Valley News OCTOBER 22, 2020
www.grainvalleynews.com
School Board Votes To Extend Hybrid Learning The Grain Valley School Board voted during their October 15th business meeting to extend the hybrid learning model for secondary students through the end of the first semester. In a 5-2 vote, the board approved the current plan continue through January 22, 2021. Through the hybrid model, secondary level students attend in-person classes two days per week and remotely from home three days per week. Early childhood and elementary students will continue with full in-person instruction with a 100% virtual option. During the patron comment portion of the meeting, approximately 10 district patrons shared their opinions and personal experiences with the board. The majority of those who spoke indicated a preference to continue with the hybrid model, citing safety concerns and the positive aspects of the hybrid
model (including smaller class sizes, smaller course load). Those voicing concern over the hybrid model pointed to a drop in motivation among some students, the stress parents face attempting to assist students with schoolwork while also juggling work and home responsibilities, and the lack of a consistent schedule for special education and other struggling students. Grain Valley parent Jason Williams voiced support for the resumption of full in-person learning, pointing to concerns over the struggles special needs students experience being removed from class and related supports on a daily basis. “I fear that years down the road, we are going to look back, and studies are going to be done, and it will show we are hurting our kids more by keeping them at home. We know the risks, but I see SCHOOL BOARD on page 6
Missouri Trivia
On The Ballot Jackson County Question 1 Jackson County voters will be asked November 3rd to decide on whether to add 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. The measure, if passed, would impose a fee of up to $1.00 on any device capable of contacting 911, which would include cellphones. Fees would be included on service bills. The fee would replace the current funding mechanism of 7% service charge on
landline users, representing a decrease in monthly fees for these users. Fees will be assessed based on the address associated with the cellphone account or landline within Jackson County. The fee will be assessed on a maximum of 100 lines per location/ address. Fees will be capped at 100 lines for businesses or organizations with more than 100 lines. The measure restricts the spending of the new fee revenues to the 911 system, so none of the funds can be spent for other purposes by the County. If passed, the new fee will go into effect on April 1, 2021. Polls are open 6:00am—7:00pm on Tuesday, November 3rd. Absentee voting in person continues at 110 N. Liberty, Independence. The absentee drop off location is located at 112 N. Liberty, Independence. For more information, visit www.jcebmo.org.
Community Blood Drive
8 in. until a supply of larger sheets became available. Initially, articles appeared in both French and English, reflecting the region’s Francophone roots. The title changed several times during its first decade reflecting the region’s transition into the United States. The Kansas City Star began publication in 1885.
In This Edition:
FREE
Good News:
by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
The first newspaper printed west of the Mississippi was established in 1808 in St. Louis. Joseph Charless, the first editor, is considered to have published the first number on July 12, 1808, although the earliest located issue is vol. 1, no. 3. This weekly newspaper was printed on sheets of 12 x
Vol. 3, No. 42
Looking Back: Remembering Essie Matthews
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September Jobs Report
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Your Health: Enjoy Halloween Without Sabotaging Your Diet
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Sports: Eagles Come Up Short Against Blue Jays
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Hay bales at Butterfly Trail created by GVHS Art students. Photo credit: City of Grain Valley
In response to an emergency blood shortage, the Community Blood Center will hold a blood drive at the Grain Valley Community Center, 713 Main Street, from 1:00pm—7:00pm on Wednesday, October 28th. Each presenting donor will receive a Royals t-shirt. Appointments are preferred; walk in welcome if capacity permits. To sign up as a donor, visit savealifenow.org/group, enter Group Code: EH27. For medical eligibility questions, call 800-688-0900. For information regarding Community Blood Center’s response to COVID-19, visit safealifenow.org/ coronavirus.
Have Good News to share? Send your Good News to news@grainvalleynews.com.
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Police Blotter
Health Department Offers COVID-19 Testing The Jackson County Health Department will offer COVID-19 testing at the following sites the week of October 26th—October 30th: Monday, October 26, 2020: City of Lee’s Summit, 616 Ne Douglas St., Lee’s Summit 64081 Register: https:// form.jotform.com/202584505376155 Tuesday, October 27, 2020: Metro Christian Fellowship Church 2217 High Grove Rd. Grandview Register: https:// form.jotform.com/202644518179157 Wednesday, October 28, 2020: Fellowship Church Greenwood Campus 1601 W Main St. Greenwood 64034 Register: https:// form.jotform.com/202734873504153 Thursday, October 29, 2020: Connection Point Church 10500 E State Route 350 Raytown Register: https:// form.jotform.com/202655293520149
Friday, October 30, 2020: St. Marks Methodist Church, 603 N Jennings Rd. Independence Register: https:// form.jotform.com/202614656282152 Pre-registration is not required but highly encouraged. Due to increased demand, we can not guarantee openings for walk-ins. Drive Thru Flu Clinics will also be offered at the Health Department located at 313. S Liberty St., Independence on the following dates: Friday October 23rd https:// form.jotform.com/202755591541154 Friday October 30th https:// form.jotform.com/202755864219159 Pre-registration is required for flu clinics. Clients will be billed $15 or $30 based on their insurance coverage.
Sustaining Members Thank you to our first sustaining members for their support of local news. Join them in supporting YOUR local news at https://www.grainvalleynews.com/store/p7/sustainingmember.html.
