In the late 1960s, middle schools began to develop as a way to serve the intellectual as well as physical, social and emotional needs of early adolescents. Middle schools provide the connection between elementary and high school. Like many school districts, Grain Valley experimented with the middle school concept on a limited basis due to space and budget constraints. By the mid-1980s, the district began a rapid growth rate and it was apparent that a new high school would be needed, but the first high school “students” were actually middle schoolers.
     In 1988 a $1,400,000 bond allowed the district to purchase 60-acres of land on AA Highway (now Eagles Parkway) for construction of a new high school. Because of the enormous size of the project, the original building was completed in three phases.
     Phase I included 8 classrooms, a music room, a library, a computer lab, a small kitchen and commons area, restrooms and office space.  It was completed for the 1989-90 school year and housed the Grain Valley Middle School, grades 4, 5 and 6. 
     The “team” approach, with a group of teachers providing English, history, mathematics and science to each grade level, was adopted. The middle school concept had officially begun.
     In August 1991, voters approved a $900,000 bond for Phase II of the “high school” which included 9 classrooms, a shop, the new and enlarged student commons area and additional rest rooms. Grades 7 and 8 were moved into the building.
     In 1994 voters approved a $1,275,000 bond issue to complete Phase III. In 1995 when the final phase was completed, the building became Grain Valley High School.  The middle school moved back to the old high school campus. Classes were held in the 1954 elementary building and the 1969 high school.  The 1925 building became the administration building.
     In 1999, with a continued rapidly growing population, voters approved a $2,800,000 bond to purchase land and begin Phase I of the middle school on Ryan Road. In August 2001, an additional $3,500,000 bond was passed to complete Phase II, and both were ready for occupancy for the 2002-03 school year. By April of 2003 it was already necessary to add additional classrooms.
     In 2010 the school on Ryan Road became South Middle School, as Phase I of North Middle School at the Pink Hill Campus was completed for occupancy in August.  On February 8, 2010 voters approved a $3,000,000 bond to complete Phase II, which included a gymnasium and locker rooms. Phase III, which included additional classrooms and kitchen expansion, was completed in 2012.  The second wing of classrooms was completed, and a third wing which includes classrooms, collaborative areas, work space and additional parking, will be ready for the start of school in August.
 
Next week: Don’t miss the final school segment, GVHS
 

​     If I didn't know any better, I'd say I heard them calling my name, like a Siren song, wooing the ancient Greek sailor.  I stood quietly, trying to focus, willing myself not to move toward them.  
     They were beautiful, unlike anything I had ever seen before, and when I finally reached out to grab them, the initial contact was electrifying.  Before you label me as a weirdo, let me assure you this has happened to many a woman, some right there that day in the same place as me. And while we may be just a little ashamed or embarrassed, we cannot help ourselves.  We are shoe addicts.
     Let me say up front, if you have never bought a pair of shoes and then built an outfit around them, please quit reading right now and skip to the weekly police report, ’cause Sister, you won’t be able to relate.  However, if you don’t count flip flops or boots when your husband asks how many pairs of shoes you have because they are not really shoes, then stay with me! We are kindred spirits.
     Truthfully, I don’t have an accurate count of my shoes, but I can tell you it is too many. When I go to line up the browns, and I have four different shades, I probably have too many.  When I can create actual categories besides just flats, heels, and tennis shoes, I probably have too many. When I am looking for a pair of shoes to wear, and I pull out a pair I don’t even remember buying, I for sure have too many.
     I scoffed at an article that popped up online the other day.  Ladies should only own 12 pair of shoes, it said, one pair each of: classic white tennis shoes, ballet flats, summer espadrilles, classic black loafers, neutral evening heels, over the knee boots, something whimsical or with personality, flat sandals, office appropriate pumps, a pop of color, walkable heels, and classic black ankle booties.
     Clearly, the disillusioned blogger forgot multiple other categories: fuzzy boots with which you may or may not wear socks, ones that match something your daughter owns, just in a bigger size, something with such a high heel that you only wear them when sitting down, and rain boots in multiple colors, to name a few.
     The good news about being a shoe addict is that I know I am not alone. I once helped move a friend whose shoes numbered over 100 pair.  And when we got her all settled, we celebrated by visiting – you guessed it—a shoe store.
     I imagine meetings for those of us with a problem might start like this: “Hi, I’m Cathy and I am an addict.”  “Hi, Cathy,” my fellow shoe junkies would say.
     “This week I found myself in a new city on a business trip, and I just happened to find a shoe boutique,” I blurt out.  My friends comfort me and applaud me for going home with just one pair.
     I also know it is a problem because there are shoe memes, like the one that says “I make shoe contact before I make eye contact” and “There’s no shame in my shoe game.”
     And there are too many famous idioms and quotes about shoes, also. ‘If the shoe fits, wear it (or in my case buy it)’, ‘Mama needs a new pair of shoes’, ‘Give a girl a new pair of shoes and she can conquer the world’, or ‘Change your shoes, change your life’. And maybe my favorite, ‘Life isn’t a fairy tale.  If you lose a shoe at a party, you probably have another pair almost exactly like it in your closet’.
     I have drawn the line at shoes that cause my feet too much pain.  I have seen the pictures of supermodels’ gnarled feet, caused by wearing sky high heels 2 sizes too small for their runway walks.  I have, however, purchased a pair of shoes with the promise to myself that they will stretch a little bit, and a couple of Bandaids later realized that maybe they won’t.
     I have had one serious shoe injury, that happened when I was in high school, but I still remember it well, and have a little scar to help me.  I wish this was the story of a beautiful shoe I wore to prom, and I was running to make curfew after one last kiss with my date when the heel snapped off. But the real story is not nearly as cool.
     Adidas tennis shoes, made of real leather, with stitched on stripes were the rage when I was about 14.  I just had to have a pair, and I finally talked my mother into letting me add some babysitting money to her contribution to have enough money to get them.
     A friend and I bought matching Adidas, with dark red, almost maroon stripes, ones that closely matched our school colors.  We were headed to band camp with our new kicks, sure to impress some fresh-faced sophomore percussionist.
     Day one at camp we learned a marching high step, which required us to drag our feet up the inside calf of the opposite leg.  The stripes on the Adidas worked nearly as well as a razor, scraping away our flesh with each step. 
     By about mid-day, I could no longer drag my leg over the open wounds anymore.  Neither of us brought another pair of shoes to camp, so we marched in sock feet on 100 degree pavement.  Not even a sophomore percussionist would be impressed by that.  The scars on my right leg are hardly noticeable anymore, but the memory is pretty fresh.
     Look, shoes are about the only thing in our wardrobe that doesn’t have to be sensible, that lets us rebel against the old Buster Brown oxford school shoes, and truthfully, when your clothing size is not as small as you would like it to be, shoes still fit.
     My theory is this: When life gives you lemons, sell them, and buy shoes.
 
     Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer.  
 

​     A summer morning at 76 degrees, with a partly cloudy sky, and a cool breeze is not a bad way to start your day as a middle schooler. It’s even better if you get to practice a sport you like with your friends.
     That’s exactly what awaited Grain Valley Eagle Middle School football players as they participated in team camp on July 9th. The 32 enrolled camp attendees received instruction from the middle school and high school football staffs at Moody Murray Memorial Stadium.
     Eagles Varsity Head Football Coach David Allie has goals he wants accomplished during the time spent at camp. “We want to teach these young men how to do things our way, get them accustomed to the terminology we use, introduce them to our offensive and defensive systems, and most importantly create an environment where they learn and have fun.”
     “Some of these guys have been at summer weights, gotten to know some of the coaches, and are becoming part of the family. It’s also great for the junior high coaches to see how we (the varsity coaches) teach things and be around one another since we are not directly connected during our season,” Allie said.
     Camp days alternate between the offensive and defensive sides of the football. July 9th was a defensive day that saw little wasted movement and not much standing around by participants. Tackling circuit stations were first on the agenda after warmups.
     Coaches placed a strong emphasis on heads up tackling using the proper technique, so that good habits are formed at a young age within the sport.  More than a few camp attendees smiled while attacking the tackling ring, the sled dummy, or trapping the football all with youthful vigor.
     Learning fundamentals the correct way is a foundation for success in any sport. Even better when time is spent before and during a drill by coaches to make sure that the shoulder is the first point of contact on a tackle with your eyes up, or that your head is behind the legs of a ball carrier as you strike a tackling ring and take it to the ground. Little things like this matter in building the confidence of young men who participate in a contact sport.
     Other things emphasized during defensive days of camp included pursuit drill, individual fundamental period, and team fronts and stunts. Camp attendees learned proper angles to take pursuing a ball carrier, how to drop correctly in a zone, keying the football to avoid being offsides, and knowing what gap to attack when a pressure call is given.
     High school varsity football camp will be held the week of July 22nd. Current physicals are due for fall sports participants by August 12th. A link to the MSHSAA Physical Form may be found on the Grain Valley School District website under the Sports and Activities link.
 
 

