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Missouri nonfarm payroll employment increased by 5,600 jobs in December 2023, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point. Private industry employment increased by 4,200 jobs and government employment increased by 1,400 jobs. The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in December 2023, up from 3.2 percent in November 2023. Over the year, there was an increase of 48,100 jobs from December 2022 to December 2023, and the unemployment rate increased by six-tenths of a percentage point, from 2.7 percent in December 2022 to 3.3 percent in December 2023.
UNEMPLOYMENT Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point in December 2023, increasing to 3.3 percent from the revised November 2023 rate of 3.2 percent. The December 2023 rate was six-tenths of a percentage point higher than the December 2022 rate. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 101,920 in December 2023, up by 991 from November 2023. The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a percentage point to 2.8 percent from November 2023 to December 2023. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 2.2 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for December 2023 was 3.5 percent. Missouri's labor force participation rate was 63.3 percent in December 2023, eight-tenths of a percentage point higher than the national rate of 62.5 percent. Missouri's employment-population ratio was 61.3 percent in December 2023, 1.2 percentage points higher than the national rate of 60.1 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate was 3.3 percent in December 2023, four-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.7 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for more than eight years. EMPLOYMENT Missouri's nonfarm payroll employment was 3,005,100 in December 2023, up 5,600 from the revised November 2023 figure. The November 2023 total was revised upward by 1,700 jobs from the preliminary estimate. Goods-producing industries increased by 1,800 jobs over the month, with mining, logging, and construction gaining 1,400 jobs and manufacturing gaining 400 jobs. Private service-providing industries increased by 2,400 jobs between November 2023 and December 2023. Employment in private service-providing industries increased in trade, transportation, and utilities (1,900 jobs); financial activities (1,400 jobs); information (700 jobs); private education and health services (600 jobs); and leisure and hospitality (100 jobs). Employment decreased in professional and business services (-2,200 jobs) and other services (-100 jobs). Total government employment increased by 1,400 jobs over the month with increases in local government (1,100 jobs) and state government (300 jobs). Over the year, total payroll employment increased by 48,100 jobs from December 2022 to December 2023. The largest gain was in private education and health services (17,000 jobs); followed by leisure and hospitality (14,200 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (6,200 jobs); other services (2,800 jobs); financial activities (1,700 jobs); manufacturing (600 jobs); and mining, logging, and construction (400 jobs). Employment decreased in professional and business services (-5,500 jobs) and information (-700 jobs). Government employment increased by 11,400 jobs over the year, with increases in local government (9,800 jobs), federal government (1,200 jobs), and state government (400 jobs). Read the full report at https://meric.mo.gov/missouri-monthly-jobs-report. The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of January 14-23, 2024.
January 14, 2024 1200 Blk Phelps Ct Agency assist Oak Grove Agency assist January 15, 2024 1400 Blk BB Alarm 1500 Blk NW Eagle Ridge Citizen assist 200 Blk Hannah Ct Area check 100 Blk 3rd St Alarm January 16, 2024 800 Blk Harvest Dr Unattended death 100 Blk Lindsey Ln Welfare check 1100 Blk NW Bush Dr Verbal disturbance 100 Blk McQuerry Alarm 300 Blk SW Eagles Pkwy Physical disturbance 900 Blk SW Sycamore Ct Attempted stealing January 17, 2024 1500 Blk NW Hilltop Ln Threats PHQ Citizen contact 700 Blk Main St Agency assist 500 Blk White Stone Follow up 700 Blk Lakeview Dr Identity theft Tyler/Jefferson Motorist assist PHQ Citizen contact 1100 Blk Pamela Alarm 1200 Blk NW Phelps Ct Sex crime PHQ Public service January 18, 2024 200 Blk Jefferson Disturbance 1400 Blk NE Deer Creek Motorist assist PHQ Citizen contact PHQ Citizen contact Greystone/Sni-A-Bar Area check 200 Blk NE Hannah Ct Suspicious activity PHQ Citizen contact PHQ Citizen contact January 19, 2024 Main St/Eagles Motor vehicle accident PHQ Citizen contact EB I70 On Ramp Agency assist Main St/Front Area check 900 Blk NW Eagle Ridge Rd Animal control 100 Blk SW Rock Creek Ln Animal bite January 20, 2024 3300 Blk Outer Belt Alarm 500 Blk Montana Ridge Dr Parking complaint Sycamore/Rosewood Area check 1200 Blk NW Ashley Ln Stolen vehicle 600 Blk Joseph Cir Agency assist January 21, 2024 100 Blk Sunny Lane Motor vehicle accident 1000 Blk NW Pond