Grain Valley veteran girls basketball coach Randy Draper stared intently at the court.
     Arms crossed, lips pressed together and sitting in a chair, Draper was likely trying to find a way to make his team even better.
     This was about 6 minutes before the end of Grain Valley’s non-conference matchup with Kearney. It wasn’t time to celebrate, at least it wasn’t at the time even with the Eagles leading by 20-plus points throughout the fourth period.
     After Grain Valley came away with a 47-23 win as the final buzzer sounded, Draper’s players surrounded him and applauded and cheered for their leader as the public address announcer stated that he won his 500th career game as a coach.
     It was a milestone not many coaches achieve. But Draper, a pillar of the community, added another highlight to his legendary coaching career.
     “I told them it’s a great honor,” Draper said of his conversation with his team. “My job is to maximize every team and get this team to maximize its potential. We have some work to do, but I love this team. They enjoyed it and I am glad about that.
     “Five hundred seems like a lot when I just say it. I just tried to maximize my teams then one day you have 500 (wins).”
     After the announcement Draper was presented with a basketball signed by his players. He also received some yellow notepads, a six-pack of Diet Mountain Dew and some Reese’s peanut butter cups.
     “They got all the hits,” Draper said of the goods he received from his team. “The yellow legal pads and the Diet Mountain Dew, they hit all the hotspots for me.”
     Some players then snuck behind him as senior Grace Slaughter, Ella Clyman and Cameryn Bown dumped a Gatorade cooler full of blue and white confetti on Draper as he bent over and pumped his fist halfway through.
     Draper then posed for a photo with his players and the Grain Valley cheerleaders held a banner behind him and the players that had a photo of a road and some trees. It read, “THE DRAPER 500.”
     Draper began as a boys basketball coach in Madison, Missouri. After one year at Madison, he returned to the University of Missouri to serve as a graduate assistant with the University of Missouri men’s basketball team.
     He spent seven years at Camdenton before coming to Grain Valley where he spent the last 22 years of his career. His first win came against Higbee High School. He is now in his 22nd season in Grain Valley and 30th overall as a head coach.
     “Both towns were out in force,” Draper said chuckling, while describing the game where he got his first win.
     It was also a special moment for three of his athletes as the game also served as Senior Night for Slaughter, Clyman and Bown. They were ecstatic to see their head coach accomplish such a special feat.
     “We’re all so happy for him and I am happy to be a part of that,” Clyman said. “To see him get his 500th win was cool. I remember going to the games as a kid and watching his teams play. Now I am playing for him.”
     Added Slaughter: “Draper does more than you can imagine for this team. From watching film and watching other players and trying to help us become better basketball players and better people. To witness this moment is so special and amazing.”
     Draper has built a reputation and a players’ coach as he has made many friendships and close relationships as evidenced by some of his former players attending the contest.
     “We know he cares about all of us as a person,” Clyman said. “He’s an amazing coach but he takes time to get to know us as a person.”
     Meanwhile, it was also a special game for three of Draper’s athletes as it was Senior Night for Slaughter, Bown and Clyman. Slaughter led all scorers with 21 points and Clyman had four. Bown led a pesky Grain Valley defense that made things difficult on the perimeter players for Kearney.
     Grain Valley led 9-8 after one period and went into halftime up 23-10. The Eagles entered the fourth up 36-14 and cruised the rest of the way.
​
 
Boys
 
     GRAIN VALLEY 69, KEARNEY 51: In the first game of the boys-girls doubleheader, the Grain Valley boys basketball team got its fifth win a row as they cruised to a victory over the Bulldogs.
     Kearney led 19-15 after the first quarter but a big second quarter saw the Eagles come back and lead 34-25 at halftime. The Eagles (11-5) increased the lead 54-40 going into the fourth and closed it out.
     Freshman Eli Herbert led Grain Valley with 26 points, including five 3-pointers. Junior Logan Marcum added 14 and senior Rhylan Alcanter chipped in with 11.

     The Grain Valley Board of Aldermen will consider adding a 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana sales to the April 2023 ballot at its January 23rd meeting. The Board will consider the ordinance's first and second read on January 23rd. If approved, the tax will be imposed on retail sales of adult use marijuana sold in the City of Grain Valley.
     The Jackson County Legislature is also in the process of perfecting language for their own ballot measure to add a county-wide 3% retail sales tax of adult-use, non-medicinal marijuana. 
     Neighboring cities are following suit with their own ballot measures. As of January 17th, Kansas City, Grandview, Raytown, Sugar Creek, and Lake Lotawana have already approved ballot language. Blue Springs, Independence, and Lee's Summit have language under consideration. 
     Voters head to the polls April 4th. For information on voter registration and voter information in Jackson County, visit Jackson County Missouri Election Board (jcebmo.org). 

     Metropolitan Community College, Kansas City, has announced the Dean's List for the Fall 2022 semester. The 2,887 students who received Dean's List recognition earned a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher while being enrolled in six or more credit hours.

