Valley News www.grainvalleynews.com
NOVEMBER 14, 2019
Vol. 2, No. 46
FREE
Local Events Welcome Holiday Season The bitter cold temperatures this past week were just another reminder that winter is fast approaching. While the cold weather may not be welcome, celebrations for the holiday season certainly are. The magic of the season comes to life for thousands at Jackson County Parks + Rec’s 23rd Annual Christmas in the Sky and 32nd Annual Christmas in the Park holiday events. On Wednesday, November 27th, Christmas in the Sky will kick-off at Longview Lake Beach. This holiday fireworks spectacular, courtesy of Parks + Rec and 99.7 The Point, has provided the opening night festivities for Jackson County’s Christmas in the Park since 1997. The free event includes a holiday stage show featuring more than 100
singers and dancers from Monica’s School of Dance in Lee’s Summit, plus performances by the St. Thomas Aquinas Chamber Choir, local artist Tevin Williams and special guest Casi Joy, Nashville recording artist and 2017 contestant on The Voice. Look for Santa to arrive on a muledrawn sleigh to present the “First Gift of Christmas” ahead of the colorful fireworks show, which will be synchronized to holiday music on 99.7 The Point. Gates open at Longview Lake Beach, 11101 Raytown Road (2 miles south of 1470), at 5:00pm. The stage show begins at 6:00pm with fireworks beginning at 7:40pm. Topping off the evening, more than 500,000 lights and 175 animated displays will illuminate your magical drive see HOLIDAYS on page 2
Fall Color From Shrubs by Cathy Bylinowski, Horticulture Instructor, adapted from an October, 2019 Missouri Environment and Garden article by Dr. David Trinklein, Horticulture Specialist, University of Missouri. While trees command most of our attention when it comes to fall foliage color, do not overlook their more diminutive relatives. In home landscapes as well as in the wild, woody shrubs also provide fall color to enhance outdoor living are as well as add beauty to the season. At a time when many summer flowers are finished blooming, colorful shrubs can extend garden enjoyment. Shrubs that provide fall color are not restricted to those planted in home landscapes. Many occur in nature. They are enjoyed as outdoor enthusiasts search for colorful fall scenes. Indeed, early autumn excursions are more enjoyable because of the bright red leaves of see FALL COLOR on page 6
County’’s annual Christmas in the Park A number of local events, including Jackson County celebration, will welcome the holiday season in the coming weeks. Photo credit: Jackson County Parks + Rec
Good News:
Grain Valley Band Headed To Hawaii Daniel Berard, Grain Valley High School Director of Bands , announced to current and incoming members of the Grain Valley Marching Eagles that the band has been invited to represent Grain Valley and the state of Missouri in the December 2020 Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Parade in Hawaii. “We feel fortunate to be able to give our students this experience, not just for the opportunities to perform and travel as a band, but to connect them to an important part of our collective history, one that on a certain level is disappearing almost daily. Aside from the parade itself, we will take part in concerts and a special "mass-band" performance at the rededication ceremony for the USS Missouri - "The Mighty MO". I look forward to helping our students grow a deeper, personal appreciation for that moment in our nation's history, the world events that followed, and the courageous men and women who answered the call,” Berard said.
Grain Valley Marching Eagles announced plans to travel to Hawaii in December 2020 to participate in the 2020 Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Parade. Photo credit: Grain Valley Band Parents Association
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Police Blotter Trivia Night Nets $3,000 For The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily Grain Valley Assistance Council calls for service log for the week of October 30—November 6, 2019. Grain Valley Assistance Council raised $3,000 last Saturday, November 9th through its popular Trivia Night held at Grain Valley High School. Approximately 24 teams participated in the event, with a team from Grain Valley South Middle School taking home bragging rights as the first place team. Funds raised from the event benefit the Assistance Council’s food pantry and emergency assistance programs. Jerry Vaughan, Executive Director of the Grain Valley Education Foundation and Grain Valley Assistance Council
HOLIDAYS
volunteer, credits Debbi Reiss-Roam with bringing the idea for the Trivia Night fundraisers to Grain Valley more than 10 years ago. “Debbi has been the driving force behind these events, which have raised thousands for the Grain Valley Assistance Council and FOCUS for Grain Valley,” Vaughan said. The next Trivia Night benefiting Grain Valley Assistance Council will be held February 8, 2020 at Grain Valley High School.
