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Grain Valley High School junior Ellie Martin recently completed the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor that can be achieved by a Girl Scout. For her project, Martin spent over 80 hours creating a website designed to help parents and guardians teach those around them how to swim. The site includes instructional videos, assessment sheets, drills, and structured lesson plans. Martin said her goal was to eliminate as many barriers as possible that might prevent members of her community from feeling safe in or around water. "I was able to partner with several Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri (GSKSMO) platforms, as well as other local organizations, to share my project directly with scouts and families across Missouri and Kansas. In total, it’s estimated that the project reached over 2,500 families—giving them access to swim instruction materials ahead of the summer," Martin said. Martin has participated in Girl Scouts since she was in kindergarten, starting her journey as a Daisy with a small group of other Girl Scouts who are still participating together today. Martin said her troop has saved their cookie money for the past several years as they plan to take a capstone trip together, either to Savannah, Georgia (the birthplace of Girl Scouts) or to a location where none of the four girls have visited before. Martin said the most rewarding part is not only developing their own leadership skills, "but being able to teach these skills to younger girls". "It's very rewarding to work with girls from 6th to 12th grade at day camp and serve as a role model." Martin explained that the Gold Award is often compared to the Boy Scout's Eagle Scout honor but explains one main difference. "They both have their benefits, but what is unique about the Girl Scouts Gold Award is that it must be sustainable. That's something we work hard on, making sure they can last past our involvement." Martin's Accessible Swim Lessons site can found at: Accessible Swim Lessons.
Grain Valley High School junior Ellie Martin has completed the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award that can be earned by a Girl Scout. Martin created a website to help parents and guardians teach their child to swim. Photos courtesy Ellie Martin. 
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by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Where were you when you learned John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States was assassinated? If you were alive on November 22, 1963, I’m sure you probably recall where you were and what you were doing. In all likelihood, the same can be said for 9/11. I was in Mr. (Randol) Wiggins chemistry class on the second floor, on the south end of the old (1925) high school building. Our superintendent, Mr. (Moody) Murry came into our class and told us Kennedy had been shot. A bit later, he returned to tell us he was dead. During the 1960's, I graduated from high school, I graduated from college, I got my first car (a 1966 candy apple red Mustang), and I got my first job. But when someone asks me what happened in the 1960s, Kennedy’s assassination is the first thing that comes to mind. In Grain Valley - -
So, while the Soviets put the first man in space, Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his “I have a dream” speech, Marilyn Monroe died, Mohammad Ali became the World Heavy Weight champ, Walt Disney died, and Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, Grain Valley continued to grow; slowly, very slowly. By 1970 the population was still only 702. Meanwhile James Meredith walked across the State of Mississippi and was the first African-American to attend the University of Mississippi. He later graduated from Columbia Law School. During the decade of the 1960's Thurgood Marshall became the African-American U. S. Supreme Court Justice. This all came at the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. While some may refer to the 1960's as the era of sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll, the 1960's also saw significant advancements in technology, including the invention of the laser, the computer mouse, Kevlar, ARPANET (the precursor to the internet), and the dynamic random-access memory (RAM). Other important inventions from the decade include the ATM, compact disc technology, and basic computer language. It kind of sounds like the 60s were the beginning of Modern America!  by Josh Hartwig, Missouri Department of Conservation Spring brings a variety of newborn animals that may look to be abandoned, but Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Protection Regional Supervisor Russell Duckworth says that’s rarely the case, and that it’s best to leave wildlife wild. “Young wildlife are seldom orphaned,” said Duckworth. “When we see newborn animals alone, that means the parents are likely out searching for food and will return.” A newborn wildlife species commonly encountered in the spring are young birds. “If you see a chick with feathers hopping on the ground, leave it alone because it’s a fledgling and its parents are nearby keeping watch,” said Duckworth. He said fledglings can spend up to 10 days on the ground learning to fly. If you find one that has no feathers, it likely fell out of its nest, and you can return it to the nesting area, if possible. Another species Duckworth warns against interfering with is young rabbits. He said they seldom survive in captivity and can die of fright from being handled. “It takes a lot of knowledge to care for and rehabilitate wild animals,” said Duckworth. “It’s also illegal to possess any wild animals without a valid state or federal permit.” He cautioned that wildlife could become dangerous as they mature, and can carry disease, parasites, and cause property damage. “The best thing we can do for wild animals is to leave them be,” said Duckworth. “Please remember to leave wildlife wild.”  Photo credit: MDC  KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In the aftermath of World War I, the fields of northeastern France became the site of a dangerous legacy: the Iron Harvest. This Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the National WWI Museum and Memorial unveiled its newest exhibition examining war’s toll on the earth and its lasting environmental impact. Artillery was the primary frontline weapon in WWI and by the time fighting ended on the Western Front in 1918, shelling had torn the countryside apart – forests were splintered, craters pockmarked the fields and whole towns were wiped out. Across the globe and during the four years of the Great War, over one billion rounds of artillery were fired. Iron Harvest refers to the unearthing of vast amounts of unexploded artillery shells, bombs, grenades and mines. After the war ended, the destruction along the Western Front was so great that many people could not safely return. On April 17, 1919, the French government passed a law allowing it to buy lands considered temporarily or permanently unsafe. Much of this land