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The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of January 8-14, 2020.
by Denise Sullivan, Nutrition & Health Education Specialist, MU Extension-Jackson County During the cold winter months, turning to canned, dried or frozen vegetables and fruits is still a good way to get more plants on your plate. In fact, many dried legumes or their canned counterparts often make their way to hearty, cold weather meals.
Legumes are a unique food, which includes beans like kidney, pinto, lima, garbanzo and black beans, black-eyed peas, split peas and lentils. Legumes are an excellent source of plant protein, as well as iron and zinc, making them an excellent alternative to meat for meeting protein needs. However, legumes also count as part of the vegetable group because of their abundance of dietary fiber and nutrients like folate, magnesium and potassium. Regardless of which food group you classify them, legumes are a good addition to anyone’s diet. Protein found in legumes is beneficial in building and repairing muscle tissue. Legumes are also rich in complex carbohydrates, containing both insoluble and soluble fiber, beneficial in digestive health, heart health and insulin resistance. Beans also contain complex sugars called oligosaccharides, which are non-digestible, fermentable fibers, which research is revealing to be beneficial for gut health and other health conditions. Certainly, the most economical way to purchase legumes is in the dried form. A ½-cup serving of dried beans is about one-third the cost of canned beans. Preparing dried beans is a simple process, but does take some lead-time. First, spread beans on a large tray and pick out any foreign objects like small stems or stones, as well as any broken beans. Next, place in a colander and rinse under cold running water. The third step is soaking, either with the cold-water overnight method or a hot soak, which involves boiling for two to three minutes before soaking for four or more hours. Whichever soaking method is used, the water should be drained and fresh water added for the final step of cooking. Using fresh water for cooking reduces much of the gas-causing carbohydrates. As the beans rehydrate, additional water is often needed during cooking. Herbs and spices can be added anytime during cooking and some studies show that bay leaf reduces uncomfortable gas. Acidic ingredients like tomato products or wine should be added near the end of cooking, as they can interfere with the tenderness of beans. A pressure cooker is another great alternative to preparing dry beans quickly. Combining pressure and heat dramatically reduces cooking time by about one-third. Check your appliance manual for specific directions. Lentils and split peas are great choices for beginners, because they do not require soaking before cooking. With these legumes, simply remove any foreign debris, rinse and cook according to recipe directions. If you do choose the convenience of canned beans, it is a good idea to look for low or no sodium options to help stay in line with current general dietary recommendations of 2300 milligrams of sodium per day. If there is not a reduced sodium option, draining and rinsing the beans can reduce sodium amounts significantly. A 2009 study conducted at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, showed that draining beans removes, on average, 36% of the sodium in canned beans. Draining and rinsing removes, on average, 41% of the sodium. The recipe below is tasty with any type of bean; however, black beans and black-eyed peas are my favorites. If you missed your ‘good luck’ dose of black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day, go a head and sneak them in now! Jackson County Public Works Environmental Health Division inspects all restaurants, grocery stores, schools, mobile food and temporary food establishments in the City of Grain Valley. The following violations were reported in the last 30 days:
Valley Pub & Patio 640 NW Yennie There were dead flies in the bottom of the reach in freezer in the grill area. Correct by 2/25/2020. There was dust on the ceiling tiles and the ceiling vents in the grill area above to-go containers. Correct by 2/25/2020. There was food debris inside the reach in freezer. Correct by 2/25/2020. Grain Valley North Middle School 31608 N Pink Hill Road There is ice buildup in the walk in freezer on the floor. Repeat violation, correct by 3/5/2020. Matthews Elementary 144 McQuerry Rd. Inspection date: 1/6/2020. No violations recorded. GVMS Concessions 901 SW Ryan Rd. Inspection date: 1/7/2020. No violations recorded. Comfort Inn 210 NW Jefferson Employees drink and food was stored on a shelf where food