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through Jackson County’s 32nd Annual Christmas in the Park. Christmas in the Park will be held Wednesday, November 27th – Sunday, December 31st from 5:30pm – 10:00pm Sunday – Thursday, and 5:30pm – 11:00pm Friday and Saturday. “Every year we add an exciting new display to the Christmas in the Park experience,” Michele Newman, Jackson County Parks + Rec Director said. “This year, we’ve added an additional 50 feet to the already spectacular 50-foot lighted drive-thru entrance arch that debuted last year. The arch is programmed to sequence a variety of dazzling colors, patterns and effects.” “Our Parks + Rec staff is second to none,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. said. “The talent and expertise they have to design, create and install this massive display year after year is impressive. I can’t thank them enough for all the hard work they do to keep this tradition thriving and the holiday season bright for families.” While there is no charge for this drive -thru event, voluntary exit donations are accepted, with a portion of the proceeds divided among 35 area charities. The City of Grain Valley will kick off the holiday season with the annual
Holiday Festival on December 5th from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. Mayor Mike Todd will flip the switch to light up the Mayor’s Christmas Tree and Armstrong Park. Hot chocolate, cookies, and visits with Santa Claus are the highlights of this free event. Speaking of Santa, one of the most beloved traditions in Grain Valley, the Santa Bus, will begin its rounds the weekend following Thanksgiving. Santa’s first stop begins November 30th beginning around 9:00am in the Rosewood Hills, Whispering Park, and Woodbury subdivisions. Grain Valley’s Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) will escort Santa around town and alert children and their parents to Santa’s arrival with their sirens. Children who visit Santa on the bus will receive a small gift and have their photo taken. There is no cost to visit Santa’s bus. Chuck Johnston, Grain Valley Santa Bus Coordinator, said that donations are down a bit from last year. Monetary donations can be mailed to GV Santa, 611 Cross Creek Drive, Grain Valley MO 64029. To keep up with Santa’s schedule and to download pictures from your visit on the bus, visit www.gvsanta.com.
October 30, 2019 WB I-70 600 Block Yennie 600 Block Yennie 600 Block Yennie 600 Block Graystone Dr 700 Block Main St 700 Block Baytree Cir 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St
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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 Diana Luppens, Switch Focus Studios | Contributing Photographer John Overstreet | Contributing Photographer
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Looking Back: East Kansas City Airport by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
One could say the East Kansas City Airport in Grain Valley began out of necessity. In the early 1950s a number of private airplane owners learned they would no longer have a home for their planes. The Heart of America Airport located on U. S. 40 Highway near the Little Blue River was closed and the property was turned into a trailer park. At that time several of the private plane owners and pilots decided they would purchase land and construct their own airport. Some of the original 11 stockholders were Frank V. Mawby, lawyer; Walter Jennings, lawyer; Jack Barnhart, Barnhart Construction; Bill Perkins, Perkins Restaurants, Earl Wade, manufacturer, and Ruffs Wilson, electrical contractor, to name a few. Together, they formed an organization which resembled a well-run flying club, but instead of just owning airplanes, the group owned the airport. Much work was done by the group to incorporate, draw up sound and workable rules for operation, find land,
