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At your local Community Foundation, we are wrapping up another busy scholarship season. It’s great to see our local graduating seniors have a more normal first year of college, with the progress we have made battling COVID-19.
At this time last year, we were in a very different situation with everything going virtual and real uncertainty on how colleges and universities would address the challenges. The only thing that remained consistent over the last year is the high cost of higher education, now averaging $20,000 per year. That is why having a variety of scholarships available to a wide range of students is so important. Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) has worked with fundholders to establish more than 130 scholarship opportunities for local students. I am pleased to announce that THCF fundholders have awarded 342 scholarships totaling $467,044 to 240 area students to help alleviate some of the financial burdens of higher education. More than 200 reviewers spent hours poring over each scholarship application. A huge thank you goes out to each of the dedicated volunteers serving on the THCF Scholarship Committee. We are grateful they can take time out of their busy schedules to thoughtfully read, review, and rank every application. I consistently hear from our volunteers that every scholarship application we receive is like a mini biography—a brief glimpse into each student’s academic and civic life, struggles, and triumphs. They share how they are moved by the resilience and spirit of these young people and how the process has increased their confidence in our community’s future. Over the years, THCF fundholders have given more than $5.1 million in scholarships, helping both students and fundholders achieve their dreams. And our numbers continue to grow. Setting up a scholarship fund is ideal for impacting students right here in your community while utilizing the Foundation’s expertise in administration. Truman Heartland makes setting up a scholarship fund easy and worry-free. Whatever your area of interest, you choose the eligibility criteria that speak to your values. For example, you may want to target a specific geographic region, area of interest, or honor the memory of a loved one. The professional staff at the Foundation will help you select the eligibility and selection criteria for your scholarship based on a field of study, academic achievements, extracurricular activities, financial need, or whatever fits best with your goals and values. THCF will handle all the details and find the best administrative option for you. You can establish a scholarship fund with a gift of cash, appreciated securities, real estate, IRA Required Minimum Distribution or other assets. We require a donation of $25,000 or more to ensure the endowment created by the gift will annually generate scholarships of $1,000 or more. Because your gift is placed into an endowment, it will have a perpetual impact. By investing in area students today, your generosity will make an impact for generations to come. Not only will you feel good about your scholarship gift, but you’ll also see some tax benefits in the year your gift was made. Please feel free to contact me at hanson@thcf.org or call 816.912.4181 if you have questions about how you can establish a scholarship fund at THCF. We would be proud to add you to our scholarship fund family and get us closer to our 100% funding goal. I hope everyone is having a good start to their summer. Make sure you stay tuned to my Facebook page for upcoming Town Hall Meetings where we will talk about our residential property assessments and my proposed legislation to help ease the pressure of skyrocketing property taxes.
I am also pleased to have co-sponsored the Second Amendment Protection Act which Governor Parson just signed into law this month. Please read all of the very good legislation that we were able to pass this last session to help protect our citizens of Missouri. Second Amendment Preservation Act Signed into Law (HBs 85 & 310) Lawmakers took action during the 2021 legislative session to protect the Second Amendment rights of Missourians against an overreaching federal government. This week Gov. Parson signed the legislation approved by the General Assembly to create the Second Amendment Preservation Act. The act is meant to protect law-abiding gun owners from potential gun control legislation that could be passed in Washington, D.C. It states that laws and other actions that prohibit the manufacture, ownership, and use of firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition within Missouri exceed the powers granted to the federal government. It also declares that all federal laws, acts, and orders that infringe on Missourians’ second amendment rights are invalid in the state. Gov. Parson said the bill “draws a line in the sand and demonstrates our commitment to reject any attempt by the federal government to circumvent the fundamental right Missourians have to keep and bear arms to protect themselves and their property.” The bill prohibits state and local cooperation with federal officials that attempt to enforce any laws, rules, orders, or actions that violate the Second Amendment rights of Missourians. Additionally, the bill is an acknowledgment that the right to keep and bear arms is fundamental and inalienable, and that the nation's federalist constitutional structure limits the federal government's authority over states. Under the bill, any person or entity who knowingly deprives Missouri citizens of their right to bear arms - as protected by state and federal constitutions - will be liable for redress and monetary damages of $50,000 per occurrence. Local law enforcement’s ability to assist federal officials in other instances remains unchanged under the new law. Parson said the bill “puts those in Washington D.C. on notice that here in Missouri we support responsible, law-abiding gun owners, and that we oppose government overreach and any unlawful efforts to limit our access to firearms.” Legislation to Improve Local Government Accountability and Transparency Signed into Law (HB 271) Gov. Parson recently gave his stamp of approval to legislation approved by the General Assembly to ensure greater accountability and more transparency on the local government level. One provision of the bill creates the Missouri Local Government Expenditure