by Michael Smith For the first 16 minutes of the game, the offense looked off for the Grain Valley boys basketball team. Turnovers and unorganized offense plagued the Eagles in the first half as they trailed Platte County 24-17 going into halftime in a Suburban White Conference showdown. Grain Valley’s offense finally got going in the third quarter and it got back into the game through forcing turnovers and scoring in transition. However, the Eagles couldn’t get over the hump as they fell 57-50 Tuesday at home. “It was like we were going in slow motion in the first half,” Grain Valley head coach Andy Herbert said. “Our trend the last few weeks … We just get off to terrible starts. Once our back is against the wall, we start playing well again.” At the start of the third period, Platte County guard Judah Vignery hit a 3-pointer on the Pirates second possession to go up 27-17. From there, Grain Valley (7-6, 1-2 conference) outscored the Pirates 18-9 to cut the lead to 36-35 going into the fourth. The Eagles got five points off turnovers, which included a fast-break layup from junior Aaron Barr and a conventional 3-point play from senior guard Logan Marcum. The Eagles also got a boost from one 3-pointer each from Marcum and Barr. The former’s trey cut Platte County’s lead to 34-33. The teams traded baskets on their final possessions which included a 18-foot jump shot from Vignery, that he shot with Marcum having a hand right in his face; and Grain Valley sophomore Samuel Pendergrass. “In the third quarter, we finally started moving,” Herbert said. “We were so stagnant in the first half. We got some activity and energy and our defense helped out offense and our offense helped our defense.” The Eagles kept it close for much of the fourth quarter and cut the lead to 44-43 once again after a pair of made free throws from senior guard Jack Schoen. However, they were unable to claim the lead at any point in the final period. A pair of baskets in the past from Platte junior guard Jaden Peterson, a driving layup from Vignery and four made free throws from Connor Currence fueled a 13-7 run to close the game for the Pirates. The Platte County offense was powered by Vignery, who scored a game-high 28 points. He is a 6-foot-4 guard, who was two quick on his drives to the basket and had enough length to shoot over the top of Grain Valley’s guards, who had a hard time contesting his shot. “He’s tough,” Herbert said of Vignery. “He’s going to make tough shots.” Barr led Grain Valley with 16 points and Marcum added 13. Grain Valley junior guard Aaron Barr scored a team-high 16 points in Grain Valley's 57-50 loss to Platte County Tuesday at home. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley senior guard Logan Marcum looks for an open teammate. He scored 13 points for the Eagles. Photo credit: Michael Smith
FAFSA Delay Doesn't Dampen Donor Generosity: THCF Scholarship Application Deadline Extended1/18/2024
Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) provides educational scholarships to a diverse group of students based on the specific criteria set in partnership with donors. Over the years, more than 184 generous donors have established scholarship funds at the foundation to help students pursue their educational goals. Since its inception in 1982, the foundation has awarded scholarships totaling more than $6.7 million. This year, the foundation is proud to make approximately $800K in scholarship funds available to students throughout the area. However, recent changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are causing problems and delays for students.
If you plan to pursue higher education in the Fall, it is important to know about recent changes to the FAFSA, the US Department of Education’s form that gathers information about students’ financial situation to help determine their eligibility for federal financial aid. Many organizations and institutions, including THCF, use data from the FAFSA Submission Summary to evaluate the financial need of scholarship applicants. Changes to the FAFSA form for the 2024-2025 school year became available on December 31, 2023. Typically, the FAFSA is available in October each year, but due to the form change, the FAFSA was delayed. Additionally, there appears to be continuing issues with the online form, as students find the form is sometimes offline and unavailable. Because of this delay, THCF application timelines have been adjusted as well. The THCF General Application was available starting December 15, 2023, and will remain open until April 1, 2024. All essays, letters of recommendation, and other documents that may be required must be submitted by the deadline without exception. If you want to learn more about the FAFSA changes, visit www.mofafsa.org. THCF is committed to helping donors achieve their philanthropic goals and students achieve their academic goals. If you have questions about the FAFSA, need to know how to go about setting up a scholarship fund, or have problems during the application process, please visit the Truman Heartland Community Foundation website at www.thcf.org/students/scholarships or contact Rachael Watkins, Director of Scholarships at Truman Heartland Community Foundation, [email protected]. We are honored to help our fundholders create opportunities for students to pursue their dreams and to support them on their educational journeys. In planning the Historical Society calendar for 2024, it was decided to feature “Downtown” Grain Valley, as the grant from Missouri Main Street moves forward with revitalization efforts. As I did in 2023, each month I will feature the calendar page and attempt to tell you more about our town. For the month of January, you will see a 1904 map that includes the streets the Downtown Grain Valley committee is seeking to restore and modernize while attempting to maintain some of the historical character. So watch for some changes as we “refresh” our town from the railroad tracks North to Walnut and from Gregg Street East to Cypress. January 2024 Calendar Page. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society.
