|
by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society 601 Main Street (photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society) Today it is called the Community Garden, but do you remember the once stately two-story home that occupied the front of the lot facing Main Street? Actually the 1920 U. S. Census called it Broadway and the occupants of the home were Benjamin Ervin Herrington, his wife Bess, and their older daughter, Mayzelle. Their daughter Cecyle Frances was born in 1922. Ervin and Bess came to Grain Valley from Simpson County Kentucky, where all of the Herrington’s and their descendants got their start. They were married in Tennessee in 1902. Ervin (1880-1959) came here to be near his Uncle Merrick. (Merrick was my great-great Grandfather and he had been living in the area since 1854.) When they first came to Jackson County the Herrington’ home was in the country. Later, Ervin (1880-1959) and Besse (1882-1975) moved to their big old house “in town” but he continued to farm land north of Grain Valley on Seymore Road. Later, he was employed at a stock farm. In the 1920s and 30s they rented their second story rooms to Homer & Nellie Fay Clements and Miss Lela Guthrey, the superintendent (Homer) and two of the teachers at the high school. Besse & Ervin in the front yard 1950s photo of Mayor Herrington, City of Grain Valley
by Michael Smith Grain Valley senior Pierce Bousselot didn’t have his best stuff. Well, that’s what head coach Brian Driskell said after Wednesday’s Class 6 District 5 first-round matchup with Columbia Hickman. The left-hander was tasked with helping the Eagles advance to the district semifinals, and he had a big hand in doing just that. The senior tossed a complete game as he allowed just one earned run (two total) on six hits and he only walked one and struck out one to guide Grain Valley to a 6-2 victory at Blue Springs South High School. “Pierce probably didn’t have his best stuff today but that is the great thing about guys who can just pitch,” Driskell said. “Even if they don’t have their best stuff, they can still find a way to win.” “He wasn’t locating stuff the way he wanted to and he was a little frustrated with himself. But he did a great job.” The No. 4-seeded Eagles (18-13) now advance to take on No. 1 seed Blue Springs South at 1 p.m. today at South. The win was 10th in their last 11 games. The contest was locked into a pitcher dual until the top of the fourth inning when Hickman pitcher Braden Hemmer blasted a solo shot over the left center field fence to score the first run of the game. In that same inning, the Kewpies added another run when Spencer Baehman singled, reached third on a wild pickoff throw and scored on an infield error following a ground ball off the bat of Carson Shuttlesworth. That was all Bousselot gave up as he kept the Kewpies off balance for the rest of the game. He got plenty of help from his defense, especially in the sixth inning. Hemmer led off the frame with a double, but ended up getting caught in a rundown between second and third base, following a ground ball Zach Bates. “After putting up a zero in the first inning, Brek (Sloan) came up to me and said ‘You don’t need to strike guys out. Make them put the ball in play and we’ll play defense.’ “My changeup was working well. It was my best pitch.” On the play, Grain Valley shortstop Avery Garmon threw the ball to third baseman Sloan, who eventually tagged out Hemmer in the rundown. Two batters later, second baseman Michael Montgomery made a sliding stop on a sharp ground ball hit by Baehman. He was thrown out at first base to end the inning. While Bousselot did his job, Grain Valley’s offense came alive late. Sloan drove in the Eagles first run in the bottom of the fourth when Garmon scored from second base on his RBI-double to the left-center field gap. Designated hitter Max Snyder then followed that up by sneaking a ground ball through the left side of the infield for a run-scoring single to tie the game at 2-all after four innings. Garmon then gave Grain Valley the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth when the left-handed batter ripped an opposite field single to left field, scoring Shane Barnett from second base with two outs. “Avery has been really locked in the past five to six weeks,” Driskell said. Added Garmon: “In our pregame scouting, we knew they didn’t double up on their off-speed pitches so I was sitting fastball. I knew that going in. It was huge.” Hemmer intentionally walked catcher Brody Baker to put Garmon into scoring position. Left fielder Ian Kamstra made him pay for that decision as he flipped an RBI double to left center field to help the Eagles carry a 4-2 lead into the sixth. “That put a little smile on my face,” Kamstra said of Hickman intentionally walking Baker to face him. “I was excited to hit and help out my team. “That is probably one of the best feelings right there.” Grain Valley added two more insurance runs in the sixth. With runners at second and first base, right fielder Trent Melton reached on a bunt single and a throwing error on the play allowed Snyder to score from second base. Montgomery later had an RBI groundout to complete the scoring and help the Eagles advance to the district semifinals. Grain Valley senior starting pitcher Pierce Bousselot allowed just two runs on six hits as he walked one and struck out one in seven innings to help the Eagles beat Columbia Hickman 6-2 in the first round of the Class 6 District 5 Tournament Wednesday at Blue Springs South High School. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley designated hitter Max Snyder, right, walks of the field with head coach Brian Driskell after tying the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth, following an RBI single. Photo credit: Michael Smith