Database, which creates an easy to use, downloadable database allowing taxpayers to search expenditures and payments received and made by counties and municipalities. The new database will be housed on the Missouri Accountability Portal. The bill’s sponsor said the database will make it easier for taxpayers to hold local officials and governments accountable for spending decisions. “When we shine a brighter light on how government spends the people’s money, it leads to better outcomes for Missouri taxpayers,” he said. Another provision added to the bill is meant to provide oversight for the ability of local health officials to close businesses, churches, and schools during an emergency. Under the bill, political subdivisions may only issue public health orders that directly or indirectly restrict access to businesses, churches, schools, or other places of assembly for 30 calendar days in a 180-day period when the governor has declared a state of emergency. Orders may be extended more than once with a simple majority vote by the local governing body. The legislation also bans so-called “vaccine passports” so that Missourians do not have to show proof of vaccination in order to access public transportation or other public services. It ensures that no county, city, town, or village receiving public funds can require an individual to provide documentation of a COVID-19 vaccination in order to access a public transportation system, services, or any other public accommodations. New House Committee Launches Effort to Improve Broadband Access A newly-formed committee is taking on the challenge of finding ways to improve access to broadband internet in Missouri. Formed by House Speaker Rob Vescovo, the Interim Committee on Broadband Development will spend the next several months gathering data and testimony as it works toward policy recommendations that will make high speed internet more available and affordable. The chair of the committee said, “As we are all well aware, the recent pandemic demonstrated that high-speed, broadband internet can no longer be considered a luxury, it has become a necessity, a necessity that far too many Missourians have done, and continue to do, without. “ He added that the committee will “study where we are as a state in 2021, where we need to be, and what steps we will need to take as policy makers and appropriators to ensure that broadband internet is readily available to every Missourian who wants it.” He said the committee plans to examine three core areas: access, speed, and affordability. During its first hearing on June 10, committee members heard from the director of the Office of Broadband Development, which works to expand and accelerate broadband deployment in Missouri. The director noted there are 392,000 Missourians who lack high-speed internet, either because it’s not available or they can’t afford it. Right now Missouri ranks in the bottom five for access to low-cost internet with only 55 percent of Missourians having access to a low-cost internet plan. The committee will continue to meet each month throughout the interim to gather information from subject matter experts, Federal officials, statewide associations, internet providers, and from the general public. The committee will take written testimony, live testimony and remote testimony between now and December 1. Based on the information gathered, the committee will prepare a report and generate policy options and appropriations requests before the end of 2021. Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer Program Returns Families with children who qualify for free or reduced priced meals can once again apply for Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) benefits. The benefits are meant to help cover food costs experienced by families while their student was not doing in-seat learning due to the pandemic. “We heard from Missouri families how last year’s P-EBT benefit helped with the extra household food costs and I am very pleased Missouri can once more make the benefit available,” said the acting director of the Missouri Department of Social Services. It’s important to note the P-EBT 2020-2021 program is very different from last year’s program. Highlights of the changes include: All families must apply to get the P-EBT benefit, regardless of whether they receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/Food Stamp benefits. Families do not need to apply for P-EBT benefits for children under age six. Families who receive SNAP with an eligible child under age six will automatically get a P-EBT benefit for that child added to the household’s existing EBT card. A child may be eligible for P-EBT if the school was closed, not doing in-seat learning, or had reduced hours at least five school days in a row due to COVID-19. P-EBT benefits are available for the months of September 2020 through May 2021. The P-EBT benefit is based on the school’s report of how much of the month was not in-seat learning. If most of the school’s month was not in-seat learning, the monthly P-EBT benefit amount is $129.58. If only some of the school’s month was not in-seat learning, the monthly P-EBT benefit amount is $77.75. Each eligible student will get an EBT card in his or her name with the lump sum P-EBT benefit amount for the 2020-2021 school year. Ineligible families will receive a denial letter. Families can download the application at the following link: https://dss.mo.gov/covid-19/pdf/P-EBT-Application%20-%20English.pdf. Families can directly email the application to FSD.MOPEBT@dss.mo.gov or mail the P-EBT application to: Family Support Division 615 E. 13th Street Kansas City, MO 64106 All applications must be received by July 31, 2021. Please let me know If you have other concerns and suggestions. If you would like to schedule a specific time to meet locally, please call my office at 573-751-1487, or email my office at jeff.coleman@house.mo.gov. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society When I was a young girl, my mother would drive my grandmother to Independence. Grandma always wanted her to take the old rock road. I had two objections to this plan. One, it was so much faster to take 40 Highway, which was a dual lane road west from Blue Springs. And two, 40 Highway was a relatively “straight shot” to Noland Road, whereas the rock road had lots of curves and at least ten or twelve sharp turns before reaching 23rd Street and eventually Noland Road.