secure the title, layout the runways, line up local financing, bulldoze the runways, build the hangars and other facilities, and last but certainly not least, convince the townsfolks and the city fathers that the airport would be an asset to the community. A parcel of 80 acres was found on the western edge of Grain Valley on Kirby Road at the end of Walnut Street. In the 1800s this land was owned by Britton Capelle. By the early 1900s it was part of the E. E. Kirby Orchards. The corporation purchased the land from Tom Cairns, owner of Cairns Flowers in Independence, Missouri. The airport started with two runways, one running east to west and a second runway running northeast to southwest. Barnhart Construction Company did the grading for the runways and Jack Barnhart built the first small hangars. By 1978, the cooperative airport association included some 39 members. Over the years many improvements
Kim’s Korner:
have been made. Asphalt was installed in the older hangars; numerous new hangars were built, and runways lights were installed that can be turned on by the planes’ radios. In addition, an aircraft maintenance hangar, a radio communications area, and a radio repair service shop were added. The current airport has a business office, a main lobby, restrooms, and a pilot’s lounge. Much of the information for this article was furnished by John Washburn of Grain Valley. Although not an original stockholder, he was one of the very early stockholders. He served on the Board of Directors for many years and served a term as its President. The Grain Valley Airport Co-operative was officially incorporated in 1956. Its’ uniqueness is still relevant today. It is one of the very few in the nation that is a privately owned/public use airport and is a testament to the average American businessman. No government aid was forthcoming for this private enterprise— there is no city, county, state or federal
money invested. Mr. Robert Williams is one of the seventy-five to eight current owners. In visiting with Mr. Williams, I learned that the FAA has been involved with the airport over the years, mainly with antenna radio contact to ensure planes land at the proper angle. He also views the airport as “a large green space, like a park.” He pointed out another important feature. The airport is largely agricultural, noting the large hay crop that is cut each year. The current manager, Robert Hackett, has been in his position for over a decade. He tells me the airport has planes available for flying lessons, rides, charters and field trips. The airport also boasts a team of mechanics known for their excellent work.
The Grain Valley Historical Society Museum is located at 506 South Main Street and online at www.grainvalleyhistory.com.
Winter Weather Health Tips by Kimberly Wendschlag
Whew! It is crazy cold here in the Valley of the Grain! I’m pretty sure that fall lasted an entire 3.7 days, right? Isn’t that how it always goes? We are so over the heat and long for the cooler, sweatshirt wearing, windows open, leaves falling months and BAM, we get 3 days. Good gravy. Well, now that we have busted right into the winter weather (I’m going to call it that because at the time of writing, it is a balmy 8 degrees outside), it’s time to see how in the world we can stay healthy. I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you ate all of the right things, went to the gym, drank all the water and are simply reading because you have all the time in the world. Right? You have no fear of the flu bug hitting your home, attacking every living creature under your roof and shutting your entire home down for a week. Hmm….you with me? This isn’t you? Awesome, then let’s keep going. Did I tell you that I went back to the gym? I did. I went a week ago last Monday. I was so excited to be back and I even got one of the fancy little key chain things to “check me in” next time. I went that day and I haven’t been back since. You guys, that’s not good! I was doing so well for so long and then….I just got lazy. Hold on a second and let me go back. I hurt my back in April and was out of commission for a bit. THEN I got lazy. That’s the truth. I’m telling you this because it matters. It not only matters for my health, but it matters for you too. I took one for the team.
