I am pleased to share some great news regarding the generosity of our community in 2022. Last year grants and scholarship payments from all funds at your Community Foundation totaled $6.3 Million an increase of 7% compared to 2021. With some new scholarship funds added we granted scholarships totaling $740,000 an increase of 38% compared to 2021. And our 300 families who have Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) also achieved a new record with grants totaling $3.2 Million, an increase of 20% compared to 2021.
     The 20% increase in grants made from Donor Advised Funds to hundreds of nonprofits in our community is the most gratifying number for me. As you are aware the stock market in 2022 had one of its worst years with the S&P 500 down 19.4%.  The contributions that our Donor Advised Fund families make into their fund are invested in the stock market. So even while they saw the balance in their Donor Advised Fund decline because of the market losses they continued to generously make grants from their fund to their favorite nonprofits, increasing those grants by 20%. While some families may need to decrease their giving in a volatile market, people with Donor Advised Funds have already committed these funds to support charities and continue to make their grants regardless of the market’s ups and downs.
     DAFs have gained popularity over the last ten years. In past economic downturns, we have seen declines in giving, and these are the times when charities are usually in the most need of funding. However, as the popularity of DAFs grew over the years, people have begun to realize that having a DAF available when the markets are a bit topsy-turvy can be a real benefit. When you establish a Donor Advised Fund or make a donation into your fund, you receive a tax benefit in that year. Donors can then choose when to pay out those funds; they have complete flexibility in timing.
     A DAF allows donors to put money into their fund, grow it over time, and make donations to the charities and causes that are important to them at times that makes sense. Some donors choose to grant only the gains from their DAF to build their DAF to an endowment, creating a legacy for the future. Others choose to issue grants nearly equal to what they put into their DAF each year. When charities need immediate support DAF fundholders can respond quickly.
     DAFs are also flexible in the types of assets that can be contributed. Not every nonprofit is equipped to accept complex assets such as appreciated stock, or real estate. By establishing your Donor Advise Fund with your Community Foundation, you can lessen your tax burden, and have more money the giveaway to support your favorite charities and causes.
     I have now been with Truman Heartland Community Foundation for 13 years. We have seen many changes over those years, but one thing that we can always count on is the generosity of our fundholders and their commitment to making an impact in our community. 

by Michael Smith
 
​
     Grain Valley senior Grace Slaughter didn’t even know about it when it happened.
     Early in the fourth period, she was fouled on a layup that went in and she went to the free-throw line for an and-one attempt.
     She missed the free throw but got her own rebound and made a putback layup. Head coach Randy Draper called a timeout and the Eagles cheerleaders displayed a banner with the number 2,500 on it.
     The senior accomplished the incredible feat of scoring her 2,500th point during a 81-47 rout of William Chrisman in the regular-season finale at home.
     “I remember getting 2,000 awhile back,” Slaughter said. “It was super neat. I was surprised Draper left (the starters) in. He usually lets some other girls get some minutes and get a feel for the game.”
     “I didn’t know about it. Once the girls started celebrating I was thinking, ‘What’s going on?’”
     Her teammate, sophomore Camryn Kelly, didn’t know Slaughter was close to the milestone before the game either.
     “I think we had heard rumors about it, but we didn’t know until she was four points away, so it was exciting,” Kelly said.
     Added Draper: “We didn’t discuss it with the team before the game because we just have to play. Grace scores a lot when we just play (like normal). I was really happy with our offense.”
     Grain Valley, now on an 11-game winning streak, used a full court press to fluster Chrisman. It scored 10 points on the fast break and forced eight turnovers to jump out to a 34-10 lead at the end of the first period.
     Slaughter scored 12 points in the quarter and throughout the game scored points on layups using both her left and right hand.
     “I really enjoy going up on the left side,” Slaughter said. “I guess you can say I am ambidextrous. I write with my left hand but I shoot threes with my right.
     “I broke my right collarbone in sixth grade. I had six weeks of just shooting with my left hand, so I was able to work on that for a while.”
     The Eagles (21-4) went to a halfcourt defense the rest of the way and extended the lead to 49-23 going into halftime and cruised into the fourth period with a 70-39 lead. While Slaughter exploded for a big game, she got some help from her teammates.
     Sophomore guard Camryn Kelly had one of her best games of the season as she was in double figures with 10 points, which included a pair of 3-pointers off the bench.
     “The past couple of games, I haven’t shot the best,” Kelly said. “When important players like Annabelle (Totta) and Finley (LaForge) aren’t scoring, it’s important for me to score. It’s a secret weapon that we have so many people that can shoot.”
     Totta chipped in with nine points and Meghan Knust brought energy off the bench with five points and five steals.
     “She is so scrapy,” Slaughter said of Knust. “She is the sixth man on the bench and brings a burst of energy. She’s a great all-around player.”
     The Eagles now head into the Class 6 District 7 Tournament as the No. 2 seed and they will take on Fort Osage on March 2. They may have the toughest district in the state as three teams aside from the No. 5-ranked Eagles are ranked in the top 10 of the Missouri High School Basketball Coaches Association poll, including Columbia Rock Bridge, Columbia Battle and Columbia Hickman.
     “All those teams are really good, but so are we,” Draper said. “It will be great. We have eight days, It wasn’t that long ago when we had 10 days off and we haven’t been beat since. So we’ll take the eight days and use them wisely.”

