley, and Lake Tapawingo for supporting the department, and in turn, his career. “The community we serve is really the reason that CJCFPD is what it is. They allowed us to have anything that we asked for, and the reason they did was that they could trust that we would do what we promised we would do with the support they provided. The community was extremely supportive and I would like to thank them for being as supportive as they have been and for allowing us to give them the services they deserve and expect.” “On a personal note, the reason I was able to achieve the educational and professional milestones I did was because they supported the District and the District supported us. “I just wanted to say thank you to the communities for allowing me to serve them for as long as I have, and for being

Photo courtesy Eddie Saffell.

as supportive as they have been for everything we try to do.” Saffell lives in Grain Valley with his wife Debbie and continues to serve the community as President of the Grain Valley School Board.

Have Good News To Share Or A Nomination For Our Community Proﬁle? Send your Good News to news@grainvalleynews.com.

Community Voices

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Wayne’s World Turning Enemies Into Friends by Wayne Geiger As I write this line, I have no idea who won the presidential election. But I vividly remember what a friend of mine wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday morning. “I estimate that in about a day or so, half of the country will be mad.” I chuckled when I read that and then I grew sad. His words were true, and they stung. We have become such a polarized society. Like Ozzy Osborne sang, “We’re going off the rails on the crazy train.” The question is, “Where are we going?” Naturally, that all depends on who’s driving. It’s no secret. Our country is facing some very serious, polarizing issues and we are certainly are not a united nation. At the same time, I believe that, as common Americans, most of us want the best for us and our family. I really believe that. I don’t think that anybody literally wants to destroy this country. We all have a dream for a better tomorrow and long for a world of happiness, peace, equity, and opportunity. We just all envision a different path to get there. The big problem is our worldview or the way we see things. We all view the world through a different lens. There are many reasons for this. Here’s two: First, sometimes, we actually see different things. For example, on our social media feeds, most of us attract people that are like us (that’s why we like them as they validate us). So, if most of your friends have a similar political view to yours, that particular view is mostly what you will see, and you may falsely believe that most of the country is like that. Second, sometimes, we actually see the same world, but interpret it differently. Let me offer a simple illustration. Take music, for example. We

all have our favorite genre of music. Conversely, we also have some types of music that we loathe. A younger generation, when forced to listen to an older generation’s music, will often complain about how “out of touch” and “boring” the music is. They laugh at the simple melody and poor quality. “It’s old fashioned and outdated” they bemoan. In the eyes of this younger generation, old music is not as good as new music. As a society, they believe, we are now living in the pinnacle of music utopia. Their parents, or grandparents, however, have a different view. The music this generation enjoys belongs to a day and time long gone. Their favorite tunes were on CDs, albums, or worse, 8track. This generation complains, “You don’t have to have talent nowadays, all you need to do is be good looking, dress scantily, have a few dance moves.” Who’s right? It’s all about perspective. Like beauty, “good” music is in the eye of the beholder. Both generations are products of their environment and shaped by that environment. There is no changing their mind. As a nation, our society has changed dramatically, and that change has changed people dramatically. Just think about what we’re experienced just this year! I really feel sorry for younger people. We now live in a time of fear, frustration, and uncertainty. We live in a time of distrust. We live in a time of anger and violence. Thankfully, we’ve stocked up on toilet paper. My grandson is six. He has grown up surrounded with media. He has a computer issued by his school. He also has one of our old iPhones that he plays learning games on or watches Bluey. He has a portable gaming system. He lives in a world of convenience and