​     Have you ever wondered what happens to the plastic bottles people discard into our rivers and lakes? Some of them, like Nemo, float out to the ocean. In fact, about two million tons of plastic ends up in the sea each year. This is a huge problem because the plastic does not disintegrate, it accumulates.
     Scientists say, because of winds and ocean currents, the discarded plastic that ends up in our seas floats into five “accumulation zones” and gets trapped. Some of the plastic pieces remain virtually unchanged while some deteriorate into “microplastics”--which are teeny, weeny pieces.
     One of these accumulation zones is called, “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” It is the largest of the five and located halfway between Hawaii and California. A total of 1.8 trillion plastic pieces are estimated to be floating in the patch.
     That works out to be about 250 pieces of debris for every human in the world. The weight of the garbage patch is approximately 80 thousand tons. What a bunch of garbage!
     The term “garbage” can be used physically, as in the case above, or is sometimes used metaphorically. For example, referring to people as garbage. At times, people use dehumanizing language in reference to others.
     This may include calling someone “trashy”, a “piece of garbage”, “piece of junk,” or saying we want to “waste them,” or worse. When we dehumanize someone, we feel somewhat superior and they become less than human in our eyes.
     Naturally, our perceived value of someone is based upon our own personal assessment of their worth. It’s always performance based. And, it’s always “them” or “those” people. Them trashy people. After all, they ain’t like us.
     Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend a week in Panama City, Panama with a team from our church. To be honest, I have seen worse conditions. Having been to Haiti on three separate occasions and visiting extremely impoverished villages in Mexico, I have been exposed to a considerable amount of heartbreak and poverty.
     We had a chance to visit downtown Panama City. Our mission was to find and feed some of the homeless population. Our goal was not to judge, or to try and figure out why they were there, but rather just to pass out sandwiches and coffee and perhaps offer a kind word. Sometimes, the homeless preferred isolation from others. We met them in the cracks and crevices, their valuables about an arm’s length away. At other times, as misery enjoys company, the homeless banded together in the shadows and dark alleys in makeshift camps.
     At times, the sights and smells were unbearable. One particular picture of a homeless man rummaging through a dumpster and digging through styrofoam take home containers, eating the remnants, remains etched in my mind. I wondered how hungry I would have to be in order to dig through the garbage for supper and eat someone’s discarded food.
     While in Panama, we also had the opportunity to visit a small church-run school. The educational system in Panama has been called “one of the worst in the world.” Although Panama requires students to be enrolled in public education for six years of primary school and three years of middle school, dropout rates are extremely high.
     In addition to having no truancy program, students must walk long distances, sometimes in treacherous circumstances, in order to attend classes. Some parents simply choose to pull their kids out of school so that they can get work. Panama has lax child labor laws.
     Like their parents, the kids must help provide for the needs of the family. For that family, they feel that education is a luxury that they can’t afford.
     One church we worked with started a small school within a very poor, rural community. The school was accessible to the children and provided free uniforms and lunch for the kids. We spent several days here helping the kids learn English.
     Unfortunately, at this school, we learned that one of the girls was being taken advantage of--by a parent. A female student, about twelve, was being sold on a regular basis into prostitution to help the family survive. Yes, you read that correctly.
     As our team played water games with the children in the front yard of the school, I looked around and wondered which one of the students was being subjected to such unspeakable horror--all in the name of food for her family. I went through an array of emotions: shock, anger, and frustration to name a few. I had a lot of questions, but no answers.
     The term, Imago Dei, is Latin for “Image of God.” In the Judeo-Christian tradition, the Scriptures are clear that humans were created in the image of God.
     It’s really weird, but there are times when I glance in the mirror and I see my father looking back at me. In the same way, a part of my heavenly Father’s image has been imprinted into me.
     Being created in the image of God means that we have intrinsic value and worth. Our value is not based upon what we do or what we can offer. Instead, just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, our value is based upon the design of our creator. Our value far exceeds our worth.
Two things that I take away:
     First, I am incredibly blessed. As I write this, I’m dusting off a piece of lemon pie and throwing back a cup of premium coffee. Having done missions trips abroad, I’ve gone without electricity, eaten meager meals of mystery meat, utilized primitive outhouses that I’ve shared with rodents, slept with mosquito nets, and taken a shower with a garden hose fed from a stream.
     I try to be extremely thankful to God for what I have. I also try to remember that I am a steward of my resources. There are lots of people in this world—some homeless, some helpless, some harassed. I should try to help and heal the hurting.
     Second, I try to remember that every person I meet is just like me. Like me they have been created in the image of God. To be sure, some people may be self-serving, cruel, hateful, mean-spirited, and choose to take advantage of others.
     Naturally, people need to be held accountable and, perhaps, punished for inappropriate actions. They may even be placed in an accumulation zone. However, this does not reduce their inherent value.
     Sometimes, they just need to be recycled. I know a guy who trades beauty for ashes and can take that which is tarnished and turn it into treasure.
 
Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer. He can be reached at waynegeiger.com.
 

Two upcoming community events at Armstrong Park will keep you cool and refreshed during these hot summer nights:
 
Join Grain Valley Parks and Recreation for a story and Popsicles in the Park on Tuesday, July 16th at 6:30pm. This free event, held at the Armstrong Park gazebo, includes a story, geared for ages 2-7. No registration required.

     The Grain Valley Historical Society will host its annual Ice Cream Social on July 25th from 6:00pm—8:00pm. Enjoy homemade desserts and visit with friends old and new.
 

