|
by John Unrein Hunter Newsom’s expression did not change throughout the day. The stone cold stare of attention that guided Newsom to four wins and the 195 pound championship during the 2021 MSHSAA Class 3 State Wrestling Tournament was unyielding. The fire alarm being pulled in the arena as Newsom was set to begin his final match had no effect on the mission that the senior had set out to complete. The perfect 41-0 record of Neosho’s Jeremiah Larson entering the tournament, who Newsom would defeat in the final match of their weight class did not faze the Grain Valley senior either. Newsom would gain a one point lead with under a minute left in the final period by escape from the grasp of Larson. The strength needed after a full day of wrestling for Newsom to get to his feet and remove the grip of Larson was impressive to say the least. An attentive gaze turned to jubilance for Newsom as the final seconds ticked off the clock in the third period prior to the 6-5 win being announced over the public address system at the Independence Events Center. Class was still in the forefront of Newsom’s mind after the victory in shaking Larson’s hand, nodding to the officials, and fist bumping the Neosho coaching staff before running to the arms of Grain Valley head wrestling coach Jeff Bowman for a hug. Newsom would then turn and face the Grain Valley crowd in attendance and flex his arms while giving an emotional yell that filled the arena. Newsom had just made history for Bowman’s program by being the second Grain Valley Eagle in the school’s history to win a State wrestling championship. Waiting for Newsom at the entrance to the locker room was Grain Valley alumnus Mavrick Alexander. It was 2015 when Alexander won the 132 pound weight class as a state championship wrestler for the Eagles, the first in school history. Newsom received his second hug of the evening from Alexander. The two kept their words short and meaningful during the exchange. “Hunter photobombed me after I won the state championship. When I confronted him about it, he told me I could return the favor when he became a state champion. He held true to his word. All I said to him was how ecstatic I was and that he made all of us proud,” Alexander said. Newsom simply replied with, “You are not alone anymore. It is not going to be lonely at the top for you.” Newsom would go on to provide an interview for media outlets as he soaked in his win. His comments were given with reflection while being out of breath. “The Grain Valley (wrestling room) is very interesting. We have a bunch of different characters. We love to have fun and get the work done. Coach Bowman helps us find the perfect balance in that. I look forward to coming back and helping everyone underneath me (the underclassmen). I don’t know what else to say, I love that room. I have put all of my blood, sweat, and tears into it, and it is like my second home,” Newsom said. Grain Valley would finish with 50 team points in the boy’s tournament, good for 8th place in Class 3. A strong showing that was aided by Newsom, Donovan McBride (4th place State finisher at 285 pounds), Gavin Parks (106 pounds), Dru Azcona (126 pounds), and Tanner Barker (138 pounds). The quintet entered competition on March 12th with a combined record of 95-11. McBride would use his mammoth strength to throw two opponents late in his final two matches. The motivation was to break the stalemates and work to gain positioning that would lead to a pin or a win. The outcome of McBride’s bravery in going for the win did not work out to his advantage either time. The senior wrestler explained his motivation was to avoid being penalized points for stalling. “In those situations, I had already been hit with stalling, and I did not want to give up another point. I thought to myself, what is the difference in losing by two points or a pin? I made the decision that he was either going to go to his back or I was going to go to my back. My hat is off to them,” McBride said. “Whoever scores first in this tournament has the advantage. They get the decision if there is an overtime on having the choice of top or bottom positioning.” Sevi Aumua would join her Eagles teammates in a proud showing by placing 3rd in the 151 pound weight class at the girls MSHSAA State Wrestling Tournament on March 9th. Aumua would claim 3rd place with a first round pin of her opponent in their final match. Making the feat even more gritty was the ankle injury Aumua fought through during the tournament. “I am glad I got to meet this senior group of wrestlers. My (wrestling) moves and mindset improved throughout the season,” Aumua said. “My third place finish means that as a freshman, I will have time to get better. Overall, this was a good season. It was a good feeling to fight through dealing with my ankle and end the tournament with a win.” Head coaches typically have mantras they convey to burn in the memories of those they push. “The first 30 and the last 30” was repeatedly heard by Grain Valley wrestlers coming from the corner of the wrestling