had been farmland but 10 entire towns had to be abandoned entirely or reestablished away from the contaminated earth. Despite clearing efforts, danger still exists. Nearly 30 percent of all shells fired during World War I failed to explode, and since 1918, the weapons of the Great War have killed more than 900 people in northeastern France and Belgium. Countless more have been seriously injured, chemically burned or poisoned from plants and animals exposed to dangerous decomposing materials. “The devastation that armed conflict brings to the land lasts for generations beyond the fighting itself,” said Dr. Chris Juergens, Curator at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. “Iron Harvest is a chilling reminder of war’s enduring impact.” It is estimated that it will take another 300 years from now to completely clear the zone of unexploded ordnance – but this does not include the time needed to break down the poisons embedded in the soil. Iron Harvest is located in the West Lobby of the Museum and Memorial and admission is not required to visit. A variety of engaging programs will support the exhibition. Stay tuned to theworldwar.org/events for more information.  Iron Harvest explores the environmental legacy of World War I battles in the fields of northeastern France and Belgium. Photo credit: National WWI Museum and Memorial.  (StatePoint) Pneumococcal pneumonia is a potentially serious bacterial lung disease that can disrupt your life for weeks and even land you in the hospital. Medical experts want you to know that there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of serious illness. An important step is getting pneumococcal vaccination if it’s recommended for you. This vaccine helps protect against pneumococcal disease, including, pneumococcal pneumonia, bloodstream infection (bacteremia), and infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). In October 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its adult immunization schedules, and now recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all adults 50 or older, even if you are healthy, and maintains its recommendation of vaccination for adults 19-49 with certain underlying medical conditions like asthma, COPD, chronic heart disease and diabetes. “The immune system naturally weakens with age, so even if you’re healthy and active, being older puts you at greater risk of severe illness from pneumococcal pneumonia. The CDC’s updated guidelines are intended to keep more people healthy and safe,” says Albert A. Rizzo, MD, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association. The American Lung Association maintains an ongoing educational program about pneumococcal pneumonia with Pfizer. As part of the program, they are sharing these fast facts: • Anyone can get pneumococcal pneumonia and unfortunately, it is a disease you can have more than one time. Certain populations are at higher risk for severe illness, hospitalization and death. You can use American Lung Association resources to help you determine your risk. • The symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia include fever, chills, cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing or rapid breathing, and these symptoms can appear suddenly and without warning. • Having the flu increases the likelihood of developing pneumonia, including pneumococcal pneumonia. You can reduce this risk by getting a flu shot every year to help prevent seasonal influenza. In addition, those at risk for pneumococcal disease can get vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia. Ask your healthcare provider about pneumococcal vaccination today. For more information about pneumococcal pneumonia risk factors, symptoms and prevention, visit Lung.org/pneumococcal.  by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News TULSA, Okla. - For the first time in their Western Conference semifinal series against Tulsa, the Kansas City Mavericks gave goaltender Jack LaFontaine some breathing room as four second-period goals led coach Tad O'Had's team to a convincing 5-1 victory Tuesday night at BOK Center. The series resumes at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at the same location. Kansas City holds a 2-1 lead in the series after losing the opening game 4-2 and winning the second 3-2 in overtime. “The boys took care of me tonight,” said LaFontaine, who stopped 23 of 24 shots on goal. “You could just our confidence grow as the game went on. That second period was a blast!” Cade Borchardt opened the scoring with his fifth goal of the playoffs at 12:11 of the first period, assisted by Casey Carreau and Max Andreev. The second period belonged to the Mavericks. Damien Giroux scored at 9:01, followed by goals from Zack Trott (16:44), Charlie Wright (18:45) and David Cotton (19:10) to put the Mavericks ahead 5-0 after 40 minutes. “Offense, defense and goaltending all played a role in one of our most dominating wins of the season,” O'Had said. “This was a statement win. Our guys have always played well on the road, and we came to Tulsa with a lot of confidence. LaFontaine said there is a big reason the Mavericks are so successful on the road. “This team is more like a family,” LaFontaine said. “When we're on the road, we like to get together and do things, hang out at the hotel and just be around each other. “And that bond translates onto the ice.”  Missouri Independent: Senate set to approve Missouri governor's shakeup of state education board4/24/2025 Senate set to approve Missouri governor’s shakeup of state education boardby Annelise Hanshaw, Missouri Independent Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe’s makeover of the State Board of Education is nearly complete, with the state Senate set to confirm the last of his four new appointments this week. The turnover on the eight-member board also means its longtime leadership has been pushed aside. That includes Charlie Shields, the former Republican lawmaker who has served on the board since 2012 and was its most recent board president. Shields told The Independent he was willing to continue serving but supports the governor’s appointments. “We’re in a good position to move education forward,” he said. The shakeup has created some friction in the confirmation process, with Ash Grove Republican state Sen. Mike Moon and Florissant Democratic Sen. Angela Mosley asking pointed questions of appointees during their Senate hearings. That continued on Wednesday, when Moon was the lone “no” vote on the appointment of Thomas Prater, an eye surgeon from Springfield. Moon said during the hearing he had received complaints from his district stemming back to Prater’s time serving on the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education. “There are some people in Springfield who were concerned about things that have happened on the school board after I left,” Prater told The Independent. “So I didn’t have much control over it.” On the board, Prater helped in the hiring process of former superintendent John Jungmann in 2014 shortly before his departure. Jungmann