If you are looking for the Historical Society, it is on old Broadway Street, Lot Number 9 in the Graves’ and Ashcraft Add. Visit us any Wednesday between 10 AM and 3 PM. You can learn more about the museum and any other buildings in Downtown Grain Valley. Brrrrrr… it’s cold out there and leaving the house to go run errands is the last thing you want to do. Plus, the New Year often re-invigorates your health and wellness journey as you start prioritizing your health and cooking more at home. That makes this month the perfect time to stock your pantry with key ingredient staples that will keep your favorite warm, cozy and nutritious meals on the table.
Not to mention, maintaining and organizing a pantry is a convenient and cost-effective way to approach blustery cold evenings and prepare yourself for those last-minute evening dinner needs. Keep warm in the kitchen this winter with my top five dietitian-approved pantry staples!
Last but not least, keep an inventory of what you have in your pantry and keep it updated to avoid stocking up on duplicates you won’t be able to get to before the expiration. This will make it much easier to throw together a quick and nutritious meal and save money by avoiding food waste! Warm up this winter season by trying this Pasta Fagioli Soup below. Pasta Fagioli Soup Serves 10 All you need: 2 tbsp Chosen Foods avocado oil 1 (1-lb) pkg ground mild Italian pork sausage 1 yellow onion, chopped 3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced 2 stalks celery, sliced 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 tsp Hy-Vee Italian seasoning 1 tsp Hy-Vee salt 1 (15-oz) can Hy-Vee Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed 1 (15-oz) can Hy-Vee no-salt-added garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed 1 (15-oz) can Gustare Vita diced tomatoes, undrained 2 (32-oz each) pkgs Hy-Vee 33%-reduced-sodium chicken broth 2 Hy-Vee dried bay leaves 1 cup dry Banza rigatoni pasta Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, freshly grated, for garnish Fresh Italian parsley, minced, for garnish All you do: 1.Heat avocado oil over medium heat in a large stockpot. Add sausage to stockpot and cook, breaking up large pieces with a wooden spoon, until cooked through (165 degrees). Add onion, carrots, celery, garlic, Italian seasoning and salt. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables soften. 2.Add Great Northern beans, garbanzo beans, diced tomatoes, chicken broth and bay leaves. Cover and bring to a boil. Add dry pasta and cook for 7 minutes, uncovered, or until pasta is al dente. Remove from heat. 3.Divide soup among 10 bowls. If desired, garnish with fresh Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and/or fresh parsley. Recipe adapted from: https://www.hy-vee.com/recipes-ideas/recipes/pasta-fagioli-soup by Maddie Est, Missouri Department of Conservation
As heavy snowfall has impacted the region recently, trees around northeastern Missouri may be damaged under the weight of the snow or the strength of the wind. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds homeowners to check their trees for any damage from the recent winter weather. Storm damage to trees can lead to structural issues with the tree which may pose a threat to your property. Maintaining your trees regularly each winter helps to ensure that any changes to the integrity of a tree are noticed quickly, and it is important to check on the stability of your trees post-storm. Foresters with MDC suggest walking your property and searching for damaged trees or branches post-storm. Be sure to check for live power lines before approaching any damaged or downed trees; If there are power lines running through the damaged tree, do not approach the area. Instead, call experts to safely remove the debris. For trees that are not entirely downed, check how extensive the damage is – if over 50% of the crown of the tree and the root systems are still intact, then the tree is worth saving. Remove any compromised limbs, and do not severely prune the tree as this may weaken the tree. If you have questions about the integrity of a tree, contact a certified professional arborist. You can also contact your local MDC forester with any questions regarding managing trees on your property. Find a list of local MDC contacts at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/4ok. Missouri courts request $3.7 million to continue arduous marijuana expungement processby Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent Missouri circuit courts have cleared more than 100,000 marijuana charges from people’s criminal records so far — a mandate that was a bigselling point for those who voted to pass the constitutional amendment that legalized recreational marijuana in 2022. However, court officials said it’s hard to determine how many more charges are left because many court records are not digitized. The state initially identified digital cases that could potentially be eligible for expungement and gave that information to the circuit courts. “We’ve had about 100,000 cases expunged,” said Betsy AuBuchon, clerk of the Missouri Supreme Court, during a House appropriations committee meeting Wednesday, “but I can’t tell you of that how many more there are to go.” She said the current rate of cases reviewed and deemed eligible is about 10%. AuBuchon requested another $3.7 million in the coming budget year for Missouri courts to complete marijuana expungements. By law, any revenue the state collects from taxes on recreational marijuana sales, along with fees the businesses pay, must first go towards the state’s costs of regulating the program. Then it goes to expenses incurred by the court system for expunging certain marijuana offenses from people’s criminal records. Last year lawmakers signed off on $4.5 million for state courts to pay their employees overtime or to hire temp workers to complete themassive number of expungements required by law. They approved an additional $2.5 million in asupplemental budget on May 5. Circuit courts must request funds to reimburse their expenses for completing expungements from theCircuit Court Budget Committee, which oversees the special assistance program. So far, the committee has given $4.2 million to the county courts, said Beth Riggert, communications counsel of the Missouri Supreme Court. And the