is prepped. Corrected on site. Casey's General Store #2808 101 S Buckner Tarsney Road The interior of the microwave had an accumulation of stuck on food debris. Corrected on site. There was no date marking on containers of marinara sauce in the make table coolers. Corrected on site. Boxes of single-serve items stored on the floor in stock areas. Corrected on site. Ceiling vents in the kitchen area have accumulation of dust. Second repeat violation. Correct by 3/8/2020. Subway 109 AA Highway The scoop utensils for foods on the make table were stored on a dirty surface. Correct by 3/8/2020. Sni-A-Bar Elementary 701 SW Eagles Parkway There is a leak underneath the warewashing machine. Correct by 3/15/2020. Prairie Branch Elementary 2100 Dilingham Road There is a leak underneath the warewashing machine. Correct by 3/15/2020. The filing period for mayoral and aldermen candidates ended January 21st, with only one minor change since Valley News last reported on candidates. Ward II incumbent Yolanda West originally filed for election but has withdrawn. Voters in Ward II will now choose between Joey Burgett and Rick Knox. In Ward I, incumbent Jayci Stratton has filed for re-election and remains unopposed. In Ward III, Bob Headley has filed for re-election and will run unopposed. Two candidates have filed to challenge Mayor Michael Todd, who is up for re-election in April. Jeff Craney and Chuck Johnston have both filed as candidates for the mayoral race. The election for both City candidates and school board candidates will be held Tuesday, April 7, 2020. In order to be eligible to vote you must be registered at your current home address by the fourth Wednesday prior to the election in which you wish to vote. Residents may register in person at the Jackson County Election Board office at 215 N. Liberty, Independence, MO 64050 or any one of the authorized locations in this jurisdiction. Locations in Grain Valley include the Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley branch and Grain Valley City Hall. Residents may also print and complete the Missouri Voter Registration Application form found at the Election Board website, www.jcebmo.org, and deliver in person to JCEB or mail to Jackson County Election Board, P.O. Box 296, Independence, MO 64051. Candidate Profile: Chuck Johnston Valley News will feature a candidate for City or Grain Valley School board in the weeks leading up to the April election. Information is provided by the candidates and edited for space and clarity. This week, we profile Chuck Johnston, candidate for Mayor. I have been married to Diana since 1981. We have two sons, 8 grandchildren, and 1 one great granddaughter. I served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps from 1967 to 1971.We built a home in Grain Valley in 2001 and have lived here ever since. I have worked at OOIDA since 1988; the first 25 years as manager of the insurance claims department. I retired in 2014, and within 7 months found out retirement wasn't something I was good at or really wanted to do. I went back to work at OOIDA in 2015 and still work there. Background: 2006 Grain Valley Citizen of the Year 2008 Pillar of the Community, Grain Valley 24 Years operated the GV Santa Bus (My favorite activity) 10 years Alderman Ward II Grain Valley 1-year Mayor Pro Tem Grain Valley 6 Years Board of Directors State Bank of Missouri 15 Years Grain Valley Economic Development Council 10 years volunteered as cook for Night Out Against Crime Grain Valley 10 Years Board of Directors Grain Valley Assistance Council 7 Years Treasurer of Grain Valley Chamber of Commerce 10 Years held every officer position in the Grain Valley Lions Club 5 Years Board of Directors Grain Valley & Oak Grove Police Dept. Victims’ Rights Committee I have taken an active role, as my history shows, in this city since I started working in Grain Valley. I care deeply about his community and want to see it prosper. I feel the city needs to take a different path on its past spending practices. We need to do more to repair streets, curbs and infrastructure that have been overlooked too long. We need to stop investing tax dollars in properties that don't directly benefit the city. I have a well-rounded background that I feel makes me the best candidate available to guide this city in those endeavors as your next Mayor. I'm asking for your support, the voters of Grain Valley, to help me get this city back on the right path. by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD We have all seen that friend, co-worker or relative that has recently dropped a lot of weight and fast. When we ask what they did to lose the weight they tell us the latest fad diet and we begin to wonder if that isn’t the way to go.