The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of October 7—13, 2020. October 7, 2020 Broadway and I-70 1300 Block Cottonwood Dr 1200 Block Valley Ridge Dr 300 Block Jefferson I-70 MM 26.2 1100 Block Pamela Blvd 700 Block Main St 600 Block Yennie 700 Block Main St 1300 Block Eagles I-70 MM 26.4 600 Block Ryan Rd 200 Block Harris 700 Block Main St
Motor Vehicle Accident Alarm Open Door Suspicious Vehicle Pedestrian Check Business License Citizen Contact Civil Matter Stealing from Motor Vehicle Alarm Agency Assist (MSHP) Area Check Suspicious Activity Citizen Contact
October 8, 2020 BB Hwy and AA Hwy 1300 Block Eagles Parkway 200 Block Harris 1500 Block Hilltop Ln 1400 Block Olympic Dr 1000 Block Burr Oak Ln
Citizen Contact Fraud Business License Check the Well Being Alarm Stealing from Motor Vehicle Main and 40 Hwy Area Check 1100 Block Burr Oak Ln Citizen Contact 1100 Block Buckner Tarsney Rd Stealing October 9, 2020 300 Block Woodbury 1600 Block High View I-70 and Main St 700 Block Main St 600 Block Walnut 600 Block Yennie 100 Block Locust 2100 Block Sweetgum 1300 Block Valley Woods Ct 1300 Block Lindenwood 1600 Block Woodbury
Suspicious Activity Citizen Contact Area Check Follow Up Suspicious Person Suspicious Activity Agency Assist (OGPD) Disturbance Follow Up Noise Complaint Area Check
Cathy Allie
October 10, 2020 1300 Block Brentwood 700 Block Main St 1100 Block McQuerry 600 Block Thieme 1400 Block Hilltop Ln James Rollo & Armstrong 1400 Block Golfview 100 Block 8th St
Alarm Citizen Contact Check the Well Being Suspicious Activity Suspicious Activity Pedestrian Check Suspicious Vehicle Suspicious Person
October 11, 2020 700 Block Main St 1100 Block McQuerry 1100 Block McQuerry 1000 Block Hickory Ct 800 Block Hawthorne Ct 700 Block Main St 1300 Block Crestwood 900 Block Sandy Ln 1100 Block Buckner Tarsney Rd 1200 Block Long 900 Block Sandy Ln
Citizen Contact Stealing Check the Well Being Domestic Assault Citizen Contact Stealing Disturbance Disturbance Suspicious Person Suspicious Activity Disturbance
October 12, 2020 200 Block Jefferson St 300 Block Woodbury 1100 Block Christie Ln 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 100 Block Sunny Ln 1000 Block Hickory Ct 2300 Block Hedgewood 1100 Block BB Hwy
Follow Up Area Check Property Damage Suspicious Activity Stealing Stealing Stealing Standby to Prevent Check the Well Being Alarm
October 13, 2020 900 Block Sandy Ln Sni-A-Bar and Brome 700 Block Main St EB 40 Hwy & Sni-A-Bar 700 Block Main St 1300 Block Phelps Ct 600 Block Valley Ridge
Citizen Contact Area Check Citizen Contact Area Check Citizen Contact Assault Alarm
Phillip Hanson Katherine McCarthy Jeff Wolff John and Cory Unrein
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
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Looking Back: Remembering Essie Matthews by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society With a career that spanned four decades, and a school named in her honor, Essie M. Matthews is a name that won’t be forgotten. Anyone that has lived in Grain Valley, attended school in Grain Valley or has had a child go through the Grain Valley School system in the last 70 years must surely be familiar with her name. Mrs. Matthews came to Grain Valley in the fall of 1951 as the only 7th grade teacher. It would be safe to say the school was much smaller in those days. She became the elementary principal in 1958, but continued teaching 7th grade. In 1963, she also added freshman Civics to her busy schedule. In 1967, during my college days I did some substitute teaching over Christmas break. It was Mrs. Matthews that hired me, and by that time she was a full-time principal, a position she held until her retirement in the early 1980s.
In 1978, a $562,000 bond issue was used to complete the first phase of Matthews Elementary School. Not many people have buildings named for them. Almost no one works in a building named for themselves. Essie Matthews was the exception. Essie Mildred Boone grew up in rural Lafayette County and attended Central Missouri State Teachers College in Warrensburg (now UCM). She began her teaching career at Weaver School near Odessa, and taught in rural Lafayette Schools five years. Four years in Colorado followed and then she came to Grain Valley. She and her husband Calvin made their home in Odessa. So, while she never actually resided in our town, her contribution to the students and teachers of this community is still evident today.
Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society at 506 S. Main on Wednesdays or visit us online at ww.grainvalleyhistory.com and Facebook (@grainvalleyhistory).
Essie Matthews and Marvin Headley, Superintendent of Schools at the groundbreaking for Matthews Elementary School on May 19, 1978 Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
Business
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How COVID-19 Has Changed The Way We Do Business Forever (StatePoint) The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed how business gets done. And when it comes to midsized and small businesses, the importance of investing in new technology, facilitating remote work and maintaining a techsavvy workforce has never been so clear, according to a new survey. Conducted by The Harris Poll for CIT Group Inc., a leading national bank focused on empowering businesses and personal savers, the survey of leaders of U.S. middle -market and small businesses is designed to illuminate the intersection of technology and talent. Compared to last year’s survey, significantly more leaders today believe continuous technological investment is a business requirement. “The resiliency and flexibility that technology can deliver businesses has been convincingly proven by COVID-19,” David Harnisch, president of CIT’s Commercial Finance division said. “Business leaders have taken that lesson to heart and are focused on making technology a fundamental part of their ‘tomorrow thinking’.” Most executives surveyed wish that they’d invested even more in technology over the past 12 months. In fact, more than three in four middle market executives believe investments in technology would have helped their company fare better during the pandemic. For small businesses, roughly half felt similarly. However, there’s little question how important technology will be going forward, with the majority of respondents saying it’s crucial to future success. Seemingly determined not to repeat the mistake of under-investing, the majority plan to invest as much or more in their business over the next 12 months as
compared to the past year. Only 15% of small businesses say they may invest less this coming year, likely due to financial constraints resulting from the pandemic. “Small businesses don’t always have the financial resources that larger enterprises often enjoy,” Ken Martin, managing director of CIT’s Small Business Solutions group said. “When investments are imperative, borrowing or leasing may be the right solution to acquiring the technology needed to remain competitive.” When it comes to these upgrades, investments that make it easier for employees to work remotely are a clear priority. Over the next 12 months, 71% of middle market executives and 31% of small business leaders who plan to invest will spend on technology that facilitates remote work. This is a trend that’s likely here to stay. Approximately a quarter of small businesses operating remotely expect -and want -- these changes to remain permanent after COVID-19 subsides, and about 40% of middle market executives expect the same, with some seeing it as a means to grow the company. However, this digital transformation puts a premium on a tech-savvy workforce able to support customers and collaborate with colleagues remotely. While many believe their current workforce has the skills to keep up, businesses are also substantially more likely than last year to say companies need to focus on hiring tech-savvy talent. While the COVID-19 pandemic has created a great deal of uncertainty for small and midsized businesses, it has in many ways clarified what’s needed to remain successful in an evolving world.