Area Check 400 Blk NW Orion Verbal disturbance 1000 Blk NW Pamela Blvd Alarm 500 Blk SW Brome Residence Check January 22, 2024 1000 Blk S Buckner Tarsney Rd Citizen Contact 700 Blk SW Rockhill Dr Suspicious Vehicle 800 Blk SW Highland Dr Area Check PHQ Citizen Contact 500 Blk NW Willow Dr Harassment 200 Blk Broadway Citizen Contact 600 Blk SW Creek Ridge Alarm January 23, 2024 1000 Blk Erin Ct Possible disturbance PHQ Citizen Contact PHQ Citizen Contact PHQ Fraud Minter S/O SW Eagles Pkwy Motorist Assist Additional calls for service: Suicidal subject: 1 by Michael Smith Any basketball team led by veteran head coach Randy Draper is going to play fast. His teams often use a full-court press to force turnovers and often will push the pace on offense to score before the opposing defense can get set. That’s what happened in Friday’s non-conference matchup with Kearney as Grain Valley’s suffocating defense and fast-paced offense led to a 56-27 victory at Kearney High School. “That’s when we are at our best,” Draper said of when his team pushes the pace on offense. I love our defense, it adds to the pace of play.” Grain Valley led Kearney 16-2 at the end of the first period and cruised from there as Kelly scored eight of her game-high 17 points. The Eagles then scored seven points following Kearney turnovers in the second period which led to a 30-13 halftime lead. “We had a lot of backside help,” Kelly said. “Whether it was me or Finley (LaForge) helping trap Aspen in the middle there was always help when a girl would cut through the middle. Our posts Meghan (Knust) and Addy (Seyfert) were always there to come down and get any pass that’s thrown over.” “We also got into their heads by scoring and not letting them score.” In that period, freshman Madison Rust scored all nine of her points to provide her team a boost. Draper recently inserted her into the rotation and she has proven to be a quality player off the bench. “She’s a highly skilled player,” Draper said of Rust. “She is getting used to the pace of play and her ceiling is really high.” Grain Valley (9-5) really pushed the pace in the third period. In the first five possessions, the Eagles got a shot up in seven seconds or less following either a turnover or a defensive rebound. Sophomore swingman Aspen Reed was the beneficiary of that as she scored 10 points in the period to extend the lead to 49-23. “We had almost two weeks off at the beginning of the month,” Kelly said. “We have a drill where we have to get the ball down and back in 10 seconds and the ball can’t touch the ground. It contributes to our pace in games.” Draper then emptied the bench in the fourth quarter as all 12 players on the varsity roster received playing time. “Our bench did a really good job,” Draper said. “Our energy level was a lot better than it was the other night (a 54-43 loss to Platte County Tuesday). We needed to play like this.” Sophomore Aspen Reed, left, and junior Camryn Kelly combined to score 28 points in Grain Valley's 56-27 win against Kearney Friday at Kearney High School. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley freshman Addison Rust rises up for a jump shot while two Kearney defenders swarm her. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley sophomore Addy Seyfert drives by Kearney sophomore Brooke Paalhar, left, and senior Grace Bomar for a layup attempt. Photo credit: Michael Smith
by Michael Smith After a 5-game absence which landed him in the hospital for six days, sophomore guard Eli Herbert made his return. The star sharpshooter was a game-time decision to play and ended up starting in Friday’s non-conference matchup with Kearney on the road. He helped hold off a comeback attempt from the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter with a critical steal which led to a Grain Valley basket and he put in five points in the final eight minutes during a 66-57 victory. “It was great to have him back,” Grain Valley head coach Andy Herbert said. “It was good for our camaraderie and the guys were happy to have him back. He helped us handle the pressure and got us a couple of easy baskets.” And Eli was happy to be back, too. “It’s just nice to be out there,” Eli Herbert said. “It was about getting back to normalcy and being able to run up and down the court. Being able to play basketball is so much fun.” Eli Herbert is an important part of the Eagles as he’s their leading scorer and a good defender. His team went into the fourth period with a 51-35 lead. Kearney then caught fire and went on a 14-2 run to cut Grain Valley’s lead to 53-49 midway through the period. During that stretch, Kearney senior Devin Hanna scored eight points, including two three pointers, one of which capped the run. On the ensuing possession Grain Valley missed a shot and Kearney pushed the ball down court. Herbert then stripped a Kearney ball handler for a steal and rifled a pass to senior Logan Marcum for a fast-break layup, which pushed the lead back to six. A 3-pointer from Bulldog senior guard Cameron Webster then sliced the Eagles’ lead to 