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by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News The Grain Valley girls basketball team wrapped up their summer activities Friday with the Blue Springs-Grain Valley shootout. In June, 22 Grain Valley basketball players participated in workouts and scrimmages to help get conditioned and prepared for the upcoming season in the winter. “When you get that many here at 7:00am, that’s pretty good,” veteran head coach Randy Draper said with a smile “We have a lot of numbers here and our freshmen class has brought in a lot of kids that like to play.” The Eagles were missing star forward Addy Seyfert, who is out with a broken ankle, and Madison Rust, a junior starting guard who is playing competitive softball. That has allowed some of last year’s junior varsity players and some underclassmen to get more playing time during some of the summer scrimmages, such as the Pittsburg State camp the team attended last week. The summer workouts and scrimmages have helped the underclassmen players get to know the upper classmen and build team chemistry. “At the Pittsburg State camp, the girls stay together on the same dorm floor,” Draper said. “They get tired together and they get to know each other. That’s good for all our new freshmen.” Sophia Epping is of those freshmen who have impressed coaches and other players during the summer. She is a combo guard who has shown her ability to be a good playmaker and outside shooter. “Sophia has been with us, and she has been playing really well,” junior Bella Bollinger said. “She was in our starting five at Pitt State. We only lost one of our starters from last year, so we are returning four out of our five starters, which I think is good.” Draper also raved about his freshman. “Sophia fits right in with the juniors and seniors and they know she can help them win some games this coming season,” Draper said. “She’s a skilled player and she has a feel for the game. She knows how to get open and how to find open players. She can shoot the ball. Sophia Epping is the freshman that will play varsity.” At the Pittsburg State camp and throughout the summer, Grain Valley got a good idea what style of play the team will have this winter even without two of their starters. “We are still going to have a really good defense,” senior Aspen Reed said. “We are still quick. We will probably still be getting up quickly. “I think we are still going to be a really fast team, and we have some good shooters.” Bollinger agreed. “I think right now, we are seeing what everyone can do,” Bollinger said. “We played some good teams at Pitt State and played against some girls who were Division I commits. We ended up winning some of those games, so we played well. “I think we are still a team that are going to get a lot of points in transition. We are going to run a lot of plays for quick shots.” Photo credit: Michael Smith
Mavericks Coach O’Had Rebuilds Roster, Searches for Assistant as 2025-26 Season Prep Begins6/30/2025
by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News
Kansas City Mavericks coach and general manager is burning the midnight oil as once again serves as the architect of the 2025-2026 ECHL hockey team. Two years ago the Mavericks reached the ECHL championships, only to lose to the Florida Everblades. After losing several key players off that team he, team president Mike Cukyne and CEO/owner Lamar Hunt put together a squad that made it to the Western Conference Championship, where they lost to the Toledo Walleye. "I have been in my office at Cable Dahmer Arena every day since we played our last game," O'Had said. "And building a team for next season is one of our top priorities. "And I'm also looking for an assistant coach." Riley Weselewski has been O'Had's assistant and associate head coach the past four years. With O'Had's and the Mavericks' blessings, he has taken over as the new head coach of the Cincinnati Cyclose. "This is something Riley and I have discussed the past couple of years," O'Had said. "He's going to do a terrific job in Cincinnati. A few teams have inquired about Riley the past couple of years, and wasn't ready to make the move. He played in Cincinnati, it's a great place to raise a family and we're excited for him." Earlier this week, the Mavericks have named the 24 players who appear on the ECHL protected list following the 2024-25 season. ECHL teams are allowed to protect as many players as they wish and retain their rights if they meet certain guidelines. The Mavericks have protected forwards Casey Carreau, Luke Loheit, Nolan Sullivan, David Cotton, Zack Trott, Jimmy Glynn, Brad Schoonbaert, Nathan Dunkley, Chase Brand, Daniel Amesbury, Nolan Walker, Jake Jaremko and Zachary Tsekos. They also protected goaltenders Noah West and Cale Morris and defensemen David Noel, Marcus Crawford, Justin MacPherson, Jimmy Mazza, Thomas Farrell, Nate Knoepke, Drake Burgin and Marc-Olivier Duquette. Walker, Duquette, Tsekos and Carpenter all played overseas during the 2024-25 season, but the Mavericks retain their rights. Jaremko and Morris did not play during 2024-25, but the Mavericks still retain their rights. "It can be a bit confusing," the coach said. "What it boils down to are the players who played last season that we hope to sign to play next season. We have offered extended contracts to 10 players, and we hope to retain between 10 and 12, which gives us a solid core of guys who will return this season." Two of the biggest names on last year's roster - forward Cade Borchardt, who led the ECHL with 40 goals, and goaltender Jack LaFontaine, who is figuring out his future hockey plans - look like they won't return to the team. "They were a big part of our