Valley News: August 16, 2018

Valley News August 16, 2018

www.grainvalleynews.com

Vol. 1, No. 9

FREE

Candidates Discuss Issues, Election at Luncheon Candidates for the State House, Senate, and Jackson County Legislature participated in a panel discussion at the Grain Valley Partnership luncheon on August 14th.

The luncheon, held at OOIDA’s headquarters, featured guest speakers State Representative for District 32 and candidate for the Jackson County Legislature Jeanie Lauer, Missouri Senator Mike Cierpiot, State Representative for District 33 Donna Pfautsch, Jan Brill, Democratic candidate for the 32nd District House seat, and Sarah Olson, representative for Congressman Sam Graves office.

Rep. Lauer began the panel discussion with an overview of her recent work in the House, including the passage of the 911 bill (HB 1456), creating a statewide 911 system

which she has championed for the past eight years. Lauer has termed out of the House, but threw her hat into the Jackson County Legislature race after Greg Grounds dropped out.

District 33 Representative Donna Pfautsch is running for her final term in the House. Her district includes parts of eastern Jackson County and Cass County.

Pfautsch outlined her work on several bills related to early childhood and gifted education, as well as HB 1525/SB644 which closed loopholes related to unclaimed property.

Missouri State Senator Mike Cierpiot for District 8 spoke about a number of bills passed in the most recent session, including SB 884 which cut the corporate tax rate from 6.5% to 4.0%. Cierpiot stated

this makes Missouri the state with the second lowest rate (North Carolina has the lowest rate), and he believes this will help Missouri be competitive in attracting business to the state.

Cierpiot also discussed several ballot issues voters will consider in November, including three separate bills related to medical marijuana.

Cierpiot will face Democrat Hillary Shields of Lee’s Summit in the

November election.

Janice Brill, Democratic candidate for the Missouri House District 32 seat being vacated by Lauer, spoke to the group about her background and reasons for running for office. Brill, a retired teacher, recalled her years teaching civics. see CANDIDATES on page 2

Good News

Grain Valley Blue and White Day Highlights Fall Activities

Temp Stop to Replace Conoco at 1-70 Interchange Temp Stop LLC has announced its intention to purchase the current Conoco station on the southeast corner of the 1-70 interchange in order to develop a new Temp Stop gas station and convenience center.

According to Terry Green with Temp Stop, LLC, the company is scheduled to close on the sale in

late October and begin demolition of the current station once the City approves plans. Pending approval, construction on the new building and fuel pumps will begin in November and continue throughout the winter months. The company’s goal is to have the new station open by summer 2019.

Temp Stop LLC is a Missouri see TEMP STOP on page 2

Grain Valley High School hosted its fall Blue and White Day on Saturday, August 11th. The event promotes all fall activities and provides near-game experiences and performances for groups and teams.

In addition to scrimmages and performances, parents attended meetings with coaches, and the Booster Club hosted a pancake breakfast and spirit wear sale.

Pictured: Girls Softball players scrimmaged with parents and supporters watching from the stands.

Local News

Page 2

TEMP STOP from page 1 based company, with nine locations in the Kansas City area and mid-Missouri.

Green said the company will offer jobs to existing Conoco employees at one of its other local stores until the new site is built.

The store will be staffed by approximately 25 employees.

Green said the new station will include 16 fueling lanes in front of the building and a separate canopy with 4 fueling lanes behind the building for RVs and light duty pickup trucks with trailers.

Unlike the current Conoco station, the new location will not provide fueling for over the road tractor trailers.

The convenience store will include a walk in beer cooler, convenience items, and two restaurants, Champs Chicken and BluTaco. The parent company for both restaurants, PFS Brands, is headquartered in mid-Missouri.

Champs Chicken is a quickservice fried chicken restaurant.

BluTaco is a quick service restaurant featuring tacos, burritos, and other southwest inspired fare.

Green said the new location will also feature a drive through window, where customers can not only pick up restaurant items but convenience items as well.

This is a new concept for the company, and Green emphasized they will be working through the best way to implement the service once the location opens.

Green stated the company is in the beginning stages of working with the City to finalize plans, but they are excited to build in Grain

Valley and help revitalize the area.

“We are also willing to provide a portion of land on the new site for the City of Grain Valley to construct a ‘Welcome to Grain Valley’ sign to match the aesthetics (of the new building)”, Green said.

Mayor Mike Todd welcomed the idea.

“We’ve had conversations regarding putting a welcome sign in, and if we had the land, we would definitely move forward with that,” Todd said.

Todd provided a rendering of the proposed location on social media in an announcement to residents on August 10th.

The rendering of the proposed site is provided above.

Valley News Grain Valley News is a free community paper, published weekly on Thursdays online at www.grainvalleynews.com and on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month in print.

Cory Unrein | Co-Owner/Publisher John Unrein | Co-Owner/Production Manager Cathy Allie | Staff Writer, Proofreader Diana Luppens, Switch Focus Studios | Contributing Photographer Mail: PO Box 2972 Grain Valley MO 64029 Phone: 816.809.7984 Email: news@grainvalleynews.com Sign up for our weekly emails and join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@grainvalleynews).