    Mayor Mike Todd debuted a seven minute State of the City video at the July 9th Grain Valley Partnership Luncheon, highlighting new business development and upcoming City events.
     Residential housing permits are up 20% compared to this point last year, and the City’s population is nearing 13,000. Todd stated the City issued 350 business licenses in the past year, and highlighted recently announced arrivals Temp Stop, Quik Trip, and Taco Bell. The Temp Stop convenience store, which will include two quick service restaurants, will open in 2019.
     A date has not been announced for the groundbreaking for the QuikTrip.    
     “The site plan has been approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission for that, so they are right now working on getting final approval from MO DOT (Missouri Department of Transportation), as the intersection is not City controlled. We expect shortly that we will get the final approval from MO DOT and begin moving forward with that,” Ken Murphy, Deputy City Administrator, said.
     In the video, City Administrator Ryan Hunt stated that the city is expected to double in population by 2035. Hunt cites this growth as one of the reasons the City is planning to move City Hall, the police department, and community center from its current location to the old Sni-A-Bar Farm at Buckner Tarsney  Road and R.D. Mize Road. 
     Civic partnerships were highlighted, including the Grain Valley Assistance Council’s recent move to the former Nichols building. The City provides rent free space for the nonprofit, an affiliate of the Community Services League.
     Todd explained one of the goals for the remainder of the Nichols building is to develop a combined senior and youth center, featuring senior activities during the day and youth activities in the afternoon and evening.
     “I’d like for us to be able to offer a senior lunch two to three days a week at that location,” Todd said.
     “We have a lot of seniors in town who would love to be able to share their knowledge, and many kids in town who need a place to go. I think it’s a good combination,” Todd said.
     Todd also highlighted the Grain Valley YES program, explaining the mission of the group is to “engage youth in our community, and provide them with positive role models within the community.” The group will hold its first activity, a set of pool parties for area middle school students, at the Community Center pool this July.
     Todd highlighted the relationship between the City and the Grain Valley Partnership as an essential part of attracting and retaining businesses.
    “We are so excited about the growth that Grain Valley is seeing on the economic development front.  Having the opportunity to work along side the elected officials and City staff is a great privilege, witnessing the compassion, vision, and hard work that this team brings to our community is very inspiring.,” Tasha Lindsey, Executive Director of the Grain Valley Partnership, said.
     While the video highlighted positive economic development and community partnerships, Todd is mindful of the challenges the City faces.
     “One challenge has always been citizen involvement.  We have always been labeled as a bedroom community, which makes it difficult.  I think we have made great strides in recent years, but we need to continue to improve on it.  We have seen events grow in size each year, which is a good indication that we are moving in that direction of increased participation,” Todd said.
     “The other area would be infrastructure improvements, in
particular streets.  The issue we are facing is that we grew a great deal in a short amount of time.  That means that a lot of our streets were installed within a few years of each other.  That also means that they start to have issues at the same time and need major repairs at the same time.”
     While the State of the City video presentation focused on the highlights and results of efforts of City leadership, staff, and community partners, Lindsey is quick to explain that these efforts do not happen overnight.
     “The process of creating an environment that fosters business attraction, retention and community development is a very complicated task.  There are so many different elements that must come into consideration so that we create a lasting and prepared atmosphere that allows for the potential growth while not losing the small town feel. The community leaders of Grain Valley with their progressive thinking and innovative ideas allow Grain Valley to be the  amazing community that people want to live in, work in, and invest in. The growing population and the new businesses that have committed to come to Grain Valley are all signs that we are doing things right.,” Lindsey said.
 

In a seven minute video presentation, Mayor Todd highlighted business development highlights and upcoming community events as a part of his State of the City presentation at the Grain Valley Partnership luncheon on Tuesday, July 9th. Todd repeated his presentation at the Senior Citizen Luncheon on July 10th. Image credit: City of Grain Valley
 

     Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp on the campus of Missouri Western University is one month away. The first practice open to the public will be on Saturday, July 27th at 3:30 pm. Admission is $5 and will include a team autograph session. Much excitement abounds for the upcoming season and for good reason. The team boasts the National Football League MVP in Patrick Mahomes and has spent the offseason reconstructing a defense under the new leadership of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.
     The 90-man roster heading to St. Joseph is as solid as the team has had in its history.  General Manager Brett Veach has been busy this offseason. He’s acquired Defensive End Frank Clark from the Seattle Seahawks. Veach also signed Safety Tyrann Mathieu, Linebacker Damien Wilson, and Defensive End Alex Okafor during free agency. Top draft picks included Wide Receiver Mecole Hardman, Safety Juan Thornhill, and Defensive Tackle Khalen Saunders.
     There are still important questions surrounding the team as good as they may feel heading to St. Joseph. Thus is the nature of business for those in the NFL.  Evaluating talent, coaching players, and developing leadership will be paramount for the brain trust of the organization between the beginning of training camp and the September 8th week one game of the regular season against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
     As many answers as can be found to the following questions will move the organization closer to their goal of hoisting the Lamar Hunt American Football Conference trophy and playing in a Super Bowl.  A drought that has lasted since 1970. January 11th of that year witnessed the Chiefs defeat the Vikings in Super Bowl IV.    

 
 
Who will fill out the depth on the roster at Tight End? 
     Travis Kelce underwent offseason ankle surgery.  He’s expected to be ready to go for the start of training camp.  Demetrius Harris who served as the backup tight end last year reunited with John Dorsey in Cleveland this offseason as a free agent.  This has left a hole on the roster behind Kelce.  Most teams keep three tight ends on their 53-man regular season roster.
     Head Coach Andy Reid has been on record as saying it will be important to see how potential candidates perform at the line of scrimmage with pads on.  Yes, you still have to be able to run the football to win in the league.  Points may come out of the passing game but having tight ends on your roster that can play on the line of scrimmage and block are a valuable commodity.  They provide the potential for you to have a run/pass balance in your offense which makes you more difficult to defend and game plan around.
     Leading candidates to battle for the remaining rosters spots at tight end for the chiefs include young veterans Deon Yelder, David Wells, Nick Keizer, and rookie John Lovett. Yelder has been tagged as the early favorite to back up Kelce.  The Chiefs thought enough of him sign him to the active roster from their practice squad last October to ensure that not other team tried to do the same.  Yelder is athletic and moves well in space. 
     Wells was a solid blocker at San Diego State. He excelled at coming off the ball low and getting his hands inside the defender and driving them with aggression. Keizer is entering his second year in the league after spending last year on the Baltimore Ravens Practice Squad. Lovett rounds out the group. He’s a rookie who played quarterback at Princeton and ran routes at his pro day due to an injured hand that prevented him from throwing and caught the eye of Chiefs scouts.