faced criticism, as reported by the Springfield News-Leader in 2021, over his diversity and equity training that some labeled “critical race theory.” He was also under fire for his choices on safety measures during the pandemic. Moon asked Prater how he supported a superintendent who was a proponent of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and what that means today with a governor who has spoken against diversity programs. Prater said Jungmann was “by far the most experienced and qualified candidate that we interviewed.” “I don’t remember any kind of DEI discussions coming up in our interviews with him that would have given us the indication, one way or the other, where he stood,” Prater told Moon. Mosley pushed back on the notion that DEI is harmful. “You don’t feel that diversity is important,” she said, asking where Prater stood. “All the districts are pretty diverse, so you need to know how to effectively support each area of diversity.” Prater said he was “right between” Mosley and Moon on the subject, giving an anecdote that he supported the hiring of a Black football coach over a similarly qualified white candidate. The board is set up to not be dominated by a political party, with law stipulating there can be a maximum of four members of a party. Many appointees, on other state boards as well, take on the “independent” title to conform to this rule. Prater is joining the board as an independent. His political contributions include donations to Democrats like state Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield and St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. But the majority of his donations benefit Republican candidates, with $21,000 given to Kehoe’s political action committee, American Dream PAC, and numerous donations given to former U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt. Prater said he has been an independent for “as long as he can remember.” Shields has repeatedly spoken about board matters with a bipartisan, or nonpartisan, perspective. He told The Independent that the board is intended to be this way. Appointments are eight-year terms, setting members up to look at issues long-term. These two pieces are “important,” Shields said. He feels confident that the appointees he knows, Prater and attorney Jon Otto, will take the “same view.” “I know them to both be really thoughtful, high quality people,” he said. “I think they’ll make great board members.” Prater was appointed by former Gov. Mike Parson a year ago, serving in an interim capacity while a filibuster blocked full confirmation. He has been sitting in the audience at state board meetings, he said. Tawni Hunt Ferrarini was appointed at the same time last year by Parson, but Kehoe did not reappoint her to the board and instead chose Brooks Miller for the seat. Miller, former president and CEO of Jordan Valley Community Health Center in Springfield, takes on the role after recently serving on Truman State University’s board. He told committee members Wednesday that his experience in community health will help him look for needs inside Missouri’s schools. “I think that (community health) really kind of goes hand-in-hand with serving children,” he said. “It’s hard to teach a child that has a toothache or other illness.” Miller is identified as a Republican in his appointment. He donated to President Donald Trump’s campaign and U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison, but also gave $1,000 to Crystal Quade, who lost her bid as the Democratic nominee for governor in November. Quade is from Springfield, which Miller has strong ties to despite currently residing in Sunrise Beach. Last week, the Senate confirmed the appointment of Otto and Mike Matousek. Matousek, a Republican from Kansas City, recently served on the Platte County School Board and is the former legislative director for U.S. Rep. Sam Graves. In his campaign for school board, Matousek opposed mask and vaccine mandates and carried conservative stances on hot-button issues into his time on the board. He was the only member to vote for the district to take up an official bathroom policy that would restrict transgender students’ access to restrooms that fit their gender identity. Moon complimented Matousek’s willingness to stand alone on an issue. “You’re not afraid to take those issues on, or at least ask the questions and let them be deliberated,” he said during the hearing. Matousek has made contributions to several Republican candidates, including state Rep. Josh Hurbert, a Smithville resident who works for Christian private school advocacy and assistance organization Herzog Tomorrow Foundation. Hurlbert also donated to Matousek’s campaign for school board in 2022. Matousek told The Independent that he was approached about joining the State Board of Education and thought it over before embracing the role. “Public education is changing in Missouri, and I’d rather be at the table,” he said. During the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments Committee hearing last week, Mosley asked Matousek questions about his stance on open enrollment and charter schools, asking if he would support funding for public schools or lean on alternatives to neighborhood schools. Matousek is generally supportive of open enrollment, if the state legislature chooses to pass it into law, but is concerned about provisions that would obligate school districts to transport students that enroll outside their home district. But those decisions are up to state lawmakers, he said. Mosley’s questions were halted after Moon whispered to the legislative aide of the committee chair, who then asked her to reserve the rest of her questions for time outside of the hearing. Matousek was confirmed by the full Senate the next day. The Senate also confirmed Otto, who currently serves as general counsel for Evergy. Otto is a noted advocate of charter schools. He helped found Académie Lafayette Charter Schools in Kansas City and has served on the board of the Missouri Charter Public School Association. He told The Independent he didn’t have definitive plans for the board, saying he had to “get in and see what is working” first but noted potential for “a lot of new things.” Otto has made a few contributions solely to Democratic candidates, like a $500 donation to U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids from Kansas. Gabby Picard, a spokeswoman for Kehoe, said selections were made with the governor’s priorities in mind. “Gov. Kehoe hopes that the board will continue to address and prioritize increased accountability in school performances and student outcomes, supporting opportunity across geographic and socioeconomic lines and supporting non-traditional school options like charter or virtual schools,” she said in a statement. Prater and Miller’s appointments must receive final approval in the Senate before they can take office. YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.
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Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: [email protected]. 
