Enrollment up as back-to-school events begin With less than two weeks remaining until school begins in Grain Valley, backto-school activities have begun in earnest. Registration for high school students began this week, with Meet the Teacher nights at each of the district’s schools set for next week. While other area districts, such as Shawnee Mission School District, are starting the school year with numerous teaching openings left unfilled, Dr. Brad Welle, Deputy Superintendent, Student and Community Services, reports Grain Valley Schools has only one teaching opening, a special education position, unfilled now. “This is a recent opening. Filling certain roles had been getting more difficult in recent years, but this is the first year the work of filling our teaching positions got more challenging across the board. There are fewer applicants for all teaching positions overall,” Welle said. “Our greatest struggle is filling our non-certificated roles. We currently have openings in paraprofessionals, custodial, and Valley Kids. We will need more substitute teachers soon after the start of the school year.” Student numbers are looking up for 2021-22, after a net gain of just 18
students in the last school year. As of this week, the district has 4,665 students enrolled in preK-12th grades. “This number is typically artificially high in the days before school starts because it includes new students but those who have moved away but have not enrolled at their new schools are also still included in the count. Even so, we could end up with 150-175 more students than a year ago,” Welle said. “We use October enrollment for yearover-year comparisons. Our enrollment on the first attendance day in October 2020 was 4428 and was 4410 in 2019. Our numbers last year will likely be the outlier. We have averaged a net gain of 78 students each year since 2015, with most of our growth occurring at the middle school and high school levels. We saw the most year-over-year growth in recent years in 2017-2018 with a net gain of 153 students over the previous year.” Kindergarten numbers for the district are increasing this year after dropping off for the first time last year at this time. Welle reported kindergarten enrollment as of August 11th is 303, compared to 282 in October 2020 and 320 in October 2019.
Good News: Cakes, Cops & Conversations Stop by Armstrong Park on Saturday, August 14th for breakfast and get to know the officers who serve your community. Chris Cakes will be serving up their famous all-you-can-eat pancakes from
8:00am—11:00am, with donations accepted to benefit police department community outreach programs. No RSVP required. For more information, call 816-847-6250.
Missouri Trivia by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Answers to last week’s trivia questions! In what year was Jackson County formed? 1826 (December 15) In which township is Grain Valley located? BONUS: How many townships are there? Sni-A-Bar (Bonus: 8) When was Grain Valley first incorporated? September 5, 1878 What was the name of the railroad which first came through Grain Valley? Chicago & Alton Railroad In what year did Grain Valley’s first brick school burn? 1925 In what year did the Grain Valley Middle School on Eagles’ Parkway transition to
become Grain Valley High School? January 1996 For which 1956 GVHS graduate is the student union at the University of Central Missouri named for? Eddie Mayes Elliott Who was the first GVHS graduate to receive NAIA All-American honors? BONUS: Where did he play and coach college football? Kenneth Gibler (Bonus: Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO Who was the first GVHS graduate to attend West Point? HINT: 2020 GVHS grad Cole Keller’s great uncle. Rob Wyatt In what year did the Grain Valley Band participate in the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade? The New York City Thanksgiving Day Parade? 1989, 2016
Image credit: City of Grain Valley
In This Edition: Looking Back: Looking Forward
3
Your Health: Plants on your plate—zucchini
7
Sports: Grain Valley Volleyball reloads for 2021 season
8
Cover Image: Fall sports kick off with Blue & White Day on Saturday. See Sports on pages 8-9 for this week’s highlights. Photo credit: Michael Smith
2 Officers return to work after encountering unknown substance Two Grain Valley police officers who were hospitalized on Tuesday, August 3rd after encountering an unknown substance during a search of a vehicle have returned to work on light duty
according to GVPD Police Chief James Beale. There is no update on the substance that injured the officers.
Board approves fix for storm water drainage well In a brief meeting on August 9th highlighted by proclamations honoring the Grain Valley Historical Society’s efforts related to the state’s bicentennial and the service of retired Judge John Jack, the Board of Aldermen approved a resolution to repair a storm water drainage swell located between Blue Branch Dr and Dean Drive. The
estimated cost for repairs is $27,383. Mayor Johnston took a moment at the end of the meeting to thank the Board, City staff, and residents for their condolences following the passing of his wife and for the get well wishes as he recovers from a recent illness. The next scheduled board meeting will be held Monday, August 23rd.
Police Blotter The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of July 28—August 3, 2021.