The old rock road, as Grandma called it, was really R. D. Mize Road. But before it was named after Judge Richard D. Mize of Independence, it was known as the Blue Springs Road and called the “rock road,” because it was one of the first routes to the county seat that wasn’t a dirt road. It was one of the first roads in Eastern Jackson County that was easily traveled by automobile. So what does all of this have to do with Grain Valley. Well, according to a “History of Grain Valley,” written by Frank Sebolt in 1936, Grain Valley was incorporated shortly after its founding in September 1878. However, a few years later things changed. From Sebolt’s account: “Sometime later the incorporation papers were revoked. The town was disincorporated (today we would say unincorporated) so that the R. D. Mize Rock Road could be put through Grain Valley at state expense. If the town had been incorporated, the state would not have furnished expenses for the road. The road was built in 1900-1901. August 31, 1903 the town was reincorporated and again began to prosper.” When the town was reincorporated, the boundaries were somewhat larger than the previous ones. The old rock road made a sharp right at Buckner Road (later Buckner Tarsney), went straight south through the “disincorporated” Grain Valley and continued south about a mile before making a sharp left turn and continuing to Oak Grove and the county line. During the early years, the R. D. Mize Rock Road was truly just that. Rocks. Over the years, the rocks were oiled and eventually paved during the Pendergast years. Today, R. D. Mize continues to zig, zag and curve it’s way through Eastern Jackson County, although at some points along the way it has lost its name. And like my grandmother, some days I enjoy taking the “scenic route” myself! Visit the Historical Society on Wednesday or Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm. We have new exhibits and extended hours through August 15, 2021, as we celebrate Missouri’s Bicentennial. Hope to see you soon. For more information on the Grain Valley Historical Society, visit www.grainvalleyhistory.com. It wasn’t always Porky’s Blazin BBQ. It was once known as the Tarsney Store, located in the town by the same name.
A post office was established there in 1891, and remained in operation until 1902. The store and gas station remained in business until the 1960s and other businesses came and went over the years. Just up the road, south of Porky’s is a red house, that was the Tarsney School which Ken Winterode and his wife converted to their home in the mid-60s. Although many students who attended there ended up at Grain Valley for high school, reorganization in 1949 put Tarsney School in the Lee’s Summit School District. The town was named for J.C. Tarsney (1845-1920) who was elected United States congressman in 1886, and was reelected three times. Tarsney was a lawyer in Kansas City and he never lived in the town which was named for him. The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of June 9-15, 2021.
by John Unrein Growing up there were two must read sports writers for me. One was Peter King of Sports Illustrated, and the other was Bill Althaus of the Examiner. King’s insight was second to none when it came to the National Football League. He could bring professional football alive. Althaus captured a story with concise writing while setting up and working through quotes better than any other columnist. It made you feel like you were at the event he was covering. Something that is a gift.
