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by Michael Smith Whenever Grace Slaughter puts up 30 points in a game for the Grain Valley girls basketball team, it’s not a surprise for her teammates, coaches or fans. It’s just something that the junior does frequently. Consistently having high-scoring games is a big reason why she eclipsed the 1,500 point mark for her high school career in a big game against Suburban White Conference rival Raytown. She put up 38 points on 15-for-29 shooting (51 percent) as her team earned a 67-56 win against the Blue Jays Thursday at home. Slaughter is second all-time in career points for the Grain Valley girls basketball team. She passed Claire Rose who had 1,492 points. Even after accomplishing such a tremendous feat, the junior remained humble. “I wasn’t even really thinking about it until they announced it at the end,” Slaughter admitted. “I am so thankful for my teammates and the people surrounding me. I have to give thanks to my teammates for helping me get those numbers.” It also helps that she goes through rigorous training when shooting the ball in the gym and her parents have been with her every step of the way. “My parents rebound for me every night,” Slaughter said. “They don’t care if it’s 5 in the morning or 10 at night, they help me get up shots.” On Thursday, Raytown had no answer for Slaughter as she showed how versatile she is, scoring on drives to the basket, off offensive rebound, while posting up and shooting from behind the arc. She is able to do it all on the court. “She’s amazing, she’s someone we can always count on,” Eagles junior Ella Clyman said. “She’s a great teammate and friend and she had an amazing game.” And part of the reason for the amazing game was a move Slaughter often went to against the Blue Jays, the Euro Step. It's a move in which an offensive player picks up their dribble, takes a step in one direction, and then quickly takes a second step in another direction. That move was effective in her drives to the basket. “I’ve always liked the Euro, it’s something I use depending on the personnel of the other team,” Slaughter said. “I have to read the game. These girls for Raytown are really shifty, so I know they will kind of fall for that or look for the pass and try to steal the ball.” Raytown hung tough with the Eagles (8-2) in the first half. Both teams were tied at 13-all at the end of the first period and Grain Valley went into halftime ahead 22-19. Slaughter helped the team get some breathing room going into the fourth as she scored 11 third-quarter points to extend the lead to 41-33. The Eagles led by as many as 15 points (49-34) early in the fourth after Slaughter hit a 3-pointer from about 24 feet out on the right wing. But the Blue Jays (9-2) wouldn’t go away as they went on a 9-1 capped by Summer Yancy’s fastbreak layup to narrow the gap to 51-43. After empty possessions from each team, Slaughter hit a much needed basket when Grain Valley needed it most. She hit a step back 3-pointer from the left wing late in the period to make it 54-43. Raytown never got closer than 10 points for the rest of the way. “What’s so great about it is every point matters,” Grain Valley head coach Randy Draper said. “She scored some important points. She gave us some breathing room. I was talking to the team after the game and said, ‘1,500 points is ridiculous.’” When she shoots from the outside, Slaughter said she has a similar mindset to a current NBA superstar. “I saw a video of (Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry), and the media asked him about what he thinks about when he shoots,” Slaughter said. “It brings back all the memories in the gym, shooting for two hours with my parents. It’s about having confidence in your shot and putting the work in. “Something Steph Curry said that I agree with is, ‘I don’t think anything when I shoot. I am just confident when I shoot and just think my next shot will go in.’” While Slaughter did some heavy lifting on offense, she got plenty of help from her teammates. Clayman had a near double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds. Junior Cameryn Bown chipped in with eight points and played excellent defense for much of the game. “She played great against Olathe North, she’s got it going,” Draper said of Clyman. “She works really hard, too.” Added Slaughter: “Since her freshman year, she has just continued to grow with her shooting and rebounding. Ella being able to box out those big girls and allow us to grab the rebounds is so huge for us.” Grain Valley junior point guard Grace Slaughter dribbles the ball past halfcourt in a 67-56 win over Raytown. She reached 1,500 points for her high school career and dropped a game-high 38 points. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley sophomore Emma Jane Ogle looks for an open teammate. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley sophomore Annabelle Totta drives to the basket.
