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coverage by Clara Jaques, Student Intern Grain Valley's Public Works Department put on its annual Community Event Wednesday night at Armstrong Park. In addition to free pizza and snow cones, attendees enjoyed a variety of games, raffles, and were able to witness live equipment demonstrations. Public Works Maintenance Assistant Stefanie Ambrose has worked with the department on this effort for two years. "I feel like the turnout is amazing; it looks awesome. Everyone seems to be having fun and enjoying themselves and I have heard a lot of comments from parents and kids about how much fun they are having," Ambrose said.     Photo credit: Clara Jaques, Student Intern  by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society As the City of Grain Valley continues on their quest to revitalize the downtown district, I continue to look for more history of the past. What can and should be restored? What should be remembered about downtown, or forgotten! One of the first pieces of history I found when I began the process of cataloging the artifacts given to the Grain Valley Historical Society was an old town directory. It was in a box with other “older stuff.” When I received it there was no information; no name of the doner, no explanation of the contents and certainly no dates. It was a treasure of artifacts, but no details. In my quest to learn more about the Historical Society Building, I studied the directory in an attempt to learn what business might have occupied the building at 506 Main Street. My first guess is Bill’s Market, if “Bill” is Bill Minter. I cannot wait until the Recorder of Deeds Historic Section reopens at the Jackson County Courthouse. Meanwhile, you might enjoy reading about some of the businesses in Grain Valley. Regarding the date of this directory, more research is needed. When was James Porter Rumbo (my great uncle) mayor? Was William Tucker the same William Tucker that taught at the high school? What year did Floyd Sharp come to Grain Valley and buy the lumber yard? When was the population of Grain Valley 362? And finally, why didn’t they put a date on this directory? I’m guessing the late 1930s but keep reading this column and I’ll keep looking for the answers!   Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society  by Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert Thank goodness for Bluetooth and Bluetooth-connected devices. This technology allows you to share data between your devices including your smart home gadgets, your headphones, and your smartphone. The best part is you can eliminate some of those wires you use to connect your devices. Many of you connect to your devices with Bluetooth, but you need to understand there are some risks involved. With anything involving technology, cybercrooks will find a way to take advantage. With anything wireless, criminals can find ways to intercept the signal between your devices. Here's what you need to know: Bluetooth works great when it comes to connecting your electronics through the Internet of Things (IoT). As beneficial as Bluetooth is, you need to understand it can potentially cause major security risks. All wireless technology is at risk of being hijacked, but one of the benefits of Bluetooth is that it only has a range of about 500 feet, which means if a criminal is going to attack your devices, they would have to be within range of your Bluetooth signal. Here are some of the methods crooks are using to get access to your personal information: Car whispering. This is a Bluetooth security threat where criminals target your car radio and entertainment systems that have Bluetooth capabilities. Once they are logged into your system, crooks will listen in on phone calls and conversations. and phone calls that take place inside the car. Bluebugging. This cyber threat allows cybercriminals to get access to your Bluetooth connections via backdoor access. Once in, crooks can peep in on you and access your private information for the purpose of impersonating you and stealing your identity. Bluesmacking. When criminals attack your devices with bluesmacking, they send messages and information to your devices until your devices shut down making them unusable to you. Bluejacking. Did you know your Bluetooth signal can be hijacked to be used to send out phishing and spam messages? Criminals can gain access to your Bluetooth to send out spam and phishing messages. Usually, when these attacks occur, criminals will send out messages that contain dangerous links that could direct you to websites will malware. Bluesnarfing. When a Bluesnarfing attack occurs, crooks log into your devices via Bluetooth with the goal to steal information from your devices such as text messages, emails, photos, and more. Can I Tell If My Bluetooth is hacked? Bluetooth attacks are designed to be discrete, so they are very difficult to identify. Here are some warning signs you can look for:
How to stay safe using Bluetooth. Bluetooth offers many benefits that make using your devices fun and connecting your Bluetooth-enabled devices is a simple process. However, you need to be aware of security risks involving Bluetooth and how to stay safe. Here's what you need to know. Make sure your device can't be found using Bluetooth. One of the easiest ways to keep your devices safe is to turn off Bluetooth when you're not using it on your devices. Each of your devices has different instructions on how to turn it off, so here are some steps for every device: Apple devices:
Don't share your sensitive information over Bluetooth. Avoid sharing your personal information over Bluetooth. If you happen to be in an area with a Bluetooth hacker, your chances of them intercepting your private information are lessened. Don’t pair new devices in public. If you’re pairing devices for the first time, be sure to do so from a secure location. When you pair devices in public, it can allow hackers to hijack the process and connect to your device. Hopefully, this post has given you the information you need to stay safe when using Bluetooth technology. Following these security tips, you can use your Bluetooth devices without worrying about mobile threats. If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help! Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@burtonkelso.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. Need computer repair service near you? My company Integral offers the highest quality computer repair service nationwide. If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.  by Denise Sullivan, Nutrition & Health Education Specialist, University of Missouri-Extension Radishes are one of the cool season vegetables that I looked forward to as a child. I wasn’t always excited to eat them, but I did like to ‘help’ pick them in the garden-maybe it was the opportunity to get dirty without getting into trouble. I did enjoy eating the bright red globes from a relish tray, especially early season pickings, as they were not as ‘spicy’ as those that grew in the warmer temperatures. Because radishes are a cool season plant, they are one of the first things to harvest, along with spring onions and greens like lettuce and spinach, providing everything you need for a delicious spring salad. Radishes mature quickly and can continue to be grown after first harvest, but be aware, warmer temperatures tend to intensify their peppery flavor. You may have already noticed that! To plan for a fall crop, mark your calendar to plant 4-6 weeks before first frost, typically in late October in the Kansas City area. Radishes are a root vegetable in the Brassicaceae family, which also includes cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and leafy greens like kale. While we are most familiar with the red globe variety, radishes come in many other varieties and include a rainbow of colors including yellow, green, and purple. The entire plant, from root to leaves can be enjoyed cooked or raw. For their small size and low calorie count, radishes are a good source of Vitamin C, as well as the minerals potassium and folate. Depending on their color, radishes also contain a variety of phytonutrients that can be beneficial in fighting several common chronic health conditions. Radishes also have unique anti-fungal properties that is shown to be beneficial against strains of Candida, a common yeast that can cause the oral condition known as thrush. In addition to salads and veggie trays, you can add chopped radishes to sandwiches, tuna salad, tacos, or anything that you want to add a bit of crunch. They can also be pickled in either a quick or fermented process. A quick and tasty method is to combine 1 cup thinly sliced radishes with 2 cups thinly sliced cucumbers and add a simple marinade of ½ cup cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 3 tablespoons chopped dill weed. Mix well and marinate for 2-3 hours. For a totally different take on radishes, you might try roasting them. The typical spicy flavor mellows and becomes almost sweet, and the texture is similar to a roasted potato. The simple recipe below was even a hit with my daughter, who is not a fan of radishes! Garlic Herb Roasted Radishes (makes 4 servings) 1 lb. fresh radishes, washed and trimmed of roots and greens 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon dried parsley or chives 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