by Michael Smith Grain Valley senior Owen Herbert did it again. After finishing as an all-state golfer last season, taking 11th with a two-day score of 154. This season, he finished his career with a second all-state placement as he shot a 74 on Monday and a 76 on Tuesday to end with a five-way tie for 12th place with a score of 150 at the Class 4 Missouri State High School Boys Golf Championships at the Sedalia Country Club. The top 15 scores earn all-state medals. “The goal for my freshman year was to make it to state all four years,” Herbert said. “COVID canceled my freshman season, but I was able to make it the other years, so I was three for three. “I knew coming in that Grain Valley didn’t have the best history of all-time golfers. There had definitely been some good years in the past. My goal was to have my name on the (Grain Valley all-state list) within my four years here. Now, I will be there somewhere. It is cool to know that all the hard work paid off a little bit.” The Eagles finished sixth as a team with a two-day score of 636 after shooting a 312 on Monday and finishing with a 324 on Tuesday. They were seven strokes off from earning a team plaque as Springfield Glendale took fourth with a score of 629. Pembroke Hill won with a 611, shooting a 303 on Monday and a 308 on Tuesday. While his team didn’t come away with a plaque, head coach Andy Herbert was pleased with his team’s season, as Grain Valley qualified as a squad for just the second time in program history. The first time was last season. “Our goal was to bring home a trophy, and we didn’t, so that was a little disappointing,” Andy Herbert said. “They played well and competed well. It’s tough to replicate what you did on the first day on the second.” “They put our golf program on the map the past couple of years. It was a great run.” It was a great run for Owen Herbert, too, as he accomplished the uncommon feat of earning an all-state medal in two consecutive years. “As a coach and a dad, it’s a pretty unique experience,” Andy Hertber said of witnessing his son, Owen earning another medal. He knew where he stood on those last three holes and to stay even par, says a lot about his mental toughness. “He was able to focus and perform under pressure.” Herbert said he thought he didn’t have a good enough score to earn a medal after the final hole, but he ended up being pleasantly surprised. “They had a big scoreboard at the 18th green,” Owen Herbert said. “I knew I was going to have to play well on the back side to get into the top 15. I thought I was going to have to get a birdie on the last hole to make it into the top 15. “I hit a ball out of the bunker and thought I had to make that. But I tapped in a short put to get par. I looked at the leaderboard and saw I was in the top 15, so that was pretty cool.” He said he came up clutch on the final three holes of the par-70 course as he earned par on each of them. Junior Charlie Aldred finished in a three-way tie for 29th with a score of 155, just five strokes shy of earning an all-state medal himself. He shot a 77 on Monday and a 78 on Tuesday. Freshman Eli Herbert was in a four-way tie for 49th place as he finished at 162. Senior Jaiden Wilson tied three others in 64th with a score of 169. Grain Valley senior Owen Herbert shot a two-day total of 150 at the Missouri State High School Boys Golf Championships to earn a all-state medal Tuesday at the Sedalia County Club. He finished 12th overall. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDY HERBERT
(StatePoint) The International Code Council’s 43rd annual Building Safety Month campaign has begun, and week one’s theme: “Building Safety Starts at Home” highlights how building safety impacts our everyday lives.
According to InjuryFacts.NSC.org, about 16 out of 100 people were injured in a home or community venue in 2021. The leading causes that contribute to these injuries, such as drowning, fire smoke, and general home maintenance, can be prevented by acting ahead of time. As the leading global source of model codes, standards and building safety solutions, the Code Council is passionate about educating homeowners on fire safety, home maintenance and sustainability practices. Here are some safety tips from the Code Council to help prevent accidents and keep your family and community safe: Fire Safety Tips: • Put a smoke alarm on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area and inside every bedroom. Test each smoke alarm regularly and replace it every ten years. • Install home fire sprinklers. They are relatively affordable and can increase property value and lower insurance rates. • Make an escape plan with a meeting place outside so everyone knows how to get out fast. • Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from portable heaters. • Keep all items that can burn away from your home. Remember to clean leaves from your gutters and clear dead leaves and branches from shrubs and trees surrounding your home. Home Maintenance Tips: • Never overload electrical cords or power strips. • Don’t use appliances that have damaged cords. • For mold prevention, watch for leaky pipes, condensation and wet spots, and fix sources of moisture problems as soon as possible. • Keep in mind that there are several materials and items that should never be flushed down the toilet, including medication, disposable wipes, coffee grounds and more. • To prevent your pipes from freezing in the winter, drain water from the swimming pool and water sprinkler supply lines following the manufacturer’s or installer’s directions. • Make sure all pedestrian gates in the barrier fence of your swimming pool are self-closing and self-latching. According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, the average U.S. family can spend $2,000 a year on energy bills. This means that reducing your home energy use is the single most effective way to save money and reduce your home’s contribution to greenhouse gasses. The Code Council recognizes that for many people, it’s unclear where to start, and suggests the following tips to help communities forge a path forward. Energy and Sustainability Tips: • Install water-saving shower heads and low-flow faucet aerators and use your water meter to check for hidden water leaks. These steps can improve water conservation. • To prevent stormwater runoff pollution, never dump anything down storm drains. • Change the filters in your home’s heating and cooling system regularly to increase energy efficiency. • Replace your light bulbs with LEDs, which use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. • Build green and design your home with materials that are easily recyclable, reusable, renewable, durable, affordable and low maintenance. • Build a rain garden to capture roof drainage and divert it to your garden or landscaping to recycle non-potable water. Be sure to check your local rules on rainwater harvesting prior to installation. For more information, check out the Code Council’s Safety Tool Kits and additional resources at iccsafe.org. Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased by 4,700 jobs in April 2023 from March 2023, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.5 percent. Private industry employment increased by 3,700 jobs and government employment increased by 1,000 jobs. Over the year, there was an increase of 59,900 jobs from April 2022 to April 2023, and the unemployment rate increased by two-tenths of a percentage point, from 2.3 percent in April 2022 to 2.5 percent in April 2023.