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technology. Like most kids, the last part of his school last year was virtual. His memories of going to school have mostly involved wearing a mask. “Who is your best friend in school?” I asked. “I don’t have any friends in school” he answers. Seeing the shocked look on my face, my wife chimes in, “They have to wear masks all day and they sit six feet apart with little to no social interaction.” My heart breaks for him as I remember a simpler time of playing outside and having to come in when the streetlights came on. We knew our neighbors and people looked after one another. Not so anymore. My grandson is growing up in a world where you shop online, don’t know your neighbors, rarely play outside, and where they have more friends in a virtual world that in the neighborhood. An experience like those will affect your world view and your interactions. But deep inside, we are all the same. We love our families. We want the best for them. We also want to live in a world of peace and opportunity. We just can’t seem to see eye to eye on some things. The big problem is worldview. There is a simple solution. The solution is not allowing your worldview to be affected by culture, but to be driven by something much deeper and more solid. A friend of mine is a police ofﬁcer in another state. He told me recently that, during a difﬁcult time in his city, he was working at a local event where a church was meeting the needs of the community and was going to have a Christian worship service outdoors. My friend was there, in uniform, to help make sure everyone had a good time. Relating the story, he said, “Most people were friendly and really did appreciate the police, but one man just didn’t want me there. It was pretty clear as he voiced loud statements and made hand gestures to let me know he didn’t want me around.” My friend decided to go over and talk to the man. “I went over, introduced

myself, and just said hi telling him that I was glad that he was there and hoped he had a good time.” The man grumbled something about not wanting the police around and walked off. During the service, one of the ministers shared the story of Jesus. He told the crowd about the love, mercy, and grace of the Lord. He talked about the destructive nature of hate and the power of forgiveness and asked if anyone in the crowd wanted to follow Jesus. When the service was over, the same man approached my friend. Actually, he was not the same man. His demeaner and attitude were totally changed, and he had tears in his eyes. He had been deeply touched by the words from the minister and he decided to release the bottled up anger and bitterness he had been clinging to for years. That night, his chains fell off and he found true freedom, forgiveness, and peace. He put out his hand, introduced himself to my friend, and said, “thank you for being here, sir.” My friend smiled, took his hand in his, and said, “It’s my pleasure. Thank you, sir.” That’s the power of restoration. Harmony is not found in a philosophy or ideology, but in a person—the person of Jesus Christ. As a society, people will be affected by an ever-changing culture which will affect their worldview. So, God’s answer is to take our eyes off the ever-changing culture and put our faith in an unchanging God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Only the power of the cross can break down barriers of hatred and pain. Only the power of the blood of Jesus can turn enemies into friends. No matter who sits in the White House, God sits on the throne.

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

Your Health

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November Is American Diabetes Month by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD Avoid Sweetened Beverages If you are a regular soda drinker, work on cutting back. Higher sugar foods especially in liquid form can cause your blood sugar to spike. Start with how much you are drinking now and keep reducing until you aren’t drinking any at all. You can still ﬁt in a sweetened beverage in occasionally, but you just might ﬁnd that once you get them out of your diet, you don’t miss them at all. Water is always the best for hydration.

Tracey Shaffer is a registered and licensed dietitian and owner of KC Nutrition Coach in Eastern Jackson County. She can be reached at tracey@kcnutritioncoach.com. More than likely, you or someone you know has diabetes. Just over 1 in 10 or 34.2 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, and 1 in 3 American adults or 88 million have pre-diabetes. November is American Diabetes Month and the following are some tips to help those with diabetes or prediabetes lower their blood sugar and manage their diabetes better. Eat a Variety of Food Often times my clients are very upset and frustrated when they are first diagnosed with diabetes because they are afraid they have to give up all of their favorite foods. But the key to eating healthy for diabetes isn’t about deprivation it is all about balance. All foods can fit into a diet for diabetes. Fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables, a fourth with lean protein such as lean meat, chicken or turkey without skin, fish, eggs, nuts, beans or tofu. Fill another fourth with a carbohydrate food such as a wholegrain, fruit or a starchy vegetable such as a potato or corn. Add a serving of dairy if you would like such as milk, yogurt or cheese. Can you ever have sugar again? Sure! You will just need to learn how to fit in those sugary treats. Speak with a registered dietitian to help you manage carbohydrates and read labels.