Can Reggie Ragland hold down the Middle Linebacker position? 
     Pro Football Focus gave Reggie Ragland a 55.9 rating for last year. That ranked him as the 73rd best linebacker in the league. Those are not awe-inspiring numbers to say the least. However, Ragland is transitioning to a 4-3 defense.  
     He will be covered up by four down lineman that will allow him the opportunity to flow and fill more easily then he what he faced last year. Ragland and fellow inside linebacker Anthony Hitchens had the monumental task of being outnumbered in the box or between the offensive tackles last season.
     This was due to the alignment of former defensive coordinator Bob Sutton’s system. It’s hard to make stops consistently when the offense has an easy path to block you. All one must do is watch any of the Chiefs recent games against the New England Patriots to see what Ragland was up against and asked to do.
     The Chiefs need Ragland to get back to the aggressive downhill run stopper he was at the University of Alabama.  This led him to being drafted in the second round in 2016 by the Buffalo Bills prior to being traded to the Chiefs. A middle linebacker must own the interior gaps of a 4-3 defense if his team is going to be successful.

Who will emerge as the new leaders of the Chiefs Defense? 
     Recent years have seen names like Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali, Eric Berry, and Justin Houston depart from the locker room. This leaves a serious void as all four of the players mentioned above held the respect of their teammates and fellow opponents around the league. To replace that many leaders in a short amount of time is not easy. 
     Players that view themselves as “alphas” and make consistent positive contributions on the field and meeting rooms are treasured in the National Football League. Make no mistake about it, team members police things as much as coaches do. To have the credibility to do so one must possess the respect of his teammates.
     The Chiefs have turned the mantle of defensive leadership over to Frank Clark and Tyrann Mathieu. This is hard but not impossible to do as new players to a team.  You must acclimate yourself to a new playbook, people, and surroundings all while leading by example and being vocal when necessary. 
     The team agreeing to terms on a long-term deal with Defensive Tackle Chris Jones prior to the start of training camp could help cement this situation.  Jones has been a no show to offseason workouts. Likely to avoid injury that might hurt his negotiating leverage.  Jones has the respect of his peers. He amassed 15.5 sacks last season.  11 of which occurred in consecutive games, making Jones the first player in NFL history to accomplish that task.
     Jones is not shy about being vocal or physical. He seems to enjoy playing verbal volleyball. The soon to be fourth year defensive tackle is not shy about mixing it up either. Proof of this can be found with what Jones did to lauded Colts Rookie Guard Quentin Nelson during the opening series of the Chiefs Divisional Playoff win last season.
     The emergence of Clark, Mathieu, and Jones as leaders on the defensive side of the football would point the team in the direction of Miami, Florida, the site of the 2020 Super Bowl.
 

​The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of June 19-25,  2019.
 

     MVP Awards and Engraving is a family affair for the Hale family.  They have provided trophies, engraving, and unique gift ideas to the customers of Eastern Jackson County and surrounding areas for the last decade. Dean Hale, his wife Melonie, and daughter Sandy have provided countless memories for those looking to create a unique remembrance for their little league team, company, or family member.
     “I started out as a machinist for nearly 50 years, so I had a background in engraving. My wife was a banker and my daughter had previous business experience prior to becoming skilled with laser engraving. We moved to our current location about four years ago and it has been great as we have had the needed room to expand what we do,” Hale said.
     The showroom at MVP Awards is stocked with a variety of past product examples that have been crafted to spark the imagination of customers.  The main tools used to create the contents on display include a rotary engraver, a laser engraver, sublimation machine, and elbow grease. The Hale family has a willingness to say “yes” to those wanting to do something creative.  The outcome is a tangible piece of memorabilia to proudly display in commemorating something special.
     Examples of this include personalized engraved dominoes, locks, cups, and cutting boards. Trophies waiting to be picked up may have a unique touch that display corporate pride like that of the blue GM symbol for General Motors as a trophy topper or a shovel being updated with yearly winners for the Fike Corporation.
     “We do a lot of gifts. Engraving on jewelry, watches, and compasses that people bring in get completed with the rotary engraver. Leather, wood (cremation and jewelry boxes), and a lot of other things may be done with laser engraving. The sublimation machine uses dry ink and a heat press to make a color photo that may be bonded to a variety of surfaces. People enjoy a photograph being added to a trophy or artifact,” Hale said.
     “It has been enjoyable to work in this community. People in Blue Springs, Grain Valley, and the Fort Osage area still enjoy talking and that has allowed us to get to know them as well as our business being promoted through word of mouth. The most enjoyable thing about what we do is watching people’s reaction to when they come in to pick something up. A genuine smile means a lot.”
     MVP Awards and Engraving is located at 805 West Main Street, Suite C in Blue Springs. You may contact them via email at [email protected], by phone at 816-224-6687, or online at www.mvp-awards.net.
 