mat. Bowman would continually emphasize the statement to remind his team how important it is to score points at the beginning and end of each period. The reason being the points accumulated during those stages of the match tend to have the greatest impact on the outcome. Grain Valley wrestlers paid heed to that advice and put it into action throughout the tournament. Bowman would also remind his wrestlers to “breathe” and look at him during breaks when he was speaking so that "wind" and the message he was conveying could be confirmed. Bowman was as proud of his team as he is methodical with the way he deploys his game plan for wrestling. “It was heartbreaking to watch the way Parks, Azcona, and Barker competed hard only have to their day end. They had some tough losses. Azcona was like the ‘Energizer Bunny’ in that he did not stop (during his wrestleback matches). He truly showed his mettle today,” Bowman said. “We always want the first takedown (in a match). There is some astronomical number that the person who scores the first takedown usually has a 70 to 80 percent chance to win the match. Having the chance to end the first period up 2-0 heading into the second (period) and get to choose the down position for securing an escape and potentially being up 3-0 changes the dynamic of a match.” “The first and last 30 seconds of a period matter the most. If we are up, then we get to use our counters and change the style of our offense to our advantage. I am proud of this team.” Bowman continued, “What Newsom did was the way we drew it up. We stuck to the game plan. For him to go as non-stop hard as he did with it being his senior year and him going to play football next year in college, there was no carrot dangling. It was all his intrinsic values to compete and represent his team. We love seeing that.” “People have scouted Newsom and know that he has a wing coming. That makes him go to the inside and circling his hips back down to the mat. From there we work by trying to get the arm out on the back. Hunter is so strong.” Bowman finished, “The preparation, dedication, and willingness to listen is what highlights Newsom’s accomplishment. He never stops and that is my favorite thing about him. I have chills in that we get to put another name up on the banner at school. Who better than the two names (Alexander and Newsom) that will be present? They were always ‘yes coach’ in whatever we asked and their ‘buy in’ helped to make the difference.” Class 3 195 lb. MSHSAA State Wrestling Champion Hunter Newsom. Photo credit: Newton County News Grain Valley Eagle head wrestling coach Jeff Bowman hugs Hunter Newsom after his State Championship win. Photo credit: Valley News staff 126 lb. Eagle wrestler Dru Azcona applies pressure to the shoulders of his opponent to maintain leverage. Photo credit: Valley News staff 285 lb. Eagle wrestler Donovan McBride secures a win on his way to fourth place in the MSHSAA State Wrestling Tournament.
Photo credit: Valley News staff There are multiple paths that may be taken that culminate in a successful career. Having the opportunity to explore potential career fields, while earning college credit, advanced certifications, and new friendships is the norm for 62 Grain Valley students who attend the Fort Osage Career and Technology Center in Independence, Missouri. The CTC blends classroom instruction with hands-on learning experiences.
Construction Trades Technology, Marketing, Welding, Culinary Arts, Automotive Technology, and CSI/Law Enforcement are among just some of the programs offered to the 526 students enrolled at CTC. The foyer to the main entrance of the CTC is adorned with the motto, “Explore. Create. Excite. Pursue.” A further walk around the building reveals a bright blue bulletin board that has been coined the “50 for 50” board, highlighting the career success of 50 alumni from CTC over the past 50 years. These examples of getting students to think in a professional mindset is by the design of CTC Director Susie Gouldsmith and Recruitment and Placement Specialist Rebecca Brown. Both Gouldsmith and Brown have been with CTC for 23 and 5 years, respectively. The idea of students working along side professionals and learning by doing is at the heart of what Gouldsmith and Brown want for their students. Creativity for CTC leadership has become an important part of continuing to attract students during the current pandemic. Spring Open House and sophomore tours have been suspended for the 2020-2021 school year. However, YouTube and social media have become forums for displaying the 9th Grade information video- https://bit.ly/CTC9thGradeVideo, and for providing links for the application process- https://bit.ly/CTCApp2021-2022. Arraya Ross is a Grain Valley High School student involved in the CSI/Law Enforcement program at CTC. Her time is split between calisthenics, classroom work, and field shadowing at the Fort Osage campus. Having time commitments or pull between two campuses is something Ross would not have any other way. “Honestly, this is a great