Eat at Regular Times Work on a regular pattern of eating especially if you are taking medications for diabetes or insulin. Talk with your doctor about the best time to take your medications based on your eating pattern. If you skip a meal your blood sugar may dip down too low and cause symptoms such as dizziness, lack of coordination, confusion, shaking or sweating or loss of consciousness. Blood sugar that goes too low (hypoglycemia) can be life threatening if not treated immediately. Watch Your Portions Eating healthy foods is a step in the right direction, but watching your portions is just as important. A serving of meat or poultry is about the size of a deck of cards. One serving of rice or pasta is a half cup or about the size of a tennis ball. A serving of a potato is the size of a computer mouse. Controlling portions is key to managing blood sugar. Be Active Physical activity is an important part of managing blood sugar and staying healthy. Physical activity lowers blood sugar, lowers blood pressure, aids in weight loss and improves mood. Find what you enjoy doing and do more of it. Use a step counter to increase your daily steps. For more information about diabetes you can visit the websites of The American Diabetes Association (ADA), The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP). Try this healthy recipe for your next taco night!

Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Crema Serves: 4 Ingredients: 1 ripe medium avocado, halved and pitted ½ cup roughly chopped cilantro, plus 2 tablespoons, divided ¼ cup sour cream 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, divided ¼ teaspoon salt, divided ¼ teaspoon ground pepper, divided 2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage ½ cup shredded carrot 1 scallion, chopped 1 pound large shrimp (21-25 count), peeled, deveined and cut in half 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon olive oil 8 each corn tortillas, warmed 1 lime, wedged for serving Directions: Scoop avocado flesh into a mini food processor or blender. Add ½ cup cilantro, sour cream, 1 tablespoon vinegar and ⅛ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Process until smooth. Stir cabbage, carrot, scallion, the remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar and the remaining ⅛ teaspoon each salt and pepper together in a medium bowl. Toss shrimp, chili powder and cumin together in a medium bowl. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat add the shrimp and cook, stirring, until pink and just cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Spread a generous 1 tablespoon of the avocado sauce over on half of each tortilla. Top each with about ¼ cup of the cabbage mixture and 1/3 cup of the shrimp. Divide the remaining 2 tablespoons cilantro among the tacos and serve with lime wedges for squeezing. Nutrition: Serving Size: 2 tacos Per Serving: 333 calories, 22 grams protein, 31 grams carbohydrate, 8 grams dietary ﬁber, 3 grams sugars, 15 grams fat, 3 grams saturated fat. Exchanges: 2 ½ Fat, 2 LeanProtein, 1 ½ Starch, 1 Vegetable Recipe: EatingWell

Health Department Offers COVID-19 Testing The Jackson County Health Department will offer COVID-19 testing at the following sites the week of November 9th—11th:

Pre-registration is not required but highly encouraged. Due to increased demand, openings for walk-ins are not guaranteed.

Monday, November 9, 2020: City of Lee’s Summit, 616 NE Douglas St., Lee’s Summit 64081 Register: https:// form.jotform.com/202933986322157

Drive Thru Flu Clinics at the Health Department, located at 313. S Liberty St., Independence :

Tuesday, November 10, 2020: 10020 E. 66th Terrace, Raytown 64133. This is a drive through clinic—no walkins will be taken this day. Register: https:// form.jotform.com/202955113765154 Wednesday, November 11, 2020: Independence- Uptown Farmers Market - 211 W Truman Rd., Independence MO This will be a walk-in clinic. Limited individuals will be allowed in the facility at one time due to social distancing protocol. Clients may be required to wait outdoors under covering. Please dress appropriately. : https:// form.jotform.com/202945418526156

Friday November 13th Register: https:// form.jotform.com/202755824406153 Friday November 20th Register: https:// form.jotform.com/202755905403150

Pre-registration is not required but highly encouraged. Openings for walkins are not guaranteed. Clients will be billed $15-30 based on their insurance coverage.