Photo credit: Michael Smith Jeff Coleman, State Representative, 32nd District Bills Filed
In addition to the five bills I pre-filed last month, I have also filed another Joint House Resolution 114, and House Bill 2307. As eluded to in last month’s capitol report, stopping human trafficking is one of my main priorities this session. HB 2307 creates a monetary penalty for patronizing prostitution a fee of $5,000. This fine establishes a "Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Fund." Money from this fund will be used for rehabilitation services for the victims of human trafficking; such as mental health, substance abuse counseling, general education, parenting skills, housing, and training for employment. Money from the fund will also be used for preventative measures, meaning it will go towards law enforcement in an attempt to increase the number of officers who enforce these human trafficking laws and educational resources for our children. HJR 114 also deals with human trafficking. As it stands, the Missouri State Constitution requires that schools receive funding from criminal fines collected (this is not the only funding source for our schools). The goal with HJR 114 is to exclude the fines collected from patronizing prostitution from this mandatory allocation to the schools and instead put these funds towards the victims of human trafficking, the police departments, and education to stop human trafficking. 2022 Legislative Session Begins Lawmakers returned to the State Capitol Building Wednesday, January 5 for the start of the 2022 legislative session, which is officially the Second Regular Session of the 101st General Assembly. House members returned to Jefferson City with a current split of 110 Republicans, 49 Democrats, and 4 vacant seats. On the first day of session, two Republican members announced their resignations to pursue other interests. The resignations drop the total number of Republicans in the House to 108 members, which is one vote short of a veto-proof majority. Leading up to the start of the session, members have pre-filed bills at a near-record pace. Pre-filing began Dec. 1 and ended January 4. In that period of time House members pre-filed 770 pieces of legislation. That number is significantly more than the 688 pre-filed bills for the 2021 session, and just six bills short of the pre-filing record of 776 that was set in 2020. Legislators begin the session with a number of pressing issues on the table. They will need to move quickly to approve new congressional district maps based on the latest U.S. Census data. The maps have to be approved and signed into law in time for the August 2 primary. Lawmakers will also work expeditiously to approve a supplemental budget bill proposed by Gov. Parson. The governor has asked the House and Senate to have the legislation approved by February 1. As the 2022 legislative session progresses, members will also focus on a number of other important issues including the state operating budget, protections for the unborn, election integrity, school accountability and transparency, and protections against overly burdensome mandates. Missouri Legislative Leaders Release Proposed Congressional District Map (HB 2117) Before the new year began, the respective chairs of the Missouri House Special Committee on Redistricting and Senate Select Committee on Redistricting jointly released their proposed changes to Missouri’s congressional district map. The map, which is treated as a legislative bill, was filed as HB 2117. The proposed congressional map balances several required criteria including compliance with the Missouri and U.S. Constitutions as well as the Voting Rights Act. The map’s districts are compact, contiguous, and equal in population. The districts adhere to the doctrine of “one person, one vote” and have preserved the cores of each existing congressional district to the greatest extent possible. “This is a fair and constitutional map with common-sense boundaries that everyday Missourians can recognize,” said the chair of the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting. “This map, which must be passed by both the House and Senate, is also drawn to achieve the greatest amount of consensus possible.” He added, “My House counterpart and I chose to make this joint announcement to emphasize the great care that went into drawing a map we were confident could survive legislative, judicial, and public scrutiny.” The chair of the House Special Committee on Redistricting said, “The task of creating this congressional district map required balancing the legislative process while maintaining compactness, contiguity, equal population, and preserving the existing districts’ core identities. I look forward to working with my House and Senate colleagues to deliver HB 2117 to Governor Parson for his signature without delay.” Both congressional and state legislative districts are redrawn every ten years upon the completion of the census. Missouri’s congressional districts are drawn by state legislators and state legislative districts are drawn by independent, bipartisan, citizen commissions. The 2021 redistricting process has been compressed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and technical delays by the U.S. Census Bureau. The proposed maps are available at the following links: https://house.mo.gov/pr/Maps/JointProposedMap.pdf https://house.mo.gov/pr/Maps/JointProposedDistricts.pdf Governor Parson Ends State of Emergency As 2021 came to a close, Gov. Mike Parson announced that Missouri's COVID-19 related State of Emergency would expire and not be renewed on December 31. Please let me know If you have other concerns and suggestions. If you would like to schedule a specific time to meet locally, please call my office at 573-751-1487, or email my office at jeff.coleman@house.mo.gov. Best regards, Jeff Coleman Missouri State Representative District 32
A study group of seven residents appointed to consider plans for a new police station has concluded its work and sent its recommendations for consideration by the Board of Aldermen next week.
