Valley News: September 9, 2021 by grainvalleynews

Vol. 4 No. 37 | September 9, 2021 | www.grainvalleynews.com

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Good News:

September Gardening Activities

Grain Valley Fair and Parade This Weekend

by Cathy Bylinowski, MU Extension Horticulture Instructor Perhaps you are still picking vegetables and admiring attractive zinnias or Rose of Sharon bushes this September. Soon it will be time to harvest sweet potatoes and the last tomatoes! September is also prime lawn care month. If you have areas where turf grass has died, now is the time to prepare the soil and reseed. This MU Extension Publication that will give you detailed information about how to do itCool Season Grasses: Establishment and Renovation- https:// extension.missouri.edu/publications/ g6700 Here are some tips from the Missouri Environment and Garden online Newsletter: Tall fescue and/or Kentucky bluegrass - Cool Season lawn grasses September is the most important time to get to work on your lawn and rebuild turfgrass density after a long, difﬁcult summer. This is the most important time to fertilize cool-season lawns. Apply fertilizer at a rate of 1 lb. nitrogen (N)/1000 sq ft. Potassium (K) may also be a component of the fertilizer at a 1/3 to ½ rate of the nitrogen, particularly if the soil test indicates a deﬁciency. Do not apply phosphorous (P) unless a soil test indicates it is needed since some soils are already at high or potentially toxic levels and established turfgrass is good at getting to even lower concentrations. Mid-September is also a great time to seed or overseed a lawn. If a lawn is less than 50% desirable turfgrass then consider a complete renovation, but in most

cases a good overseeding will help rebuild density. Aerate or verticut if possible, then fertilize, (aerate or verticut again if possible), seed and lightly rake in. If the soil is low in phosphorous, addition of this nutrient may be necessary when seeding. Overseeding rates for tall fescue and a tall fescue/KBG mixture is 4-6 lbs. of pure live seed/1000 sq ft and a complete renovation is 6-8 lbs. of pure live seed/1000 sq ft. After seeding, water frequently and lightly enough to keep the soil dark, but not so much that it glistens (2-3 times a day). Last but most importantly, you must know the size of your lawn to accurately apply fertilizer or seed. Try the lawn fertilizer calculator here - http:// agebb.missouri.edu/fertcalc/. If you don't know the lawn size, or want to check, this web application will direct you to Google maps so the size can be estimated with satellite imagery. After using the spreader, blow the seeds and fertilizer back off the curb, road, sidewalk, or driveway and back into your lawn. Don't pollute!

The Grain Valley Fair will be held at Armstrong Park on September 10th and 11th, with the community parade held downtown on Saturday, September 11th at 2:00pm. The fair committee has planned a full weekend of entertainment for the entire family. “Bob Jovi and KCDC will deﬁnitely be something you won't want to miss. They are a couple of the top bands in KC. We have more vendors this year than we had in 2019, so people will want to put some time aside to do some shopping. There are numerous boutiques, crafters, and direct sales booths. We also have a new carnival this year coming to us from Iowa so new rides and new inflatables that we haven't

had before at the Fair. Plus the parade is always one of the largest events in Grain Valley for the year so having it back is great.” The community parade will be held Saturday, September 11th at 2:00pm, with the parade beginning at the high school, heading north on Main Street, west on Walnut, and south on Kirby on the way back to the high school. Approximately 35 school and community groups will participate in this year’s parade. . For more information, visit www.grainvalleyfair.org and follow the Grain Valley Fair page on Facebook. For a full schedule of events, see page 2 of this week’s edition or visit www.grainvalleyfair.org.

Zoysiagrass- Warm Season Grass Zoysia starts shutting down, and mowing will be less frequent. If you did not fertilize during the summer, or fertilize enough, (~ 1 lb. N/1000 sq ft) be aware that low nitrogen can result in increased winterkill during tough winters. A light rate of a fertilizer (0.25-0.5 lb. N/1000 sq ft) with both nitrogen and potassium may aid in winterkill avoidance.

In This Edition: Looking Back: The Edward Storms Family

Your Health: Protect yourself against blue light eye damage

Sports: Eagles dominant duo has rare night off in loss to Wildcats

Cover Image: Caleb Larson had a big night with 149 yards on 12 carries and three touchdowns in a 35-14 win over Oak Park. Photo credit: Michael Smith

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Gඋൺංඇ Vൺඅඅൾඒ Fൺංඋ 2021 Friday, September 10th and Saturday, September 11, 2021

Presented to you by City of Grain Valley, Kohl’s Distribution Center, KC Cannabis, T-Mobile, and CenterPoint Hospital

Schedule brought to you by Valley News and Metropolitan Community College

Friday September 10th 4:00-10:00 4:00-10:00 5:00-11:00 4:00-11:00 6:00-7:30 8:00-9:00 9:30-11:00

