|
The KC Current has selected Grain Valley's Rylan Childers as their Round 4, 42nd pick in the National Women’s Soccer League 2023 draft. Childers is a midfielder from the University of Kansas. The KC Current's $117-million soccer-specific stadium at Berkley Riverfront Park, the first soccer stadium purpose-built for a National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team, is currently under construction. KC Current home matches will be played at Children's Mercy Park in 2023. For more information on the KC Current, visit Kansas City Current. Image credit: KC Current
The Board of Aldermen met Monday, January 9th, approving three resolutions related to the City's water, sewer, and household waste management.
The Board approved a resolution to purchase 400 water meters as a continuation of the City's annual water meter replacement program. The Board also approved a resolution to purchase sewer camera equipment and enclosed trailer to replace aging equipment and technology. A resolution to continue participation in the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Regional Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program was approved, allowing residents to safely dispose of hazardous waste at scheduled community drop off events. The Board also unanimously approved a resolution to reappoint Mark Clark and Joe Panza and appoint Jim Wyzard to the Board of Zoning Adjustment for five-year terms. The approval of members of the Planning and Zoning Commission was not quite as simple. Alderman Dale Arnold requested one of the proposed members, current Planning & Zoning Commission member Scott Shafer, be pulled from the resolution and voted upon separately. The original resolution was amended to strike Shafer from the vote. The Board voted unanimously to approve the resolution reappointing Justin Tyson to a four-Year term, appointing Jayci Stratton to fulfill the unexpired term of Commission member James Hofstetter, and appointing Chris Bamman to fulfill the unexpired term of Commission member Kevin Browning. Considering the resolution to reappoint Scott Shafer to the Planning and Zoning Commission, Arnold pointed to personal attacks he claims Shafer has made against him. Arnold accused Shafer of using his “knowledge while being on the Planning & Zoning board, and while being on that board, has used it to weaponize City staff against individuals, including myself, to continue his vendetta and personal attacks on myself and others.” Mayor Todd asked Community Development Director Mark Trosen if there have been any complaints received regarding Shafer as a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission, and Trosen stated there had been no complaints. Arnold followed up, asking “has he brought complaints to you about individuals in the community about violations and codes that your department has to do with?” “I believe he has brought complaints to our codes enforcement officers, like other citizens of Grain Valley, where he sees complaints. Yes," Trosen said. Arnold stated Shafer has singled him out, filing complaints with City codes enforcement officers and later Jackson County regarding sewer issues at his property. Arnold stated the County visited his property and determined there were no issues. Arnold stated that while codes officers do not disclose the names of those who make complaints, he believes Shafer is behind them. "I feel under his continued operation of using our codes department as a weapon against those who he does not agree with, is a bad form to affirm by putting him back on this board," Arnold said. Alderman Rick Knox, who serves as board liaison to the Planning and Zoning Commission, shared his thoughts. “I am well aware of the dislike between Dale and Mr. Shafer, but as the board liaison between that board and this one, I can say that I have had not ill dealings with him on the board. He speaks his mind and nothing out of line as far as I am concerned on that.” The resolution reappointing Shafer passed with Arnold as the lone nay vote. Planning and Zoning Commission meeting recap: The Planning and Zoning Commission met Wednesday, January 11th, approving the final development plan and final plat approval for Copper Creek, formerly known as The Lofts at Creekside Landing. The proposed development, located at the dead end of NW Sni-A-Bar Blvd. east of NW Sni-A-Bar Parkway, will consist of four apartment buildings containing 24 units in each building, three four-plex buildings, and one duplex. The Commission postponed the election of officers due to the absences of members Scott Shafer and Justin Tyson. A joint workshop regarding the Comprehensive Master Plan and Parks Master Plan with Board of Aldermen, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Parks Board will be held Tuesday, January 17th at 6:00pm. In its first meeting of 2023, the Jackson County Legislature elected DaRon McGee as Chairman and Megan Marshall as Vice-Chair. County Executive Frank White, Jr. introduced The Honorable Jalilah Otto, who will serve as the presiding judge for the next two years. The 2023 budget and proposed tax levy continued with their third perfection. Based on the estimates and appropriations