success last season," O'Had said, "and we wish them the best." According to the ECHL: Teams are allowed to protect as many players as they wish provided the players protected meet the guidelines as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association which state that teams shall retain the rights to each player that: * Signed an SPC in 2024-25 with the Member, and has not been traded or released, OR * Signed an SPC in 2024-25, and was recalled to the NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released, OR * Received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current Season, DID NOT sign an SPC and has not been traded or released, OR * Has been suspended by the Member or League, and has not been traded or released, OR * Signed an SPC on or after the first day of the 2024-25 Regular Season, then subsequently signed an NHL/AHL contract, and has not been traded or released. * Has executed the ECHL Retirement Form, and has not been traded or released. by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News There is a buzz spreading through Grain Valley like wildfire. Jacob Misiorowski, a young man who graduated from Grain Valley High School with a flame thrower for a right arm and a head full of dreams, is now the most talked about pitcher in the big leagues. Misiorowski, Class of 2020, did not allow a hit in the first 11 innings of his professional career with the Milwaukee Brewers. He is the first modern day player to achieve that record in the past 125 years. And while his head may in the clouds, his feet are firmly planted on the mound, as he enjoys sharing his success with his mom Crystal, dad Tom, his girlfriend Elle and many friends he once called teammates who played for the Eagles baseball team. He has allowed just three total hits and is 3-0. He has a 1.13 ERA and recently outdueled Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes in a 4-2 Wednesday afternoon win before a sold-out crowd of 42,774 at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Misiorowski anticipated a sold-out stadium and national media attention, so he broke out the first pair of his cleats that were specially designed to honor his father, Tom. On one side of the cleats are his father's initials, TM, and on the other is a red tulip, the flower associated with Parkinson's Disease. "I hope to get people to donate to Parkinson's research, and I wanted to honor my dad," the 6-foot-7 right-hander told a group of reporters after the game. "I thought today would be a good day to do that. "Parkinson's has taken away a lot from my dad, but we still enjoy the time we get to spend together." His mom Crystal said she and her husband knew about the cleats, but had no idea when their son would wear them. "So, I'm watching the Pittsburgh game on TV and he's wearing his New Balance cleats, then I notice a tulip on the shoe, and they begin talking about his cleats, which honor Tom," Crystal said. "Talk about a special moment. But that's the type of young man Jacob is. He's very special." That's another reason why Tom and, and 30 of their friends and family members were at Busch Stadium in St. Louis when their son made his major league debut. He threw five shutout innings, striking out six, without allowing a base hit. "That was a moment we'll always remember," Crystal said. "He's dreamed about being a professional baseball player since we was little, and those dreams are coming true." When asked about his son's one-of-a-kind cleats, his father said in a soft voice, "That is special." Special - that's an adjective you can find in any feature or game story featuring Misiorowski. His facing a new world of requests, where he could spend 24 hours a day talking about his dominance in majors. "Things have changed a lot over the past couple of weeks," Misiorowski said, chuckling. "There are always a lot of reporters around my locker after a game. And, I've never had this happen, but I was shopping a Target Store, and was recognized by some fans. They were very nice and just wanted to congratulate me. "I'll be honest with you. A lot of times I turn off all social media and my phone. It just becomes too much. There are countless reasons why Misiorowski is attracting so much attention - a 100+ mph fastball, his confidence in all his razor sharp pitches, his easy-going approach to life and that 11-no-hit innings to start his career. He followed up his five no-hit innings against St. Louis with six no-hit innings against the Minnesota Twins. "Yeah, that's a big thing," Misiorowski said, chuckling. "A lot of great things have happened in my first three starts. I have no idea how long it will last. And I know I have a girlfriend, parents and family members and friends who will always be there for me. "I'm a lucky guy."  Jacob Misiorowski, a 2020 graduate of Grain Valley High School, poses with his mother and father after his first major league start, a 6-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. He did not allow a hit in five innings. Photo courtesy of Misiorowski family.  Jacob Misiorowski is joined by his mom and dad and 30 friends and family members after his first major league start. He is 3-0 with a 1.13 ERA and is the first pitcher in the modern era to start his career with 11 no-hit innings. Photo courtesy Misiorowski family.  