The unanimous recommendations of the study group include: A statement expressing the City of Grain Valley needs to build a new police station now. The group cited the current station is beyond capacity and does not meet current building requirements, and a new station is needed to recruit and retain officers. The new facility needs to be at least 22,000 square feet to meet future needs for decades to come. The city should support the floor plan and space utilization features of the architect's primary concept, which was based on police department and community input. Initial drawings were on view at a December 14th open house event. The facility must be able to expand in place to offer long-term solution for the projected growth of the community. The group also outlined a list of interior and exterior features as well as construction considerations they believed should be included in the design. (See PDF of recommendation letter below for full detail). The study group recommended the city plan for a $14 million project budget to design, construct, furnish and equip the facility. The group also stated the location should be central to Grain Valley and be placed on city owned property to minimize costs. The Board of Aldermen will meet Monday, January 10th at 7:00pm at City Hall.
A virtual tour of the current police station facility is provided on the City's website for residents to view. Source: City of Grain Valley (YouTube)
The recommendation letter sent to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen following the study group's final meeting on January 4th. Document provided by City of Grain Valley.
As the final filing date for candidates approached on December 28th, former mayor Mike Todd added his name to the roster of candidates running for office in April. The final list of candidates includes:
The last day to register to vote in the April 5th election is March 9th. Absentee voting begins February 22nd, and the last day to request absentee voting is March 23rd. For more information on registering to vote, visit www.jcebmo.org. Grain Valley Parks and Recreation is offering residents the opportunity to breathe new life into their old Christmas trees. Grain Valley residents may dispose of their trees at the City's designated drop off site, located at James Rollo Drive (in the parking lot next to the Armstrong Park baseball fields) through January 10th.
Please make sure your tree is free of all decorations. This includes removing all lights, tinsel, garland, plastic wrap, tree stands, wire, rope, nails, and all other foreign materials. Artificial trees will not be accepted. For more information, please call 816-847-6230. by Michael Smith The Grain Valley wrestling team had an advantage coming into Wednesday’s Suburban White Conference dual against Fort Osage. The Indians had four open spots while the Eagles just had one, giving the latter an 18-point head start in the dual. However, Grain Valley was unable to score enough points in the nine contested matches and only won three of them in a 39-37 loss at home. “Any time you wrestle Fort Osage, you know they are going to be tough and that’s what they were,” Grain Valley head coach Jeff Bowman said. “They wrestled well, and they looked good. We came out flat in a couple of matches, but we will get better. “When you get four opens from the other team and they manage to make it that close, it gives them the momentum back. Great job by Fort Osage. They did really well.” The Eagles surrendered five pins in six of their losses in contested matches. Stevie Gabb (285), Gavin Gallman (220), Dylan Reed (132), Garyson Moore (138) and Nathan Noda (145) all had wins by fall to help Fort Osage escape with the team win. One marquee match that helped swing the momentum Fort Osage’s way was at 120 pounds when Grain Valley’s Brock Smith took on Colby Gray. Smith took a 2-1 lead in the first period after getting a takedown. However, he was unable to get an escape from the bottom position in the second period as Gray was able to ride him out. Gray got a reversal in the third period and was rode out Smith for the final minute as the Fort Osage freshman was able to hang on for a 3-2 victory. Gray also topped Smith earlier in the season in a 4-2 win in the Grain Valley Invitational last December. “That’s not a match you’re going to go to the bathroom during,” Wackerman said. “You know it’s going to