Nutrition information: Calories: 51, Total Fat: 3.5, Saturated Fat: .5g, Sodium: 192mg, Carbohydrates: 4.4g, Fiber: 2g, Protein: .9g Recipe adapted from AllRecipes.com, analyzed by verywellfit.com  by Clara Bates, Missouri Independent Missouri ranks in the bottom third of all states for children’s health, according to a recent report using data from 2021. The annual Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, released this month, evaluates states on four metrics of child well-being. Those are: health, economic well-being, education and family & community. For overall child well-being, Missouri ranks near the middle: 28th of 50 states, with 50 being the worst. Other Midwestern states, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin, were in the top ten of all states for child well-being. Bringing down the state’s overall ranking was one factor in particular: children’s health. Only 15 states in the country had a lower rating for children’s health. “Our health rankings are part of the problem,” said Tracy Greever-Rice, program director of Missouri KIDS COUNT. “We have work to do here in Missouri around infant mortality,” Greever-Rice said. “And we also have work to do, like many states with large rural populations, in terms of teen and adolescent deaths.” Only 10 other states had the same or worse rates of child and teen deaths as Missouri, one of the factors included in the health measure. The rate of child and teen deaths was 39 per 100,000 in Missouri in 2021 — up from 32 per 100,000 just two years earlier. The state’s trend mirrored the national trend, which increased from 25 deaths per 100,000 to 30 deaths per 100,000 from 2019 to 2021. Greever-Rice said several factors could have contributed to the state’s relatively high rate of child and teen deaths in 2021. “Particularly at risk — and a change that we’ve seen over the past few years — are adolescent boys in more rural areas,” Greever-Rice said, “and of course, Missouri, like everywhere else has been impacted by the opioid and fentanyl epidemic. “So we just have some high risk populations here that we have work to do around.” Suicide rates among young people have increased nationally over the last several decades, particularly in rural areas, where mental health services can be scarcer, research has found. Firearms became the leading cause of kids’ deaths in the United States in 2020, surpassing car accidents. According to Children’s Defense Fund, Missouri was one of ten states that accounted for half of all child and teen gun deaths in the nation from 2011-2020. Bills to limit access to guns failed in the legislature this session. Other indicators of children’s health — the rates of low birth-weight babies, children without health insurance, and children who are overweight or obese — were all slightly worse in Missouri than on average, according to the report. The best states for children’s health, according to the report, include Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire, while the worst are Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Missouri children fared best, out of the four broad indicators of well-being, on the measure of economic well-being. The state ranked 18th of 50 on economic well-being. While 3 in 10 children nationally live in households with a high housing cost burden, only around 2 in 10 Missouri children do, per the report. The rate of kids whose parents lack secure employment is also slightly better in Missouri at 26% than nationally, 29%. The rate of children in poverty roughly mirrors the national average — 16% in Missouri and 17% nationally. The rate of teens not in school and not working is 7% in Missouri, equal to the national average. The Kids Count index also included data on the cost of child care nationally, though it did not factor into the overall well-being rating. “For many, many families right now,” Greever-Rice said, “the cost [of child care] continues to go up and availability just decreases, particularly in rural areas and underserved areas.” In Missouri, a single parent with a toddler attending a child care center would pay 28% of the median income on child care, according to the Kids Count report. Dozens of interviews conducted by The Independent and Muckrock indicated that that burden can be untenable for many families — even though it is actually a lower burden than in much of the rest of the country, per the report. As the Missouri Independent and Muckrock’s investigative collaboration, Disappearing Daycare, found, the child care crisis is one not just of cost but access: Missourians struggle to find child care openings, particularly for infants, and the situation is even worse for those seeking government assistance. The average cost for a toddler’s care at a center in Missouri was nearly $9,000, according to KIDS COUNT.  