committee has allocated the funds to any circuit court that has requested it, she said. “Some circuit courts have advised they have not requested special assistance funds because they did not have current court clerks willing or able to work overtime,” Riggert said, “and/or have been unable to find qualified individuals to provide special assistance because the analysis required is complicated and better done by experienced personnel, such as retired clerks.” As of Jan. 2, Missouri courts have granted 103,558 expungements. Out of all the counties, Greene County has received the most funding, nearly $940,000, and has completed the most expungements at 4,306. After Greene, the counties that have completed the most expungements are not necessarily the largest counties or the ones that have received the most money. The second highest number is 3,515 from Laclede County, which has a population of 36,000. The county has received a little more than $35,000 from the special assistance program. In third place is St. Louis County, the state’s largest county with more than a million people, where court officials have processed 3,479 expungements. The county has received just over $135,000. The court has reviewed 11,300 files, a spokesman for the 21st Circuit Court said. Franklin County, which has a population of 104,000, is fourth, completing 3,200 expungements and receiving about $53,000. Franklin is just ahead of Jackson County, which has a population of 717,000. Jackson has completed 2,900 and received nearly $195,000. The constitution mandates the courts to expunge all marijuana-related misdemeanors by June 8 and felonies by Dec. 8. State Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Democrat from Kansas City, asked AuBuchon how long it will take the courts to work through the backlog. AuBuchon, like circuit clerks statewide, couldn’t give an estimate. “We are doing our best,” AuBuchon said.
How far along are the courts?
Greene County Circuit Clerk Bryan Feemster told The Independent last week that he brought on four experienced retired clerks in February to work part-time on expungements and, “they hit the ground running.” Their work has been guided by a list of pre-screened cases, compiled by the Office of State Court Administrator. The office searched for several criminal charge codes that potentially could involve marijuana and provided that list to the courts. The clerks must read through each case on the list thoroughly, he said. “You have to look at every count in the case and see whether it actually had to do with marijuana or not,” he said. Feemster submits timesheets and supporting documentation to the office, which then provides payment to employees on their paychecks for the expungement work. He’s hired additional two people to embark on the heavy lifting of paper boxes and going through thousands of paper files that can’t be pre-screened by the state. Those six clerks are dedicated to expungements. “They don’t do anything else,” he said. During the 2022 campaign in support of the recreational marijuana ballot measure, supporters touted “automatic expungements” — meaning people who have already served their sentences for past charges don’t have to petition the court and go through a hearing to expunge those charges from their records. The courts must locate their records and make it as if their past marijuana charges never existed. “Let me be the first to tell you there is nothing automatic about that,” AuBuchon told legislators Wednesday. It’s a labor-intensive process, she said, that requires someone with legal experience to look through court files. That’s why most courts are relying on retired clerks. “It’s heavily frontloaded and probably not worth bringing in brand new full-time employees on the state dollar,” she said. “We really need people who know how to do that work. We are getting through those as quickly as we can.” And that’s particularly the case with paper records, Feemster said, because it’s all manual. “From 1989 back, we’re going through every single criminal record to find out whether there’s something in there that might qualify,” he said. “And it is, as you might imagine, very slow and tedious.” While Greene County has a team of retired clerks who Feemster was able to recruit, other county clerks say they have one or two extra people helping complete the task. Marcy Anderson was appointed to serve as Johnson County’s circuit clerk in July, and she inherited the expungement task. She said she has a judge and a retired clerk who come to help out as often as they can, in addition to what her regular team can accomplish. “I have not done any kind of research to see how far along we are,” Anderson said. “We just continue to do it every day.” Johnson County has a population of 54,000, and her team has completed 529 expungements, as of Jan. 2, receiving nearly $18,000 from the special assistance program. However her office, like every other county statewide, is simultaneously working on a large redacting project that’s required now that people can access court records on CaseNet. Both the redacting and expungement processes require extra help that she currently doesn’t have, but “more funds and more people” would be helpful. In Jackson County, court clerks have reviewed more than 20,000 files that include both felony and misdemeanor drug charges, said Valerie Hartman, spokeswoman for the 16th Judicial Circuit Court. The court has expunged nearly 3,000 charges. Some of those cases reviewed were related to marijuana, but many were not, she said. The court reviewed cases from 1989 through 2022 using data provided by the Office of State Courts Administrator, the Missouri Corrections Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, she said. All files that contained drug charges were included in the review. Now the court is researching how to access old criminal databases, in order to identify and review additional paper case files, Hartman said. “We have no information,” she said, “nor an estimate on how many additional drug cases await our review.” This story has been updated to reflect the discussion during Wednesday’s hearing. Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: [email protected]. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and Twitter. The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of January 8-16, 2024.