be a good match and a grinder.” Fort Osage led 39-33 going into the final match and Grain Valley senior Tanner Barker (152) had an opportunity to tie the team score and force the dual to be decided by Missouri State High School Activities Association tiebreaker rules. However, he was unable to turn John Newton for a pin as he got 11 takedown and an escape to win by major decision, 23-9. “I was going out there trying to get six for the team, but I couldn’t do anything on top because he was sitting there and stalling,” Barker said. “I just wanted him to get up and make him work.” While Barker went all 6 minutes with Newton, Colston Parks (106) made quick work of Fort Osage’s Kaiden Johnson. He got a takedown and a fall in 32 seconds. “I really just used one move and it was the headlock,” Parks said. “I felt like I could have done better. I have to start getting a lot tougher because I am giving up a lot of weight. I have to be more defensive.” Bowman praised Parks for his toughness. “Sometimes people look at him and see his size and don’t expect such a big ball of intensity,” Bowman said. “He definitely brings it and he’s fun to watch.” Grain Valley’s other contested match win came from Jace Worthington (170). He got four takedowns and a near fall to help himself earn an 11-5 decision vs. Jasen Periman. Dru Azcona (126), Collin Burd (182), O.T. Frederick (195) and Justin Deweese (160) all won by forfeit for the Eagles. Brock Smith (120 pounds) starts from the bottom position in the second period against Fort Osage's Colby Gray. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley 220-pounder Gavin Barker tries to prevent a single-leg takedown from Fort Osage's Gavin Gallman. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley 195-pounder O.T. Frederick runs through smoke and pyro on his way to the ring vs. Fort Osage. He won by forfeit. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley 170-pounder Jace Worthington uses an armbar to keep Fort Osage's Jasen Periman grounded during a 11-5 win. Photo credit: Michael Smith
by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society As we begin the second year of our current decade, I cannot help but wonder how the current decade will be viewed in another twenty or thirty years. What will the Class of 2022 tell their children about their last two years of high school? In the scheme of things how will 2022 compare to the last 100 years? This week I will talk about Grain Valley from 1920 through 1960. There weren’t many graduates in 1922, and most were girls. The men had either dropped out of school a few years earlier to fight in World War I or to work on the farm so older family member could fight in the war in Europe. The young graduates of 1922 were alive to learn of Robert Peary’s 400 trip by dog sled to become the first man to stand at the North Pole and Orville and Wilbur Wright take to the air at Kitty Hawk in a biplane they called the Flyer. It was only airborne for 59 seconds; just long enough to travel 852 feet. The Model-T Ford had been built, available only in black, at a cost of 850 dollars. And, oh yes, the first Teddy Bear was introduced and named for Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States. Grain Valley was a growing town in the 1920’s. The original railroad station burned, but a new station was built in 1922 to accommodate the growing number of passengers that arrived to visit Sni-A-Bar Farms. The early cattle breeding demonstrations were attracting nearly 10,000 people each year. Some camped out near Monkey Mountain, some stayed in one of the three small hotels in Grain Valley, and some commuted back and forth to Kansas City daily via the train or by automobile. Some would remember the 1920’s for the popularity of the Royal Playhouse or the fire which destroyed the first brick school in 1925. Still other would remember the 1928 (1929 Seniors) football team, the only undefeated team in our school’s history. During the 1920’s radios were being purchased in America at the rate of 1.5 million per year. My grandfather talked about the men who would gather around the heat stove in his feed store to listen to the radio. By the 1930’s the entire county was plunged into the depression. While the Sni-A-Bar Bank went under, the Bank of Grain Valley was considered to be among the best financed and most sound of banks in all of Kansas City, if not