Jacob Misiorowski, a Grain Valley High School graduate his is 3-0 after three major league starts, has designed a special pair of cleats to honor his father, Tom, who has Parkinson's Disease. The cleats feature his father's initials, TM, on one side and a red tulip on the other. The tulip represents research into Parkinson's.   by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News The Grain Valley football team continues to grow. Actually, it is growing so much that head coach David Allie said when the new school year starts, he could have the largest team in the history of the program. That is evidenced by the increase in numbers that Allie and his coaching staff have seen this summer during mini camps and organized team activities. Mini camp ran May 28 through June 4, and the Eagles had two organized team activity sessions so far in June. On average, Grain Valley has had 137 students participate in offseason workouts, which is the most Allie has had since he became the coach in 2014. “We have a lot of guys coming out which is good,” Allie said. “It brings a lot of competition. A lot of people are working hard trying to get better.” Players like DJ Pechar noted others on the team are ramping up their recruiting efforts and are getting their friends to join the team. Even some upperclassmen are trying out football for the first time. “I would like to think the success had something to do with it,” Allie said. “We have good kids who are trying to get better. Our youth league is doing a good job. It’s been a group effort to get these kids out. We have some upperclassmen coming out to play for the first time, which is good. “We are getting some guys who are playing other sports to participate and there are some kids who moved out of the district who have come back. It’s a variety of things. We have a good group of freshmen coming in, too.” Added Pechar: “We are recruiting other guys who are just athletes. The practice schedule is a little bit harder but it’s going to make us better. We are getting a lot of reps in.” Allie said there have been about 40 freshman and 97 varsity players who have participated in summer activities. In the camps and organized team activities, Allie said he likes to focus on one aspect of football per workout. One day, he said he will have a defense-focused OTA then he will switch to an offensive focus the next. “A lot of the stuff we do is similar to previous years,” Allie said. We like to split them up into offensive and defensive days for our two-way players. We have some kids who play on the offensive and defensive line.” From June 8-10 Eagles took 69 players to the annual Pittsburg State University camp, which is one of the largest they attend each season. At those camps, Grain Valley gets to scrimmage against other teams in the Midwest including teams from Kansas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. At that camp, the Eagles got an early idea of what the team could look like this fall. Allie and his players were pleased with how things went. “It is always good to go down there and see some teams that you don’t get to see during the season,” Allie said. “We came out injury free which is a huge thing.” “We probably had the nicest weather we ever had at the camp. It was overcast most days and it rained one of those days. Usually it’s really hot outside when we go there. Pittsburg State is a class program and they know how to run their camp and they know how to win.” Added senior quarterback Chase Neer: “We looked a lot better than last year. There were a lot tougher teams there than last year and we still held our own. “The offensive and defensive lines looked pretty darn good. We are not the biggest team but they definitely held their own.” Pechar echoed similar sentiments to Neer. “We got a good start to our summer,” Pechar said. “We got some things to work on. But it’s all minor things that aren’t going to be a big issue. I think we are going to be pretty good this year.” Photo credit: Michael Smith, Grain Valley News  Storytime in the Community Garden returns this Saturday, June 28th at 10:00am. Hosted by the Mid-Continent Public Library and Downtown Grain Valley, families are invited to bring a lunch and enjoy a picnic following story time at 10:00am. The Grain Valley Community Garden is located on Main Street, across the street from the post office parking lot area.  Missouri Independent: Missouri lawmakers could return to session this fall to debate property taxes6/26/2025
Missouri lawmakers could return to session this fall to debate property taxesby Jason Hancock, Missouri Independent Questions about the constitutionality of a property tax cap included in the governor’s stadium funding plan earlier this month may draw Missouri lawmakers back into session later this year. House Speaker Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican, on Monday formed the Special Interim Committee on Property Tax Reform and empowered it to study Missouri’s property tax system and recommend “solutions to ensure fairness, transparency and sustainability for taxpayers and municipalities across the state.” The committee’s formation comes on the heels of Patterson floating the idea of a special legislative session in September, when lawmakers are already required to consider whether to override gubernatorial vetoes. “You go around to any of the counties… and they’re bringing up property taxes,” Patterson said earlier this month. “This is a huge problem. I would say it goes to crisis levels.” Asked about the possibility of convening another special session focused on property taxes, a spokeswoman for Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe said he has been “in discussions on this issue and looks forward to reviewing the work of the Special Interim Committee on Property Tax Reform.” Property taxes are the main source of revenue for local governments, funding schools, public safety and other functions. Rising housing costs, coupled with property reassessments, have put the way the taxes are calculated under the microscope, with lawmakers looking to provide relief to taxpayers without bankrupting local governments.