     Before the season started, first-year head coach Donald Horner and his team set a goal to earn a team trophy at the Missouri State High School Wrestling Championships in 2023.
     To do that, the Eagles will have to finish in the top four as a team to take home a plaque for the first time since 2017.
     They will have a chance to do that next Saturday after qualifying seven wrestlers for state during the Class 4 District 4 Tournament Saturday at Liberty North High School.
     Dru Azcona (132), Tanner Barker (165), Justin Deweese (157), Gavin Parks (120), Zac Bleess (113), Brock Smith (126) and Tyler Groves (144) will all represent Grain Valley at the state tournament.
     Barker and Azcona, who were the Eagles state medalists in 2022, led the way with first-place finishes on Saturday. Azcona pinned his first three opponents to earn a matchup with Oak Park senior Jamiseon Tunstill in the finals in which he earned a 5-0 decision.
     The Grain Valley senior faced Tunstill earlier in the season in the finals of the Suburban Conference Championships, which resulted in a 4-3 victory.
     “It feels good, but the job is not done,” said Azcona, who improved to 27-1. “I got to go to state and win some more matches.”
     “It’s a battle when you wrestle the same guy over and over again. We start to learn each other's moves. It’s about getting your mind right beforehand and finishing the job.”
     Barker will try to finish the job at state, as well, as he will go into the tournament with a 33-2 record.  He faced one of the top wrestlers in his bracket, Staley sophomore Merrick Murray and used a pair of takedowns for a 5-3 decision.
     “My feet were in motion for most of the match and I was able to use my fakes to get some takedowns,” Barker said. “It feels good to get a No. 1 seed. It makes my chance better at state.”
     Parks, a junior, will make his first state appearance since his freshman season. Last year, Parks couldn’t compete at districts because of a concussion. He was able to make it back to Columbia after taking third place.
     He fell to defending state champion Hunter Taylor of Liberty in the semifinals but rebounded with a pin of Blue Springs sophomore Travis Birkenmaier and a 5-1 win against Liberty North senior Michael Domino.
     “I feel like we have the toughest district in the state,” Parks said. “To be able to punch my ticket to state here is a really good deal. There’s a lot of great wrestlers in my bracket like Hunter Taylor, Miller Sipes and Michael Domino, they are all dogs.”
     “They are all really good. It felt amazing (to qualify).”
     It felt that way for Groves, too, who had to overcome a pair of deficits to take third place and qualify for his first state appearance. He lost to Oak Park senior Kaleb Peterson 11-7 in the semifinals but rebounded for a 11-9 decision in the bubble match vs. Shad Hassan of Park Hill and a pin of Fort Osage’s Grayson Moore in the third-place bout.
     Groves had a pin reversed by the match official and had to continue his back-and-forth affair with Hassan. He trailed for much of the match but used a near fall and escape in the third period to send the match into overtime where he got a takedown for the win.
     In his match with Moore, he trailed 7-3 before he was able to work a pin in 3:48.
     “In my third-place match, I got him in a Turk, which was pretty good,” Groves said. “I got a leg in there and was able to turn him and get some back points and get the pin. My high C to a double worked out really well. That’s what I specialized in.”
     Smith took fourth after getting a 6-1 victory in the consolation semifinals against Truman’s Ian Chapin. He fell in the third-place match 1-0 against Liberty North junior James Lovelady.
     Deweese was third following a 5-2 victory against Park Hill’s Will Tetu in the bubble match and a pin of Liberty North senior Alex Craig in the third place bout.
     Bleess took second after defeating Fort Osage freshman Antonio Martinez 7-1 in the semifinals and falling to Liberty sophomore Devon Harrison 11-3 in the finals.