by Joe Jerek, Missouri Department of Conservation With ongoing drought conditions around state, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds everyone to be extra careful with fireworks, campfires, and other sources of fire that could cause a wildfire. FIREWORKS: Don’t light fireworks in any areas where the sparks could ignite dry grass, leaves, or other potential fire fuel. Always have an approved fire extinguisher and an available water supply to douse sparks or flames. Wet the area around where fireworks are being discharged. Check with local ordinances and authorities for bans on fireworks and open burning. OUTDOOR BURNING: Don’t burn during wrong conditions. Dry grass, high temperatures, low humidity, and wind make fire nearly impossible to control. Check with local fire departments regarding burn bans that may be in place. A person who starts a fire for any reason is responsible for any damage it may cause. DRIVING OFF ROAD: Wildfires can start when dry fuel, such as grass, comes in contact with catalytic converters. Think twice before driving into and across a grassy field. Never park over tall, dry grass or piles of leaves that can touch the underside of a vehicle. When driving vehicles off road, regularly inspect the undercarriage to ensure that fuel and brake lines are intact, and no oil leaks are apparent. Always carry an approved fire extinguisher on vehicles that are used off road. Check for the presence of spark arresters on ATV exhausts. MAKING A CAMPFIRE: Clear a generous zone around fire rings. Store unused firewood a good distance from a campfire. Never use gasoline, kerosene, or other flammable liquid to start a fire. Keep campfires small and controllable. Keep fire-extinguishing materials, such as a rake, shovel, and bucket of water, close. Extinguish campfires each night and before leaving camp, even if it’s just for a few moments. Learn more about camping on MDC areas at mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/activities/camping. CALL FOR HELP: Call 911 at the first sign of a fire getting out of control. REPORT FOREST ARSON: Wildfires are sometimes set by vandals. Help stop arson by calling 800-392-1111 and reporting any potential arson activities. Callers will remain anonymous, and rewards are possible. PRESCRIBED FIRE: Fire used in the wrong way can create disasters. Used in the right way, fire can help create habitat for wildlife. For more information on using prescribed fire as a land-management tool, visit mdc.mo.gov/your-property/fire-management/prescribed-fire.  The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of June 14-20, 2023. June 14, 2023 100 Blk NE Sunny Ln Citizen contact 900 Blk NW Valley Woods Ct Suspicious person NW Royer Ln Escort request 500 Blk SW Meadowood Dr Agency assist 1500 Blk NE Erin Ct Agency assist BB Library Agency assist PHQ Citizen contact PHQ Report - Fraud BB/ W Ryan Rd Suspicious vehicle 40/Main St Traffic complaint PHQ Citizen contact 1400 Blk NW Olympic Dr Alarm 100 Blk SW Rock Creek Ln Welfare check 400 Blk SW Cross Creek Suspicious vehicle 200 Blk Cannon Agency assist PHQ Citizen contact - retuned property 1400 Blk NW Olympic Dr Alarm PHQ Citizen contact - stealing report June 15, 2023 200 Blk Eagles Suspicious person 1100 Blk NE McQuerry Rd Motor vehicle accident 1100 Blk NW Valley Ridge Area check PHQ Citizen contact NW Woodbury/NW Burr Oak Ln Suspicious vehicle 70/BB Motorist assist June 16, 2023 700 blk N Main St Welfare check 600 Blk NW Thieme St Standby to prevent 1000 Blk SW Rock Creek Ln Assault 500 Blk SW Centurion St Verbal disturbance SW Dean Dr Suspicious vehicle 1400 Blk Willow Alarm 100 Blk E Old Hwy Stealing 100 Blk SW Rock Creek Ln Shoplifting 500 Blk NW Azalea Cr Alarm 900 Blk NW Persimmon Dr Area check June 17, 2023 Woodbury Area check Minter/Eagles Pkwy Suspicious vehicle 800 Blk SW Meadow Glenn Cir Verbal disturbance June 18, 2023 700 Blk SW Crestview Ter Suspicious vehicle PHQ Citizen contact - harassment PHQ Citizen contact - missing person 900 Blk Hickory Animal control 1100 Blk Buckner Tarsney Rd Trespassing June 19, 2023 PHQ Citizen contact - stealing 500 Blk Broadway Stealing 200 Blk S Main St Citizen contact - agency assist 700 Blk SW Main St Suspicious vehicle 200 Blk SW Cross Creek Welfare check 600 Blk SW Cross Creek Area check - suspicious persons 1000 Blk W Ryan Rd Alarm 700 Blk Main St Area check - juveniles in vehicle 200 Blk Eagles Standby for repo PHQ Citizen contact - child custody PHQ Citizen contact - neighbor complaint 1200 Blk NE Mary Ct Noise complaint 800 Blk SW Misty Glen Ct Arrest 700 Blk N Main St Suspicious vehicle PHQ Citizen contact June 20, 2023 PHQ Citizen contact 600 Blk SW Creek Ridge Dr Parking complaint 200 Blk SW Eagles Stolen property NW Jefferson/Valley Ridge Motor vehicle accident PHQ Citizen contact - assault report 700 Blk N Main St Agency assist Additional calls for service: Suicidal subject: 1 Order of Protection: 1   We're celebrating five years of serving Grain Valley this week! As we look back on five years of serving our community, we'd like to share our introductory message from our first issue.