The topic even emerged as part of discussion over the state’s public school funding formula. A state task force created to study Missouri’s education spending spent its latest hearing this week focused on how property taxes have contributed funding inequities. Kehoe called lawmakers back into session earlier this month to consider a $1.5 billion incentive package for professional sports stadiums in Kansas City, he agreed to allow an amendment requiring most counties to put a hard cap on increases in property tax bills. In 75 counties, tax bills would not increase more than 5% per year from a base amount, or the rate of inflation, whichever is greater. In 22 others, no increase in the basic bill would be allowed.There are exceptions built in for newly voted levies and the additional value from improvements. Many of the larger counties of the state, including Boone, Greene, Jackson, St. Louis County and the city of St. Louis, were excluded altogether from the legislation. The property tax amendment caused a fissure among conservatives in the Missouri Senate. Some supported the measure in an attempt to win tax relief concessions during the special session. Others decried it as an unconstitutional bait and switch designed to fool taxpayers, pointing to a requirement in the Missouri Constitution that property taxes be “uniform upon the same class or subclass of subjects.” Even Patterson, who voted in support of the bill that included stadium funding and the property tax cap, acknowledged questions about whether it could survive a constitutional challenge. “One thing I don’t do is guess what is going to happen in our courts,” Patterson said. “I’ve heard from a lot of attorneys that say it absolutely is. I’ve heard from some that said that it isn’t. I do think it’s constitutional.” The interim committee created by Patterson will hold seven hearings across the state this summer to gather input and explore legislative solutions. State Rep. Tim Taylor, a Republican from Bunceton, will serve as chairman. State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Columbia Democrat, will serve as the ranking minority member. “Property taxes are one of the most common concerns we hear from Missourians,” Taylor said, “and it’s clear that our system needs a closer look.” This story was updated at 11:45 a.m. to include comment from the governor’s office and again at 12:55 p.m. to correct the details of the property tax legislation passed this month. The Independent Needs Your SupportAs a nonprofit newsroom, our articles are free for everyone to access. Readers like you make that possible. Can you help sustain our watchdog reporting today?
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Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: [email protected]. 
The 4th of July holiday is right around the corner, which means that fireworks sales and the window to discharge fireworks will open soon. The City of Grain Valley permits the shooting of fireworks between 9:00am - 11:00pm on the first Saturday of July, as well as July 3rd and 4th. Bottle rockets are not allowed. Two local options to purchase fireworks include a fireworks tent benefiting the Grain Valley Bands located in the parking lot of the Grain Valley Price Chopper, and a tent benefiting the Grain Valley Chamber of Commerce and Boy Scouts, located at the corner of Buckner Tarsney Road and SW Eagles Parkway. Tents will be permitted to operate June 27 - July 4.  by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society While I usually look for stories about events that occurred “about” 100 years ago, in perusing issues of Oak Grove Banner, I was also drawn to items that appeared in the column titled “Grain Valley News”. This week I will share some of those items from January, 1926, or as I call it, 100+ years ago. (Copied as written.)
