April 29, 2021 Vol. 4 No. 17
O n l i n e w e e k l y a t w w w. g r a i n v a l l e y n e w s . c o m
Aldermen take oath of office In a brief Board of Aldermen meeting on April 26th, the Board certified election results for the April 6, 2021 election, thanked outgoing Ward 2 Alderman Nancy Totton for her years of service, and installed incumbents Shea
Bass, Tom Cleaver and new Ward 2 Alderman Darren Mills. The next scheduled board meeting of the Board of Aldermen will be held Monday, May 10th at 7:00pm at City Hall.
Pictured left to right: Aldermen Shea Bass, Tom Cleaver, and Darren Mills take the oath of office. Photo credit: City of Grain Valley
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic in Grain Valley on April 30th The Jackson County Health Department will host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Friday, April 30th at Grain Valley Community Center, 713 N Main St, Grain Valley from 11:00am— 4:00pm.
To register, visit https:// jacohd.jotform.com/211114410678851. Any Missourian over the age of 16 can sign up for an appointment. Individuals who are 16 or 17 must have a parent or guardian sign their consent form.
Missouri Trivia
by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
In the 1800s, Independence found itself at the very eastern end of an important trade route, the Santa Fe Trail. Soon, the Oregon Trail and California Trail branched off from the Santa Fe, and tens of thousands of pioneers came to Independence to outfit themselves for a journey west. The National Frontier Trails Museum is a history museum, interpretive center,
and research library dedicated to telling the rich history of America’s principal trails for hundreds of thousands of pioneers who risked their livelihoods for a new life in the American West. While the museum has been closed due to COVID-19, I can highly recommend it as an interesting place to visit when it reopens. It is located just south of the Square at 318 W Pacific Avenue in Independence, Missouri.
In This Edition:
Looking Back: Christian Church Womens Group
Valley Wagon opens this weekend
Farm fresh produce, plants, trees, and a variety of home décor and gift items await shoppers at the opening weekend of the Valley Wagon. The popular farm stand has expanded this year to include a barn stocked with food and gift items, planters, and home décor. The Valley Wagon will also feature a variety of trees, plants, and flowers for sale, and has expanded its services to include free range black angus beef raised in Boonville. Processing appointments for half and whole beef are now being accepted for May, June, and July. The Valley Wagon is located on the north side of Grain Valley at 1451 S Buckner Tarsney Road, next to Milestones Academy. Hours this weekend are Saturday, May 1st 8:00am4:00pm, and Sunday, May 2nd 8:00am4:00pm. These hours will continue through May, and produce offerings will expand as the season continues. The Valley Wagon accepts cash and debit/credit. No checks accepted, and all sales are final. For more information on the Valley Wagon, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MoehleMater.
Photo credit: Valley News staff
Good News:
Veterans Plaza dedication set for May 5th
Photo credit: Valley News staff
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State News: Missouri Senate rejects funding for voter approved Med5 i cai d ex pan s i o n Musings from the Middle: That’ That’s what I prefer
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Sports: Eagles rally late to get comeback win against Indians
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Cover Photo: A Celebration of Veterans will be held May 5th at the Legacy Plaza Veterans Tribute.
FREE
The public is invited to attend a "Celebration of Veterans" on May 5, 2021 at 4:00pm on the Butterfly Trail grounds at the Legacy Plaza Veterans Tribute. Music will be provided by the Grain
Valley Marching Eagles, and a Pinning Ceremony will be held for all veterans in attendance, conducted by Chapter 243 of the VVA.
G R A I N VA L L E Y N E W S
Lo cally fo cused. Family o wned. Published weekly. Online weekly at www.grainvalleynews.com
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Rental assistance program offers relief to households impacted by COVID-19 Community Services League (CSL) and United Way of Greater Kansas City have formed a collaborative partnership to implement and administer Jackson County’s $11,550,205 federal rental assistance. Funds will be used to assist eligible households that are unable to pay past due rent and utility bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) provides financial assistance and housing stability services in Eastern Jackson County to eligible rental households who demonstrate a risk of experiencing housing instability, have seen their income reduced by the COVID-19 pandemic, and earn a household income at or below 80% of the area median income. Rental and utility assistance payments are made directly to the landlord or utility provider on behalf of the tenant. More information about the program,
including eligibility requirements, an application checklist, and more, can be found at www.jacksoncountyerap.org. Detailed program information is also available for Spanish-speaking families at www.jacksoncountyerap.org/espanol. Grandview Assistance Program (GAP), Raytown Emergency Assistance Program (REAP), and Hope House, in addition to CSL’s locations, are serving as application hubs with dedicated ERAP Case Managers. The $11.5 million grant is part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which established a $25 billion Federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program for state, county, and municipal governments. Kansas City, Missouri received its own grant funding of $14.8 million directly from the federal government and is administering its own rental assistance program for households within city limits.