Bill overturning protections for Section 8 renters a step away from Missouri governor’s deskby Clara Bates, Missouri Independent Local laws prohibiting landlords from discriminating against tenants who receive public assistance would be unenforceable under legislation approved by the Missouri Senate Tuesday night. The bill takes aim at ordinances passed in several Missouri cities to protect tenants from discrimination based on the source of their income — especially tenants who use federal housing choice vouchers, known as Section 8 vouchers, to pay rent. It now returns to the House, which approved it earlier this year. If the House approves of the changes made in the Senate, the bill would go to the governor. Need to get in touch?Have a news tip?The bill was co-sponsored by state Reps. Chris Brown, a Republican from Kansas City, and Ben Keathley, a Republican from Chesterfield. In the Senate, it was carried by state Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance. Schroer on Tuesday called the bill “a common sense piece of legislation that prioritizes property rights over radical government overreach.” Brown in a March Senate committee hearing called it a “property rights bill.” “Basically what has happened is [cities] are forcing people to take Section 8 housing,” Brown said. “…I would submit this kind of amounts to an illegal appropriation of private property. But there’s a very practical reason why a landlord may not want to do Section 8 housing.” Kansas City passed a source of income discrimination ban last year, though it was in large part paused by the courts in February. Columbia, St. Louis, Webster Groves and Clayton have similar protections on the books. The laws make it illegal for landlords to discriminate based solely on the fact of renters’ lawful sources of income, including Section 8, veterans’ benefits and Social Security. State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, said Tuesday that the legislation would not only undo those local ordinances but exacerbate homelessness. “But really the fear for those who are the most vulnerable is that this would lead to further problems, expanding the homeless population,” she said The bill to override these local policies passed the Senate after Democratic Sen. Patty Lewis of Kansas City successfully added an amendment to carve out the portions of Kansas City that are in Jackson and Clay counties. Democratic state Sen. Stephen Webber of Columbia also successfully added an amendment to allow those who receive veterans’ benefits to continue being protected from source-of-income based housing discrimination. GET THE MORNING HEADLINES.
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Proponents have characterized localities’ protections as overreach, forcing property owners’ hands. The bill has the support of landlords groups, apartment associations, the realtors’ association and the conservative think tank Show Me Institute. During a hearing in January, Brown said proponents are “not unsympathetic to tenants that have some housing insecurities. “It’s not about the Section 8 tenant,” he said, “it’s about the program that we do not want to be forced into.” Not every property owner, he said, wants to undergo the bureaucratic hurdles to accept Section 8. David Stokes, director of municipal policy at the Show Me Institute, said source of income discrimination bans are simply a “violation of the property rights of landlords.” Landlords, he said, shouldn’t be required to participate in a voluntary federal program. “Just as the State of Missouri has long forbidden cities from imposing rent control,” he said, “this is just a very similar next step, and I think it will really benefit housing options and housing availability throughout Missouri.” In January’s hearing, Kansas City Councilman Johnathan Duncan emphasized that landlords under the ordinance can still screen tenants and deny individuals based on other reasons, just not for the sole basis of the source of their income. He said landlords could still deny applicants with violent criminal histories or low credit scores for instance. “I hope that representatives understand that we’re here to govern ourselves and definitely can pass our own laws,” Duncan said. “And I think it is an affront to the city of Kansas City and the other municipalities in the state of Missouri — that the state would know better than how we know and how to govern ourselves.” Opponents also said the bill could hurt affordable housing availability. The city of Kansas City has been opposed along with the anti-poverty nonprofit Empower Missouri and an association of public housing authorities in Missouri. Mallory Rusch, executive director of Empower, said in the January hearing that the discrimination bans help vulnerable Missourians secure housing. “Discrimination bans like the one passed in Kansas City and other places in the state are really a key tool for local governments to prevent homelessness and ensure that those with the least among us can put a roof over their heads,” she said, “and we really believe that the state should not be preventing local governments from enacting these provisions when they know their communities best.” Gavriel Schreiber, general counsel to Kansas City’s mayor, testified in March that the bill “targets some of our most respected citizens, veterans, seniors,” because those individuals who get most of their income from benefits often don’t have their benefits counted toward their rent-to-income ratio mandated by landlords. “The ordinance says at its base that if you have a lawful source of income, a landlord cannot refuse to rent to you simply because they don’t like where you get your lawful money from,” Schreiber said. Dozens of states and localities nationally have these protections, which cover around 60% of families with Section 8 vouchers, according to the federal government. Enforcement in states and cities where the protections have been passed has been somewhat mixed, but studies have found that overall the protections modestly improve outcomes for voucher holders. This story was updated at 10:20 a.m. to include an amendment that carves out most of Kansas City from the legislation, except for the portions in Platte and Cass counties. YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE.