Saturday September 11th 11:00-10:00

11:00-10:00

11:00-11:00 11:30-12:00 12:00-12:20 1:00-1:30 2:00-4:00 4:00-11:30 4:00-4:20 4:30-6:30 6:00-Finish 6:30-6:50 7:00-8:30 9:00-11:00

Carnival Midway Open Fair Grounds Brought to you by Truman Medical Centers/University Health and MO Country Vendor Booths Open Fair Grounds Brought to you by Casey’s General Stores and Grain Valley State Farm Baby Contest Voting Open Information Tent Brought to you by the Grain Valley Partnership HITT Dance Class Demonstration East Stage of the Pavilion Brought to you Beyond Fitness Reptile Show: Inspiring Scales Snakes: East Stage of the Pavilion Brought to you by Why Not Reptiles/EpicStyle LLC Pilates Class Demonstration East Stage of the Pavilion Brought to you Mindful Evolutions Grain Valley Community Parade Starts at High School Brought to you by Valley News Beer Garden Open Large Pavilion Brought to you by the Grain Valley Partnership Reptile Show: Inspiring Scales Lizards: East Stage of the Pavilion Brought to you by Why Not Reptiles/EpicStyle LLC Misty River Band Main Stage of the Pavilion Brought to you by Edward Jones of Grain Valley Cornhole Tournament Fair Grounds Brought to you by Wild Souls Wildlife Rescue and Rehab Reptile Show: Inspiring Scales Tortoise/Alligator: East Stage of the Pavilion Brought to you by Why Not Reptiles/EpicStyle LLC Bob Jovi Main Stage of the Pavilion Brought to you by Sheet Metal Workers Local NO. 2 KCDC Main Stage of the Pavilion Brought to you by Dell’s Powersports

Thank you to our Partner Sponsors St. Mary’s Hospital, Star Development, and Grain Valley Price Chopper Info Tent brought to you by Blue Springs Ford, Derek’s Painting, Valley Baptist Church, and MOD Pizza. Make sure to grab a Can Koozie from the Beer Garden sponsored by KAT Excavation, Boot Barn, Casey’s General Stores, OOIDA, State Bank, Dell’s Powersports, Drew’s Diesel Repair, Blue Moon Lounge, beHome, Big O’s Rentals. Show-Me Hydro, Broadway Smiles Dentist, and Associated Services in Insurance. Parade Handouts sponsored by EKC Cross Baseball and Broadway Smiles Dentist For more information on vendors and sponsors, visit www.grainvalleyfair.org. Follow the Grain Valley Fair on Facebook for live broadcasts and updates throughout the fair.

3 National Night Out event scheduled for September 28th The Grain Valley Police Department will host a National Night Out event on September 28th from 6:00pm—8:30pm at Armstrong Park. The family event is to inform community members of police

department operations through demonstrations and information. The event will include free food, family activities, games, and prizes. For more information on the event, call 816-847-6250.

Police Blotter The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of August 25-30, 2021. August 25, 2021 1200 Block of Pavilion 1400 Block of Hilltop LN 700 Block of Main Phone 800 Block of LeeAnn 100 Block of Woodbury 100 Block of Main

Suspicious Activity Disturbance Past Citizen Contact Via Area Canvass Agency Assist-CJC Alarm

August 26, 2021 1000 Block of RD Mize 100 Block of E Harris 1000 Block of SW Sandy LN 500 Block of Main 100 Block of James Rollo S Outer Belt RD 1100 Block of Ephraim 700 Block of Main Phone 700 Block of Main

File photo

August 27, 2021 200 Gregg 1400 Blk of S Bknr Tarsney RD 1000 Block of Clear Creek 900 Block of NW MapleWood CT 1200 Block of Hillsboro Harris & Cypress 500 Block of Greystone 600 Block of Yennie ST 200 Block of Main ST

Motor Vehicle Accident Assault Disturbance Area Check Welfare Check Motor Vehicle Accident Property Line Complaint Citizen Contact Via Assault Report

Agency Assist-CJC Physical Disturbance Area Check Disturbance Citizen Contact Suspicious Person Suspicious Vehicle Suspicious Person Physical Disturbance

August 28, 2021 Dean & Sni A Bar 1600 Block of N Hedgewood 500 Block of SW Centurion 400 Block of SW Eagles PKWY 800 Block of San Kar 100 Block of Sunny LN DR Main & Front Buckner Tarsney & Sni A Bar 700 Block of Main 300 Block of Yennie 1500 Block of NW Broadway 1300 Block of NW Blue Branch 5200 Block of S Barr RD

Area Check Disturbance Verbal Disturbance Suspicious Activity Agency Assist-CJC Stealing Motor Vehicle Accident Area Check Citizen Contact Disturbance Alarm Alarm Alarm

August 29, 2021 1100 Block of Smith ST 1300 Block of Basswood CT Aspen & Woodbury Main & I 70

Prisoner Transport Barking Dog Noise Complaint Motor Vehicle Accident

August 30, 2021 700 Block of Main 1100 Block of Valley Ridge 100 Block of Main 100 Block of Man 800 Block of SW Lakeview