program to go into. We do everything from simulating traffic stops, doing physical fitness, to book work. I am getting to explore if this is indeed what I want to do when I grow up. I would recommend this for anyone,” Ross said. “You learn teamwork and the value of having multiple eyes on a task. Those multiple eyes present different options for us to consider before negotiating the best solution. This program has made me want to continue in this field.” “Simulating a traffic stop has made me understand the balance between maintaining calm and being nervous or scared at the same time. You have no idea what it is like until you have to actually do it and putting the skills into application that I have learned has made a huge impact on me.” Ross concluded, “My first time hearing about CTC was when Ms. Brown visited my classroom during my freshman and sophomore years. I have always been fascinated by law enforcement. My parents were initially skeptical about what my experience would be like here. That has turned into them being excited like me about I am doing.” Another popular career pathway training offered at CTC is automotive technology. CNBC cited in 2019 that auto mechanics are and will for the foreseeable future be in high demand. The United States continues to put more and more drivers on the road. Congruently, more Americans are holding onto their vehicles longer due to the continuing escalating cost of new vehicle prices. ZipRecruiter reveals that the average annual salary for an automotive mechanic in Missouri is $35,959. Local car dealerships such as Blue Springs Ford, Bob Sight Ford, and Lee’s Summit Volkswagen work with area career schools to find partnerships for intern placements at their dealerships. To graduate high school with the skills needed to become a certified mechanic with an internship and possible employment on the horizon without a large pile of student loan debt is appealing for students with mechanical aptitude. Grain Valley High School students Nick Julien, Jaden Mason, Ethan Haile, and Neil Schmidt currently take automotive technology classes at CTC. Each has their own reason why they were drawn to the program. The group collectively enjoys the hands on experience they gain and the confidence that comes along with it for their future endeavors. “I learn things here that are not available at my home high school. Everything we do is engaging and hands on. Even If I do not choose this profession, I will have a lot of good experience for later in life,” Julien said. Schmidt continued, “Being at CTC does not feel like school. I feel like I am at a job. The type of learning we do here is fun for me. This has created a passion for me. It started out with me being into dirt bikes and has grown into a possible career. Getting to be around my friends and have fun has been a plus also.” Mason added, “I am learning good things in large quantities for what I want to do in my career later on.” Haile finished, “I estimate that none of us are going to be doing anything with calculus after graduation. Here, I learn applicable skills that fascinate me and set me up for success. I can by sight or feel find a 3 /8 inch wrench in a tool drawer as opposed to solving a three-step equation.” Being in an environment where a car can be put on a lift and things being removed and put back holds the attention of the quartet. The consequences from doing something right or wrong in a shop setting is real and something the group claims sticks in their memory. Among examples cited were the differences between old and newer ignition systems, with the old being mechanically centered and the new being diagnostic or electronically driven. The spark of interest and route taken to the Fort Osage Career Technical Center has been different for each automotive student. “I was visited in 8th grade by CTC instructors. That interaction made the three hours we spend a day here sound fun. That is what pushed me here. I never wanted to go to college. I wanted to get an entry level automotive job. Instead, I am planning on going to college based to pursue something automotive based on my experiences here,” Julien said. “My parents were happy with me choice to come here and that I am doing something with my hands. They have been pleased to see me doing something that makes me this happy.” Schmidt explained his motivations were not as complex as some of his classmates. “I saw the truck on the Dyno when I visited here and loved the sound the engine made. I was hooked,” Schmidt said. “My parents have been relieved that I am on a path instead of trying to find something for a career. Also, I have made friends here at CTC that I never would of thought that I had. We have a bond due to us working on the same things with the same interests continually.” On April 6th, voters in eight metro school districts, including Grain Valley, will be asked to approve the attachment of their district to Metropolitan Community Colleges (MCC). Approval of the measure would add a levy of approximately $.21 to property tax bills.
