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Filing began this week for open Board of Aldermen seats and Board of Education seats in Grain Valley.
Filing for aldermen seats has been fairly quiet, with just two candidates filing as of Wednesday evening. Darren Mills has filed for re-election in Ward 2, and Tom Cleaver filed for re-election in Ward 1. The other open seat, currently held by Shea Bass in Ward III, had no candidates as of Wednesday evening. Filing has been more robust for three school board openings, currently held by Jeff Coleman, Tisha Homfeld, and Jan Reding. Seven candidates had filed as of 11:00am Wednesday: Lance Pollard Michael Hackett Tisha Homfeld Jan Reding Jeff Coleman Julie Taylor Sarah Swartz Filing for Board of Education candidates closes at 5:00pm on December 27th. Filing for Board of Aldermen candidates closes at 5:00pm on January 17, 2023. The municipal election will be held April 4, 2023.
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District now accepting nominations for Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year Awards12/8/2022 The Grain Valley School District is now accepting nominations for Grain Valley Teacher of the Year and Grain Valley Support Staff Employee of the Year awards. For each award, nominations are accepted via online forms from staff, parents, students, and community members. The awards are presented at the end of March.
Grain Valley Teacher of the Year The Grain Valley Teacher of the Year Award is sponsored by Grain Valley Chiropractic, LLC which provides a $500 grant to the honoree. The honoree is eligible for the Regional and Missouri State Teacher of the Year programs. Nominees must have worked in the school district for at least one year. Nominees must intend to teach in Grain Valley the year following their selection. Anyone who has won the award during the last five years is not eligible for nomination. However, teachers previously nominated but not selected may be nominated again. This award is open to all certified staff excluding administrators and directors. Counselors, PT, OT, and library media specialists are eligible. The process is as follows:
Grain Valley Support Staff Employee of the Year The Grain Valley Support Staff Employee of the Year Award is sponsored by Grain Valley Chiropractic, LLC which provides a $100 gift to the honoree. Nominees must have worked in the school district for at least one year. Nominees must intend to work in Grain Valley the year following their selection. Anyone who has won the award during the last five years is not eligible for nomination. However, support staff previously nominated but not selected may be nominated again. Any non-certified employee is eligible for this award. The process is as follows:
To nominate a staff member, visit: Staff Awards - Grain Valley Schools by Michael Smith First-year head coach Donald Horner has built a strong program and helped get about 70 athletes to join the Grain Valley wrestling team. The Eagles needed that depth in Wednesday’s dual at Blue Springs. They were missing some wrestlers who are normally in the starting lineup, including returning state medalists Tanner Barker and Dru Azcona, who were out with injuries. Several newcomers stepped up to help Grain Valley earn a 56-24 victory over the Wildcats. “I am really blessed,” Horner said. “We have a large group of freshmen. We have 26, 27. They do everything you asked. If I asked them to run through a brick wall, they would do it.” One of those newcomers was freshman Caine Nelson, who wrestled at 165 pounds in place of Barker. It was his first varsity match, so unsurprisingly, he was nervous. “I was about to pee my pants,” Nelson said, “but got more comfortable as the match went on.” It didn’t matter as he earned some key team points to essentially put the match out of reach for Blue Springs. Nelson overcame a 4-0 deficit and got a reversal against Blue Springs freshman Mason Booheister to tie the match at 4-4 before getting the pin at the 3 minute, 15-second mark. The pin gave Grain Valley a 44-12 lead. “I definitely could have done better,” Nelson said. “I should have built up quicker and freed my hands and I need to get to my half (nelson) quicker.” Horner said he was pleased with the way Nelson came up big for the Eagles. “He was nervous,” Horner said. “He had a case of the shakes. I think he went out there and did his job. He’s earned it. He’s worked hard.” Junior Aven Aumua (215) also wrestled in his first varsity dual and got a pin in 2:44 against Blue Springs freshman Carter Atagi. He countered a throw attempt by Atagi and got a throw of his own and pinned