CANDIDATES from page 1 “The Civics teacher in me believes voters should be offered a choice”, Brill said.

Upon seeing that Jeff Coleman, Republican candidate for the District 32 House seat, was running unopposed, she decided to run to give District 32 voters the opportunity to make that choice.

Brill stated she believes there is too much money wrapped up in elections, and she looks forward to showing what a candidate can do without a lot of money to spend on a campaign.

Jeff Coleman, Republican candidate for the District 32 House seat, was not in attendance at the event.

The general election will be held November 6, 2018.

Rep. Jeanie Lauer, Missouri District 32, answers a question during the August 14th Grain Valley Partnership luncheon.

Janice Brill, Democratic candidate for the seat Lauer will vacate due to term limits, is seated at left.

Page 3

Baby/Toddler Contest Returns to Grain Valley Fair Back by popular demand, the Grain Valley Fair will once again host a Baby Grain Valley Fair Baby/ Toddler Contest.

There are 4 age categories: 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months, and ages 2-4. To register a child, email your child's non-copyrighted photograph to gvfair@gmail.com.

Include in your email the child's name, age, parent's name(s), and phone number. Registrants should also include a statement that gives the fair organizers permission to share your child's photograph on the Grain Valley Fair Facebook page. The registration deadline is August 24, 2018.

During the hours of 2:00pm— 10:00pm on Friday, September 7th and 11:00am—5:00pm on Saturday, September 8th, voting buckets with

each child's photo will be placed at the fair’s information tent.

Attendees may vote for their favorite by placing money in the child’s bucket.

Winners will be announced at 6:30 PM on Saturday, September 8th on the main pavilion stage.

The winner in each category will be determined by the amount of money raised in their bucket. The winner in each category will receive a 2019 Grain Valley Community Pool Family Yearly Pass. All participants will receive a participation ribbon.

Winners do not need to be present to win. All contestants can participate in the parade on Saturday. Information about parade participants will be sent out at a later date to all registered participants.

Police Blotter The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of August 1-7, 2018.

August 1, 2018 300 Block Front St 900 Block Ryan Rd 1100 Block Golfview 900 Block Sandy Ln 400 Block Minter Rd 1900 Block Harding 200 Block Salem 700 Block Main St 300 Block Front St 700 Block Main St 1400 Block Jaclyn 40 Hwy & Sni-A-Bar 200 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 900 Block Ryan Rd

Recovered Property Standby to Prevent Agency Assist (BSPD) Suspicious Activity Ex Parte Service Agency Assist (OGPD) Agency Assist (OGPD) Alarm Citizen Contact Area Check Alarm Motor Vehicle Accident Agency Assist (CJC) Citizen Contact Standby to Prevent

August 2, 2018 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 1100 Block Main St 200 Block Rock Creek Ln 200 Block Salem 500 Block Eagles Pkwy 1900 Block Hedgewood

Suspicious Activity Warrant Confirmation Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Agency Assist (OGPD) Open Door Disturbance

August 3, 2018 1200 Block RD Mize Rd 700 Block Main St 1600 Block SW Eagles Pkwy 800 Block Minter Rd Yennie & Kirby Rd 700 Block Main St

Agency Assist (KCPD) Citizen Contact Burglary Alarm Area Check Citizen Contact

August 4, 2018 800 Block Leann 800 Block Highland Ave 1200 Block Valley Ridge Dr 600 Block Walnut 1500 Block Eagles Pkwy 600 Block Yennie St 200 Block Front St 600 Block Walnut St 600 Block Walnut St 1600 Block Eagles Parkway 100 Block Sunny Ln 700 Block Woodland Cir 1400 Block Willow Dr

Alarm Forgery Alarm Suspicious Person Alarm Disturbance Suspicious Person Suspicious Person Disturbance Theft from Auto 911 Hang-up Open Door Agency Assist (CJC)

1700 Block Rust Rd 800 Block San Kar 31000 Block Allen Rd 800 Block Hereford Dr 1000 Block Ephraim 600 Block Old US 40 Hwy Persimmon & Dillingham Jacklyn & Hannah Ct Dillingham & Persimmon

Suspicious Auto Assault Agency Assist (JCSO) Suspicious Subject Disturbance 911 Hang-up Area Check Noise Disturbance Suspicious Activity

August 5, 2018 400 Block Rock Creek 700 Block Main St 1300 Block Ashley Dr 1200 Block Stockman Ct 1200 Block Stockman Ct 700 Block Main St 400 Block Wolf Creek Rd

Check the Well Being Citizen Contact Suspicious Activity Citizen Contact Missing Juvenile Disturbance Suspicious Person

August 6, 2018 1400 Block Willow Dr 300 Block Rock Creek Ln 1300 Block Eagles Parkway 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St 600 Block Scenic 700 Block Main St Golfview - Pavilion 1000 Block Christie Ln 1400 Block Phelps Dr 600 Block Muriel 1200 Block Willow Dr 700 Block Main St 800 Block Woodland 100 Block Aaron Ct 900 Block Foxtail Dr

Suspicious Vehicle Vandalism Property Damage Parking Complaint Citizen Contact Found Property Area Check Suspicious Activity Warrant Service Check the Well Being Suspicious Auto Suspicious Person Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Dog at Large Civil Matter Citizen Contact

August 7, 2018 700 Block Main St 700 Block Main St Area of Tisha Ln Eagles Parkway & Sni-A-Bar 1400 Block Highview Dr 1400 Block Willow Dr 1300 Block Persimmon

Citizen Contact Assault & Harassment Suspicious Vehicle Motor Vehicle Accident Nuisance Property Missing Juvenile Burglary

Page 4

Education & Youth

New School Buses, Cameras Roll Out This School Year server. A forward-facing camera will capture video in the event of an accident or other incident outside of the bus.