Custom awards (right) and custom gifts such as the engraved domino set above are just a few of the items MVP Awards creates for customers.
Photo credit: Valley News staff
 

     At a recent garage sale at my parents’ home, I took an unexpected trip down memory lane.  There on a rickety card table from my mom’s bridge playing days, was a stack of records for sale.  I ran my hand over the well-worn covers and was instantly transported back to our formal living room in a typical 70’s home.
     That living room was pretty standard fare in those days.  Normally the first room you saw when you entered a home, it was kept clean for company.  There was a separate rec room or den, now called a family or great room which got more use.
     The living room was not a place for couch naps, or art projects like loom potholders, or playing Barbies. But our family pictures were taken in the living room, my sis and I in matching dresses and shoes, and if the church minister and his family came by, we sat together there.
     The door to door Avon lady was still on the move back then, and when she would stop by, Mom and my sis and I would sit with her in the living room perusing her lipstick samples in adorable, tiny white tubes and sickly sweet perfume bottles.   There was no Keurig coffee maker, but she might have shared a cup of Sanka with us, and even sampled a lemon bar or blonde brownie that Mom always seemed to always have on hand.
     Visitors and special occasions aside, the main feature of that room was our stereo. Residing among the matching veneer coffee tables that flanked each side of our brocade couch, globed lamps with three click bulbs, and the tufted arm chairs, was the most glorious stereo of the time.
     It had built in speakers, sides with hinges that opened to hold the albums, and a center section that lifted to expose the turntable and accessories. That stereo cabinet glistened, a recipient of the Old English or Lemon Pledge polish my mom buffed it with each week.
     It was a source of pride and provided us with good entertainment many evenings, particularly on dinner party nights. We had many friends from the neighborhood and the university in those days, and dinner parties were all the rage.
     As a kid, I could sense the excitement of the impending dinner. Mom would pour over a cookbook, selecting the menu as early as Wednesday or Thursday, and we would head to A&P for ingredients.
     The day of the dinner, there were special, sometimes exotic smells coming from the kitchen. Or maybe my mom pulled out the avocado green fondue pot and began to slice the cheese or the bread which would serve as appetizers.   We busily cleaned our room that no guest would ever enter that night, and Dad would do his part by dumping ice from the freezer trays into ice buckets, and then just before the guests arrive, selecting the records.
     My parents had fairly eclectic tastes in albums and musicians in the late 60’s and 70’s, and they had the means to have a pretty good record collection as well.  If our guitar playing friend Herman and his wife Nancy were coming over, maybe we spun Jose Feliciano or Chet Atkins. If out of town visitors came, maybe we heard the newest release, just purchased at Camelot Records at the mall.
     Dad would carefully pull the records from their sleeves, holding them just by the edges and then wipe them down with a very soft, foam like applicator with a cleaning fluid. He would bend down and eyeball the needle and gently place the record on the spindle.
     He would stand back from the stereo listening, and then step forward to adjust the bass or the treble as he saw fit.  Looking back, I guess the length of the album was the time measure for serving dessert. About midway through the album, my mom would bring out the Baked Alaska or coconut cream pie for us to enjoy.
     I listened to everything from classical music from my dad’s 78 collection to James Taylor, The Carpenters, Jerry Reed, The O’Jays, Chicago, Roberta Flack, Streisand, The Mamas and the Papas, and The Seekers. 
     Under supervision, my sis and I got to spin a few 45’s like Helen Reddy’s Ruby Red Dress, Frankie Valli’s  My Eyes Adored You, and J. Frank Wilson’s Last Kiss, but our little records were mostly relegated to a portable turn table in our bedroom, and stored after use in a Caboodle like plastic carrier complete with a carrier handle, just waiting for our next slumber party invitation.
     I remember as we prepared for a move to a new house, my dad purchased a Pioneer stereo with multiple components, for the latest in music: the traditional turntable was joined by an FM tuner, a place for 8 tracks and cassettes. I had moved on to Earth Wind and Fire, Peter Frampton, Lou Rawls, The Steve Miller Band, and Leo Sayre by then, a moody teen, listening to albums with friends in our rooms.
     The old stereo moved to the den, no longer the center of attention, and then I am not sure where it went during the move. Today, it would be some millennial’s dream; tucked in among thrift store orange naugehyde chairs and mid-century coffee tables, the stereo would again be a showcase piece.
     The garage sale rate for the albums was $1.00 a piece, but my memories of that time are much more priceless. 
     Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer.    
 