UNEMPLOYMENT Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained unchanged in April 2023, holding steady at the revised March 2023 rate of 2.5 percent. The April 2023 rate increased by two-tenths of a percentage point from the April 2022 rate of 2.3 percent. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 77,913 in April 2023, up by 503 from 77,410 in March. The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate decreased in April 2023, declining by three-tenths of a percentage point to 2.4 percent from the March 2023 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 2.7 percent. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 2 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for April 2023 was 3.1 percent. Missouri's labor force participation rate was 63.2 percent in April 2023, six-tenths of a percentage point higher than the national rate of 62.6 percent. Missouri's employment-population ratio was 61.6 percent in April 2023, 1.2 percentage points higher than the national rate of 60.4 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate of 2.5 percent in April 2023 was nine-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.4 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for eight years. EMPLOYMENT Missouri's non-farm payroll employment was 2,974,600 in April 2023, up by 4,700 from the revised March 2023 figure. The March 2023 total was revised upward by 600 jobs from the preliminary estimate. Goods-producing industries decreased by 200 jobs over the month, with manufacturing gaining 600 jobs and mining, logging, and construction losing 800 jobs over the month. Private service-providing industries increased by 3,900 jobs between March 2023 and April 2023. Employment in private service-providing industries increased in private education and health services (3,400 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (2,800 jobs); professional and business services (800 jobs); other services (600 jobs); and information (200 jobs). Employment decreased in leisure and hospitality (-2,600 jobs) and financial activities (-1,300 jobs). Total government employment increased by 1,000 jobs over the month, with an increase in local government (1,100 jobs) and a decline in federal government (-100 jobs). State government was unchanged over the month. Over the year, total payroll employment increased by 59,900 jobs from April 2022 to April 2023. The largest gain was in leisure and hospitality (13,700 jobs); manufacturing (11,500 jobs); private education and health services (10,700 jobs); professional and business services (7,700 jobs); other services (5,600 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (3,000 jobs); financial activities (2,100 jobs); and information (300 jobs). Employment decreased in mining, logging, and construction (-500 jobs). Government employment increased by 5,800 jobs over the year, with an increase in local government (6,100 jobs) and decreases in federal (-100 jobs) and state government (-200 jobs). Read the full report at https://meric.mo.gov/missouri-monthly-jobs-report. by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host a free No Boundaries: Outdoor Skills event from 12:30pm to 4:00pm on Wednesday, May 31, at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs. This program for ages 8 and older is designed to connect people with physical or mental ability challenges with nature and the outdoors. Guardians or assistants must accompany participants. MDC staff will teach participants skills such as fishing, canoeing, and target shooting with air rifles. All equipment and bait for fishing will be provided. Staff will coach and assist participants as they try out the skills. All lessons will be outdoors. Hats, bug spray, and sunscreen are recommended. Registration is required. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4At MDC will host a No Boundaries: Outdoor Skills class on May 31st at Burr Oak Woods in Blue Springs. Photo credit: MDC
by Jason Hancock, Missouri Independent After two years of drama and gridlock, the Missouri Senate showed up in January determined to put the conflict between the conservative caucus and GOP leadership in the past. Submerged but ever-lurking, factionalism finally torpedoed the apparent comity in the session’s final week, and the Senate sank into the depths of filibusters and procedural hijinks. More than 3,000 non-budget bills were introduced during the 2023 session of the Missouri General Assembly. Only 43 found their way across the finish line. But while a host of big-ticket policy proposals died in the session’s waning days, lawmakers did manage to sign off on the largest budget in state history, promising historic investments in infrastructure projects, public education and the state’s social safety net. So who were the big winners and losers of the legislative session? WINNERS Lincoln HoughNo one had a bigger impact on the state’s $50.7 billion budget than Sen. Lincoln Hough. The Republican from Springfield took over as chairman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee this year. And after the House made massive cuts to the governor’s proposed budget, a bipartisan parade of lawmakers found their way to Hough’s fourth-floor office with hat in hand. Not only did Hough restore nearly all the money the House removed, he tripled the funding to rebuild Interstate 70. Then for good measure, in one of the rare moments when the conservative caucus wasn’t killing bills in the final week, Hough decided he’d take a turn by upending a virtual schools bill that many saw as a vehicle for more sweeping education measures. Hough just won re-election to a second term. That means he could be shaping the budget for the next three years — a lifetime in the age of term limits. Missouri DemocratsWith less than a third of legislative seats and no statewide office, Missouri Democrats couldn’t have asked for a better legislative session. The budget pumped money into a host of programs Democrats championed — expanded pre-kindergarten programs, raises for direct care workers, increases in child care subsidies and more. On the policy side, a years-long effort to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to one year finally came to fruition. In the Senate, Democrats got to sit back for the third year in a row as Republican infighting killed a host of bills they hated. Changes to the initiative petition process, a corporate tax cut, state control of the St. Louis police department, education bills targeting “critical race theory” and a host of others fizzled out despite being