"Remember, there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." - Scott Adams

by Cory Unrein, Grain Valley News Co-Owner/Publisher

     This week is National Random Acts of Kindness Week, and in the weeks l​eading up to this celebration, we were planning stories and promotions to highlight kindness in Grain Valley. Last week, a message from our website's contact page would unknowingly create the feature for this week's focus on kindness. 
     Brent Fligg sent us a message, stating that he was looking for a woman who had one of our Sustaining Member stickers on the back of her car. 
     "I met a lady the day before Thanksgiving at Temp Stop. She had one of your stickers on her back window. She bought me a lottery ticket and told me 'she wanted me to win big'. I need your help in finding this lady! Give me a call and I will tell you the rest of the story."
     As I read the message to a fellow writer, our imaginations led immediately to a large jackpot. As it turned out, there was no jackpot - not in the traditional sense.
     The next morning, I connected with Fligg by phone. Fligg shared that the day before Thanksgiving, he made his usual stop at Temp Stop in Grain Valley to pick up a drink and chat with staff. As he entered the store, he opened the door for a woman, told her "good morning", and they exchanged a few pleasantries. She went one way to get a drink, he went another to get his drink, and she ended up at the counter first.
     As she headed out, the woman he had held the door for and greeted stopped for another chat. Fligg said she mentioned that she had just received a cancer diagnosis and Fligg was the first person she'd talked to since and she appreciated his kindness. She handed him a lottery ticket, and told him she "wanted him to win big". They exchanged a hug, and she left.
     As Fligg paid for his drink, he grabbed a coin and scratched off the lottery ticket, which revealed he had won a free ticket. Fligg headed quickly out to the parking lot to see if he could catch the woman, but she had already left. Fligg has held the free ticket in his wallet since, and has been on a search for the mystery woman for months.
     "I can't tell you why, but I needed to check in and make sure she was ok."
     I let him know I would reach out to our Sustaining Members and see if the person in question could be identified. Not long after I sent an email to our members, Pamela Lindsay replied that she was the women Fligg had encountered last November and she would love to see him again. A bit of scheduling back and forth, and the three of us had a date for Saturday morning at Temp Stop. 
     The night before Fligg and Lindsay met up again at Temp Stop, Lindsay sent me an email.
​     "I have never told anyone what I do for fellow human beings.  Seeing them smile is what makes me happy. A simple one dollar lottery ticket could make a difference in their lives but not just monetary. It is always my hope that it lets them know someone truly cares about them.  So many times, a stranger's smile, with or without conversation, cheers me up more than they could ever imagine. I firmly believe good deeds from the heart should be kept within.  Brent looking for me after all this time is truly one of the sweetest things that has ever happened to me. It was not an easy decision to meet, but I'm fine with it because I want to make sure Brent is ok and thank him personally for his concern for me."
     The next morning, I headed to Temp Stop to meet Fligg and Lindsay. A few minutes early, I grabbed a drink and spotted two folks chatting quietly at a booth, and I knew in an instant they were Fligg and Lindsay. They were already deep in conversation, but indulged my picture taking and questions. 
     I won't recount much of the conversation, but I will tell you about the lottery ticket. Fligg pulled the ticket from his wallet, told Lindsay about his search to find her, and said he wanted to cash it in for another ticket to scratch with her. He explained to Lindsay that the ticket in his wallet had brought him more good luck than he could have ever imagined.
     "Well, you have to keep it," Lindsay exclaimed. "You keep it in your wallet, or pass it on." 
     Fligg obliged, and put the ticket back in his wallet as a reminder of a kind gesture.
    The pair continued their conversation and reveled in their common connections around town. I know when I'm a third wheel, so I left them to continue catching up and went about my day, grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a community in which kindness is the norm, rather than the exception. 
     This week, we are proud to highlight the stories of those who brighten our community through their acts of kindness. Be sure to check out our Kindness Award honorees and follow us on social media to read some of the other nominations that we received. 