Did you know that during the warmer months it is quite common for our LDL (bad) cholesterol to be in normal/closer to normal range than it is during the winter? Now please don’t think that it is the temperature that is the relation. My husband knows that there are nights with snow on the ground that I must have a bedroom window cracked! It’s not the COLD that effects the cholesterol, it’s our habits and choices when it’s cold. During the spring, summer, and fall we are outdoors more often. We are fueled with Vitamin D. Sports activities, camping trips, vacations all keep us going. We are moving around. We are burning calories, flexing the muscles and doing things. Backyard BBQs are the usual weekend thing and there are plenty of fruits and vegetables to be had. Something happens to us when it gets cold outside. We turn into human versions of bears. We tend to hibernate! Side note…. did you know that skunks and snakes hibernate as well? Hallelujah! There is nothing worse than the skunk smell or finding a half -eaten snake in the back yard. Anyhow…back to us. We hibernate. We curl up on the couch. We grab all of the fuzzy things, have a fire, watch the shows and linger in the warmth. The problem isn’t that we hibernate, it’s that we don’t do the things that keep us healthy while we do so. Tell me when the last time you jumped up in excitement to drive off to the gym when it was 8 degrees outside with snow on the ground? You did? Great! You are a total rock star. I, on the other hand, did not. This is the reason I
write today. We need to learn what we can do in the colder months to keep our bodies in a good healthy state, including our cholesterol. According to the Farmer’s Almanac, we are in for a pretty harsh winter this year. You’re not going to find me out running wild in the frigid air. Therefore, we are going to have to have an action plan! Here are a few great tips to survive the winter months and not have to torture yourself out in the cold. Please make sure you are taking a quality Vitamin D supplement. Always check with your physician if this is something new for you. Go up and down your stairs a few extra times each day. It doesn’t equal the gym, but it’s going to give your heart an extra boost. Make sure to include 2 or even 3 vegetables with every meal. Yes, even
breakfast. Throw in some spinach with your eggs, or your smoothie. Monitor your sweets. Blood glucose levels are still very important to your overall health in the winter. Don’t let Santa fool you! Water, water and more water. You know the drill. Yoga stretches, planks, sit ups, squats, jumping jacks can all be done in the comfort of your own home. Have confidence in yourself! Miss a day? Start fresh the next. We are all in this together! Have a great weekend and give yourself a pat on the back.
Kim is a business owner in Grain Valley, as a Health and Wellness Advocate with Plexus Worldwide. www.plexusslim.com/ kimberlywendschlag
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Business News
Shop With A Cop Accepting
Applications Grain Valley Police Department is now accepting applications for its Shop with a Cop program to be held December 17th at Target in Blue Springs. Nominated children will shop with local officers for gifts for their families. For more information and to download an application, visit https:// www.cityofgrainvalley.org/shop-with-acop-2019/.
Businesses: Share Your Small Biz
Saturday Events! Local businesses: send us your Small Business Saturday and holiday events! Event and promotion information can be emailed to news@grainvalleynews.com.
The Grain Valley Partnership will coordinate the annual Senior Christmas Basket effort with assistance from the Grain Valley Valley High School National Honor Society on December 14th. Volunteers will deliver baskets to senior citizens in Grain Valle y age 75 years and older starting at 1:00pm on December 14th.
Welcome New Partners: The Grain Valley Partnership welcomes the following new partners: US Army Recruiting Station Sam’ Sam’s Club Dennis Ellsworth
For more information on the Partnership, upcoming events, services, and member businesses, visit www.growgrainvalley.org.
Business News is sponsored weekly by the Grain Valley Partnership, whose mission is to be a leader in the growth of Grain Valley.
The Grain Valley Partnership is located at 1450 SW Eagles Parkway, and can be reached by phone, 816-443-5162 or via email at info@growgrainvalley.org.