in the 2023 recommended budget, the following amounts on each one hundred dollars of assessed valuation represent the tentative tax levy for the fiscal year 2023 on real and personal property within Jackson County, Missouri: General $0.2485 Health $0.1701 Park $0.1153 Special Road and Bridge $0.0771 TOTAL $0.6110 The Legislature sent a proposed ordinance to the budget committee to consider adding a question on the April 2023 ballot authorizing Jackson County to impose a countywide sales tax of three percent on all tangible personal property retail sales of adult use, non-medicinal marijuana. The next meeting of the Legislature will be held Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 10:00am, at the Jackson County Courthouse, 415 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 2nd Floor, Legislative Assembly Area. In its first meeting of 2023, the Jackson County Legislature elected DaRon McGee as Chairman and Megan Marshall as Vice-Chair. Photo credit: Jackson County Government
by Cole Arndorfer On December 6, nearly six months after stepping away from teaching at Grain Valley High School, Dr. Julie Taylor announced that she would be running for Grain Valley School Board. In a Facebook post announcing her candidacy, Taylor shared that she has spent 22 years working in Missouri schools. Seven of those years have come at Grain Valley High School, where she served as English teacher, National Honor Society sponsor, and cheer coach.
Taylor has been a part of the Grain Valley community since 2009, and said the decision to run comes out of her love for the community and the schools within it. “I love everything about Grain Valley, and I want to give back to the district and community that has given me so much,” Taylor said. Taylor shared her belief that there are always multiple paths to student achievement. “Success, like education, is not one-size-fits-all, we owe it to each student to meet them where they are, academically, culturally, emotionally and physically. I am committed to understanding what academic excellence means for every student, every day." Taylor said that her goal, if she were to be elected, is to create a collaborative, safe, inclusive learning environment that adequately prepares students for life in an ever-changing society by providing inspiration, and mentorship to each student. In addition to understanding the classroom, Dr. Taylor says that she understands the school board’s responsibilities for the district. "As an accountability body, we must reflect on previous decision-making and ensure we implement school board governance best practices, initially focusing on strengthening communication with the community.” “I promise to take time to understand the connectedness and consequences of each decision. For me, it’s not just a line item, it’s not just a number; a paragraph in a policy is more than just words. These decisions affect the success of our students, our teachers, our schools, our district, and the legacy that they will leave for the future of Grain Valley and each person they impact throughout their lives,” Taylor said. Taylor is one of seven candidates running for Grain Valley School Board, just one of several issues for voters on the April 4, 2023 municipal election ballot. For voter registration information, visit www.jcebmo.org. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society The mystery continues…how do people spell their name? Last week it was “Little” and this week it is “Borgman.” Or was it Littell and Borgmann? Who names a road and when was it named? Not everything is on the internet! I have spent several hours, to no avail, attempting to learn when signs were put up on the rural roads in Jackson County. I suspect, and I’m only guessing, that by the time the road signs were put up, their namesake was long deceased, and the names were “Americanized” by the highway department. The Borgmann family came to Missouri from Prussia (Germany) in the 1830s. They remained in Warren County (around Marthasville and Charrette) for nearly 50 years. Henry H. Borgmann, Jr., his brother John and sister Caroline came to Fort Osage Township on the 1878, first appearing on the U S Census there in 1880. It was on August 19, 1880, that Henry married Mary Elizabeth Drewel, the daughter of a minister from Wellington, Missouri. Mary and Henry had six children who grew up in the area and attended school at Levesy. Mary and Henry Borgmann and many of their children and grandchildren are buried at the Ebenezer Cemetery (Bone Hill) south of Levasy on H highway at Bone Hill Road. So, while the Borgmanns and their offspring were mostly in Fort Osage Township, the road named for them extends from Neil Childs Road south into Sni-A-Bar Township ending at Truman Road. And, on a personal note, their great grandson Henry Twiehaus graduated from Grain Valley High School in 1964. He was my classmate. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Burr Oak Woods Nature Center offers free programs in January to help people connect with nature during winter. Trails are open at the nature center in Blue Springs for winter hikes. Special activities for all ages and abilities are also on tap.