I find these old news papers to be quite amusing. Sometimes I recognize a name; sometimes I don’t. But I am always curious about how some of the items came to be news!  by Phil Hanson, President & CEO, Truman Heartland Community Foundation The Truman Heartland Community Foundation Board of Directors, in September of 2024, committed to move forward with an initiative to address Affordable Housing in our Eastern Jackson County community. The data that compelled the board to make this decision indicated that 22% of households in our region are housing cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their household income on housing. And 9% of households are severely cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 50% of their household income on housing. The Jackson County Health Department identified Affordable Housing as the third-highest rated overall community health concern in its latest community health survey. No doubt, there is someone in your family or network of friends who is struggling to obtain affordable housing. We have new teachers, nurses, police officers, and other public servants who are unable to afford housing in the community they serve. We know this is not a local issue but one common to most communities in the United States; however, we believe the solution to this challenge will be local. One new tool that we have created to address this challenge is our “Community First Loan Fund”. This fund, valued at approximately $900,000, is available for projects that address the affordable housing challenge in our community. It’s available for both nonprofits and private companies. We recently made our first loan from this fund to Truman Heritage Habitat for Humanity. They are rehabbing a house that was donated to them in Raytown, and we are providing a short-term construction loan that will be repaid when they sell the newly renovated home. This new tool is what is often referred to as “Mission Related Investing”. Yes, it’s an investment of the foundation, and it helps us achieve our mission of “Improving Area Communities”. We are utilizing funds that came from our endowed funds, which provide the revenue for our annual competitive community grants process. This money that was previously invested in our fixed income pool on Wall Street, is now invested here locally, on Main Street. This investment does not decrease the amount available for our annual competitive community grants program; it simply changes the source of revenue. We look forward to making additional loans for affordable housing projects in our Eastern Jackson County community. If you know of someone working on an affordable housing project that I should talk with, please let me know or have them contact me. I will share other aspects of our Affordable Housing Initiative in future articles. It’s a big challenge that will require multiple strategies and tools to make an impact, and our “Community First Loan Fund” is just one essential tool. I can be reached via email at [email protected]. The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of June 18-24, 2025. June 18, 2025 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol NW SNI A BAR / WILLOW Suspicious Person 100 BLK MAIN ST Pedestrian Check 600 BLK YENNIE AVE Extra Patrol ROSEWOOD / LINWOOD Traffic Enforcement PHQ Administrative PHQ Vehicle Maintenance 500 BLK NW MONTANA RIDGE Disturbance-Verbal PHQ Administrative PHQ Administrative 300 BLK NE COLD WATER CREEK RD Public Service S BB / DUNCAN Careless and Imprudent Driver BRENTWOOD/ROSEWOOD Abandoned Vehicle 1200 BLK NW LINDENWOOD DR Check Well Being 200 BLK NW JEFFERSON ST Disturbance-Verbal 600 BLK NW WOODBURY DR Crash Non-Injury 1200 BLK NW PHELPS DR Abandoned Vehicle 1300 BLK NW VALLEY WOODS CT Check Well Being 200 BLK NW JEFFERSON Citizen Contact PHQ Walk In Report EB 40 HWY / BB Area Check 100 BLK SW ROCK CREEK LN Trespass SNI A BAR / RR TRACKS Area Check PHQ Walk In Report PHQ Walk In Report 400 BLK HAMILTON LN Animal Control 100 BLK SUNNY LN Area Check; Disturbance-Physical June 19, 2025 E HARRIS ST Extra Patrol 29000 BLK SE AA HWY Trespass NW SNI-A-BAR PKWY / NW SNI-A-BAR BLVD Extra Patrol 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol PHQ Administrative PHQ Administrative SNI BAR/40 Area Check PHQ Public Service PHQ Public Service 1300 BLK PERSIMMON Area Check PHQ Public Service 800 BLK SW WOODLAND DR Agency Assist EMS PHQ Public Service 1200 BLK SW GRAYSTONE DR Citizen Contact 800 BLK S MINTER RD Alarm-Residential NELSON / MEADOWOOD Traffic Enforcement ROSEWOOD / HEDGEWOOD Traffic