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by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News Grain Valley had just won two of the three doubles matches against visiting Truman Tuesday afternoon on the Eagles home court. And coach Randy Draper was focused on the singles competition. “This is going to be close,” Draper said. “I'm happy we won those two doubles matches.” A strong finish in singles play helped the Eagles claim a 7-2 victory over their White Conference rivals in a win that brought a smile to the veteran coach's face. “This match was a lot closer than the score indicates,” said Draper, whose team improved to 8-7-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play. “Any time you play Scott (Lett's) team you know you're going to be in for a battle. But our guys played great. It's nice to see all their hard work pay off because we've lost a lot of one- and two-point dual matches." “This was a perfect day for tennis, and a great ending. I'm really proud of our guys.” When the match was still razor tight, No. 5 singles player Drew Drinkwater picked up a win that clenched the match. “We were up 4-2 and I knew that if I won, we'd win the match,” said Drinkwater, a sophomore whose older brother Ben, a 2024 graduate, was No. 1 on the Eagles last season. Drinkwater won the match 8-4. “We have a lot of great guys and great leaders on the team this season," Drinkwater added. "Monday was our Senior Night and we have to say goodbye to 10 seniors. That's going to be tough, but I want to keep improving and do my best to be a leader next season.” Grain Valley's John Cassidy won 8-3 at No. 2 singles, Riley Spencer 8-1 at No. 3, Marius Cooper 9-8 (7-4), Drew Drinkwater 8-4 at No. 5 and Blake Galvan 8-2 at No. 6. Spencer and Cooper won 8-1 at No. 2 doubles and Drinkwater and Aidan Wilson 8-3 at No. 3. There was one highlight for the Patriots as senior No. 1 singles player Josh Bush won 8-1 at No. 1 singles to pick up his milestone 50th career win. Bush also teamed with Isaac Ulberg to claim a 9-7 victory over Truman's Compton and John Cassidy. Bush was presented a plaque after the match. Bush, whose grandfather Tom Bush is an American Legion and amateur baseball icon in Eastern Jackson County, was on hand for his grandson's 50th victory. "I'm so proud of Josh," Tom Bush said. "He really picked up tennis as a freshman and has enjoyed a lot of success the past four years." The first time Bush picked up a tennis racket was his freshman year. The younger Bush admitted that he enjoyed great success and felt comfortable the first time he stepped on a court. "I think my real strength in consistency," said Bush, who improved to 11-1 on the season. "When I was a freshman, I really felt comfortable and confident the first time I played. And I've continued to improve as a player thanks to our great coaches. I owe them a lot." Truman head coach Scott Lett said Bush is one of the most talented players he's ever coached. "I've coached kids who grew up with a racquet in their hands, and along comes Josh - who had never really played the game before high school - and he starts out at our No. 6 singles spot and works his way up to No. 2 before the end of his freshman season. "Tonight we wanted to honor him for his 50th career singles win. He just keeps improving season by season and match by match. He's been fun to watch this season." Bush said this season means so much to him because he will no longer play after graduating from Truman. "It's great to have this much success as a senior," said Bush, who helped Truman win it's own tournament earlier this season with a 10-2 victory over Compton. "I really enjoy singles play because I can get frustrated in doubles because I don't want to let my doubles partner down.”  Ten senior members of coach Randy Draper's tennis team were honored Monday on Senior Night. This is one of the largest senior classes Draper has coached in his iconic career with the Eagles. Photo credit: Bill Althaus  Grain Valley sophomore Drew Drinkwater helped the Eagles claim a 7-2 victory over the Truman Patriots Tuesday afternoon at home. His 8-4 victory at No. 5 singles secured the win as it was the fifth victory of the match. Photo credit: Bill Althaus  by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News The Grain Valley boys volleyball team seemed to be going through a roller coaster ride. After a dominant first set in which the Eagles won in Monday’s non-conference matchup with St. Michael The Archangel Catholic, the Eagles had a mistake-filled second and third set, which allowed the Guardians to take a 2-1 set lead. The fourth set went back and forth, but the Eagles went on a late run to force a fifth and deciding set. From there, Eagles senior Maddox Dresslaer rattled off six consecutive service points to help Grain Valley take a 25-11, 18-25, 22-25, 25-20, 15-6 victory at St. Michael The Archangel Catholic High School. A few of the Eagles were dinged up throughout the match. Dresslaer jammed one of his thumbs and junior Jordan Jackson had been battling a sore knee from the third set on, but the Eagles were able to battle through it all. “I have had it forever, I had a basic jumper’s knee,” Jackson said. “I felt something pop going up. It felt strained when I was sprinting or jumping. I think it’s something I just have to ice it up and play through it.” In the second and third game, Grain Valley had many self-inflicted errors and some miscommunication among the six players on the court resulted in some easy points for the Guardians. “I think we earned six points in the second set total,” Grain Valley head coach Tori Squiers said. “We had about 10 errors to start each game back-to-back and got ourselves into a rut. It’s hard to come out of those mentally. “When we started making errors, we started playing timid.” Added Dresslaer: “We let our own issues and errors bother us.” Those two games were proceeded by a first set that made it seem like the Eagles were headed for a dominant win. They jumped out to a 17-7 lead and from there, Jackson and Dresslaer combined for five kills to help their team win the set in convincing fashion. After the Guardians took a 2-1 set lead, the Eagles seemed to come out with more energy as they began with a 5-0 spurt, which was highlighted by two kills from Dresslaer and an ace from sophomore Tyler Hoyt. However, the Guardians chipped away at the Eagles’ advantage and went on a 16-5 run that was powered by a kill and an ace from senior Donzell Reives and a kill and scoring block from junior David Rogge. Grain Valley (14-6-1) wasn’t about to go away quietly, though. They got a pair of key blocks from sophomore Tristan Hoyt to help pull within 16-14 and they continued the momentum from there. The score was tied at 18-18 after an error from Grain Valley. However, a kill from senior Ryan