Much has changed in five years, but our mission remains the same - building community and shining a light on the stories that matter to our readers. From our first edition - June 18, 2018 “Are you crazy, or just plain stupid?” by Cory Unrein, Co-Owner and Publisher That famous line from the movie Forrest Gump kept coming to mind as we prepared to take on the challenge of starting a newspaper. As you can imagine, when you begin telling folks you plan to start a newspaper, you are met with a mix of reactions. Thankfully, most people we have met are excited about the prospect, given the lack of a community newspaper and the rumor based (and often unkind) noise on social media. But along with the kind words of support, we are regularly met with a mix of quiet concern and pity. I’ve worked in the nonprofit field for 20 years and my husband is an educator, so we are no strangers to seemingly hopeless causes. But the fact is, that while large metropolitan print media is struggling, community-based media is doing quite well. Our mission is simple: to affirm a sense of community through our publication, sharing news of interest to Grain Valley citizens and helping each of us learn more about our neighbors. In a time that often feels as though there is more that separates us than unites us, we invite you to join with us in sharing information with your neighbors and join in the conversation. Grain Valley – this is your paper. Talk to us, send us your news. We want to hear about your businesses, volunteer work, celebrations, and milestones. We are excited to start this venture and thank you for reading and for supporting our local advertisers. Thank you, Grain Valley, for your continued support as readers, sustaining members, advertisers, and contributors. We are honored to continue this work for you. John and Cory Unrein Grain Valley News The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Air Quality Program has issued an orange Ozone Alert for Monday, June 19, 2023. This alert indicates that an unhealthy level of ground-level ozone is expected tomorrow in the Kansas City region.
Ozone pollution is formed when emissions from vehicles, lawn and garden equipment, and other sources react in heat and sunlight. Environmental factors — such as warm, sunny weather; low wind speeds; and lack of rain — increase the likelihood of poor air quality. The two most important things residents should do on Ozone Alert days are: 1. PROTECT YOUR HEALTH Ozone pollution can cause a variety of problems — even in healthy adults — including chest pains, coughing, nausea, throat irritation and difficulty breathing. People who are sensitive to air pollution, including children, older adults and people with breathing or heart problems, should limit outdoor activity between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Everyone should consider scheduling outdoor activities before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. 2. REDUCE POLLUTION More than half of all emissions that lead to ozone pollution are caused by everyday activities such as driving and yard work. To help reduce air pollution, you can postpone mowing and wait until evening to refuel vehicles. If you live close to where you work, consider riding a bike or walking instead of driving. Both options produce zero emissions and the exercise is great for your health. Try to schedule walking and biking trips before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m., and avoid prolonged exposure to outdoor air. Metropolitan Community College, Kansas City, has announced the Dean's List for the Spring 2023 semester. The 2,666 students who received Dean's List recognition earned a grade-point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher while being enrolled in six or more credit hours. Earning a spot on the Dean’s List “is an indication of your hard work, dedication and academic achievement, all of which are a great foundation for future success,” MCC Chancellor Kimberly Beatty said in letters to the honorees. 62 students from Grain Valley were named to the Spring 2023 Dean's List: Gabby Aber Hannah Alexander Mattie Allen James Bassett Jason Bassett Dylan Bryant Brooklyn Burks Marcel Canady Amanda Capek Alex Clements Bailey Cook Morgan Darling Benjamin DeMonbrun Cooper Dieckhoff Annalynn Earley Alexander Engram Jordin Epperson Erika Evans Dominic Ferrante Trent Flake JingJing Gao Evan Goade Vanessa Gonzalez Justin Groover Luda Gurney Kiara Hawkins Ian Hawks Maverick Haywood Shelby Henry Jillian Hight Kaylyn Huff Kevin Johnson James Johnston Madelyn Jones Jackie Jozefkowicz Nick Julien Walker Kenyon Kathryn Kudrin Taylor Lackey Jordan Lamb Ashyah Lee Jaden Mason Cora Mayernik Noah McAnerney Konleigh Miller Michaela Millican Hannah Newberry Mary Packer Mary