January 8, 2024 1000 Blk NW Blue Branch Dr Motor Vehicle accident January 9, 2024 WB I-70 Agency Assist 700 Blk N Main St Alarm 100 Blk Sunny Ln Agency Assist 1100 Blk NW Pamela Dr Lost vehicle 1200 Blk RD Mize Rd Welfare check 100 Blk Sunny Lane Dr Agency Assist January 10, 2024 1000 Blk Eagles Pkwy Area Check 800 Blk Harvest Well check 800 Blk Harvest Civil Stanby 700 Blk N Main Citizen Contact 300 Blk Front St Citizen Contact 700 Blk N Main Public Service 1000 Blk Highview Dr Parking Complaint 1100 Blk NW Pamela Dr Alarm Eagle Ridge/Whitney Animal control 300 Blk James Rollo Dr Open door check January 11, 2024 600 Blk NW Valley Ridege Ct Suspicious vehicle 600 Blk SW Brome Area check PHQ Citizen contact January 12, 2024 Kirby/40 Hwy Motor vehicle accident 600 Blk Charlotte St Open door check 500 Blk NE James Rollo Dr Citizen contact 200 Blk Broadway Terr Animal control 1400 Blk S Buckner Tarsney Rd Alarm 200 Blk Rock Creek Suspicious vehicle Eagles Pkwy/Buckner Tarsney Rd Area check January 13, 2024 100 Blk NE McQuerry Rd Alarm 1100 Blk NE McQuerry Rd Motor vehicle accident PHQ Citizen contact 1400 Blk S Buckner Tarsney Rd Alarm 500 Blk SW Graystone Animal control January 14, 2024 100 Blk Baker St Buckner Disturbance 500 Blk Montana Ridge Dr Broken water main 1300 Blk Stoney Brook Dr Agency assist 1100 Blk McQuerry Rd Agency assist 800 Blk SW Ridgeview Dr Found property 1100 Blk NW Golfview Animal control 600 Blk NW Capelle Welfare check PHQ Citizen contact January 15, 2024 1400 Block Buckner Tarsney Rd Alarm 1500 Block NW Eagle Ridge Dr Citizen Assist 200 Block NE Hannah Ct Area Check - C&I Driver 1300 Block NW Pecan Residence Check 100 Block E 3rd St Alarm 400 Block Yennie Area Check 1200 Block NW Phelps Ct Agency Assist - CJC Fire Oak Grove, MO Agency Assist - OGPD with DWI January 16, 2024 7000 Block SE Moreland School Rd Agency Assist - JACO Accident 900 Block NW Sycamore Ct Attempted Stealing 800 Block SW Harvest Dr Unattended Death Sni-A-Bar / US 40 Hwy Abandoned Vehicle 400 Block Europa Citizen Contact 100 Block NE Lindsey Ln Check the Welfare 1100 Block NW Bush Dr Verbal Disturbance (past) 100 Block NE McQuerry Rd Alarm Additional calls for service: Domestic violence: 1 Good News: MCPL Embraces ‘Literary Love’ During Winter Reading Challenge Jan. 15 – March 151/18/2024
Love is in the chilly air! Mid-Continent Public Library Library’s annual Winter Reading Challenge returns January 15, and this year’s theme is “Literary Love,” encouraging participants to reconnect with the love of reading and enjoy titles in the romance genre. Adults can participate by reading any five titles between January 15 and March 15 to earn a commemorative coffee mug as well as the chance to win a grand prize.