 
Gabby Marie Aber
Hannah Gail Alexander
Oakley Dale Barham
Triston Scott Barnett
James W Bassett
Alexander Martin Brooks
Isaac D Burd
Amanda Capek
Jessica Lynn Clarkson
Carter Michael Compton
Kade T. Compton
Brittani Dangelo
Morgan C Darling
Cole Matthew Doolin
Annalynn Jean Earley
Erika L Evans
Emily Alena Everhart
Makenna Michelle Ferman
Dominic M Ferrante
Clare Marie Fleischmann
JingJing Gao
Vanessa Jacqueline Gonzalez
Abie Groes
Justin Ross Groover
Ian Joseph Hawks
Shelby Elise Henry
Tanner Tanner Heuser
Jillian Claire Hight
Keely Ryann Hill
Kaylyn Huff
Ean Riley Jarvis
Madelyn Jones
Walker Kenyon
Emily Lorraine Knowles
Taylor Nicole Lackey
Gracie Lauren Malicoat
Jaden Cameron Mason
Katelyn M Mitchell
Kyra Frances Maria Mueller
Hannah Elaine Newberry
Emma C Oerly
Mary B Phipps
Carlos Portillo Barahona
Kira Marie Potter
Teran Michelle Potter
Megan Elizabeth Prier
Nikolas Shae Rowland
Rebecca Rubak
Alexandra V Salinas
Abby Mae Schinstock
Micah A Siems
Micah A Siems
Angela G. Strandburg
Justin Andrew Strickland
Alaina Valverde
Dylan Joseph Welch
​

      It was a Senior Night to remember for the Grain Valley wrestling team.
     On the gym floor, were big letters and numbers that lit up that read “GVHS 2023.” There also was a blue blow up tunnel to help give the Eagles flashy entrances to their matches.
     It was an ideal setting for a senior class that includes Brock Smith, Dru Azcona, Tanner Barker, Andrew Czeschin and Tyler Groves as they have been the heart and soul of the team.
     They showed why in Wednesday’s dual against Suburban White Conference foe Belton at home.
     All five seniors picked up victories as the No. 6-ranked Eagles highlighted a 54-21 rout of the Pirates.
     “They all got good wins and they are good kids,” Grain Valley head coach Donald Horner said. “I am really going to miss them. I really appreciate them welcoming me into the community and believing in me. Today shows they are buying in and that speaks volumes to their character.”
     The wrestling the seniors did on the mat spoke volumes, as well.
     Smith reflected on his four years with the Grain Valley program after he jumped out to an 11-2 lead against Aidan Moody before using a head and arm to force his opponent’s shoulders to the mat for a pin in 2 minutes, 36 seconds.
     “It hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Smith said of it being one of the last times he will wrestle at home. “Today it is just another match. I enjoyed my four years at Grain Valley and I will miss it for sure.”
     Before he went through the tunnel, Smith was stretching the straps of his singlet at a rapid pace, getting hyped up for his match.
     “I was just trying to feel the crowd. It was a great crowd,” Smith said. “This is the most packed I have seen. I am grateful to have this on Senior Night.”
     Barker (165) shared similar sentiments as Smith for it being a “just another match” for him, even on Senior Night.
     He controlled his match from start to finish as he came away with a 9-5 victory against Quinten Attebury. During the bout, Barker used shot fakes to set up his single-leg takedowns and he perfectly timed his sprawls to evade shot attempts from his opponent.
     Against Attebury, Barker had a somewhat difficult time getting to his offense, however.
     “I can’t really do much when a kid is stalling,” Barker said. “I have to make him work and be the most dominant guy out there. I don’t like when someone is not working.”
     Azona, like Barker, had a tough match. The senior was facing one of the better wrestlers in the Kansas City area in the 132-pound weight class – Lane Cross. He made a second-period takedown and escape hold up, as he rode out Cross in the third to take a 3-0 decision.
     Groves (144) had a short Senior Night match as he hooked a cradle to pin Diego Suarez in 27 seconds. Andrew Czeschin (235) got a forfeit victory.
     Other Eagles to earn victories were Zac Bleess (113) by a 22-second pin; Gavin Parks (120) by forfeit; Aden Kinser (150) by pin in 1:43 and Landen Marriott (157) by pin in 2:57.
 
GIRLS
 
     The Grain Valley girls wrestling team had just one win in a contested match as it fell 60-24 to Belton.
     Jayden Moehle was the lone Eagle to win a contested match as she pinned Emily Kilpatrick in the second period after trailing 5-0.
     “I tried to grab her head and leg and I tripped over my own feet,” Moehle said of the moment when Kilpatrick to the 5-0 lead. “I landed on my back but I kept moving and got off my back.
     “I got her down and got her into a chicken wing and got the pin.”
      Severeign Aumua (140), Mckenzie Davis (125) and Adalia Del Real (170) each won by forfeit for the Eagles.