Enforcement PHQ Walk In Report 1100 BLK FOX TAIL Area Check ASHLEY DR / BARR Suspicious Person 700 BLK SW GREYSTONE DR Citizen Contact June 20, 2025 1100 BLK BUSH DR Extra Patrol E HARRIS ST Extra Patrol 500 BLK N MAIN ST Fire-Structure 500 BLK MAIN ST Agency Assist Fire 700 BLK N MAIN ST Vehicle Maintenance PHQ Administrative PHQ Walk In Report LINDENWOOD / ROSEWOOD Special Assignment-Traffic Control BUCKNER TARSNEY / OAK HILL SCHOOL Area Check 1000 BLK DEAN DR Disturbance-Verbal 800 BLK S MINTER RD Alarm-Residential PHQ Public Service WHITNEY / WOODBURY Traffic Enforcement 800 BLK NE SAN KAR DR Follow Up Investigation PHQ Agency Assist EMS 600 BLK SW MEADOWOOD DR Suspicious Vehicle 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol 1100 BLK NW SAWGRASS DR Animal Control NELSON/MEADOWOOD Extra Patrol EB 70 / GV EXIT Agency Assist LE 1100 BLK BUSH DR Extra Patrol June 21, 2025 MAIN/HARRIS Extra Patrol MAIN/HARRIS main / Harris Citizen Contact 100 BLK E Harris Extra Patrol 1100 BLK BUSH DR Extra Patrol 1300 BLK CHERRY ST Prisoner Transport 1500 BLK SHALE CT Citizen Contact 1100 BLK BUSH DR Security Check PHQ Public Service CHRISMAS FARMS Extra Patrol 1200 BLK PAMELA BLVD Extra Patrol ROSEWOOD / LINDENWOOD Special Assignment-Traffic Control NELSON / MEADOWOOD Traffic Enforcement PHQ Administrative 1100 BLK NW VALLEY RIDGE DR Security Check 600 BLK W JEFFERSON ST Property Damage NELSON / MEADOWOOD Extra Patrol RD MIZE / MONKEY MOUNTAIN Recovered Stolen Auto JEFFESON / VALLEY RIDGE Traffic Enforcement 1100 BLK CHRISTIE LN Check Well Being PHQ Public Service RD MIZE / PAVILLION Crash Non-Injury 700 BLK N MAIN ST Traffic Stop 31000 BLK E ARGO RD Alarm-Commercial 40 / MAIN Extra Patrol AA / MINTER Motorist Assist 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol 600 BLK NW YENNIE ST Citizen Contact 1100 BLK SANDY LN Extra Patrol 100 BLK E HARROS Extra Patrol 1200 BLK NW HILLTOP LN Citizen Contact; Stealing Under June 22, 2025 1100 BLK NW BAYTREE DR Disturbance-Physical 1100 BLK SANDY LN Extra Patrol 1100 BLK BUSH DR Extra Patrol 600 BLK N YENNIE Pedestrian Check 1100 BLK BUSH DR Security Check 1400 BLK NW EAGLES PKWY Extra Patrol 700 BLK MAIN ST Alarm-Commercial MEDOWOOD / NELSON Traffic Enforcement LINDENWOOD / ROSEWOOD Extra Patrol EAGLES PKWY / OAK Extra Patrol AA / SNI A BAR Sound of Shots MINTER / ADDIE Area Check 600 BLK SW CRESTVIEW DR Animal At Large 1100 BLK BUSH DR Extra Patrol FOXTAIL / STONEY POINT Area Check 1100 BLK DEAN DR Citizen Contact; Neglect of Child 600 BLK SW WHITESTONE DR Citizen Contact; Disturbance-Physical June 23, 2025 120 BLK E HARRIS ST Extra Patrol 1100 BLK BUSH DR Extra Patrol 700 BLK S HILLSIDE CT Citizen Contact 1800 BLK NW WILLOW DR Disturbance-Physical 700 BLK SW BROME DR Stealing Under 1100 BLK DEAN DR Follow Up Investigation PHQ Public Service 500 BLK MAIN ST Disturbance-Physical 600 BLK NW GREEN DR Stealing Under 1800 BLK NW WILLOW DR Public Service 200 BLK BARR RD Standby to Prevent 100 BLK SE BUCKNER TARSNEY RD Walk In Report 400 BLK N MAIN ST Citizen Contact PHQ Animal Control PHQ Walk In Report GREGG AND YENNIE Traffic Hazard PHQ Public Service 1100 BLK NE MCQUERRY RD Check Well Being OAKLAND SCHOOL RD / BUCKNER TARSNEY RD Suspicious Vehicle 40 / MEADOW Area Check 1200 BLK NW GRANITE DR Alarm-Commercial PHQ Walk In Report BUCKNER TARSENEY / MCQUERRY Check Well Being PHQ Walk In Report BUCKNER TARSNEY RD / 70 Area Check 1100 BLK BUSH DR Extra Patrol June 24, 2025 100 BLK EAST HARRIS Extra Patrol 1100 BLK GOLFVIEW DRIVE Noise 1800 BLK NW WILLOW DR Reposession 1200 BLK GOLFVIEW DR Noise PHQ Administrative PHQ Administrative 1800 BLK NW WILLOW DR Extra Patrol PHQ Walk In Report 1200 BLK NW WALNUT CT Public Service 400 BLK JAMES ROLLO Administrative PHQ Walk In Report 700 BLK MAIN ST Court 100 BLK NW WOODBURY / WOODBURY PLACE Traffic Enforcement 1200 BLK SW FOXTAIL DR Area Check 1000 BLK SW SANDY LN Check Well Being PHQ Public Service 1200 BLK NW LINDENWOOD DR Check Well Being 1400 BLK GOLFVIEW DR Area Check 1200 BLK SW GRAYSTONE DR Check Well Being Additional calls for service: Order of protection: 1 Check on welfare/CIT: 2  In this three-part workshop for teens from July 21 - 23, 2025, Bram Stoker-nominated young-adult and middle-grade author Sarah Henning will share tips, tricks, and insider knowledge on how to spin an idea from “just vibes” into a story readers can sink their teeth into. This series of workshops is intended for teen writers, not adult writers of teen literature. Registrants will be enrolled in and expected to attend all three parts. This class will be held in person as well as virtually via Zoom simultaneously. An email address is required when registering to attend on Zoom. To register for the Teen Story Camp, visit Teen Story Camp | Mid-Continent Public Library.  