him shortly after. “My key thing when wrestling is just to be patient,” Aumua said. “A lot of times they get mad and go in full force and I just stand there and wait for them to make one wrong move and it’s a wrap.” It wasn’t just the newcomers helping either as seasoned wrestlers like Tyler Groves (144), a used his experience to help out a shorthanded Eagles squad, as well. He got two 3-point near falls in a 12-0 major decision against senior Devin Baldwin. “I have been really good on the head outside single (leg takedowns) and double (leg takedowns,” Groves said. “There are some things I could shape up on but overall I think I did pretty good today.” Other Eagles to win were sophomore Colston Parks (106) by forfeit; Zach Bleess (113) by a 16-4 major decision; Gavin Parks (120) by fall in 3:16; Brock Smith (126) by fall in 2:48; Ehtan Jones (132) by pin in 3:07; Justin Deweese (157) by fall in 1:45; and Andrew Czeschin (285) by fall in 29 seconds. Girls wrestling There were only three contested matches in the varsity girls dual in which Blue Springs won 30-18. Grain Valley sophomore Adalia Del Real (170) topped Natalia Perra with a first-period pin. Madison Hobbs (135) and Sevreign Aumua (140) both won by forfeit.  Grain Valley senior Tyler Groves turns Blue Springs senior Devin Baldwin for a 3-point near fall. Photo credit: Michael Smith  Grain Valley junior Gavin Parks goes for the pin against Blue Springs freshman Liam Taylor during a 56-24 win over the Wildcats in Wednesday's dual at Blue Springs High School. Photo credit: Michael Smith  Grain Valley freshman Zach Bleess hooks in a half Nelson against Blue Springs senior Aleksei Wojkiewicz. Photo credit: Michael Smith  by Clara Bates, Missouri Independent The rate of uninsured children in Missouri stabilized during the COVID-19 pandemic, reversing a years-long trend that saw an increasing number of children losing coverage, according to a report released Wednesday by Georgetown University. But the researchers warn the end of the federal public health emergency, which will likely occur next year and require states to redetermine eligibility for all Medicaid recipients, will put children at risk of inappropriately losing healthcare coverage. Missouri was previously identified as one of six states where children are at the highest risk of losing coverage once the public health emergency ends. Wednesday’s report, conducted by Georgetown’s Health Policy Institute Center for Children and Families, found a majority of states from 2019 to 2021 saw a decline or stability in their child uninsured population, in large part due to federal restrictions on states barring them from removing Medicaid recipients from their Medicaid rolls during the public health emergency. Missouri’s rate of uninsured children was 6.5% in 2019 and declined to 5.9% in 2021, according to U.S. Census data. The Georgetown University report analyzed 2019 and 2021 federal data, as 2020 data was not made available. Missouri had a higher prevalence of uninsured children than the national average in both years. Approximately 86,000 Missouri children were uninsured in 2021. In the three years leading up to the pandemic, rates of uninsured children had gone up nationally for the “first time in recent memory,” a Georgetown press release noted. This was also the case in Missouri: According to federal data, Missouri’s rate of children lacking insurance coverage rose from 4.8% in 2016 to 6.5% in 2019. ‘Procedural disenrollments’ Missouri’s social service department came under criticism in 2019 for significant Medicaid enrollment declines, after they adopted a new renewal process and information system. Missouri Budget Project that year found that families were often kicked off Medicaid despite being eligible for coverage because of challenges with the renewal process, including that they did not receive the proper paperwork or submitted the paperwork only for it to be lost or not processed. There were also hours-long waits for the Medicaid call centers at the time. Advocates worry that once the public health emergency ends, Missouri could return to a situation in which the renewal process strips eligible Medicaid recipients of coverage due to administrative barriers. In a study earlier this year, Georgetown researchers estimated 6.7 million children across the country are at risk of losing coverage when the public health emergency ends. The federal government predicted nearly three-quarters of children who are removed from the Medicaid rolls after the public health emergency ends will remain eligible but be dropped due to procedural issues. “We often hear that procedural