Welfare Check Stealing Dealer Recertiﬁcation Civil Matter Citizen Contact

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

Looking Back: The Edward Storms Family by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Last week I introduced you to Cora and Logan Storms and their descendants. This week I will tell you about Edward E. Storms. Like his older brother Logan, Edward was born in Cass County on March 15, 1871. He was the son of Asa Storms, Sr. and his second wife, Mary E. Stillwell. As teenagers, Logan and Edward Storms came to Grain Valley. Edward was only 18 years old when he married Altha Parr on August 18, 1889. They had six children:: Myrtle (Mrs. Everett Snodgrass), 1890-1969; Charles Elmer, 1892-1960; Thomas, 1894-1970; George Ellis, 1898-1962; Marie (Mrs. David Shrout), 1901-1995 and Edith (Mrs. William Tucker), 1904-1996. The 1900 U. S. Census listed farming as his occupation. However, by 1910 Edward owned a drugstore and his occupation was that of druggist. He and his family lived in Grain Valley. He must have been fairly successful, because by 1920 the family had moved to the big house on Walnut Street. Edward and Altha were still living there in 1930. Altha passed away in 1940 and while I did not ﬁnd him listed in the 1940 census, he died in Kansas City at age 81 on June 10, 1952. Charles (“Elmer”) worked briefly at the Bank of Grain Valley before moving to Colorado and later Enid, Oklahoma. The remaining children stayed in Missouri. Myrtle married into the Snodgrass family and her children and grandchild grew up in Grain Valley. Tommy worked in his father’s store and for a time. During the 1930s he ran a restaurant in Harrisonville before returning to Grain

Valley. Marie was the mother of Keith Shrout who was the superintendent at Lone Jack in the 1960s. Edith married Bill Tucker, a teacher in Grain Valley in the late 1920s. They moved to Freeman, Missouri where Bill eventually became Superintendent of Schools at Midway until his death in 1959. Edith was his school secretary and served the district until her retirement in 1978. Finally, George Ellis Storms (18981962) followed in his father’s foot steps. After high school he worked at the Bank of Grain Valley before becoming the druggist at Storms Pharmacy. The 1940 US Census listed Ellis as a drug store owner (located on Main Street, north of the Bank of Grain Valley). He married Grace Johnson on April 12, 1922 and they lived with their daughter, Carol Jean, on Walnut Street. I remember Grace and Ellis living in their “new” home on Truman Road. They had purchased a farm and planted lots and lots of peach trees. I had many bowls of peaches and ice cream and several peach pies from Storms Orchard. People came from all over to buy their delicious peaches! After Edward’s death his estate was sold. If you live on the south side of Walnut Street stretching to the railroad and between Charlotte Street and Kirby Road, you are living in the Storms Addition. What was once farmland became Storms Addition in 1956. The original houses along Walnut Street were built in 1957 and 58.

This medicine bottle is on display at the Grain Valley Historical Society. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society

Letters to the editor and guest columns are welcome. This is YOUR community news source. Send your letters, comments, and story ideas by email, mail, or send us a message on social media (@grainvalleynews).

Email: news@grainvalleynews.com Mail: Grain Valley News: PO Box 2972, Grain Valley MO 64029

Business

Mid-Continent Public Library September business programming Upcoming events offered by Square One Small Business Services by MidContinent Public Library: Key methods to fund your business growth Wednesday, September 15, 2021 11:45am—1:00pm Presenter: Jill Hathaway-Monter Most small business owners are constantly looking for ways to improve their business and grow their sales. At some point, this will likely require additional funding to cover expenses and accelerate growth. This is more often more challenging than expected thanks to the numerous roadblocks that can emerge on the road to additional capital. Our discussion will review areas of business focus in being prepared to fund growth. To view this class, visit the Square One Facebook page at facebook.com/ mcplsquareone.

business Wednesday, September 15, 2021 6:00pm—7:30pm Learn how to put Facebook to work marketing your business! Join MCPL Business Specialist Hanna Taylor for an in-depth, 90-minute workshop where you can learn the best practices for creating and maintaining an engaging Facebook page, as well as learn the secrets of the Facebook algorithm that determine who sees and interacts with your posts. Register online at www.mymcpl.org/ events. Creating Videos for Social Media Wednesday, September 22, 2021 6:00pm—7:00pm It’s no secret that video is performing better on social media than ever before. Learn tips and tricks to incorporate video into your social media posts. Register online at www.mymcpl.org/ events.