1200 Block of NW Valley Ridge
July 28, 2021 100 Block of Sunny LN 700 Block of Whitestone DR 400 Block of Graystone 400 Block of Walnut 1300 Block of Stoneybrook 1300 Block of Hilltop 1300 Block of Valley Woods CT 2700 Block of Dillingham 1300 Block of Stoneybrook
Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Alarm Agency Assist-BSPD Citizen Contact Noise Complaint Suspicious Person Harassment Welfare Check
July 29, 2021 I 70 700 Block of Whitestone DR 1100 Block of N Main 600 Block of Valley Ridge Cir 1300 Block of NW Ashley LN 800 Block of Foxtail
Agency Assist-OGPD Peace Disturbance Suspicious Activity Stealing Area Check Fraud
July 30, 2021 300 Block of Woodbury Lakeview & Brome 100 Block of Sunny LN 1200 Block of NW Long 1000 Block of Christie 1200 Block of NW Pamela BLVD 700 Block of Main 700 Block of Main 200 Block of NW Broadway 1100 Block of NW Casey BLVD AA HWY 100 Block of Rock Creek LN Tisha & Meadowood 700 Block of Main 600 Block of Tisha
Standby Noise Complaint Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Hit and Run Stealing Noise Complaint Citizen Contact Parking Complaint Suspicious Activity Verbal Disturbance Civil Matter Trespass Citizen Contact Disturbance
July 31, 2021 100 Block of Sunny LN 500 Block of Broadway 600 Block of Yennie 200 Block of Cross Creek 1100 Block of Main ST 1200 Block of Dean DR
Citizen Contact Area Check Suspicious Vehicle Physical Disturbance Citizen Contact Verbal Disturbance
Ooida 200 Block of EE Kirby 700 Block of Main 1000 Block of Sandy LN EB I 70 Off Ramp
Stealing and Property Damage Area Check Motor Vehicle Accident Found Property Assault Agency Assist-MSHP
August 1, 2021 1200 Block of NW Willow DR 700 Block of NW Woodland Cir 200 Block of Cross Creek LN Meadow & Long 400 Block of Woodbury 1300 Block of Valley View CT 700 Block of Main
Verbal Disturbance Stealing Suspicious Vehicle Suspicious Activity Dog Bite Abandoned Car Citizen Contact via Phone I 70 Over BB Agency Assist-MSHP 300 Block of SW 1st ST Oak Grove Agency Assist-OGPD 1100 Block of N Main ST Fraud 300 Block of SW Creek Ridge DR Stealing 1200 Block of NW Phelps DR Found Property 700 Block of SW Whitestone DR Civil Standby August 2, 2021 200 Block of Cross Creek 1400 Block of Willow 600 Block of Ridgeview 700 Block of Main Rosewood
Harassment Disturbance Motor Vehicle Accident Citizen Contact Found Property
August 3, 2021 1500 Block of Erin CT 500 Block of SW Creekridge DR 700 Block of Whitestone DR 700 Block of Whitestone DR Barr & Sawgrass 700 Block of Shorthorn
Disturbance Past Suspicious Parties Civil Standby Citizen Contact Suspicious Person Suspicious Vehicle
Additional calls for service: Suicidal subjects: 5 Domestic violence: 2 Order of protection: 1
Traffic Alert: Resurfacing work scheduled for portion of MO Route 78 on Aug. 20 MODOT Kansas City will be completing resurfacing work along MO Route 78 at the intersection of MO Route 291 beginning at 8:00pm on Friday, Aug. 20, until approximately noon the following day. This work will require the closure of various lanes in the area. Motorists are advised to plan ahead
as there may be delays in the area. All work is weather permitting. Crews will close the left through lane of both northbound and southbound MO Route 291 during this time. Crews will close the right lane of both eastbound and westbound MO Route 78 during this time.
Grain Valley News is a free community paper, published weekly on Thursdays online at www.grainvalleynews.com and on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month in print.
Cory Unrein | Co-Owner/Publisher John Unrein | Co-Owner/Production Manager Cathy Allie | Staff Writer, Proofreader John Overstreet | Contributing Photographer Michael Smith | Staff Writer, Sports Mail: PO Box 2972 Grain Valley MO 64029 Phone: 816.809.7984 Email: news@grainvalleynews.com
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Looking Back
3 Grain Valley Fair Parade Entries Due Sept. 3rd
Looking Back: Looking Forward by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Several months ago the historical society signed up to place a packet in the Bicentennial Time Capsule which will be stored at the State Historical Society of Missouri. Organizations and institutions, businesses, as well as local and state government agencies were invited to participate by contributing three items: one to represent our past, one to represent our present, and a note to future Missourians. Once the items are received and sent to the State Historical Society in Columbia, MO., we will be sent a certificate of contribution. The time capsule contents will be housed there until August 10, 2046, when they will be made available to the public. We are sending three photographs to represent our past: Main Street, circa 1912; the original Grain Valley Depot and a photo representing Sni-A-Bar Farms. To represent the present, three photo collages have been prepared, one of city buildings, one of our schools, and one with business logos. The following letter will be included as a note to future Missourians.