“The Winter Reading Challenge is our effort to encourage adults to get back into the practice of leisure reading,” said Amy Fisher, manager of MCPL’s Reader Services Department. “It can be hard to find the time to sit down and enjoy a good book when there are so many obligations that we’re all juggling each day, but reading can bring tremendous joy, growth, and satisfaction to our lives, which is why we hope folks will join us as we cozy up with some great reads these next couple months!” As in previous years, those who complete the Challenge will receive a commemorative mug and be entered to win the grand prize. This year’s grand prize is a gift basket and top-tier membership in MCPL’s Library Lovers program, which grants members access to exclusive events, including author talks, and Library-themed swag. To earn a mug and be eligible for the prize, participants must be 18 or older and sign up online at mymcpl.org/WinterReading or by picking up a Winter Reading Challenge program guide booklet at any MCPL branch. All titles must be logged (online or hard copy turned in) by the end of March 15. For those interested in exploring the “Literary Love” theme, MCPL staff have curated several book lists with recommendations of romance novels, true love stories, relationship science and advice books, and much more. However, readers are encouraged to connect with any five titles that spark their interest. 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. by Michael Smith The Grain Valley boys basketball team has been missing a key part of their team for the past four games. Star guard Eli Herbert has been out of action since Dec. 29 due to an illness, which caused him to spend six days in a hospital. He was recently released and returned home on Monday and is recovering. In Thursday’s semifinal matchup with Ewing Marion Kauffman in the Pleasant Hill tournament, Herbert was on the bench in street clothes supporting his teammates. The Eagles were able to play quality basketball even without one of their leaders and their leading scorer. Grain Valley overcame a 35-29 halftime deficit and got a big boost from centers Stylz Blackmon and Sam Pendergrass offensively and turned up the defensive intensity during a 60-49 victory at Pleasant Hill High School. “We challenged our post men to be more active,” Grain Valley head coach Andy Herbert said. “We challenged about little things, fundamental things. They did a great job of executing those things we talked about.” The Eagles will play in the championship game against Kansas City Central at 2 p.m. Saturday. Andy Herbert said he expects his son Eli to return at some point this season but doesn’t have an exact timetable. When Eli was playing, teams focused the bulk of their defensive attention to stopping Herbert and often double teamed him on the perimeter to force him to give up the basketball. Without their star guard, the Eagles have seen opposing defense switch their attention to stopping their two big man, Pendergrass and Blackmon. “We haven’t changed who we are and how we play,” Herbert said. “We’ve got plenty of guys who know how to score and do different things. It has changed the way teams have guarded us because they are not selling out to one person.” Ewing Kauffman was unable to do so as Blackmon scored a team-high 16 points and Pendergrass added 14 as they both had the size advantage inside. Grain Valley (7-5) outscored the Blue Knights 22-6 in the third quarter to take a 51-41 lead into the final period. Blackmon dominated in the paint, scoring 10 points in the quarter. He found success getting set in the high post or 15 feet from the basket on the baseline. He when would flash to the basket and a guard would find him on a pass over the top to get the senior a good look at the basket. “I think early on, we were trying to get me more involved and everyone else later on,” Blackmon said. “We knew there was a mismatch going into the game and we wanted to exploit that. They started doubling (me) and that opened up our offense.” Added Marcum: “When someone on the other team helps from the backside to double Stylz, the skip pass is always open. And that’s a long close out for the defense or it opens up a drive to the basket.” Pendergrass, a 6-foot-6 sophomore, used a similar strategy to get his baskets as Ewing Marion Kauffman didn’t have anyone with the size to contest his shots at the rim. The defense also proved to be much better for the Eagles in the second half. They forced six Blue Knight turnovers in the third quarter and held the opposition to just 6 for 29 shooting from the field (20.6 percent). “We had a spirited discussion at halftime to encourage more defense and they did a good job,” Herbert said. “They took the challenge and accepted it.” Senior guard Logan Marcum also had a big impact on the Eagles maintaining their lead in the fourth quarter as he scored five of his 13 points in the final eight minutes. Since Herbert has been out, Marcum said he’s tried to be more aggressive on offense. “It wasn’t a big adjustment, but I felt like I had to be a little more aggressive offensively,” Marcum said. “We’re losing a very good scorer on our team. Before we were trying to play through Stylz and Eli. Now we are trying to play through everyone together.” The Blue Knights pulled within seven points at one point in the fourth quarter but were unable to get any closer. Grain Valley senior Jack Schoen drives to the basket. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley senior center Stylz Blackmon looks to put up a shot against two defenders during Grain Valley's 60-49 win over Ewing Marion Kaufman Thursday in the semifinals of the Pleasant Hill Invitational. Blackmon put in a team-high 16 points for Grain Valley. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley senior guard Logan Marcum prepares to unleash a shot during halftime warmups. He scored 13 points. Photo credit: Michael Smith
by Michael Smith The Grain Valley boys wrestling team faced a strong test just two days before the big Suburban White Conference tournament this weekend. The Eagles fell to a tough Raymore-Peculiar team 45-28, but rebounded to take down Chrisman 66-18 Wednesday at William Chrisman High School. Sophomore Zac Bleess (120), ranked No. 2, was one of six Grain Valley wrestlers to finish 2-0. He pinned Chrisman’s Alex Hutson in the first period with a cradle and controlled a match with Ray-Pec’s Kamdon VonHolton from start to finish to win 11-4. He said he was not pleased with the way he wrestled despite finishing the day unbeaten. “I didn’t really wrestle my best today,” Bleess said. “My goal this week is to really focus on the basics and make sure I am wrestling to my potential. I frankly didn’t do good enough today.” Junior Colston Parks (113) is having the best season of his career thus far as he has a 18-3 record and is looking for his first trip to state. He pinned Ray-Pec’s Brayden Behning in 54 seconds and put away Chrisman’s Cameron Russell in the first period by fall. “My go-to (move) is the ball and chain,” Parks said. “I look to hook it in and go straight over the head.” Freshman Sjoeren Aumua (144) has had a standout campaign in 2023-24 as he continues to look impressive. He pinned Chrisman’s Preston Gunlock in the first period and grinded out a 9-4 win against the Panthers’ Connor Gatlin. “I feel like I am improving a lot more than last season,” Aumua said. “I am getting a lot more wins. Coach Horner teaches me a lot and does a lot for me.” Other Eagles to finish 2-0 were senior Gavin Parks (126), who had two wins by forfeit; junior Trenton Rock (132), who had two pins; and junior Gavin Barker (215), who earned an 8-0 major decision and received a forfeit win. Girls It was just three years ago when the Grain Valley wrestling program had just one wrestler. Then-freshman Sevreign Aumua, now senior, had to practice against other boys on the team at the time and didn’t have any girls teammates. Fast forward to 2024, Grain Valley girls wrestling team has eight in the lineup and have had some success this season. The Eagles showed what they could do in Wednesday’s tri dual. The Eagles topped the Bears 36-30 and Ray-Pec 36-18 to sweep the event. “Our girls have come a long way in such a short amount of time,” Grain Valley head coach Donald Horner said. “Sevi was all by herself before, the year after that it was just her and a buddy. Last year we only have five in the lineup; now we have eight. Our program is going in the right direction. We want to make sure this program keeps growing.” Junior Adalia Del Real (155 pounds) and sophomore Jayden Moehle (235) led the way for Grain Valley, getting two pins each. Moehle, ranked No. 4 in the Class 2 MissouriWrestling.com poll, used a power half to turn Chrisman’s Nina Porter and Ray-Pec’s Anna Fahrni to get a pair of first-period falls. Even after a pair of dominant wins, Moehle critiqued her performance. “I definitely need to work on my hand fighting,” Moehle said. “I haven’t been setting up my shots. That’s a big thing for me to improve.” Del Real, who is emerging as one of the Eagles’ top wrestlers, also ended both of her matches in the first period as she had an impressive showing. “I just used my slide bys to set up my shots,” Del Real said. “From there, I just went for the ankles. Other Grain Valley wrestlers to finish 2-0 on the day included senior Sevreign Aumua (140) and Valerie Bleess (110), both of whom had a pair of forfeit wins. Camary Schmalzbach (135) won her lone match against Ray-Pec’s Makayla Wilson as she got a pin in 27 seconds. Grain Valley junior Trenton Rock (132) works to turn William Chrisman Rony Guardiola. Grain Valley freshman Sjoeren Aumua walks off the mat while getting his hand raised after pinning William Chrisman's Preston Gunlock.