Sports

Page 9

Lady Eagles Wrap Up Whirlwind Week With State Playoff Run by John Unrein The Grain Valley Lady Eagles Volleyball team had a whirlwind week. The Class 4, District 13 Tournament trophy was hoisted by the Eagles on October 29th in Warrensburg, following wins over Marshall (by a score of 3-0) and St. Michael the Archangel (by a score of 3-1). The district championship propelled the Eagles into the Class 4 State Tournament at Winnetonka High School on October 31st. The Lady Eagles were scary good in their Halloween win over the St. Pius X Warriors (by a score of 3-1) during their ﬁrst match of the tournament. Offensively, the win for the Eagles was fueled by their play in generating kills at the net by Adelyn Bybee, Olivia Williams, and Addison Baumgartner. The jumping ability, timing, and placement of the volleyball on the other side of the net led to 7, 15, and 8 kills by Bybee, Williams, and Baumgartner, respectively. Maddi Morris also displayed excellent setting for the Eagles in producing 23 assists. The offensive execution by the Eagles produced set scores of 25-22, 2513, 24-26, and 25-20. The defensive trio of Clara Gower, Kelly Kirkpatrick, and Kellie Overturf were equally fruitful for the Eagles. Gower, in her role as “Libero” (defensive specialist who often wears a different colored uniform than the rest of the team) produced 17 digs. The 5’ 4” senior planned her bends and dives to the floor in consistently getting under the volleyball. Kirkpatrick was active along the back line for Grain Valley as well in delivering 12 digs of her own. Overturf supplied 4 blocks at the net in repelling scoring attempts by St. Pius X. An accomplishment that came through Overturf understanding who the priority hitter was for the Warriors and getting in front of her. “I had to focus on my normal routine early of being a ‘ball setter’ and ‘ball hitter’ until I ﬁgured out who they primarily wanted to hit the volleyball, and then I focused my attention there,” Overturf said.

Lady Eagles first year head volley coach Tori Squiers was pleased with her team’s effort after the match that propelled them into the quarterfinal round of the Class 4 State Tournament. “Wow, we were everywhere. My ‘Libero’ Clara (Gower) was all over the court defensively. She reads the ball so well and knows where it’s going to go, and that puts her in the right place. (Kellie) Overturf loomed in the middle and made some key blocks. This was fun to watch,” Squiers said. “Offensively, we made them (St. Pius X) work. Our good passing led to success. Olivia (Williams) uses tips (at the net) as well on her kills and places the ball in opportune spots on the other side of the net.” Grain Valley waited to see who their next opponent would be in the matchup between the Platte County Pirates and Pembroke Hill Raiders on the opposite side of the tournament bracket. Platte County would go on to beat the Raiders (by a score of 3-1), setting up the late afternoon Halloween matchup between the Eagles and Pirates. Set scores of 20-25, 15-25, and 20-25 demonstrated the Eagles courageous effort in dropping their final match of the season to the Pirates in the quarterfinal game. Platte County was nearly flawless in the display of fundamentals leading to their victory. Grain Valley pressed Platte County into calling timeouts in all three sets in attempting to halt the momentum generated by the Eagles, including 7-7 ties at the outset of both the second and third sets. Eventually, points established by the Pirates holding serve and their stellar defensive play produced the difference in the outcome. A proud and somber group of Lady Eagles waited for Coach Squiers to address the team following the match near the gym exit. Squiers would share how proud she was of their effort along with encouraging them to be proud of what they accomplished during the season. A sentiment she shared in her postgame thoughts as well.

Junior middle hitter (#36) Kellie Overturf blocks the attempt by Platte County at the net. Photo credit: Valley News staff

Lady Eagles volleyball team celebrates their Class 4 District 13 win. Photo credit: John Overstreet

Senior Libero Clara Gower successfully hits a serve. Photo credit: Valley News staff “It’s hard to be mad. We gave this a heck of a ﬁght. The six seniors on this team will be missed. I am a pretty young coach and I think a lot us will stay friends as part of the start of a lifelong relationship. This team will miss the leadership our seniors have provided,” Squiers said. Gower and Williams also shared their reflections on the season following hugs with teammates and parents. “It’s good to feel like we can leave

this season having accomplished something. This senior group will remember this forever and I am proud that we lived this,” Gower said. Williams added, “This season was fun. I’m going to miss the seniors like Clara. And ‘yes,’ I like forward to the future.” Grain Valley ﬁnishes the season with a 21-10-3 record and establishing themselves on the Class 4 Volleyball landscape as a team for opponents to be aware of moving forward.