August 10, 2021 Trying to imagine Grain Valley in 25 years, 2046, is difficult. Reflecting to 1946, the business district stretched only 6 blocks along Main Street, the population was 362 people and the graduation class had only 20 members walk across the stage to receive their diploma in the $75,000 brick school built in 1926. Twenty-five years ago, 1996, the businesses had grown slightly, with some gasoline stations along I-70 and a few light manufacturing industries. The population had grown to nearly 5,000 and a new high school and a second elementary school had been completed. Today, 311 business licenses have been issued for this year within the Grain Valley city limits. Due to Covid 19, the United States Census for 2020 has been delayed, however, city officials estimate the population to be slightly over 16,000. In May, 331 students graduated from our nearly $50 million-dollar, state of the art high school.
To the citizens opening this time capsule in 2046: Our sincere hope is that you celebrate your past as a legacy for the future. As Grain Valley continues to grow and develop, may the caring concern for others and the pride of community continue to flourish among our citizens.
The 2021 Grain Valley Fair Parade returns on Saturday, September 11th and will be presented by Grain Valley News. This year’s theme will be “Looking Back. Moving Forward.” As our state celebrates its bicentennial this year, we thought it was a fitting theme to look back at where we have been as a community and look forward to a bright future. Our honorary Grand Marshals, the Grain Valley Historical Society, will receive 100% of the entry fees from this year’s event. To guarantee you are judged and announced, entry forms (and payment, if required) must be received by Friday, September 3, 2021. The parade will begin at 2:00pm with lineup at the high school beginning approximately 12:30pm. Judging will occur on the parade route. There is no fee for school or nonprofit organizations. For entry forms and more information, visit www.grainvalleynews.com/parade, or email news@grainvalleynews.com.
200 years of statehood celebrated at Capitol (from Missouri.Senate.Gov) On a hot day in August, hundreds of people gathered outside the State Capitol for a birthday party. The State of Missouri turned 200 years old on Aug. 10 and celebrated the occasion with festivities in Jefferson City. The highlight of Missouri Statehood Day for many was a formal ceremony held on the Statehouse lawn, but there were also exhibits, tours, musical performances, the swearing-in of 33 new U.S. citizens and an ice cream social, one of dozens held simultaneously in cities all across the state. Addressing the crowd gathered on the south lawn of the State Capitol on Tuesday, Gary Kremer, executive director of the State Historical Society of Missouri set the tone for the day. He recalled the divisive acceptance of Missouri into the union of United States – only possible through the adoption of the “Missouri Compromise” – and praised the perseverance and tenacity of early settlers. He recounted some of the more
notable favorite sons and daughters of the state and spoke of the complexity and diversity of our people. At the end of his remarks, he held out a vision of even greater history to come. “Happy birthday, Missouri” Kremer said. “May you continue to be a place of promise, and may our third century of statehood be the time in which that promise is fulfilled.” The ceremony on the Capitol lawn also included remarks by the governor, the chief judge of the Missouri Supreme Court and the unveiling of a new U.S. postage stamp bearing an image of the historic Bollinger Mill in southeast Missouri. Musical entertainment was provided by the Missouri National Guard’s 135th Army Band and the Missouri Choral Directors Association’s All -Star Festival Choir. Missouri’s poet laureate, Maryfrances Wagner, recited verses she penned in honor of the bicentennial. Following the speeches and music, visitors and guests escaped the August
heat and regathered in the cool comfort of the Capitol Rotunda to witness 33 applicants from 19 different countries take the oath of U.S. citizenship. Visitors to the Capitol also enjoyed a number of special exhibits
commemorating the bicentennial. The Missouri State Quilters Guild presented the Missouri Bicentennial Quilt, with one panel representing each county in the state, as well as the city of St. Louis.
Business
4 Fries for School Supplies to support local teachers To support local teachers, local owneroperators of McDonald's Great Plains CoOp launch Fries for School Supplies fundraiser. At more than 130 McDonald’s restaurants across the Greater Kansas City metro, Lawrence, St. Joseph, and
surrounding areas, 10% of proceeds from a la carte fry sales between August 16th 20th will be donated to local school districts.