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Police Blotter
The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of April 14-20, 2021. April 14, 2021 100 Block of Sunny Lane 700 Block of Main 200 Block of Katie CT 500 Block of SW Eagles PKWY Meadowood & Sni A Bar 900 Block of NW Sycamore CT 700 Block of Main 1200 Block of NW Baytree DR 1300 Block of SW Minter Way 1300 Block of NW Persimmon DR 600 Block of SE 12th 1100 Block of S Buckner Tarsney
Agency Assist-JCSD Citizen Contact Area Check Motor Vehicle Accident Suspicious Activity Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Suspicious Person Citizen Contact Possible Burglary K9 VIN Verification
April 15, 2021 1300 Block of Crestwood 1100 Block of Buckner Tarsney 700 Block of Main 900 Block of SW Stonebrook LN 700 Block of SW Tisha LN Tyer & Jefferson 1400 Block of NW Valley Woods CT 700 Block of Main BB& Nelson 500 Block of Eagles PKWY Main & I 70 1200 Block of Phelps DR 800 Block of Capelle 1300 Block of NW Valley Woods CT
C&I Driver Suspicious Person Citizen Contact Welfare Check Agency Assist-CJC Area Check Area Check Citizen Contact Area Check K9 Motor Vehicle Accident Abandoned Vehicle Agency Assist-CJC Stealing
April 16, 2021 600 Block of Smith 1100 Block of Buckner Tarsney 700 Block of Main 600 Block of Broadway 600 Block of Tisha Jaclyn & Hannah
Property Damage Suspicious Person Citizen Contact Agency Assist-OGPD Parking Complaint Motor Vehicle Accident
April 17, 2021 500 Block of Eagles 1400 Block of Blue Branch DR 300 Block of Minter RD 500 Block of Hamilton 100 Block of McQuerry 1100 Block of Main 700 Block of Main 900 Block of Maplewood CT 1200 Block of Long 700 Block of Main
Lost Dog Harassment Motor Vehicle Accident Agency Assist-CJC Motorist Assist Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Disturbance Stealing Citizen Contact
1300 Block of Golfview Cir
Animal Neglect
April 18, 2021 35000 Block of RD Mize RD 200 Block of Woodbury 1000 Block of Willow 200 Block of NW Woodbury 200 Block of NW Michael 400 Block of James Rollo RD Mize & Hardsaw 1100 Block of Pamela 1200 Block of Willow 700 Block of Main 800 Block of Valley View
Agency Assist-JCSD Agency Assist-CJC Missing Person Agency Assist-CJC Area Check Area Check Agency Assist-JCSD Alarm Alarm Citizen Contact Civil Standby
April 19, 2021 1900 Block of Eagles PKWY 600 Block of Yennie 100 Block of Cross Creek 700 Block of Main Sycamore & Hedgewood 700 Block of Main 100 Block of Sunny Lane 200 Block of Cross Creek 200 Block of Aaron LN 1100 Block of Buckner Tarsney 1400 Block of NW Cedar 700 Block of Main James Rollo & Main 700 Block of Main 700 Block of Main 700 Block of Main 700 Block of Main Phone April 20, 2021 700 Block of Main Hanna CT & Amanda Jean Way 900 Block of NW Dogwood 600 Block of Tisha LN Cross Creek & August 900 Block of Ryan RD 1400 Block of NW Willow DR 40 HWY & AA HWY 40 HWY & Meadow 200 Block of Royer LN 500 Block of S Main
Valley News
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Citizen Contact Attempted Stealing Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Area Check Area Check Physical Disturbance Verbal Disturbance Agency Assist-CJC Alarm Alarm Assault Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Citizen Contact via
Citizen Contact via Phone Suspicious Vehicle Suspicious Activity Suspicious Activity Area Check Alarm Alarm Agency Assist-BSPD Motorist Assist Area Check Stand By
Looking Back
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Looking Back: Christian Church Women’s Group by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society This week I have chosen a photograph, but I cannot tell you when or from whom we received it. I chose it because of the beautiful stained-glass window at the Christian Church on the corner of Main and Walnut Streets. Built in 1910 and dedicated in June, 1911, it was destroyed by fire on January 17. 1972. Because the seats were at an angle, it is difficult to read the names at the bottom of the window. The name in the middle is “Cannon” and a former church member remembers that the window was a gift from Bill and Adie (Cannon) Minter. The smaller window to the left bears the name “Mr. & Mrs. John Gregg.” I believe the photo was taken in 1946 or early 1947, as the child in the second row, Danny Elliott was born in 1945. At the time this group was assembled they were probably known as the Ladies’ Aid. Later they were known as the Women’s Council and finally as the Christian Women’s Fellowship. Over the years, these ladies provided funds to the church and were known for their benevolent work both within the church and within the community of Grain Valley. If you are a long-time resident of Grain Valley, you may remember some of these ladies. If you are new to our town or a regular reader of this column,
you may recognize a name or two. Jewell and Edgar Graham owned an apple orchard north of town. Bill and Adie Minter ran a grocery store. Mae Raines lived on Yennie and gave piano lessons. Jean Rowe, well into her nineties, lives at St. Mary’s Manor in Blue Springs. Danny Elliott (grandson of Lucy Rowe) graduated from GVHS in 1963 and is the retired Dean of Students at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri. Ruth Fine was the postmaster in Grain Valley through much of the 1950s and 60s. Lula Preston was on the school board in the 1950s, but I remember her best as the “fairy Godmother” to first graders at Grain Valley for many years! She would often come and read to us or bring us cookies. Madge Warren lived in the big house near the west end of Walnut Street and her husband was president of the Bank of Grain Valley. I knew nearly all of these ladies and I’m even related to a couple of them. Come visit at the Historical Society any Wednesday. I’ll tell you “the rest of the story!”
Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society at 506 S. Main on Wednesdays from 10am—3pm and Saturdays from 11am—3pm, or online at www.grainvalleyhistory.com.
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Front Row: Mrs. Edgar Graham (Jewell), Madeline Turner, Mrs. Bill Minter (Adie), Mrs. Harvey Peal (Magdalene Herrington), Mae Raines, Melvin Brown, Jr. Second Row: Nora Robinson, Florence Brown, Jean Rowe, Mrs. Alonzo Rowe (Lucy White), Danny Elliott, Buelah Forrester, Eva Gregg, Mrs. Shelton Fristoe (Mabel Gregg) Bessie Snapp Third Row: Mrs. Authur O. Tate, Mrs. Jim Fine (Ruth Cox, Tate) Mrs. Otis Williams (Laura McQuerry), Mabel Russell, Mrs. Wm. Shippy (Clara Harris), Mrs. Roberts (Bernice Snodgrass), Lula Preston, Mrs. Wm D. Warren (Madge), Mamie Herrington, Maude Mote Photo courtesy Grain Valley Historical Society.