disenrollments occur when enrollees ‘fail’ to renew,” noted a Center for Children and Families post in August, “But it’s often a ‘system failure.’” When children become uninsured, they’re more likely to experience worsening chronic conditions, miss well-child check-ups, and their families can receive high medical bills and even go into medical debt, Joan Alker, director of Georgetown’s Center for Children and Families and the lead author of Wednesday’s study, said on a press call Wednesday. Missouri children are particularly at risk, Georgetown’s earlier report noted, because the state does not have a policy to provide 12-month continuous Medicaid coverage to children and also administers Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in a way that could lead to coverage gaps, including by charging families premiums for CHIP. Alker said by email that Missouri has a “history of red tape losses for children,” referring to bureaucratic hurdles which create coverage gaps for eligible children. She credited the continuous coverage provision during the public health emergency with helping tamp that down. The report’s finding that rates of uninsured children nationally declined slightly over the pandemic is “welcome news for America’s children,” Alker said in Wednesday’s press call but it “may be short-lived.” Nationally, “millions of eligible children will likely fall through the cracks and become uninsured in states that are inattentive or ill-intentioned when the federal continuous coverage protection expires,” Alker continued. The federal government has not yet announced when the PHE will end, but will give 60 days notice, and once it does end, states have up to 14 months to determine eligibility of all Medicaid enrollees. Missouri’s social service department has told the MO HealthNet oversight committee it plans to take one year to complete all renewals. Missouri’s social service department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In July, the state adopted several federal flexibilities designed to reduce their Medicaid application backlog in advance of needing to renew the entire caseload of Medicaid participants once the public health emergency ends. Those flexibilities will be in place until the end of the public health emergency unwinding period, and could ease verification hurdles. One measure, which focuses on applications received through the federal marketplace, allows the state to accept the federal information rather than needing to re-verify it. Missouri social services officials have also said the agency is working to ensure it has updated address information for participants so it can reach them when the public health emergency ends and renewals begin again. At an August MO HealthNet meeting, director of Family Support Division, Kim Evans, said the state is working with managed care providers to update patients’ information in their eligibility system if they have moved. They are also doing social media blasts to remind participants to update their contact information and working to shift to an electronic notification system, Evans said. Most adults in Medicaid-enrolled families nationally are not aware their services will be renewed again soon, an Urban Institute study last month found, posing challenges to states to reliably communicate the coming shift. Unlike 35 other states, Missouri has not yet publicly provided its plan for the public health emergency unwind or a plan summary, according to Georgetown’s unwinding tracker. Enrollment challenges Missouri is working to replace outdated technology, Robert Knodell, director of the department of social services, explained at a press briefing in August. There have been longstanding tech problems within Missouri’s social services department, which have left many processes manual — relying on paper forms — and burdened participants. A 2020 report from the Missouri Department of Social Services and the nonprofit Civilla on enrollment challenges for benefits programs concluded that for participants, “the system feels like a secret and no one has the answer.” For staff, the report concluded, they feel “like an assembly line rather than connected to the people they serve,” and the work feels “siloed.” Children in states who “have not kept pace with modernizing their eligibility system” are at greater risk of inappropriately losing coverage, Alker said Wednesday. Deborah Greenhouse, a pediatrician in South Carolina and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Federal Government Affairs, said at the press briefing Wednesday that ongoing surges in pediatric respiratory illnesses and the child mental health crisis make continued coverage for children especially necessary. “Any disruptions in coverage,” Greenhouse said, “would add another layer of crisis to an already dire situation.”  