55-52, but that was as close as Kearney would get the rest of the way. With 1:03 left in the game, with Kearney using a full-court press, senior Jack Schoen threw a baseball pass to Herbert on the other side of the court. Hebert used head fake to deke two Bulldog defenders into contesting too early and he made a layup while being fouled. He pumped both his fists and screamed at the bench as Grain Valley went up 59-54. That seemed to help the Eagles regain momentum as that was the beginning of a 9-3 spurt that helped them put the game away. During the final minute, Herbert made 3 of 4 free throws and Marcum put in a fast-break layup and made two free throws of his own. “We kind of stopped playing defense,” Eli Herbert said of the fourth quarter. “Once we started to calm down and had a timeout, we did what we had done the entire game and everything worked out.” Before the fourth, Grain Valley got into an early hole when Kearney began the game with an 11-0 run, sparked by eight points from Webster. Senior forward Stylz Blackmon helped the Eagles get back in it as he dominated the paint and scored eight points as his team cut the lead to 16-15 going into the second. Grain Valley then took the lead early in the second period by forcing two Bulldog turnovers. Sophomore Samuel Pendergrass made a basket inside and senior guard Matthew Leonard, who had eight points, scored on a fast-break basket following a steal from junior Aaron Barr to make it 19-16. Leonard, who has been a defensive specialist and hadn’t shot the ball a lot in previous games, was much more aggressive in this contest, as he attacked the basket when he had an opportunity. “He had a fantastic demeanor,” Andy Herbert said of Leonard. “He was aggressive and this was the best game he’s played. He’s a team guy.” Grain Valley held a 28-26 half time lead and ballooned the advantage to 51-35 at the end of the third quarter. Barr scored nine of his 11 points in the period, all on 3-pointers and Blackmon bullied Kearney’s interior defenders for 10 of his team-high 20 points. “He’s such a tough matchup.” Andy Herbert said. “He stays after practice and works on some of those post moves you saw tonight. He, Eli, Raif (Graham) stayed and worked on it for a couple of hours the other day. He is starting to see the fruits of his labor.” Blackmon made a left-handed baby hook early in the quarter and split a double team on the low block for a conventional 3-point play as he was fouled on a layup. “I just trusted in my instincts,” Blackmon said. “Eli had me in the gym after practice the other night and we were working on strong finishes. Before, I was just moping my way up there. After practice, they had a dummy and they were hitting me with it and telling me to go through. “I centered my chest and just had my elbows locked. I just went through the contact, expecting it to be there and when I went up for the layup, it was there.” Sophomore Eli Herbert, left, made his return after missing five games when an illness and scored 10 points, while Stylz Blackmon poured in 20 as Grain Valley defeated Kearney 66-57 Friday on the road. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley sophomore Eli Herbert dribbles the ball while commanding the attention of two Kearney defenders. Photo credit: Michael Smith
Community Blood Center (CBC) has joined blood centers across the country in an emergency plea for blood donors following a holiday season of low donor turnout and recent winter weather that resulted in widespread cancellation of appointments and blood drives. Additionally, a recent spike in seasonal illnesses across the region are preventing many from donating.
Last year, blood collections in the region were the lowest they’ve been in six years, down by nearly 18,000 donations since 2021 alone. Additionally, CBC has seen a nearly 40% drop in donations in the last three weeks, further crippling the inventory that was already in short supply. There is currently only a 1-day supply of types O-, O+, and B-, as well as a critical shortage of platelets. The Kansas City community is not alone; blood emergencies have been declared across the country, indicating that there is no national surplus of blood at this time. "In the midst of the nation-wide blood emergency, and in the wake of recent winter storms, we are calling on all who are eligible to make an immediate blood or platelet donation,” Chelsey Smith, Director of Public Relations at Community Blood Center said. “After a year of record-low donations across our region, the current blood supply is dangerously low, and donors are needed to ensure patients in our community get the lifesaving treatment they need." Blood donors can give every 56 days, and up to 6 times a year. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, click here or call 800.688.0900. To make an appointment, call 877.468.6844, or visit savealifenow.org. 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, watkins@thcf.org. 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. |
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