Valley News
FEBRUARY 13, 2020
www.grainvalleynews.com
Board Focuses on Maintenance, Prepares for March Community Meeting The February 10th Board of Aldermen meeting was brief, with the Board quickly approving several resolutions related to City and Parks and Recreation transportation, streetlights, and outlining responsibilities for School
Vol. 3, No. 6
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Good News
Grain Valley: A Community For All Ages
Resource Officers. The City will purchase a 2020 Chevrolet Equinox for Parks and Recreation, a 2020 budgeted expense, and a Chevrolet Colorado work truck for use by Fleet Maintenance. The Board
see CITY on page 3
MODOT To Close 1-70 at 1-435 For Bridge Demo The Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) will have a complete closure of Interstate 70 in both directions at I-435 in Kansas City, MO beginning at 10 p.m. on Friday, February 21st, until approximately 5:00am on Monday, February 24th. This closure is for the demolition of the old I-435
bridges over I-70. This is part of the new partial turbine interchange construction at I-435 and I-70. All work is weather permitting. Crews will begin reducing I-70 to ONE LANE in both directions near I-435 at approximately 8:00pm on Friday, February 21st. Motorists can expect
see MODOT on page 2
MODOT plans a complete closure of Interstate 70 in both directions at II--435 beginning Friday, February 21st. Photo credit: MODOT
The Mid-America Regional Council' recognized four communities, including Grain Valley, as Communities for All Ages during a presentation on February 7th. Grain Valley earned the "Bronze Level" which focuses on awareness. To receive the Bronze Level designation, Grain Valley approved a resolution to demonstrate their cities’ commitment to participate in the program and implemented a variety of education and awareness activities with elected officials, city staff, commissions, civic groups and residents on how their city can increase agefriendliness. The Communities for All Ages recognition program was developed by the First Suburbs Coalition and KC
Communities for All Ages — two groups convened by MARC to develop programs and tools to support first-tier suburbs, help communities respond to a rapid increase in the older adult population, and make communities more welcoming for all age groups. The program is available to all jurisdictions in the nine-county MARC region. Accepting the award (left to right): Mark Trosen, Community Development Director; Ken Murphy, Interim City Administrator; Sara Nadeau, Public Information Officer and Shannon Davies, Parks & Recreation Director.
Photo credit: City of Grain Valley
Page 2 MODOT continued from page 1 various lane closures during this time. I-70 will be closed entirely near I-435 at approximately 10:00pm on Friday, February 21st until approximately 5:00am on Monday, February 24th. Eastbound I-70 will be reduced to one lane at Manchester Trafficway and traffic that has not already exited I-70 will be detoured off of I-70 at the ramp to southbound I-435. Motorists needing to continue to eastbound I-70 are advised to take I-470 around the closure. Westbound I-70 will be reduced to one lane at Blue Ridge Cutoff. All traffic that has not already exited I-70 will be routed onto northbound I-435. Motorists needing to continue to westbound I-70 are advised to follow northbound I-435, turn around at 23rd Street, and follow southbound I-435 back onto westbound I-70. This work will have major impacts to traffic. For potential impacts to traffic, please review KC Scout cameras at http://www.kcscout.net or consult MODOT’s real-time traffic partner, WAZE. This is all part of a new interchange design being built at I-435 and I-70. The new design will be a partial turbine configuration. Improvements include full bridge replacements, removal of left exits, improvements to loop ramp configuration, and congestion relief. This project will have significant impacts on traffic for two full construction seasons and is scheduled to be complete by Dec. 2020. Additionally, MODOT will make the following traffic changes as part of the
work to prepare for the I-435 over the Missouri River Bridge rehabilitation project: Crews will close 2 lanes of southbound I435 between Route 210 and Front St. from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 until 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17 for concrete pier work; Crews will close 2 lanes of northbound I435 between Front St. and Route 210 from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 until 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17 for concrete pier work; Crews will close the ramp from eastbound Route 210 to southbound I435 from 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 until 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17 for concrete pier work; Crews will close the ramp from westbound Route 210 to southbound I435 from 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 until 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17 for concrete pier work; Crews will close the right lane of the ramp from Front St. to northbound I-435 from 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 until 5 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17 for concrete pier work. This work has the potential to impact Kansas City traffic greatly. Motorists are encouraged to plan accordingly and find alternate routes. All work is weather dependent. This is all part of a two-year bridge rehabilitation project, which is slated to begin in mid-March of 2020. Once this rehab project gets underway, crews will reduce northbound and southbound lanes between Route 210 and Front St. down to just one lane. Motorists can expect lengthy slowdowns in the area. The Missouri River Bridge is just south of Worlds of Fun.