It’s easy to get caught up in the promise of popular diets but it’s also easy to get confused. Unfortunately, nearly all of those who follow a fad diet with quick weight loss gain all, and sometimes more, of the weight back. The worst part is that because quick weight loss plans tend to cause you to lose muscle, the weight gained back is fat, not muscle, and you end up worse off than when you started. Fad diets are flashy and they sound easy. But unfortunately weight loss is not easy and most fad diets fizzle. If you want to be a successful loser, evaluate weight loss plans carefully and look for these red flags. Magic or miracle diet – There are no magic foods or miracle diets that magically melt away fat. What works for one person is not guaranteed to work for another. No need to exercise – The key to successful long-term weight loss is regular exercise. Simple activities like walking or biking are important for healthy weight and for overall good health. Easy – Weight loss is not easy. Successful weight loss requires making positive changes to both eating habits and physical activity patterns. Eat specific foods – No individual food can cause weight loss. Weight loss means sticking to healthful eating habits that include a variety of foods. Quick weight loss– Studies show that gradual, steady weight loss increases your chances of maintaining a healthy weight. Aim to lose one to two pounds per week. Lists good and bad foods – There are no good foods or bad foods, just good diets and bad diets. All foods can fit into your weight loss plan in moderation. Look for a plan that you can realistically follow for the rest of your life. Ultra low calories – Diets with less than 1200 calories don’t have enough nutrients to be healthy. And, a diet very low in calories leads to binge eating and muscle wasting. You can succeed at losing weight. The key is to be patient and do some research before jumping into the latest fad. Healthy eating and exercise are the only tried and true strategies for losing weight and keeping it off. A healthy diet begins with breakfast. Get out your slow cooker and have a healthy breakfast waiting for you in the morning. Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD is a registered dietitian at the Blue Springs Hy-Vee. She can be reached at tshaffer@hy-vee.com. The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. by John Unrein One word can be used to sum up the Grain Valley Eagles win against the Clinton Cardinals on Tuesday, January 14th. That word is hustle. The Eagles Boys Basketball team would stretch a 16-10 lead at the end of the first quarter into a 66-39 victory in their opening game of the 95th annual Pleasant Hill Boys Basketball Invitational. The hustle that defined Grain Valley’s win was a team effort. Seniors AJ Salisbury, Caden Matlon, Josh Kilpatrick, Gavin Oyler, and Seth Dankenbring were all active in providing contributions in helping to assure the outcome. Salisbury is becoming a swiss army knife for the Eagles, capable of fulfilling many roles for the team. “All of us played our tails off tonight. Coming off the North Kansas City loss last week we wanted to turn the page and play our best. We as a team found a good rhythm tonight moving the basketball and finding who’s open,” Salisbury said. “My teammates have really good court vision. We were unselfish tonight in moving the basketball and it paid off. Doing that allowed us to have fun and win the game.” The tools that Salisbury is continuing to develop in his repertoire of shooting, passing, rebounding and defending are padding the stat sheet as well as his team’s confidence. Salisbury would score 17 points, contribute 9 rebounds, 5 steals, and 1 assist on a night that saw himself and the rest of Grain Valley’s starters head to the bench with four minutes left in the final quarter with the outcome secured. Eagles Boys Basketball Head Coach Andy Herbert is not surprised by Salisbury’s growth or the effort he put forth in the team’s win. “AJ is our band aid guy. He’s the one that not enough people talk about, but when you look, he’s typically doing something good. He doesn’t say much and he’s a tough nose kid that plays the game the right way,” Herbert said. “He’s (Salisbury) a great cutter without the basketball and our guys did a good job finding him in open spots tonight. That unselfish play was part of the formula for our win.” Matlon and Kirkpatrick were active in creating offense for the Eagles when screens and ball movement did not yield open shots against Clinton’s man to man defense. Matlon weaved through defenders driving the lane for contested layups. Meanwhile, Kirkpatrick would drift from the post to the arc in locating open looks at the basket. Both would finish with 14 points. “Matlon created a lot for us in the second half. He wasn’t his typical explosive self tonight. He got banged up in practice yesterday. His IQ allows him to see things happen before they develop on the court. We have guys that have played together for so long that they know what the other one’s going to do and that contributes to our success,” Herbert said. Dankenbring and Oyler divided five fouls among them in avoiding the Cardinals having easy scoring opportunities. Their hustle on the defensive end of the court for the Eagles allowed them to play sound man to man defense for much of the game. Herbert reflected on where his team is at during this point of the season. “I thought last Friday (against North Kansas City) we took a step. Every year there’s a game where you see things click for your team. I thought last Friday in our loss we figured some things out that we will need moving forward,” Herbert said. “The chemistry and comradery that have always been there were solidified through the adversity we faced. This is a good and tough group that like each other and that matters as it can’t be replaced. I don’t know as a coach if your ever completely where you want to be, but we are in a pretty good place right now moving forward.” Senior Gavin Olyer attempts a shot in the post. Photo credit: Valley News staff Senior AJ Salisbury attempts a free throw.
Photo credit: Valley News staff I was concerned about Joey (that’s not his real name). Joey came into my public speaking class and announced sheepishly that this would be his fourth time! I smiled and said, “Well, I’m not sure what happened the other three times, but I’ll help you get through this class. Perhaps the fourth time will be the charm. After all, no one wants to take public speaking more than once!” Joey looked unconvinced.