Missouri. Many men in Grain Valley lost jobs, their farms, or their businesses. Old-timers may remember their fathers and grandfathers finding work with government jobs provided by the WPA (Works Progress Administration, also known as the Work Projects Administration from 1939-1943). While they were mostly construction workers building schools, roads, and other infrastructure, the CCP (Civilian Conservation Corps) concentrated on building state and national parks. During the 1940's America returned to war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Many young men from Grain Valley enlisted to fight not only the Japanese, but Hitler’s German Army. Between the depression of the 30's and rationing in the 1940's, many small businesses were no more. World War II created a need for ammunition and Lake City became a major employer for the citizens of Grain Valley. It was also a time when many women of Grain Valley began working outside the home. On a lighter note, in the later 1940’s Americans purchased televisions at the rate of 100,000 sets per week. I remember our first TV, purchased in 1949. My brother was in 1st grade. He walked home from school for lunch every day and we watched “The Lone Ranger,” in black and white, while he ate his grilled cheese sandwich. My memories of the 1950's include the closing of the rural schools which created the need for a new elementary school, going to the football field on August nights and hanging out with other kids on the playground while our mothers visited and our dads scoped out the prospects for the upcoming season. In the early 1950's, my dad coached a girls’ town team basketball squad. They qualified for the national tournament held in Kansas City. One of the players, Louetta Snodgrass, was the Queen of the Tournament and her photo appeared on the cover of the tournament program. I also remember hula hoops and poodle skirts! Grain Valley was like the rest of America in the 1960's. We were obsessed with rock and roll, girls in miniskirts, and guys with longer hair. In 1965, I-70 was completed through our town and forever changed the landscape. The Nation saw both good (Neil Armstrong left Apollo 11 to walk on the moon) and evil (President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on November 22, 1963). For “the rest of the story,” read the next edition of the Valley News. I’ll write about Grain Valley from 1970 through 2020. Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society museum at 506 S Main on Wednesdays from 10am - 3pm, Saturdays 11am - 3pm (when building is not rented for an event), and by appointment.
For more information, visit www.grainvalleyhistory.com. Demand remains high for COVID-19 testing due, and the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS) recently reminded residents of an option to receive complimentary tests shipped to their homes. The announcement quickly resulted in an overwhelming response, and the department has announced it has suspended requests until at least January 12th.
After January 12th, residents may request test kits to be shipped to their home by visiting Picture Genetics | At-home COVID-19 Test. A limited quantity will be available each day through January. If the ordering site states the limit has been reached, residents are asked to check back the following day for availability. Once a resident receives a test and completes self-collection by easy-to-follow instructions, the kit is returned to a laboratory free of charge via FedEx. Test results are provided via email. Once ordered, the kit typically arrives in 2 days (depending on current demand), and the kit is good for 6 months. Once the sample has been collected, it must be packaged in the prepaid FedEx shipping envelope (according to directions) and returned to a FedEx collection site within 24 hours. Visit the DHSS website for a comprehensive list of testing sites, pharmacies that offer free testing, and the link to request a free test to be shipped to your home: Community Testing | COVID-19 Outbreak | Health & Senior Services (mo.gov). A fresh start. A clean slate. A new beginning. However, you look at it, the New Year is a time when we are hoping to create healthier habits with health and wellness. With all of the diets, fads and products on the market promising unrealistic outcomes for health and fitness goals, it can seem overwhelming figuring out where to begin.