Police Blotter
The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of January 29—February 4, 2020. January 29, 2020 Sni A Bar/Eagles Pkwy 1400 Block Minter Way 700 Block Main St 1400 Block Nicholas 300 Block Woodbury 1400 Block Nicholas Blue Springs PD 600 Block Yennie 700 Block Main St January 30, 2020 800 Block Ryan Rd 1300 Block RD Mize 1300 Block Ashley Dr 1200 Block Phelps Ct
Citizen Contact Alarm Citizen Contact Alarm Alarm Citizen Contact Prisoner Transport Alarm Citizen Contact
700 Block Main St 1200 Block Phelps Dr
Area Check Assist Animal Control Alarm Agency Assist (Shawnee KS PD) Citizen Contact Burglary
January 31, 2020 400 Block Orion 500 Block San Kar 200 Block W Harris 500 Block Montana Ridge Main St/Eagles Pkwy West City Limits 800 Block San Kar 700 Block Cross Creek
Disturbance Disturbance Disturbance 911 Hang Up Traffic Control Abandoned Vehicle Disturbance Citizen Contact
February 1, 2020 700 Block SW Harvest Cir 500 Block Park Ave 700 Block Cross Creek Valley Woods Dr/Long Dr 600 Block Walnut 1400 Block Nicholas Poplar/Hedgewood 700 Block Main St 3300 Block S Outer Rd 700 Block Albatross 700 Block Main St 200 Block E Broadway 200 Block Cypress 200 Block Garden
Alarm Agency Assist (Buckner PD) Alarm Suspicious Juveniles Check The Well Being Check The Well Being Suspicious Vehicle Suspicious Vehicle Motor Vehicle Accident Missing Person Agency Assist (EMS) Trespassing Subject Removal Suspicious Activity
February 2, 2020 700 Block Albatross 700 Block Main St 600 Block Walnut 800 Block Capelle 200 Block Garden 1500 Block Hilltop 1100 Block NE McQuerry 1500 Block NE Erin Ct 1400 Block NW Madison Ct 700 Block Willow 500 Block Broadway 1300 Block Stoneybrook 500 Block Broadway 200 Block Parker
Check The Well Being Citizen Contact Agency Assist (EMS) Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Disturbance Suspicious Vehicle Suspicious Activity Motor Vehicle Accident (Hit & Run) Disturbance Citizen Contact Assault Suspicious Vehicle Check The Well Being
February 3, 2020 500 Block Shorthorn 700 Block Meadow 600 Block Main St 100 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 200 Block E Broadway 200 N Cypress BB/Duncan 1100 Buckner Tarsney 900 Block Dogwood 600 Block Lakeview
Suspicious Vehicle Animal Nuisance Check The Well Being Counterfeit Currency Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Disturbance Check The Well Being Suspicious Person Citizen Contact Parking Complaint
February 4, 2020 Sni A Bar/Sni A Bar 700 Block Main St 1300 Block Stoneybrook 600 Block Yennie 1100 Block Golfview 1100 Block Nicholas
Motorist Assist Citizen Contact Identity Theft Animal Nuisance Agency Assist (DFS) Suspicious Activity
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
Mail: PO Box 2972 Grain Valley MO 64029 Phone: 816.809.7984 Email: news@grainvalleynews.com
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Page 3
Looking Back:
1942’s The Broadcaster Documents The War Effort At Home by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
The first issue of The Broadcaster in 1942 and the issues that follow are filled with news of World War II. The stories do not so much report the war, as they advise the students (and community) about their part in the war –rationing, defense stamps, and patriotism. It was announced that registration for gasoline rationing would take place in November. The sports page began with this statement: “Due to the tire and gasoline rationing, our schedule will be considerable, shorter than last year… games will be among ourselves and with the closer schools.” In his first message of the year, Superintendent Jay Walker stated, “School life this year will be entirely different from any other year in your life to date. No matter how hard you might try, you cannot escape the issue of war and we must and shall win this war.” His article encouraged being a good student and aiding the community by harvesting
crops, salvaging materials, buying war stamps and bonds, and contributing to the general moral. The first issue also featured the following article: “School Communique No. 1,” an article by D. N. M. Nee, State Administrator of the War Savings Staff. A few days ago, you enrolled in school. For the next eight or nine months you will have the privilege of working and studying in a free American educational unit under the guidance of school administrators and teachers who are well prepared for their work, who are devoted to your welfare and who want to help you become a good citizen. You are able to have these advantages because you live in a country which believes in education, in freedom of thought, of speech and in equal opportunities for all of its citizens. There are millions of young people in other parts of the world who are not
as fortunate as you are. Instead of being in school today, they are working mines, factories and on farms. Many of them are in concentration camps. Their government has been destroyed and their country overrun with enemies. Their lives are full of labor, pain and hardship. They deserve your pity and help. Their enemies are your enemies; the same forces which enslaved them are trying desperately to enslave you. You can help America to remain free by obeying the laws of your city, state and nation; by doing well and thoroughly the work that is given to you to do; by being a good citizen and by buying War Savings Stamps with all of the nickels, dimes and quarters—which you can possibly spare from your own earnings or from your allowance. By doing this you will help us to keep
our freedom, and to help us regain freedom for all of those people who have lost it for a while. America and all of the world must and will be free. The October 30, 1942 issue listed 30 GVHS graduates in our country’s service: Billy Bartlett, Carl Johnson, Elbert Chiddix, Clifford Webb, Robert Wolfe, Earl Hutchings, John Hutchings, Harold Costigan, Roger Brown, Bob Jenkins, Frank Sebolt, Clyde Smith, Durwood Kirby, Roy Russell, Keith Rumbo, Clifford Hoehn, Robert Hutchings, Cal Spencer, Perry Gilliland, Robert Mueller, Ennis Cox, Dale Stump, Hal Houston, Ralph Shippy, Roland DeSasher, Jere Hicklin, Edward Graham, Herschel Elliott, Woodrow Frazier and Malcolm Gibler.