by Joe Jerek, Missouri Department of Conservation JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds deer hunters to apply online from July 1–31 for a shot at 145 managed deer hunts throughout the state. There are hunts for archery, muzzleloader, shotgun, and modern firearms from mid-September through mid-January at designated conservation areas, state and other parks, national wildlife refuges, and other public areas. Some managed deer hunts are held specifically for youth, beginning hunters, or for people with disabilities. Hunters are selected by a weighted random drawing. Draw results will be available starting Aug. 15. Applicants who are drawn will receive area maps and other hunt information by email or mail. Get more information on managed deer hunts, preview hunt details, and apply starting July 1 at mdc.mo.gov/managedhunt. Details about managed deer hunts can also be found in MDC’s 2025 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet available starting in early July at MDC offices and nature centers, from permit vendors around the state, and online at mdc.mo.gov.  A new initiative is set to transform child care affordability for working families in the Kansas City region. The Child Care Exchange program is designed to address the critical need for affordable child care options while supporting workforce recruitment and retention for employers. With the governor’s support for including the program in the state budget, and its anticipated signing, the Child Care Exchange will be ready to launch as soon as funding becomes available. The program leverages cost-sharing among employees, employers, the state of Missouri (if eligible) and other potential local funding sources, ensuring families have access to high-quality child care. MARC will support the exchange by connecting employers and child care providers to the exchange, continuing work to increase the number of child care options available all while supporting workforce attraction for employers and stabilizing the child care marketplace. The key benefits of the program include:
Upon the governor’s signing of the budget, MARC will initiate a community-wide effort to recruit participating businesses and child care providers. Learn more about the Child Care Exchange program.  Eagles swim program looks to boost numbers by offering summer workouts to middle school students6/20/2025
by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News Grain Valley boys and girls swim coach Julie Reilly is trying to find ways to get more students to participate in swimming. That’s why she offered summer workout opportunities to middle school students in 2024 to try and help younger students get more interested in swimming when they reach the high school level. For the first time this coming school year, there will be a middle school swim team and its season will start in the spring in 2026. This summer, there has been a slight uptick in participants in summer workouts for swimming as 12 middle schoolers and 14 high school students have been in the pool at Blue Springs South High School. “It’s a hard sport to recruit for but it’s one that could save your life someday,” Reilly said. “I want kids to swim even if it doesn’t look pretty. “I put the information for the summer workouts online and I had a parent post it on a Grain Valley page on Facebook.” During the workouts, Reilly said the middle school students have worked on the basics of swimming, while the high school athletes work on more advanced techniques and work on getting into shape for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. High school swimmers, like senior Ellie Martin, help mentor the middle school swimmers. “We’re seeing a lot of groups especially at the middle school level,” Martin said. “I get to work with them and teach them some techniques. We don’t just work on our own skills.” Before the swimmers get in the pool, they do workouts in the weight lifting area like running, stretches, and so on. “We try to do some dry land work and make it a little fun,” Reilly said. “We play some dry land games. We have worked on freestyle swimming and we worked on the backstroke for a couple of days. And we will do butterfly and backstroke later in the month. “We also did some relays so the middle schoolers could see what that looks like.” For the high school swimmers, the