     As a part of our celebration of National Random Acts of Kindness Week, Grain Valley News partnered with Scout Coffee to solicit your nominations of individuals who deserve a shout-out for their kindness. We selected four individuals to highlight, and each will receive a $25 gift card to Scout Coffee as our thank you for being beacons of kindness. 
     We received many nominations, and we will highlight additional folks throughout the rest of the week. But, without further ado, we share the four individuals who help exemplify what it means to be kind.

Carl Condra
nominated by Tisha Homfeld and Jerry Vaughan
     Tisha Homfeld shared in her nomination, "He is an active community member and has a heart of gold. I first meet Carl when my husband and I stopped by his house to see if he might be interested in selling some of his acreage. When he answered the door, I knew he was one of a kind. He smiled after I asked him and said nope it's all going to the kids. Then I asked him if he knew anyone that might be willing to sell just 3 acres as we were personally looking to build us a new home. After talking on his porch for some time he said come in and I will get you a number of a friend. It was like going back in time. He still had a home phone hooked to the wall and the address book on the little table under the phone. When I looked around, he had an old black and white TV in the kitchen with the TV show MASH on. That's when I just fell for Carl. He reminded me of my grandpa. One I barely remember since he had passed when I was a little girl. He is one you could just sit on the porch and listen to old stories all day. Fast forward a couple years and I meet a young lady that is wanting to buy a home. When I show her the first one her grandpa comes with her. It's Carl. His granddaughter was buying her first home and I was her Realtor. Since then, my husband and I ended up finding some land. We hadn't bought a tractor to mow it yet and Carl finds out where it is and loads up his tractor and goes to mow it for us. Refuses to take any money or be compensated. He is honestly a very sweet person with a kind heart. He still asked if we need anything for the land or if we need to borrow any farm equipment to this day. He is one of a kind."

Jerry Vaughan shared his thoughts on Carl in his nomination.
     "Carl is a longtime member of the Grain Valley Assistance Council board. He picks up the food donations from the various GVAC food barrels, and is the keeper of the aluminum can recycling bin located at Old Town Marketplace for the GVAC. And he has been doing all this and more for decades! Carl is one of those people who helps make Grain Valley a great place to live!"


Nancy Craddock
nominated by Lydia Wolfe
     "Nancy exudes kindness. She has worked in the SPED (special education) department at Grain Valley for years, and has helped so many kids succeed. When she isn’t at work, she’s usually either helping out her elderly mother, or helping watch the grandkids. She deserves this award!"



Jeff and Grace Flowers
nominated by Dustin Downing
     "Jeff and Grace have won the lights contest several years running, their willingness to share the joy of Christmas in ever growing radiance is amazing. They always have a smile and a wave for their neighbors and have even called when our AC unit was frozen over or when we've left our garage door open. People like Jeff and Grace are what truly make our town such a joy to live in!"



Ken Tuttle, ACO
nominated by Sherri Rusch
     "As a new person in the community and a dog lover, I noticed the many positive comments about Ken Tuttle, Grain Valley's ACO (animal control officer) on social media. Everyone who encounters him always speaks highly of him. I met him in person one day when a large stray wandered into my yard. Ken responded promptly and meeting the dog, immediately knew the dog's owner. As soon as Ken had the dog loaded, he was on his way to reunite the dog with its owners. Ken is very deserving. Thank you for helping us honor others!"

     Thank you, Grain Valley, for sharing your nominations, and thank you to Scout Coffee for partnering with​ us in this effort! 