Learn more about the Grain Valley Historical Society at www.grainvalleyhistory.com.
CITY continued from page 1 also authorized the Interim City Administrator to enter into an agreement with ArcGIS Enterprise Software for assistance with the installation and configuration of ArcGIS software. The Board also approved the installation of six new streetlights for the 9th plat of the Rosewood Hills subdivision. Les Boatright with Central Jackson County Emergency Management Agency (CJCEMA) provided an update on the agency’s activities in 2019, including two Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) team trainings held in 2019 and two scheduled for 2020. CJCEMA is a cooperative effort between the cities of Blue Springs, Grain Valley, and Lake Tapawingo, in conjunction with the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District. CJCEMA also plans a severe weather program for residents on March 21st. Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Davies reported that registration has opened for spring baseball and softball leagues. Mayor Michael Todd raised the issue of creating a formal ordinance to assist residents who experience an
unexpected hike in water bills due to an unknown issue, such as a leaking toilet. The City has previously handled issues on a case-by-case basis, adjusting bills to assist homeowners with one-time issues. Per Interim Deputy City Administrator Theresa Osenbaugh, the Board has yet to make any decisions regarding the hiring of the interim positions currently held by Osenbaugh and Interim City Administrator Ken Murphy. Plans for a final Community Campus meeting on March 12th was also mentioned. The meeting will be held from 6:00pm – 8:00pm on March 12th at Stony Point Elementary School, 1001 E. Ryan Road. The meeting will be the last meeting prior to the April 7th municipal election, where residents will vote on the issuance of a no-tax bond increase for a community campus to include a new city hall, police department, and community center with indoor pool. The meeting will include a brief presentation by City staff and campus design team and stations in which residents may ask questions. Residents will be able to submit questions via mobile devices.
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Business News
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Jackson County Raises Minimum Pay to $15 The Jackson County Legislature authorized the implementation of a compensation study during its February 10th meeting, increasing the minimum salary for any county staff member to $15/hour by 2022. In addition to increasing entry-level wages, the study also reviewed all county positions to determine if current salary ranges were competitive with the market. In the end, the report recommended changes to salary ranges that will provide an immediate pay raise averaging 16.9% or an average annual salary increase of $5,485 for more than 500 staff members, almost half of the county’s current full-time workforce. The study also provides changes to various salary ranges that will be implemented over the next two years to ensure the County does not fall behind the market again. “After being elected to the County
Legislature, I quickly learned that the County was simply not taking care of its Associates in the manner they deserved,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. said. “As County Executive, I have seen each of our departments struggling to fill vacancies in essential roles simply because we refused to acknowledge that we were not compensating our staff appropriately for the work they were doing.” “I am so excited to have the long anticipated Final Report on the Classification and Compensation Study for Jackson County by Evergreen Solutions, LLC,” Jackson County Legislative Chairman Theresa Cass Galvin, who represents the 6th District, said. “This is something that has been extremely important to me since I took office five years ago. It was made even
more special by working in collaboration with the County Executive’s team to achieve such a rewarding common goal. I am confident that having a competitive compensation and classification system will encourage strong recruitment and retention in Jackson County.” The County’s lowest entry-level hourly wage will be as follows for three years: 2020 – $12.50/hour 2021 – $13.75/hour 2022 – $15.00/hour In March 2019, the County awarded a competitively-bid contract to Evergreen Solutions, LLC to perform a classification and compensation study relating to all County associates. The independent study analyzed pay, benefits, job descriptions, salary schedules and market data to reach its 10 recommendations.
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Business News is sponsored weekly by the Grain whose mission is to be a leader in the growth of Grain Valley. The Grain Valley Partnership is located at 1450 and can be reached by phone, 816-443-5162 or via email at info@growgrainvalley.org.
Learn more about the Partnership: www.growgrainvalley.org
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Valley
Partnership,
Eagles
Parkway,
Starting a Business? Website Trends To Consider (StatePoint) Starting a business? One of the first things you’ll need to do is build a website. Today a website is not only your brand, but it also provides the tools you need to operate your business, and is the central point for you to communicate with your customers. Web development platform Wix recently took a look at website creation data for the U.S. in 2019 and found some interesting facts. One significant statistic found is that 38 percent of visitors stop engaging on a site with poor design. A key website feature to keep in mind when building your site is live chat. Almost half of sites implement a live chat feature to communicate with current customers and attract potential new customers. In any business, it’s important from the beginning to be responsive to customers, and doing so can be a key differentiator in growing your business.