Joey was a good student; he just had a few tough breaks. Like many kids, he had come to play sports. Getting an education was secondary. Unfortunately, the sports thing didn’t work out. He was drifting. He lacked purpose. Joey was a little timid, but he surprised me. He was pretty sharp and was completing his work. I imagined great things for him. He wasn’t much of a talker and was a closed book. He approached me at the end of class in week three saying, “I’m gonna need you to sign this.” He gave me a form and a pen. I had seen this form several times before and it was no big deal. It was a validation that a student was coming to class. I tried to make light of it, “Just the date and my name so that they knew you came to class?” I asked. “Yeah, I just got in some trouble,” he said. “No need to elaborate,” I responded. “I’m just glad you’re here and you’re doing well.” Joey missed a class, but no big deal. He told me in advance. Then, at about week ten Joey missed two in a row. He was still on track to pass, but he missed a couple of vital assignments. I sent him an email saying I missed him in class and to let me know that he was okay. I promised any type of aid to help him get back on track. No response. He missed the next class too—it was now three in a row. I sent him a desperate email pleading for information assuring him that, although it was late in the semester and he was way behind, he could still pass the class. Silence. In frustration, I contacted the head of the Communications department and explained my dilemma. “I’ve never really had this happen,” I complained. “I’m not sure what to do.” She gave me some great advice. “It’s a tough thing to deal with, Wayne, but students have the right to fail.” She was right. His absence was hitting me hard and I was taking it personally as if I had let him down. I am passionate about education now and a perpetual student, but, it hasn’t always been that way. My mind went back to my senior year in high school. I was always just a mediocre student in school. Things really went downhill the last couple of years. I just barely skated by in eleventh grade and then tanked as a senior. I wasn’t unintelligent, I just didn’t get it and didn’t want it. As a senior, I just decided to skip school. Not just days, but weeks. In fact, I missed more than a month. I wasn’t sick. I just didn’t want to go and hid it from my mom. “Who needs an education?” I thought. As a senior in high school, I was a lead guitar player in a band and my future was already laid out. I was going to be famous. I was also into drugs and the party life. I could care less about school. Several dramatic events changed the course of my life. First, I was busted for not being in school and my mom found out. The school allowed me to enter a work program where I went to school half a day and worked half a day. In addition, I would have to go to summer school. I ended up graduating with my class, but on the day of graduation, they handed me a blank piece of paper. My diploma would not come until after the completion of summer school. I begrudgingly finished. The second dramatic event was being taken home in handcuffs by the local police for possession of drugs. Because I was seventeen, I was taken home and not to jail. I was in big trouble and had to go before a judge and perform community service. The final life-altering moment was recognizing my need for a savior and entering into a relationship with God through Jesus and getting involved in church. Some years later, something clicked. I believed God was calling me to become a pastor. Now, I actually wanted to go back to school and get an education. By now, the educational fires had been lit and I was passionate about learning and excelling academically. A switch had been turned on. It was called a “mishap”. On January 24, 1961, a U.S. B-52 bomber carrying two hydrogen bombs broke apart over rural North Carolina. The two bombs fell into a field. Thankfully, they didn’t detonate. The results would have been catastrophic as the bombs were 250 times more destructive than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Finding the two bombs became priority number one for our military. The first bomb was routine. A safety parachute deployed, and the weapon landed safely and remained in one piece. Crews were easily able to find, deactivate, and haul the bomb away. The second bomb proved more troublesome. The major problem with the second bomb was that the parachute did not deploy. The bomb catapulted to earth at 700 miles an hour. Although it did not go off, it was deeply buried in a swamp. Crews worked frantically to find the component that contained the arm safe switch and the 92 detonators burrowed in the swamp. When they found the arm safe switch, they were horrified to find it was in the “on” position. They deactivated the device. It then took the crew 8 days to find and remove all the explosive material. The core, however, was never recovered. It is still buried in rural North Carolina and believed to be about 200 feet below the ground. The best that workers could was to encase the area in concrete. Most of this information was a mystery and hidden from the general public. The details about the “mishap” were not fully known until 2013 when the information was declassified. The story is unbelievably frightening. The event could have been devastating. I wish Joey’s story ended differently. Joey never came back to class and I never heard from him again. With him went a piece of my heart. Maybe because I saw part of me in him. Joey failed the class. He chose to. I couldn’t force him to care or force him to pass. He was one of the ones that got away. But, Joey’s story is still being written. It’s his story and it’s classified. Every semester I look to see if he’s on the roster, but it hasn’t happened yet. One day, perhaps, he’ll be there, and who knows, maybe the fifth time will be the charm. Success is up to him. The switch just needs to be turned on. When it does, I’d like to be there to see it happen and I’d love to be a part of the process. Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer. The April election topped the January 13th Board of Aldermen agenda. The board passed an ordinance to place two questions on the ballot authorizing a total of $38,850,000 in bonds for the purpose of building a community campus at the old Sni-A-Bar Farm property.