When a bus drives on to the Transportation Department lot, video will be downloaded to a server for storage. Each bus will be also be outfitted with a button the driver can push to immediately download footage in the event of a situation.

“The main goal is safety for everyone. (The cameras) will be eyes in the sky watching student interaction. It will also be another safe way for the driver to monitor students and protects both the driver and the student,” Gooch said.

The five cameras inside each bus are installed in a pattern to ensure all angles of the bus are visible, including over seat backs.

Regardless of the type of bus or technology inside, Gooch emphasized the impact students ultimately have on bus safety.

“We expect the same types of behaviors on our buses as we do in our school buildings. We are providing a little more safety with on board cameras, but students should still continue to follow bus procedures, as the buses are an extension of our schools,” Gooch said.

Fourteen propane fueled buses will transport students this school year.

The long term goal is to replace all diesel fueled buses with propane models.

A new propane fueling station was installed in April to fuel the 14 new propane buses. A grant secured by Director of Transporation Shawn Brady covered nearly 50% of the cost of the station.

Local Scout Earns All Merit Badges

Photo courtesy of Larry Niederschulte.

Some area students will not be able to rely on the familiar rumble of a diesel school bus to alert them to make a run for the bus stop. Fourteen quieter propane buses were recently added to the Grain Valley School District’s fleet.

The buses, delivered the first week of July, represent 30% of the district’s total fleet. While the quieter engine is a perk, Dr. Nick Gooch, Assistant Superintendent, Support Services for Grain Valley Schools, is most excited about the cost savings for the district.

“With propane, we are locked in for the entire year at $1.20 per gallon. Diesel fuel is currently running around $2.60 per gallon.

The savings in fuel alone will be in the tens of thousands of dollars,” Gooch said.

Shawn Brady, Director of Transportation, identified and applied for a number of rebates and grants to increase the cost savings to the district.

Brady said by utilizing federal rebates, the difference in cost compared to the traditional diesel model was only an additional $300. Gooch said the amount saved in fuel costs with the new propane buses would cover the additional purchase cost in about one day.

A propane fueling station was installed on the Transportation Department lot in April. A Department of Energy grant secured by Brady covered nearly half the cost to install the station.

Another benefit of propane buses is their reliability in cold weather. Diesel buses can take up to a few hours to warm up in extremely cold weather. Propane buses do not require extended warm ups.

“Fuel gelling, which happens in diesel engines, is not an issue with propane buses. The propane engines can start up in temperatures as low as 40 degrees below zero,” Gooch explained.

Gooch says the long-term goal is to eventually replace the entire fleet with propane buses.

Another feature added to all district buses is a new camera system. All 51 buses will be outfitted with cameras, which will be installed over the next week.

Five cameras will be placed on each bus, and each bus will be connected wirelessly to the main

Ryan Niederschulte has accomplished something that only a dozen or so out of more than 2.5 million Boy Scouts manage to do.

Niederschulte, a 17-year old Boy Scout with Troop 310 from Grain Valley, recently completed all 138 merit badges offered by the Boy Scouts of America.

Ryan’s father, Larry Niederschulte, recalls his son setting the goal to earn all merit badges early in his scouting career.

“After earning his third or fourth merit badge he told me he wanted to earn them all. I told him he had no idea the amount of work that would involve, but sure enough he did it. We went to many different states and on numerous outings to facilitate completing his goal,” Niederschulte said.

Larry Niederschulte emphasized his son’s troop was helpful in

achieving this goal. Troop 310 is an active troop in the area, with approximately 50 registered youth and 25 adults.

The troop completes several service projects each year, including a roadside clean-up along Sni-A-Bar Road as well as the annual food drive. The troop regularly brings in over 1,500 pounds of food to benefit agencies such as the Grain Valley Assistance Council.

This year on Memorial Day, Ryan and two other scouts played Taps to an audience of over 300 at a ceremony held at the Blue Springs Cemetery. Outside of Boy Scouts, Niederschulte, is very active in the Grain Valley Marching Eagles.

A video of the Memorial Day performance is available on the Grain Valley News website, www.grainvalleynews.com.

Business News

Page 5

Business News is provided weekly by the Grain Valley Partnership, whose mission is to be a leader in the growth of Grain Valley.

The Grain Valley Partnership is located at 1450 SW Eagles Parkway, and can be reached by phone, 816-443-5162 or via email at info@growgrainvalley.org.

www.growgrainvalley.org

Partnership Celebrates Downtown

The Grain Valley Partnership Welcomes the Following New Partners::

T&G Automotive Sandra Dee's Gifts

The Grain Valley Partnership celebrated downtown businesses on Saturday, August 11th, with a Downtown Celebration featuring entertainment, food, and a ribbon cutting during Randomly Beautiful’s grand opening celebration.