Rohr began a 7-2 run and Jackson chipped in with two of his own, including a dump that fooled the St. Michael defense and dropped to the floor to force a fifth set. St. Michael began the fifth with a 2-0 lead, but after Dresslaer got a two-handed kill to get Grain Valley on the scoreboard, he rattled off six straight service points to put the Eagles up 8-2, capped by an ace. The Guardians wouldn’t get closer than six points from there as Grain Valley cruised the rest of the way. “After the win in the fourth set, they came out ready to run our fast offense,” Squiers said. “We started communicating and playing as a team.” While Dresslaer and Jackson scored some key points in the final two games, Tyler Hoyt was a big part of the comeback as he had three kills during that stretch. “Tyler is just an athlete, and he makes these crazy plays where you are not sure he’s going to get to it sometimes and he’s there,” Squiers said. “he’s looking to play an aggressive game, and he swings hard.” Dresslaer led all players with 15 kills. Photo credit: David Rainey, Grain Valley News  The ongoing feud between Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. and county legislators reached a new height this week, with three legislators calling for the Missouri Attorney General to investigate White. On Tuesday, the Missouri State Tax Commission (STC) directed Jackson County to base 2025 assessments on corrected 2023 and 2024 assessments. The commission also reaffirmed the order to roll back earlier assessments. White indicated in a press release following the ruling that the County would not comply, stating that the "STC has appealed that decision and the case is currently pending before the Missouri Court of Appeals. Now, in a clear attempt to circumvent the court’s authority, the STC is issuing a new order attempting to force Jackson County to implement the very order the court threw out." “This is shocking,” White said in the statement. “They are trying to push through the same order the court already determined was unenforceable and do it while their appeal is still pending. That’s not just shocking, it’s dangerous.” “If the STC can arbitrarily change values and shift the tax burden on a whim, what stops them from raising your home’s value years after you’ve already paid your taxes?” said White. “That should scare every taxpayer, especially those who have been undervalued for years and may be forced to pay more years later.” Last week, Jackson County announced it would voluntarily limit 2025 residential property assessment increases to no more than 15%. “We made the decision to limit increases because the process had become too uncertain to rely on,” White said. “Today’s order is another example of the unpredictability that made a stable, responsible path forward so important.” Legislators Manny Abarca, Venessa Huskey, and Sean Smith sent a letter to Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey calling for a formal review into actions taken by White. In a release, Abarca said the letter details serious concerns over legal and ethical breaches that may compromise the financial stability and governance of Jackson County. Abarca states the following issues were raised in the letter: "Failure to Commit Full-Time to Office: County Charter mandates the Executive serve full-time. Mr. White’s simultaneous role as coach for a minor league baseball team, the Monarchs, appears to significantly interfere with his county duties. Budget Irregularities: The Executive has not provided the Legislature with the required fiscal data for 2023 and 2024 to support the 2025 budget proposal, placing legislative oversight in jeopardy. Unlawful Disbursement of Funds: Amid an ongoing legal dispute over the 2025 budget, Mr. White’s administration uploaded and acted on the 2024 budget as if it were lawfully enacted for 2025—circumventing the Legislature and removing financial safeguards. Veto of Critical Ordinance: The Executive’s veto of Ordinance 5958 directly contradicts a court-upheld State Tax Commission Order, putting the county’s upcoming bi-annual property reassessment at risk and threatening the financial health of residents and taxing jurisdictions." “These actions undermine not only our local government’s financial foundation, but also the trust of Jackson County residents,” Abarca said. “We must be accountable to taxpayers and, above all else, we must be fiscally responsible with the funds constituents entrust us with, and we cannot afford another failed attempt at an appeal”. In a release Wednesday evening, White responded to the letter sent to the Attorney General. “The letter recently sent to the Missouri Attorney General by a small group of Jackson County legislators is a deeply disappointing attempt to mislead the public through false and politically motivated accusations. This coordinated attack does not reflect the facts, the law or the truth about my commitment to the people of Jackson County." “As County Executive, I have upheld every responsibility of this office with integrity, accountability and full-time dedication. I was elected to lead, not to play politics, and I remain focused on advancing the work that matters most – delivering critical services, ensuring fiscal stability and supporting our communities. My administration continues to operate within the framework of the County Charter and state law, even as others choose division over collaboration." “What our residents need is steady, principled leadership, not sensationalism. These attacks are a distraction from the real work that must be done to strengthen our county and serve every person who calls it home. I will not be deterred. My focus remains on doing the job I was elected to do and doing it with integrity.”  by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News Blue Springs South High School graduate David Cook attracted the national spotlight and performed around the world after winning the 2008 American Idol competition. And none of those concerts meant more to Cook than a Saturday night benefit event at the Blue Springs South performing Arts Center. The 2001 South graduate was the singer everyone in Eastern Jackson County voted for when he starred on American Idol, and now, he's giving back to a friend, and a community that gave so much to him during his historic run on the popular singing/songwriting television series. When Cook learned that his fourth-grade football teammate and former South classmate Brandon Claxton, a lieutenant on the Blue Springs Police Department who now lives in Grain Valley, was diagnosed with cancer he asked how he could help. What makes Claxton's diagnosis even more heartbreaking is that his wife recently died of cancer, leaving him with four young children to raise. He has Mantle Cell Lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is a group