Programs include:
The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of January 4-10, 2022.
January 4, 2023 400 Block NE Wolf Creek Rd Check welfare 800 Block Hawthorne Ct Suspicious person PHQ Walk-in report - Fraud 400 Block Front St Suspicious person PHQ Stealing 1200 Block NW Scenic Missing juvenile E/70 22MM Motorist assist 400 Block SW Montana Ridge Dr Suspicious person 1200 Block NW Phelps Suspicious person 600 Block SW Ridgegview Dr Noise complaint 1500 Block NE Erin Ct Wild life - caught and release NE Mary Ct Suspicious vehicle January 5, 2023 100 Block NE Sunny Lane Dr Disturbance 1100 Block NW Cottonwood Ct Stealing 700 Block SW Lakeview Dr Stealing 1500 Block NW Nicholas Dr Suspicious vehicle 700 Block NW Long Dr Harassment 700 Block N Main St Found property BB/New library Suspicious vehicle 700 Block Main St Found property 1300 Block NW High View Dr Noise Complaint 900 Block Main St Commercial alarm 1100 Block NE McQuerry Harassment 1100 Block NE McQuerry Possession, possession stolen firearm 400 Block NW Europa Dr Citizen contact January 6, 2023 Phone Citizen contact PHQ Citizen contact 100 Block NE Sunny Ln Burglary 600 Block SW Gateway Stealing W Front St and Main St Citizen contact PHQ Harassment 700 Block N Main Citizen contact 600 Block NW Yennie Ave Assault January 7, 2023 PHQ Vehicle release PHQ Citizen contact Sni-A-Bar & SW Crestview Ct Medical emergency assist 900 NW Scenic Citizen contact January 8, 2023 400 Block SW Whitestone Dr Citizen contact Phone Citizen contact 700 Block Main St Trespassing 200 N Cypress Dr Medical emergency assist January 9, 2023 1300 Block SW Addie Ln Property damage 2300 Block NW Hedgewood Dr Citizen contact 2300 Block NW Hedgewood Dr Private property tow 1100 Block NE McQuerry Rd Suspicious person 1300 Block SW Addie Ln Public service 700 Block SW Crestview Ter Citizen contact 900 Block NW Jefferson Motor vehicle accident 300 Block SW Creek Ridge Suspicious vehicle 1-70 EB Vehicle pursuit PHQ Citizen contact 1400 Block NW Burr Oak Ln Alarm Phone Citizen contact 400 Block Main St Suspicious activity PHQ Citizen contact 700 Block NW Green Dr Missing juvenile January 10, 2023 700 Block Main St Public service 100 Block Garden St Citizen contact 700 Block Main St Public service 700 Block Main St Public service 100 Block Garden St Citizen contact 700 Block Main St Citizen contact 1700 Block NW Hedgewood Dr Agency assist 200 Block NW Jefferson St Suspicious activity 700 Block SW Woodland Cir Trespassing 1700 Block SE Oak St Possible armed disturbance 200 Block Harris Disturbance 100 Block Main St Stealing 600 Block NW Valley Ridge CT Alarm 600 Block NW Valley Ridge CT Citizen contact 1600 Block NW Eagle Ridge Dr Abandoned vehicle Rd Mize and BB Motor vehicle accident PHQ Fingerprints Additional calls for service: CIT/Mental Health Welfare Check: 1 Jicama (pronounced with an ‘h’ not a ‘j’) might be another one of those vegetables that has not yet made it to your grocery cart. Jicama may also be referred to as Mexican potato, Mexican turnip, or yam bean. This bulbous root is a member of the bean/pea family Pachyrhizus erosus, that grows underground from a vine that can reach a height of 13 feet or more if given good support. The largest jicama on record reached 51 pounds, though when you shop, you will want to look for one in the two-to-three-pound range.