Up your Facebook game for your

Upcoming Partnership Events

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

In 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that roughly 12% of Missouri households faced food insecurity, meaning they did not have adequate food due to a lack of money or other resources at some point throughout the year. Hoping to help address this issue, the Missouri Department of Agriculture recently announced the availability of funding for projects designed to reduce food insecurity within Missouri’s urban areas. The Food Insecure Urban Agriculture Matching Grant is a competitive grant program aiming to provide up to $50,000 per approved project. Applicants must provide a minimum 25% match for their project through a combination of cash or in-kind contributions; however, the cash match must be greater than 50% of the total match to remain eligible. Funds may be used to increase food production and availability within an urban area; demonstrate growth of local economic communities; increase local economic impact; increase availability of food to local residents; or enhance already established areas within a community and provide assistance to the community. Projects should support farmers’ markets, apiary programs, and other economic development initiatives that work to reduce food insecurity in the state’s urban areas, including Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties. Grant applications are due by Sept. 30, 2021, and projects must be completed and ready for veriﬁcation by April 1, 2022. For more information regarding grant requirements and a list of eligible expenses, please visit agriculture.mo.gov/abd/ﬁnancial/ food-insecure.php. Individuals interested in applying for the grant can also learn more about the application process by attending an informational webinar hosted by the Department of Agriculture. The webinar will be held on September 15th at 5:00 p.m. To register and RSVP for the event, please contact Rachel Heimericks at Rachel.Heimericks@mda.mo.gov. I am honored to serve the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. If there is

anything I can do to serve you, please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation for the 2021 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot. In 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that roughly 12% of Missouri households faced food insecurity, meaning they did not have adequate food due to a lack of money or other resources at some point throughout the year. Hoping to help address this issue, the Missouri Department of Agriculture recently announced the availability of funding for projects designed to reduce food insecurity within Missouri’s urban areas. The Food Insecure Urban Agriculture Matching Grant is a competitive grant program aiming to provide up to $50,000 per approved project. Applicants must provide a minimum 25% match for their project through a combination of cash or in-kind contributions; however, the cash match must be greater than 50% of the total match to remain eligible. Funds may be used to increase food production and availability within an urban area; demonstrate growth of local economic communities; increase local economic impact; increase availability of food to local residents; or enhance already established areas within a community and provide assistance to the community. Projects should support farmers’ markets, apiary programs, and other economic development initiatives that work to reduce food insecurity in the state’s urban areas, including Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties. Grant applications are due by Sept. 30, 2021, and projects must be completed and ready for verification by April 1, 2022. For more information regarding grant requirements and a list of eligible expenses, please visit agriculture.mo.gov/abd/financial/ food-insecure.php. Individuals interested in applying for the grant can also learn more about the

application process by attending an informational webinar hosted by the Department of Agriculture. The webinar will be held on September 15th at 5:00 p.m. To register and RSVP for the event, please contact Rachel Heimericks at Rachel.Heimericks@mda.mo.gov. I am honored to serve the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. If there is anything I can do to serve you, please feel free to contact my ofﬁce in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation for the 2021 session, please visit my ofﬁcial Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot. In 2019, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that roughly 12% of Missouri households faced food insecurity, meaning they did not have adequate food due to a lack of money or other resources at some point throughout the year. Hoping to help address this issue, the Missouri Department of Agriculture recently announced the availability of funding for projects designed to reduce food insecurity within Missouri’s urban areas. The Food Insecure Urban Agriculture Matching Grant is a competitive grant program aiming to provide up to $50,000 per approved project. Applicants must provide a minimum 25% match for their project through a combination of cash or in-kind contributions; however, the cash match must be greater than 50% of the total match to remain eligible. Funds may be used to increase food production and availability within an urban area; demonstrate growth of local

economic communities; increase local economic impact; increase availability of food to local residents; or enhance already established areas within a community and provide assistance to the community. Projects should support farmers’ markets, apiary programs, and other economic development initiatives that work to reduce food insecurity in the state’s urban areas, including Jackson, Clay, and Platte counties. Grant applications are due by Sept. 30, 2021, and projects must be completed and ready for verification by April 1, 2022. For more information regarding grant requirements and a list of eligible expenses, please visit agriculture.mo.gov/abd/financial/ food-insecure.php. Individuals interested in applying for the grant can also learn more about the application process by attending an informational webinar hosted by the Department of Agriculture. The webinar will be held on September 15th at 5:00 p.m. To register and RSVP for the event, please contact Rachel Heimericks at Rachel.Heimericks@mda.mo.gov. I am honored to serve the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District. If there is anything I can do to serve you, please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about my committee assignments or sponsored legislation for the 2021 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.

State News

Democrats demand LGBTQ exhibit return to Missouri Capitol or other exhibits be removed by Jason Hancock, Missouri Independent If an LGBTQ history exhibit was removed from the Missouri Capitol because it didn’t get pre-approval from a speciﬁc board, then every exhibit on display that didn’t get approved must also be removed, House Minority Leader Crystal Quade argued in a letter to state ofﬁcials on Wednesday.

years he never had to seek approval from the board regarding exhibits.

That would mean, she said, that there would be no exhibits on display.

“If you stick to your story that the LBGTQ exhibit had to come down because the board of public buildings didn’t approve it,” Quade wrote, “then to be consistent you must immediately remove all exhibits the board hasn’t approved. Since this is a function the board has never performed, that means stripping the Missouri State Museum bare.”