Learn more about the Partnership: www.growgrainvalley.org
Community Voices
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Wayne’s World
Grain Valley Got Railroaded! by Wayne Geiger
I generally enjoy reading the banter on the Residents of Grain Valley Facebook page about the issues that the passing train causes. I live just north of the tracks and the only time I’m generally affected is when someone says they were late to church because of the train. I try to sympathize, but I don’t really have a dog in the fight. Or at least, I didn’t. A couple of weeks ago I had an appointment south of the tracks. My wife’s car was on the fritz, so we had to share a vehicle. I sent her a text. “I need to leave by 11:20, can you be home by then?” She texted back, a simple, “yes”. I hate to be late. For me, late is when I’m not ten minutes early. As 11:20 drew near, I began my usual “I hate to be late” pacing ritual. I continually kept one eye on the clock and the other eye on the door anxiously anticipating my wife’s return. I didn’t pay much attention to it, but I heard the train whistle. “Just another day in the Valley” I thought to myself. I went back to my pacing and my phone rang. It was my wife. “uh, oh,” I thought. “She’s running late.” I wasn’t wrong, but it wasn’t what I expected. “I just got up to the train crossing and the bars came down,” she said frantically. “I’m caught by the train!” By now, it was 11:19. “Okay,” I said, “hopefully it won’t be long” and we said goodbye. Several minutes later she sent the text, “The train is stopped!” She then called again with a play-by-play update, “The one train is stopped and now there is another one going the other way! I’m stuck!” Taking a deep breath, I said, “Okay.” My pacing grew more rapid and my shoes were now making grooves in the hardwood floor. I tried to relax. The texting alerts began again. At 11:32 “Second train just finished, but the first train isn’t moving.” At 11:35, “If I would have gone to Blue Springs I would have gotten caught by the second train. At 11:37, “This train is still sitting and I can’t turn around if I wanted to.” At 11:49, “I see the end.” At about 11:52, thirty-two minutes past her expected arrival, she pulled into the driveway and I ran out. As I drove, I sheepishly apologized to all the folks before me caught by the train. Before, I was merely a sympathizer. Now, I empathized. “I got railroaded” I thought to myself. My first memory of a railroad was at my grandmother’s house in Hialeah, Florida. My family tried to visit weekly.
When I grew bored wandering the backyard and throwing mangos at lizards, I wandered off to the train tracks. I was fascinated by their construction and wondered where the trains came from and where they went to. It was fun to think about. In 1990, my wife and I moved to New Orleans into a one-bedroom apartment at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Several years later, we decided to buy a trailer in the trailer park on seminary property. Like the Jefferson’s, we were “Movin’ on up” and thought we reached the big time. The only drawback, other than living in a metal box in Louisiana’s sweltering heat, was the fact that we lived right next to the train tracks. A small price to pay for luxury. It was apparent when the train came through. The foundations upon which our metal box rested shook and sometimes pictures would fall off the wall. Over time, we kind of got used to it. When friends would visit, and the train would come rumbling through and rattling our world, friends would say, “Oh my goodness does that train bother you?” Our response was usually, “What train?” They were just haters who lived in the southside apartments anyway. There were really only two times the train really bothered us. First, when the train came around a bend and the light faced directly toward our bedroom window. Thankfully, the aluminum foil we put on the windows put an end to that. The second issue was that the train would often stop on the track and just sit. After some time, it would start again. The roaring locomotive leading the pack chugged on its way, but the cars in tow hadn’t figured it out yet. However, when they were arrested to attention and commanded to move, there was a huge “clang” that sounded like Thor wielding a sledgehammer and striking a large anvil with incredible force right outside our bedroom window. The aluminum foil didn’t help with that problem. It was enough to make us shoot straight up in bed in the middle of the night. Over time, however, the frequent sound of the train brought a strange comfort and tranquility. It just made me feel like, “All was right in the world.” The First Transcontinental Railroad was constructed between 1863 and 1869. It connected the existing eastern U.S. rail network at Council Bluffs, Iowa with the Pacific coast at the Oakland Long Wharf on San Francisco Bay. The
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railroad officially opened for travel between Sacramento and Omaha on May 10, 1869. That’s when the golden “last spike” was driven in by a silver hammer in Promontory Summit. According to, “A History of Grain Valley,” by Michael Gillespie, the Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago Railroad obtained a state charter to build a line from Mexico, Missouri, to Kansas City. By August of 1878, railroad work was in high gear as more than one-thousand laborers prepared the area for track gangs who laid an average of 1-¼ miles of rail per day. The tracks reached our area in January of 1879. In fact, Grain Valley, like neighboring towns, received its name from the C&A who had a say in naming the city. It seems, Grain Valley did not get railroaded, the railroad got Grain Valley. The first passenger trains roared through our city in May of 1879 and, according to Gillespie, after one year of operation, Grain Valley generated over 260 carloads of outbound freight per year — mostly grain and livestock. Ah, the good ol’ days of history and nostalgia. But you may wonder, “Why do we still utilize trains anyway?” Aren’t trains outdated? Don’t they have an app for that? Interestingly, freight trains are cheaper, more economical, and better for the environment. Most trains in the U.S. are dieselelectric, which means, a diesel engine runs a generator that supplies electric traction motors that turn the wheels. They can also move more cargo more efficiently. On average, freight trains are about 11 times more energyefficient than trucks.