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society​

     Since I’ve been driving around the northern edge of Sni-A-Bar Township, I decided to research a bit more about the namesakes for other roads in the area. Most of them, like Little Road, (Valley News, Jan 5, 2023) only go for a short distance, probably to the house and farm of the people who lived there. I believe most got their names in the mid to late 1800s. It probably went something like this.
     “So, you are looking for old Will Holloway out north of Grain Valley. Take the Buckner Road north to Spring Branch Road (Truman). Turn east a couple of miles to the Murphy School Road. Go north towards the school about a half-mile to the first road going east. At the top of the hill, about four-tenths of a mile, is the St. Clair place. The family cemetery is near the road. You can’t miss it. Just over the hill you will see the Holloway place commence on the north side. Their homestead is nearer the bottom of the hill where the road curves back to the south and meets up with Spring Branch Road.”
     As years passed, all 1.3 miles of it became Holloway Road. William Holloway was born in Tennessee around 1815. I found no information about him until the 1860 US Census. By that time, he was married to a widow, Toletha Nowlin Payne (local names) and was living in Sni-A-Bar Township. Their post office was listed as Pink Hill. The 1870 US Census listed Napoleon as their post office. I’m guessing they did not move but the Civil War moved their post office.
     The Holloways had five children, two sons and three daughters. The oldest son, George William Holloway was the only one to remain in the area. George married Rosa Burnley (another local name). They had no children. By the 1910 US Census, George and Rosa were living on North Broadway in Oak Grove. He was a blacksmith, but by the 1920 and 1930 US Census, he was a carpenter and Rosa a housewife.
     William Holloway died in 1898 and his wife Rosa in 1906. They are buried along with their son James (1866-1885) at the Oakland Cemetery.
     We can only guess that the farm was sold at that time --but Holloway Road lives on.

     It’s that time of year when the cold weather often keeps us inside, bundled up with cozy blankets in front of the fire. Cold weather also tends to go hand in hand with cravings for comfort foods, like casseroles, soups, macaroni and cheese, lasagna and more. However, a lot of those favorites may not align with your health goals. The good news is that you don’t have to take those foods and recipes at face value. You can adapt recipes to better fit with your health goals and taste preferences.  
     To adapt a recipe, start by identifying your health goals. Do you want to increase your intake of vegetables? Decrease your intake of sodium or saturated fats? Are you trying to increase your fiber intake? Or are you managing a food allergy or other dietary restriction?
     If you want to increase vegetables, start by doubling all the vegetables in the recipe. If your recipe does not include vegetables, find a way to add them. For example, substitute a layer of lasagna noodles with a layer of roasted vegetables.
     Decreasing sodium is a popular recipe modification. One way to achieve this is to use less salt in the recipe. Another way is to find alternates for higher-sodium ingredients. For example, substitute coconut aminos for soy sauce or no-salt-added broth for chicken stock.
     Not sure where to start? Connect with a Hy-Vee dietitian by logging onto hy-vee.com/health/hy-vee-dietitians, using the Healthie app, or sending a message on our Facebook or Instagram accounts @hyveedietitians. We can help you modify those family favorites to make sure you can enjoy them and still achieve your health goals!
     Try out this twist on traditional fried rice with a delicious recipe the whole family will love to warm up with this winter!
​
No-Fry Fried Rice
Serves 6 (1½ cups)
 
All you need:
Hy-Vee nonstick cooking spray
5 cups cold cooked Hy-Vee long grain or instant white rice
1 cup chopped Hy-Vee Short Cuts fajita vegetables
1 cup chopped green onions, divided
½ cup bottled hot kimchi, coarsely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp grated fresh gingerroot
6 tbsp organic coconut aminos, plus additional for serving
6 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
5 Hy-Vee large eggs, beaten
½ lb. Fish Market natural peeled & deveined raw shrimp (31 to 40 ct.)
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
 
All you do:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F. spray a 17x12x1-inch baking pan with nonstick spray; set aside.
2. Spread rice in baking pan. Bake for 5 to 6 minutes or until dry. Cool for 3 minutes.
3. Toss together rice, fajita vegetables, ½ cup green onions, kimchi, garlic, gingerroot, 6 tablespoons coconut aminos, and rice vinegar in a large bowl. Evenly spread rice mixture in same baking pan.
4. Bake for 12 minutes; remove from oven. Toss rice using a spatula. Drizzle with beaten eggs; tuck shrimp into rice mixture.
5. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until shrimp reach 145°F and eggs are completely set.
6. To serve, drizzle rice mixture with lime juice; toss to combine. Top with remaining ½ cup green onions. Serve with additional coconut aminos, if desired.
   
   

Nutrition Facts per serving: 320 calories, 5g fat, 1.5g saturated fat, 0g trans fat, 225mg cholesterol, 790mg sodium, 49g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, 8g sugar (6g added sugar), 19g protein.
Daily Values: vitamin D 6%, calcium 6%, iron 15%, potassium 8%.
 
Recipe source: January 2023 Hy-Vee Seasons magazine
 
This information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.

This is an editorial: An editorial, like news reporting, is based on objective facts, but shares an opinion. The conclusions and opinions here have been derived by the guest contributor and are not associated with the news staff.