5 prep steps to protect and power your business (Family Features) An unexpected event such as a seasonal storm can wreak havoc on your business. While you may not be able to manage Mother Nature, you can take steps to protect your business against the impact of a natural disaster. Make a Plan If you haven't mapped out how your business operations would change in the aftermath of a natural disaster, this should be your first priority. Consider scenarios in which the physical location of your business is inaccessible, a significant portion of your staff is unable to come to work or any other situation that could result in the inability to continue business as usual. Your plan should address minor impacts up to a worst-case scenario and outline how you'll adjust accordingly, including which staff members will be responsible for leading each change. Define contingency resources and operating standards so you can quickly shift gears as soon as you can safely do so. Ensure a Reliable Power Source Power is often one of the first resources affected by weather-related disasters, and depending on the severity of the storm, outages can be lengthy. Adequate power is essential for keeping your business moving and ensuring operations don't come to a halt during a time of need. Establishing a partnership with a power expert like your local Interstate All Battery Center can help with your everyday power needs while also guaranteeing you're prepared for unexpected events. A professional partner's expert counsel can guide you toward the right power source for your system in addition to helping prevent the logistical impact of battery failures, unplanned downtime or subpar performance.
Keep Insurance Up to Date As a business owner, you shoulder a great deal of responsibility, not only for your business and its assets but also for the people you employ. Maintaining a current and adequate insurance policy is an essential business practice. If you don't make it a habit to review the terms of your policy each renewal period, take time to do so right away. If you find any areas of potential exposure, contact your insurance agent to discuss how you can better protect your employees, your business and, ultimately, yourself. Consider How Assets are Stored Whether your business produces tangible goods or you deal in data, your assets may become inaccessible in the event of a natural disaster. Regular backups, digital file management and remote access can protect vital business information. Be conscious of storage needs you may take for granted with your current business setup. Your backup storage plan should include vendors located well outside your region who you've vetted and know you can trust. Anticipate Communication Needs In the hours, days and weeks following a natural disaster, you can expect an elevated need for information by everyone who is involved with your business, from your senior leadership team and other employees to customers and vendors. Think about how you typically communicate with each of these audiences and what changes may be necessary if your normal operations are disrupted. Decide ahead of time who will be responsible for leading communication updates and discuss your expectations about transparency and timeliness to ensure your business circle stays apprised of developments.
For sponsorship opportuni es and to register, call Tasha at 816‐443‐5162 or email info@growgrainvalley.org. Silent auc on item dona ons are also welcomed. Please contact Tasha (816‐443‐5162) to do‐ nate an item for the silent auc on.
www.growgrainvalley.org
State News
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Lawmakers say special session likely unneeded to fund Missouri Medicaid expansion Tessa Weinberg, Missouri Independent (www.missouriindependent.com) Legislative leaders of both parties said Tuesday that a special session is likely not needed to appropriate additional funds following a court order to begin covering Missourians who are eligible under voter-approved Medicaid expansion. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dan Hegeman, R-Cosby, Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, DIndependence, and Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis and ranking minority member of the House Budget Committee, all said any supplemental funding can wait until the next regular session that starts in January. The approximately $12 billion appropriated for the state’s Medicaid program will likely be sufficient to cover eligible Missourians until lawmakers can return, they said. By that time, lawmakers will have a clearer idea of the total costs, which will depend on how many newly-eligible Missourians eventually enroll. “I don’t know if there’s any need right now to do a special session,” Hegeman said.The lawmakers’ predictions came shortly after Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem ruled Tuesday that Department of Social Services officials cannot deny the approximately 275,000 Missourians that qualify for benefits from enrolling and cannot impose greater restrictions on their care than current Medicaid clients. While the courts have affirmed that Missouri must move forward with Medicaid expansion, it remains a question of when state lawmakers will authorize additional funding to pay for it long-term. “We all know what the obstacle is,” Gov. Mike Parson told reporters Tuesday after the judge’s ruling was issued. “We don’t have the funding to support it right now. So we’ve got to figure out how we’re going to do that, you know, whether we’re going to dilute the pool of money that we have now for the people that’s on the program, and just how we’re going to move forward.” This past legislative session, lawmakers refused to appropriate the estimated $1.9 billion in state and federal funds needed to finance Medicaid expansion. Parson withdrew paperwork submitted to federal regulators necessary to implement expansion, citing the lack of funding. The lawsuit finalized Tuesday was the result, with Beetem initially declaring the initiative that put expansion on the ballot to be unconstitutional. But last month, the Missouri Supreme Court overturned Beetem’s earlier ruling, and said in a unanimous decision that by allocating funds for the Medicaid program, the state must allow everyone eligible to access those benefits — and cannot differentiate between those who previously qualified versus those newly eligible.
Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, sent a letter to Parson Tuesday urging him to call a special session for lawmakers to appropriate additional funding. Aldridge wrote that expansion had been put off for far too long already — noting it would help benefit Missourians, especially people of color and those in high poverty communities, amid the pandemic. “We have a responsibility now to do what should have been done earlier this year during the budget process,” he wrote. “You hold the authority to ensure the General Assembly does not let this essential program go unfunded. I encourage you to use it.” Parson told St. Louis Public Radio’s “Politically Speaking” last week, that he will not call a special session to allocate additional funding unless there’s a plan in place. He also said he did not want to lose the 90 percent match the federal government pays for the costs of newly eligible Medicaid participants. A spokeswoman for the governor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday on whether Parson is considering calling a special session. Hegeman said he has been in conversations with House Budget Chairman Cody Smith, RCarthage, and the governor’s office to determine when the legislature should meet to appropriate funds. He said he would have to see whether he would support a special session if it’s deemed necessary. “We’d have to find consensus within the legislature to move in that fashion,” Hegeman said. “And we’ve just not even had that discussion yet.” Both Rizzo and Merideth said they would support a special session if it turns out additional funds are needed. “There’s ample amounts of money and ways to do it,” Rizzo said. “We don’t need to even get into the discussion of, ‘where are the triggers,’ and ‘where to do this or that.’ They have plenty of money to be able to do it. And they need to do it. And they need to do it now.” Merideth said he doesn’t expect expansion to require additional appropriations of general revenue. The social services department simply needs spending authority to use federal matching funds that will come to the state. Parson’s January budget proposal estimated expansion would cost $130 million in general revenue, $1.65 billion from federal funds and additional funding from sources like taxes on medical providers. However, since then Congress passed the American Rescue Plan, which cut states’ share of their existing programs by 5 percent if they expand their Medicaid programs. That would save Missouri more than $1 billion over the next two years. “There’s no compromise that we have
to come up with. There’s no spending cuts we have to come up with. There’s no funding source we have to come up with. It’s all right there,” Merideth said. “And it’s in fact required by the Constitution that we do that, because it says we have to maximize the federal dollars we can leverage.” Hegeman, Rizzo and Merideth all said that they do not anticipate cuts to increased provider rates that many Republican lawmakers had argued would help support existing Medicaid clients, in order to pay for Medicaid expansion. It is uncertain when the social services department will begin accepting new enrollees. Meredith said the department has told lawmakers that it will begin right away. A spokeswoman for DSS did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Attorneys for the state tried to delay Beetem’s Tuesday order, arguing that the department needed two more months to stand up additional computer systems and personnel.
Hegeman, who voted against appropriations for Medicaid expansion during the legislative session, said the fight is over. “Now we just got to get through the mechanics of it and how do we move forward after it’s been resolved that the issue is constitutional,” Hegeman said. “Now it’s time to move forward. Move on.”
Tessa Weinberg covers education, health care and the legislature. She previously covered the Missouri statehouse for The Kansas City Star and The Columbia Missourian, where her reporting into social media use by the governor prompted an investigation by the Attorney General’s office. She most recently covered state government in Texas for The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Community News
6
Jacomo Chorale hires Byas as Musical Director The Jacomo Chorale hired Marvin G. Byas IV as Musical Director. Byas brings with him several years of experience in choral music. His educational preparation in Vocal Music Education is from Northwest Missouri State University and Missouri Western State University. He has worked in both community and church settings as well as in musical theatre. Prior to joining the Jacomo Chorale, Mr. Byas was the Choirmaster at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Maryville, MO; Director of Music and Choirmaster at Christ Episcopal Church, St. Joseph, MO; Director of Music and Choirmaster at Calvary Episcopal Church, Columbia, MO and was the founding Artistic Director of The Farnham and Byas Playhouse in Columbia. In addition, he was a member of the development committee of the Maplewood Barn Community Theatre,
also in Columbia. While with Christ Episcopal Church, Mr. Byas was the Artistic Director, Choirmaster and Conductor for a regional tour of Handel’s “Funeral Anthem for Queen Caroline” and Artistic Director and Conductor of Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”. Founded in 1987 by Harold Neal of Independence, MO the Jacomo Chorale is a 30-voice community choir based in Eastern Jackson County. The Chorale looks forward to resuming rehearsals and performances in late 2021. Tentative plans include beginning rehearsals in October, with a Christmas concert in December. The chorale is actively seeking new members. No formal audition is required. For more information contact Nancy White, Chorale Manager at njwhite1973@gmail.com or 816-5609148. http://jacomochorale.org
Answers to last week’s puzzle.
Marvin G. Byas IV has joined the Jacomo Chorale as Musical Director. Photo courtesy Jacomo Chorale.