September Jobs Report Shows Decline In Unemployment The Missouri labor market’s recovery resumed in September 2020. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 13,000 jobs over the month, and over-the year job losses from COVID19 shutdowns dropped below 125,000. Missouri’s smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate went down by 2.1 percentage points in September 2020, decreasing to 4.9 percent from an August 2020 rate of 7.0 percent. Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has now been either below or equal to the national rate for 67 consecutive months. The national unemployment rate was 7.9 percent in September 2020. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 146,051 in September 2020, down by 68,345 from August’s 214,396. The over-the-month drop is due in part to the unemployed workers exhausting their unemployment Insurance benefits and leaving the labor market. The change contributed to the 2.3 percent decline in Missouri’s total civilian labor force over the month. Due to lingering layoffs from COVID-19 shutdowns, the September 2020 rate was still nearly 50 percent higher than the September 2019 rate. The rate had
reached a record low of 3.0 percent starting in August 2018, before edging up a tenth of a point in November 2018 and again in December 2018. The rate had remained at 3.2 percent through April 2019 before decreasing by a tenth of a point in May 2019. It then began a slow increase, reaching 3.4 percent in October 2019, where it remained for the remainder of 2019. The rate was steady at 3.5 percent in January and February 2020 before the COVID-19 spike began in March 2020. The rate peaked at 10.2 percent in April 2020 before decreasing slightly in May 2020, then moving strongly lower in June and July of 2020 as COVID-19 restrictions were eased. The rate was unchanged in August 2020, and unemployment again decreased sharply in September 2020. The state’s not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 4.3 percent in September 2020, down by 2.8 percentage points from the August 2020 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 7.1 percent. The corresponding notseasonally-adjusted national rate for September 2020 was 7.7 percent. A year ago, the state’s seasonally adjusted rate was 3.3 percent, and the not-adjusted rate was 2.7 percent.
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How To Setup Wi-Fi Extenders In Your Home Or Office For The Best Signal by Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert Wi-Fi has become an essential part of our digital lives that when you don't have access to it or have a weak signal it can leave you feeling frustrated and lost. Dealing with weak Wi-Fi means you have to deal with the stress of kids who aren't able to learn distantly or play games. It also means that you have to deal with slow loading websites and Zoom calls that freeze up or drop altogether. A good solution to fixing Wi-Fi dead zones in your home is to get a wireless range extender. The challenge is making sure you set them up to make them effective to reach all of the areas in your home. Struggling with the concept of range extenders and how to set them up, check out my tips that will help you get a full signal throughout your home or office. What are Wi-Fi extenders? The best explanation of Wi-Fi range extenders is these are devices that take your current wireless signal in your home and extend it further than your router can reach. When installed properly, this allows all your smart devices such as your smartphones, laptops, tablets, and printers to communicate effectively. The standard router is only designed to reach the area of a 2,500 square foot home or office and works best in openair environments. However, your home or office could have things that get in the way of your wireless that can disrupt and reflect your signals such as drywall, concrete walls, and ceilings. You probably didn't know your appliances such as washing machines, microwaves, washing machines, and televisions send out electromagnetic waves that can play a major role in getting in the way of your Wi-Fi Signal. Extenders can be a single device to extend your wireless signal or a group of devices that form a 'mesh' network that casts a Wi-Fi net of a wireless signal to reach all areas of your home or office. Weak wireless or slow internet? Many of you mistake slow Internet as weak Wi -Fi. Check with your Internet provider first to make sure you are getting decent Internet
speed. Visit www.speedtest.net on your computer, smartphone or tablet while you are near your router to see what speeds you are getting. If you are getting a download speed lower than 25 Megabits Per second, then you will experience issues with streaming movies, kids playing games and glitchy or dropped video calls. Sometimes an increase in Internet speed from your provider is all you need. You also may have to switch providers if your current Internet provider can't offer you faster speeds. How can you find dead areas in your home or office? Well, complaints from your kids and spouse are a good way, but an even simpler way is your smartphone. Your smartphone and the Speedtest.net app can help you identify those dead area. Once you get the app downloaded and you connect your phone to your Wi-Fi, do an initial speed test in the same room as your wireless router. When the test is finished and you get an idea of how fast your wireless connection should be, take a walk around your home or office and pay attention to where the signal is weak. Once you identify all of the weak and dead zones in your area, you can decide where to place your extenders, but first… The location of your router is very important. Just as if you were setting up a brick and mortar business, location is key for the placement of your wireless equipment. If you have a single level home or office, you should have no issues with where to place your router and extender. If your work or home area is multi-level, things get a little more complicated. When you set up your router, you want to try to make sure it's in a central location of your home or office. A router that is in an attic or a basement can cause problems, especially if you have a multi-level home as the router's wireless signal has to travel through many walls. You need to make sure your router is also placed in an elevated location. Three feet or higher is the optimum level for your router. I know you're probably tempted to place them on the floor to hide them, but that will do more harm than good.
The location of your extenders is also important. When you set up your extender, you will need to make sure to place it within the range of the router. If you are creating a mesh Wi-Fi network, you want to make sure mesh connected items are within range of one another. If at all possible, make sure you're placing your extender within the line of sight of your router. If you're unable to do this and have to place them around corners or behind walls, make sure they are drywall and not plaster or concrete walls. You need to place your extenders at the same level as you would your routers. Setting up Wi-Fi extenders can take a little trial and error to make sure you cover all of the areas of your home. Also, when using extenders, understand that you will lose some speed as your extenders or mesh network is essentially repeating the signal from your router which can slow down your wireless connection. Once you get your extenders set up properly, you can relax and enjoy robust internet around your home or office.