priorities for the GOP supermajority. ‘Gray market’ slot machinesAs video lottery machines proliferated in convenience stores, truck stops and other locations across the state, the companies that owned them made high-profile enemies. The Missouri Gaming Commission deemed the machines gambling devices, which are prohibited outside of licensed casinos. The state highway patrol considers them illegal. And in the Missouri Senate, the president pro tem and appropriations chair —Dave Schatz and Dan Hegeman — vowed to legislate them out of the state. But term limits drove Schatz and Hegeman out of office last year, and debate this year over these slot-machine-like games was focused on how to establish regulations instead of whether they should be allowed at all. That debate once again became latched to the push to legalize sports wagering, dooming both proposals and leaving the status quo in place. Sen. Caleb Rowden, the current president pro tem of the chamber, said as the session ended that a host of priority bills met their demise because a small group of legislators “want slot machines in gas stations.” With few local prosecutors willing to bring illegal gambling charges, and the attorney general’s office recusing itself from litigation filed by a gray-market gaming company, the question of the machine’s legality seems unlikely to resolve any time soon. Heavy constructorsHighway contractors were already in line for years of work under the limited plan for I-70 proposed by Gov. Mike Parson but the $2.8 billion for widening the highway statewide, plus a study in preparation for doing the same on Interstate 44, promise decades of work. There’s also money for building construction projects that include a $26 million state warehouse in Jefferson City, a $43 million veterinary hospital at the University of Missouri and a $300 million psychiatric hospital in Kansas City. Kansas CitySometimes the best bet is to fly under the radar. Republican ire this year was focused like a laser on St. Louis. Efforts to return to state control of the city’s police and allow the governor to appoint a special prosecutor to step in for the city circuit attorney continued to pick up steam as the session wore on. The only thing that stopped the bills was Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner’s decision to resign. Meanwhile, fresh off a Chiefs Super Bowl victory, Kansas City saw $50 million added to the budget for improvements at Arrowhead Stadium in advance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. There was also $300 million appropriated to replace an aging psychiatric hospital in the city. When the push to usurp local control of the St. Louis police was set aside, it cleared the path for legislation containing Blair’s Law — a longtime priority of Kansas City lawmakers that bans celebratory gunfire and is named after a local girl who was killed by a stray bullet in 2011. LOSERS LGBTQ+ communityNo issue garnered more legislative attention this year than the push to limit access to puberty blockers, hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgeries for transgender minors. Multiple marathon committee hearings, along with impassioned — and at times ugly — debate in both the House and Senate ended with legislation making its way to the governor’s desk. Lawmakers also mandated student athletes compete as their sex assigned at birth. As debate raged, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey launched an investigation into clinics that provide gender-affirming care and pushed for an emergency regulation that would block access to care for children and adults. While most didn’t pass, Missouri led the nation in the number of anti-LGBTQ bills introduced this year, causing advocates to label 2023 “the most dangerous legislative session in recent history.” Democrats are already sounding the alarm for next year, with Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo of Independence proclaiming on the session’s final day: “When you throw red meat to rabid people, they don’t stop being hungry.” Tort reformersRepublican efforts to enact changes to the judicial system have historically run into a wall of Democratic opposition. But with GOP supermajorities, those Democrats rarely held off legislation for long. But this year, when a bill seeking to modify the statute of limitations came up for debate in the Senate, a handful of Republicans joined the opposition. Trial attorneys have had GOP legislative allies in the past. But in recent years, they’ve begun supporting more Republicans, especially those aligned with the conservative caucus, who have found common ground defending the 7th amendment of the U.S. Constitution protecting the right to trial by jury. “Some people say we’re for trial attorneys,” Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, said during Senate debate earlier this year. “No, we’re for people. They should have a chance for redress.” MoDOT employeesFor the third year in a row, lawmakers rejected the Department of Transportation’s request to implement a market-based pay system to stem turnover. A decision in a court case filed by the Highways and Transportation Commission asserting it has authority to implement raises even without legislative approval has been pending since February 2022. While the court mulls the question, lawmakers pushed for a constitutional amendment stripping the Highways and Transportation Commission of its long-standing control of the multibillion-dollar state road fund. The effort faltered, but if the court sides with MoDOT it could give the proposed amendment renewed momentum. ‘School choice’ advocatesLast year saw lawmakers create a scholarship program for private schools and a funding increase for charter schools. Most anticipated supporters would build on those wins this year, and those expectations grew after the school testing data showed Missouri students doing worse across the board from pre-pandemic scores. But even a modest open enrollment bill barely squeaked out of the House before stalling in the Senate. And a bill seeking to fix the state’s virtual school law ran into a buzzsaw of opposition. Proponents aren’t going anywhere, are well funded and are eyeing 2024 legislative elections. But 2023 proved resistance hasn’t softened, and any changes to the state education system faces an uphill fight. The Independent’s Rudi Keller contributed to this story. Members of the Missouri House throw paper into the air to celebrate the end of the 2023 legislative session on Friday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).