Community Voices
Page 5
Wayne’s World Pride and the Chocolate Fountain by Wayne Geiger
The Bible says that, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov 16:18). Not only have I seen it in many people, I’ve experienced that firsthand. I was a graduate student at UCM in 2009. I was the station manager for KLJC Kansas City. The station’s owner, Calvary Bible College, actually sent me to earn the degree in order to oversee the communications department at the college. It was a pretty sweet deal. Going back to school later in life was a challenge. I was surrounded, mostly, by younger students right out of college. So, I was the “older guy.” In one of my classes, our professor decided to invite us all over to his house to cook burgers, have treats, and conduct class at his house. This was very cool and an experience I had never had before. He was actually retired, but used to be the department chair. He had also been a career military man. I had a deep respect and admiration for him. He offered to cook the meat and asked all of us to bring something. Since all of the students were younger, I decided to let them choose first what they would bring. They signed up for the normal stuff, chips, dip, cookies, etc. I asked, “What should I bring?” One of them said, “How about a salad or something?” It sounded boring, but okay. Maybe someone was on a health kick. The day of the get together, I ran in the store to grab a bag of salad and fixings, but the salad looked terrible. I decided to go with a veggie tray instead. At the professor’s home, I set my offering down next to all the others. My broccoli and cauliflower just seemed to pale in comparison to all the other treats. The professor’s home was magnificent, and he was so kind. We had a wonderful time, but as the night went
on, everyone else’s food began to disappear. My veggie tray, however, went untouched. I was a little defeated. Surely, I could have done better. At the end of the semester, the professor suggested that we have an end of the semester party at his house again. This was my chance to show my fellow students what I could do. Actually, I was going to show them what my wife could do. She’s an excellent baker and I figured I would wow them with one of her cheesecakes, pecan pies, or a number of other delectable treats that she could make. Redemption! As our class decided what to bring, an idea popped into my head. Almost like a vision from heaven, a lightbulb went off and the angels’ sang. “I’ll show these guys that I can bring good treats,” I thought to myself, “I’ll bring my chocolate fountain!” Actually, it was my wife’s, but same thing, right? The class was elated and excited about the prospect of the chocolate fountain at our party. We would have a great time and I would find my place in the annals of history in treats for Communication Theory. I may have been a little prideful. My wife was not as excited. “Fountains can get messy,” she said busting my balloon. “You do know you’re going to have to cook the chocolate over at his house and use a double boiler system so you don’t burn it.” Uh, actually, I knew none of that. My wife is generally the voice of reason, so I decided to call my professor and give him the bad news. “I’m worried it might take up too much room and be too messy,” I said. “No problem at all,” he responded, “It will be fine.” My wife gave me a quick lesson on melting the white chocolate. She also wrote out explicit instructions and I took everything I needed with me. I got there about an hour early and got everything going.
I was a little nervous about all the space I needed to take up and the time it would take. Two of the other students helped out and it went fast. Not only that, but the chocolate did not burn. It was perfect! We put the fountain center stage on the island in the kitchen. All the food was situated around it. It was a thing of beauty. We poured the white mixture into the fountain and turned on the switch. The fountain roared to life and beautiful white chocolate dripped off the mechanism into the pool below. I gazed in wonder. It was a hit! My fellow students were amazed and could not say enough good things. I was a superhero. We put chocolate on everything: pretzels, marshmallows, cookies, chips, you name it. It was glorious. As we wrapped up dinner, our professor told us to finish up and get ready for our group discussion. I threw my plate away and then noticed, on one of his tables, there was a small dish of almonds. They weren’t really set out with the rest of the food, but I was pretty positive they weren’t off limits. All I could think of was a homemade Almond Joy bar. I grabbed the almond and went over to the fountain. Rather than put the chocolate on a new plate, I decided I would just hold the almond under the mixture. I was so full anyway and this was probably the last thing I would eat. As you know, almonds are not that big and attempting to hold it under the mixture was a little harder than I had imagined. But I was not about to give up and could already taste the Almond Joy. What happened next is kind of a blur, but I remember holding the almond under the mixture, but then having it slip out of my hand into its chocolatey grave. For a quick moment, I wanted to grab
it, but I knew better than to put my fingers in the mixture. There was no time to grab a spoon. I just watched it sink. “They’ll never know,” I thought. “Anyway, it’s my fountain, so it’s not a huge problem.” To my surprise, the chocolate fountain began making an odd, grinding noise. The almond must have gotten stuck in the mechanism. To my horror, white chocolate began spraying in every direction out of the fountain. It was a pulsating, rhythmic spray pretty similar to the spraying effect you get when you put your fingers over a garden hose. The vertical streams reminded me of a light show on the Fourth of July. But this was no celebration. It was like a bad dream, but it was really happening. I watched as the white chocolate sprayed all over my professor’s counters, the food, the floor, and all over me. It was a white chocolaty mess. Although it felt like an eternity, I quickly unplugged the fountain and allowed it to die a natural death. But not before it had taken its revenge. Everything within a four foot radius was covered in white chocolate. I was speechless. My classmates were horrified and sprang into action grabbing paper towels. I was so totally embarrassed and apologized profusely. “Don’t worry about it,” my professor said, “We’ll get it cleaned up.” After the mess was cleaned up, we sat down in the living room. By we, I mean the class. I was relocated to a patio chair with a garbage bag on it to ensure that white chocolate did not spread anywhere else. That night, I learned a valuable lesson about pride and chocolate fountains.
Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer.
Community Voices
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Guest Column: Count Me In! by Sara Nadeau, Public Information Officer, City of Grain Valley
The 2020 Census counts every person living in the 50 states, District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. It is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. My involvement with this process began last year, as I was asked to be Grain Valley’s Chair of the local Complete Count Committee (CCC). Local and regional CCC’s are key to creating awareness about the 2020 Census across the country. Census data is very important to our community and government funding to the state. It’s used to allocate $675 billion each year to fund federal programs, some of which may be
related to public safety, healthcare, education and much more. Even a 1% undercount can cost a state millions! In addition to funding disbursement, the Census data determines the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as districts for state governments. Census data helps communities plan roads, schools, hospitals, senior centers and emergency services. Businesses use census data to determine the plausibility of placing their operations in communities. Census Day 2020 is on April 1st. Census questionnaires will be sent to homes by mid-March. For the first time, respondents may answer the questions online, but also by phone or mail. The census form will include questions relating to the number of people living in the home, whether the home is
Plants On Your Plate: Kale by Denise Sullivan, MS, CWP, CNWE, University of Missouri Extension
Kale…it often shows up after the new year in smoothie recipes and baked as a crispy chip as healthier alternative to snack chips. While I personally enjoy both of those preparation methods, I prefer kale mixed into a salad…either with other salad greens or in a hearty grain and green salad. Though kale is available all year round, as a hearty cold-weather plant, it is more prevalent in the winter months since it can withstand snowy conditions. Kale is cruciferous vegetable and a ‘cousin’ to Brussels sprouts and cabbage. Kale is one of the best sources of vitamin K, and also a good source of calcium, magnesium, vitamin A, folate and of course, fiber. Calcium, magnesium and vitamin K are important in bone health, while vitamin A is important to eye health. Folate is beneficial to heart health and is important for pregnant women in the prevention of neural tube defects. Kale has both soluble and insoluble fiber, which benefits both heart health and digestive health. People taking blood thinners should talk to their health care provider regarding high vitamin K vegetables. Just as there are many varieties of lettuce, there are multiple varieties of kale available, so you want to choose the one most appropriate for your preparation method. Curly kale is the most common to find bundled in the produce aisle. The sturdy leaves are best separated from
the tough stem before sautéing or baking into a crispy chip. Curly kale can be used fresh in a salad, but needs to be massaged with oil and/or vinegar to soften the leaves and make them more palatable. Tuscan kale-also known as dinosaur kale-is similar in appearance to curly kale, but not as course and tough, making it more versatile for both cooked and raw preparations. Tuscan kale is a very popular last minute ingredient in soups and pasta dishes. Red (or scarlet) kale is similar in appearance to curly kale except for color and can be prepared similarly. Depending on specific variety, soil conditions and time of harvest, red kale may have vivid red stems and leaves or ruddy colored stems and grayish green leaves. Baby kale is a younger, more delicate variety, making it perfect for use in tossed green salads. Baby kale is my personal preference for smoothies, since it breaks down and blends in more completely. If you haven’t experimented with kale, I recommend that you start with baby kale as a baby step. You might even look for a prepared salad mix that contains baby kale and Brussels sprouts, because I have tried some tasty ones. Then, when you a feeling a little more adventurous, try this recipe. It makes a great hearty lunch salad that packs well for school or work.
owned or rented, a phone number for at least one person in the home and basic info about each person living in the home. It should take only a few minutes to complete and all information collected will be kept confidential and protected by the federal government. The data is used for statistical purposes only. Some folks have concerns about the security of personal information and releasing such info to the Census Bureau. Your information will be protected by one of the strongest confidentiality guarantees in the federal government. In order to protect yourself from fraudulent requests of information, remember the Census Bureau will never ask for the following: your full Social Security number, money or donations, anything on behalf of a political party,
bank or credit card account numbers or your mother’s maiden name. If you have questions about any information request, contact the Chicago Regional Office of the Census Bureau by calling 1800-865-6384. Please help to get the word out about the importance of taking just a few minutes to complete Census forms when they come to your homes. More information can be found at census2020kc.org and the US Census Bureau’s Facebook page. If you would like assistance in accessing materials to distribute regarding the Census, call 816-847-6293 or email snadeau@cityofgrainvalley.org.