Phipps Carlos Portillo Barahona Kira Potter Teran Potter Megan Prier Collin Raymond Joshua Reynolds Alexandra Salinas Micah Siems Angela Strandburg James Strickler Alaina Valverde Corban Vasquez Olivia Williams  by Michael Smith The Grain Valley football team has had quite a bit of success in recent seasons. The past four seasons, the Eagles have finished at least four games above .500 or better and made the quarterfinals each time. The Class of 2023 got to experience all four years of success as they carried a winning pedigree into each season. Four graduates of that class got to play together one last time in Friday’s Kansas City Football Coaches Association All-Star game at Raymore-Peculiar High School. Those grads included Keagan Hart, Rhylan Alcanter, Jake Allen and Austin Schmitt. The game features some of the best football players in the Kansas City area from Missouri and Kansas. The Grain Valley players were a vital part of Team Missouri’s 16-8 victory over Kansas. Hart, Alcanter and Allen were all a part of a dominant defensive effort for Missouri. That trip combined for nine tackles, two for a loss and a sack. Allen said he enjoyed the opportunity to play with some of the best players from Missouri and play against athletes from Kansas. “It was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Allen, who was a captain on the team and had 2.5 tackles and a sack. “We went out there and kicked some (butt). I went out there and put some helmets in their mouths and played some football.” “This was more than a game. You are representing your state and your community.” Hart said it hit him after the game that it would be his last time playing football with his Eagles teammates. “It’s definitely a little different knowing that it’s the last time playing with them,” said Hart, who had 4.5 tackles, including one for a loss. “It’s been a lot of fun.” Schmitt agreed. He said he had fun as the team’s punter and placekicker. He made a 23-yard field goal and had three punts for an average of 41.3 yards, all of which landed inside the Kansas 20-yard line. “It was a great experience playing with everyone in the Missouri area,” Schmitt said. “It was awesome to see Jake as a captain. He wouldn’t mention it because he’s humble. He represented Grain Valley well.” Alcanter said he will miss playing with the other three as he will move on to play at Pittsburg State this fall. He had two tackles, one for a loss and a fumble recovery that set up Schmitt’s field goal. “I'm mad I didn’t take it to the end zone,” Alcanter said of his fumble recovery. “It was really special to play with my childhood friends one last time on one of the biggest stages. It’s awesome!”  Grain Valley graduate Keagan Hart, right, had 3.5 tackles, including one for a loss. Photo credit: Michael Smith  Grain Valley grad Rhylan Alcanter chases after the Kansas quarterback during a 16-8 victory for Team Missouri over Team Kansas in the Kansas City Football Coaches Association All-Star game. Alcanter had two tackles, including one for a loss and a fumble recovery. Photo credit: Michael Smith  Grain Valley grad Jake Allen, a captain for Team Missouri, has 2.5 tackles and a sack. Photo credit: Michael Smith  Grain Valley grad Austin Schmitt made a 23-yard field goal and had three punts for an average of 41.3 yards, all of which landed inside the Kansas 20-yard line. Photo credit: Michael Smith  by Michael Smith It’s been a decade since Khari Hontz first started playing soccer. The 14-year old Grain Valley resident said she remembers watching her brother, Cooper, play, and she grew an admiration for professional soccer player Lionel Messi, who played for FC Barcelona. “When I watched him play when I was younger, if he lost, I would start crying,” Khari said of watch Messi play on television. Cooper stopped playing soccer when he was in eighth grade. Khari, on the other hand, sees the sport as her future. In recent years, Khari has been playing for the Kansas City Athletics soccer club as an attacking midfielder. She plays for the 15-and-under girls team and plays for the 14-and-under boys squad. In the 10 years she has been playing soccer, she has developed into one of the best players in the nation. That was evident when she was chosen to participate in the US Soccer Girls U-14 Talent ID National Camp in Chula Vista, Calif., which invited the top 36 players in the country in her age group. At the camp, she had three practices and played in two scrimmages. For her, it was an experience of a lifetime. “It was good to get experience under other coaches,” Khari said, and meeting new people and making friendships that will last a lifetime. It was also awesome to play against high-level competition. It made me a better player.” Throughout the years, Khari has