Former University of North Carolina Head Basketball Coach Dean Smith is credited with saying, “There are two important things to do when teaching basketball, praise behavior that you want repeated and knowing what to do with a mistake. You should recognize a mistake, admit it, learn from it, and forget it.”
     High school summer basketball camps like the one held at Grain Valley High School the week of July 20th allow coaches to offer affirmation of positive actions on the court as well as constructive questions and criticism that provide growth. Sneakers were squeaking on the hardwood and nets were swishing as the Eagles boys’ basketball team worked on offensive and defensive basketball fundamentals.
     Floor spacing and passing angle sessions for competitive points was part of the menu of drills directed by Eagles Head Boys Basketball Coach Andy Herbert. The benefits of floor spacing in basketball have become paramount from the professional level of the National Basketball Association all the way down to the high school ranks.
     By an offense using good spacing in basketball, the defense must cover more territory and has a harder time giving help when recovering to get back to their man or space on the floor they are to defend. Teams who efficiently use floor spacing and motion like the Eagles in their offense are a headache for opposing teams. Defenses must be well conditioned to face the five stressful elements that good floor spacing creates.
     Basketball Coaches Clipboard online breaks down the strain that terrific floor spacing in motion offenses creates for opposing defenses.
     First, spacing makes it harder to defend against dribble penetration as the help defenders have further distance to cover when coming off their man. Consequently, spacing makes it harder to defend perimeter shooters, as the help side defender in the paint has more distance to cover in getting back to the shooter.
    Next, spacing makes it harder to defend post players. Teams that double team the low post will have a more difficult time when players are spaced apart. Good spacing also allows for hi-low passing from one post player to another when players are spread out across the arc.
     Effective floor spacing also makes it harder to defend cutters maneuvering towards the basket. Lastly, excellent floor spacing makes it harder for a defense to deny passing lanes.
     Herbert takes a cerebral approach with his players during practice to reinforce understanding so that playing efficiency gets better. A lesson that gives players a breather as well as connecting the mental aspect of the game with the kinesthetic.
     “Why did you guys win that set? Correct, offensive rebounding. Don’t watch the ball, find a body and get position. You have to be in constant motion when we space the floor. Trust your eyes and compete for the ball if it doesn’t go in,” Herbert said.
     “If you are the first guy coming off the back screen or flare, you have to move. The ball being dribbled should not interfere with or be in the way of other movement. Also, with spacing we cannot get caught in no man’s land. Get to your landmarks so that we have options and the defense is stretched.”
     Two returning varsity players paying close attention to Herbert’s instructions at camp are seniors Keeton Maxon and John Haywood. Maxon is getting reps in the low post at camp, while Haywood is running the point for the Eagles, a role that got Haywood more playing time in late last season with the Eagles.
     “I have enjoyed getting up early and knowing I’m going to get to play basketball with all my friends,” Haywood said.
     “I miss my older teammates as well. It’s weird being in here without them. No more Caden (Matlon), Josh (Kilpatrick), or AJ (Salisbury). I’m one of the old guys now.”
     “Ball fakes, familiarizing myself with offensive sets, and learning how to become more comfortable in the paint have been what I’ve tried to work on the most this week at camp.”
     Haywood concluded, “Defensively, we need to work on closing out better when an opponent drives on us. No easy shots should be allowed against us.”
     Maxon offered his assessment as well on the week of work put in at camp.
     “Competing and getting to see everyone again has been special. I have missed the chance to compete and get better,” Maxon said.
     “Knowing the offense and executing it better has led to more open shots for me. Using my post presence to make better passes has also been an emphasis.”
     Maxon continued, “Talking more on defense has allowed us to defeat screens better. Knowing our defensive assignment whether we are on the ball or the help side is assisting us in limiting more shots. That will be important to carry into the season.”
 