     Independence Day means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. The Fourth of July is a national holiday and many of us get the day off. It’s a time to relax, hang out with the fam, throw some burgers on the grill, and blow something up. Most of us realize the Fourth is the time when we celebrate our independence—our freedom.
     The date of July 4th is a little confusing. It wasn’t the day the Declaration of Independence was first drafted. That was in June of 1776. Nor was it the day the Continental Congress decided to declare independence—that was on July 2nd. It wasn’t even the day it was signed. That was on August 2. July 4, 1776 was the day when the final wording of the Declaration of Independence was accepted. The date just kind of stuck. It would not become a national holiday until about 100 years later in 1870.
     Regardless of the day, we celebrate the Fourth as a day of freedom. 
     Freedom is a misunderstood term. In our day and age, it seems freedom is often defined as entitlement to personal happiness or the absence of restrictions. However, true freedom is not the absence of rules, but operating within the guidelines of rules.
     Our individual rights do not undermine or contradict the rights of the larger community. If I am to be free to seek life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and you also have those same freedoms, it only stands to reason that, at times, we will disagree. We need to remember, it’s not about me. It’s about us.
     Spoiler alert. I’m going to type one word to illustrate this polarization and underlying tension within our community. This word may conjure up deep emotions and may even offend you. The word: fireworks. There, I said it.
     Here, hold my root beer. Every year, I anxiously await the various posts on the Residents of Grain Valley Facebook page about fireworks. It’s an explosive topic (pun intended). And, like past years, this year did not disappoint. Grain Valley Mayor Michael Todd, perhaps hoping to deter calls and emails, posted a remark, noting, “Fireworks are a very polarizing topic in Grain Valley. I get more messages regarding fireworks than I do just about any other thing in town.” Wow! We’re a city that loves and hates our fireworks! We’re unified in our diversity.
     The Mayor expressed the current ordinance and the rationale passed by the Board. In a nutshell, those using fireworks can do so for three days and it must include a Saturday. This year it will be July 3, 4, and 6th from 9 AM-11 PM. I would encourage you to read his post and the ordnance.
     I appreciate the mayor’s proactive transparency, but my guess is that people will continue to complain, and the mayor’s inbox will be full. The issue is not our inability to hear or understand, but the fact that we just don’t personally like it. We are Americans and proud of it. By nature, we are children of rebellion. We are bold and brash and don’t like anybody getting in our business or telling us what to do. We don’t mind rules as long as they’re in our best interest. We don’t want people to mess with our perceived individual rights.
     For the record, when it comes to fireworks, I’m not a huge fan. But that hasn’t always been the case. Some of my fondest memories as a kid involved blowing up stuff. I loved the 4th! True, I didn’t do it in the name of freedom, it was just fun. Also, when my children were younger, we would frequent the fireworks tent—naturally waiting until the “everything must go” sign went up. We loved adding to the community light show. It was fun and it was legal. In some weird sense, I felt a bond to the community.
     At this stage in my life, my personal preference is to have fireworks on the Fourth and leave the light show to the professionals. Notice the phrase “personal preference.” Having said that, I try to remember, it’s not about me, it’s about us. My opinion is personal and does not reflect that of the larger community. I just suck it up.
     Some people have some pretty good reasons for not liking fireworks. In some cases I can empathize, and in others, I truly sympathize.
     I am truly sorry if the fireworks affect your sleep schedule. For many years, I worked as a morning show host and 3:15 AM came around early. I not only sympathize, but I can also empathize. I’ve always thought we should make the 5th of July a holiday too. It just doesn’t have the same ring.
     I’m truly sorry that the fireworks frighten your dog. As an animal lover, I can identify with you. Our dog, Snickers, is not a fan. She becomes very upset at the lights and loud booms.
     I also understand that you may live with one of the warriors among us who bravely defended our country and came home with something more than they bargained for. PTSD can transport a person back to a difficult and frightening time and place and cause them to relive a very dark experience as they conjure up visions of terror. I am truly sorry that the explosions on the Fourth bring to mind these dark memories.
     But the Board has spoken and the show must go on. So, what do we do when our individual desires collide with the corporate rights of the larger community? Here are a couple of suggestions:
 

• Don’t post negative comments on social media. Instead, know the law and work within the system to bring change. Sharing your rationale on social media will likely only cause pain and confusion. Talk to your Alderman and the Mayor and attempt to gain community support.
• Make special accommodations for your own special needs. In year’s past, for example, we have put our pups in the basement and left the TV or some music on to camouflage the sights and sounds. There are many great ideas and products out there. Google is your friend.
• Know and obey the law. The three days to discharge fireworks in Grain Valley this year are, July 3, 4, and 6th. The ordinance mandates that fireworks cease at 11 PM. Be respectful. There will be some folks watching the clock for 11 PM. Don’t let them down.

 
     So, within the context of the city ordinance, have fun, be respectful, and celebrate the wonderful freedoms we have. For me, I’ll celebrate with a light show from professionals on the Fourth. On the two other days, I’ll likely darken the windows and put my ear buds in and recognize that I am in the minority and just suck it up.
     Freedom and entitlement are two different things. At the end of the day, it’s not about me and my rights, it’s about us and our freedom. My guess is that something in this article has offended you. Isn’t it great to be an American?
 
Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer. He can be reached at waynegeiger.com.
 