In the letter addressed to Dru Buntin, director of the Department of Natural Resources, Quade says Gov. Mike Parson’s explanation for why the display was removed was a lie. Parson said the exhibit was taken down after he received complaints and because it wasn’t approved for display by the board of public buildings. However, the board’s meeting minutes going back ﬁve years show it has never discussed museum exhibits, and the former museum director said in 24

Quade, a Springﬁeld Democrat, wrote that Buntin and Parson fabricated a reason for why the exhibit was removed to avoid being accused of “homophobia and content-based discrimination.”

Failure to do so, Quade wrote, would be a “tacit admission that you and the governor have caved to homophobia and engaged in content-based discrimination — the very thing your lie was intended to avoid.”

Quade urged Buntin and Parson instead to simply return the LGBTQ exhibit to the Capitol.

Parson asking him to rethink the decision to remove the exhibit from the Capitol.

Neither DNR nor the governor’s ofﬁce responded to a request for comment on Quade’s letter Wednesday morning.

“When peoples’ histories are marginalized,” the letter stated, “people often become marginalized as well.”

The exhibit in question, called “Making History: Kansas City and the Rise of Gay Rights,” documented the early days of LGBTQ activism in the state. It consisted of banners, curated by University of Missouri-Kansas City history students, recounting the activism of the city’s LGBTQ community.

Thursday morning, Sen. Greg Razer, a Kansas City Democrat and the only openly gay member of the Senate, released a letter he sent to Parson this week also demanding the exhibits return. If the governor refuses, Razer wants all records documenting any time the board of public buildings has ever approved a museum exhibit.

It was on display for only four days before it was taken down, even though it had been scheduled to remain until Dec. 26. Parson’s administration announced late Friday that instead of the Capitol, the exhibit would be moved and put on display down the street in the Lohman Building. Later on Wednesday, the National Council on Public History wrote to

The governor has not responded to Razer’s letter.

This story has been updated since it originally published.

Your Health

Protect yourself against blue light eye damage by Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert If you're spending 8 to 10 hours a day in front of the screens of your computers and smart devices, you could be experiencing an overload of something called "blue light" If you're exposed to too much of this light, it can cause things like disrupting your sleep patterns, retinal cell damage, and digital eyestrain. What's worse, is that younger eyes are more at risk. Your tech devices play a big role in your life, so it's unrealistic to give the advice that you stop using them. There are a number of things you can do to reduce the amount of blue light you're exposed to. Check out these quick and easy tech tips to help you cut down how much blue light your devices emit.

help your body adjust to sleep, so you will have to enable it every time you use your device.

ﬁlter, and even create a shortcut icon or widget, so you don't have to open the app to enable the ﬁlter.

Android Smartphone or Tablet: Most Android devices have built-in blue light ﬁlters, but not all. If your mode supports this, go to Settings > Display. Look for an option for Night Light or Blue Light ﬁlter and turn it on. Like Apple devices, this doesn't enable blue light permanently, you have to turn it on every time you use your device.

Blue Light Filter. This app will allow you to adjust the color temperature by choosing from among several options as well as tweaking the intensity and the brightness of the ﬁlter.

1. Enable Blue Light Protection On Your Devices. Hardware and software manufacturers are aware blue light can cause issues, so most of your smart devices already have a means for you to enable protection.

Apple Computer: If you have an Apple computer 2012 or newer, you can turn on the blue light blocking feature. To do so, follow these steps: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences> Click Displays >Night Shift tab. Again, this will only allow you to set a schedule to turn this feature on. It does not enable it permanently.

iPad or iPhone: On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Display & Brightness. Tap the Night Shift setting, which will change the screen temperature of your Apple device to a warmer color, which will filter out the blue light. This won't permanently change your devices to filter blue light. It's designed to filter out blue light to

Windows 10: I'm sure most of you think Windows devices are behind the curve, but they have blue light settings that can be turned on from Settings > System > Display. Toggle the Night light switch to turn on the feature. Like other devices, you have to enable this every time you use your Windows computer.

2. Download an App. If you own an Android device that doesn't have a blue light filter, consider the following apps> sfilter. This app will allow you to turn it on and off at specific times. You can change the color and brightness of the

Twilight: This app will allow you to always enable the ﬁlter to run from sunrise to sunset, or turn on and off at speciﬁc times. 3.Get a screen protector. No matter what device you spend hours staring at, you can get a screen protector to help block blue light. Check out products from www.ocushield.com. You can get screen protectors for Apple, Samsung and a variety of monitors to help reduce the strain to your eyes. 4. Try Protection Glasses. new monitors and screen protectors aren't an option, try these blue-light-blocking glasses. Wear them while you're on your devices before bed to get better sleep at night. These glasses come with a protective case so you can take them to work, school or just keep them safe at home. Wherever you choose to wear them, it's nice to know you can protect your eyes any time, anywhere. 5. Rest Your Eyes. The simplest way to help prevent overexposure to digital blue light is by managing the time spent using them. Be sure to take

regular breaks away from the screen. One easy method is to employ the 2020-20 rule. Every 20 minutes, take a break from your computer to look at something 20 feet away for a minimum of 20 seconds. This technique can help you avoid eye strain, and serves as a regular reminder to be conscious of blue light exposure. As you can see, there are many ways to protect your eyes from Blue Light. In our digital world, there is a need for laptops, television, and smartphone eye protection. Hopefully, the above advice will help you protect your eyes from a mobile screen or computer.