Play puzzles online at www.grainvalleynews.com.
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Your Health
7
Plants on your plate: Zucchini by Denise Sullivan, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, MU Extension Zucchini – an often misunderstood and scorned vegetable. When it is growing in abundance, people often try to give it away to neighbors or even ‘dropping and dashing’ on doorsteps! I too, have shared my overage with friends and family, sometimes to the point of begging them to please take it. My solution to overabundance is to have a wide variety of preparation options to choose from. Zucchini is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family and is known in Europe as ‘courgette’. It descends from squash plants grown through Central America and into Mexico more than 7000 years ago. Zucchini as we know it today was bred in Milan in the late 19th century and appeared in North America in the early 20th century. It is categorized as a summer squash, with a tender skin and small edible seeds. Ordinary zucchini can range in color from shades of green to deep golden. Squash is one of the ‘three sisters’ plants, along with corn and beans, commonly grown in native American cultures. The corn provided a structure for the climbing beans, while the bean vines better rooted the corn to ground so the stalks were not as easily blown over or washed out. The beans added nitrogen in the soil to fertilize the other plants. The squash vines acted as living mulch to deter weed plants and retain moisture in the soil, while the prickly stems deterred pests from damaging the plants. When the three crops were eaten together, they provided a nutritional balance of carbohydrates,
protein, healthy fats, and vitamins. Zucchini, alone, is a good source of antioxidants Vitamins A and C, as well as potassium, magnesium, and folate. These nutrients help to reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers, aid in eye health and healing of skin and gums. Zucchinis are best when harvested when they are six to eight inches long. They can be eaten raw on a vegetable tray or cooked in a variety of ways. Some of my favorite cooking methods included sauteing or roasting as a side dish, stuffed with a variety of fillings as a main dish, or even baked as a sweet treat like cake or muffins. It is not uncommon for zucchini to ‘hide’ in my garden and suddenly grow to the size of my forearm! When they grow past the ‘young and tender’ stage, I prefer to use these for baking into bread, and I will often shred and freeze in one to two cup quantities to use later. With this method, you will want to drain the liquid that separates prior to use. Another good use for overmature zucchini is preparing in a relish. The recipe provided is one that I prefer over a standard cucumber relish and is simple for even a novice canner. If you are new to food preservation, please seek out reliable, research-based resources, like the National Center for Home Food Preservation at https:// nchfp.uga.edu/ or MU Extension’s Food Preservation website https:// extension.missouri.edu/programs/foodpreservation You might also consider enrolling in MU Extension’s self-paced on-line course, which can be found at https:// extension.missouri.edu/foodpreservation-2021
Summer Squash Relish 4 pounds fresh, firm yellow and/or zucchini summer squash ½ cup diced sweet onion (about 2.4 ounces prepared) 2 cups cider vinegar (5%) 2¼ cups white sugar 2 teaspoons celery seed 2 teaspoons turmeric 4 teaspoons mustard seed Yield: About 5 pint jars Please read Using Boiling Water Canners before beginning. If this is your first time canning, it is recommended that you read Principles of Home Canning. Procedure: Wash and rinse pint or half-pint canning jars; keep hot until ready to fill. Prepare lids and ring bands according to manufacturer’s directions. Rinse squash well, remove blossom and stem ends and shred in a food processor. Peel onions and remove root and stem ends. Rinse well and dice, or shred in a food processor. Combine remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Carefully add squash and onions. Return combined ingredients to a boil; boil gently for 5 minutes, stirring often. Pack hot vegetables with liquid into hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace if needed. Make sure liquid covers the top of the food pieces. Wipe rims of jars with a dampened, clean paper towel. Apply and adjust prepared canning lids. Process in a boiling water canner according to the recommendations for altitude: (Style of pack: Hot) Jar size: pints or half pints 0-1000 feet: 15 minutes 1,001-6,000 feet: 20 minutes 6,000+ feet: 25 minutes Let cool, undisturbed, 12 to 24 hours and check for seals.