Xi Iota Phi Kale and Wheat Berry Salad (serves 6)
Ingredients
½ cup dried wheat berries ½ cup dried cranberries 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided 3 tablespoons raspberry balsamic vinegar ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 5 cups chopped kale (try a mixture of Tuscan and red kale) ½ cup diced red onion ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
Preparation
Rinse wheat berries. Combine with 4 cups water in a medium pot and bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to simmer. Cook, covered, until wheat berries are tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Stir in cranberries during the last minute of cooking. Drain and rinse with cold water. In large plastic bag, combine 1 tablespoon olive oil with kale and massage bag to soften kale leaves. Whisk remaining oil with vinegar, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Stir in wheat-berry mixture, kale, and onion. Sprinkle with crumbled cheese and serve immediately. Keeps well, refrigerated, up to 1 day. Nutrition information: Calories: 198, Total Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 192mg, Carbohydrates: 21g, Fiber: 3.5g, Protein: 5g Recipe from personal files, analyzed by verywellfit.com
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Continues Study
of National Parks by Linda Ebert and Debbie Reardon
The Xi Iota Phi chapter of Beta Sigma Phi continues our programs on National Parks. In September Chris Smith enlightened us about the John Wayne National Park and the history of National Parks. October we stayed in California and learned about Yosemite from Debbie Reardon. November we moved to Arkansas and learned about Hot Springs Arkansas National Park from Debbie Woods. Closing out 2019 Kim Meyers showed us a video of Christmas and winter at the Grand Canyon. Starting our 2020 year, Cathy took us to beautiful Hawaii – we saw pictures of Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail and Kaiwi Scenic Shoreline. They were breath taking. Along with our journeys to the national parks we have had several fun socials. In September we went to the Louisburg Cider Mill and out to eat at a quaint restaurant in Louisburg. We once again let lose our creative juices and went to Rigity Jig Jig. In November we made candles at Ember Candle Bar and then enjoyed a meal at Neighbors. Our annual Preferential Tea was held at Olive Garden in Lees Summit where Debbie Woods gave a very interesting program on postcards. Our Christmas meeting is always a big success. We were at the beautifully decorated home of Kim Meyers. We had a short meeting, ate a lot of good food and exchanged Christmas gifts. In January, Bobbie Brubeck progressed to the Master degree. It was a lovely ceremony officiated by Sharon Simpson, Karen Sutton and Debbie Reardon. Our service projects this year have included School Supplies to Grain Valley Assistance Council, donations to Children’s Mercy, selecting several names from the Angel tree at Walmart and filling snack bags for Ronald McDonald House. We are looking forward to the upcoming months – more National Park programs, service projects, and social events!
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MDC Offers Urban Woodsmen Event February 22nd by Bill Graham of Missouri Department of Conservation
Sweet treats and warm feet, trees can provide both for those who develop a knack for tapping trees for syrup or swinging an ax to split firewood. Learn how when a free Urban Woodsman program is presented from 10:00am to 2:30pm on Saturday, February 22nd, at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center, 4750 Troost Ave., in Kansas City. This program for all ages will include a taste test with silver-dollar-sized flapjacks topped with maple or walnut syrup. The syrup is made from sap tapped from trees in the Discovery Center’s outdoor garden. Visitors can
learn how to tap trees to make their own syrup. Trees and wood are featured at the event, including tips for making firewood. Visitors can learn how to swing an ax to split firewood. Firewood is often sold in a stack labeled a cord. Experts will talk about what type of firewood burns best, and how to measure a complete cord when purchasing wood. Participants can try their hand at lighting a fire using flint and steel. Demonstrations will include how to make a Swedish log fire and how to make rope from native plant fiber. Children will find tree limbs stacked
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as shelters and hideaways at the Center’s Sycamore Station outdoor play area. They can explore mammal pelts and participate in kid craft activities geared to nature and enjoying the outdoors in winter. The free Urban Woodsman program is offered as a walk-in event, registration is not required. For more information, call the Discovery Center at 816-759-7300, or visit http:// mdc.mo.gov/discoverycenter.
MDC's free Urban Woodsman program from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22, will give visitors a chance to taste maple syrup and see how it is made. Tips on utilizing firewood and skills related to trees and wood will be presented in activities open to all ages. Photo credit: MDC
Savor A Sweet Morning Snack Cherry Coffee Cake Nonstick cooking spray 1 can (12.4 ounces) refrigerated cinnamon rolls with icing 1 ½ cups (21-ounce can) cherry pie filling ½ cup slivered almonds or pecans (optional)
Answers to last week’ week’s puzzle: Be My Valentine Play free crossword puzzles online: www.grainvalleynews.com/online-puzzles
(Family Features) Add some sweetness to your breakfast routine with this delicious and easy-to-make Cherry Coffee Cake. Find more breakfast recipes at Culinary.net.