Jicama is believed to have originated in the Andes Mountain region, with evidence in archaeological sites dating back to 3000 BC. The Spanish introduced the vegetable to Asia in the 17th century. Cultivation and production continued to spread throughout South and Central America into Mexico where it is harvested from November to May. There is also jicama production in Texas, Florida, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Jicama looks similar to a potato, with a rough brown exterior and crisp white interior. Though the interior texture may resemble a potato, jicama has a more broad palate of nutrients. Even with its slightly sweet taste, jicama has more complex carbohydrates and fiber, making it a good carb choice for someone monitoring their blood sugar. Jicama is also a good source of Vitamin C and numerous B vitamins, as well as the minerals magnesium, potassium, manganese, zinc, and calcium. Inulin, a type of fiber found in jicama, works as a prebiotic to support gut health, and also works with minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium to support bone health. When choosing jicama at the store, look for those that are firm and solid for their size. Avoid cracked or discolored vegetables and consider that any vegetable over 4 pounds may be more fibrous than desired. Once peeled, jicama make a nice addition to a salad with the crunchy texture and neutral flavor. They can also be cooked like a potato in mashed or fried methods or even in a stir-fry as a water chestnut substitute. A common snack south of the border is to cut jicama into sticks (like French fries) and eat raw with chili powder and lime juice. The salad recipe below adds those southwest flavors to a colorful array of vegetables, resulting in a dish that is pleasing to the eyes and the palate! Jicama and Black Bean Salad (makes 10 servings) Ingredients: 1 small jicama, peeled and diced – about 1 cup 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper 1/2 cup diced sweet onion 2 tablespoons finely chopped jalapeno pepper (seeds removed) 1 can (15-ounces) black beans (drained and rinsed) 1 cup frozen corn ¼ cup mashed avocado 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon lime juice 1 teaspoon ground cumin Salt and ground black pepper, if desired 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro Directions:
Nutrition information: Calories: 88, Total Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: .7g, Sodium: 65mg, Carbohydrates: 10.2g, Fiber: 2.9g, Protein: 2g Recipe adapted from Iowa State University Spend Smart Eat Smart, analyzed by verywellfit.com by Rudi Keller, Missouri Independent State workers would get their biggest pay raise in living memory under a plan proposed Wednesday by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson.
In a news release, Parson said he wants to boost all state workers by 8.7% and to offer a $2 an hour night shift differential to employees in four agencies responsible for people under the care of the state. Parson is asking lawmakers to pass a supplemental appropriations bill by March 1 so that the raises are included in paychecks issued at the end of the month. It is the second consecutive year that Parson has pushed for significant pay increases for state workers to combat inflation and competition from the private sector. Last year, lawmakers approved a 5.5% increase in pay and a $15 base wage for all state jobs. The raise last year was on top of a 2% raise that began Jan. 1. “There is no question that the recruitment and retention of state employees have been a severe problem for our state, and we must do better,” Parson said in a news release. The announcement came a day after Parson outlined some of his budget priorities in a meeting with GOP legislative leaders. Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, said there was general agreement that a pay increase is needed. “Everyone agrees that there is a shortage of workers in the state and state government is no different,” O’Laughlin said in an interview with The Independent. The Democratic leader of the Missouri House, Rep. Crystal Quade of Springfield, said in a statement that Parson’s pay raise plan should go further. “As a starting point, the governor’s proposed pay raise for state employees has merit,” Quade said in a news release. “But it isn’t nearly enough to end Missouri’s sorry status of having the worst average state worker pay in the nation.” Missouri employs about 50,000 people in all departments of state government. There are 7,000 open positions, Parson noted in his news release, calling his proposal “the minimum we must do to support our state workers and the people of Missouri.” The $2 night shift differential would be paid to employees who take evening and