This is an editorial: An editorial, like news reporting, is based on objective facts, but shares an opinion. The conclusions and opinions here have been derived by the guest contributor and are not associated with the news staff. As the 2023 legislative session wrapped up Friday afternoon, lawmakers from both chambers left Jefferson City with a long list of accomplishments. During the session that began in January, House and Senate members worked on numerous policy proposals ranging from tax relief for seniors to improved access to health care to enhanced support for Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens. In total, the legislature gave final approval to more than 60 pieces of legislation.
The General Assembly officially adjourned on Friday, May 12, which concluded the portion of the legislative session when bills can be passed. The governor will now have the opportunity to act on the various bills sent to him. He has the option to sign bills into law or veto legislation he finds problematic. The legislature will return in September for an annual Veto Session in which members could potentially override any vetoes made by the governor. Bills of Interest Passed During the 2023 Session Include: Providing Tax Relief to Seniors – SB 190 will provide substantive tax relief to Missouri’s older population. The legislation will eliminate the state income tax on social security benefits. It will allow all seniors regardless of their adjusted gross income or filing status to deduct 100% of their social security benefits. The House handler of the bill said, “Missouri is one of only 11 states in the country that still taxes social security. With the rising cost of consumer goods, it’s more important now than ever to put money back in the pockets of Missouri’s seniors, particularly those on fixed incomes. It’s time for Missouri to join the other 39 states that have already eliminated the tax on social security.” Saving Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act - SBs 49, 236 & 164 is legislation supporters say will protect Missouri’s children from unnecessary and harmful sex change drugs and surgeries. The SAFE Act would prohibit health care providers from performing gender transition surgery on young people under the age of 18. Until August 28, 2027, it would also prohibit a health care provider from prescribing or administering cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs to a minor for a gender transition, unless the minor was receiving such treatment prior to August 28, 2023. A violation of the provisions would be considered unprofessional conduct and would result in the revocation of the health care provider's professional license. One supporter of the bill said, “This is not against transgender people. This is just to make sure that children do not make decisions that could affect the rest of their lives, that they may not have all the information, that all of us may not have all of the information, and we want to make sure that they get that information.” Promoting Fairness for Female Student Athletes – SB 39 is meant to promote fairness in competition and opportunity for female student athletes. The bill would prohibit a private school, public school district, public charter school, or public or private institution of postsecondary education from allowing any student to compete in an athletics competition designated for the opposite sex, as determined by the student's official birth certificate. The bill clarifies that biological sex is only correctly stated on birth certificates if it was entered at or near the time of birth or modified to correct scrivener's error. The bill also makes it clear a female student may be allowed to compete in an athletics competition designated for male students if there is no such athletics competition for female students offered. The bill’s handler said the legislation is important because, “Biological males are bigger, they are stronger, and they are faster. The majority of women simply cannot compete. Years of competing against biological males will wipe out female sports as we know it. We must protect the gains women have made in the last 50 years.” Developing Missouri’s Workforce - HB 417 will help employers develop and retain skilled workers. The bill creates a competitive grant program that will be administered by the Department of Economic Development to reimburse employers who help their employees earn short-term certificates or credentials in vital areas for Missouri’s economy. Examples of short-term credentials that would be eligible for reimbursement through the program include manufacturing technology, cybersecurity, welding, certified nursing assistant and HVAC certification. The sponsor said, “It gives businesses the chance to grow their own workers.” He noted that many businesses are having a hard time finding the workers they need and the workers they do have may not have the skills a business would like. The bill would give companies the opportunity to “grow their own by using a program through the Department of Economic Development where they can send them to upskill their credentials.” Encouraging Businesses to Recruit and Train Interns and Apprentices – HB 417 will encourage employers to train the workers of the future by offering paid internships and apprenticeships. The bill would create the Intern and Apprentice Recruitment Act to incentivize businesses to increase the number of internships and internship opportunities in the state. Under the act, employers would qualify for a tax credit of $1,500 for each intern or apprentice hired at a pay rate equal to or greater than minimum wage. Interns would have to work a minimum of 60 hours per month for two consecutive months to qualify. Apprentices would need to complete a minimum of 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of technical instruction. An employer could not receive more than $9,000 in tax credits in a single year and the program would have a total cap of $1 million in tax credits each year. The House sponsor of the provision noted Missouri is already a national leader in new apprenticeships and completed apprenticeships. However, the state continues to be an exporter of potential workers as Missouri loses approximately 20,000 undergraduates to jobs outside the state each year. He said the legislation will further promote a job training system that will