Business
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Spring Cleaning Your Computers, Smartphones, and Tablets by Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert
It's been a year since the COVID-19 pandemic forced all of us to rely on our computers and associated devices for work and school. Most modern tech devices don't need a 'tune up', but as we head into spring, it's a good time for cleaning. So when you start to do a deep cleaning on your living space, take a few minutes to follow these steps to spring clean all items associated with your digital lifestyle. Avoid computer and app cleaning products. It's tempting to purchase do it all products that promise to clean your computers and smartphones. Avoid these products like the plague. Most of these products do more harm than good. Your devices are designed to take care of themselves, so avoid all of the extra junk. Remove your 3rd Party AntiAnti -Virus (AV) software. Fifteen years ago, computer manufacturers didn't include AV software; now they do. Macintosh users have xProtect and Windows Users have Windows Defender. Smartphone and tablet users just need to avoid downloading unknown apps from the Google Play Store and the App Store. Most 3rd party AV software causes more problems than good. Change Your Passwords For All of Your Online Accounts. It’s always a good idea to change your passwords every so often, so why not do it this spring? There are too many data breaches occurring where your personal information is leaked into the hands of cyber-criminals. You wouldn't believe the number of calls we get at the office from people who have had their personal information stolen because they hadn't changed their passwords for years. If you make it a habit to change your passwords on a regular basis, you can avoid your personal information falling into the wrong hands. Using a passphrase instead of a password helps you create passwords you can easily remember. Need help with creating a passphrase? Visit www.useapassphrase.com. Passphrases are more secure than your standard password and are so much easier to remember. Creating passphrases along with using password management software
such as LastPass (www.lastpass.com) or the password management system built into web browsers, such as Google Chrome, Opera, and Firefox will keep your personal information safe. BackBack-Up Your Files. I hate paper and keep everything stored digitally. Instruction manuals, pictures, documents, the list goes on and on. In this digital age, I know many of you are storing items digitally as well. Cloud backup is your best option with services like Carbonite (www.carbonite.com), Google Backup and Sync (www.google.com), and iCloud drive (www.icloud.com) vying to save your important information. Remember there is a difference between cloud storage and cloud backup. Cloud storage is meant just to store one copy of your files, where cloud backup keeps multiple copies of your files. Make sure your backup your files in multiple places, not just on the cloud, but also on an external hard drive as well. Donate, Trade, or Sell Your Old Tech Devices. We have several laptops, desktops, tablets, and phones sitting around the house. I know you do too. Why are we keeping these devices? There's no good reason to keep them. Make it a point to stop hoarding your tech devices and get rid of them. If you have information on them that you want to ease, just reset your items to factory defaults and the information will disappear. There are many recycling places near you, just do a Google search to find one and get rid of that digital clutter. If you have a device that still works, donate it to a needy non-profit. Have something newer that you want to sell? Sell it on Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist, or trade it in on Amazon. Declutter Those Devices. Don't believe the myth that too much stuff on your devices will slow them down. It is a good idea to remove old files, smart device apps, and computer programs for the sake of having a more streamlined device. Take a moment to organize those files, pictures, and videos. Don't forget about those emails. Most of us tend to use our email as a filing cabinet which is why our email gets so cluttered. Unless you're using Microsoft Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple Mail, or Windows Mail, too much mail won't slow your device down. If you are, you need to clean out that email quarterly. Don't forget to empty your recycle bin and your trash can as well.
Take care of all of those cords. You probably use wireless devices when you can, but with technology, there are going to be some cords that need to be connected to our devices. If you can, hide those wires to your computers, printers, and even TVs with cord covers or check out some other solutions that will allow you to hide cords in your walls. For your smartphone and tablet, switch to wireless chargers to eliminate cords. You can also consider purchasing power centers in a central location of your home where the family has a convenient place to charge all of their devices. Clean Out those Crumbs. During all of the hours you spend in front of a screen, there's a good chance you're going to snack on something. After a while, your device is going to get pretty gross. For desktop and laptop keyboards, turn them upside down to shake out the dirt and crumbs. I recommend getting a can of
compressed air to effectively get all of the debris out. Clean Your Screen. The average smartphone and Tablet have more germs than a public restroom. Take the time to disinfect your handheld devices. To properly clean and disinfect them, use a solution of 50% Water and 50% of isopropyl alcohol. Only use a microfiber cloth to wipe down your devices. Your home and office are not the only things that should be getting cleaned this spring. Don’t neglect your technology or it will not last as long as it should. Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.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. Reach out to us at www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.
State News
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Missouri Senate rejects funding for voter-approved Medicaid expansion by Jason Hancock, Missouri Independent
The Missouri Senate voted against funding Medicaid expansion Wednesday night, after a debate that will not be the final word on whether 275,000 Missourians become eligible for coverage on July 1. By a 14-20 vote, with four Republicans breaking ranks with the rest of their party, the Senate rejected an amendment to the Department of Mental Health budget offered by Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, D-Independence. Soon after, an amendment to the medical services provided through the Department of Social Services was defeated by a similar vote. The Senate completed work on its $35.1 billion spending plan for the year that begins July 1 after midnight following roughly eight hours of debate. It must be reconciled with the House version, which spent $32 billion, by May 7. With the action, the Senate aligned its version of the Medicaid budget with the House plan adopted in March on the biggest spending issue of the year. The next move is up to Gov. Mike Parson’s administration, which is directed by the state constitution to provide coverage starting July 1. Parson’s office did not respond
immediately to an email sent after the vote asking whether it would accept applications and provide coverage absent specific appropriations to implement the section added to the constitution in August. The debate compressed a decade-long argument into two hours, and every element familiar to long-time observers — moral, economic and social — was aired. But little changed in the familiar alignment, with badly outnumbered Democrats solidly in favor joined by a small group of Republicans, and the majority of GOP lawmakers opposed. “You will see hospitals come back to rural Missouri,” Rizzo said. “You will see more nurses. You will see more doctors.” Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, said the cost of the current Medicaid program has increased rapidly in recent years and new obligations would add to the burden. He acknowledged that Missouri is in good financial shape now, with a historic general revenue surplus. “Nearly everyone in this room is familiar with a time when the state’s financial situation is not what it is today,” Hegeman said. “My fear about passing expansion is not about what it would do to the state’s
budget this year, but what implementation of expansion might do in years to come.” The most personal moment came when Sen. Barbara Washington, D-Kansas City, talked about the death of her brother nine days earlier. He returned to the United States from Qatar, where he had insurance, ill with colon cancer, to be at the high school graduation of his twin children. He was hospitalized a day after his return, she said. He was eligible for Medicare and was waiting to be approved. He was given emergency Medicaid, she said. “If not for Medicaid my brother would have died on the street,” Washington said. Prior to the August 2020 vote, accepting the deal offered by the Affordable Care Act for the federal treasury to pay 90 percent of the cost to cover working-age adults was a policy choice. Now it is a constitutional directive, and at a rally on Tuesday, Democrats vowed they would use the courts to order Parson’s administration to provide coverage. The likelihood the courts would do so was enough for Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia. He said he expects the courts to tell the state to provide coverage like it does for every other eligibility category. Rowden voted for Rizzo’s amendment. “I believe the court can do that,” he said. “I believe the court will do that. And when they do, folks in the expansion threshold will be allowed to apply and we will be presented with a very, very large
supplemental budget in October, or November, or December.” And some Republicans opposed to expansion made it clear that they relish the chance to test the legislature’s power over appropriations in court. Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, cited the constitution’s ban on initiatives that appropriate revenue without providing a source of money. He said he would not “let my decision, my vote, be governed by my fear…about what some black-robed tyrant might decide.” The basics of the new eligibility would be coverage for working-age adults who earn up to 138 percent of the federal poverty guideline, or $17,774 a year for a single person. That is equal to working about 33 hours a week at the state minimum wage of $10.30 per hour. For a household of four, the limit is $36,570, the income of one person working full at $17.58 an hour or two people working a combined 68 hours a week at minimum wage. During the debate, Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, laid out the economic argument. The state can afford the additional expense because it has a historic general revenue surplus and has banked $500 million from supplemental federal Medicaid support for the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, he said Missouri should act to get the $1.2 billion in additional support for its traditional Medicaid program only available if it expands Medicaid eligibility. “I believe in my heart,” Hough said, “it is the right thing to do.”