Junior outside hitter Olivia Williams produces a kill at the net for the Eagles. Photo credit: Valley News staff

Sports

Page 10

MSHSAA Serves Up Boys Tennis Coach Of The Year Award To Draper by John Unrein Grain Valley High School senior Ethan Cary perhaps had the best summation of Eagles Boys Head Tennis Coach Randy Draper winning the NFHS/MSHSAA 20192020 Boys Tennis Coach of the Year Award. “Sweet! Coach Draper deserves this award. I spent a lot of time around him this summer and it’s amazing the effort he spends coaching everyone from the varsity level to new kids in the program,” Cary said. “The main thing that Coach Draper has helped me with is not just how to win the game, but to go out and have fun. He always puts a smile on my face no matter what.” Grain Valley High School Activities Director Brandon Hart worked to ﬁnd a reason to get Draper to the high school the week of October 26th. Draper, a retired teacher, was confused when he walked in to see his wife Michelle there until Hart presented him with the award. “I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this honor than Randy Draper. He has had an enormous impact on the sport of tennis. He welcomes anyone that wants to play to join the program, and he introduces the love of tennis to all his players. His energy is infectious, and he can turn anyone into a lifelong tennis player,” Hart said. “Tennis does not always gain the attention of sports like basketball, but Coach Draper approaches tennis with the same passion as he does with basketball. His tennis program consistently performs at a high level, but more importantly, his kids always represent our school with dignity and respect. He’s a great ambassador for the sport of tennis.” Draper is proud of what both the girls and boys tennis programs have become at Grain Valley High School considering their humble beginnings. Two tennis courts at Armstrong Park that are no longer there is where Draper ﬁrst started the girls program. “I weedeated and sprayed Roundup on the courts. We practiced that year and didn’t play any matches,” Draper said. “Our school has been incredibly supportive of tennis. We have tennis facilities that some small colleges would be envious of. The AD’s (Activity Directors) at Grain Valley may not have

always had a tennis background, but they have learned about the sport and made it important.” The Grain Valley Boys Tennis program is typically made up of a diverse group of student athletes from many walks of life. For some, it’s their ﬁrst sport, and others its their third. Draper has been fortunate to make connections with many of his current players from when he was the boys physical education teacher at Grain Valley South Middle School. “I always tell the kids that if you like to win or lose, then tennis is for you. That’s because you know why you are winning, and you know why you are losing, because it’s largely an individual sport. Tennis is a lifelong sport and there are student athletes that have made close friendships out of their time in our program.” Draper credits his mom for his roots in tennis and values what the sport taught him about himself. Baseball was Draper’s ﬁrst sport growing up. That started to flip as Draper progressed through high school and junior college. Draper would spend many summer hours on the court and that eventually led to him being a regional champion in junior college. “My Mom had friends and they played on a regular basis. They had the best time being together and I would go and watch as a kid. It’s exercise, social, and highly competitive,” Draper said. “You are out there by yourself (on a tennis court) and learn a lot. An at bat during baseball is only going to go so long unless you foul off 120 pitches. You reflect personally and analyze a lot while you are playing a game by yourself and other people are watching.” Draper continued, “I love watching the light come on for players who fall in love with the game. We’ve had kids start as late as sophomores in high school that have become good college players.” Draper stays driven as a coach through the satisfaction of watching kids learn things they couldn’t do before. A trend that Draper wants to continue as he looks forward to what the next tennis season may bring for the boys Eagles tennis team.

Eagles Boys Head Tennis Coach Randy Draper was awarded the NFHS/MSHSAA 2019-2020 Boys Tennis Coach of the Year Award. Photo credit: Grain Valley Schools

Eagles Girls Cross Country Finishes 2nd At Districts, Heads To State Championships The Eagles Cross Country team returned home from the District Championships in Jefferson City with a second place finish in the Girls Class 5 division, sending them to the state competition. The second place finish represents the eighth time the team has qualified for state in the past 11 years and the first time as a member of this class. The girls team enter the championship with a 12th place box assignment.