Heat oven to 375 F. Spray 9-inch round cake pan with nonstick cooking spray. Separate cinnamon roll dough into eight rolls; cut each roll into quarters. Place dough rounded-side down in pan. Spoon pie filling over rolls. Sprinkle almond slivers or pecans over cherry filling, if desired. Bake 25-35 minutes, or until golden brown. Invert onto plate or cutting board. Invert again onto serving plate. Remove lid from icing. Microwave 3-10 seconds. Stir icing and drizzle over warm coffee cake. Serve warm.
ONLINE PUZZLES SPONSORED BY: 816-607-1075
1325 SW Minter Way
Grain Valley MO 64029
www.bluebranchmanor.com
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Sports
Page 8
GVHS Signing Day Featured Fifteen Student Athletes
School’’s signing day on February 12th. Fifteen student athletes participated in Grain Valley High School Photo credit: Grain Valley Schools
Fifteen Grain Valley Eagles participated in Grain Valley High School’s signing day on February 12th, continuing their education as college athletes: Caden Matlon - Baseball, Johnson County Community College; Seth Dankenbring - Baseball, North Central MO; Deryk Carey - Baseball, Hannibal Lagrange; Max Chapman - Baseball, Wichita State; Jacob Misiorowski - Baseball, Oklahoma State; Mason Rogers - Baseball, Maple Woods; Taylor Hileman - Golf, North Central MO; Keely Hill - Softball, Maple Woods; Gavin Oyler - Football, University of Central Missouri; Royce Fisher - Cross Country/Track, Arkansas State; Avery Brady - Soccer, University of Utah; Kameryn Drollinger - Soccer, Hannibal Lagrange; Kiera Arndorfer - Soccer, Truman State; Madison Shields - Soccer, Central Methodist; Jack Knust - Soccer, Truman State
Girls Swim and Dive Celebrates Successful Season The Girls Swim and Dive team closed their season last weekend at Conference with a series of best times for individual and relay teams, finishing third place in the Blue Division. “We had a great weekend at Conference. Our divers swept 1st-4th and almost every swimmer had a best time in at least one if not both of their events. I am so proud of this team for all that they have accomplished in their second year and I can't wait to see what next year brings,” Head Coach Kara Liddle said. Senior Rachel Turpin and juniors Bailey Reich, Riley Downey, and Olivia White placed third in the 200 Medley
Relay with a best time of 2:08.17. Turpin also finished 2nd in the 100 backstroke and 4th in the 100 fly. Junior Riley Downey finished 6th in the 100 breaststroke and 6th in the 200 IM with a best time of 2:46.15. Junior Maddie Epple finished 2nd with a time of 6:16.84 in the 500 freestyle event and teammate Junior Bailey Reich finished in 6th place with a time of 6:21.32. Sophomore Alyssa Hanenkratt finished 6th in the 200 yard freestyle with a time of 2:23.64.
GVHS Varsity Girls Swim and Dive finished the season strong at their Conference meet. Photo credit: Grain Valley Swim & Dive
Quotables: Your Favorite Super Bowl Quote The votes are in. Your favorite quote from the Super Bowl:
“Put sack nation in the game and we gonna make something happen. They gonna make a movie out of this. I know I don’t talk about it much, but I want to be a Chief for life. I plan on winning not one championship, but two, three, four. Baby we got to build a dynasty here. You know what I’m saying?” -Chiefs Defensive Tackle Chris Jones
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Sports
Page 9
Eagles Pull Away From Winnetonka For Win by John Unrein
The Grain Valley Eagles Boys Basketball team used timely shooting and tight second half defense to pull away from the visiting Winnetonka Griffins for a 61-43 win on Tuesday, February 11th. The first quarter witnessed the Eagles jump out to an early 5-0 lead prior to the Griffins clawing their way back into the game. Guards Jason Essex and Julian Rodgers provided the offensive spark for Winnetonka during much of the game. Grain Valley alternated between full court press and man defenses to contain the duo. Grain Valley’s offense was fueled by Seniors Caden Matlon and Josh Kilpatrick, who scored 22 and 19 points respectively. Matlon was disciplined in his shot selection as his shooting touch continues to return. Kilpatrick did the bulk of his damage scoring under the basket with contested shots. Matlon was happy with the outcome of the game and his efforts. “We’ve been working a lot in practice and Coach Herbert has been helping us with what type of three point shot selection works best for us. Working on getting better three point looks by moving the ball inside out has been key. That started recently against Smithville and has continued for us. We are finally starting to play well together again as a team after going through a rough patch,” Matlon said. Earning more playing time recently for the Eagles has been Junior Jaden Yung. He has survived his early initiation into varsity basketball. Yung was a solid supporting cast member in the Eagle’s win with 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 block. The points scored by Yung proved timely in Grain Valley’s win. A three pointer by Yung from the wing near the baseline with :36 left in the first half pushed his team’s lead to four points. The Eagles went into halftime ahead 2723. Yung also stretched the Eagles lead to ten points in the third quarter after two made free throws from the charity stripe with 3:16 left. Both scoring instances by Yung demonstrated poise in pressure situations. Yung shared his thoughts on his team’s victory. “I’ve earned a chance to show what I can to do to help this team. Coach (Herbert) always talks about the value of drawing the defense inside before kicking the ball outside for open looks. Having no one in your face when you shoot is the best. I am happy for our team with this win,” Yung said. Grain Valley and Winnetonka both found themselves in foul trouble as the fourth quarter progressed. The Eagles were able to manage the accumulation