     Missouri lawmakers returned to the State Capitol on Jan. 4 for the start of the 2023 legislative session. This week, we learned our committee assignments, and I have once again been assigned chairman of the Senate’s Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and Environment Committee. I was also named vice chair of the General Laws Committee and was selected to serve on the Appropriations Committee and Fiscal Oversight Committee.
     We have a lot of work to do and hundreds of bills covering a wide-range of issues facing our state to consider this session. You can visit my Senate webpage at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot to view all of my sponsored bills.
     One bill in particular I’d like to see move forward is Senate Bill 14, which modifies provisions relating to amending birth certificates. This act prohibits amending a birth certificate when the sex of an individual has been changed by non-surgical means. Additionally, no birth certificate shall be amended if the sex of the individual was changed for reasons other than a medically verifiable disorder of sex development. I don’t believe a birth certificate is a living document. You can’t change your place of birth, so why should you be able to change your gender?
      I am also sponsoring the following bills related to tax savings for Missourians:
      Senate Bill 15 modifies the Senior Citizens Property Tax Relief Credit. Current law authorizes an income tax credit for certain senior citizens and disabled veterans. Senate Bill 15 would adjust the maximum credits each year to adjust for inflation. This bill also increases income limits so more people can benefit.
     Senate Bill 104 reduces the assessment percentage of personal property, such as cars and boats. Current law requires personal property to be assessed at 33.3% of its true value. Beginning with the 2024 calendar year, this act would reduce the percentage by 1% a year through the 2035 calendar year. Beginning with the 2036 calendar year, personal property shall be assessed at 20% of its true value.
     Senate Bill 105 reduces the assessment percentage of real property. Current law requires residential real property to be assessed at 19% of market value. Beginning with the 2024 calendar year, this act lowers assessments by 1% a year through the 2026 calendar year. Beginning in 2027, the rate falls to 15%.
     Senate Joint Resolution 11 exempts non-commercial vehicles in excess of 10 years old from property tax. This constitutional amendment must be approved by voters.
     Knowing it has been challenging for many Missourians to keep up financially, I will continue fighting to reduce financial burdens for Missouri families by cutting taxes across the board and putting more money back in your pockets.
    Lastly, non-profit organizations, or civic, educational or cultural organizations that operate as non-profits, may receive funding for humanities-minded projects through the Missouri Humanities Council. The organization’s Major Grants program may provide grants up to $10,000 for qualifying projects. The next submission deadline is February 1, 2023. For more information, you can contact the Missouri Humanities Council at 314-781-9660.
     As always, I am honored to serve the citizens of the 8th Senatorial District, and I look forward to helping move our state forward. Please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at 573-751-1464. For information about committees or sponsored legislation for the 2023 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.

This is an editorial: An editorial, like news reporting, is based on objective facts, but shares an opinion. The conclusions and opinions here have been derived by the guest contributor and are not associated with the news staff.

​Coleman’s Legislation Update:
 
Currently I will be sponsoring eleven house bills. These bills are:

• HB 50 Geographical Information System Data. This bill sets a cap of $500.00 fee for sunshine requests pertaining to geographical information system products.
• HB 51 Birth Certificates. This bill states if an individual undergoes a sex reassignment surgery and/or individual name change, then the birth certificate must be amended.
• HB 348 Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. This bill states if a physician or surgeon has a valid license to practice and is in good standing (and meets Missouri requirements) in another state can apply for license to practice in Missouri.
• HB 452 Food Sales Tax. This bill eliminates sales tax on food items.
• HB 453 Stop Human Trafficking. This bill states that if an individual is convicted of patronizing prostitution the court will order a judgment of restitution in the amount of $5,000.00 to be paid to the Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation Fund.
• HB 454 Increase Charges to Sexual Offenses Involving a Minor. This bill changes the age of minor from 15 to 17 regarding sexual exploitation, and 14 to 15 regarding prostitution charges. Also increases the charges from a potential misdemeanor class B to felony class D.
• HB 455 Conceal and Carry Permit Application. This bill states if there is a substantial delay in the processing of conceal and carry permit in the county of the applicant’s residence then applicant may submit for permit in another county.
• HB 456 Eliminating Income Tax to Social Security Recipients. This bill eliminates income tax to those individuals who are receiving social security benefits: retirement, disability, survivors, and supplemental benefits.
• HB 775 State Board Nursing Fund. This bill changes the fee associated with license to practice for a nurse to be paid to the State Board Nursing Fund and not DHSS.
• HJR 4 Term Limits. Currently the term limit for a Missouri Legislator is set for a maximum of 16 years total, 8 years in Missouri House of Representatives (four, two year terms) and 8 years in Missouri Senate (two, four year terms). HJR 4 if approved by Missouri voters will allow a legislator to serve their 16 years in either legislative body.
• HJR 33 Property Tax. This bill if approved by Missouri voters will set a maximum cap of 2% increase per year to an individual’s residential real property tax.            