by Cole Arndorfer
The Grain Valley Board of Aldermen met on Monday, January 8, for their first meeting of 2024. In the meeting, the board passed eight new resolutions and heard first readings of two ordinances. With no proclamations, previous or new business, presentations, or public hearings, the board jumped straight into resolutions. First, the board approved a resolution allowing the city to enter into an agreement with the Mid-America Regional Council Solid Waste District. This agreement provides residents the ability to dispose of household hazardous waste properly. Second, the board approved a resolution allowing the city to purchase new water meters, in accordance with the 2024 Meter Replacement Program. The city has replaced a number of meters yearly since 2010. This year, the city will replace 400 old water meters. The next resolution the board approved allows the city to make an agreement with ClearSpan. This agreement will cover the materials and labor to repair the canopy on the salt storage building. Next, the board approved a resolution that allows the city to purchase computer equipment. Funds from the Computer Equipment Replacement Program will be used to purchase new desktops, laptops, monitors, and other equipment as needed. The fifth resolution the board approved allows the city to purchase new access control card readers for city buildings. These new readers will replace the existing readers at City Hall, Public Works Maintenance, and the Community Center. Next, after a brief discussion, the board approved a resolution that allows the city to purchase a new dump truck and accessories for the public works division. This will be the replacement for the first dump truck the city purchased a number of years ago. The board approved the next resolution that allows the city to sign an agreement with the Blue Springs Police Department for the confinement of prisoners in their detention unit. This is an extension to an agreement that the departments have had for several years. The final resolution the board approved a resolution allowing the city to execute an agreement with the Grain Valley School District for school resource officer services. Alderman Arnold discussed some concerns to be looked at in the future such as the district being responsible for more of the officer’s salaries and the viability of the district’s own security force. Following this, the board moved into ordinances. The board approved the first read of a bill that would allow the city to amend a section of the city code relating to court costs. This will be done in order to stay up to date with the latest case law. This bill will be brought back for its second read at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The board approved the first read of the final ordinance that would allow the city to amend the section of the city code that spells out the Community Center rental rates and Community Pool fees. This bill will also be brought back for its second read at the next regularly scheduled meeting. In her staff report, City Clerk, Jamie Logan, provided an update on candidate filing for April’s upcoming election. Six residents have filed for candidacy. Aldermen Knox and Skinner will run unopposed for Wards II and III. Former mayor Chuck Johnston and Kyle Sole have filed to run for Alderman Arnold’s Ward I seat. Arnold has filed to run for mayor against current mayor Mike Todd. For his report, Alderman Skinner discussed the Woodbury Estates Homeowner’s Association situation and the need to have an executive session meeting to discuss options the city may have. Skinner expressed his desire to get advice from the city attorney and find facts in the matter. The next Board of Aldermen meeting will take place at City Hall on January 22, at 7:00pm. Show your love for downtown Grain Valley and the loved ones in your life by purchasing a custom heart to be displayed downtown the week of Valentine's Day during Downtown Grain Valley's "Love the District" fundraiser.
Hearts are $25 for early-birds until January 19th. The deadline to purchase a custom heart is January 29th. Link to purchase your heart: Love the District-Custom Heart (zeffy.com) by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
If you have driven through the older parts of Grain Valley in the past year, you will have noticed that several older homes have gotten a face-lift. It’s almost like the Napiers have come to town; Erin and Ben from the popular TV show, “Home Town” on HGTV. And no, they aren’t related; well maybe! Ben Napier’s ancestors do come from the same area in Northern Scotland where my father was born. However, there are so many men with the same names; Ben, James William, Alexander, Charlie; that I have not been able to make a connection. This week’s house is on Front Street in what may have been part of the Davis Addition. The photograph above shows Nadine O’Connell outside the family home on Front Street. Nadine was born to John Thomas and Creola (Warren) O’connell on November 14, 1906. The information on the back of the photo only read “Nadine outside our home on Front Street.” From her size, I would imagine the photograph was taken in the summer of 1909 or 1910, because by 1911 Nadine had a baby sister, Danese. I’m guessing both girls would have been in the picture. By the 1950s I remember this home as the residence of Grandma Heidelberger. No, she wasn’t my grandmother, but it seemed like everyone in our then small town called her grandma. She was Margaret (McAlexander) Heidelberger (1870-1954), and she was the widow of August Heidelberger (1862-1928) an immigrant from Baden, Germany. I used to visit Grandma Heidelberger with my grandmother when I was quite young. I don’t remember who lived there after she died, and I don’t believe I was ever in the house after that time. I do know the house was owned by Nancy Totton and I assume it was inherited by her children after her recent death. Of course, the history buff in me would have gone for the original architectural style, but I’m really just happy this much older home in Grain Valley is being preserved and not torn down. Next time you are in town, cruise down Front Street and see the transformation taking place to this old house. It must be at least 125 years young. That’s what I believe you would call a house with “good bones!” (StatePoint) As the new year begins, many people make resolutions regarding their physical health, but it’s just as important to focus on mental health in the year ahead, especially for older adults, according to experts.