The benefit to residents within MCC districts is a reduction in tuition for students residing in those districts of almost 50%. Currently, Grain Valley residents attending MCC pay $198 per credit hour; in-district tuition is currently $107. The ballot question reads “For the purpose of providing greater affordable access to quality higher education by providing in-district tuition rates for residents within the Grain Valley R-V School District, shall the Grain Valley R-V School District be attached to The Junior College District of Metropolitan Kansas City, Missouri, effective the 22nd day of April 2021?” According to MCC, in the 2019-2020 school year, 304 students from the 64029 zip code were enrolled at MCC campuses (2018-2019: 294, 2017-2018: 292). Mentioned twice in the ballot language, Grain Valley Schools released a statement to district patrons via email last week distancing itself from the ballot language, clarifying that the district did not place the measure on the ballot, and revenue generated from the levy would go to MCC. The district stated it would not be taking a stance on the measure. An MCC informational flyer on the proposed levy cites December 2020 estimates from Zillow Research that the average market value of a single family home in Grain Valley is $258,000. Using this estimate, the average homeowner would see an increase of $104.31 on their annual tax bill to support MCC. A simple majority (more than 50%) of voters must vote for approval in order for the attachment to pass. by John Unrein Grain Valley assistant boys track coach Eric Stone has taken to social media recently publicizing the strong start to training displayed by members of the Eagles track team in the 100 meter dash. The mild early March weather has produced some robust handheld times. The top 5 times during early trials have included Logan Pratt (10.56), Tristan Pouncil (11.25), Dom Koryke (11.44), Trent Knox (11.60), and Carter Vrlenich (11.63). Stone, being mindful of motivation, asks questions with each post he makes such as, “If you are not on this list, what can you do to get on this list?” Or, “If you want to be higher on this list, what can you do to move up the list?”
“Not having a track season last year, you can tell has lit a fire under this group. Understanding what can be taken away and this beautiful weather has led to some motivated runners,” Stone said. “Kids like Vrlenich, who were going to be first year track participants last spring are aware as seniors that this is their one shot at competing in track.” Stone finished, “Twitter has given us another way to celebrate success and push through not being satisfied with where we are at. Mindfulness about goals benefits us as a group and kids and parents when they see it, have had positive reactions as well.” Watching the sprint group that Stone coaches take off with the youthful exuberance that would potentially strain a middle age hamstring during a sprint brings appreciation to the form and explosiveness needed to compete in this avenue of track. Some may be predisposed to the opinion that speed is genetic, natural, or God given. The trio of Pratt, Pouncil, and Vrlenich are ever conscious though of how the instruction and routine they go through may lead to improvement. “Boom booms are a drill we do in working on turning our feet over faster. Getting our feet off the ground as quick as possible with our leg parallel to our hip before putting our feet back down as fast as possible,” Pratt said. Pouncil added, “Doing 200 meter repeats makes us focus on our form past the length of 100 meters. It also builds our endurance.” Vrlenich concluded, “Gear switches help us find that extra push if we need it at the end of a race. By building up as we sprint, it also teaches us how to pace ourselves.” The smiles, laughter, and conversation among the Eagles sprint group make it apparent the strong social connection that exists among the group. The occasional clowning around at the end of practice by attempting an event not usually done by Pouncil like hurdles brings jokes and constructive feedback from peers. Some wanted, and some unwanted. The most noticeable thing about the group is their competitive nature. Each is interested in winning and being the fastest at what they do. “There is something about finishing first and seeing everyone behind me,” Vrlenich said. Pratt continued, “My friends run with me. This is quick and easy for me. I love competing.” Pouncil finished, “Ditto. Everything they said. I don’t get to clown around too much, or the coaches will be on my head. Running fast and trying to finish ahead of people is fun.” Wanting to see growth by improvement in times as the season progresses is the foremost goal for the triad of sprinters. Being aware of the work it will take to get there is not lost on the group as well. “Placing at State matters to us. Both as a relay team and individually. Starting below 11 seconds in the 100 (meter dash) is a good start. We are willing to do what it takes to get better,” Pratt said. Today the Missouri Community Service Commission (MCSC) announced the Bicentennial Community Service Challenge. The Challenge encourages Missourians to volunteer for 200 hours this year in honor of the state’s 200th year of statehood. Those who complete the Challenge will receive a certificate for their service during Missouri’s bicentennial year.