help keep more of the talent produced by Missouri’s universities in the state. Attracting Economic Activity to Missouri - SB 94 would help attract revenue-generating film and entertainment projects to the state. Dubbed the “Show MO Act,” the legislation would establish tax credits for film projects starting at 20 percent of specified costs, with opportunities for additional credits as other criteria are met. The bill would allow film productions additional credits when at least half of filming is done in Missouri; at least 15% takes place in rural or blighted areas; at least three of a project’s departments hire a Missourian ready to advance in their field; or the project positively portrays the state or something in it. The film tax incentives would expire at the end of 2029 unless the legislature votes to extend them. The House handler said that because Missouri currently lacks incentives to attract film and television projects, “there is great business leaving this state.” He said that by passing the bill, “We’re going to be an economic driver. There’s going to be a bunch of money coming into this state, and I believe [this bill] is a long time coming and we’re going to join the club of growth and economic opportunity.” Bringing Music Industry Dollars to the State - SB 94 aims to bring more music industry dollars to the state by authorizing credits for rehearsal and tour expenses for live tours and associated rehearsals. The credits would be for 30% of tour or rehearsal expenses, capped at $1 million if expenses are less than $4 million. No taxpayer could get a credit greater than $2 million for expenses between $4 and $8 million; nor greater than $3 million for expenses exceeding $8 million. Combined credits are limited to $8 million per fiscal year. The tour and rehearsal credits would expire at the end of 2030 unless extended. The House handler explained, “There must be at least $1 million spent with Missouri music vendors, they’ve got to rehearse in a qualified facility for a minimum of ten days, they also have to then do two concerts within the State of Missouri.” Expanding Access to Physical Therapy - HBs 115 & 99 and SB 51 promote individual choice in health care decisions through the elimination of unnecessary and burdensome regulations to allow patients to have direct access to physical therapy. The legislation would allow physical therapists with a doctorate of physical therapy or five years of clinical experience to evaluate and initiate treatment on a patient without a prescription or referral from an approved health care provider. The bills also state physical therapists must refer to an approved health care provider patients with certain conditions, including those with conditions beyond the scope of practice of physical therapy, as well as any patient who does not demonstrate measurable or functional improvement within ten visits or 30 days, whichever occurs first. The House sponsor of the provision said, “This legislation allows Missourians to have direct access to physical therapists. Currently, patients must visit a physician before they can make an appointment with a physical therapist. This costs the patient additional money and delays them from returning to their life before the injury.” Helping People off of State Assistance - SB 106 and SBs 45 & 90 authorize a transitional program meant to help people get off of state assistance gradually as their income increases. Supporters say the state’s assistance programs for low-income Missourians trap people in poverty because if they accept a raise that puts them above a program’s limits, they could lose more in state benefits than they gain from a raise. One supporter of the measure said it will let people incrementally transition off of state assistance. He said, “Trying to create this transitional system that encouraged people to work, that encouraged people to take those raises and to start to work their way up the income ladder and to hopefully, once this goes into effect, actually reduce the number of people receiving benefits in the state.” Empowering Missourians with Disabilities - SB 106 and SBs 45 & 90 could allow individuals with disabilities to finally be able to advance in their careers without worry of losing state assistance. The bills authorize changes to the state’s Ticket to Work health insurance program that would increase the limit to how much a person can earn before they lose benefits, and would not count up to $50,000 of a spouse’s income toward that limit. The legislation would also direct state agencies to have policies to recruit and keep employees with disabilities and create competitive ways to integrate them into workforces. “These are people who are actually begging us to work, who want to work, who want to get promotions, who want to seek new jobs,” said one of the measure’s supporters. She went on to say the provision addresses “the fiscal cliff, making sure that you don’t have to do quite as much of a tap dance that too many people in our state are doing, where you’re allowed to make so much money but only to a certain point.” Extending Post-Partum Care Coverage – SB 106 and SBs 45 & 90 would extend post-partum coverage under MO HealthNet or Show-Me Healthy Babies from 60 days to a year. MO HealthNet coverage for low-income women in the program will include full Medicaid benefits for the duration of the pregnancy and for one year following the end of the pregnancy. The sponsor of the provision said, “In 2019, 75-percent of pregnancy-related deaths in Missouri were determined to be preventable; those deaths that were attributed to things like embolism, hemorrhage, infections, concerns with cardiovascular health, chronic health conditions, and there’s one common denominator that can save these women’s lives, and that’s healthcare access.” Ensuring Access to Life-Saving Exams – SB 106 ensures coverage for diagnostic breast examinations and supplemental exams will not have a copay or deductible in an effort to ensure women have access to these life-saving exams. The bill specifies that any health carrier or health benefit plan that offers or issues health benefit plans that provide coverage for diagnostic breast examinations, coverage for supplemental breast examinations, low-dose mammography screenings, breast magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasounds, or any combination of such coverages cannot