Community Voices
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Musings from the Middle: That’s what I prefer by Cathy Allie
It likely began in the air over Los Angeles, when the first smartly dressed TWA flight attendant asked the traveler, “Coffee? Tea? Water? What would you prefer?” The beloved pre-school teacher’s mantra, “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit” got thrown right out the proverbial window, in this case at about 42,000 feet, with that very first mention of a preference. The restaurant industry followed shortly, really aiming to please their customers by allowing almost every preference to be met. Booth or table? Lemon in your ice water? Loaded or plain baked potato? Salad dressing on the side? You say you would like sweetener for your tea? Which of these three kinds would you prefer? Then it was a short leap from restaurants to our own homes. I follow the blog of a really creative mom with three young kids. Luckily none of them are allergic to peanut butter, a lunch staple, but get this: all three kids each prefer a different kind of peanut butter. Never satisfying my curiosity and the very obvious question about how they even knew there were multiple kinds, blogger mom honors their preference. “They are just expressing their individuality,“ she writes. The adults in my life must have gotten individuality confused with being picky brats, which is what they would have called us if we had complained about the peanut butter. Luckily my mom was a good cook, but let me assure you, she wasn’t much interested in our preferences. Maybe the spaghetti had meatballs, maybe it had meat sauce. Sometimes the lima beans had corn mixed in with them, and sometimes they didn’t (which frankly didn’t matter because we didn’t want to eat them anyway). Our sandwiches were cut in rectangular halves, no trimmed crusts and no fancy triangles or star shaped cut outs. If it was baloney day, she chose the cheese, and the only choice we had was mustard or mayo. She didn’t poll us for our preferences on how our egg was going to be cooked
at breakfast each morning. If one of us had scrambled eggs (which for some reason still taste better out of Mom’s skillet), all of us had scrambled eggs. I am guessing I would have liked an occasional Ritz cracker rather than a saltine, but we weren’t busy making sure our preferences were known. And we survived quite nicely. Some preferences are naturally easier to honor. When you bake a pan of brownies, somebody usually prefers the crispier edge pieces and somebody prefers the gooier center pieces. It is still all coming from one pan of brownies, and no, I was not tempted to buy the recently advertised all crispy tunnel looking brownie pan. It’s okay for people to have a preference when you are passing a platter of turkey because dark meat and white meat are right there available for the taking. I also support steak houses asking our preference on how done we want our steaks because it is an expensive cut of meat that we are treating ourselves to. My preference for a medium steak probably came from my dad slaving over a charcoal grill and finally giving up, plating it, telling us that is how it was supposed to look, and not asking us to cut into it in case we wanted it cooked a little more. The rumors of people out there who like their steak moo’ing and some who like it charred are surely true. While I personally prefer a medium warm center, I have seen these mavericks in restaurants, sending back their steaks, like Goldilocks rejecting one chair or bed or porridge after another until one is just right. As I age, some of the choices we are offered in the name of honoring preferences kind of wear me out. Case in point, every once in a while the hubs and I pretend we are young and hit up the local site of a nationwide breakfast chain. We always do this on a day we know we can go home and nap off our food coma afterward; and by the way, I prefer the couch with a quilt for a quick nap, and an actual bed with a cotton blanket for anything much over an hour.
We get our coffee from the gum snapping waitress, and we each order the house special, which will be likely be delivered on a variety of not so clean looking plates, despite our preference for spotless plates and utensils. Last time we went, I felt a little like I did when Mr. Hile would randomly call on me in Geometry class. “Quadrilateral? “ I would guess, and he would just shake his head, while I silently made plans to go home with Carla to copy her homework again. Back to the greasy spoon. Did I want my hash browns crispy or soft? Bacon, sausage patty, sausage links, or ham? Grits or toast? Eggs over-easy, hard, or scrambled? Waffle or toast? Toast you say? Sourdough, wheat, or white? Real butter or margarine? I was so scared to make a mistake, to one of the questions I just meekly answered, “Yes.” The Flo wannabe stared at me, uncomprehending, then finally looked over at my husband and said, “Do YOU know what she wants?” Luckily, he does, and if it wasn’t what I wanted when it arrives, he will just give me his breakfast and suck it up. Now there’s a guy that was raised not to have a preference, someone to truly love. I guess I should be grateful he preferred me over his other dates. When we married, I knew he was darn near perfect, because he truly didn’t have any discernable preferences at all. He let me choose the side of the bed, which cabinets the plates and glasses went into, even our china pattern. I got to park my car on the right because it was easier to back out of the garage on that side. Then came the day when he unpacked groceries to put them away. How could I have missed this crucial preference of his? Apparently he preferred jamming the cans onto the shelves all willy nilly and unreadable without a lot of effort or any organizational strategy at all. Who doesn’t put soups together? Why were the beans all divided by short condensed milk cans? He has since changed his preference for can arrangement, likely due to my excellent tutelage and example. At least I don’t have something as pedestrian as a dishwasher loading preference. I am so happy when anybody else mentions they will help with dishes, they can load them any darned way they want to. But my friend’s preference about how her dishes go into her dishwasher has caused her a bunch of razzing. One night at a party she was hosting, two of us offered to clean up for her. She finally accepted and just told us to put as much as we could into the dishwasher. She walked into the kitchen when we were about halfway finished with our mission. She froze in her tracks, and we could tell from her look we had somehow gone astray. “Oh…they actually go this way,” she said, and adjusted the plates on the dishwasher’s
bottom rack. I started to reorganize the remainder of them, but my co-loader intervened, wanting to know why the other way wouldn’t work. What ensued was a bunch of half-hearted explanations that finally ended with the hostess friend mumbling about the original manufacturer‘s instructions having diagrams of proper loading. In truth, it was just her preference. Through somewhat incoherent cursing, my pal began to rearrange, but as soon as the hostess left the room, she quickly flipped them back. I cannot remember her exact words, but I think she said, “The sun will come up tomorrow whichever way they are loaded, “ or maybe it was, “That’s a load of something…” Sure, there are some preferences that really are important, like high heels or flats, who we spend time with, No. 1 or No. 2 pencils, the type of car we drive, crushed or cubed ice, where we live and work, shaken or stirred, toothpaste flavors. I bet some people think Coke or Pepsi is an important preference. Those of us who have experienced a perfect soda suicide mix know that it doesn’t really matter at all. Preferences should also not be confused with highly distinguished favorites like the month of August, dark rinse jeans, and praline-flavored anything, which have risen to the top after years of testing out other options. They are not simply preferences. They are a way of life. Heading into my landing, let’s circle down the runway back to the airlines, where this whole preference thing started, and where I recently booked some travel for my boss. I selected the carrier, got to note his preference for the flight’s departure and arrival times, where and how much space he would have to stash his carry on, the amount of leg room, and an aisle, center, or window seat. Is this where the joke about you can pick your friends and pick your seat but you shouldn’t pick your friend’s seat goes? When my boss came back from travel, I asked about his flight. “I had great seats both ways, plenty of room to stretch out, and my bag was actually right above me for a change,” he said. I smiled, but inside I was irritated; not with him, but with myself. My boss may not like his trip so much the next time; when I finished my purchase and went to pay, I forgot to save his darned preferences.
Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer.
Home & Garden
Page 7
Clean, stain, and entertain: easy ways to prep your deck for summer fun Helpful tips from Westlake Ace Hardware
If 2020 taught us anything, it was a renewed appreciation of our homes and how we can make them as comfortable and fun as possible – especially in the summer. With more people spending time in their backyards, decks likely got their fair share of use and might be looking faded and worn from sunlight and moisture. Spring is a great time to treat your deck to a little TLC and prep it for the months ahead. Taking the time now to clean and refinish it means that you’ll be able to extend your outdoor fun well into fall and beyond. Contrary to popular belief, refinishing a deck doesn’t need to take a lot of time and effort. Here are three easy steps from Westlake Ace Hardware on how to spruce up a deck with minimum work and maximum success. 1. Inspect and repair. Reset popped nail heads and replace rusted nails. Remove soft, split, or rotted boards, check rails and steps for loose parts, and repair or replace items as needed. If your deck has multiple stories or extends from the second floor of your house, inspect the underside of it for any problem areas and address those.
2. Scrub and clean. Thoroughly sweep your deck with a broom or clear off debris quickly with the help of a leaf blower. Using a premium deck cleaner product made specifically for the job, scrub by hand with a stiff brush or broom or use a power washer to apply deck cleaner and let it set for 10 minutes before rinsing it off. Pay special attention to corners, upright surfaces, and crevices as you clean the deck. Let the deck dry before staining. Depending on the weather, this may take a few hours or up to a day. 3. Stain and protect. If the deck is sun -damaged and faded, or if you’ve installed new wood floorboards or railings, you will need to apply a stain or a clear water sealer. Using a high-quality brush, roller, paint pad, or sprayer, apply stain or sealer when the air temperature is between 50-80 degrees Fahrenheit – this allows for consistent and even drying. Be sure to stir your stain often as you apply because it contains resins suspended in water to provide deep penetration, color retention, and maximum durability. Cover any nearby plant containers, bushes, or flowers to
Photo courtesy Westlake Ace Hardware protect them. A clear water sealer does not color the wood and is designed primarily for protection against moisture. Products that contain both sealer and stain contain pigment that helps protect against damage from sunlight and water. Working from the far corner of the deck to the exit, on 10 to 15 square feet sections of boards at a time, apply the sealer in the same way as you would if applying stain. The sealer should be allowed to dry at least 24 hours after application, so make sure there is no rain in the forecast.
About Westlake Ace Hardware Headquartered in the Kansas City area, 115-year-old Westlake Ace Hardware has been the helpful neighborhood hardware store countless generations have shopped at for power and hand tools, fasteners, paint, plumbing, lawn care, pet, electrical supplies, and BBQ grills and accessories. It has been part of the Ace Hardware Cooperative since 1959, and a whollyowned Ace subsidiary since 2012.
State Wide Pale Ale to benefit Veterans Community Project 4 Hands Brewing Co. is pleased to announce the launch of their newest philanthropic beer State Wide. The new hazy pale ale with notes of citrus and stone fruit will join City Wide as another 4 Hands beer that gives back to the community. A portion of every State Wide purchase will be donated to Veteran’s Community Project (VCP) who are dedicated to supporting every man and woman who took the oath for our country. Look for the new 16 oz fourpacks of State Wide at retailers across
the Show Me State starting on May 4. The new beer label representing the Missouri flag was created by Jason Spencer of Killer Napkins. Founded in 2016 by combat veterans and headquartered in Kansas City, VCP offers an innovative village of tiny houses and outreach assistance that provides inclusive services to aid at-risk and homeless Veterans. For more information, visit www.veteranscommunityproject.org
Photo courtesy 4 Hands Brewing Company
Your Health
Page 8
How to drive safely with pets (StatePoint) Pets are beloved members of many families. In the U.S alone, about 85 million families own a pet. According to the American Pet Products Association, many of us also drive with our furry friends, from quick trips to the veterinarian’s office to longer road trip adventures. A recent national survey by Erie Insurance found that more than half of its respondents plan to take at least one road trip this year and 4% plan on traveling with pets. However, traveling with an animal can be dangerous if appropriate safety measures are not taken. Celebrated in May, this National Pet Month is a good time to brush up on a few safety precautions:
Tips for traveling with a dog: 1. Restrain your pet. A proper restraint will protect your dog if an accident should occur. The Center for Pet Safety
recommends using a quality crashtested harness to keep your dog safe. 2. Rein in your pooch. Allowing your dog to stick their head out the window is more dangerous than it seems. It can cause road debris to get into their eyes, nose and mouth and potentially lead to serious injuries. 3. Minimize distractions. Erie Insurance found in its recent national survey that 5% of respondents are distracted by their dog when driving. To avoid disruptions, keep them in the back seat and never allow your dog to sit on your lap. Use a barrier to avoid a dog making its way to the front, and avoid feeding and playing with your dog while driving.