Looking for More Useful Tech Tips? Our Tuesday Tech Tips Blog is released every Tuesday. If you like video tips, we LIVE STREAM new episodes of 'Computer and Tech Tips for Non-Tech People' every Wednesday at 6:00 pm CST on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Technology product reviews are posted every Thursday. You can view previous episodes on our YouTube channel. Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone.

Family conversations may reveal critical health history (StatePoint) Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a rare disease that can be passed down from generation to generation within families. This condition causes numerous cysts to grow in the kidneys, resulting in the kidneys enlarging and losing function over time. Additionally, nearly 50 percent of affected patients over age 60 will experience kidney failure or end stage renal disease (ESRD). The most common form of PKD is Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) which, according to the National Kidney Foundation, accounts for nearly

90 percent of all PKD cases. ADPKD affects an estimated 140,000 Americans. While relatively rare, it is the most common inherited kidney disease and the fourth leading overall cause of end-stage kidney disease or kidney failure. As a progressive condition, ADPKD may eventually lead to kidney failure requiring some form of renal replacement therapy, such as dialysis or kidney transplant. “Although seemingly rare, ADPKD is quite prevalent and affects many families generation after generation. In fact, children of parents with ADPKD

have a 50 percent chance of inheriting the disease, and spontaneous mutations can occur in new generations as well,” says Meyeon Park, MD, MAS, director of the UCSF Polycystic Kidney Disease Center of Excellence and nephrologist, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine. “This emphasizes the importance of people with a family history of PKD discussing the condition with their relatives, as well as the importance of speaking with a doctor who specializes in kidney care as early as possible.”

Diagnosing ADPKD ADPKD is typically diagnosed by an ultrasound of the kidneys; however, a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan may also be conducted. Genetic testing may sometimes be used for people who have received an inconclusive imaging result, have no family history of the condition, who may be considering testing to determine if they can pass the gene on to their children, and for diagnosis of possible kidney donors. Using the latest technologies, physicians can now identify ADPKD

see HEALTH HISTORY on page 12

Outdoors & Recreation

Burr Oak to host two programs on monarch butterflies by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation If you enjoy monarch butterflies, September is prime viewing time because migrants from the north mingle with locally grown generations. Besides bright orange and black colors, their life history is impressive, too. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host two programs about monarch butterflies in September at the Burr Oak Woods

Nature Center in Blue Springs. The ﬁrst program is virtual and open to all ages from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, September 14th. This program will focus on the magical trek monarch generations make to Mexico in autumn, and then their return in spring. Instructions will also be given on how to tag monarchs with small paper tags to help scientists track their journeys and

Native Plant Sale September 18th at Gorman Discovery Center The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host a native plant sale from 11:00am—2:00pm on Saturday, September 18th, at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City. This sale is organized by the Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF). Six native plant venders will have plants for sale. Visitors can peruse native wildflowers, grasses, sedges, ground covers, shrubs, and trees. Gardeners can also pre-order from some of the vendors. “Choosing native plants for home landscaping is one of the best actions

homeowners can take to make their yards or property as ecologically healthy as possible, as well as beautiful,” said Carol Davit, MPF executive director. Vendors will include City Roots, Gaylena’s Garden, Ozark Soul, Missouri Wildflowers Nursery, Allendan Seed Company, and Down to Earth Services/ Green Thumb Gardens. Check those vendor’s web sites for pre-order information. For information about using native plants in gardening and landscaping, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZV7.

population trends. To register, visit https:// short.mdc.mo.gov/ZCa. A link to the online program will be sent to those who register. MDC’s Burr Oak Woods staff will host an in-person monarch event from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18. This program for all ages will explore the butterfly’s lifestyle and migration. Participants will

GARDENING

have the opportunity to help citizen science by tagging monarchs. MDC staff can answer questions about how to improve monarch habitat in your gardens or acres. COVID-19 precautions will be observed. To register, visit https:// short.mdc.mo.gov/ZCb.

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Fall vegetable gardening A fall crop of cool season greens and radishes is possible if you plant soon. Radish varieties, such as Cherry Belle, Easter Egg, and French Breakfast, are ready to pick in 25-35 days after planting. Many radish varieties do well in cool temperatures. Be sure to water seed beds and keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate. After germination, water at least once a week. Thin radish seedlings to about 1 inch apart to give them enough room to grow tasty roots. Arugula and leaf lettuces, such as Black-seeded Simpson, are tasty, nutritious cool season crops that can be started in September. Both take about 40 to 50 days to harvest.