The ordinance, authorizing a City election to be held on April 7, 2020 to consider two ballot questions for the purpose of approving General Obligation Bonds to fund the municipal complex building project passed with Aldermen West as the only no vote. The first question would authorize $23,500,000 worth of bonds while the second would approve $15,350,000 for a total of $38,850,000. State law permits a city to incur up to 10% of the City’s assessed valuation for general purposes and an additional 10% for infrastructure improvements, for a total of 20%. The city would utilize most of its current bonding capacity for each purpose. The term of the bonds will be 20 years which is the maximum allowed. The city plans to host an open house at the current city hall on January 30th to give residents an opportunity to view current facilities for city staff and the police department. Reservations will be required as space is limited; information regarding the open house will be posted soon on the City website. In other business, the board voted a resolution to continue an agreement with the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Solid Waste Management District to provide a Household Hazardous Waste collection service to the residents of the City of Grain Valley. The Board also passed a resolution to renew an agreement with Ray County Sheriff’s Office to provide detention services for persons arrested by Grain Valley Police Department, pending release by court or bond. A resolution to contract with the Grain Valley Assistance Council for home delivered meals and a resolution continuing OATS bus service in Grain Valley were also passed. The board also approved a $25,000 payment to the Grain Valley Partnership for economic development services. This is the second year of a three year agreement with the Grain Valley Partnership. The next meeting of the Grain Valley Board of Aldermen will be held at Grain Valley City Hall on Monday, January 27th at 7:00pm. The STEAM Team, a first year FIRST Lego League team, recently participated in the City Shaper Robotics Challenge. The STEAM Team consists of girls who belong to Cadette Girl Scout Troop 744 from Grain Valley, MO. There are 3 parts to the Competition – an Innovation Project, CORE Values, and the Robot Challenge.
The girls worked together and achieved the City Shaper Project Award-Research for their Innovation Project. They also received very high marks on their CORE Values Presentation and exemplified exceptional teamwork. During the robot challenge, they were given a series of missions and programmed the robot to score points and then completed their missions three times. The team was a Qualifying Tournament Winner and is advancing to the FIRST Lego League Championship for the Greater KC Region. Photo credit: Michelle Hunt Candidate filing for mayor and board of aldermen positions with the City as well as the Grain Valley school board began December 17th, and a number of new candidates have filed in the new year. Two candidates have filed to challenge Mayor Michael Todd, who is up for re-election in April. Jeff Craney and Chuck Johnston have both filed as candidates for the mayoral race as of January 13th. Additional candidates in Ward II have also filed since December. In Ward I, incumbent Jayci Stratton has filed for re-election. Ward II incumbent Yolanda West will face two candidates: Joey Burgett and Rick Knox. In Ward III, Bob Headley has filed for re-election. Candidates for city positions may file for such offices during normal business hours (8:00am—5:00pm Monday through Friday) starting until 5:00pm on January 21, 2020 in the office of the City Clerk, 711 Main Street, Grain Valley. Three positions are open on the Grain Valley school board and five have filed as of January 13th. Candidates include Janice Reding (incumbent), Tisha Homfeld (incumbent), Jeff Coleman (incumbent), Jeff Wolff and Justin Wulff. The top three vote earners in the April election will be seated as School Board members for three-year terms beginning in April. The election for both City candidates and school board candidates will be held Tuesday, April 7, 2020. In order to be eligible to vote you must be registered at your current home address by the fourth Wednesday prior to the election in which you wish to vote. Residents may register in person at the Jackson County Election Board office at 215 N. Liberty, Independence, MO 64050 or any one of the authorized locations in this jurisdiction. Locations in Grain Valley include the Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley branch and Grain Valley City Hall. Residents may also print and complete the Missouri Voter Registration Application form found at the Election Board website, www.jcebmo.org, and deliver in person to JCEB or mail to Jackson County Election Board, P.O. Box 296, Independence, MO 64051. Valley News will feature a candidate for City or Grain Valley School board in the weeks leading up to the April election. This week, we profile Jeff Craney, candidate for Mayor. “I've been a resident of Grain Valley for close to 11 years, my spouse is Joey Burgett. I am a retired USAF member and currently work at Whiteman AFB as a civilian employee for the 442nd Fighter Wing over seeing all facilities for new construction, remodels, and airfield maintenance and repair. We have two daughters Bridgette and her husband Craig residing in Independence, Kaitlin and her husband Don with our grandson James who live in Windsor Missouri. I am running for mayor for the following reasons: I want to see a more transparent government, I support a more supportive community for all military citizens, both Active Duty, Reserves and Guard. More communication between the city and residents of our community is necessary. I have extensive experience in budgets, fiscal responsibility, administrative, and management of personnel and resources. I want to hear from all residents of the city. My contact information is bridgenkatesdad@gmail.com.” |
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