Looking for More Useful Tech Tips? Our Tuesday Tech Tips Blog is released every Tuesday. If you like video tips, we LIVE STREAM new episodes of 'Computer and Tech Tips for Non-Tech People' every Wednesday at 6:00 pm CST on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Technology product reviews are posted every Thursday. You can view previous episodes on our YouTube channel. Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. Need computer or technology help? 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. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.
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SCHOOL BOARD continued from page 1 think parents can weigh that risk and determine if they want to send their kids to school or not,” Williams said. Grain Valley Schools Superintendent Marc Snow presented data from parent and secondary staff surveys conducted to gauge each population’s comfort with extending the hybrid model or ending it after the first quarter. 151 6th -12th grade teachers completed the survey, with 86% indicating a preference to continue with the hybrid model. 760 high school parents responded, with 51.25% stated they would prefer full in-person classes, but 25.66% of families would have their students enrolled as virtual students if only in-person and virtual were offered. This represents a potential increase of 14.83% compared to those enrolled virtually in the first quarter. 90.28% of families responding to the survey would stay with hybrid if hybrid and virtual were the only options. At the middle school level, 771 middle school parents responded, with 59.61% of families preferring full in-person learning. 90.77% of middle school respondents would stay with hybrid or transfer from virtual to hybrid, if hybrid and virtual were the only options. Snow pointed to fill rates for substitutes, indicating the percentage of substitutes who were able to cover staff absences reduced from 85% in midSeptember to 79% the week of October 5-9. Snow also mentioned 14 of 18 area districts reported they will continue with some version of hybrid instruction in the second quarter. Board member Jeff Coleman made his position clear at the outset, stating he would vote against the continuation of the hybrid model. While voicing his support for the teachers and their concerns, he expressed his belief that students are “more resilient” and recover more quickly from COVID-19 than more vulnerable populations.
“We as people go out to the grocery store, we go out to eat, we do all the things that we have to do. Our parents are having to go to work,” Coleman said. Referring to a pediatric counselor who testified before the board a few months ago, Coleman referred to the belief that “it is of greater risk not to come to school than it is to come to school with the possibility of contracting COVID. I applaud those teachers who have kids in school that are cruising along and have good successes, but not everybody is in that category,” Coleman said. “We have to get back to some similarity of what regular life is again and as teachers, I do want to keep you safe,” Coleman said. Citing multiple comments made by parents regarding the particular struggles of special needs students, board member Jared English inquired what plans the district administration is considering to attend to their needs. Referencing the board’s initial decision to proceed with the hybrid model at the start of the school year, English stated, “We did what we thought was the greatest good at the time. I truly believe that it is working. But I’m hearing from families here that they are hurting. There are things that are going on in their homes related to education that have them frustrated. Is there anything else that we can do as an administration and as a district to reach those kids. What can we do to reach that percent (of struggling students) that we’re not currently doing,” English asked. “I think this is something that we need to chew on, or we’re going to find ourselves in unchartered waters again here in a few months trying to make the same decision.” “That last question is something I asked of our cabinet earlier today,” Snow said. “What are the answers we can give to parents who say ‘my kid is struggling’. We need to continue to talk about that.”
Wayne’s World Wayne’s World will return November 5th and continue on the first and third weeks of each month. Revisit previous Wayne’s World columns at www.grainvalleynews.com/news.
“What I’m looking for as a board member is a plan. I want to see that strategy in writing so that I can hold that up and show it to patrons and teachers and say ‘here’s what we need to see as a group to really bring kids back to school’,” English said. Snow provided his opinion on the best course of action before the board vote. “I’ve never been a person who’s thrived on conflict, so I don’t like the fact that this has divided our community and our board. As Superintendent, I have tried not to make any decisions that are politically driven, and I believe my decisions need to have one thing in mind, and that is what is right for the kids. Those decisions for kids need to factor in the educational, mental, emotional, and health needs of kids. To be honest, I have had a difficult time deciding what my recommendation is going to be,” Snow said. “As an educator, I have to believe that everyone who teaches or has taught thinks the best place for kids to be is in the classroom on a full time basis. In a perfect world, that would certainly be the case. Unfortunately, we are not currently living in a perfect world. Our world has dealt us an unfair hand to play, and in our world we have health and safety concerns that we must not disregard.” Snow pointed to the constant upheaval staff is feeling with ongoing quarantines of staff and students, “disrupting the classroom environment”. Snow continued, “We are barely, and I emphasize barely, keeping up with our ability to properly staff our schools. I’m concerned that doubling the number of students in our secondary school classrooms will double that impact.” “Although it brings me no pleasure to do so, I believe the right thing to do right now is to continue with the hybrid learning model for the secondary students through at least the second
quarter. That said, I do not have a vote, and that decision is ultimately up to this board,” Snow said. The Board proceeded to approve Snow’s recommendation 5-2, with Jeff Coleman and Tisha Homfeld voting against continuing the hybrid plan. In an email announcing the decision, the district outlined gating criteria for returning students to the classroom fulltime, including: Total new cases per 100,000 in Eastern Jackson County falling below 200. The rate is currently 215. The Positivity rate in Eastern Jackson County trending below 10%. The positivity rate is currently at 15.05%. In other business, Snow reported the board will consider refunding of 2016 and 2017 bonds during its November meeting, with a potential savings of $1.5 million. Snow also reported the district will receive $167,000 in funding from Jackson County through the CARES Act to offset expenses related to COVID-19, including hot spots, cleaning supplies, and bottle fillers at water fountains. Snow reported the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is distributing rapid COVID-19 tests, enabling districts to test symptomatic students and staff in 15 minutes. The district applied for 5,000 testing kits and has 5 district nurses who can administer tests. Dr. Brad Welle, Deputy Superintendent of Student and Community Services, reported the Grain Valley Education Foundation has raised $850,000 since 2010. Dr. Beth Mulvey, Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, reported the board will consider middle school math curriculum during its November meeting. The board will meet for a regular board meeting on November 19, 2020.