“Well, maybe so,” you might argue, “But why don’t we just force the trains to stop blocking the intersection? They’re not supposed to. By law, all passenger and freight rail travel in the U.S. is subject to regulation by the Federal Railroad Administration. Rail travel has been under federal law since 1887. According to the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT), it’s “unlawful for a train to prevent the use of any street for purposes of travel for a period of time longer than five minutes; except this does not apply to a moving train or to one stopped because of an emergency or for repairs necessary before it can proceed safely.” I’m no legal expert, but there are enough holes in this statement to call it swiss cheese. So, when all is said and done, the train is good news/bad news. The bad news is, since the train was here before we even existed and is subject to federal legislation that is somewhat nebulous, crossing the track means that we will likely one day get caught by the train. The good news is the train is part of our history and heritage. We can choose to view it with a sense of pride, nostalgia, and wonderment. Finally, if nothing else, it can be a source of reading enjoyment on the Residents of Grain Valley Facebook page on slow news days.
Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer.
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FALL COLOR native sumacs such as fragrant sumac ( Rhus aromatica ) and smooth sumac ( Rhus glabra ), often seen growing along roadsides. These two species also are suitable for the home landscape and will provide good fall color in addition to interest at other seasons as well. A bit more decorative, cut-leaf staghorn sumac ( Rhus typhina 'Laciniata') is another useful sumac selected from a native sumac species. Capable of growing to a height of 20 feet, it boasts large, deeply divided leaves that turn from a beautiful orange to a fiery red in the fall. It needs room, however, since it tends to spread via root suckers to form a clump. Like other sumacs, it is durable and tolerates poor soil along with dry, sunny exposures. Tiger-eyes sumac ( Rhus typhina 'Bailtiger') is yet another selection of staghorn sumac. It boasts chartreuse green foliage in the spring, yellow foliage during the summer and fiery orange
continued from page 1 foliage in the fall. Shorter than cutleaf staghorn sumac, it grows to a height of about six feet. One of the lesser-known shrubs that provides good reddish-purple fall color is Oakleaf hydrangea ( Hydrangea quercifolia ), a native of the Southeast U.S. In addition to attractive fall foliage color, this hydrangea produces white flowers in early summer that turn pinkish purple by mid-summer and brown in the fall. This is possible because the showy appendages of the flowers are long-lived bracts and not petals. While it can tolerate some sun, Oakleaf hydrangeas prefer part shade/part sun. Dozens of useful cultivars of the species are available. One of the best is ‘Snowflake’, which produces huge eight-inch panicles that often bend down the shrub's branches because of their abundance. Shrubs that also exhibit some fall color while being good landscape specimens are the viburnums. They include American
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cranberry bush ( Viburnum trilobum ) and Korean spice viburnum ( Viburnum carlesii ). Most develop red or reddish-purple fall foliage color. Additionally, they bear attractive (and often fragrant) flowers in the spring. Some regional native viburnums such as Black Haw ( Viburnum prunifolium) and Rusty Black Haw ( Viburnum rufidulum) also provide edible berries for humans and wildlife. Smaller dogwoods are another group of woody plants that develop attractive reddish-purple fall leaf color. The shrubby types, such as silky dogwood ( Cornus amomum ) or red osier dogwood ( Cornus sericea ) are good choices for landscape use, given the proper setting. They grow from between six to ten feet in height and almost as wide. Where space is available, they make durable, low-maintenance shrubs that add beauty to the landscape. The red osier dogwood, commonly called red twig dogwood, has reddish bark, which provides color throughout the winter. Co mmon witch - haze l Native witch-hazels ( Hamamelis virginiana and Hamamelis vernalis ) produce bright yellow leaves in fall. This woody species develops into a large shrub or a small tree. In addition to yellow-colored fall leaves, this plant can produce
Staghorn Sumac is just one of the sumac species that provide outstanding color in fall. Photo credit: University of Missouri Extension yellow-orange flowers after its leaves drop. Nurseries that carry regional native plants often carry both native witch-hazel species. Colorful shrubs provide a special "finishing touch" to the landscape. They can add to the enjoyment of fall foliage color, one of nature's treats. Perhaps its fleeting appearance is one reason the annual spectacle is so highly anticipated. When looking up to admire fall tree color, take time to look down and enjoy the color some of our woody shrubs provide. For more gardening information, contact University of Missouri Extension, 816-252-5051.