On the Boys team, Senior Collin Clemens placed 6th overall at Districts, earning an automatic bid to compete at the State Championships in Columbia this weekend. The Cross Country Championships will be held November 5th—7th at Gans Creek Country Course in Columbia. Due to COVID -19 restrictions in Boone County, attendance is limited to two spectators per runner in each race.

Sports

Page 11

Eagles Football Gearing Up For Playoff Run by John Unrein There are pitfalls in football to avoid when you play the same team in your conference twice within a month. The Grain Valley Eagles last hosted the William Chrisman Bears football team on October 9th. The Eagles would trail the Bears in that matchup by the score of 14 -6 at the end of the first quarter before Grain Valley widened their margin as the game progressed and went on to win 53 -22. A 47 point explosion by the Eagles after the first quarter led to the difference in the game. Eagles head football coach David Allie and his offensive staff had answers on hand for the Bears defense that used a 33 split front in trying to stymy the Eagles ground game. “William Chrisman had a good game plan the last time we played them. We were able to make some successful adjustments that led to good things. Reviewing film of them heading into this week, they are doing some things different defensively that we need to be primed for as well,” Allie said. The Eagles were afforded a bye week during the week of October 26th due to securing the top seed in the Class 5 District 7 playoff bracket of the state football tournament. An extra week to rest soreness and heal wounds is welcomed to rejuvenate a football team ten weeks into a season, especially for offensive and defensive lineman who consistently withstand physical contact at the line of scrimmage in close quarters. Allie agreed, “The guys up front take a pounding. This last week was crucial for their health and mental stability in the grind of a football season. The week without a game was good for players and coaches both in that it refreshes more than it produces rust.” “We didn’t practice as long last week and focused more on individual technique in position groups as well as special teams that should pay benefits for us.”

“Still having the opportunity to play and getting to do so in front of our fans is what we look forward to the most. Our senior class this year has experience from our playoff run last season. Our kids will be ready.” A trio of Eagles seniors that have playoff experience under their belt include wide receiver Parker Bosserman, quarterback Cole Keller, and linebacker Hunter Newsom. All three have provided leadership for Grain Valley during critical moments of games on special teams, offense, and defense. Each senior provided insight on what high school football is like at this point in the season entering playoff football. “I don’t know if people realize how much time we commit to the sport. Waking up during the summer and coming to weights. Add practice to that since July and it taxes your body. It’s not easy to get through and you have to put yourself in the right state of mind,” Bosserman said. Newsom added, “Late in the season everyone is banged up and you can’t feel sorry for yourself. Your opponent is the same boat, and it becomes about who wants it more.” Keller concluded, “Playoffs in recent years meant a lot, but we have a big group of seniors and we want to show everyone what we can do.” All three agree that they have played their best football at home this season on Moody Murray ﬁeld. Grain Valley’s 8-1 overall record and winning all 4 home games this season would back the claim made by the Eagles seniors. “We are prepared for this Friday. Practice has been good this week,” Newsom said. Keller agreed, “We will do our jobs.” “We will be ready to take advantage of the opportunity provided us,” Bosserman said. The Eagles will host the Bears at Moody Murray Stadium at 7:00pm on November 6th.

Eagles Swim Team Finishes Season Third In Conference Grain Valley Eagles Boys Swim and Dive finished their season on Saturday, October 31st in third place in the White Conference. Junior Isaac Burd finished 4th in the 200 freestyle event. Sophomore Clayton Bivens finished the event in 9th place with a best time record. Senior Jordon Jarman finished 3rd and Senior Adisen Sampson finished 7th in the 50 yard freestyle event. Jarman later finished 2nd in the 100 freestyle,

and Sampson finished 9th. Junior Isaac Burd was the conference champion in the 100 freestyle event. Junior Riley Fangman finished 4th in the 100 fly and 5th in the 500. Junior Tom Fligg finished 6th in the 100 yard breaststroke, and sophomore Clayton Bivens placed 5th in the 100 yard backstroke. Isaac Burd, Tom Fligg, Jordon Jarman, and Adisen Sampson teamed up to finish 2nd in the 200 yard freestyle relay.