 
Furthermore, I am honored to be appointed the Chair of Professional Registration and Licensing Committee for the second term in a row. I was also appointed as a member of the Elections and Elected Officials Committee, Insurance Policy, and Special Committee on Urban Issues Committee. 

by Rudi Keller, Missouri Independent


     Gov. Mike Parson wants to spend nearly $1 billion to widen Interstate 70 in congested areas while seeking federal funding to complete the job statewide.
     In his budget proposal delivered to lawmakers Wednesday, Parson asked for $859 million from the more than $5 billion in surplus general revenue to widen the highway in suburban areas of Kansas City and St. Louis and through Boone County near Columbia.
     The proposal is just a piece of a project Missouri Department of Transportation officials estimate would cost $2.7 billion if I-70 was widened statewide.
     In his State of the State speech, delivered to a joint session of the legislature Wednesday afternoon, Parson said congestion on I-70 is both dangerous and a drag on the state economy.
     “To those who say we can’t afford it, I say we can’t afford not to,” Parson said. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the time is now.”
     Overall, Parson is proposing a $51.6 billion state budget, with $14.3 billion in spending from the general revenue fund. The state has a general revenue surplus of about $5.2 billion, the largest in its history, and the budget plan would leave about $4 billion in the bank at the end of the coming fiscal year, state Budget Director Dan Haug said during a briefing before Parson laid out his proposal to lawmakers. 
     “We’re trying to work it down gradually, responsibly,” Haug said. “The governor is adamant that he wants to leave the state in a better position than when he came in.”
     The budget anticipates a significant slowing of state revenue in coming months. General revenue has been growing at double-digit rates for 30 months but this year’s growth is expected to be less than 2%.
     Several factors, from an income tax cut last year and a slowing economy to an anomalous rush of revenue from capital gains will play into the slowdown in tax receipts, Haug said.
     That slowdown has not materialized. Through Tuesday, state general revenue was up almost 15% for the fiscal year. 
     If the current growth rate continues the surplus could grow by as much as $1.8 billion.
     A conservative estimate that undershoots revenue is better for the state than an estimate that overstates receipts, House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith said.
     “It’s the best we have at this point and it’s too early in the calendar year, too early in the tax year,  to pivot from this,” Smith said.

     Other major initiatives in the budget include:

• More than $700 million dedicated to public schools, including $233 million for school transportation and a promise that schools can count on it in future years as well, $117.5 million more for the foundation formula and $56 million for pre-kindergarten programs. Parson also wants to set aside $250 million as cushion against possible education spending cuts in future years.
• More than $400 million for higher education, including almost $71 million to fund a 7% increase in state support for public colleges and universities, $272.4 million for construction projects and $25 million to prepare the state for semiconductor manufacturing.
• Almost $700 million for infrastructure, with $379 million for state highways, $247.7 million for broadband expansion and $35 million for railroad crossing 

      In advance of Parson’s speech, The Independent spoke with key legislators on the House and Senate appropriations committees, who said they expected many of the items Parson is now proposing.
     While it is not a new initiative, Parson’s budget will continue a program that pays 70% of the cost for schools to pay every teacher at least $38,000 a year. But he did not ask lawmakers to set that as the base in state law.
     Increasing the minimum pay for teachers to $38,000 will cost $29 million; increasing the statewide average of $51,557 – 47th in the nation – will cost $81 million for each $1,000, according to the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Blue Ribbon Commission report issued in October.
     A permanent increase in transportation funding, along with growing revenue from a sales tax distributed on a per-pupil basis, means schools will have more state money than ever next year.
     Smith said lawmakers may need to mandate teacher raises if districts don’t dedicate increased funding to salaries.
     “I like the idea of funding public education and letting locals determine how to spend it,” Smith said. “I would like to think that they know that they need to prioritize teacher pay. But here we are with underpaid teachers.”
     Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis and ranking minority member of the Budget Committee, said the legislature should write higher minimum salaries into law.
     “I would argue we need to get to $40,000 pretty fast, to keep up even with just neighboring states, let alone to just hire quality people in this economy and pay people close to what they deserve,” Merideth said.
     Addressing the state’s need for child care has been near the top of the agenda for leaders of both parties and for business groups like the Missouri Chamber of Commerce. Parson proposed $78.5 million to increase subsidies that help low-income families pay for child care and pass incentives including tax credits for businesses to provide on-site childcare.
     The boost to funding for pre-kindergarten means “50 percent of all our families with pre-k students will be able to enroll their children in expanded programs through their local school district or charter school at no cost,” Parson said.
     The investments in child care will help working parents now but quality programs will also help the state’s economy in th future, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, said.
     “Good childcare is preparing those kids for the start of their education, so it all works in concert, right?” Hough said.
     Parson last week revealed one of his big proposals for the year – an 8.7% pay hike for state employees, equal to the inflation adjustment added to Social Security checks this month.
In his speech, Parson said the increase, along with a $2 an hour differential for night work in jobs responsible for people under the care of the state.
     “With more than 7,000 positions open across state government, this wage increase is necessary, and it is the minimum we must do,” Parson said.
     The pay raise proposal drew praise from Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo at a news conference last week.
     “I’m encouraged by the announcement that state employees will see an extremely large pay increase,” Rizzo said.
     But he also said Democrats need to be muted in their praise for what they like in Parson’s budget so Republicans won’t decide they don’t like them.
     “They have gotten to a place where they have demonized Democrats for so long, that when I say, ‘hey, the governor is doing a good thing with you know, adding child care or a teacher pay raise,’ they get angry at him,” Rizzo said.
      The I-70 proposal will not use any federal highway funds, but the state will be  looking to leverage its influence in Congress to help widen the highway to three lanes in each direction statewide.
     Missouri has members of Congress in charge of key committees where money could become available. U.S. Rep. Sam Graves of Tarkio chairs the Transportation Committee and U.S. Rep. Jason Smith of Salem chairs the Ways and Means Committee
      “We certainly are going to be very aggressive working with Congress,” Haug said, “to pull down as many federal funds as we can on this.”