     Ward I Alderman Tom Cleaver, first elected in April 2019, is seeking re-election this April.
     Cleaver has lived in Grain Valley since 2005, and his two stepchildren graduated from Grain Valley Schools. Cleaver said his desire to work to aid business growth and improve the city's infrastructure was his reason for running for alderman and continues to be his goal as he looks toward another term.
     Cleaver points to QuikTrip, Starbucks, and Culvers on the north side of town and the recent grant to begin redevelopment efforts downtown as highlights of city development efforts over the past couple of years. "I feel like the city is moving in the right direction. We have great staff leadership at the city," Cleaver said.
     "We are a growing City, so it is important for the Board to continue to focus on the right growth in the City. And I think we are focused on that."
     Looking at challenges the city faces, Cleaver said budget constraints that affect the City's ability to remain competitive in terms of staff wages and benefits to recruit and retain talent, as well as continued work to maintain and improve City streets is top of the list.
     "I think we've done a good job the past couple of years in improving many of our side streets and working with MODOT to improve those they maintain."
     Housing developments, and the recent approvals of multi-family developments, has created some debate in Board meetings regarding the right mix of housing for the community.
     "Of course, single family housing is preferred, but we still need to offer, for a city of our size, apartment options for residents."
     When contentious issues arise among the Board, Cleaver said one of the keys as a leader is to ensure all voices are heard.
     "I think it's important to listen to everyone's opinion. Let's talk about it, meet in the middle if possible, and do what is best for residents."
     "I love our community and really love living here. I want to continue to see our city do well, be safe, and be a place for everyone to feel welcome."
     Valley News will profile each candidate on the ballot in the weeks leading up to the election, provide a voter guide, and plans a candidate forum in late March. To search for all election related articles, click on “Elections” under the categories on our News page. For voter registration information, visit www.jcebmo.org. 

Ward I Alderman Tom Cleaver is running for re-election. Photo credit: City of Grain Valley

by Michael Smith


      The Grain Valley girls swimming and diving team is having a breakthrough season.
     For the first time in program history, the Eagles have qualified for 11 out of 12 events for the Missouri State High School Girls Swimming and Diving Championships.
     They will send 13 competitors to the St. Peters Rec-Plex to compete in the Class 1 state competition, which will begin Friday.
     “It’s really exciting for these girls. I have freshmen on the team but they are experienced,” Grain Valley head coach Julie Reilly said. “I think my 400 free relay is all freshman girls and we are sitting in the top 12.
     “I definitely think we will have some girls finish in the top 16. I don’t know where, but I think we will have a couple. This is a very fast season of girls all around. I am really proud of these girls.”
     Senior Madison Rogers, who is seeded No. 2, will compete in the 1-meter diving event after taking first at the Class 4 District 1 diving event with a score of 408.40. She also was the Suburban White Conference champion.
     Before state, she has especially been putting in work on her forward 2 ½ dive.
     “I set my personal best,” Rogers said. “I feel pretty confident in getting top eight. I have really been working on the same dives and have been working on perfecting them so they can be as good as they possibly be at state.”
     Junior Jayme Whitley will be one of the Eagles competing in an individual event as she will compete in the 100 free. She had a qualifying time of 58.28 seconds during the season.
     “It definitely not my favorite event, but it’s the one I am best at,” Whitley said of the 100 free. “I just suck it up to do it.”
     Freshman Elizabeth Martin made a huge impact during the season, qualifying for the 500 free with a time of 5:40.19 and the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:22.15.
     “I have been swimming for seven years and making it to state has always been a goal for me,” Martin said. “I am excited to go there not only to compete in an individual event, but to support my teammates.
     “For the IM, I like to break down each section of the event and try to perfect each one before putting it all together. My breaststroke is not as good as my butterfly, but I try to maximize my effort in each stroke to get a personal best.”
     Other Eagles to qualify in individual events were Katelyn Epple (200 free), Kalli Beard (50 free and 100 butterfly) and Emily Holzworth (100 backstroke). The Eagles will also have relay teams in all three events.
     “I think it’s a great opportunity for all of us,” said Seena Tyler, who will compete in either the 200 or 400 free relay. “We have put the work in to improve.
     “We have dropped lots of time in all the relays. We are really excited to compete in the biggest meet of the year.”

     (StatePoint) So, you took the leap and signed up for a weight loss program. But once you got started, it was a whole different story. While you may feel like you’re doing everything to a T, the scale is stuck and you can’t figure out why. Plateaus are a normal part of any weight loss journey, but there are many reasons for them. Check out these six reasons why the scale may be stuck:

     1. Overeating. Weight loss is dependent on “calories in” being lower than “calories out.” Eating too much for your current activity level and weight could be a reason why the scale is stuck. “Meal delivery programs can help eliminate any guesswork,” says nutrition expert Chris Mohr, PhD, RD. 