Consider setting up high and low tunnels to extend the growing season. Remove any diseased or insectinfested plant debris from the garden to prevent the pests and pathogens from over-wintering. This will help to limit populations next year. Keep harvesting ripened tomatoes and "top off" plants to encourage additional ripening as the ﬁrst frost approaches. Feel free to contact me if you have more fall gardening questions. Cathy Bylinowski, Horticulture Instructor, bylinowskic@missouri.edu.

Sports

10 Grain Valley takes down Pleasant Hill in five sets by Michael Smith The Grain Valley softball team has one of the best pitching duos in the state. Avery Huffman and Hailey Hemme were both all-state selections last year and were dominant, both having earned -run averages below 2. But with a game like softball, the majority of pitchers won’t have their best stuff in the circle every night. On Thursday, that seemed to be the case for Huffman and Hemme. The pair had a rare off day and issued 11 walks and three home runs combined in a 8-7 loss at Jim Coen Field at Blue Springs High School. Huffman surrendered six runs on six hits, walked seven and struck out six in three and one-third innings. Hemme came in relief and gave up two runs on two hits, walked four and struck out four. Hemme had a runner at second with two outs in the bottom of the eighth when Blue Springs third baseman Brooklyn Saysoff floated an RBI single to short left field to end the game. The other hit against Hemme was a solo home run from Cejai Holland in the fifth that tied the game at 7 all. “They brought it and wanted it more,” Ogle said of Blue Springs. “Whatever it was, (Huffman and Hemme) were off

tonight. Some days, you don’t have your A game. Today, neither had their A game today. We gave up free bases which led to free runs.” Grain Valley (6-2) got off to a hot start in the top of the first inning when Huffman’s RBI single and Ella Clyman’s sacrifice fly made it 2-0. Blue Springs came back with a run in the second and one in the third to tie the contest at two going into the fourth. Grain Valley had Mackenzie Keller at first base with two outs when McKenah Sears blooped a single to right. Keller attempted to score on the hit but was thrown out at home to keep the game tied. Blue Springs then exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fourth when Ashton Arndt hit a solo home run that just cleared the left field fence and Isabella Milligan hit a no-doubter over the center field wall against Huffman. That helped the Wildcats (1-2) take a 6-2 lead into the top of the fifth. “I thought (Lauren Parker) was going to catch it at first,” Milligan said. “I played with Avery my whole life. It felt good to get a hit off of her for once. I have always had struggles against her.” The Eagles refused to go away quietly, however. They sent 10 batters to the plate in the fifth and scored five

Senior Avery Huffman allowed six runs on six hits walked seven and struck out six in 3 1/3 innings during an 8-7 loss to Blue Springs. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Lauren Ogle squares around to bunt. Photo credit: Michael Smith runs. Lauren Parker slapped an RBI single down the left ﬁeld line; BriLeigh Sims came up just a few feet short of a home run as she hit a two-run triple off the left ﬁeld fence; Clyman dumped an RBI single to right; and Sears’ RBI groundout put the Eagles ahead 7-6.

From there, Grain Valley had two more base runners but could push neither across. “We can always swing it,” Ogle said. “Hitting comes and goes. It showed today when it was there and then it wasn’t.”

BriLeigh Sims prepares for the pitch. She was 1-for-5 with a two-run triple. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Sports

Larson’s big day leads to Eagles 35-14 win over Oak Park by Michael Smith The Grain Valley offense struggled mightily during a Week 1 loss to Smithville last Friday. The Eagles only mustered three points, a field goal from kicker Austin Schmidt. It appeared those struggles may have carried over in Friday’s road contest against Oak Park. They sputtered in the first quarter against the Northmen, but their defense also didn’t allow any points to keep the game deadlocked in the second period. That’s when the offense woke up. Led by quarterback Caleb Larson, who rushed for 149 yards on 12 carries and scored three touchdowns, Grain Valley rebounded from last week’s lopsided loss to top Oak Park 35-14. “That first half we are like, ‘Holy moly.’ We’re killing ourselves offensively and we are not making the right reads,” Grain Valley head coach David Allie said. “(The defense) turned the page for us, then the offense got going in the second. Hats off to the defense. They were tremendous.” In the second quarter, the Grain Valley offense started making the right reads. Larson took advantage of an Oak Park defense that was focused on stopping runs up the middle. He broke big runs by faking a handoff to the running back and running to the outside on the left and right. “They were loading up the box and trying to take away our B gap runs, the dive and the read,” Allie said. “When they do that, that opens up the quarterback sweep that Caleb ran to perfection tonight.” After the scoreless first period, Larson scored on a designed quarterback keeper from nine yards out to put his team up 7-0 at the 11:38 mark. Twenty-two seconds later, junior defensive back Keegan Hart intercepted a pass from Oak Park signal caller Ty Clemens along the right sideline. “I read the quarterback’s eyes,” Hart said, “but also Gage Forkner had a huge hit on the wide receiver to give me time to get me where I needed to be. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn’t have had that interception.” Hart returned the ball to the Oak Park