Tips for traveling with a cat: 1. Use a proper carrier. Cats become easily stressed when traveling. To keep them safe and comfortable, you’ll want to place them in a sturdy carrier that
provides enough room for them to move around. 2. Practice safe exits. Only let your cat out of the carrier when parked. Make sure your cat is wearing a harness and leash before exiting the vehicle. Should your cat get startled and run, a harness and leash will allow you to rein them in, keeping them out of harm’s way. General tips for traveling with pets: 1. Never leave a pet in a hot car. Leaving any kind of pet alone in a vehicle is extremely dangerous. According to the Humane Society of the Unites States, a vehicle’s temperature can quickly exceed 120 degrees in warm weather, leaving your pet at risk of brain damage, heat stroke and suffocation. 2. Be prepared in case of emergency. Should anything go wrong, plan to contact a nearby vet. Healthypet.com allows you to search by ZIP code for American Animal Hospital Association
(AAHA) accredited clinics. Even when taking appropriate precautions, accidents still happen. An auto insurance policy can protect you financially and provide peace of mind. Some companies, including Erie Insurance, offer coverage to help with vet treatment costs if your pet is hurt in a car accident. “We recognize that pets are a valued part of many families,” said Jon Bloom, vice president of personal auto at Erie Insurance. “This is why we believe it’s so important to include pet coverage in our auto policy.” To protect your beloved companions and your vehicle, talk to an insurance agent or visit ErieInsurance.com. This National Pet Month, be sure you have all the know-how needed to comfortably and safely take any length car trip with your pet.
A straightforward weekend breakfast (Culinary.net) There are no alarms set and you are cuddled up in bed after a good night’s sleep. It’s late morning and there is nowhere to go, no rushing around to do. No school bus, no work to be done, just relaxing at home with loved ones. However, breakfast is calling your name. Your stomach rumbles as your stumble toward the kitchen. You need something quick and effortless. The kids will be up soon and you know food will be on their minds. When you’re in a pinch, there is nearly nothing better to make than something sweet and filling for a weekend family breakfast. Try these simple and delicious Caramel Sticky Rolls for an easy breakfast for all. The rolls are fluffy, a little crunchy and drizzled with caramel topping. Your family will love it and don’t be surprised if you get a request or two for this breakfast again. Find more quick weekend recipes at Culinary.net.
Caramel Sticky Rolls Servings: 9 Nonstick cooking spray flour, for rolling pastry 1 frozen puff pastry, thawed caramel sauce, divided ½ cup walnuts, chopped powdered sugar Heat oven to 400 F. Spray muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle flour on work surface. Flatten pastry sheet and roll into rectangle. Drizzle caramel sauce over pastry and spread within ½ inch of edges. Sprinkle chopped walnuts over caramel sauce. Starting on short end, evenly roll pastry with filling to other end. Cut pastry into nine pieces. Place pastries cut side up into muffin cups. Bake 22 minutes, or until golden brown. Immediately remove from pan to wire rack. Let cool 10 minutes. Drizzle with additional caramel sauce and dust with powdered sugar.
Outdoors & Recreation
Page 9
Tick season is here. Here’s why you should save all the critters you find. by Brittany Callan, The Beacon
Scientists are asking Missouri residents to send them live ticks in the mail in an effort to better understand the diseases spread by the tiny arachnid. Missouri has the highest prevalence in the U.S. of a tick-borne bacterial disease called ehrlichiosis, according to Deborah Hudman, senior researcher at A.T. Still University in northeast Missouri. “Missouri is the tick bite capital of the nation,” said William Stoecker, a dermatologist in Rolla, Missouri. In Hudman’s research in Adair County in northeastern Missouri, she found that 25% of ticks were carrying the bacteria that causes ehrlichiosis. Physicians told her they’ve seen large numbers of patients with tick-borne diseases. And people spending time in the outdoors have noticed higher numbers of ticks. “I surveyed the local residents and they said, ‘I’m pulling more than 26 ticks off of me a year,’” Hudman said. Erin Skornia, 40, resident of Jefferson City, Missouri, has had three different kinds of tick-borne disease. Most recently, she had Rocky Mountain spotted fever. In August, she went to
the doctor with neck pain, swollen lymph nodes and rashes on her calves after being bitten by ticks on a jog. Both of her parents also recently had Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Skornia is a botanist and got ehrlichiosis while working on a conservation project in 2015 and Lyme disease in 2009 while mushroom hunting in the Martin City area of Kansas City. Both times, her first symptom was diarrhea. With Lyme disease, Skornia also had a fever, fatigue, emotional issues and swollen lymph nodes. Now, Skornia documents all of her encounters with ticks in a calendar. She also takes precautions against ticks, like treating long socks with permethrin, an insecticide usually used to treat scabies and lice, before going outside. “There is little awareness from people who aren’t outdoorsy people,” Skornia said. “People don’t know about it.” Why ‘citizen science’ science’ is important and helpful Ticks, which pass disease when latching onto a host, are most active in the Kansas City area from March
through September, although they can be found throughout the year. The southern tick-associated rash illness was first described and diagnosed by Missouri physicians. And a host of other tick-borne pathogens can be found in Missouri, including Rocky Mountain spotted fever, the Heartland and Bourbon viruses and tularemia. Hudman wants to use “citizen science” to learn more about what kinds of ticks are found in different regions of Missouri and what types of disease they carry. “I am asking every person from the state of Missouri, from all reaches, if they can send me what ticks they interact with,” Hudman said. The new research study is a collaboration between A.T. Still University and the Missouri Department of Conservation. In the Missouri Department of Conservation’s outreach on social media and other platforms, there’s been a lot of concern about ticks. There weren’t any large-scale research studies being done in the state on the topic. Missouri is considered a gap state by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when it comes to knowledge of the prevalence of different pathogens in ticks, Hudman said. “It gets overlooked,” Hudman said. “It took a long time for people to get awareness of Lyme disease. These other tick-borne diseases are very much understudied.” The study counts on members of the public to mail in ticks they find while they’re outdoors. During the first two weeks of the study, Hudman has already received over 800 ticks from 93 counties, out of 114. “The response has been phenomenal,” Hudman said. “People are very interested in this, and they are helping me so much by sending me these ticks.” Citizen science helps researchers solve problems that would be resourceintensive otherwise. The geographic range that the study can get from using citizens is more than what researchers could do on their own. And the budget it would take to hire people to collect ticks from across the state would be unreasonable, Hudman said. It also gives researchers more information about what types of ticks people are naturally interacting with. Citizen science can also raise awareness and make people more invested in research problems. “They are going to be thinking about (ticks) more and looking at them more on their pets, livestock and game,” Hudman said. The researchers will be updating a map throughout the study, where people who have contributed to the