Sports
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Eagles Advance To District Championship In Win Over Bulldogs by John Unrein The Grain Valley Eagles 36-7 win against the visiting Grandview Bulldogs on Friday, November 8th was significant in many regards. It was third time out of four matchups over the last two years that the Eagles Football team was victorious against their Suburban Conference Blue Division opponent. Accumulating wins against an adversary that knows you that well is no easy task. Grandview touted significant size and speed that the Eagles had to contend with and overcome. Grain Valley’s black shirt defense was up to the task. They kicked down the door and gnawed off the hinges for good measure with their efforts. The Eagles defense under the direction of Coordinator Pete Carpino only allowed one score and provided Grain Valley’s offense with five additional possessions. Senior Defensive Back William Lanear and Junior Linebacker Hunter Newsom each intercepted passes returned for big gains. Senior Defensive Back Triston Hartwig and a flock of Eagles Defensive Lineman each recovered a fumble. Finally, was Newsom and the entire right side of the Eagles defense that collapsed Grandview’s offense at their own one-yard line for a safety at the 11:55 mark of the second quarter. Other defensive standouts included Junior Defensive Lineman Donovan McBride and Senior Linebacker Seth Dankenbring. McBride sacked Grandview Senior Quarterback Dae’Mond Turner at the 6:57 mark of the third quarter that assured a Bulldog punt on fourth down. Dankenbring was relentless by the scheme of Carpino’s defense in not allowing Turner to have free reign when rolling outside the pocket. Dankenbring would vacate his drop-in coverage in the middle of the Eagles defense and attack downhill at 45 degree angle. His pursuit narrowed the window for the quarterback to throw with the sideline acting a restrictive boundary as Dankenbring closed in. The Eagles special teams’ units were also considerable in the blowout win. Head Football Coach David Allie and his staff decided to roll the dice with an onside kick that was successfully recovered by Senior Gavin Oyler at the 11:31 mark of the second quarter. Oyler secured the football while sliding in front of the Grandview would be receiver. That was not Oyler’s only important contribution as he provided airtight coverage at safety filling in for the injured Cavon Brooks. The second special teams’ turnover recovery by Grain Valley and the seventh of the game overall pilfered by the Eagles would come at the 5:59 mark of the third quarter as the Bulldog kickoff return squad coughed up the football on their own 30-yard line. Allie could not hide his smile when
discussing his team’s win. “Looking back to our week two win against them (Grandview), it was a 6-3 narrow win for us. They had a different quarterback in this matchup, which was scary because he’s elusive in that he can both run and throw. We had to stop the run first and had that schemed well with Coach Carpino. The secondary also stepped up big in covering the athletes they have,” Allie said. “Parker (Bosserman) was also cool as a cucumber tonight filling in for Cole (Keller). They were foaming at the mouth over there during warmups which didn’t bother us because we know who he (Bosserman) is as an athlete and competitor. Bosserman managed the game nicely in delivering the football well against their man coverage.” Bosserman would gain 45 yards on the ground and score two rushing touchdowns. The Eagles signal caller’s first scamper to pay dirt would come on a shotgun mesh read in which Grandview’s defensive end crashed down the line of scrimmage leaving Bosserman open to accelerate down the Grain Valley sideline. Furthermore, Bosserman would also score on a 15-yard quarterback sweep with 9:09 left in the third quarter. The Eagles would go up 237 and not look back. Bosserman would also go 4 for 10 through the air for 115 yards and 2 touchdown passes. The 