​     Jackson County has filed a lawsuit related to the pricing of insulin. The county’s lawsuit alleges that insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers engage in unlawful rebate schemes that unnecessarily drive up the price of insulin for consumers and healthcare payors.
     Jackson County is suing the insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers for violations of Missouri law. The suit seeks damages and injunctive relief to address and stop the harm caused by the rebate scheme.
     In a release, the County explains "insulin has increased in price exponentially over the last 20 years, even though there have been no major advancements or changes in the drug or how it is manufactured. This is a problem unique to the United States. The average price per unit of insulin in America, across all types of insulin, is more than 10 times higher than the average in other countries."
     “Diabetes is a major health concern in Jackson County, which is why in our expanded Our Healthy KC Eastside programming we will be prioritizing diabetes prevention and free supportive resources throughout the community,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. said. 
     “The cost of insulin, a life-saving drug that millions rely on, has skyrocketed because of the greed between insulin manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers. Our legal action is intended to tackle this problem and expose the scheme that has harmed thousands of Missourians.”
     In Missouri, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death and Jackson County is in the highest quartile of Missouri counties with adults diagnosed with diabetes.

      Grain Valley's Grace Slaughter was one of 722 of the nation’s elite girls and boys high school basketball players nominated for the chance to shine on one of basketball’s elite stages: the McDonald’s All American Games.
     Players were nominated by a high school coach, athletic director, principal or member of the McDonald’s All American Games Selection Committee. 
     The new class of nominees joins a legendary group of athletes who, over four decades, have been nominated for a chance to play in the nation’s premiere showcase – including Shaquille O’Neal, Candace Parker, Anthony Davis, Maya Moore, Trae Young, and Breanna Stewart.
     A complete list of 2023 McDonald’s All American Games Nominees is available at mcdaag.com. The top 24 girls and 24 boys will be revealed Tuesday, January 24, 2023 on NBA Today between 3-4p.m ET on ESPN and announced across ESPN’s various social and digital platforms. 

     HCA Midwest Health announced that four of its hospitals, including Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, have been named among the prestigious “America’s 250 Best Hospitals for 2023”, according to new research released by Healthgrades, the leading marketplace connecting doctors and patients.
​     This achievement places Research Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Centerpoint Medical Center, and Menorah Medical Center in the top 5% of all hospitals nationwide for overall excellence in clinical performance across the most common healthcare conditions and procedures.
     This is the third consecutive year Centerpoint Medical Center is a recipient of Healthgrades® 'America's 250 Best Hospitals' Award™ (2021-2023).
     “The prestigious achievement these four hospitals have made is a testament to the hard work, dedication and commitment that leadership, physicians, nursing teams and support staff have to high-quality specialty care and improvement of human life,” HCA Midwest Health President Keith Zimmerman said.
     “HCA Midwest Health continuously invests in our facilities and workforce to expand the lifesaving capabilities and technologies we offer patients. We also continue to increase our access points – whether that’s through additional physician practices, new facilities or outreach partnerships – so residents throughout the region can receive the high-quality, compassionate care they need close to home.”
     Healthgrades evaluated patient mortality and complication rates for 31 of the most common conditions and procedures at nearly 4,500 hospitals across the country to identify the top-performing hospitals. This year’s analysis revealed significant variation between America’s Best 250 Hospitals and hospitals that did not receive the distinction. In fact, if all hospitals performed similarly to America’s 250 Best, over 160,000 lives could have been saved. Patients treated at one of the 2023 America’s 250 Best Hospitals have, on average, a 28.7% lower risk of dying than if they were treated at a hospital that did not receive the America’s 250 Best Hospitals award*.
 

The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of January 11-17, 2023.
 