Automotive
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How Regular Maintenance Keeps Your Car Firing On All Cylinders (BPT) - Car maintenance is often a scheduled chore when you're regularly driving. However, if you're driving less due to the current environment, maintenance can easily become a lesser priority or even completely forgotten. Hankook Tire's latest Gauge Index found that as daily driving decreased as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, nearly one-third (30%) of Americans have done less car cleaning and maintenance too. But car maintenance is always important, especially as drivers around the country gradually resume their travels and hit the road. Hankook Tire found that 60% of Americans expect to take more car trips moving forward. With that in mind, the following are five reasons it's important to keep up with regular car maintenance: 1. Safety First and foremost: Regular car maintenance helps increase safety when driving. This is especially important if your car has been parked for a while. Be sure to check your fluids (oil, washer, coolant, etc.) and inspect the tires to make sure that they haven't lost their pressure. After all, the Gauge revealed 70% of Americans have not regularly been checking tire pressure during the pandemic. Low tire pressure can lead to several issues such as poor performance, premature wear and higher rolling resistance, which can impact fuel efficiency. 2. Save time and money Consistent car maintenance also helps extend the overall life of not only your tires, but the systems that drive them, including the engine, suspension, brakes and transmission. With the median price of a set of four tires ranging from $300 to $600, investing in regular tire upkeep such as rotations and alignment when necessary, helps deter more costly repairs down the road - making both your car, and your money, go further.
And, you'll save time. Regularly scheduled basic maintenance appointments traditionally don't take too long - and some dealerships even offer special pick-up and drop-off appointments so you never have to leave the comfort of your home. 3. First place performance Just like a regular gym routine helps keep your muscle groups firing on all cylinders, regular trips to the mechanic can provide the same benefit to your car. Whether it's a crushing leg day (suspension) or a cardio workout (engine), routine inspection of your shoes (tires) will help you maximize your workout traction so you're ready for the next round and running at peak performance. 4. Cleanliness While cleaning the vehicle's interior and exterior was the primary maintenance measure (40%) Americans took at the height of quarantine, the idea of clean cars goes beyond just dust on the dashboard and sanitized seatbelts. It keeps the environment clean, too. Little maintenance checks add up to a big environmental impact. For example, regular oil changes contribute to a cleaner engine and lower vehicle emissions, while properly inflated tires can contribute to better fuel efficiency. 5. Vehicle value When the time comes to upgrade your vehicle, one of the first points of inspection is on the inside. A vehicle's internal condition is one of the key factors in determining its worth, so it's best to keep everything well-oiled and running smoothly, even if you don't have any immediate plans to trade it in. While it is recommended to adhere to your vehicle's outlined maintenance schedule, there are a few things that drivers can do on a regular basis to provide added value. Every month, double-check to make sure headlights and taillights are
iStock Photo
working, fluids are topped off, and your belt and hose systems are running smoothly. Use the penny test to check your tire's tread. In addition, keeping a vehicle maintenance log helps you stay organized and ensure good habits that can have a real impact when it comes
time to trade in. If any issues do arise, Hankook recommends getting your vehicle checked out by a certified mechanic before getting back behind the wheel.
Your Health
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Performance Inspired Protein: Whey More Than You Think by Megan Callahan, Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitian Protein is critical to building and maintaining muscle mass. Despite what many think, athletes are not the only ones who need more protein. The elderly, those looking to lose fat mass, and the ill or injured have increased needs for protein too. There may be times you struggle with getting the protein you need in each day, which can happen to all of us. Which is why your Hy-Vee dietitian recommends using whole foods in conjunction with protein supplements like our Dietitian Pick of the Month: Performance Inspired Whey Protein. One serving contains 25 grams of protein per scoop, plus it has probiotics and fiber to help with digestion and keep you from feeling bloated. The current recommended daily allowance for protein is 0.36 grams per pound of body weight. However, there are many people who can benefit from adding more protein to their diet. A HyVee dietitian is happy to help you determine how much protein per day is right for you. 3 Reasons to Consume Whey Protein: Building blocks: Whey is a complete protein, which means it contains all the essential amino acids our bodies cannot
make on their own. These amino acids serve as the building blocks for new muscle. Hormonal impact: Whey protein causes the release of insulin, a key muscle-building hormone that helps drive nutrients into our cells. This spike in insulin helps feed our muscle cells and fuel recovery after physical activity. Leucine content: Whey is rich in this branched chain amino acid known to stimulate muscle protein synthesis or muscle building. If you’ve been cutting your calories to lose weight, there is a good chance you are losing muscle along with fat. However, studies show that eating more protein, or at least 0.5 – 0.8 grams per pound of body weight per day, in conjunction with resistance exercise, reduces the amount of muscle lost during dieting. This is especially important since more muscle burns more calories at rest. As we age there is a natural loss of muscle strength and function. Studies show that someone over the age of 65 needs more protein to maintain muscle and protein balance than someone who is younger. This may be because we become more resistant to muscle building as we age. Therefore, it is important for the aging population to continue weight training and increase their protein
intake to 0.45 – 0.60 grams per pound of body weight per day. Performance Inspired Whey Protein powder isn’t just for a post-workout shake. This trustworthy protein product uses natural ingredients without any synthetic additives or fillers. The products are also gluten-free. Try mixing it in oatmeal for a highprotein breakfast choice, blending it into pancake mix for high-protein pancakes, adding it into a fruit smoothie for an antioxidant- and protein-packed snack, or mixing it with yogurt for an evening treat to aid in muscle protein synthesis overnight. No matter how you use it, you can feel good about giving your body the quality protein it needs.
The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. Megan Callahan is one of your Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitians. She is dedicated to helping people live healthier and happier lives. Megan received a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Missouri State University. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she also received her Master of Science degree in dietetics and nutrition. Megan has been working with Hy-Vee full-time for 10 years. With a passion for nutrition and
Strawberry Banana Performance Inspired Smoothie Serves 2 All you need: 1 medium banana, peeled 1 scoop Performance Inspired vanillaflavored whey protein powder ½ cup Hy-Vee vanilla Greek yogurt ½ cup Hy-Vee frozen strawberries All you do: Blend banana, vanilla protein powder, yogurt and strawberries in a blender until smooth. Pour into glasses and serve immediately. Nutrition Facts per serving: 180 calories, 1g fat, 0g saturated fat, 0g trans-fat, 35mg cholesterol, 35mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 13g sugar, 1g added sugar, 19g protein. Daily Values: 0% Iron, 6% vitamin D, 10% calcium, 10% potassium Recipe source: Hy-Vee dietitians
wellness, Megan is dedicated to educating customers and promoting healthy lifestyles to our Hy-Vee community. Megan lives in Lee’s Summit with her husband Matt, and their 2 children Kennedy (4) & Carsyn (2).