Lone star ticks. Photo courtesy of Deborah Hudman. study and others will be able to look at the current data. Tick data will help doctors as well as researchers Hudman hopes the study will provide a baseline of information that currently isn’t available in Missouri at regional and local levels. The study could also be a useful tool for raising awareness in physicians. If a doctor knows a certain type of tick or pathogen is more common in their county, that information could help them when they are ordering a tick panel. “There are a lot of ticks here, and there is also a lot of potential for misdiagnosis going on,” Hudman said. For example, although Rocky Mountain spotted fever gets diagnosed in Adair County, she has never found it in a tick located in the county. Thankfully, the bacterial diseases caused by ticks are treated with the same type of antibiotic, she said. “But it would be nice just to have an accurate picture of what disease is present in which tick species,” Hudman said. Knowing which ticks are around can help physicians make diagnoses, Stoecker said. One example of how it could help is in determining whether to diagnose a patient with southern tick-associated rash illness or Lyme disease, he said. “This is a beautiful project. I think it’s a great idea,” Stoecker said. The study will be running until September 2022, and the map of citizen science tick submissions will be updated weekly. While tick-borne diseases are a concern, the Missouri Department of Conservation wants to make sure that fear of ticks doesn’t stop people from getting outside. “There are a whole lot of health benefits that you get from going outdoors,” said Matt Combes, a supervisor in the department’s ecological health unit. “Get educated about the risks there are and how to prevent them or reduce them. And then continue to enjoy nature.” The Beacon is an online news outlet based in Kansas City focused on local, indepth journalism in the public interest. http://www.thebeacon.media
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Sports
Page 10 Eagles rally late to get comeback win against Indians by John Unrein
Strong spring wind gusts often accompany the onset of warm weather in the Midwest. The outfield flags were blowing from right field to left field with up to 40 mph wind gusts as the Grain Valley Eagles paid a visit to the Fort Osage Indians on April 26th. The conditions made fielding fly balls and pop ups an adventure at times during the contest. Grain Valley middle infielders Avery Garmon and Parker Bosserman used the wind to their advantage in securing key runs batted in for the Eagles in their 4-3 comeback win against the Indians. Garmon was the first to deliver in the top of the third inning. The Eagles second baseman selected a pitch he could elevate to score Alex Snyder from third base on the sacrifice fly, providing Grain Valley an early lead. Bosserman would follow suit in the top of the sixth inning with the bases loaded. The Eagles shortstop would jump on the first pitch he saw and lifted a fly ball a mile high that twisted in the wind to land safely between third base and left field. The base hit was Bosserman’s third of the day and scored outfielders Snyder and Parker Stone. Bosserman continues to show a knack for connecting with fastballs in at-bats. “I adjusted my hands (on the bat) at the plate and looked for something I could lift. The ball took off enough to score Alex (Snyder). It was great to see the smiles on the faces of my teammates afterwards,” Garmon said. Bosserman added, “I was looking to be selective and possibly walk in my final at-bat. Instead, I went after the first pitch I saw, and the wind helped me with the rest. The baseball landed in a perfect spot and we got to continue our rally. Yep, I seem to be pulling everything at the plate right now.” Accompanying the Eagles offensive success was the starting pitching of Cole Keller on the mound. The senior hurler would give up two earned runs across five innings while striking out six and walking three. Keller would lean on his fastball when he needed to throw strikes and challenge hitters. Equally as impressive was the pick off of a Fort
Osage baserunner at second base in the bottom of the first inning by Keller. “The strike zone was tight today and that made me focus on where I placed my pitches. It worked out well in that I threw strikes. I was impressed with the way Kaden (Jeffries) pitched in relief. The catch that Alex (Snyder) made at the end of the game was big for us as well. He is a young guy on this team that is stepping up to help his team win,” Keller said. Grain Valley third baseman Riley Bown would support Keller on the mound with a nifty defensive play in the bottom of the second inning. Bown would get his body in front of a hard hit grounder only to have it bounce off his forearm before picking up the ball and firing it to first base to record the out. Bown would not be alone in providing defensive gems for the Eagles. Snyder would record the last out of the game on a dead sprint towards the fence in right center field. The sophomore would put his outstretched glove on the ball just in time. Snyder took the correct route towards the baseball from the first step of his read while battling the sun and wind. Both Bown and Snyder drew loud applause from Grain Valley fans in attendance for their efforts. Eagles head baseball coach Brian Driskell admitted he did not know what to expect heading into the final inning as the energy level did not feel at high level amongst his team. The calm demeanor of Driskell’s team turned out to be a business like approach of finishing out the ball game. One that moved the Eagles record to 14-6 on the season and left Driskell happy with the outcome. “I did not think that Cole was at his best from start to finish, but he was really, really good there for three to four innings before he got tired near the end of his outing. He competed well with the tighter strike zone. Kaden (Jeffries) came in and threw hard late in the game to close things out as well,” Driskell said. “I think I may have cost us a few runs today at third base in my judgment of sending runners. Both Avery (Garmon)
Right fielder Alex Snyder makes a well timed catch for the last out of the game. Photo credit: John Overstreet
Left: Second baseman Avery Garmon advances to third base. Right: Starting pitcher Cole Keller delivers the ball from the mound. Photo credit: John Overstreet and Parker (Bosserman) picked me up, so that was big. Garmon saw the ball well today. Bosserman is a case of where the rich keep getting richer. He has a high average that will continue after his bloop hit that followed two scorchers.” Driskell concluded, “That was an
outstanding play by Alex Snyder there at the end of the game. We talk a lot about if you cannot help yourself offensively, then you help yourself defensively. That saved the game and was as big as hitting a grand slam. That was a massive play.”
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Sports
Page 11
Lady Eagles roll past Patriots by John Unrein
The confidence on display by the Lady Eagles soccer team in their Suburban Conference matchup against the Truman Patriots was perhaps best summarized by midfielder Raena Childers. The senior paused briefly before remarking, “We are pretty legit I would say,” when asked to reflect on the best thing about being 12-1. The statement drew an immediate smile from teammate Emma Thiessen who nodded in agreement. The duo combined for eight of Grain Valley’s goals in their 110 victory over the Truman Patriots on April 27th. Both Childers and Thiessen had a plethora of break away chances that resulted in each putting four goals in the net. Clearing all defenders and getting into open space raises the pulse of both the charging player and opposing goalie as this is one of the rarest instances in a soccer game. Someone is going to be ecstatic, and the other party equal in discontentment. Childers and Thiessen each shared their perspective of what this moment is like for them. “My first thought is that I have to get it done. If I do all the work to be one on one with the goalie and miss, then it was a waste,” Childers said. “This team is strong, young, and passionate. We love the game, and we work hard for each other.” Thiessen added, “You do peek at the location of the goalie in those instances as you are processing the coming shot. We work on those situations in practice, so your mindset is about finishing when it occurs during a game.” “We enjoy a fast tempo of play. The
respect we have for each other permits us to work well as a team.” The Eagles were indeed fast in surmounting a lead that allowed the spread rule of an eight goal lead or more be invoked at half time. Grain Valley spent much of the first forty minutes on Truman’s side of the field. Executing well placed throws from out of bounds aided the Lady Eagles in executing their offense. Defender/Midfielder Lexie Arreguin continues to excel in this role for Grain Valley. The junior would also score a goal twelve minutes into the first half. “It has been two years since I scored a goal, so that was pretty crazy tonight when it occurred. I really enjoy defense, but it is always fun to have the chance to score,” Arreguin said. “I pick a spot in my mind after surveying the field and lob the ball (on throw-ins). Coach (Tyler) Nichol encourages me to throw the ball long with the nods he gives me if I am on our sideline.” Arreguin finished, “It is so cool to have the record we have, and I am looking forward to seeing how far we get as the season continues.” Lady Eagles head coach Tyler Nichol is not surprised by the level of confidence on display by his team. Nichol points to the tough non-conference schedule Grain Valley played early on against opponents like Kearney, Park Hill South, and Notre Dame de Sion. That level of competition has bolstered his team as they prepare for the month of May and postseason soccer.