“As people age, they may experience stressors such as serious illness, losing close friends and family members, managing life on a fixed income, and coping with concerns about their own mortality. While seniors may show resilience to these dimensions of vitality, when they’re compounded, these losses and stressors can result in a myriad of behavioral health issues, including depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia,” says Dr. Lindsay Evans-Mitchell, board certified adult psychiatrist and behavioral health medical director for Cigna Healthcare’s Medicare Advantage business. Dementia, which includes memory loss and language difficulties, is another issue often more pronounced with age, and in earlier stages, it can often mimic some symptoms of depression. Fortunately, Dr. Evans-Mitchell says making healthy choices can improve your quality of life, including your overall mental well-being, and potentially reduce your risk of both depression and dementia: Practice good nutrition: There is evidence that plant-based diets are associated with better health, including better emotional health. That’s another reason to add more green, leafy vegetables to your diet. Exercise: Regular exercise can positively affect cognitive ability. If you have a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan offering access to a fitness program at no extra cost, then make sure to take advantage of it. Hydrate: Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can negatively affect cognitive performance. Even mild dehydration can drain energy and cause fatigue. Enjoy some sunshine: Sunlight provides needed vitamin D. Getting sunshine may increase your serotonin and help you stave off depression caused by Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. Also, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, exposure to vitamin D can lower dementia risk by as much as 40%. Of course, make sure to take proper precautions, such as wearing a hat, using sunscreen, and wearing eye protection that shields against UV light. Get plenty of rest: Older adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night, according to the National Institutes of Health. People who get six hours of sleep or less a night are at greater risk of developing dementia later, the organization says. Additionally, poor sleep could be a sign of depression and should be discussed with your doctor. Stay away from harmful substances: Dealing with behavioral health issues in unhealthy ways, such as abusing prescription or illicit drugs or alcohol, will only worsen the situation. According to the National Institutes for Health, research shows heavy alcohol use can increase the risk of both dementia and depression. Pick up a hobby: Hobbies like gardening, cooking and solving puzzles can help improve your memory and your physical and mental health. Be social: Isolation can lead to depression, which only worsened for many during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reach out to friends and family in person, via video chat, or over the telephone. Find help if you need it: Keep your regular medical appointments, and don’t hesitate to seek additional help from your network, if you need it. This may take the form of a financial advisor, a clergy member, or a mental health professional. Medicare generally covers the cost of behavioral health services, including depression and addiction treatment, as well as talk therapy. Virtual services are often available to those living in rural areas. And if you’re experiencing a crisis that includes suicidal thoughts, call 988 immediately. “For some older adults, seeking help can be difficult,” says Dr. Evans-Mitchell. “But getting help is a sign of strength, not weakness. There’s no benefit to suffering in silence when help to improve your life is within reach.” Four New Members Welcomed to the Truman Heartland Community Foundation Board of Directors in 20241/11/2024
Adam Kliethermes, Dr. Jovanna Rohs, Derek Schoeneberg, and Bridgette Shaffer accepted nominations to join the Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) Board of Directors. New members of the Board of Directors are expected to serve for a term of three years and can renew for two additional terms, totaling a maximum of nine years of service.
Volunteers play a vital role at THCF. All the Foundation committees are Chaired by members of the Board of Directors, including the Scholarship Committee, Grants Committee, Jelley Grants Committee, and more. Members of those committees are drawn from the Foundation's four local Advisory Boards. Nearly 100 local business owners, public officials, community leaders, and caring citizens volunteer countless hours each year to improve the quality of life for everyone in their communities. 2024 New Board Members Adam Kliethermes, an Edward Jones advisor since 2011, won THCF's Dr. Paul M. Thomson Advisor of the Year award in 2020. He will serve on the Investment Committee and previously served for six years on the Independence/Sugar Creek Advisory Board. Dr. Jovanna Rohs has 20+ years of experience in early childhood development and education. She has been appointed Chief Program Officer for the Children's Services Fund in Jackson County. She has also been involved in governing and coordinating boards at local and state levels. Derek Schoeneberg is from Lee's Summit and studied civil engineering at the University of Missouri. He is currently the Regional Vice President for the Great Plains Region at NorthPoint Development, where he focuses on industrial development in Kansas City, Denver, and Texas. Bridgette Shaffer is the Health Director at Jackson County Public Health. She was a 2019 National Emerging Leader in Public Health and a recent Jackson County Women of Distinction Honoree. Bridgette and her husband, Marc, are active philanthropists in the community and are members of the THCF Legacy Society. "It is always heartening to see so many friends and neighbors volunteering to serve in such an important way," Phil Hanson, President and CEO of THCF remarked. "With a small staff, there is no way we could review every nonprofit grant proposal, every student's scholarship application, plan our annual Toast to Our Towns Gala, and provide quality service to our fundholders without community volunteers. Our volunteers truly make our work possible". For a full list of the THCF Board of Directors and Advisory Board members, please visit www.thcf.org/about/board. |
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