 

     Anyone who has had the pleasure of setting up a new computer or smart TV in their home can appreciate what a hassle it can be to unbox, install, connect to Wi-Fi, and run endless software updates on these devices. Multiply that experience by 130 and you have some sense of the task completed by Dave Feagens, a Low Voltage Technician with Grain Valley Schools and his crew in late June and early July.
     The district purchased new Promethean touchscreen boards to be installed over the summer. With the shutdowns this spring and delayed start of summer school, the installation of the boards became more complicated than expected. Nick Gooch, Assistant Superintendent of Support Services, explained the logistics of installing the boards was one of two big issues.
     “We had a company quote us to unbox and remove the old Promethean boards and install new boards. The total cost was $40,000 to complete this task. And none of it would have been done prior to summer school. Dave grabbed a couple summer staff and was able to start the process early. This allowed the summer school staff to get the boards early, and him doing this for us saved the district the $40,000,” Gooch said.
     In his report to the Grain Valley School Board during their July 16th meeting, Gooch took a moment to give a shout out to Feagens.
     “Feagens and his crew did a 1/3 of the work in a matter of five days. I couldn’t believe he was able to get that work done that quickly. I was thoroughly impressed. They worked really hard, really quickly to get our teachers the equipment they needed,” Gooch said.
     As Low Voltage Technician, Feagens installs and administers all the security cameras in the district, which stands at around 297 cameras by his count. Feagens is also responsible for handling network drops and technology such as the Promethean boards. As Feagens described it, the labor side of IT.
     Feagens, who has been with the district for 9 years, emphasized his co-workers made the task of installing the new touchscreens possible.
     “This year has been a little messed up. We had the shutdown, and then we came back and start into our regular pace, and then the IT department asked us to come have a meeting and that is when this started.”    
     Feagens and his crew got to work, unboxing, building the stands for each screen, setting up and installing firmware, and connecting each to Wi-Fi.
     The 75-inch touchscreens weigh in at 140 pounds a piece, and bring a new level of flexibility in the classroom. The boards are mounted on mobile carts, so teachers can easily change the arrangement of their classroom as needed. Teachers can sync their laptops to the boards to share lessons or utilize one of the self-supporting programs. The screens are also significantly larger than the prior version, so students can spread out further from the screen, which is particularly important in the age of COVID-19.
     COVID-19 has not changed the work of the custodial and maintenance staff, but it does add an extra level of awareness, Feagens explained.
     “As maintenance staff, our main focus will be to be even more aware of our self as well as our environment in terms of what we touch in the space we work in.”     
     As the public continues to debate how to safely return students and teachers to the classroom in the fall, a quiet crew of professionals plans stepped-up efforts to ensure they can do so.
     “Especially during this time, we often lose sight of the people who actually come in and do that work. Most of the time people don’t see the custodians and operations staff and how important the work they do is to keep students and staff safe, and resolve issues quickly so the class doesn’t have to be interrupted,” Feagens said.   
 