Partner Spotlight: Acquaint Gathering Acquaint Gathering, your Simply Vintage Venue, welcomes thousands each year to experience dream weddings, amazing anniversaries, beautiful bridal and baby showers, enjoyable end-of-life celebrations, and everything in between.

Built in 1889 and now one of the oldest buildings in Grain Valley, this beautifully restored chapel is Eastern Jackson County’s best-kept secret.

The rich history of this historic chapel is just the beginning, being first purchased by Mary Kirby Wright and her husband, J.B. Keshlear for just $135!

Laurie Hatfield joyfully jumped at the chance to own and operate this gorgeous venue where she fulfills her lifelong dream of helping create memorable moments. She is both “wedding planner extraordinaire” and “little girl at heart!” You will immediately sense her passion for helping people just like you plan the events of their dreams.

Discover our 50-foot mahogany ceiling with stunning 5-foot chandelier and string lighting.

Original stained-glass arch windows with curved peaks point toward heaven offering the perfect filtered light for your event.

If you prefer the great outdoors, just step into our backyard oasis where you are sure to fall in love

with wisteria and fairy-light covered pergola and antique window backdrop. Care was taken to maintain the look of this rural 1800’s church while lovingly accentuating it with the modern features and amenities you seek to make your day truly amazing!

The pictures you will capture under the pergola, in front of the Red ’57 Chevy Truck and around our gardens will be memories you will cherish for a lifetime. Large bridal and groom’s suites with private bathroom are yours for the day! Prep kitchen, licensed catering services, bar options including BYOB with bartender. Each step of the way, Laurie finds simple ways to add to the luxury of your day.

We comfortably host indoor events up to 125 guests, and that grows to 200 with our outdoor grounds.

Schedule your personal tour today to meet Laurie and discover all that Acquaint Gathering has to offer. You need only to meet Laurie and explore this glorious space to experience her singular goal… making your dream event come to life, without breaking the bank!

Sponsored advertisement.

Community Voices

Page 6

Growth and Change are Constants for Grain Valley Schools

Dr. Marc Snow Superintendent of Schools The start of a new school year is always an exciting time. Whether it is simply an advancement in grade levels within the same building, moving up to a new school, starting a senior year in high school, becoming a brand new Grain Valley student, or beginning in kindergarten or preschool, there is a lot of anticipation about the 20182019 school year.

There are some exciting things ahead for Grain Valley Schools as we work to provide an outstanding learning experience for every student, every day.

This summer, the district completed an addition to our Early Childhood Center, adding four additional classroom spaces and some much-needed restrooms and storage.

The high school also started to look different as we began our $11.5 million in additions to that building.

The new front drive will be completed to start the school year, and the building additions will be completed during the year.

In addition to the growth and change in facilities, the district will also see many new staff members and students. We welcome them all to the Grain Valley School District.

Growth and change seem to be constants for the Grain Valley School District. As I start my 18th year in the district, I am reminded of all of the changes just during my time in the district.

During those years, the district

opened many new facilities, including: South Middle School, North Middle School, Prairie Branch Elementary, Stony Point Elementary, Early Childhood Center, Transportation Center, and a maintenance building. That doesn’t even start to recognize the other additions made to each of these facilities and more. In that time, the district has also grown from a 1,700 student population to nearly 4,500 students; and the budget has grown to just over $43.1 million.

As a growing district, we tend to look ahead, but this year we will take time look back and reflect as we recognize a special anniversary.

Matthews Elementary School celebrates 40 years of excellence this year!

The school first welcomed students in 1978. The school has been added on to and updated along the way, and serves as a proud icon for the thousands of Grain Valley children who have been students there over the years. We will host a special reception to celebrate 40 years of Matthews Elementary later

this year.

Communication is important to our schools and district. We intend to share as much information as possible this school year.

We have recently remade our website to make it easier for families to find the information that is most important to them. We have also added a new app to give families easy access to school supply lists, district calendar, and other relevant information.

Other topics we look forward to sharing as the year progresses include: personalized learning for all students, safety and security in our buildings, managing our student population growth, technology in the classroom, and many others.

As always, we look forward to the start of a new school year and to serving the children and families of our community.

We are proud of our district and the opportunities we can provide to our children. Please contact your school building or our district office if you need anything.

Grow Grain Valley Small Business Resources

by Tasha Lindsay, Grain Valley Partnership Are you a small business? Are you wanting to open you own small business? There are many FREE resources available to help take your business to the next level or get you on the right path before taking that leap of faith.

Small business owners are the heart of any local economy, your success and retention/ even expansion are what makes a community like Grain Valley thrive.

Most small business owners are passionate about the community in which they decide to invest in and want to see that community grow.

At the Grain Valley Partnership, we want to make sure that you have all the tools and resources necessary to be successful.

One of our partners, Brian Graves with ThriveOn Concepts, is our personal SCORE Mentor. He is here to help you navigate through the steps of turning your dreams into reality or helping you advance your already existing small business to the next level. Brian is a business coach, but loves to give back and donate his time to SCORE KC as a mentor.