of cancers that affect the lymphatic system. The Blue Springs Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association began a series of fundraisers to help defray Claxton's medical and travel expenses to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. And one of the first individuals who asked how he could help was Cook. “David is an amazing young man who has always cared about his community and his friends, like Brandon,” said BSCPAAA representative Paula Pickett. “This is a benefit event – all the money will go to Brandon and his family. We worked with David and his representatives and were able to make this happen – God bless him.” Cook and his crew were among the first to arrive at South late Saturday afternoon, on the same stage where he performed in “Singing in the Rain,” “The Music Man” and “West Side Story” while at student at South. As he sat in the empty auditorium, the memories began to wash over him like waves. “I am a huge ball of anxiety and excitement right now,” Cook said, when asked about his return to Blue Springs. “When I heard about what Brandon, who is a pillar in the community, I wanted to help. “I played fourth grade little league football with Brandon and his dad was our coach. Brandon's story is heartbreaking, when you think about a husband who lost his wife to cancer. He has four young kids, and now they are here to love and support their dad. “I know Brandon's mother Linda has been an inspiration for her son and so many people in this loving community are doing all they can to support him.” Claxton and several members of his family arrived at the high school and were overwhelmed by the items in the silent auction and the number of volunteers who this magical night happen. “I've known David since we were in fourth grade,” Claxton said, while he held his 6-year-old daughter Brylie. “It's amazing he's coming back to do this benefit concert. But that's the type of guy David is – he cares about everyone and has a big heart.” Claxton's mother, Linda, said she watched every episode of “American Idol,” during the 2008 season. “I watched David, all my friends and family voted for David, and now he's back in Blue Springs to help my son and his family,” Linda said. “We've all been blown away by the love and support of our community, and we're so thankful to everyone who has helped us get through this.” While Claxton did his best to avoid the spotlight, his 12-year-old son Benson, who attends Grain Valley North Middle School, handled questions like a veteran of the music industry. “When we got here, I looked around and saw all the volunteers and everyone setting up for the concert and I was like, 'They're doing all this for my dad,'” Benson said. “And that is so cool. My dad has helped so many people (over the past 20 years) with the police department and now, they're helping him.” The silent auction – that included many Kansas City Chiefs and Royals signed items and tickets, along with an array of gift baskets – and the concert raised $22,000, all of which will go to Claxton.” Pickett added that more than $2,000 in donations was raised during the event. “We also had a Bingo Night at Sandy's Restaurant in Blue Springs,” Pickett said, “and that raised $20,000. So we just want to thank everyone for being so generous and showing up for Brandon and his family.” If anyone would like to make a contribution to the Claxton fund please go to: bscpa.org/claxtons-shield.  Blue Springs South High School graduate and American Idol winner David Cook, left, visits with his longtime friend and former classmate Brandon Claxton, a lieutenant in the Blue Springs Police Department who is battling cancer. Cook returned home to headline a benefit concert Saturday night at Blue Springs South that raised $22,000 for Claxton, a Grain Valley resident. Photo credit: Bill Althaus by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News As parents, family members, friends and teammates gathered in the new Grain Valley High School field house Friday morning, activities director Brandon Hart paid tribute to four members of the Eagles 2025 Spring National Signing Day. Cate Barnes, who will play tennis at Southwestern Illinois University; Kevin Johnson, basketball at Central Methodist University; Colston Parks, wrestling at Ottawa University; and Adalia Del Real, wrestling at Pella College all signed their letters to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. “I am very proud of all our students who are signing this morning,” Hart said, “and I am proud of their parents and family members who made financial and time commitments to help them take part in the signing ceremony. “Their families have made a commitment to these student/athletes much like they have made to achieve success in the classroom and in their respective sports, and I believe that should be recognized.” Barnes, who started playing tennis as a youngster in coach Randy Draper's Parks and Recreation classes, has been a part of four conference championship teams, three district title winners and has played for the Eagles fourth, third and second-place state teams. She was 23-1 this season in doubles and shared The Examiner's Player of the Year award with doubles teammate Brooklyn Spencer. “We made a trip to Southern Illinois and I felt at home,” Barnes said. “There was a family feel to the team and I really liked the coaches and players. Being a senior, I experienced a lot of emotions this season and this morning – signing my letter – makes it all seem real. “I may never love another tennis team and coach like Coach (Randy) Draper, I am looking forward to new challenges.” Johnson, who will take his basketball talent to Central Methodist played just one season for the Eagles because he was a home-schooled student. “I came to school on the fourth block every day this season and that allowed me to play basketball,” Johnson said. “This has been one of the best experiences of my life and I'm looking forward to attending Central Methodist.” Assistant coach Ryan Adams praised Johnson, as head coach Randy Draper was out of town with his tennis team. “When Kevin started going to school here, me made an immediate impact in the paint,” Adams said of the towering center. “He loved to be coached and deserves a chance to play college basketball.” Wrestling coach Donnie Horner lauded the success of Del Real and Parks. “Colton's time in our program has been amazing,” the coach said, “and he has grown in so many ways. The springs of his freshman year he stood 5-foot-1 and weighed 105 pounds. “Now, he towers over me and weighs about 150 pounds. But, he has grown in more than physical stature. “He has gone from a kid that some may have overlooked to an incredible leader.” Horner praised Parks' leadership skills and his love of coaching young wrestlers. “Colston spent countless hours with our