“Through the Bicentennial Community Service Challenge, we're observing this historic year for our state while recognizing the many Missourians who serve,” Scott McFarland, Executive Director of Missouri Community Service Commission said. “Volunteerism has played a key role in Missouri’s rich history, and it’s also vital in building a strong and prosperous future.” According to AmeriCorps, more than 1.5 million Missourians volunteer each year, totaling more than 130 million hours of service. These hours are estimated to be worth billions of dollars in value for Missouri communities. Service projects can range from tutoring to disaster relief and more. “Missouri’s bicentennial is an opportunity to celebrate what makes our state great,” Jefferson City Mayor Carrie Tergin, Co-Chair of the Missouri Bicentennial Commission said. “The Bicentennial Community Service Challenge is a productive way to mark this milestone by joining the countless Missourians who volunteer their time to improve our communities.” Missourians who wish to take part in the Bicentennial Community Service Challenge can download a volunteer form to track their progress throughout the year. Completed forms are due by December 31, 2021, to be eligible for a certificate. Details on the challenge, including service opportunities, are available at ShowMeService.org. The Board of Aldermen met virtually Monday, March 8th, approving two resolutions to complete 2021 budgeted repairs as a part of the City’s pavement maintenance program. The first resolution authorized an agreement with Superior Bowen Asphalt Company to provide edge mill and asphalt overlay to streets identified in the City’s CIP plan and 2020 Pavement Management Analysis Report at a budgeted cost of $909,142.50. The second resolution authorizes an agreement with Quality Custom Construction to complete 2021
budgeted concrete replacement and repairs at a cost of $190,000. Central Jackson County Fire Prevention District (CJCFPD) Chief Jeff Grote presented information on an April ballot issue requesting approval of bonds to build a new fire station on the north side of Grain Valley. Tasha Lindsey with the Grain Valley Partnership and Michael Todd with the Grain Valley Fair board presented information on the proposed continuation of Grain Valley Fair Food Truck Fridays, set to resume in April pending Board approval. The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be held virtually via Zoom on Monday, March 22nd at 7:00pm. Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased in January 2021, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by a tenth of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 5,900 jobs over the month, but over-the year job losses were back above 100,000 following benchmark adjustments to 2020 estimates. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in January 2021, down from 4.4 percent in December 2020.
Missouri’s smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by a tenth of a percentage point in January 2021, dropping to 4.3 percent from a benchmarked December 2020 rate of 4.4 percent. Missouri’s unemployment rate was below the national rate of 6.3 percent in January. Due to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the January 2021 rate was 0.7 percentage points higher than the January 2020 rate. The rate had reached a low of 3.1 percent starting in July 2018, before gradually edging up to 3.5 percent by the end of 2019, and then to 3.7 percent in March 2020. The COVID-19 effect hit in April 2020, spiking the rate to 12.5 percent for that month. The rate decreased monthly for the rest of 2020, reaching 4.4 percent in December. Benchmarking revisions caused Missouri’s unemployment rate to be a tenth of a percentage point higher than the national rate in January and February of 2020, so Missouri’s streak of seasonally adjusted unemployment rates below the comparable national rates is now 11 consecutive months. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 130,822 in January 2021, down by 4,290 from December 2020’s 135,112. The state’s not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 5.1 percent in January 2021, up by 0.5 percentage points from the December 2020 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 4.6 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for January 2021 was 6.8 percent. A year ago, the state’s seasonally adjusted rate was 3.6 percent, and the not-adjusted rate was 4.0 percent. People tired of being cooped up due to the pandemic have hit the open road in RV’s (recreational vehicles consisting of motorhomes, campervans, camper trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, popup campers, and truck campers) trying to find a safe way to vacation in the United States. The appeal of getting away from restrictions by taking loved ones to scenic areas filled with the splendor of nature has produced a boom in the RV market within the past year.