Join Truman Heritage Habitat for their 3rd Annual Gingerbread Homes for the Holidays contest Friday, December 9 – Saturday, December 24 at Bass Pro Shops, 18001 Bass Pro Drive, Independence, MO 64055. The public is invited to come out during store hours to view the Gingerbread Village and “vote” with your dollars for your favorite gingerbread home. These homes are created with love by families, organizations, businesses, with a few created by professional chefs. All funds raised empower families to access safe, healthy, stable housing. This year’s goal is $30,000. Home is key to a sense of love, safety, and belonging. Spending the holidays at home with family is important to many of us. Through the creation of gingerbread homes, Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity hopes to bring awareness to the need for safe homes and to raise funds for local efforts, bringing strength, stability, and independence to families in Eastern Jackson County. Entries will be delivered to Bass Pro Shops: December 8 from 10AM – 7PM Gingerbread Home winners, Top Fundraising Team and Individual announced on January 10, 2023.  Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) invites students of all ages to apply for more than $650,000 in scholarships for the 2022-23 school year. Visit www.thcf.org/scholarships to learn more and begin the application process. “Whether you are a graduating high school senior, a current college student, or an adult looking to go back to school and finish your degree, chances are there is a scholarship available for you,” Rachael Watkins, Director of Scholarships at THCF said. “We encourage everyone seeking higher education to apply for scholarships.” Students can submit one general scholarship application that will match them with more than 50 scholarships they may be qualified to receive. Once matched to scholarships, additional documentation such as transcripts with final Fall 2022 grades, essays, letters of reference, or statements about participation in certain activities may be required. The deadline to submit the general scholarship application and any supplemental materials is February 24, 2023. Some scholarships have separate stand-alone applications, and their deadlines and requirements vary. We encourage students to apply for each scholarship for which they are eligible. In 2022, Truman Heartland awarded more than $740,000 in scholarships to nearly 300 local students. Since 1982, THCF has awarded more than $5.91 million to help students reach their educational goals. For questions or personal assistance with scholarships, please contact Rachael Watkins, Director of Scholarships, at watkins@thcf.org  by Linda Geist, University of Missouri Extension A century ago, poinsettia was added to Santa’s “naughty” list, but the plant’s reputation for being poisonous is unfortunate, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Its pretty bracts and leaves pose no danger to people and pets, other than possible allergic reactions. The myth that poinsettia is toxic can be traced back to a 1919 incident in Hawaii involving the death of a 2-year-old child, presumably after eating poinsettia leaves. Later, it was revealed that the child died from other causes and poinsettia was not involved. However, the damage to poinsettia’s reputation was done and word of its toxicity spread quickly. “You cannot un-ring a bell,” Trinklein said. “Once a myth gains traction, dispelling it becomes quite a challenge.” Modern-day media unfortunately often continue to include poinsettia on lists of toxic holiday plants, he said. In a 1971 study funded by the Society of American Florists, scientists at Ohio State University fed lab rats “extraordinarily high doses of various portions of the poinsettia.” A human would have to devour several pounds of poinsettia to get an equivalent dose. Yet the rats appeared to be fine. Scientists observed “no mortality, no symptoms of toxicity nor any changes in dietary intake or general behavior pattern.” In the 1990s, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh analyzed almost 23,000 cases of poinsettia ingestion reported by poison control centers. More than 92% of patients showed no ill effects at all, and no one died or became critically ill. However, Trinklein notes that poinsettia’s sap, which has several proteins in common with natural latex rubber, can cause allergic skin reactions. Therefore, the plants should be kept out