SCORE is a valuable network of 13,000+ volunteers who offer small business entrepreneurs confidential business counseling services at no charge. SCORE volunteers have the knowledge and experience to help any small business owner get the help they need.

SCORE also provides local workshops and events throughout the country to connect small business owners with the people and information they need to start, grow, and maintain their businesses, as well as online workshops available 24/7.

Another amazing opportunity for small businesses is through our very own Mid-Continent Public Library. They have a personalized department for Small Businesses called Square One Small Business Services.

They offer one on one meetings, online classes, and business resources such as demographics and business magazines. All of which can be found on the mymcpl.org website under the Square One tab.

Square One Small Business Services also offers free classes at various locations throughout each month. The Grain Valley Partnership has partnered with Square One to have a monthly class offered right here in Grain Valley.

Each class is presented by a topic expert. Some of the topics that we have learned about have been: marketing for small business (learning how to get your target audience using the demographic resources), breaking through the Facebook algorithms to reach more potential customers, and creating your perfect brand.

These classes are the fourth Tuesday of each month and are held at Acquaint Gathering. The next class scheduled is about Cyber Safety for Small Businesses.

Square One Small Business Services at Mid-Continent Public Library supports local entrepreneurs through access to information, programs, and opportunity. Whether owning a business is a brand-new dream, or your life’s work, MCPL is committed to helping you succeed.

Square One seeks to connect local entrepreneurs and small business owners to the resources and services they need to be successful in today’s marketplace.

The service also includes business specialists who provide one-on-one attention, help, training, and educational opportunities.

Square One provides valuable business tools — such as online databases like ReferenceUSA — as well as vital resources in the community.

To date, Square One has helped launch or improve the operations of more than 45 businesses. Square One is funded by a grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

If you are interested in hearing more about these resources, interested in getting connected with one our mentors / business specialists for a one on one meeting, or attending one of our free classes here in Grain Valley, please reach out to the Grain Valley Partnership at 816-443-5162.

Page 7

Musings from the Middle I Wish For You a Mrs. Jaquith

by Cathy Allie

When I was a high school freshman, the coolest person in the world entered my life…at least that’s what I thought at the time. Her name was Wanda Jaquith, and she taught English, and in my 14 year old opinion, she was the epitome of what I wanted to be.

She smelled of Jean Nate, a 70’s mass produced perfume, and she wore it well. She had perfected the tallest hair I had ever seen with a secret styling technique (which I shall later reveal), and she wore Aigner low heeled pumps and carried a matching clutch, along with her plaid skirts and cashmere sweaters over an oxford cloth button down.

She sported silk scarves around her neck in the most interesting and challenging knots. Her charm bracelet was literally heavier than her bony arms, and it held the intrigue of a well-traveled life, although looking back, she could have been no more than 25 or so in those years. She enthralled the boys and the girls alike with her Southern drawl and studied ways.

She began the year by introducing us to rich literature, the likes of which I didn’t even know I was hungry for. We spent un-air-

conditioned fall days reading Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, and to this day, I can still hear her reading aloud the toughest of chapters, when Atticus tries to explain to his young children the injustice of a man wrongly accused of a terrible crime. We wrote about the characters, we developed thesis statements, we bantered, we discussed, we outlined, and we mourned when the verdict in the story was not one we had anticipated, all under her watchful eye.

I wouldn’t have missed a day of Mrs. Jaquith’s class if my life depended on it. I pleaded with my mother to schedule orthodontic appointments around her class, and even when my grandfather fell very ill, I didn’t want to make a trip to Missouri with my family because it meant missing out on what Mrs. Jaquith would have to say that day.

Her class felt like an opportunity and like a promise. It felt like my favorite flavor of ice cream in a bottomless bowl with any topping I wanted. For a while, I believed her to be a wizard of sorts, having cast a spell over all of us, as boys who never behaved always behaved and girls who never cared for reading but much more for socializing, were all held in her magic grasp.

During that time and for many years after, when anyone asked me what I wanted to do, I said I wanted to be a writer, and I imagined myself creating beautiful prose that would hold future awkward ninth graders spell-bound. But I never dared imagine myself a teacher, because frankly, I doubted anyone could compare to Mrs. Jaquith.

We moved on to many more years of English classes, but none,

including those I took from a variety of professors in college as ironically, I trained to be a teacher, would ever compare to those magical days in ninth grade English. Surely she did not know that she was setting the standard for my teaching in years to come.

It wasn’t until I taught To Kill a Mockingbird to my own students many years later that I would realize why some chapters Mrs. Jaquith chose to read aloud and others she let us handle alone. She wanted to gauge our responses, to find teachable moments, to show us that even though Maycomb was a fictional town with fictional characters and a fictional plot, that injustice was present and it was wrong. And each time I read it, I always channeled Mrs. Jaquith and the meaning she gave the story, as well as the respect she showed her students, believing that just given a chance we would figure it out.

Once a few years ago, I started to try to find her, hoping that she would be on social media, maybe still teaching away at some idyllic little private college in the South. But I stopped myself because the memory of her was so good that I feared tarnishing it. Had I found her, I would have thanked her, and then maybe shared with her my one really visual, visceral memory of her.