Denise Sullivan is a Nutrition and Health Education Specialist for MU Extension in the Urban West Region, serving Jackson and Platte Counties. For research-based nutrition and food
safety information and programs, visit https://extension.missouri.edu/counties/ urban-west-region
5 healthy travel must-have for when you get back on the go (StatePoint) After a year during which many Americans stayed home to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, they’re now taking to the highways, railways, byways and highways in great numbers for vacations of all kinds. If you’re among them, consider packing these travel must -haves for a healthier experience. 1. Sun protection. Heading to the beach? Ditch the umbrella in favor of a beach tent. The pop-up options from WolfWise set up in seconds and are made of an eco-friendly silver coating that effectively blocks up to 98% of the sun’s
harmful UV rays, offering all-day protection for you and your family. Designed to stay in place with the weight of four easily-filled sandbags, they can withstand a hard breeze, eliminating the hassle of chasing umbrellas down the beach. 2. Healthy hydration. It’s time for a water filter bottle. Whether you’re filling up at the airport, from your hotel tap, or on the road, packing a good water filter bottle means you won’t have to drink nasty tasting tap water or pay for expensive bottled water. Check out the
LifeStraw Go Stainless Steel Water Bottle With Filter. It not only improves taste, but also protects against bacteria, parasites, microplastics, chlorine, organic chemical matter, dirt, sand, and cloudiness and it keeps your water cool. Packing light? The LifeStraw’s BPA-free water Filter Bottle is another great choice from the brand, as it offers all the same healthy hydration benefits and is super easy to take with you anywhere. 3. First aid. Whether you are road tripping or flying to your destination, it’s a good idea to pack a first aid kit in your car
or suitcase containing the essentials needed to quickly manage minor cuts, scrapes, bites, stings, burns, aches, pains and more. This is especially true if you’re heading to a remote location, or somewhere you’re likely to experience a language barrier. While you may want to customize your kit based on you and your travel companions’ specific needs, a highquality kit, such as the Ultralight/ Watertight Medical Kit from REI, can be affordably purchased and is a good starting point for most travelers. 4. Let’s talk allergies. For those with
see TRAVEL on page 10
Sports
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Logan Pratt returns from injury to be a big part of Eagles offense by Michael Smith Logan Pratt was a player Grain Valley head coach David Allie was excited about heading into the 2020 season. The then-junior was going to provide the Eagles with a lot of speed and a consistent deep threat for one of the best quarterbacks in the Kansas City area, Cole Keller. The opportunity for Grain Valley fans to see the Keller-Pratt duo looked like it would not happen, though. Pratt tore his meniscus in an OTA (organized team activity) during the last week of July, so he elected to get arthroscopic surgery. “I was really upset because I never had an injury like that before,” Pratt said. “It was not fun to sit out and watch. Once I found out it was torn, I was heartbroken because I thought I was going to miss out on my junior season and I wouldn’t be able to play with my friends who were seniors.” He was expected to miss the season, but ended up coming back for the district championship game against Raytown, a game in which he caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from Keller. Pratt played in that game and in the Class 5 state quarterfinal contest against Platte County, a contest Grain Valley fell 31-28. In those two games, he totaled five touchdowns. “My only thought was, ‘What can I do to speed this up?’” Pratt said of his recovery process from the meniscus tear. “I wanted to get back on the field before the season ended and I did. It was a trip to get there. I was happy to get out there and make an impact.” Now, Pratt is preparing for his senior season, and will be a big part of an Eagles’ offense that will be led by a new quarterback in Caleb Larson, who is taking over Keller, who graduated last school year. Pratt possesses blazing speed as he runs a 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. He was also a tremendous track athlete as he tied the school record in the 100meter dash and helped the 400-meter, 800-meter and 1,600-meter relay teams break school records last spring. Pratt should provide a strong onetwo punch with running back Jaxon
Wyatt, who rushed for 959 yards last season. Allie said he expects Pratt to draw double teams from opposing defenses, which will open opportunities for other receivers. “Other teams won’t just be able to focus on the run,” Allie said. “Logan helps us have a multi-dimensional offense. There are other receivers besides him who are good. He has something that is hard to coach and that’s speed. He’s going to cause some fits for other teams with his speed. We have seen that this summer.” And his success will depend on his connection with Larson, who he has been working with all summer to get better. “We go out to the field every day we can and meshing together,” Pratt said. “We work on what routes I can run and get a feel for him throwing to me. In scrimmages and practices, we have a good connection.” Pratt also figures to get involved in the run game and could get the ball on handoffs on end around and reverse plays. Allie said he wants to get him the ball as much as possible in open space. Because of his dynamic playmaking ability, Pratt will also return kicks and punts for the Eagles. “When teams start focusing on him, he can be used as a decoy,” Allie said. “He’s a weapon we are looking to exploit this season.” Pratt not only brings speed to Grain Valley, but he brings toughness, as well. “He’s not afraid to mix it up,” Allie said. “He will try to block you when it’s his turn. He’s the first guy to hop in and defend a teammate if some words are said or some shoves come our way. He’s not the biggest kid. He’s 5-foot-8. He plays with the biggest heart.” Right now, Pratt is focused on his senior season, but after it’s over, he said he would like to play in college. With the ability he has, Allie said he could easily see him play at the next level. “His speed opens a lot of eyes,” Allie said. “He’s got a chance to run track and play football in college. He has a choice. He can go to a school that will let him do both or choose one or the other.”