17 before the ball was marked at the 32 following a penalty. It didn’t end up hurting the Eagles as shortly after, Larson scored on a read option run up the middle to make it 14-0 at the 10:11 mark. Oak Park muffed a punt on the ensuing drive which set up the Eagles at the Northmen 20. A few plays later, Pratt later scored on a 5-yard run on a reverse handoff to make it 21-0 with 7:21 left in the ﬁrst half, a score that held until halftime thanks to a huge assist from the Grain Valley defense. Larson capped his big night with 4:01 left in the third period. He faked a handoff to running back Jaxon Wyatt, paused for a second, then took off running along the right sideline and scored from 45 yards out to balloon the Eagles’ lead to 28-0. “We saw their defensive ends and linebackers were crashing really hard because we were running a dive play,” Larson said. “So we believed we could pull the ball for a waggle or roll out. Instead of throwing the football, I just took off and ran.” “I turned around and had three guys in my face. I just turned and run and got what I could get and it turned out to be a touchdown.” On Oak Park’s next drive, the Grain Valley defense came up big again. Junior Linebacker Cole Elliott intercepted Clemons on a diving catch at the Northmen 44. “I thought we played well up front,” said Allie, whose team had two sacks. “The secondary did a good job of keeping the pass down. We had two picks and could have had a third. The secondary did a great job rolling their coverages and disguising it, which possibly made the quarterback rethink.” Freshman running back DJ Harris, who had a strong day with 65 yards on eight carries, broke a few tackles on a run up the middle and scored from 35 yards out to cap the scoring for his team 2:05 left in the third quarter. “It felt amazing,” Harris said. “It was crazy because I really didn’t really think I had that many yards left to go. I just broke free, took what I got, and I have to thank my line for that.” The score was Harris’ ﬁrst varsity

Grain Valley senior wide receiver Logan Pratt runs toward the end zone and scores on a 5-yard run. Photo credit: Michael Smith

Senior running back Jaxon Wyatt, ball carrier, runs behind junior offensive lineman Connor Heitman after catching a screen pass. Photo credit: Michael Smith touchdown. “I love that guy so much. He’s going to be such a weapon,” Larson said of Harris. “I will get to play with him my senior year. He is just special. “It’s weird. He is just a monster. He’s a freshman and he’s a little small, but he has some meat on his bones.” The Grain Valley defense didn’t give up any point until the game was virtually over. Clemens had two late

touchdown passes, one for 38 yards to Bubba Bogart and another for 40 yards to Marlon Gant. Wyatt added 59 yards rushing on 18 carries for the Eagles. Gage Forkner and Brody Baker each led the team with one sack each. “He had a great day,” Hart said of Forkner. “He is the one always staying late and working hard. He’s that team leader that is keeping us together.”

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HEALTH HISTORY continued from page 8 patients at risk for rapid progression of kidney function decline as well as estimate how quickly someone with ADPKD is likely to progress to kidney failure based on the size of his or her kidneys. Although disease progression can be highly variable, even among family members, it’s important to conﬁrm diagnosis early as patients with rapidly progressing ADPKD reach end stage renal disease at a younger age. Disease Management Strategies Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for ADPKD patients, since this disease progressively gets worse over time and cannot be reversed. While signs and symptoms often develop between ages of 30 and 40, individuals with a history of kidney diseases – and especially if ADPKD runs in the family – shouldn’t delay speaking with a kidney specialist, also known as a nephrologist. By acting early, individuals may be able to take steps to help protect kidney

function and properly manage the disease, as well as any related complications such as high blood pressure, urinary tract infections, kidney stones, infected or bleeding cysts, abdominal bloating or discomfort and chronic pain. “Take advantage of educational resources, such as www.ADPKDQuestions.com, to better understand the disease, available disease management strategies and recommended lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy diet and staying physically active,” continues Dr. Park, MD, MAS, director of the UCSF Polycystic Kidney Disease Center of Excellence and nephrologist, University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine. “Being an empowered patient early on will help foster informed conversations about ADPKD with both relatives and health care providers, and may ultimately help to delay disease progression.”

Community Calendar September 10-11, 2021

September 27, 2021

Grain Valley Fair Parade: Saturday, Sept. 11th at 2pm For complete schedule of events, visit www.grainvalleyfair.org

Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall

September 13, 2021 Board of Aldermen Meeting 7:00pm Grain Valley City Hall Stay at Home Book Group 7:00pm—8:00pm Are you missing book talk? Join us for a virtual book group via Zoom. No need to read a particular book: share what you are reading and hear what others are reading too. www.mymcpl.org/events

September 28, 2021 National Night Out Event 6:00pm—8:00pm The Pavilion at Armstrong Park

Add your community event at www.grainvalleynews.com.

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Valley News: September 9, 2021

Articles inside

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