My mom and I went to the A&P, our local grocery one winter morning. Saturday shoppers were mobbing the place, and as we entered the store, I caught a glimpse of Wanda Jaquith. At 14, I suppose I had never considered the fact that teachers had lives and had to eat and thus shop just like the rest of us.

But something wasn’t quite right about Mrs. Jaquith that day.

As we turned the corner and came face to face with her, the secret to her very tall hair was revealed. Wanda Jacquith had carefully wrapped her hair around about 10 or 12 miniature orange juice cans, the 6 ounce cardboard variety that hold concentrated juice, and held them in place with bobby pins and Dippity Do, a favorite hair gel of the day—her own self –created rollers---and tastefully covered all of it by placing one of her beautifully printed scarves on top of her head.

No doubt Mrs. Jaquith’s image took a little hit that day, but she recovered on Monday, when she winked at me as she greeted students at the door that day and said conspiratorially, “It was so nice to see you and your mother on Saturday. I had just stopped in to the A&P to buy some juice. My husband so loves a little glass of juice each day, ” as she reached up to gently brush her hair with her hand.

As they begin their school year, I wish for all students a Wanda Jaquith, someone whose ‘realness’ is on display in juice can rollers so they can understand teachers are people, too. Someone who makes them swoon, and makes them think.

Someone who eagerly anticipates his or her students’ reactions and seeks to help them through the rough spots. Someone who evokes a fond memory many years later, of a time and a place where learning was magical.

Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer.

Page 8

Sports

Grain Valley Volleyball Team Prepares to Face New Opponents Grain Valley volleyball coach Keri Peterson said the main obstacle in moving from the Missouri River Valley Conference to the Suburban Conference is the loss of familiarity with opponents.

Peterson is confident, however, in her team’s mix of returning veterans and new players as well as their work ethic.

Four seniors are returning to the team as starters this season.

Karly Tharp will serve as the team’s setter/right side hitter.

Morgan Scott will serve as outside hitter. Gracie LaForge returns as middle hitter, and Sydney Slaven will play at defensive specialist.

The core group of returners will be joined by a mix of younger players.

Peterson says the

returning seniors experience will help the team succeed this season.

“A huge strength for us is the effort our girls put forth. We have a great group of girls who are coachable and work hard, not just on the court but in the weight room and in off season practice.

They are willing to give their time and effort to the team”, Peterson said.

Peterson encourages Grain Valley residents to come out to matches to support the team.

“The sport has grown tremendously in the last 10-15 years. We want the community in the gym to see the excitement,” Peterson says.

The team’s first game will be against Fort Osage on August 30th.

Pictured (le to right): Freshman Olivia Williams hi ng, Freshman Kellie Overturf blocking, Coach Nicolle e Van Winkle.

Grain Valley Volleyball Schedule Date

Opponent

8/30 7:00pm

Fort Osage (Independence, MO) Location: Grain Valley High School, Main Gym

9/4 7:00pm

@ Blue Springs South (Blue Springs, MO) Location: Blue Springs South High School, Main Gym

9/11 7:00pm

Kearney (Kearney, MO) Location: Grain Valley High School, Main Gym

9/18 7:00pm

Platte County Location: Grain Valley High School, Main Gym

9/20 7:00pm

Winnetonka (Kansas City, MO) Location: Grain Valley High School, Main Gym

9/24 7:00pm

@ Pleasant Hill (Pleasant Hill, MO) Location: Pleasant Hill High School, Main Gym

9/27 7:00pm

Blue Springs (Blue Springs, MO) Location: Grain Valley High School, Main Gym

10/4 7:00pm

@ Kearney (Kearney, MO) Location: Kearney High School, Main Gym

10/11 7:00pm

@ Platte County Location: Platte County High School

10/13 TBA

Varsity Tournament Location: Blue Springs Fieldhouse

10/16 7:00pm

@ Winnetonka (Kansas City, MO) Location: Winnetonka High School, Main Gym

10/18 7:00pm

Raytown South (Raytown, MO) Location: Grain Valley High School, Main Gym

Page 9

The Construction of a 53-Man NFL Roster

by John Unrein The life of a professional football

players like this on your roster gives

player is that you are constantly

you flexibility in carrying talent. A

being evaluated. Its rigors are the

great way to increase your chances

norm for professional athletes. It’s

of making an NFL roster as a young

necessitated by the view of every

Position Quarterback

Number of Players 3

Names of Players Patrick Mahomes, Chad Henne, Chase Litton

Running Back

4

or undrafted player is becoming

Fullback

1

organization in the National Football

good at a variety of roles.

Wide Receiver

5

League due to the competitiveness

Teams will build their 53-man roster to suit the needs for the style of offense and defense they play.

For example, a spread offense football team might carry more wide receivers and no fullback. A team like the Kansas City Chiefs might only carry six defensive linemen since they play a 3-4 defense (3 down linemen, 4 linebackers, and 4 defensive secondary players). The arrangement of a roster typically starts with three specialists. A kicker, punter, and long snapper.

Then each side of the football would ideally get 25 men for a grand total of 53 players combined. This is not universal but is typical. Below is a breakdown of what this might like for the Chiefs as they break training camp and head into the regular season in September.