Enjoy Halloween Without Sabotaging Your Diet by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD house can wreak havoc on your healthy eating pledge and without a plan in place, one small piece can quickly turn into a trash can of mini wrappers. But, don’t fret! You can still enjoy your favorite seasonal treats without ruining your progress towards your goals by following a few Dos and Don’ts:
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. Whether there will be trick-ortreaters this year or not is unknown, but there is never a shortage of Halloween candy on the grocery store shelves. And, the temptation to pick up a bag or two or three of those chocolatey minis is hard to resist. Having these treats around the
Do: Make a plan that fits Maybe you have decided to allow yourself three small candies a day or just a treat before dinner. Or, maybe you count several out and place them in a plastic bag and when it runs out, you’re done. Whatever your plan, make sure that it works for you and your lifestyle. Don’t set yourself up for failure, and find what works for you the best. Don’t: Waste your time trying to pick a “healthy” candy: Organic? Low-fat? Sugar-free? It’s all candy and whether it has limited sugar or fat, doesn’t mean it’s any healthier. Eating a bunch of candy that you feel is a better choice may not satisfy your craving and you may just ending up eating even more and then giving in to what you really wanted all along. Pick the treat you want and enjoy it!
Jack-o-Lantern Juice Serves: 4 Do: Store your treats where you can’t see them Out of sight really does mean out of mind. You’re less likely to grab a piece if it’s not right in front of you. Try storing it in a canister that you can’t see through or in a cabinet you don’t use very often. That way you will be seeking out the candy instead of the candy seeking you out. Don’t: Eat candy when you are hungry Treats should be just that—treats. If you are hungry you will overeat your goodies. Plan a healthy snack or dinner and eat your treat as finishing piece. Satisfy your craving not your hunger. Halloween should be a fun holiday and doesn’t need to wreck your plan. There are plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday without letting it derail your progress. What if you do overindulge? You’re human. It’s ok. Move on and continue with your healthy eating plan the next day. You’ll find your splurge didn’t really change much. Try this yummy Halloween treat:
Ingredients: 2 cups frozen peaches ¾ cup pumpkin puree 1 medium banana, frozen 1 cup plain yogurt 1 cup milk Directions: Use a sharpie to draw jack-o-lantern faces on two clear plastic cups. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend well. Pour smoothie into cups and serve immediately. Nutrition: Calories: 231, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Cholesterol: 196mg, Sodium: 141mg, Fiber: 3g
Source: Super Healthy Kids
Outdoors & Recreation
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Wetland Conditions Vary At MDC Waterfowl Areas by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation Conditions vary this autumn at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) wetlands. Some conservation areas with wetlands managed for waterfowl have ample water and good access for hunters. Some areas, however, have infrastructure issues or low water from a dry autumn. Waterfowl hunters will want to visit the web site for each area to verify changes and procedures in place for COVID-19 precautions or due to unfinished construction projects. A dry autumn is causing low water conditions at some wetlands in northwest and west central Missouri. Autumn rains, however, can quickly improve wetland conditions, especially those with good growth of natural waterfowl foods through the summer. Scouting wetland conditions ahead of the season or before making a hunting trip can boost success. Missouri’s North Zone ducking hunting season opens Nov. 7 and ends Jan. 5. The Middle Zone will have a split season, Nov. 7-13, and Nov. 19 through Jan. 10. Here’s a look at wetland conditions as of mid-October. Habitat conditions at MDC’s Grand Pass Conservation Area are very good, said Chris Freeman, MDC regional resource management district supervisor. Moist soil food plant production and wetland habitat is excellent to very good. Agricultural crops are very good. Water levels will be normal. The Fountain Grove Conservation
Area has excellent to very good habitat. Agriculture crops are fair. Construction on a new pump station and problems with an old pump might hamper water levels until the old pump is repaired. Water management on the area’s east side is expected to be on schedule and favorable. Crop harvest progress will determine when units on the east side will receive water. An average waterfowl season is expected at the Nodaway Valley Conservation Area based on waterfowl food quality, said Craig Crisler, MDC wildlife management biologist. Wetland conditions and water levels are normal for early autumn, but weather conditions could help or hurt habitat. The draw for hunting positions will be conducted according to the new COVID-19 precautions. MDC’s Bob Brown Conservation Area suffered flood damage in 2019. There is no water on the area currently and Crisler does not expect conditions to improve this fall. Hunting will be allowed on the area via a self-check system. At the Four Rivers Conservation Area, natural habitat is good to excellent in Unit 1 and Unit 2, the draw units. Crops are fair, hampered by a wet spring causing a late planting followed by a dry summer, said Chris Daniel, MDC district supervisor. Water levels in Unit 1 may be limited as low river conditions will restrict pumping. That could limit hunting positions. Water conditions could be normal in Unit 2 at Four Rivers because MDC can still pump water into that unit.