In July of 2020, the RV Industry Association claimed more than 40,000 RV’s were shipped to customers in June of 2020. This was a ten percent increase compared to the same month in 2019. RV dealers were also reporting that between 50-80 percent of travelers purchasing the vehicles were doing so for the first time, per KEYT.com. Motivations for these numbers can be found in people not wanting to fly or stay in a hotel. Instead, they could cook their own meals and sleep in their own bed within an RV. New RV owners will inevitably need storage, maintenance, and resale assistance solutions for their purchase. The I-70 eastbound corridor near the Grain Valley exit is ripe with RV dealers. Joining that market is JE Cornwell, owner and president of KCRVS. Located at 148 NE McQueery Rd in Grain Valley, Cornwell took over the property next to Matthews Elementary on February 1st. The frozen ground due to the inclement weather in late winter has made the move to Grain Valley challenging at times. However, KCRVS has found success with approximately 15 RV’s that are on the lot and 6 more arriving by mid-March. One of the first items of business for Cornwell has been having a grader drop fresh gravel on the lot and level it so that close to three of the five acres making up the property could be used immediately. Plans are underway for remodeling of the office and mechanical shed so that a grand opening to the public can happen sometime in April. In the meantime, Cornwell is promoting other parts of his business that include new model off road campers at the Open Season Sportsman Expo in Overland Park, Kansas from March 12th through March 14th. Cornwell also owns AMPR LLC which provides financing services for autos, marine, powersports, and RV’s. Networking through 26 years in the finance business has led to Cornwell’s entrance into the RV consignment and storage market over the last 5 years. The original location of Cornwell’s RV consignment business was in Grandview, Missouri. A meeting by chance led to the move to Grain Valley. “COVID-19 had shut us down at our Grandview location for 101 days due to us being considered non-essential. We reopened the business at the end of June in 2020 to find a chokehold on the inventory of RV’s. Camping World, Jayco, and Olathe RV started running ads on consigning your RV with them. The year prior they did not want anything to do with that market,” Cornwell said. “It did, however, bring the idea and term of ‘closed consignment’ to the forefront for the public. We have benefited from the public exposure that has brought.” Cornwell continued, “Grain Valley was not initially on my radar (as a spot for this business). The previous owner of this property had operated Country Campers and been here since 1993. They drove by our business in Grandview and noticed how full our lot was in leading them to stop and start a conversation with me. We were eventually able to negotiate a price that worked for both us and here we are.” The motivation for being in the consignment RV business is that it provides an alternative for the owner in taking the RV to auction, as well as providing a cheaper price to a potential buyer to depreciation. Making the marriage work between finding a good price for both the buyer and seller is what makes the consignment market work in the eyes of Cornwell. “Depreciation is a key word. New car values drop 15 to 20% when you drive it off the lot. RV’s are around 25%. If you can come here and find a 2018 or 2019 used model that has been well maintained, with them only being used part time typically, it can be a savvy option with a big price difference in what we offer.” “We have campers on this lot that are over $200,000. We also have fifth-wheels that are $150,000. People typically need financing when you are dealing with that price range. We can support them with that as well as storage of their RV and maintenance.” Cornwell concluded, “My first week here I filled out three applications for Grain Valley, Blue Springs, and Lee’s Summit Chambers of Commerce. This is a community based business. I want to build a relationship with customers as someone who wants to be a part of the Grain Valley community. We are glad to be here and feel this will be a huge success for us. We definitely have room to grow (due to the size of our 5 acre lot).” KCRVS can be reached by phone at 816-800-6100 or online at www.kcrvs.com. by Tessa Weinberg, Missouri Independent During a recent hearing on his bill to establish the “Stop Social Media Censorship Act,” state Rep. Jeff Coleman repeatedly referenced experts sitting behind him in the audience who would be better able to address questions about the legislation’s legality.