Tight End

3

Offensive Lineman

9

Defensive Lineman

6

Inside Linebackers

5

Outside Linebackers

4

Cornerbacks

5

Safeties

5

Kicker

1

Eric Fisher, Cameron Erving, Mitch Morse, Dr. Laurent Duvarney-Tardif, Mitchell Schwartz, Bryan Witzmann, Jordan Devey, Parker Ehinger, Andrew Wylie Chris Jones, Xavier Williams, Allen Bailey, Justin Hamilton, Derrick Nnadi, Jarvis Jenkins Reggie Ragland, Anthony Hitchens, Ukeme Eligwe, Dorian O’Daniel, Ben Niemann Justin Houston, Dee Ford, Breeland Speaks, Tanoh Kpassagnon Steven Nelson, David Amerson, Kendall Fuller, Tremon Smith, Will Redmond Eric Berry, Eric Murray, Robert Murray, Leon McQuay, Armani Watts Harrison Butker

Punter

1

Dustin Colquitt

Long Snapper

1

James Winchester

and parity of the game. Nine different teams have won the last ten Super Bowls dating back to 2009. The New England Patriots were the only team to win more than one championship during that stretch. They are also subsequently the last team to win back to back Super Bowls in February of 2004 and 2005.

The New England Patriots have been known to seek players who can fill multiple roles on their roster. For example, they like backup players who can contribute and be on the field as a five phase special teams player. This would be kickoff, kickoff return, punt, punt return, and field goal/point after attempt. Having

Kareem Hunt, Damien Williams, Spencer Ware, Darrell Williams Anthony Sherman Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, Chris Conley, Jehu Chesson Travis Kelce, Demetrius Harris, Jace Amaro

*Safety Daniel Sorensen’s leg injury may lead to injured reserve designation. *Wide Receiver De’Anthony Thomas may make roster if the team keeps only 8 offensive linemen.

Fall Sports on Display During Blue and White Day We ’ v e s a v e d a spot for you!

Connect with our online and print readers with customized advertising solutions for your business.

Rates start at just $50.

Visit www.grainvalleynews.com for more information on our advertising opportunities.

Grain Valley Eagles Football and Girls Tennis were just two of the fall sports and activities featured during Blue and White Day, held at Grain Valley High School on Saturday, August 11th.

Page 10

Health & Wellness

Kids’ Sport Nutrition

by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD Baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, fun-runs and more are keeping your family busy and moving this summer. Proper nutrition for your child is important to keep him or her active! As a parent and/or coach it is your job to help keep these youngsters hydrated, healthy, growing and strong.

Sports nutrition for children is important, especially during those all-day tournaments and long training periods. Children’s nutrition needs are different than adults, based on their rapid growth, increasing muscle mass, and hormone changes.

A good rule of thumb is: Since your child is growing, he or she should not be losing weight. Try to help them maintain or gain weight if they are involved in a training program. Try to avoid fast food and junk food in attempts to help them gain weight; instead turn to highcalorie items such as nut butters, cottage cheese, full-fat Greek

yogurt, avocados, hummus, protein powders and milk to add to your child’s meals for a boost in calories.

Adding a snack between meals such as a homemade trail mix can also help children meet their calorie needs. Try a healthy dip with crackers, veggies and fruit, Greek yogurt cream cheese on a bagel, or check out hy-vee.com for an avocado smoothie recipe!

Always, always, always keep your child hydrated. Children should be drinking fluid before, during and after activities. What type of fluid is best? Water is the desired hydration source if activity is less than an hour. Sports drinks are an acceptable source of fluid if activity totals more than 60 minutes.

Alternating between water and sports drinks is helpful for multiple game days or all-day tournaments.

If your child prefers something flavored, try watering down sports drinks; the amount of sugar in these drinks is not necessary for hydration. A great recovery drink for

kids and adults is 8 ounces of chocolate milk. Always discourage energy drinks, as they are much too high in caffeine for a child’s diet.

It is recommended by Physical

Activity Guidelines for Americans that children ages 6 through 17 get at least 60 minutes of exercise per day. Don’t hold your kids back; encourage them to play a game of knockout after dinner or make your own obstacle course in the yard. Let your children know that health and fitness is a family affair and participate in exercise activities as a team!

Try this tasty kid-friendly recipe for a boost in protein and calories!

Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD is a registered dietitian at the Blue Springs Hy-Vee. She can be reached tshaffer@hy-vee.com.

The at information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.

Kids’ Bar Serves 16 Ingredients: 2 cups brown rice cereal 1 cup nonfat dry milk powder 1 cup wheat germ 1 cup dark chocolate chips 1 cup raisins 1 cup natural peanut butter ¾ cup honey Directions: Mix all ingredients together using an electric mixer. Press evenly into an 8- or 9-inch pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Refrigerate until firm.

5 Ways to 5K

by Sally Whitaker 5k races were once small events considered to be for runners only. In recent years those races have multiplied and blossomed into large community events that bring people together, raise money for charities and inspire individuals to try a new form of fitness. With the first Grain Valley Fair 5K approaching, it is a great opportunity to try one out, even if running is not your thing or you are brand-new to the sport.