Hy-Vee has the perfect solution to create a more healthful you in the New Year, and for years to come, by adjusting your diet and working with THE health and nutrition expert: a registered dietitian. Improving eating habits can be difficult, so your Hy-Vee dietitians recommend beginning with small changes that can help not only improve energy levels and sleep, but also make those clothes fit just a little better. One easy way to start improving your health is to make simple swaps in the kitchen that can make small shifts in your overall nutrition. Our Hy-Vee dietitians have put together our top five simple swaps outlined below. Dietitian’s Top 5 Food Swaps for the New Year
Whether you’re looking for more guidance on basic nutrition, are hoping to lose weight or want an easy weekly meal plan, your Hy-Vee dietitians can help! Visit https://www.hy-vee.com/health/hy-vee-dietitians/default.aspx to find your local Hy-Vee dietitian and set up an appointment for a FREE Discovery Session. This session allows us to learn more about your health and wellness goals and discover which of our many services will be the best fit for your needs. Let us be your guide this New Year to a healthier YOU! The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. by Cathy Bylinowski, bylinowskic@missouri.edu, MU Extension Horticulture Instructor. Adapted from an article by Dr. David Trinklein, MU Horticulture Did you receive or purchase a holiday cactus as a gift during the holiday season? Holiday cacti, beautiful alternatives to poinsettia, are either Christmas or Thanksgiving cacti. The two are closely related and both are tropical cacti native to south-eastern Brazil. Thanksgiving cacti normally begin flowering in mid to late November and continue into December. Christmas cacti normally begin to flower in mid to late December and continue flowering into January. The stem segments of Christmas cactus are more rounded and do not have forward-pointing teeth. As either plant matures, their branches tend to arch downward resulting in a graceful appearance. The base of older plants becomes thick and woody, supporting the weight of the younger stems and flowers. The flowers of both cacti are similar. Each flower has 20-30 tepals. Tepal is the term used when flower parts cannot easily be classified as either sepals or petals. The outer tepals are short, unconnected and spread out or curve backwards. The inner ones, towards the tip of the flower, are longer and become more fused at the base to form a floral tube. The term "flower within a flower" has been used to describe their appearance. Colors range from deep pink to red and cultivars come in bicolored pink, purple, or red and white. Flowers of the Thanksgiving cactus have yellow anthers (male flower parts that bears pollen), while Christmas cactus flowers bear pink to purplish-brown anthers. Whatever the true identity of your holiday cactus, all require similar growing conditions and cultural needs to thrive and flower next year. Both Thanksgiving and Christmas cactus are tropical, epiphytic (organisms growing at the surface of other plants, soil, or growing medium) cacti and not the "desert types." Therefore, their needs are somewhat different from other cacti. In nature these epiphytic cacti grow in well-drained tree crevices, where decayed bark and leaves accumulate. Epiphytic cacti need growing media high in organic matter with good drainage. Their native habitat is somewhat shady and humid. Although they cannot endure frost, the plants are native to higher altitudes and prefer cool temperatures, especially to develop flower buds. Flower buds will not develop when night temperatures are 70 degrees F or higher for extended periods of time. If possible, locate plants in a cool room or close to a cool window. Never place them near hot air ducts or appliances that produce heat. Flower bud initiation in these cacti is also influenced by the length of day. In nature, they are short-day plants which means they set buds in response to a period of darkness (12 hours or more) each day. In essence, short-day species really are "long-night" plants. At cool night temperatures (50 to 60 degrees F) some flower buds will form even if the plants are not exposed to long nights. For optimum flower bud formation, cool temperatures and natural day lengths (short days) are best, beginning about mid-September. If exposure to these conditions is delayed, flowering also will be delayed. Some reduction in watering at the beginning of bud formation is helpful to promote flower buds. However, plants should never be allowed to wilt. If plants become wilted even though adequate water has been provided, root rot is the likely cause, which results from overwatering. Fortunately, stem segments of epiphytic cacti root easily. Even when a plant's roots have died, these stem segments can be used to start new plants. During summer, holiday cacti can be placed outside in a protected, partly shaded northern or eastern exposure. Properly cared for, holiday cacti live for a long time, producing more flowers each year. They often become heirloom plants that are passed down from one generation to the next. Now is a perfect time to start this tradition in your family. Christmas cactus flowers. Photo credit: University of Missouri Extension
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