summer workouts are all about preparing for the high school season. “We try to improve our technique during the offseason,” said Martin, who also competes for the Kansas City Swim Academy in the summer. “Once the season comes closer we work on building up our endurance before we compete.” Junior Gage Wright, the defending Class 1 state champion in the 1-meter diving event, uses the workouts to try out new dives and sharpen his basic techniques. “When we are working this early in the season, we are really just working on those foundational skills,” said Wright, who is also diving for the Kansas Dive Club in Lawrence. “We have to build a good framework, so when it’s go time during the season, we can execute well during the season.” The workouts also serve as an opportunity for the swimmers to build chemistry. “I get to work on teamwork with other swimmers and get to know them more,” Martin said. “It makes it more fun and keeps you excited for the season.” Photo credit: Michael Smith, Grain Valley News by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News The numbers for Grain Valley head coach Brett Lewis’ boys summer soccer camp keep growing. Last year, he invited seventh and eighth graders to join the high school players in the summer camp for the first time, and that helped grow interest among youth to participate in soccer. After having around 65 boys participants in 2024, Lewis said he has close to 75 participants this summer. For the girls camp, there have been around 45 participants. “There are a lot more people here than last year,” senior Cohen Hackworth said. “We have more competition which is pretty nice for us.” For the middle school students, the camp has been a benefit for them as they get to play with high school and even college-level players. “It’s always so fun,” Lewis said. “We wanted to get some kids involved that are close to going to high school. This helps the kids that are going into high school to connect more to the program and they are more invested and they come out and watch games. They get more excited to be a part of the program to be there. “When they get to the high school level, they know what to expect.” Added senior Cooper Bousselot: “It gives those kids an opportunity to see how we play and helps them see how physical the game actually is. “Even if you aren’t in high school, you are still being evaluated and are getting looked at. But a lot of it is about having fun.” Lewis’ annual summer camp started Monday and will end today. The camp gives students the opportunity to sharpen their skills by participating in drills and playing against each other in scrimmages for their World Cup Tournament. Because the numbers for the boys camp has increased, Lewis splits his players into teams of eight or nine, which is up from the six or seven each team had last year. In the World Cup scrimmage games, each team picks a country to represent, and they play each team in a round-robin style format. The nets are set up on the east and west sides of the field at Moody Murry Memorial Field. The winning team earns Lamar’s Donuts as the prize. “The first two days we work more on the technical aspect of soccer, like the 1 vs. 1 play and the touches,” Lewis said, “and the different types of skill moves. On the last three days, we play games.” “These smaller games allow more players to flourish,” Lewis said. “When you’re playing 11 vs. 11 soccer, some players may hide and not get on the ball as much.” Even former players, who are currently playing at the college level, participate in the camp and play in the tournament. On the boys side, Owen White, Isaiah Johnosn and Campbell Childers were helping out, along with Emma Thiessen, Lexi Nicholson, Annabelle Totta and Meghan Knust on the girls side. “They help with the coaching side a little bit and they will also pop in and play,” Lewis said. “They are still training, as well. They also set an example for the younger players to show the level of player they want to be at.” Johnson, who plays for the Metropolitan Community College men’s soccer team, said he enjoys getting involved with the camp by mentoring the younger players and getting in workouts during a dead period for the college season. “There are a lot of kids that are really good, even the middle school ones,” Johnson said. “I think they compete well with the high school guys. Some of those seventh and eighth grade guys are really good. Grain Valley has a lot of soccer talent.” Photo credit: Michael Smith, Grain Valley News |
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