Units 3 and 4 at Four Rivers, the open units, are currently dry. Those units suffered flood damage in 2019. They are now functional, but they will need significant rains or a river rise to provide waterfowl habitat. Wetlands at MDC’s Schell-Osage Conservation Area were drained for a major renovation project that is ongoing. Preliminary brush clearing for the project is now complete. All hunting and refuge zones at the area will be in effect. The Waterfowl Hunting Only zones will be open through self-registration. Water will be held in wetlands if the area receives significant rains or a rise in the Osage River and Truman Lake. Both water levels and waterfowl food are fair to good in wetlands at the Ralph and Martha Perry Memorial Conservation Area, said Joe Coy, MDC wildlife management biologist. Pools are 70 percent full of water. Levee conditions are adequate. Natural habitat is poor at MDC’s Settle’s Ford Conservation Area. Late summer flooding caused delays in wetland work, said Brian Bokern, MDC wildlife biologist. Most pools are dry, including the waterfowl refuge pool. The area does not have the ability to pump water. Significant rainfall is needed to fill wetland pools. Hunting opportunities will be limited. Hunters will use self-registration. There is water in the pool with a blind open for use by hunters with accessibility issues. Hunters wanting to use that blind must register, and the blind is available on a
Wetland conditions vary this autumn at MDC conservation areas. MDC suggests that waterfowl hunters scout wetlands prior to a hunt, and check updates for conservation areas online. Photo credit: MDC first come, first serve basis. At MDC’s Montrose Conservation Area, natural vegetation is excellent but water levels are a concern. Waterfowl hunting centers on the area’s Montrose Lake. Lake levels have dropped due to dry conditions. The lake needs significant rainfall or hunting opportunities will be reduced. Currently, conditions are dry at all hunting blinds on the west end of the lake, and access to all blinds will be difficult if dry weather persists. For more information on waterfowl hunting in Missouri, visit https:// short.mdc.mo.gov/ZQg. MDC has altered waterfowl hunting blind allocations to adjust for COVID-19 safety precautions. For updates on blind draws or reservations, visit https:// short.mdc.mo.gov/Z4W.
MDC Fall Turkey Submission Form Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is asking Missouri turkey hunters to save and share feathers from the wild turkeys they harvest this fall as part of a new research project to help improve wild turkey management in Missouri. Hunters who successfully harvest a turkey during either the Archery Deer and Turkey season (September 15 – November 13, 2020 and November 25, 2020 – Jan. 15, 2021) or Fall Firearms Turkey Season (October 1 – 31, 2020), can voluntarily submit feathers from their turkey, at no cost to them. If you are interested in submitting feathers from your harvested turkey, please retain the turkey carcass OR remove a wing from the turkey and several feathers from the lower portion of the breast (see diagram below).
Then, enter your name, mailing address, and Telecheck ID of the harvested turkey into the contact submission form below. MDC’s Wild Turkey Management Program will mail you the packet of materials needed to submit your feathers. This packet will include: An instruction form, with diagrams, explaining which feathers to submit from the harvested turkey. A postage-paid envelope for the feathers to be placed inside and mailed back to MDC. If you have any questions, please email MDC’s Wild Turkey Management Program at wildturkeymgmt@mdc.mo.gov. Retain the entire turkey carcass or a wing and 5-7 feathers from the lower
Image credit: MDC portion of the breast until you receive the packet of feather submission materials.
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Sports & Recreation
Eagles Come Up Short Against Blue Jays by John Unrein The battle of attrition did not go the way of the Grain Valley Eagles on October 16th in their loss to the Raytown Blue Jays. Raytown’s size and speed enabled them to take the lead with 5 seconds left in the game on a 23 yard touchdown run by halfback Zahmari Gary. The conclusion was as dramatic as the two proud teams that stood on the gridiron and figuratively exchanged punches throughout the course of the game. Grain Valley was effective most of the game in limiting Raytown’s Flexbone attack. Veer option along with wingback sweeps and reverses were largely corralled by the Eagles black shirt defense. Raytown countered by getting into double tight end and unbalanced formations to run behind their impressive size along the offensive line. Offensive tackle Logan Reichert goes 6’ 7” and 370 pounds as a sophomore for the Blue Jays. He is joined by 6’ 4” and 340 pound senior Justin Sasser at offensive guard. This tandem is who Raytown leaned on as the game progressed in using the duo to clear space at the line of scrimmage. The front seven of the Eagles defense fought hard to create two turnovers, stop their opponent twice on 4th down, and limit the Blue Jays offense to just 21 points. Raytown controlled the time of possession, holding on to the football for 29 minutes and 50 seconds during the game. This was fueled by the Blue Jays rushing the football for 373 yards on 61 attempts. Eagles senior linebacker Hunter Newsom put forth a herculean effort racking up 16 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and lead blocking as a fullback when Grain Valley was on offense. A tired and composed Newsome was proud of this team and showed respect for his opponent in his postgame comments. “We were encouraged to lay it on the line tonight by our coaches and not leave anything on the field. Especially, with the situation we are in with COVID, you never know when your last game is going to be. We played all out and played this game like it might be our last as you are never guaranteed anything,” Newsom said. “We fought hard tonight and butted heads with them (Raytown). They had some plays though where they were able to slip free.” Grain Valley countered offensively with the arm of quarterback Cole Keller, the legs of Jaxon Wyatt, and the receiving abilities of Parker Bosserman and Parker Stone. Keller would find Bosserman on a 33 yard fade pass down the sideline to the end zone with 10:40 left in the second quarter that would tie the game for the Eagles. Stone would be the recipient of the last successful scoring effort by Grain Valley on a 9 yard pass from Keller with 2:43 left in the third quarter. The Eagles offense under the direction of head football coach David
Allie found success running isolation or “iso” during the second half to counter Raytown’s blitzing linebackers. Wyatt’s number was called running behind Newsome as he struck Blue Jay linebackers at the line of scrimmage in his lead blocking role as fullback. Wyatt would go on to rack up 104 yards rushing on 20 attempts behind Newsome and his offensive line. Eagles senior offensive guard Jack Bailey and his counterpart, junior offensive tackle Cooper Terry, who returned from injury against Raytown were a significant part of the Eagles rushing success in the second half. “They (Raytown) left ‘B gap’ open quite a bit and were moving their linebackers all around (their defensive front). We said to heck with it and started running ‘iso’ with success during the second half,” Bailey said. Time, the quickness of Raytown’s defense, and their blitzing ability was not on Grain Valley’s side as they would go on to loss 21-14 against the Blue Jays. Allie was gratified with the grit his team displayed in a losing effort. Perspective was offered by Allie to his team after the game in what they can look forward to this coming week in preparation against the Belton Pirates. Allie reminded his team that they still had influence on their playoff aspirations in how they conducted themselves in practice to make sure they were in the best possible position at the conclusion of week nine. Allie’s sentiment was joined by defensive coordinator Pete Carpino after the game. “You guys played in one heck of a football game tonight and came out on the wrong end. Let’s work our tails off to make sure that the next time we are in one of these games, we come out on the right end. Keep up the positive body language and hold your head up high when you leave here,” Carpino said. Allie was honest in his postgame assessment as well as his outlook for the rest of the season. “Raytown is fast on defense. They had success with run throughs and blitzes. We were unable to get their backside linebacker or defensive end, depending on who we blocked. Their speed would catch us from behind. They did a good job spying on Keller as well and that took him out of the game with his legs a little bit,” Allie said. “Our defense put forth a heck of an effort tonight. Raytown got some big yards, but we got into a situation as the game progressed where we could stay ahead of the chains on defense and that helped a lot.” “Unfortunately, a couple of times tonight we under ran some stuff on defense. They (Raytown) have some big boys that they utilized late in the game to run behind. Film will help us evaluate what we need to tweak.” Allie concluded, “One of our kids said it best, ‘It’s only a loss if we don’t learn from it.’ We will lick our wounds and
Left to right: Annalynn Earley, Coach Nick Small, and Lilly Ogle. Photo courtesy Valley News staff
Eagles Quarterback Cole Keller escapes the pocket in looking to complete a pass down field. Photo credit: John Overstreet
The Eagles Defense brings down a Raytown ball carrier. Photo credit: John Overstreet evaluate film before we turn the page. This team is a resilient group, and they understand you only get so many opportunities. We will get back to work to face another great team in Belton knowing that a share of the conference
title is up for grabs that also has district implications.” Grain Valley (7-1) will host Belton (7-0) at Moody Murray Stadium on October 23rd.