     2. Not Keeping Track. Overeating, skipping meals and portion control can all be eased if you get more diligent with food tracking.

     Take it from the experts: According to research published in the journal “Obesity,” self-monitoring your diet is the number one predictor of weight loss success, and it takes less than 15 minutes each day.

     Try tracking your diet at least 80% of the time or at least five to six days of the week. Be sure to include all eating occasions (even nibbling), portion sizes and ingredients. This way, when the scale is stuck, you can evaluate where you may be overdoing it. 

      3. Skimping on Protein and Fiber. Try maximizing protein and fiber in your diet. “Protein helps preserve lean muscle mass while losing weight to help maintain metabolic rate. Also, protein and fiber keep you feeling full longer. What’s more, protein is more thermogenic than carbohydrates and fats -- meaning you’ll burn more calories digesting and absorbing high-protein foods. Fiber isn’t fully digested, so the calorie contribution from fiber is less than other carb sources,” adds Mohr.

     4. Increasing Muscle. If you’ve been hitting the gym and putting on muscle, you might also experience a stall on the scale. Find other measures of success in the meantime. For example, your jeans may be fitting better or you may have more energy. These non-scale victories are just as valuable as a number on the scale.

     5. Other Lifestyle Factors. Lack of sleep can disrupt weight loss. The National Sleep Foundation recommends sticking to a regular sleep schedule. Limit caffeine and screen-time in the hours before bed. The light emitted by screens on electronic devices reduce your body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep and wake cycle, according to Harvard Health. You can also try a before bed exercise routine. 

     Did you know that chronic stress can halt weight loss? Address your stress with self-care. Try meditation, daily exercise and breathing techniques. You should also seek out a support system and engage in your community. Feeling overly stressed? Be sure to speak with your doctor.

     6. Illness or Injury. A recent illness or injury can cause increased inflammation that results in water retention. Additionally, injury or illness can decrease daily activity and overall calories burned. Some medications may also stall weight loss. Keep in mind that your overall health should always take precedence over the number on the scale. Consult your doctor. It may mean modifying your weight loss program temporarily. This setback is not the end of your journey though. Once you’ve recovered, you should be able to start where you left off, pending your doctor’s approval.

     “Ultimately, your goals should be realistic. Don’t expect the pounds to fall off instantly. Have patience and give yourself some grace. If you’re doing the work, that’s all that matters,” says Mohr.

     Following a public hearing to consider the renewal of a conditional use permit by Dennis Shrout to operate Valley Speedway at 348 E Old US Highway 40, the Board approved the renewal of a conditional use permit, extending the term of renewal to 10 years. 
     The Board approved a resolution to purchase upgraded service weapons for all police officers and a resolution to purchase new taser devices and supporting equipment. 
     The Board also approved resolutions to purchase four sets of bleachers for the Armstrong Park ball fields and to purchase replacement metal exterior doors at the Grain Valley Aquatic Center. 
     Under ordinances, the Board approved the second reading of a resolution to approve the voluntary annexation of property owned by Dale and Teresa Smith and The Road Church at 4112 and 4108 S Buckner Tarsney Road. Also approved was the second reading of an ordinance for the final development plan approval for Copper Creek, formerly known as The Lofts at Creekside Landing. The development will include four buildings that will contain 24 units in each building, three four-plexes, and one duplex, for a total of 110 units. 
     Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Davies reminded the Board of a public workshop on February 28th for the City's Comprehensive Plan and Parks Master Plan on Tuesday, February 28th from 6:30pm - 8:00pm at Sni-A-Bar Elementary School.
     The next meeting of the Board of Aldermen will be held at 7:00pm on Monday, February 27th at City Hall. 

     A few weeks ago, I began work on some articles that would explain the history behind the photographs in the 2023 Historical Society calendar. The criteria for selection of the photos is fairly simple; they should depict Grain Valley’s past - the businesses, the school, the churches, and the people. And, perhaps equally important, they must be of good photo quality. The photo below, while interesting, lacks several of these conditions.