put in several hours into honing her craft and training to become better at the sport. She said she would spend about two hours a day with her day working on her game. “I always wanted to be better than everyone else,” Khari said. Because of her dedication and hard work, she has become an elite player. She said her biggest strength is playmaking and passing, but she can put the ball in the back of the net, too. “I see the field really well,” Khari said. “I like to create chances for my team. I’d say my goals and assists are pretty balanced.” Next week, she will be playing in the Elite Clubs National League playoffs next week with the Athletics in San Diego. Her team qualified during the regular season this year as it finished with a 10-2 record, which resulted in a fourth-place finish in the Midwest Conference. The top five teams in each conference qualified for the tournament. Khari said she think her team can make a deep run in the postseason. “I think if everyone works together and everyone plays at their best, then I think we have a good chance of going far,” Khari said. “I am excited to play against new teams that we haven’t played yet.” She still has four years of high school to complete. Khari said she was recently offered a scholarship to attend IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., to play for their soccer program. She has not made the decision if she will accept the offer or not. However, if she ends up staying in Missouri, she will attend the Blue Springs Freshman Center and will continue to play for the Athletics. Khari added that she does not plan on playing for the high school team at Blue Springs South. “It’s higher competition to play for a club team than in high school,” Khari said. “I feel like playing with my club will provide a better opportunity for my future because scouts come and watch our games.” She has set her goals high as she plans on playing at the professional level. “I want to go straight to the pros instead of playing in college,” Khari said. “It would be a dream to play for the Barcelona women’s national team.”  Grain Valley resident Khari Hontz, 14, is developing into one of the best soccer players in her age group in the country. She participated in the US Soccer Girls U-14 Talent ID National Camp in Chula Vista, Calif. The top 36 players in the 14-and-under age group were invited. by Cole Arndorfer and Valley News staff
The City of Grain Valley Board of Aldermen met on Monday, June 12, 2023 for their regularly scheduled meeting. The meeting began with new police officer Jennifer Murphy taking the oath of office. Public comments and previous business focused on the issue of parking and storage of vehicles in rear yards. During public comments, Grain Valley citizen David Pinon spoke regarding the issue. Pinon said he owns several cars, and at times he runs out of space in his driveway. Pinon stated that rather than parking them on the street and causing people to drive around them, he parks them in his backyard to keep them out of the way. Other residents spoke out against restricting residents from parking vehicles in rear yards, citing the city should not be involved in issues best resolved by homeowners associations or by the city only when a parked vehicle becomes a safety issue. In previous business, the board discussed the issue of vehicles parked in rear yards at length, eventually voting 4-2 to send the issue back to the planning and zoning commission, with aldermen Arnold and Knox voting no. Under new business, the Board approved a series of 2023-24 liquor licenses for local establishments. Five resolutions were approved unanimously, including a resolution to allow the city administrator to enter into an agreement with Jackson County to distribute $85,867 from the Anti-Drug Sales Tax. Next was a resolution to allow the city administrator to enter an updated agreement with Idemia for “Livescan” services. This would provide the police department digital fingerprint software and equipment to determine a person’s identity, and criminal history. Two resolutions were approved authorizing the installation of 11 new streetlights in the Rosewood Hills subdivision and the installation of three new streetlights in the Greystone Plaza subdivision. The final resolution authorized the city administrator to enter into a one-year cooperative agreement with the Grain Valley Chamber of Commerce at a budgeted cost of $10,000. Under ordinances, the second reading of a bill to annex the property of Grain Valley Safety Storage and make it part of city limits was approved unanimously. The second reading of an ordinance to establish a new chapter of the Grain Valley Municipal Code of Ordinances, Chapter 145, regarding the City’s procedures for sunshine laws and public