of fouls with timely substitutions, while continuing to apply tight pressure on the defensive end of the floor. Eagles Head Basketball Coach Andy Herbert described the play of his team as the recipe for the victory. “Caden (Matlon) is a very good player. He’s a competitive guy who wants to do well for his team. Sometimes when you struggle, you press, and it can snowball. We talked the other day and I encouraged him to relax. He’s listened and open shots are starting to fall for him,” Herbert said. “It’s a fine line for him because he has the ability to make tough shots. When those are the only looks you get and the first couple of tries don’t go in, it’s harder to get into rhythm offensively. He got his mojo back against Smithville last Friday and that carried into tonight.” Herbert continued, “Jaden (Yung) has done a tremendous job. He played quite a bit last Friday in Smithville and had eight points in the first half. Jaden has been aggressive and confident with the minutes he’s earned. Defensively, his game has grown as well. He’s finding his way through what I like to call the mud. The little things it takes to be successful that not everyone sees; boxing out, rotating to help on defense, and understanding where to be offensively are the things he’s improved on the most.” Herbert’s defensive strategy with being selective in when to apply full court pressure yielded positive results for the Eagles. The Griffins prefer to play a half court style of offense. Differing between press and man defenses by the Eagles provided empty scoring possessions for Winnetonka at times in the second half. Altering between the two defensive alignments helped the Eagles manage the depth of their bench. Pressing for 32 minutes straight is a tall order for any team. The result was Grain Valley scoring 34 second half points, while limiting their opponent to just 20. Grain Valley will be in action again on Friday, February 14th when they host the Grandview Bulldogs in a Suburban Conference Valentine’s Day matchup. Herbert shared his thoughts on the needed elements for success moving forward. “It’s imperative that we rebound. We are small with height. That means we must keep people in front of us. Every time you have to help a teammate defensively, you leave someone and must get all the way back to them to box out. Offensively, ball movement is key for us. When the ball moves, we are successful,” Herbert said.
Senior Josh Kilpatrick attempts a three point shot. Photo credit: Valley News staff
Senior Caden Matlon attempts a three point shot. Photo credit: Valley News staff
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Community Calendar
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Play and Learn Time Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 10:30am—11:30am Enjoy a special preschool playtime that is designed to stimulate young minds and strengthen early literacy skills.
Park Board Meeting Grain Valley Community Center 7:00pm
Beginning Genealogy Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 6:30pm—7:30pm Find out the fundamentals of beginning your genealogical research project. We will discuss organization, census information, vital records, and where to look for information. Register online: www.mymcpl.org/ events
Monday, February 17, 2020
Presidents Day Grain Valley City Hall closed Grain Valley Schools closed Mid-Continent Public Library closed
Music with Mar Faith United Methodist Church, 1950 SW Eagles Parkway 10:0am—11:00am $5 per class. Monthly brain-based music and movement program for ages birth— 5 years. 816-847-0008
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Google Sheets Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 10:30am—11:30am Learn Google Sheets basic terminology, spreadsheet navigation, and formula writing as you create and format a simple spreadsheet. Register online: www.mymcpl.org/ events
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Bunco & Potluck 12:30pm YMCA Active Older Adults Program at First Baptist Church Play Bunco with friends and enjoy a shared meal. Prizes to the winners.
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Discover Nature: Maple Sugaring Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, Blue Springs 1:00pm—3:00pm Storytime for Families Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley Branch 6:00pm—6:30pm Come share the early literacy experience with the whole family. Hear stories, sing songs, join in movement activities, and more.
Monday, February 24, 2020
Senior Coffee Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 9:00am—11:00am Free. Senior Yoga Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 10:30am—11:15am $2 or Free for SilverSneakers, Silver & Fit, and Renew Active Members
Board of Aldermen Meeting Grain Valley City Hall, 711 S Main 7:00pm
Friday, February 28, 2020
Movie Night Benefit Hosted by GVHS Student Government Grain Valley High School 6:00pm—Moana 8:00pm—Avengers: Endgame $2 admission. Concessions available.
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Bluebirds of Happiness Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center, Blue Springs 9:00am—10:00am The Eastern bluebird is the state symbol and a symbol of conservation success in Missouri. Join us as we look at the bluebird’s history, success and future in Missouri. Plus, learn how you can attract these ‘patriotic’ birds to your backyard.
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