Lexi Arreguin battles for control of the soccer ball. Photo credit: John Overstreet
Emma Thiessen prepares to put the ball in play. Photo credit: John Overstreet
Raena Childers breaks into the clear. Photo credit: John Overstreet “It is for sure better to be where we are at than to have to build it there,” Nichol said. “Good sportsmanship and character are the most important things that we want to show. At the same time, we have goals on the field that we are working towards and getting some of our players more than ten minutes on the field matters. At what point do you make rotational changes with your players? You have to find balance and we tried to do that tonight.”
Nichol continued, “Manny (Tovar) is a great coach (for Truman) and he understands. We have a good relationship and his team pushed hard tonight the best they could. With everything that has gone on in the last year, the most important thing is that we are all happy to be playing soccer. We are blessed that we have not lost a game yet due to quarantine.” The Lady Eagles remain undefeated in their conference schedule. A young Grain Valley varsity squad with eight freshmen, including goalkeeper Morgan Solomon, who recorded the shutout in net against the Patriots, will next face Fort Osage, Incarnate Word Academy, and William Chrisman in the coming week.
Student athletes honored by GKCFCA by PrepsKC staff (www.prepskc.com)
The Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association honored its 22 scholarship winners at a banquet held Sunday at The McCarthy Chevrolet store in Olathe. The dinner was held to honor the players who each earned a $1,000 scholarship courtesy of The McCarthy Auto Group. The 12th Man award was also given to a non-player who made an impact to football in the Kansas City Metro. Here are this year's winners from Grain Valley: Landen Hinton – Grain Valley Landen has a 4.14 GPA, scored a 29 on the ACT and is ranked 50th in his class. He has been named All-District, All-
Conference and All-Area by The Examiner. Landen has also participated
in wrestling and track. Off the field he has been named Academic All-State for football twice, is a three-time DECA state qualifier and is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America. Landen is also an assistant coach for Legacy softball. His Principal Dr. Jeremy Plowman speaks highly of Landen: “Landen has taken an amazing six Advanced Placement courses throughout his career. His AP Lit. teacher brags about his ability to write and connect ideas…Landen was a big reason the offense averaged almost 40 points a game. He not only knew his blocking assignment, but everyone
else’s also. He is tough and focused. We were blessed to have him attend Grain Valley High School.” Landen will attend the University of Missouri and study accounting. Hunter Newsom – Grain Valley Hunter has a 4.42 GPA, scored a 22 on the ACT and ranks 10th in his class. He was first-team Suburban White AllConference, conference defensive player of the year, Examiner player of the year, KMZU Class 4-5 defensive player of the year and All-State. Hunter also participates in wrestling where he was a placer in his sophomore and junior seasons before winning a state title this year. He is a member of the National Honor Society, co-executive of the NHS
School Committee and a member of the Grain Valley Sports League. Grain Valley Principal Dr. Jeremy Plowman said of Hunter: “Hunter Newsom is the epitome of a student athlete. The same skills he has shown on the football field and wrestling mat, he consistently shows in the classroom. He is a leader by example and knows how to encourage people to be their best…Both in the classroom and outside Hunter encourages his peers and respects his teachers and coaches.” Hunter will attend South Dakota School of Mines where he will play football.
Community Calendar Friday, April 30, 2021
Monday, May 10, 2021
Saturday, May 1, 2021
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Grow a Reader Virtual Storytime 10:00am -10:20am www.mymcpl.org/events
Children’s Day and Sheep Sheering 9:00am—4:30pm Missouri Town 1855, 8010 East Park Road, Lees Summit 64064 Adults: $7; Children (5-13): $4; Seniors (62 and older): $4; Children 4 and under— Free Spring has sprung and it is time to celebrate! Visit Missouri Town 1855, an open-air living history museum spread across 30 acres, and learn about life in the 19th century. Children will delight in the time-honored games and crafts typical of the mid-1800s including stilts, egg races, tin punching, log sawing, and more. The whole family will enjoy listening to period music, touring the heirloom plant gardens, and meeting our heritage breed livestock, including our team of oxen – Studebaker and Weber!
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Word Basics: Bullets and Numbering 2:00pm—2:30pm In part two of our paragraphs group series, let’s learn how to add bullets and numbering to your document’s lists. Registration is required. www.mymcpl.org/events
Wednesday, May 5, 2021 Grow a Reader Virtual Storytime 10:00am -10:20am www.mymcpl.org/events
Up your Facebook game for your business 6:00pm—7:30pm Learn how to put Facebook to work marketing your business. Square One for Business event www.mymcpl.org/events
Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main ST
Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting 6:30pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main ST
Saturday, May 15, 2021
“City Wide” Wide” Garage Sales The city wide garage sales are held the 3rd Saturday in May. This is not a citysponsored event. Add your garage sale to Valley News May 13th directory for only $5. https://www.grainvalleynews.com/ store/p2/garagesale.html
Monday, May 24, 2021
Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main ST
Saturday, June 5, 2021
City Wide Clean Up event 8:00am—2:00pm 405 James Rollo DR, Grain Valley City Wide Clean Up is a free annual service by our Public Works division. It is an opportunity for Grain Valley residents to dispose of unwanted items. Items that are not accepted include: tires, paint, oil, refrigerators, household cleaners/chemicals, air conditioner units, bagged trash, yard waste or clippings. Proof of residency is required.
Add your community event at www.grainvalleynews.com/ eventscalendar
Grain Valley Community Calendar sponsored by
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