of the reach of children. Of bracts and cyathia Poinsettia remains the nation’s top-selling potted flowering plant. The fact they are sold only in a narrow span of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is testimony to Americans’ admiration for the plant, Trinklein said. The colorful part of the poinsettia that we enjoy isn’t a flower. What look like petals are specialized leaves called bracts. The true flowers, called cyathia (from the Greek for “cup”), are the small, yellow structures in the center of the bracts. When choosing a poinsettia plant, look closely at the cyathia. Their presence indicates the plant is still young. If the cyathia are missing, it’s likely the plant is past its prime. Also, check leaves and bracts for wilting, which could indicate root problems, Trinklein said. Examine the underside of the leaves for insect infestation or damage. Sun, little water Proper care helps the poinsettia stay vibrant throughout the holiday season. Two things are key: Place them in bright, indirect light and avoid overwatering. If your plants came wrapped in decorative foil, make sure there’s a hole in the foil so water can drain. Water if the pot feels light when you pick it up. If the soil’s surface is clammy or moist to the touch, wait to water. Fertilizer and plant food are unnecessary. Poinsettia plants can bloom another holiday season for those up to the challenge, said Trinklein. For information on how to save and rebloom a poinsettia plant, visit- https://extension.missouri.edu/news/poinsettias-can-bloom-again-next-year-with-tlc-2966  The poinsettia's small flowers are surrounded by colorful leaves called bracts. Photo by Scott Bauer, USDA Agricultural Research Service.  by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Portions of this article are taken from an article in “The Voice,” an on-line monthly newsletter I write for the Grain Valley Historical Society. So, if you think you’ve already read it, maybe you have! While it may not be “the history of Grain Valley,” hopefully it will cause you to “look back” on your own growing up days. November 27th was the first day of Advent. Since I was a young girl growing up in the Grain Valley Methodist Church, we have celebrated Advent on the four Sundays before Christmas. Each Sunday we light a candle to remind us of the four advent themes —The Candle of Hope, The Candle of Peace, The Candle of Love and The Candle of Joy. On Christmas the fifth and final candle, called the Christ candle, is lit to remind Christians of the light Jesus brings to the world. On the secular side (activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis) the Sunday after Thanksgiving is usually set aside by me to begin my annual Christmas baking! Since I love to cook and bake, I do not consider this to be working on the Sabbath, thus my Sunday afternoon baking has begun. In a sermon last year, Pastor Mike reminded me of the kids table and the grownup table at holiday gathering. Did your family have separate tables? My family never had two tables as there were only 17 of us —2 aunts, 2 uncles, 3 cousins, and three sets of grandparents, which included the Napiers, Rumbos and Fristoes. A big table leaf and two people at each end of the table and we were good! We did, however, have food for the kids and food for the grownups. After all, what child among us liked rutabagas, plum pudding, pecan pie, and fruitcake? Certainly not fruitcake! While the kids feasted on mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese (the old-fashioned kind with real cheese that was baked in the oven with crushed crackers on top) and corn, the “old folks” ate turnips, stuffing flavored with sage, and squash! So why do I now enjoy shortbread instead of chocolate-chip cookies, chocolate fudge instead of peppermint sticks, rutabagas instead of green beans, stuffing instead of potatoes, and cranberries? I guess I’ve officially moved to the big people’s table (food). I now prepare the rutabagas and I sometimes bake the pecan pie. And you cannot have turkey without cranberries! If you are part of the “big people’s table,” perhaps you would enjoy Grandmother Napier’s shortbread or Aunt Opal’s Ice Box Cookies. Grandma Napier’s Shortbread Recipe 1 lb. unsalted butter 1 cup sugar 1 cup cornstarch 4 cups flour Pinch of salt Soften butter. Add sugar, cornstarch and salt. Mix well with electric mixer. Add the flour, 1 cup at a time and mix thoroughly after each addition. Divide dough into 3 parts. Knead separately and roll into logs (1 1/2-inch circumference) Refrigerate until ready to bake, up to 1 week. Cut into 1/4 to 3/8-inch slices and place on baking