Left to Right: Parker Bosserman, Cole Keller, and Hunter Newsom. Photo credit: Valley News staff

The Eagles prepare to take on William Chrisman in practice on November 3rd. Photo courtesy Valley News staff

This week’s theme: Cartoon Characters ACROSS 1. Brocadopa or Larodopa 6. They are often covert 9. Used for watering 13. Vexed 14. Took the bait 15. Spot for boutonnière 16. Old West pack animal 17. Big-headedness 18. Render harmless 19. *Bamm-Bamm's dad 21. *Angelica, Tommy and Dil 23. Opposite of yang 24. Archipelago unit 25. Solemn pledge 28. Depletes 30. Works, as in a bakery 35. Kind of beige 37. Hammer or sickle 39. ____ ﬁrma 40. Lecherous look 41. Computer key 43. Lure for a dieter, on a package 44. Tropical smoothie flavor 46. Health club offering 47. Hourglass ﬁller 48. Popular saint's name 50. Pea ____, pl. 52. Limit, to some

53. Peace symbol 55. Like King George, 1760-1820 57. *Ill-tempered fourth-grader's last name 61. *Beast Boy and Starﬁre 64. Rossini's offering 65. Lobe locale 67. Sure sign of ﬁre 69. Pretend, two words 70. Number cruncher, acr. 71. Lusitania destroyer 72. Gave the boot 73. Pivotal 74. Santa Maria's companion DOWN 1. Party choice, abbr. 2. Clobber 3. Southern stew staple 4. *Stepbrothers' bipedal platypus 5. Apollo Creed's son 6. Toe the line 7. *Peppa's or George's last name 8. "The buck ____ here" 9. *King of the Hill 10. Milky-white gem 11. Dry as dust 12. Popular street-lining trees 15. Aglow

20. Related on mother's side 22. Type 24. Carbon-12 or carbon-13 25. *The "brains" of Scooby-Doo's group 26. Billy of '80s Billboard charts 27. Small songbirds 29. *Pinky Pie or Fluttershy 31. Unagi, pl. 32. A in A=ab, pl. 33. Did it to Kool-Aid 34. *Land mammal in Bikini Bottom 36. Give a pep talk 38. *Emmet Brickowski's brick 42. Spokes of a wheel, e.g. 45. *Mr. Magoo or Mr. Burns, e.g. 49. Bygone bird of New Zealand 51. Opposite of 'lies down' 54. Sweater style 56. More than one iamb 57. Float liquid 58. Mt. Everest to Earth 59. Network of nerves 60. Walked on 61. Cafeteria carrier 62. High part of day 63. 3-handed card game 66. *Magilla Gorilla, e.g. 68. Pilot's announcement

Community Calendar Monday, November 9, 2020

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

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

Teen Trek & Tech 6:00pm—7:00pm Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center Come learn about acorn diversity and how it effects Missouri’s ecosystem. Registration required: 816-228-3766

Tuesday, November 10, 2020 Little Acorns: Turkey Trot 1:00pm—2:00pm Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center Registration required: 816-228-3766 Business of Childcare: Building a Business Plan—Make It Easy 6:30pm—7:30pm Virtual Event Not sure if you are making a proﬁt in your childcare? It is never too late to build a business plan to help you set goals and track proﬁtability. www.mymcpl.org/events

Saturday, November 14, 2020 Project Feeder Watch Kick-Off 9:00am—10:00am Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center Join us as we participate in this citizen scientist project. Registration required: 816-228-3766

Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting 6:30pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 S Main

Saturday, November 21, 2020 Handgun:: Basic Pistol 8:00am—10:00am Lake City Shooting Range, 28505 E Truman Road Register: 816-249-3194 Discover Nature: Winter Tree ID 10:00am—11:00am Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center Attend this hands-on workshop to learn the tips and tricks to tree identiﬁcation throughout the seasons. Registration required: 816-228-3766

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Read Valley News weekly online: www.grainvalleynews.com

Grain Valley Park Board Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley Community Center, 713 Main

Add your community event at www.grainvalleynews.com/ eventscalendar