impose any deductible, coinsurance, co-payment, or similar out-of-pocket expense with respect to such coverage. “If we do not offer diagnostic testing without a copay, we will not receive the benefits of early cancer diagnosis. Diagnosing breast cancer early benefits us all. First and foremost it saves the lives of women that we care about and the mothers of our children. It reduces overall cost of healthcare,” said the House sponsor of the provision, who noted a study found the national cost savings with early diagnosis would be $26 billion each year. Protecting Missourians from Unauthorized Medical Exams - SB 106 and HB 402 and SBs 45 & 90 would ensure Missouri patients are not subjected to invasive medical examinations performed while they’re unconscious and without prior knowledge or consent. Legislators were told that medical students and residents have been allowed and even directed to perform anal, prostate, or pelvic examinations on unconscious patients as part of their instruction, sometimes without those patients’ consent. The legislation would specify that such exams on unconscious patients may only be conducted when that patient or their authorized representative has given consent; the examination is necessary for medical purposes; or when such an exam is necessary to gather evidence of a sexual assault. Removing Financial Barriers to Adoption - SB 24 would expand Missouri’s adoption tax credit, which offers a nonrefundable tax credit for one-time adoption-related expenses such as attorney fees, up to $10,000 per child. That credit is capped at $6-million a year. SB 24 would remove that cap, makes the tax credit refundable, and would have the per-child limit adjust with inflation. Supporters say more than 2,200 Missouri children are awaiting adoption and the bill will help remove financial barriers to allow more families to afford the cost of adoption. The House handler of the bill said, “We’re just saying, ‘Hey, we’re here to make sure that we invest in these kids and these families, help get them across the line, get them out of the system, get them building their futures together as a family.’” Combating the Opioid Epidemic – SB 189, SB 186, SB 24, and HB 402 would allow Missourians to have an easily accessible means to ensure their medications aren’t contaminated with the highly dangerous opioid, fentanyl. Currently in Missouri, fentanyl test strips are not legally available to test drugs or pills for the deadly substance. The legislation will allow the test strips to be legally available as they are in many other states. Supporters say the state has seen an increase in the number of overdose deaths from synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, more than 2,000 drug-related overdoses occurred in the state in 2021, with approximately 70% of those involving a synthetic opioid. Improving Protections Against Cyberstalking - SB 189 would create the Cyber Crimes Task Force with the intent of strengthening state law to better protect Missourians who are targeted and stalked online. The task force would be made up of law enforcement, victim advocates, victims of stalking, and forensics experts. The group will work to develop best practices regarding the treatment of victims of cyberstalking or harassment and actions to stop cyberstalking and harassment when it occurs. Cracking Down on Distracted Driving - SB 398 creates the "Siddens Bening Hands Free Law" to prohibit a number of uses of electronic communication devices while operating motor vehicles. Current Missouri law bans texting while driving for anyone under the age of 21. SB 398 would prohibit individuals over 21 from texting while driving. The bill would also prohibit drivers from holding an electronic communication device, making any communication on the device, using the device to search online, or using the device to watch a video or movie. The penalty for violating the ban would be a fine, but a driver could be charged with a felony if they kill someone while driving and improperly using a cell phone. Drivers would still be able to use their voice-activated or hands-free functions on their devices. The bill specifies that law enforcement cannot stop a driver solely for using their phone. Simplifying Vehicle Sales Tax - SB 398 simply states that licensed motor vehicle dealers would collect and remit sales tax on all motor vehicles sold. The sponsor of the bill noted that vehicle sales tax is the only sales tax not collected at the point of sale. He said his legislation would put Missouri in line with the other 47 states who require dealerships to collect the vehicle sales tax. The sponsor said, “The way the process will work is that you will go into the dealership, you’ll do all of your paperwork. You will leave with a temp tag, but that will start the ball rolling for the Department of Revenue to issue your plates and you will receive them in the mail.” Closing Remarks In closing I would like to encourage my readers to continue to be involved in the affairs of government. Thomas Jefferson once stated that liberty is best preserved by the people themselves stating that they are the “only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty”. I whole heartedly agree with Thomas Jefferson on this issue. It is always my intent to keep my constituents informed and to retain open transparency. If you have any questions or concerns please contact my office at any time. You can reach my office by calling 573-751-1487 or via email at jeff.coleman@house.mo.gov The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of May 10-16, 2023.