Only one of those writers resides in Eastern Jackson County. More importantly, in the community of Grain Valley. Althaus and his wife Stacy are long term residents of Grain Valley and had an abundance of reasons for establishing roots here decades ago. “We wanted a small town feel, but I wanted a community close enough to Kansas City that I could still make it out to the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals as well as concerts downtown. We came out to Grain Valley on a weekend when the Eagles were playing football in the postseason. Buildings were decorated blue, and they had painted large Eagles in the street. It was something you would see in a Walt Disney movie,” Althaus said. “We fell in love with this town. That same weekend we bought a lot in Brigadoon Estates and six months later became residents. We have never regretted it one moment. What the school district has done with its growth academically and with activities, I could have never in a million years seen that happening. It has been fun to go along for the ride.” Jacksonville Jaguars head football coach Urban Meyer said during a 2018 interview that the most important thing to do in a leadership role is to build trust. That doing so would allow for what was being offered to be embraced. Key ingredients among the formula Meyer stressed was to be yourself and find a message that others would find meaningful and listen to. The Twitter description offered by Althaus is an example of how he communicates with others. It is humble, straight forward, gracious, and displays longevity in the challenging profession of journalism. Althaus shares, “Started with a manual typewriter and now I’m Tweeting. What a memorable journey it has been. Thanks for sharing it. Thirty-Nine years at the Examiner. Is that possible?” Relationship building and treating everyone he meets the same way allows Althaus to gain trust. The faith put in Althaus by others in the media, public education, and by student athletes has been gained through consistency in character. Something that has not gone unnoticed by Grain Valley assistant principal Mike Tarrants and local media mogul Brian Johnston. Tarrants was the activities director at Grain Valley High School prior to assuming the current role of assistant principal and being assistant football coach for the Eagles. Johnston is the owner of Sponsorship Focus and Preps KC, the founder of Vision Sports, has formerly worked for Royals Radio Network, and was the Corporate Partnership Sales Manager for the Kansas City Chiefs. Both men who have enjoyed a high degree of success in their own careers did not hesitate to shower Althaus with adoration based on the bonds they have shared over the years. “I have known Bill for 15 years since I came to Grain Valley High School as an administrator. I got to know him through the various activities that I was supervising,” Tarrants said. “Bill has also served as a mentor to my oldest son Blake (who is blind). Bill took him under his wing, mentored him, wrote a couple of articles about him, and has kept up with Blake throughout his college and early adulthood years. It was through this process that I saw the true qualities of Mr. Althaus. There was no benefit for Bill to help out Blake other than just being a good person.” Tarrants finished, “When Bill was inducted into the Grain Valley High School Hall of Fame, I could tell that it was truly an honor for him. Bill was very gracious and considered it as a personal award, not just a professional one.” Johnston echoed many of the sentiments shared by Tarrants when reflecting on his relationship with Althaus. “I have known Bill for 25 years. It started when I began Vision Sports – broadcasting Blue Springs and Blue Springs South football games on radio. He was a big supporter of it and really helped us get it off the ground,” Johnston said. “Bill is so positive. I have never known a writer to create positive stories about everything he writes. He makes people feel like they are super stars. When my dad was alive, Bill would talk Detroit Tigers baseball with him. Specifically, Al Kaline who was my dad’s hero. I have never forgotten that.” Johnston concluded, “Bill is a good friend. He would do anything for anyone.” Althaus deeply cherishes the relationships he has forged. A reward for four decades of work came full circle for Althaus on June 10th. The Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association, an elite fraternity that is guarded by admission selection, inducted Althaus into their 2021 Hall of Fame class. Althaus is the only newspaper reporter to be inducted during the history of the GKCFCA Hall of Fame. “It was an honor. Anthony Simone, who started the Simone Award, David Allie who is the president of the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association, to see those people who have made such an impact in your life was a great reward,” Althaus said. “Thirty-nine years in one place in the newspaper business is unheard of, especially for a smaller newspaper like the Examiner. We still put out an award winning newspaper every day of the week, even with a smaller staff. It has been so much fun along the way. Some of my best friends now are people who I met when they were student athletes during their junior and senior years in high school.” “In the early 1980’s, I was the beat writer for the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals. My family watched Christian Okoye’s daughter when he would come to training camp. We got to attend George Brett’s wedding. We were roughly the same age. The persona of the athlete has changed today. It is more sterile now. You do not get to know people like you did back then.” Althaus added, “That is why I like covering high school sports so much now. A Friday night under the lights with a coach and team you respect, there is nothing better in the world than that.” Grain Valley News selfishly enjoys getting to write Community Profile stories. The effort permits for the residents of our community to know about the fascinating people who call Grain Valley home. We are blessed to have individuals who give to those around them and deserve the spotlight. If you would like to nominate someone for a Community Profile, email news@grainvalleynews.com. by Michael Smith The last three weeks have definitely kept recent Grain Valley graduate Cole Keller busy.