Sports & Recreation
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Destruction In The Valley Caps Season At Valley Speedway by John Unrein Valley Speedway concluded their 2020 season on October 17th with a Halloween Trunk or Treat for kids prior to ATV heat racing and demolition derby contests. The stands were relatively packed on a brisk fall afternoon as young and old alike took in the experience in Grain Valley. Spider Man, Wonder Woman, and Kansas City Chiefs players were among the most common costumes during the meet the driver Halloween Trunk or Treat prior to racing. Valley Speedway track announcer Greg Clemons interviewed drivers prior to racing along with youngsters on what they enjoyed the most about racing. The Carrera family of Eastern Jackson County were among those in attendance. Chris, Angie, and River Carrera enjoy getting outdoors and being able to do something together in a fun atmosphere. The Carrera’s do not come from a family racing background and were introduced to the sport upon attending their first demolition derby when they moved to Missouri. “I like the pretzels here and when the cars crash into each other,” River Carrera said. Chris Carrera added, “There’s a sense of community here and it’s fun to watch the comradery amongst the drivers. It’s low key and a relaxed crowd compared to what the stereotype may be.” “The sportsmanship is good. This is a little bit inherently dangerous to do, but if someone’s at risk or it looks like
someone is or could get hurt, they stop the race and check on them.” Angie Carrera concluded, “Valley Speedway is family friendly. The modifications to cars are interesting that drivers complete to be competitive. You find yourself getting behind a driver and rooting for their car.” “I love when they drive a minivan. The tailpipes come through the hood as part of the modification. It kind of has that Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome look to it.” Cars with hulking overhangs in the front and back along with old school body-on-frame construction are advantages drivers look for when assembling their derby vehicles. Older domestic cars provide that lengthened crumple zone in the face and trunk of the car to team with high strength steel when the weight of a vehicle (for fuel efficiency) was not quite as big of a concern as it is today. Modifications to demolition cars continue to demonstrate innovation at Valley Speedway. Spare tires are being used more on the rear ends of cars. The idea being that the smaller size of the wheel and tire will help prevent it from flattening or being bent in during collision racing. Solid wood landscape timbers for front bumpers are also in vogue as they do not bend as easily as metal. Oversized radiators protected by a variety of metal reinforcements to protect from being damaged or overheating round out the advantage’s
The Carrera family visited Valley Speedway October 17th. Photo credit: Valley News staff drivers try to gain for competition. Willie Brown who competes in the Summit Pizza sponsored 1986 Chevrolet Caprice was among those on hand to be a race ambassador and compete in the derby. “I’ve grown up around demolition racing my whole life. They used to race back along the tree line here in the 1980’s and 1990’s when my cousin done it. That’s what got me into this sport,” Brown said.
“I’ve had this Caprice for about a year and put it together for competition within the last week. I don’t do this for the money, I do it for the fun of it. Hitting people is an adrenaline rush. It’s better to be the hammer instead of the nail.” “Some people will hold back at the start of a race. I don’t hold back, I just hit people and let things play out.”
Left: Demolition driver Willie Brown participates in “meet the driver” at Trunk or Treat. Right: #81 Hawkins was the winner of the small budget class.
Community Calendar Friday, October 23, 2020
Friday, October 30, 2020
Virtual Storytime 10:00am—10:30am Join library staff for Virtual Storytimes for your littles (and maybe for you too)! We will have stories and songs, brought directly to your home! www.mymcpl.org/events
No school—Grain Valley Schools
Saturday, October 24, 2020
No school—Grain Valley Schools
Main Street Trick or Treat 5:00pm—8:00pm
Monday, November 9, 2020
Monday, October 26, 2020 Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 S Main
Wednesday, October 28, 2020 Blood Drive 1:00pm—7:00pm Grain Valley Community Center, 713 Main Each presenting donor will receive a Royals t-shirt! Sign up by visiting savealifenow.org/ group, enter Group Code: EH27. Appointments are preferred, but walkins are welcome.
Answer to last week’s puzzle:
Monday, November 2, 2020 No school—Grain Valley Schools
Tuesday, November 3, 2020 Election Day: Polls open 6am—7:00pm
Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 S Main
Tuesday, November 17, 2020 Grain Valley Park Board Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley Community Center, 713 Main
Add your community event at www.grainvalleynews.com/ eventscalendar
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