sheet. Bake at 250-degrees for 2 hours. Aunt Opal’s Ice Box Cookies 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar 1 1/2 cups melted shortening 3 eggs 1 teaspoon salt 4 1/2 cups flour 2 teaspoons soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon each-cloves and nutmeg 1 cup nuts Mix and shape into a log about 1 1/2 by 2 1/2 - inches. Place in ice box overnight. Slice in thin slices and bake in hot oven. (It’s an old recipe, so maybe you will want to “refrigerate” overnight. I cook at 375-degrees for about 8-10 minutes)  The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of November 30 – December 6, 2022. November 30, 2022 1000 Block of NW Dogwood Stealing from Auto PHQ Citizen Contact PHQ Citizen Contact 500 Block of Oakwood Ct Noise Complaint PHQ Citizen Contact 500 Block of Oakwood Ct Noise Complaint PHQ Citizen Contact PHQ Contact Outside Agency 100 Block of Lindsey Ln CJCFPD Assist Greystone and Mary Noise Complaint Lindsey and Creekland Citizen Contact 1200 Block of NW Long Car Alarm December 1, 2022 600 Block of Ryan Rd Check Well Being 500 Block of Woodbury Suspicious Vehicle PHQ Citizen Contact 100 Block of Lee Ann 9-1-1 Hangup PHQ Citizen Contact 600 Block of Brome Standby to Prevent PHQ Contact Outside Agency PHQ ID Theft 600 Block of Brome Standby to Prevent Duncan and Buckner-Tarsney Suspicious Person Main and I-70 Motor Vehicle Accident 300 Block of SW Eagles Found Puppy PHQ Citizen Contact 800 Block of SW Highland Ave Careless Driving 40 Hwy and Main Motor Vehicle Accident 200 Block of Eagles Pkwy Area Check for Suspicious Person December 2, 2022 900 Block of SW Ryan Rd Area Check Water Break 1100 Block of Woodbury Alarm PHQ Contact Outside Agency PHQ Citizen Contact 100 Block of SW Cross Creek Dr CJCFPD Assist Eagles Ridge and Chrisman Motor Vehicle Accident PHQ Stealing 100 Block of Sunny Lane Drug Possession Duncan and Buckner-Tarsney Area Check for Careless Driving Buckner-Tarsney East of BB Tree in Roadway 700 Block of Main Check Well Being Buckner-Tarsney and Greystone Motor Vehicle Accident 800 Block of SW Hilltop Ct Open Garage Door 1400 Block NW Golfview Dr Burglary 1100 Block SW Christie Ln Parking Complaint SW Eagles Pkwy / Minter Motor Vehicle Accident PHQ Walk-in Report - Harassment December 3, 2022 1100 Block of NW Baytree Dr Citizen Contact 1000 Block of NW Stone Brook Dr Stolen Packages 1000 Block of SW Christie Ln Area Check for Go Cart on Roadway 200 Block of Royer Ln Verbal Disturbance 1400 Block of SW Eagles Pkwy Lost Dog 100 Block of Sunny Lane Warrant Arrest 100 Block of Sunny Lane Stealing - Outside Agency 300 Block of SW Eagles Pkwy Noise Complaint 800 Block of San Kar Theft PHQ Citizen Contact 400 Block of Cross Creek Suspicious Vehicle December 4, 2022 600 Block of SW Montana Ridge Unattended Death 1100 Block of NW Bush Burglary Eagles Pkwy to Adams Dairy Area Check Noise Complaint PHQ Missing Property PHQ Citizen Contact 200 Block of Aaron Animal at Large 600 Block of SW Montana Ridge Unattended Death PHQ Property Issues 700 Block of Main Citizen Contact 900 Block W Jefferson Agency Assist - Blue Springs PD 200 Block W Walnut Agency Assist - CJC Fire/EMS I-70 / Adams Dairy Agency Assist - KCPD and IPD 800 Block of Country Hill Suspicious Vehicle December 5, 2022 600 Block of Brome Citizen Contact 1200 Block of Willow Disturbance PHQ Stealing Sni -a-Bar and Montana Ridge Motor Vehicle Accident 1000 Block of NW Sycamore Alarm PHQ Citizen Contact 1200 Block of Long Dr Disturbance 1100 Block of Main Motor Vehicle Accident 700 Block of Main Shoplifting Main and I-70 Motorist Assist 300 Block Old US 40 Hwy Burglary 1200 Block of Phelps Dr Check Well Being Main and McQuerry Motorist Assist 1100 Block of Bush Alarm December 6, 2022 1400 Block of SW Eagles Pkwy Check Well Being 700 Block of Main Prisoner Transport PHQ Citizen Contact 200 Block of NW Jefferson Alarm 1200 Block of SW Eagles Pkwy Check Well Being 1000 Block of Dean Dr Citizen Contact Meadow and R D Mize Suspicious Vehicle 1400 Block of Willow Suspicious Person 600 Block of Montana Ridge Stolen Vehicle Additional calls for service: Suicidal subject: 2 Order of protection: 1  The holiday season is here, and homes everywhere are filling up with friends and family. But things like clogged drains, burned out light bulbs, leaking toilets, unwelcome guests like mice, and slick sidewalks are a fact of life – and it can happen at the worst times. Westlake Ace Hardware suggests these simple tips and products to keep on hand to make household repairs quick and simple – and let you get back to enjoying the holidays!
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