The first of these experts to testify was Chris Sevier, an Iraqi war veteran, Tennessee attorney and advocate who has pushed anti-LGBTQ and anti-porn legislation in statehouses across the country — and was deemed a “security concern” in the Missouri Capitol two years ago. Sevier may be best known for suing states that wouldn’t recognize his marriage to his laptop — a move to protest gay marriage. He’s also made headlines for past legal issues, including being charged with stalking and harassing country music singer John Rich and a 17-year-old girl. Sevier later pleaded guilty to reduced charges of misdemeanor harassment. In 2011, Sevier’s Tennessee law license was moved to “disability inactive status” due to being “presently incapacitated from continuing to practice law by reason of mental infirmity or illness.” Meanwhile, Sevier has been connected to controversial legislative efforts across the country for years — often leaving uneasy interactions in his wake. Last month, Sevier was escorted by security out of the Oklahoma Capitol after an altercation with a lawmaker. Three years ago in Rhode Island, a state senator withdrew a bill pushed by Sevier, citing its “dubious origins.” After Missouri Senate Administrator Patrick Baker sent an email to senators and staff with a photo of Sevier and the subject line “security concern” in 2019, Sevier filed a federal lawsuit against him alleging defamation. The lawsuit was dismissed the same month. The “Stop Social Media Censorship Act” is the latest of his legislative initiatives to find its way to Missouri. Social media posts and draft legislation uploaded online indicate Sevier has crafted versions of the bill, in addition to a handful of others, for all 50 states. He’s also been working to find lawmakers to sponsor his bills since the fall. Coleman, R-Grain Valley, said Sevier first approached him in late October or early November after seeing Coleman’s public complaints about social media censorship. The bill would allow Missourians whose political or religious speech is censored on large social media platforms to bring lawsuits against those companies. Opponents argue the legislation is unconstitutional and would impede platforms’ ability to remove objectionable content, while supporters say it’s necessary to give users a voice. “He asked me to carry that bill, and I agreed to it,” Coleman said, later adding: “In general, I think it’s a very good bill, because we have to figure out something in order to stop what’s going on.” When reached by phone by The Independent Tuesday afternoon, Sevier said, “You can kiss my ass,” before hanging up. Coleman, who was elected in 2018, said he had previously never heard of Sevier. “As a legislator, you’ve got so many things going on, so many bills you’re trying to keep up with, you really don’t have time to do a background check on someone,” Coleman said. But after learning of Sevier’s past following his testimony at last month’s committee hearing, Coleman said he is moving forward without Sevier’s input and working to refine the bill. “He seems like a nice enough guy. But there’s enough out there that’s a concern that we don’t have him helping us anymore,” Coleman said, later adding: “We don’t need those distractions, because this is an important issue. We want to make sure that that’s the issue, not him.” Rep. Dottie Bailey, R-Eureka, is also sponsoring a version of the “Stop Social Media Censorship Act.” Bailey could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday. ‘De Facto Attorneys General’ Despite detailing amendments and changes that he said would be made to Coleman’s House Bill 482, Sevier denied playing a role in writing the legislation when asked by Rep. Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit, during the Feb. 22 hearing. “We have many lawyers. We would respectfully submit that the bills are written out of multi-state federal litigation so it would be different suggestions from judges and courts — it’d be language that’s pulled from different pleadings and opinions, if you will,” said Sevier, who said he was not a lobbyist. “So there’s many people that we support (on) this bill. Rep. Coleman is the author of this bill. We support his bill.” On the witness form he submitted to testify on the bill, Sevier did not list an organization that he’s affiliated with. But his connections to the bill and the groups he associated with aren’t hard to find. Sevier is listed on websites for the groups “Special Forces of Liberty” and “De Facto Attorneys General,” and has listed those same groups in lawsuits. In a December discussion with the New Jersey Constitutional Republicans, Sevier said the name “De Facto Attorneys General” comes from doing the work attorneys general should be doing, but aren’t. Through filing federal lawsuits challenging issues, Sevier said judges are “communicating in ways in their opinions,” which guides legislation. In the past, Sevier has filed a slew of federal lawsuits against companies like Apple for not restricting pornography on their products and to stop a Louisiana city from holding “Drag Queen Story Time.” A decision in 2018 litigation referenced over a dozen lawsuits Sevier filed since 2014 challenging same-sex marriage. “And then from the federal lawsuits, we’ve been writing a litany of legislation for all 50 states that cover mainly the ‘culture war’ issues and hopefully to proliferate human flourishing, to restore the rule of law and to underscore constitutional supremacy,” Sevier told the New Jersey Constitutional Republicans. A website for