January 11, 2023
100 Block S Main
Assault

800 Block SW Lee Ann
Agency assist

7 Hwy and 40 Hwy
Citizen contact

700 Block N Main
Citizen contact

McQuerry & Deer Creek
Citizen contact

Hilltop & Meadow Ln
Citizen contact

PHQ
Citizen contact

1200 Block NW Phelps Ct
Harassment

SW Montana Ridge Dr.
Suspicious activity

Monkey Mountain
Suspicious activity

 
January 12, 2023
Burr Oak & Woodbury
Suspicious activity

1400 Block NW Golfview
Assault

1200 Block NW Phelps Ct
Suspicious activity

500 Block Woodburry
Well-check

1100 Block S Seymour
Alarm check

PHQ
Suspect pointed pistol

900 block SW Sandy Ct
Sound of shots fired

1400 Block NW Eagle Ridge Dr
Burglary

1500 Block NW Whispering Ct
Fraud

 
January 13, 2023
700 Block SW Ridgeview Dr
Agency assist

Blue Ridge Cutoff & Gregory
Agency assist

PHQ - call
Stealing

1300 Block NW Willow Dr
Suspicious person

PHQ 
Agency assist

600 Block NW Yennie
Disturbance

400 Block Minter
MVA

600 NW Yennie
Disturbance

200 Block N Cypress
Stealing

PHQ
Citizen contact

1600 Block NW Hilltop Ln
Alarm

1600 Block NW Hilltop Ln
Citizen contact

1400 Block NW Persimmon
Suspicious vehicle

200 Block Cross Creek Ln
Suspicious vehicle

40 & NW Ooida
Area check

SW Whitestone/Sni-A-Bar
Area check

 
January 14, 2023
1200 SW Eagles Pkwy
Alarm

100 Block SW Nelson
Disturbance

RD Mize & Barr Rd
Fireworks

700 Block SW Woodland Ct
Suspicious person

400 Block SW Whitestone
Citizen contact

200 Block Main St
Suspicious person

400 Block NW Woodbury Dr
Harassment

1400 SW Block Sycamore Dr
Disturbance

400 Blk NW Woodbury Dr
Citizen contact

1000 Blk Rock Creek Ln
Alarm

200 Blk NW Young St
Area Check - barking dog

500 Blk NW Magnolia Cir
Disturbance

200 Blk NW Jefferson
Citizen contact

 
January 15, 2023
400 Blk SW Cross Creek
Suspicious person

600 Blk NW Jefferson St
Stealing

NW Jefferson St
Suspicious person

400 Block SW Cross Creek
Suspicious activity

500 Blk Main St
Citizen contact

PHQ
Citizen contact

PHQ
Stealing

900 Blk NW Scenic Dr
Alarm check

1600 Blk NW Cottonwood
Citizen contact

800 Blk SW Graystone
Shots fired - arrest

Trail side RV
Area check

700 Blk Main St
Suspicious person

 
January 16, 2023
Sni-Bar @RR Tracks
Area check for debris

900 Blk SW Shorthorn
Unnattended death

600 Block NW Jefferson
Area check for debris

1200 Blk NW Ashley Ln
Burglary

PHQ
Citizen contact

1400 Blk NE Jaclyn Dr
Animal bite

Main St & 70
Swearving driver

700 Blk N Main St
Suspicious activity

 
January 17, 2023
700 Blk RD Mize
Suspicious person

1200 Blk NW Phelps Cir
Disturbance

800 Blk SW Crestview Ter
Abandoned vehicle

Walnut & NW Thieme St
Agency assist

1900 Blk SW Eagles Pkwy
Funeral escort

1100 Blk S Seymore
Alarm check

1300 Blk SW Minter Way
Well-check

PHQ
Harassment

PHQ
Stealing

1300 Blk NW Ashley
Area check

300 Blk W Front St
Stealing

 

     The Grain Valley wrestling team is making a name for itself as one of the top teams in Missouri.
     After all, the Eagles are currently ranked as the sixth best team in Class 4 according to the poll at MissouriWrestling.com.
     The team is loaded with talent that has wrestlers that have a legitimate chance of earning a state medal in 2023. That showed in the Greater Kansas City Tournament Saturday that featured 19 of the 28 teams that are in the Suburban Conference.
     Grain Valley had three wrestlers win their weight division as it scored 199 points to take first place at the event at Belton High School. Liberty North was second with 184.5 points and Fort Osage was third with 178.5.
     “That’s one of our goals this year is to win a state team trophy,” Grain Valley senior Dru Azcona said. “We have guys like Gavin Parks, Tyler Groves, Tanner Barker and Brock Smith, so I think we can do it. Colton Parks and Zac Bleess, we are loaded.”
     Azcona, ranked No. 3 in Class 4 in his weight class, had a stiff challenge in the finals of the 132-pound weight bracket after rolling through the first two rounds. He got a 27-second pin in the quarterfinals and earned a 11-0 major decision against Raytown South senior Norman Schneider.
     He was able to make a first-period takedown hold up in the championship match as he earned a 4-3 victory against Oak Park Jamison Tunstill, who suffered his first loss.
     Azcona improved to 10-0 after coming back from a rib injury earlier in the month.
     “At first the season was hard. I had a rib injury,” Azcona said. “I have come back fully healthy and have won two tournaments in a row, so I think I am getting back to where I was.”
     Senior Tyler Groves (144) had less suspense in his championship match against Lee’s Summit West freshman Grady Mortensen. He used a head and arm hip toss to pin Mortensen in 1 minute and 40 seconds to take first place.
     He also earned pins in his previous four matches.
     “It feels great, man,” Groves said about his tournament win. “It’s all about your mentality and practice makes perfect. You just have to go out there and wrestle your hardest.”
     That’s what Tanner Barker (165) did when he won his weight class for the Eagles as he recently came back to action after suffering a shoulder injury in the first tournament of the season in early December.
     The senior had some competitive matches on Saturday. He defeated Toni Falubi of Park Hill South 10-4 in the semifinals before edging Lee’s Summit junior Jackson Jones 7-4 in the finals, using lightning–quick shots to get takedowns in his matches.
     “I think I wrestled fine. My cardio was up,” Barker said. “Everything is feeling good. I did a lot of physical therapy and now I am 100 percent.”
     Other Grain Valley wrestlers to finish in the top three of their weight class were Zac Bleess (113, third), Gavin Parks (120, third), Brock Smith (126, third) and Ethan Jones (138, second).