     Grain Valley High School 2020 graduates were finally able to gather for commencement and toss their caps during a ceremony held at the University of Central Missouri on Friday, July 24th. Students donned masks along with their caps and gowns and were seated to allow for required physical distancing.
     Superintendent Marc Snow welcomed students and their parents.
     “Tonight may not have looked exactly like we all thought it would, or held on the date we intended, but every one of us believes the ceremony and recognition of graduation is something we could not do without. It was important for us to be here and celebrate together,” Snow said.
     Valley News asked Grain Valley High School Principal Dr. Jeremy Plowman about this graduating class, and Plowman expressed his pride in  this class of students.
     “This class had to overcome so much adversity, especially the past three months. I would not wish this on anyone, but the class of 2020 has handled it with class and grace,” Plowman said.
     “They have graduated at a unique and tumultuous time in the world. If there is ever a time we need passionate, empathetic, and caring young adults, it is now. This year will always be known for the coronavirus pandemic, but it can also be known for jumpstarting a new leadership in our country. Never will our graduates have as much control over their own destiny as they do now.”
     Class speaker Piper Barnard, graduating Summa Cum Laude and Missouri Bright Flight Scholar, praised her class for being “brilliantly resilient” and encouraged each student to use this time to embrace their passions and use them to make a difference in the world.
     “Now is the time for us. Now is the time to figure out what we care about. Now is the time to fall in love with the world and our passions….Now is the time to fail and fall back on our community. Now is the time to embrace diversity,” Barnard said.
     Grain Valley High School social studies teacher Eric Ball was selected by the student body to speak at the commencement ceremony.
     Ball gave a rousing speech, asking the students to stand and yell “2020” as he called out their various plans after graduation, including college, military service, mission service, trade schools, and travel.
     “There is nothing for me to say, because hear their voices. This is what you should hear. Not what the media or the news says. Not out of a sound of pity or a sorry feeling. Not the noise from recent events that have occurred. Hear them,” Ball exclaimed.
     The 276 graduates were awarded over $4 million in scholarships to post-secondary institutions.
     “Athletically and activities-wise, this class has had more State qualifiers, conference, and District champions than any previous class. Academically, they continue to be among the top schools in the Kansas City metro area in taking advanced placement classes and being prepared. 98% of this class graduated on time,” Plowman said.
 

     Voters head to the polls on August 4th for a primary election, to cast votes for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, 6th District U.S. Representative and State Representative District 32.
     Locally, Jeff Coleman, Republican Incumbent for MO District 32, will run unopposed, as no candidate has filed for the Democratic, Libertarian, Green, or Constitution parties.
     Voters will also decide on Constitutional Amendment No. 2, which would adopt Medicaid expansion for persons 19 to 64 years of age with an income level at or below 133% of the federal poverty level.
     Polls will be open from 6:00am—7:00pm on election day. A sample ballot is provided on page  9 of today’s edition. Additional information on the election and poll locations can be found at www.jcebmo.org.
 

​     Former Alderman and current Planning and Zoning Commission member Scott Shafer once again utilized the Citizen Participation portion of the  Board of Aldermen meeting on July 27th  to request the Board address why a property located at 31603 Ryan Road is not hooked up to the City sewer system. Additionally, Shafer called on Mayor Johnston to explain how he plans to deliver on campaign promises, as Shafer described, to  “fix more streets and speed up the process”.
     “Could you please share how you are planning on doing this and where the money will come from,” Shafer asked.
     Johnston thanked Shafer but did not address comments.
     Jack Ryan-Feldman, municipal advisor for Baker Tilly, reviewed the City’s debt management strategy in consideration of current economic trends. Ryan-Feldman provided the Board with several options to  restructure current Capital Appreciation Bonds (CABs). One option outlined was a restructuring of $6.5 million in bonds,  currently at 4.34% interest. Taking advantage of a rate of 0.92% would yield a savings of $695,000.
     In other business, the Board approved the final plat approval for the Bush Business Park Re-Plat. The property is located east of the Storage Mar facility and west of Valley Outdoor Equipment on the north side of NW Jefferson Street. The re-plat will contain 4 lots, ranging from 1.5 acres to 2.1 acres in size.
     The Board also approved the final plat for Greystone Estates Phase II.
     The Board approved a resolution authorizing the City Administrator to spend funds to repair a sanitary sewer main damaged while Public Works staff installed storm drainage pipes at Cross Creek Park in March. The cost of project is not to exceed $42,000.
     The next scheduled meeting of the Board of Aldermen is at 7:00pm on  Monday, August 10th at City Hall.
 