Grain Valley Youth Wrestling team. He has given our young wrestlers a great example of what it means to be an Eagle.” Parks, who now stands 5-11, praised the Eagles program after signing his national letter. “Coach Horner always believed in me,” Parks said, “and I'm happy that I was able to grow and become a part of our team. I have great memories and am looking forward to wrestling in college.” Horner said Del Real made an immediate impact when she moved to Grain Valley from Indiana. “She didn't just join the wrestling team, she redefined it,” Horner said. “She joined a team with very few ladies on it and through her hard work and dedication to our team, she played a big role in getting our team where it is now.” Del Real praised Horner and her teammates for much of her success, as she is one of only three multiple-time state qualifiers. “When I came here from Indiana we had two girls in the program, now we have a team with double digits and we're all so proud of Coach Horner and the success we've had the past four years. “Coach Horner is a great coach, and he believes in all of us. I will miss this program, which is more like a family to me, and I am excited to see how I do at Ottawa.”  Grain Valley High School seniors, from left, Cate Barnes, tennis at Southwestern Illinois University; Kevin Johnson, basketball at Central Methodist University; Colston Parks, wrestling at Ottawa University; and Adalia Del Real, wrestling at Pella College signed their national letters of intent Friday morning in the Eagles new field house. Photo credit: Bill Althaus by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News When goaltender Jack LaFontaine and forward Cade Borchardt are on their A Game, the Kansas City Mavericks are a tough team to handle. Just ask the Tulsa Oilers. LaFontaine stood tall in the net Saturday night as the Mavericks needed an overtime period to beat the Tulsa Oilers 3-2 Saturday night at Cable Dahmer Arena. The Oilers defeated Kansas City 4-2 in Friday night's opening round of postseason play, which magnified the importance of Saturday night's come-from-behind victory. Borchardt, who led the ECHL with 40 goals during the regular season, scored both goals in regulation with the game-tying goal coming with just 1:13 left in the third period. Marcus Crawford scored the game winner at 2:51 of the 20-minute overtime period that featured five vs. five skaters on the ice. “Jack can go unappreciated sometimes because he is such a great goaltender,” said Borchardt, who scored his first goal at 14:18 of the first period. “You expect great things from him, and he delivers game in and game out. We lost that tough (4-2) game Friday night (with the fourth goal coming after LaFontaine left the ice for a sixth attacker), and Laffer comes back and inspires all of us with the way he played tonight. “He's been the best goalie in the league (during the regular season) and he's the best in the playoffs. We wouldn't be here tonight without Laffer.” LaFontaine stopped 29 of 31 shots on goal and drew praise from coach Tad O'Had. “The guys played great in front of Laffer because he plays great every night,” O'Had said. “We lost a tough game Friday night, and Jack was part of the solution tonight. You know what you're going to get from Jack every night and he just got stronger as the game went on.” The score was 1-1 after the first period and Tulsa took a 2-1 lead at 15:47 of the second period when the puck kicked off Jimmy Mazza's skate and caromed to Drew Elliott, who scored his third goal of the series. “We knew we were going to win this game,” Borchardt said. “It was 2-1 for a while, but we tied it up late and we knew we were going to win in overtime. Borchardt's game-tying goal came off a shot by Casey Carreau, with Borchardt standing in front of the net. “It was head's up for Casey to get that shot off,” Borchardt added. “I was in the right place at the right time.” The Mavericks now head to Oklahoma, where they will play three games against the Oilers April 22, 24 and 25. If a sixth game is necessary, the two teams return to Cable Dahmer Arena April 28. “We would have liked to have won both games, but this is not a first-team-to-win two game series,” the coach said. “It's a best-of-seven series and we need to go to Tulsa and play like we did on the road during the regular season – where we were very successful.” And LaFontaine will be ready to go Tuesday. “We get a few days off, we play well on the road, so we're all excited,” LaFontaine said. “The playoffs are like a mosaic – some parts aren't pretty and some parts are beautiful. “Tonight was beautiful! The guys did a great job, our defense was oustanding and Borch and Crawford got those big goals. We're excited about hitting the road and going to Tulsa. Tulsa 4, Kansas City 2 The Mavericks took a 2-0 lead into Friday night's opening playoff game, only to see the Oilers score four goals in the third period to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Nate Knoepke opened the scoring with a slap shot at 1:16, finishing off a clean setup from Borchardt and Carreau. Less than four minutes later, Kansas City extended the lead. Damien Giroux redirected a bouncing puck at 5:08, with Landon McCallum and Knoepke assisting on the play. The Mavericks carried a 2-0 lead into the third period. Tulsa, however, flipped the momentum just 15 seconds into the final frame. Elliott scored to make it 2-1, and the Oilers kept pushing. Goals from Reid Petryk and Alec Butcher in a 31-second span midway through the period gave Tulsa a 3-2 advantage. Elliott added an empty-net goal at 19:44 to close it out. LaFontaine had 23 saves in the game.  The Kansas City Mavericks mob goaltender Jack LaFontaine after he starred in the net of Saturday night's 3-2 overtime win over the Tulsa Oilers to even the their Mountain Division semifinal series 1-1. The series moves to Tulsa for three games, beginning Tuesday night. Photo courtesy the Kansas City Mavericks  Damien Giroux, left, congratulates Marcus Crawford after he scored the game-winning goal to give the Kansas City Mavericks at 3-2 overtime win over the Tulsa Oilers Saturday night at Cable Dahmer Arena. Photo courtesy the Kansas City Mavericks  De'Shawn R. Hunley, Grandview, faces two charges, armed criminal action and first-degree assault in connection to a shooting on Monday, April 14th at the Dollar General Store, 1701 NE Main.
In a probable cause statement, Grain Valley Police Department outlined a marijuana deal gone awry, with Hunley allegedly firing several rounds and shooting the victim who was allegedly attempting to sell marijuana to Hunley in the face. Hunley's bond review is scheduled for April 22nd in Jackson County Circuit Court. Prior reporting: Quick News - Grain Valley News Armed Criminal Action |
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