May 10, 2023 SW Highland Ave/SW Nelson Area check 1100 Blk S Buckner-Tarsney Rd Suspicious activity 200 Blk W Front St Suspicious vehicle 1200 Blk NW Willow Dr Disturbance PHQ Citizen contact 100 Blk SW Ryan Rd Alarm 500 Blk SW Hamilton Ln Parking complaint NW Green Dr/NW Long Dr Disturbance 1100 Blk NW Jefferson Alarm PHQ Citizen contact 600 Blk Charlotte St Residence check May 11, 2023 400 Blk Main St Animal control 100 Blk S Buckner-Tarsney Rd Citizen contact 900 Blk W Ryan Rd Verbal disturbance PHQ Citizen contact BB/Sni-A-Bar Motor vehicle accident 100 Blk SW Rock Creek Ln Agency assist 500 Blk SW Nelson Agency assist PHQ Citizen contact 1500 Blk NE Erin Ct Animal control NW Long Dr @ Meadow Dr Area check Rust Rd @ Buckner-Tarsney Rd Suspicious vehicle 1000 Blk NW Long Dr Citizen contact 1100 Blk NW Willow Dr Disturbance May 12, 2023 500 Blk Bailey Dr Verbal disturbance 100 Blk Rock Creek Ln Trespassing 1400 Blk NW Willow Animal control 200 Blk Eagles Stolen vehicle 1100 Blk Bush Alarm Woodbury/Phelps Agency assist 100 Blk Rock Creek Ln Disturbance 1100 Blk NE Seymour Rd Dealer license May 13, 2023 PHQ Citizen contact 500 Blk SW Hamilton Ln Property damage SW Sandy/SW Laura/Cross Creek Area check 1000 Blk NW Baytree Physical disturbance NW Jackie Ave/Eagles Pkwy DWI 1200 Blk SW Eagles Pkwy Welfare check 500 Blk Bailey Citizen contact NE Jaclyn Dr/Jensen Parking complaint PHQ Citizen contact 100 Blk E Rock Creek Ln Disturbance 1000 Blk SW Dean Dr Welfare check 1000 Blk NW Baytree Standby 100 Blk Buckner-Tarsney Rd Stalking PHQ Citizen contact May 14, 2023 1300 Blk SW Addie Alarm 300 Blk NE James Rollo Burglary Eagles Dr Citizen contact May 15, 2023 PHQ Citizen contact 1000 Blk NW Willow Dr Welfare check 100 Blk S Buckner-Tarsney Rd Tow assist 1100 Blk Dean Dr Standby 1100 Blk SW Christie Dr Agency assist PHQ Citizen contact 500 Blk NW Woodbury Dr Agency assist 1700 Blk Nicholas Dr Verbal disturbance May 16, 2023 500 Blk Gregg St Alarm NW Eagle Ridge Blvd Suspicious activity 800 Blk NW Cedar Ln Agency assist Cross Creek/Rock Hill Motor vehicle accident EB I-70 Ramp Area check Main St/I-70 Suspicious activity 2400 SE Harding St Agency assist 1400 SW Blue Branch Dr Residence check 1000 Blk Ryan Alarm PHQ Citizen contact 100 Blk Rock Creek Dr Citizen contact McQuerry/Deer Creek Motor vehicle accident 1300 Blk Addie Ln Agency assist 1100 Blk Bush Dr Parking complaint 700 Blk Green Dr Area check Additional calls for service: Suicidal subject: 2 Domestic violence: 1 by Michael Smith It’s the most important time of the season for high school track and field teams in Missouri. Saturday was the start of the postseason for all teams in the state and the Grain Valley boys team stepped up big time. Of the events that the boys that were seeded fourth or higher in their event, all of them finished where they were projected or high as the Eagles qualified for sectionals in eight different events in the Class 5 District 4 meet at Blue Springs South High School. The Eagle boys took fourth place out of nine teams with 77 points. Columbia Rock Bridge High School won with 194.5 points. “We hardly had any events where we underperformed,” Grain Valley head boys track coach Erik Stone said. “That was good see. We had some guys that were borderline on track to qualify and they placed higher than their seed.” The strength of the team with the relay teams as all four punched their ticket to sectionals, which will take place next Saturday at Columbia Rock Bridge High School. The four finishers in each event moved on to continue their season. Senior Nathan Allen assisted the Eagles in pushing through two relays. He was on the 4x800 team that took second place with a time of 8:10.56 and he teamed with Noah Olah, Rylan Smith and Keagan Hart in the 4x400. That foursome also took second with a time of 3:27.91. “It was mostly my teammates, I just had a part in it,” Allen said of his team’s success in the relays. “Without my teammates, we would have not made it through. I think 110 percent chemistry, especially at the end of the season.” The Grain Valley 4x100 team also made it through as it was fourth with a time of 44.18 seconds. The 4x200 team also took fourth at 1:30.21. Smith, who was a part of two qualifying relay teams, also punched his ticket to sectionals in the 800-meter run as he was third at 2:02.44. “The heat took a toll,” Smith said. “It was draining. (The 800) wasn’t as fast as I wanted to be. I went out kind of slow. I was kind of a bad position as the race went on. On the last 800, I just kicked it into gear and barely finished in front of the fourth-place guy.” Other Eagles boys to push through to sectionals were junior Stylz Blackmon in the shot put (third, 14.91 meters), sophomore Blayden Pruett in the javelin (second, 48.53 meters) and sophomore Tyler Melton in the high jump (third, 1.81 meters). “He’s just a kid who has improved and improved and improved,” Stone said of Pruett. “He kind of snuck up on the scene. Coach (Flip) Courter said if he can get to 46 (meters), he’s got a chance. “Today, he was sitting in fourth before his last throw and he got a huge (personal record).” Girls Last season, sophomore Alyssa Carver just missed out on making it to state as she lost a tiebreaker to qualify in the pole vault event. At district, she left no doubt that she was going to at least make it to sectionals as she took first place with a height of 3.47 meters, which was a personal record. “I have improved a lot since last year just because of where I am mentally,” Carver said. “I just wasn’t very confident last year. I am really just going to the meets now and not stress about it. I just go out there and do what I know I can.” Carver winning the pole vault was one of six events that qualified for sectionals. As a team, it finished sixth with 59 points. Blue Springs won with 187. Senior Madison Rogers also had a banner day as she helped the 4x400 relay team qualify. It finished fourth with a time of 415:.85. She also made it in the 100-meter dash as she took fourth at 12.86 seconds. “The 100 was pretty close,” Rogers said. “I really had to push myself on that one. We finished above where we were ranked, so that’s good (in the relay).” Other events the Grain Valley girls qualified for were the 4x800 (fourth, 10:24.63), Izabella West in the triple jump (third, 11.32 meters) and Isabelle Salsman in the high jump (fourth, 1.54 meters). “West in the triple jump popped off a really good distance,” Grain Valley girls track coach Nick Small said. “She had a really good jump in the prelims and carried that over to the finals. High jump, Salsman keeps doing her thing. She’s mentally tough and she’s fun to watch.” Grain Valley senior Keagan Hart races toward the finish line and helps the 4x400 relay team take second with a time of 3:27.91. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley senior Madison Rogers helped the girls 4x400 team qualify for seconds as it took fourth at 4:15.85. She also qualified in the 100-meter dash with a fourth-place finish at 12.86 seconds. Photo credit: Michael Smith
|
Categories
All
Archives
April 2024
|
Grain Valley NewsGrain Valley News is a free community news source published weekly online. |
Contact Us |