     Following the establishment of Grain Valley on September 5, 1878 people began to move into the town to be closer to the Chicago & Alton Railroad. By 1881 the business directory of the town included three doctors; G.U. Keener, James H. Daniels and J. W. Starnes.
     Dr. George U. Keener and his wife Lucretia had 10 children, the youngest born in 1876 in Richmond, Missouri. So, I’m thinking that like many of the town’s early residents, he sought an opportunity for success near the railroad. Dr. Keener, was listed four times on the directory as follows: Physician, Minister, Drug Store, and Hotel. I learned that in 1872 he had been appointed as a bishop for the Methodist Episcopal Church for the Boonville District. The family did not remain in Grain Valley for a very long time. From research on Ancestry I learned he was gored by a bull and died in Allenton, St Louis County, Missouri on October 4, 1889.
     Dr. James Daniels also owned a combination grocery and drug store. The 1880 U. S. Census stated that he was 44 years old and lived in a boarding house run by the Hawkenberrys. He doesn’t appear to have stuck around for very long.
     Dr. John Starnes and his family were still living in the area in 1900, however when he died in 1909, they were living in Independence, MO. His son was a druggist so one would assume the doctors all dispensed their own medications.
     Others on the directory included J. H. Cannon, Justice of the Peace, owner of a general store and Postmaster;  J. A. Porter, Notary Public; John Graves, general store; Frank Gregg, general store; William Morrow, depot agent; J. A. Spindle, blacksmith; George Kreigel, shoe repair shop; H. A. Hamilton, painter; Joseph Wright, carpenter and Joseph Keshlear, livery stable.
     One would assume that most of these businesses would have been in the original town although there is much evidence that James Cannon built the first store in Grain Valley on lot seven in what is called the Cannon 2nd addition.  Most of the early homes and businesses were built on the north side of the railroad.
    Therefore, the Graves and Ashcraft Addition was probably the next land to be platted and developed. This addition included the two blocks west of Main Street and north from the railroad to Walnut street.
     It would appear that the town had a difficult time deciding on street names. The 1877 map identified the street west of the original town as Main Street. The 1904 Map called this street Broadway. The street running west off Broadway was temporarily called North Main Street. 
     The street on the south side of the railroad was called Main Street. Today Broadway is once again Main Street, North Main is Front Street, and Main Street is Harris Street.  Are you totally confused? 
     Visit the Historical Society and view the maps on display including the 1924 Jackson County Map that still has a corner of Broadway and North Main!
 
Next week: Learn more about the John Graves, J. H., Mary and William Cannon, and William T. Ashcraft.
 

     The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has modified the 2020-2021 waterfowl managed hunt process to assure the safety of hunters and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
MDC is committed to providing hunting opportunities on managed waterfowl hunting areas throughout the waterfowl season.
     To allow for flexibility to respond to the state of the pandemic, there will be no pre-season reservations for the 2020-2021 waterfowl season. There will also be no teal season or youth season morning drawings. Procedures for individual conservation areas will be posted on the MDC website closer to season.
     All reservations, including ADA blinds, will be allocated through the weekly in-season reservation draw. The first application period will open October 20 and results will be announced October 27. The weekly application period opens every Tuesday at 8 a.m. and closes the following Monday at 3 p.m.
     Throughout the season, hunters will be asked to follow precautionary guidelines to assure the safety of everyone at the site during the morning draw. There will be a sliding scale of procedural levels that could range from no staff-hunter contact at all to close to business as usual.
     At the start of the season, every conservation area will be assigned to a certain procedural level due to the status of COVID-19 in the county. The decisions will be made in consultation with the appropriate county health department. Throughout the season, an area could move to a more restrictive procedural level depending on the county health department or other COVID-19 related factors.
     Some details of the procedural levels are as follows:
Red Level (very high COVID-19 risk)
No staff-hunter contact.
No facility use.
100% allocation for Missouri residents only through in-season reservation draw.
Hunt positions will be pre-assigned.
No poor line or vacancy filling.
 
Orange Level (high COVID-19 risk)
Limited facility use and social distancing employed.
100% allocation for Missouri residents only through in-season reservation draw.
Hunt parties will be able to select hunt location.
No poor line or vacancy filling.
 