record requests resulted in a lengthy discussion prompted by Alderman Arnold. City Attorney Joe Lauber addressed concerns raised by Arnold regarding Section 7 related to the handling of closed records; Arnold continued to express concerns regarding the ordinance and requested the vote be postponed so the issue could be further discussed in workshop, which was voted down. Additionally, Alderman Skinner requested a line in section 8 of the ordinance related to the requirement for a hard copy of the agenda be posted on a bulletin board outside City Hall be removed. This motion passed, with a later motion passed to direct staff to install a fixed sign for the purposes of posting agendas outside the building. Returning to the second reading of the ordinance itself, it passed 4-2, with Aldermen Arnold and Knox voting against. In staff reports, Community Development Director Mark Trosen, said that the annual Public Works Event for the city would be held Wednesday, June 21 from 5 pm to 7 pm at Armstrong Park. Citizens have a chance to come out and meet Public Works staff and Community Development staff as well as see live equipment demonstrations, food and drinks, and activities for kids. Alderman Skinner introduced a motion to direct staff to draft an ordinance in order to allow archery hunting within city limits. The motion was unanimously approved. The next scheduled board meeting will be held at 7:00pm on June 26th at City Hall. Planning and Zoning Commission: The Planning and Zoning Commission met Wednesday, June 14th, reviewing three action items and noting a plan to discuss the parking of vehicles in rear yards for the July 12th meeting. First, the commission unanimously approved final plat approval for the 4th plat of Creekside Village. The plat is located just north of NE McQuerry Road on the west side of Seymore Road. Additionally, the board approved the final plat 4th plat as written. Approved unanimously. The Commission reviewed and approved the 2024-28 Capital Improvement Plan, which outlines capital projects including the pavement maintenance program, public works and parks and recreation projects, as well as equipment replacement scheduled for the next five years. The Planning & Zoning Commission will meet next on July 12th at 6:30pm. The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Air Quality Program has issued an orange Ozone Alert for Thursday, June 15, 2023. This alert indicates that an unhealthy level of ground-level ozone is expected tomorrow in the Kansas City region. Ozone pollution is formed when emissions from vehicles, lawn and garden equipment, and other sources react in heat and sunlight. Environmental factors — such as warm, sunny weather; low wind speeds; and lack of rain — increase the likelihood of poor air quality. The two most important things residents should do on Ozone Alert days are: 1. PROTECT YOUR HEALTH Ozone pollution can cause a variety of problems — even in healthy adults — including chest pains, coughing, nausea, throat irritation and difficulty breathing. People who are sensitive to air pollution, including children, older adults and people with breathing or heart problems, should limit outdoor activity between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Everyone should consider scheduling outdoor activities before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. 2. REDUCE POLLUTION More than half of all emissions that lead to ozone pollution are caused by everyday activities such as driving and yard work. To help reduce air pollution, you can postpone mowing and wait until evening to refuel vehicles. If you live close to where you work, consider riding a bike or walking instead of driving. Both options produce zero emissions and the exercise is great for your health. Try to schedule walking and biking trips before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m., and avoid prolonged exposure to outdoor air. Learn more about simple actions to reduce pollution and follow the SkyCast, the region’s daily air quality forecast, at AirQKC.org. MARC issues the SkyCast each afternoon from March 1 through Oct. 31. SkyCast information is also available via the air quality information line, 816-701-8287, on social media at www.twitter.com/airQKC and from area media outlets. In what has become a popular summer tradition, the Grain Valley Public Works Department will host its annual Community Event on Wednesday, June 21st from 5-7pm at Armstrong Park. There is no cost to attend, and all residents are welcome. In addition to live equipment demonstrations and opportunities to meet the City's public works crews, there will be games, bounce houses, raffles, Papa Murphy's pizza, snow cones and other treats.  |
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