overnight shifts in prisons, mental hospitals, veterans nursing homes and other state-operated care facilities. Employees in the Corrections, Social Services and Mental Health departments, along with care employees of the Missouri Veterans Commission, would be eligible for the differential. “We want to be clear, this is not state government attempting to set the market,” Parson said. “This is merely an attempt by state government to stay competitive with the market.” The release quoted the directors of all four departments saying it will be easier to fill open positions and provide overnight care under Parson’s pay proposal. “The $2 an hour shift differential for the congregate care workforce at 24/7 state-operated programs is very important,” Mental Health Director Valerie Huhn said. “It acknowledges that increased pay is needed for the State of Missouri’s front line team members who work during hours when other staff are home with their families.” While inflation is slowing, prices in November were 7.1% higher than a year earlier, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported last month. The report on prices in December is due Thursday. During 2022, average hourly earnings nationwide increased by 4.6%. There’s money available for large raises because high inflation and higher wages being offered to attract workers generally continue to bring double-digit growth to state revenues despite a forecast in early December that tax receipts would slow in the second half of the fiscal year. As of Tuesday, revenues were up 14.2% for the fiscal year. The state is also sitting on its largest surplus in history. At the end of December, there was $5.2 billion in the general revenue fund and almost $1.6 billion in other funds that can be spent like general revenue. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, said both state employees and contract providers are being pinched by inflation and staff shortages. “We’re dealing with workforce issues and job placement issues all over the state, not just in the state workforce, but in these longer term care facilities,” Hough said. “We’ve got to have competitive wages, not just at the state, but also in those providers that are taking care of our aging populations.” Parson estimated the cost of his pay plan at $151.2 million through the end of the fiscal year on June 30, including $82.4 million in general revenue. Continuing the raises for a full budget year would cost more than $450 million, including about $245 million in general revenue. Parson will deliver his full budget plan and package of legislative proposals next Wednesday. Mid-Continent Public Library’s (MCPL) Winter Reading Challenge returns January 15, and this year’s theme is “Humor Me,” offering participants a chance to tickle their funny bones as they read five books by March 15. The annual program encourages adults to reconnect with the practice of leisure reading, and participants who read five titles (comedy or any other genre) between January 15 and March 15 will earn a commemorative coffee mug as well as the chance to win a B&B Theatres Gold Card, good for one film a day for a year.
“Reading for fun offers tremendous cognitive benefits, including reducing stress—something many of us need these days! And what better way to further relax than to explore titles that bring a smile to your face,” Amy Fisher, manager of MCPL’s Information and Reader Services Department, said. “No matter what your reading preferences are—fiction or nonfiction, humor or horror—our team can find you the perfect reads to curl up with.” Although participants, who must be 18 or older, don’t have to read within the theme, Library staff have compiled a long list of suggested reads with a wide variety of comedic influence for those who love to laugh—from dry and dark humor, to satire, to slapstick and comedy of errors. The full reading list, which can be found online or at MCPL branches, is divided into fiction and nonfiction. In keeping with the theme, the library has partnered with B&B Theatres to host the free “Humor Me Film Series.” Attendees can visit one of the following B&B Theatres locations at 6:30 p.m. on January 11, February 1, and February 15 to enjoy the free comedy screenings:
Participants can also enhance their Challenge experience by attending in-person books groups and events, as well as virtual programs through the Winter Reading Challenge Facebook page. For more information about the Winter Reading Challenge, including a full list of rules, more details about the prize, and the suggested reading list compiled by MCPL staff, visit mymcpl.org/WinterReading. |
Categories
All
Archives
May 2024
|
Grain Valley NewsGrain Valley News is a free community news source published weekly online. |
Contact Us |