40 percent completion rate is somewhat deceiving as two sure completions were dropped on play action pop passes prior to Newsom hauling in the third one for a 16 -yard touchdown reception in the first half. Newsom’s grab and Allie’s insistence as a play caller were meaningful in loosening up Grandview’s run defense. The play action pop pass is designed to have a running back or slot receiver sprint to an area one yard past the inside linebacker’s pre-snap depth. This area on the field was wide open as Grandview’s linebackers were determined to fill downhill in trying to stop Grain Valley from running between the tackles. Bosserman would also hit Sophomore Wide Receiver Logan Pratt for a 45-yard touchdown pass on a fade route with 6:03 left in the third quarter. The pass came on an influential 3rd and 8 for the Eagles and helped them start to put the game away. A team first approach was taken by Bosserman with his post-game comments after his first varsity win as a quarterback. “I feel like with the design of our offense, it allows anyone to be successful and that happened to be me tonight. We didn’t stop pounding them with the run which set things up for us. The play action pass would be part of that equation,” Bosserman said.
Defensive Coordinator Pete Carpino and members of the black shirt defense. Photo credit: Valley News staff
Junior Parker Bosserman eludes the defender for a big gain. Photo credit: John Overstreet “It seems like next week we will be playing Harrisonville at home. Tough history with that team. We will be up for that battle.” The last significant impact of Grain Valley’s win is that they will host the Class 4 District 7 Football Championship Game on Friday, November 15th at 7:00 within the confines of Moody Murray Stadium. Grain Valley and Harrisonville
have a past of playing physical games as both teams were apart of the Missouri River Valley Conference prior to the Eagles joining the Suburban Conference last year. Pride, bragging rights, and advancing in the State Playoffs will be on the line.
Read Valley News online weekly at www.grainvalleynews.com.
Community Calendar Monday, November 18, 2019
Senior Coffee Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 9:00am—11:00am Free. Senior Yoga Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 10:30am—11:15am $2 or Free for SilverSneakers, Silver & Fit, and Renew Active Members
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Music with Mar Faith United Methodist Church, 1950 SW Eagles Parkway 10:00am—11:00am Brain based music and movement classes for children birth—5 years. $5/class. 816-847-0008 Learn More About Pinterest Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 2:00pm Learn more about Pinterest, a virtual bulletin board, how to save pins, and create your own unique boards. Register online: www.mymcpl.org/ events
Park Board Meeting Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S. Main 7:00pm
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Angela’ Angela’s Army 5K and 1 Mile Family Stroll 9:00am Prairie Branch Elementary www.angelasarmy5k.org
Employment Opportunities
Monday, November 25, 2019
MECHANIC WANTED
Senior Yoga Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 10:30am—11:15am $2 or Free for SilverSneakers, Silver & Fit, and Renew Active Members
The City of Grain Valley is now hiring for a PartPart-Time Front Desk Attendant. Attendant Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Apply online at https:// www.cityofgrainvalley.org/ employment/
Board of Aldermen Meeting Grain Valley City Hall, 711 S Main 7:00pm
The City of Grain Valley is now hiring for a FullFull-Time Accountant. Accountant Apply online at https:// www.cityofgrainvalley.org/ employment/.
Senior Coffee Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 9:00am—11:00am Free.
Add your community event at www.grainvalleynews.com.
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T & G Automotive Grain Valley, MO Full-Time position Apply within 816-867-5203