“He’s not afraid to mix it up,” Allie said. “He will try to block you when it’s his turn. He’s the first guy to hop in and defend a teammate if some words are said or some shoves come our way. He’s not the biggest kid. He’s 5-foot-8. He plays with the biggest heart.” Photo credit: Michael Smith Added Pratt: “My main goal is to play football in college. But if my route to
getting a scholarship is through track, I will do that.”
Wesley King of KC in POWRi War Thriller at Valley Speedway By POWRi WAR PR With only a handful of races remaining in the 2021 points season, the Lucas Oil POWRi Wingless Auto Racing Sprint League would flank Valley Speedway with twenty-seven entries for the annual star-studded King of Kansas City Event. Showing outstanding speed all night, Wesley Smith would emerge victorious by riding the high-side to perfection around the well-prepared smooth racing surface. Early heat racing action would find Wesley Smith, Cody Baker, and Mitchell Moore earn the wins with Smith grabbing the night’s high point award and pole starting position for the thirtyfeature event with Moore lining up outside row one. Going green flag feature racing would witness Mitchell Moore maintain momentum on the outside to take the starting lap lead, only to see the single caution of the event fly as Jason Billups took a tumble in turn three. The driver would be okay, but Billups would be unable to continue with his damaged racecar. Back underway in racing action with Mitchell Moore in the lead would see Wesley Smith strike around the mid-way mark by using an extreme high-line momentum on the exit of turn-two to slide Moore for the lead exiting turn four.
Smith would no be denied earning royalty as the King of Kansas City feature winner, racing hard every lap until the double-checkers were displayed. Not without a battle though as in the late stages, Taylor Walton would run down the leader only to settle for the runnerup placement in a hard-fought driving display. Kory Schudy would be the big mover of the thirty-lap feature event, wheeling his way past ten other competitors to a solid third-place finish as Samuel Wagner would be among the frontrunners all evening finished fourth with Moore rounding out the exciting Valley Speedway top-five finishers for the POWRi WAR Sprint League. “This one is special, the King of Kansas City, I can’t thank my team enough,” said an exhilarated Wesley Smith in Valley Speedway Victory Lane, going on to add “I knew the top was going to be fast, and it was. Almost a little too fast as I about handed the race over a couple of times by smacking the wall, luckily the car was bad-fast tonight, and everything held together.” For full results and information on upcoming races, visit www.valleyspeedway.com.
Community Calendar August 13, 2021
August 23, 2021
Grow a Reader Virtual Storytime 10:00am—10:30am Join library staff for Live Zoom Virtual Storytimes for your littles (and maybe for you too)! We will bring stories and songs directly to your home! www.mymcpl.org/events
First Day of School Grain Valley Schools
Food Truck Fridays 4:30pm—8:00pm Behind Grain Valley Community Center www.grainvalleyfair.org
August 14, 2021 Cakes, Cops & Conversations 8:00am—11:00am Armstrong Park Join GVPD for all-you-can-eat pancakes from Chris Cakes! Get to know the officers that serve our community. Donations accepted to benefit GVPD outreach programs.
August 18, 2021 Grow a Reader Virtual Storytime 10:00am—10:30am Join library staff for Live Zoom Virtual Storytimes for your littles (and maybe for you too)! www.mymcpl.org/events
Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main ST
September 6, 2021 Labor Day Grain Valley Schools closed Grain Valley City Hall closed
September 8, 2021 Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting 6:30pm Grain Valley City Hall, 711 Main ST
September 10-11, 2021 Grain Valley Fair Parade: Saturday, Sept. 11th at 2pm For complete schedule of events, visit www.grainvalleyfair.org
Add your community event at www.grainvalleynews.com.
Grain Valley Community Calendar sponsored by
TRAVEL
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food allergies, traveling abroad can be anxiety-provoking. Before your trip, download Allergy Food Translator, an app that allows you to translate your food allergies into French, German and Spanish, helping you more safely dine in over 57 countries globally. Since translations are built into the app, no internet connection is required, which can be helpful when your phone is on roaming. 5. Socks. Yes. Socks. Whether you are sitting on a plane or road tripping, it’s a
great idea to invest in a pair of compression socks. They’ll help you improve circulation and reduce swelling and inflammation in your feet. Zensah makes a cool set of leg sleeves that you can easily pop on and off. As you get back on-the-go, you may hit some bumps along the way. Being prepared with must-have travel gear can keep you fitter, healthier and safer on your journey.
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