On May 29, Keller earned all-state honors in the 400-meter run and the 4x200-meter relay at the Missouri High School State Track and Field Championships. Last Saturday, he led the Eagles baseball team to a second-place finish in the Class 5 state tournament. Even after all of that, Keller had no time to rest. This week, he was practicing for Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association BeYOUnion Kansas vs. Missouri All-Star Game. It’s a football game that featured some of the best seniors in the 2021 class from the Kansas City metro area on the Missouri and Kansas side. Early on, fatigue may have been a factor for the Eagle graduate as he was sacked three times and lost a fumble in the first half. Team Missouri and Keller didn’t have a great first 30 minutes as it trailed Team Kansas 9-6 at halftime. However, Keller found his rhythm in the second half and finished by completing 8 of his 13 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 21 yards to help lead Missouri to a 20-12 victory, ending the state’s two-game losing streak in the annual contest. For his effort’s, Keller was named Team Missouri’s Most Valuable Player. “It’s pretty cool (to be named MVP),” Keller said. “I don’t know if I deserve it 100 percent. That’s just me being hard on myself. I appreciate the honor and recognition.” Kansas took a 12-6 lead late in the third period after Adam Young’s 20-yard field goal. A long kickoff return from Staley’s Rajon Hill set up Missouri at the Kansas 9-yard line. Keller took advantage by hitting Park Hill South receiver Eric Avery on a slant route during third down for a 9-yard touchdown pass, to put his team up for good at 13-12. “Oh (heck) yeah, he’s solid,” Keller said when asked if he was looking forward to playing with Avery before the game. “All the receivers were so talented and were great route runners.” “He came up to me and said, ‘The slant is open.’ The coach called the play, and I didn’t like the play, so I changed it to a slant. It was a hell of a call and a heck of a catch.” After Missouri got a stop on defense, Missouri scored on its next possession when Keller ran 27 yards on a read option play that completely fooled the Kansas defense. His big play set up a 17-yard touchdown run from Center running back Nosa Ohamnu. Grain Valley coach David Allie, who is the president of the GKCFCA, noted that Team Missouri ran a similar offense the Eagles had last fall, making it easier for Keller to adjust to playing in the all-star game. “They ran a similar-type offense and similar-type schemes that he was used to with us,” Grain Valley coach David Allie said, who was a volunteer at the event. “He made a good read there. He saw the defender commit to the running back and he pulled it and went.” “He did that for us quite a bit.” For Keller, playing in the game was a fun experience. “There’s so much talent out here, even the weak spots are strong,” Keller said. “To be around these guys and be around smart and talented football players definitely elevates your game.” Added Allie: “I am so happy for him to go out like that in his final high school game. What a career!” The Board of Aldermen met Monday, June 14th, passing a series of resolutions to authorize the installation of street lights in four development areas, including the Bush Business Park and Greystone Estates subdivision. In addition, the Board received a report from Auditor Troutt Beeman & Co., giving the City a clean audit for 2020. The auditor praised City staff for their cooperation during the audit process and noted the increase in sales tax revenue and franchise tax payments in 2020. Grant revenue increased by approximately $950,000, thanks mainly to CARES Act funding.
Following a public hearing, the Board approved the first reading of two ordinances changing the zoning of two tracts intended for the development Greystone West. The planned development includes 13 four-plex buildings for a total of 52 units and 3 retail/office buildings, and a 3-story 48-unit senior apartment building. Aldermen Cleaver and Knox voted against both ordinances. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Aldermen will be held Monday, June 28th at 7:00pm. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Did you know at one time the richest lead ore in the world was located in Bonne Terre, Missouri, and the surrounding area. When miners began excavating lead from beneath Bonne Terre, little did they know it would eventually be considered one of the best places to scuba dive in the country.
Operations in the mine were halted in the early 1960s and over time it filled with crystal-clear water. It now has become an amazing cave tour, and a top freshwater scuba diving venue. It is so amazing that even National Geographic calls it "one of America's Top 10 Greatest adventures.' The American Red Cross will host a blood drive at the Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main, on Wednesday, June 23rd from 3:00pm—7:00pm.
To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-733-2767 or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter GrainValleyCommunity. Donors will receive a a ticket to a Cedar Fair amusement park (including Worlds of Fun) while supplies last. |
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