the “Stop Social Media Censorship Act” that details bills filed across the country doesn’t indicate what groups are affiliated with it. However, the website domain is registered to “De Facto Attorney Generals” with an Alabama address. The bill language listed for Missouri, like many others linked from the website, shows suggested amendments in red text to House Bill 482 — some of which Sevier described during last month’s House hearing. And videos explaining the bill for each state are nearly identical. From Facebook posts and news stories, Sevier appears to have been crisscrossing the country meeting with lawmakers in recent months. Standing in front of the Missouri Capitol, Sevier said in a video posted on Facebook on Jan. 6 that Coleman was already a sponsor, and that he was “looking for prime sponsors for the other four bills.” In an October post to the Facebook page of Jenna Ellis, an attorney who served on former President Donald Trump’s legal team that tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election, Sevier shared a link to files of draft legislation he said he wrote for all 50 states, including talking points. “What I need is a letter from the President endorsing the legislation that I can take to the statehouses and give to the Majority Leaders and Speakers,” Sevier wrote. Both Coleman and Bailey’s bills have definitions that closely resemble those in bills filed across the country. For example, Bailey’s bill defines hate speech as “a phrase concerning content that offends an individual’s personal moral code.” It’s a similar definition used in bills on the topic in at least 11 states. Coleman is also sponsoring House Bill 1193, which would establish the “Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act,” another measure Sevier has pushed nationwide that would require a $20 fee for users to unblock access to websites facilitating human trafficking, prostitution or pornography. Coleman said a woman from St. Louis had approached him about that bill, not Sevier. In the lawsuit against Baker, Sevier claimed credit for authoring a similar version of the bill filed by Rep. Jim Neely in 2018. Similar bills have been filed in years past. A bill filed last year by Rep. Tom Hannegan, R-St. Charles, that included provisions of both the acts was withdrawn a little over a month into the session. Hannegan said he did so because the bill wasn’t a good fit for what he was trying to achieve. “Somebody sent an email, I think, pretty randomly out and just was saying what it was,” Hannegan said. “And it looked like something that I might be interested in, but it just wasn’t the route that I wanted to go down.” Missouri Lawsuit In February 2019, staff in several Missouri Senate and House offices reported uncomfortable encounters with Sevier. As a result, Baker, the Missouri Senate administrator, sent an email to lawmakers and staff warning of “jittery and/or suspicious” interactions with Sevier and reminding them to notify Capitol Police any time they’re in situations in which they feel uncomfortable or threatened, according to The Kansas City Star. A week after Baker’s email, Sevier filed a lawsuit against him. In the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Sevier accused Baker of stalking him, deploying a hoax and colluding with the Democratic Party and media organizations who reported on the email, which the lawsuit argued resulted in defamation and emotional distress. Sevier asked for $36 million in damages and that Baker — who the lawsuit repeatedly refers to as “Dishonest Defendant Baker” — issue a retraction, apology and correction. Sevier argued there was no basis for the email and that Baker “floated this hit piece to cause legislatures to shun and avoid the Plaintiffs…” Both Sevier and another activist with Special Forces of Liberty were listed as plaintiffs. The lawsuit also listed a litany of other alleged motivations, such as hating Christians and supporting what Sevier’s proposed legislation is attempting to stop. “The evidence will show that Defendant Baker and others published the false and defamatory statements because they are proponents of child molestation,” the lawsuit alleged. The lawsuit was dismissed the same month it was filed. Asked about Sevier being back in the Capitol, Baker referred to his previous comments in 2019. Trevor Fox, a spokesman for the Missouri House, said there was no action taken by the House in 2019 regarding Sevier. Tessa Weinberg covers education, health care and the legislature. She previously covered the Missouri statehouse for The Kansas City Star and The Columbia Missourian, where her reporting into social media use by the governor prompted an investigation by the Attorney General’s office. She most recently covered state government in Texas for The Fort Worth Star-Telegram. www.missouriindependent.com The Missouri state flag was created in 1909 and was adopted on March 22, 1913.
The designer, Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver, was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the group responsible for the creation of a number of other state flags. The flag features a triband design of red, white and blue bands. The red stripes symbolize valor, and white represents purity. The blue stripe has three different meanings: vigilance, justice and permanency. The design is also a nod to the influence of France during Missouri's earliest history. |
Categories
All
Archives
May 2024
|
Grain Valley NewsGrain Valley News is a free community news source published weekly online. |
Contact Us |