​     Have you got an extra 4 minutes in the morning to eat breakfast? If you’re trying to lose weight, 4 minutes might be the difference in a healthier, slimmer you.
     A recent study showed breakfast eaters tend to eat 200 fewer calories in a day – that means two fewer pounds in a month’s time – or 24 pounds less in a year. Eating breakfast means more energy throughout the day and less hunger pangs, which may result in fewer calories consumed at lunch and dinner.
     Aim for a breakfast around 400 calories, which may help get the best slimming effects. To help control mid-morning hunger, include protein and fiber in your breakfast choices.
     Protein and fiber are digested slowly and help a person feel full longer and stay satisfied. There are several cereals available that are high in fiber and protein, designed to take the edge off hunger.
     Or take 4 minutes to prepare these 400-calorie breakfasts:

Baggie Breakfast: Grab a baggie filled with Fiber One honey clusters (or other high-fiber cereal) and a travel mug filled with milk. (390 calories)
 
Banana Dog: One Flatout Light original wrap spread with 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter; top with a banana; wrap and go. (370 calories)
 
Meaty Burrito: One whole-wheat tortilla with four slices deli ham or roast beef and a mozzarella cheese stick. Microwave 30 seconds, wrap while warm. (360 calories)

Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD is a registered dietitian at the Blue Springs Hy-Vee. She can be reached at [email protected]. The information is not intended as medical advice.
      Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.
 
 

 
One-Minute Breakfast Smoothie
Serves 2
 
All you need:
1 cup canned mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup orange juice
1 container (8 oz) low-fat vanilla yogurt
8 ice cubes
 
All you do:
Combine oranges, orange juice, yogurt and ice cubes in a blender. Blend until smooth.

 

Daily nutritional values: 100% vitamin C and 20% calcium. Nutrition per serving: 230 calories
 

     For fifteen years following the completion of Matthews Elementary School in 1978 the population of Grain Valley remained virtually unchanged. In fact, between 1970 (709) and 1990 (1898) the population increased by only 1189 residents or just under 60 people per year.
     With the development of Sni-A-Bar Farms and the housing boom of the 1990s the population grew to 5,160 by 2000; an increase of 3,262 residents. The number of school age children increased proportionally.
     In 1997 votes approved a bond to build Sni-A-Bar Elementary School, so named for its location on land which was once a part of Sni-A-Bar Farms, circa 1913. Phase I was completed in August 1997, and the kindergarten and first-grade classes were moved from Matthews Elementary. Phase II was completed in 1998 and the second-grade classes were also moved to Sni-A-Bar Elementary.
     In early 2000, new subdivisions were developing on the north side of I-70. In 2005 Prairie Branch Elementary was completed on NW Dillingham Road.  With some new boundary lines established, each of three elementary schools were now ready to house students K-5, and the upper elementary students 6-8 attended South Middle School.  In 2008 an additional 4 classrooms were added to Prairie Branch Middle School. If you are reading this article and you know how Prairie Branch was named, I would be curious to know.
     Between 2000 and 2010 the population of Grain Valley increased nearly 250% (From 5,160 to 12,854 people.) Time to build another elementary school.  In 2007, voters approved a bond to build Stony Point Elementary School, named for the original Stony Point School built more than 150 years earlier on land about a mile away from the present school on Ryan Road.  The final phase of Stony Point was completed in 2009.
 
Next Week: Learn about the Middle Schools
 
 
The Grain Valley Historical Society Museum is located at 510 Main Street.
Visit the Historical Society’s website, www.grainvalleyhistory.com, and follow the Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@grainvalleyhistory).
 

​     Grain Valley’s 4th—7th graders are cordially invited to a series of “Mayor’s Pool Parties” this July as a part of the recently formed Grain Valley Youth Engagement Services (GV YES).
     GV YES is a City of Grain Valley initiative, under the direction of a committee of community leaders, with the mission to provide positive experiences and mentorship for the youth of Grain Valley.
     Grain Valley School District 4th and 5th graders are invited to a free pool party sponsored by GV YES on Friday, July 12th from 6:00pm—8:30pm at the Grain Valley Aquatic Center. Pizza dinner will be provided, and supervision will be provided by City staff, school district leaders, and high school student leaders.
     A separate pool party will be held Friday, July 26th for Grain Valley School District 6th and 7th graders. Pizza and supervision will also be provided at this free event.
     Due to occupancy restrictions, only the grades listed for each party are allowed. Parent pick up for both events is no later than 8:30pm.
     Online registration for the event can be found at https://bit.ly/2FmdhOW.
     Planning for GV YES began in 2017, and the group is in the process of finalizing their organizational structure and program offerings. Mayor Mike Todd is heading the group and is excited to see the response to this initial effort.
     “We are really excited about the response that we have received for the pool party.  Grain Valley YES has been working really hard on starting up our youth engagement and have some great things coming. These pool parties are just the start.  Hopefully, these are as successful as we think they will be and many more activities will come,” Todd said.
     The group received a funding boost this past weekend, as the City of Grain Valley beat the City of Blue Springs in the 5th Annual Texas Roadhouse Rib Eat Off on June 29th. In addition to a trophy and bragging rights, the team was awarded $2,000 for the GV YES program.
     For more information regarding GV YES, contact Mayor Todd at [email protected].
 

Note: The following text is a transcription of the stone engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) The spelling and punctuation reflects the original. Source: National Archives.
In Congress, July 4, 1776.The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.