     The second quarter was not an ideal one for the Grain Valley boys basketball team in the finals of the Pleasant Hill Tournament.
     After storming out to a 20-8 lead after one period against Kansas City Central, the shooting went cold for Grain Valley as it shot just 2-for-13 in the second period.
     That allowed the Blue Eagles to come back and tie the game at 26-all at halftime. It was a back-and-forth affair from there with each team trading the lead multiple times and neither team leading by more than seven points.
     It was the trio of seniors Owen Herbert and Rhylan Alcanter and freshman Eli Herbert that led the charge for the Eagles. Combining for 63 points as the Eagles defeated Central 67-61 to win Friday at Pleasant Hill High School.
     After a sluggish second quarter, Alcanter high fived all his teammates and played with high intensity throughout the contest. He finished with a double-double, totaling 21 points and 10 rebounds. He was the high-energy guy and vocal leader for the Eagles (9-5), constantly communicating on defense and helping get his teammates in the right position.
     “Somebody’s got to be the guy who gets in the other team’s head,” said Alcanter, who also dished out a little trash talk on the court. “I am more than happy to do that. I am not scared of anybody.”
     Alcanter got lob passes from his teammates and finished layups consistently on the low block. That helped open up opportunities for Grain Valley to get open looks from behind the 3-point line.
     “I am grateful for all of my guards,” Alcanter said. “I can’t name any games where I didn’t get that good pass almost every time. They knew what was working and they made sure that they did it.”
      Owen and Eli Herbert were among the Eagles who took advantage of the attention Alcanter drew in the paint.
     Owen Herbert helped close the game out for the Eagles as he hit 5 out of 6 free throws in the final two minutes to help Grain Valley secure the win. He also made a trio of three pointers and scored 16 points and dished out three assists.
     “That’s what he’s been doing for three years,” Grain Valley head coach Andy Herbert said of Owen’s ability to consistently make 3-point shots. “That’s been his role. We expect that from him, that consistency and his leadership.”
     Eli Herbert put in a game-high 26 points, which included six 3-pointers, some of which came from 5 to 6 feet behind the 3-point line. Eli has a shot similar to two-time Most Valuable Player and four-time NBA Finals champion Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors. He has a quick release on his shot and has a near-perfect follow through at the peak of his jump. He’s found success with it.
     “Watching (Steph Curry) really helped and just having that consistency every time,” Eli said. “Especially against the older guys, who have to learn to get that shot off quicker. (The 25-plus foot shots) are something that I work on every day. You have to work on it in practice so it’s no different in the game.”
     Andy Herbert has given Eli the green light to take threes five to six feet behind the arc due to him working on it so much in practice.
     “It’s not a stretch and it’s not forced,” Andy Herbert said of Eli’s long shots. “It’s like, ‘If you’re going to leave me open, then OK.’ He’s in the gym a lot. That consistency doesn’t come by accident.”
     Like his older brother Owen, he came up big in the fourth quarter, making all six of his free-throw attempts.
     The Eagles started out hot in the first period as they made 4 out of 7 3-pointers and shot 8-for-11 from the field to take a 20-8 lead after one. Central stormed back as Timothy Wooden scored nine points in the frame to help his team tie it at 26-all going into halftime.
     Both teams traded the lead five times in the third period but Eli Herbert exploded for 14 points in the period, including four 3-pointers. He hit a three just before time expired in the frame as Grain Valley took a 51-47 advantage into the final quarter.
     “It’s because we got the ball to (Alcanter),” Herbert said of how the Eagles regained the lead. “We were able to get him going and he was able to kick it out to us.”
     Central came back to tie the game at 53-all after a 6-2 run that was capped by a steal and fast-break dunk from Brandon Moore. Alcanter answered with a conventral 3-point play after a rebound and putback. The Eagles led for the test of the contest as the free-throw shooting of the Herbert brothers put it away.