Allowing 4-6 weeks for training is ideal. Below are 5 ways to 5K. Walk A common misconception is that all participants will be running. There will be many people walking the entire 5k distance. This is a great option if you don’t like to run or are physically unable to run due to joint or other health issues.

Keep a steady pace and walk for the health of it, or grab some friends and make it a fun, walking tour of your town.

Run There are many great training options available to train for a 5K. Whether you look online or head to the library, you will be able to find a

program that suits your fitness level.

Couch to 5K is a well-known training module that will give you a sensible, easy-to-implement program.

Intervals If you enjoy running but are unsure if you can run the entire 3.1 mile course, use a timer to run and walk. A few examples that will get you to the finish line and feeling great: Mile 1: Run 1 minute; walk 2 minutes.

Mile 2: Run 1 minute; walk 1 minute.

Mile 3: Run 90 seconds, walk 1 minute.

These are just examples. The great thing about interval training is that you can adjust it for how you are feeling the day of the race. It will give you time to recover while keeping a good pace.

Form a Team Everything is better with family and friends! Grab a couple friends, make a plan to meet up each week and walk, jog, or run. Sign up for the 5K together and you will be able to motivate each other during training as well as the day of the event.

Use Music Whether you walk, run, or both, pacing is important. You may choose to keep a steady pace the whole 5K or gradually increase until the end.

Both are great options. Using music can help you to maintain your pace.

With beats per minute training there are also multiple resources available online for what tempo to choose, along with using Spotify or a similar app to search for those songs.

Typing “beats per minute” into your search bar will bring up many choices.

A general idea of BPM training: For a stroll with a pace of 3 miles per hour, music should be at 115-120 BPM; for power walking going 4-4.5 miles per hour the BPM count should be 135-140; while a running pace will have BPM’s of 145-160.

Make sure to create a playlist prior to heading out for your run, use only one ear bud to remain aware of your surroundings, and try out the beats per minute of songs several times before race day.

You should consult your physician or other health care professional before starting this or any other fitness program to determine if it is right for your needs. Do not start this fitness program if your physician or health care provider advises against it. If you experience faintness, dizziness, pain or shortness of breath at any time while exercising you should stop immediately.

Sally Whitaker is a Pilates and Yoga instructor with 15 years of experience teaching group classes and private clientele, primarily in Independence, MO. During the summer months you can find her teaching Sunset Yoga at Armstrong Park in Grain Valley.

Puzzles

Page 11

Answers to Last Week’s Puzzles

Community Calendar August 18, 2018 Film Screening: “I Can Only Imagine” 6:00pm—8:00pm Faith United Methodist Church 1950 SW Eagles Parkway No cost to attend; no RSVP required.

August 18, 2018 Citizen Scientist Saturday: Butterflies and Moths 1:00pm—2:00pm Burr Oak Woods Nature Center 1401 NW Park Road, Blue Springs No registration required; all ages.

816-228-3766 www.mdc.mo.gov August 21, 2018 Park Board Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main August 22, 2018 Storytime at the Library 10:00am Mid-Continent Public Library, Grain Valley Branch www.mymcpl.org/events

August 25, 2018 Nature Tales: Rockin’ & Readin’ 11:00am—Noon Burr Oak Woods Nature Center 1401 NW Park Road, Blue Springs Walk-in; no registration required.

816-228-3766 www.mdc.mo.gov August 25, 2018 Nightshift’s Bug Busters 1:00pm—2:00pm Burr Oak Woods Nature Center 1401 NW Park Road, Blue Springs No registration required; all ages.

816-228-3766 www.mdc.mo.gov August 25, 2018 Now Playing for Kids: “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” 2:00pm Mid-Continent Public Library, Grain Valley Branch www.mymcpl.org/events August 27, 2018 Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall 711 Main Street

Post your group’s community event online at www.grainvalleynews.com.

Looking Back Jackson County Roads Celebration

by Marcia Napier Grain Valley Historical Society On Wednesday, October 12, 1932, several thousand Jackson County residents and dignitaries from across the state converged at Sni-ABar Farms to celebrate the completion of the Jackson County Roads Project.

It was front page news in the Sunday, October 9th edition of the Kansas City Star. The pictorial article included “Glimpses along newly paved roads of the county’s 10 million dollar highway system which

have been said to rank second to only one other county in the United States”. The governor and future President Harry Truman were among those attending the County Road Celebration at Sni-A-Bar along Federal Highway No. 40.

As part of the celebration, two high school girls attired in turn of the century costumes arrived in a horse drawn carriage and left in a small propeller driven airplane.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Faith United Methodist Church is looking for a new Director of Children's Ministry.

Applicant

must have a solid Christian faith and

enjoy

children. of

a

required.

working

with

Successful completion background

check

is

Faith United Methodist

Church is committed to providing

Place your employment ads with Valley News and recruit quality talent right in your community. Classified advertising is only $5 for 20 words (additional words are $.25 each), and includes social media promotion.

Contact

news@grainvalleynews.com

to place your ad.

a place, a purpose, and a passion for all people.

Please email (admin@valleyfaith.church) or call (816-847-0008) to request a job description.

Have a story to share? A celebration (engagement, graduation, wedding, anniversary)? Submit your news to news@grainvalleynews.com.