Yellow Level (moderate COVID-19 risk)
Limited facility use and social distancing employed.
100% allocation for Missouri residents only through in-season reservation draw.
Hunt parties will be able to select hunt location.
Poor line only for reservation no-shows.
 
Green Level (low COVID-19 risk)
Facility use as guidance allows and social distancing employed.
50% allocation through in-season reservation draw.
Hunt parties will be able to select hunt location.
Poor line for no-shows and 50% of hunt positions.
 
     Throughout the season, procedures could change with limited time to notify hunters. In order to receive updates as quickly as possible, please subscribe to the “Waterfowl” email update list at public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MODC/subscribers/new. 
     Interested hunters can also refer to the MDC website as information is available, at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/waterfowl/waterfowl-managed-hunts.
     While this process means a significant change from what hunters are used to, MDC has no plans to make the changes permanent. Back in May, an interdisciplinary team was created to look at the draw procedures and determine the best path forward, keeping hunters and MDC staff safe.
     This team made the best recommendation they could that balanced hunting opportunity with keeping staff and hunters safe.
     MDC has designated staff to help answer any questions hunters may have about the changes to this year’s waterfowl season. Please contact the following staff members at the numbers below:
Statewide-
Lauren Hildreth 573-522-4115 ext. 3259
Joel Porath 573-522-4115 ext. 3188
 
North Zone-
Chris Freeman 660-646-6122
Craig Crisler 660-446-3371
Mike Flaspohler 573-248-2530
 
Middle Zone-
Luke Wehmhoff 573-624-5821 ext. 4662
Gary Calvert 636-441-4554 ext. 4180
 
South Zone-
Lauren Hildreth 573-522-4115 ext. 3259
 

     Several months ago, on a Sunday morning, at the beginning of the stay-at-home order, I began my message to the nine people who were in attendance at the church and those watching online.  
     I remember saying something like, “Even though I’m a classic introvert and am not into hugging, when this thing is over, I’m giving out free hugs.”
     Four months later, I’m still waiting for “this thing” to be over and for things to get back to “normal.” Truth be told, I’m missing the human connection and interaction. Complicating the issue is wearing a mask.
     About sixty-five percent of our language is nonverbal. Having something covering our face minimizes our facial features. We can’t always tell if a person is frowning or if they have a stomachache.
     Even before this pandemic, studies suggested that half of Americans say they are lonely. In addition, many others report that they have no meaningful relationships. They describe their existence as isolated, marginalized, and sometimes, rejected. Some social scientists and mental health experts have labeled loneliness as a crisis. In a 2019 article by Kay S. Hymowitz, she calls loneliness an epidemic.
     Loneliness is also dangerous. A study released by Cigna, an insurance company, revealed, “only around half of Americans say they have meaningful, daily face-to-face social interactions.” They claim that loneliness is killing as many people as obesity and smoking.
     Loneliness is a villain that does not discriminate based up age, gender, or culture. It is a vicious predator that seeks to destroy and has manifested its ugly head in self-harm and even suicide.
     I was surprised to learn that, when dealing with the issue of suicide, it’s not the younger people who are the most susceptible. Rather, it is senior adults. The National Center for Biotechnology Information notes that the number one risk factor for suicide is when a person suddenly becomes a widow or widower. The NCBI has called the rise in suicides, a “Major public health issue.”
     The issue of loneliness is really nothing new. In 1974, the music group, “America,” released a song called, “Lonely People.” One of the lines goes like this, “This is for all the lonely people. Thinking that life has passed them by. Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup. And ride that highway in the sky.”
     But loneliness didn’t begin in the 1970’s. We could go back to the thirteenth century where German emperor Frederick II conducted a bizarre experiment. He wanted to know what language humans would speak if they weren’t taught any language. He placed fifty newborns in the care of nurses who were given strict orders only to feed and bathe the infants. The caretakers were not allowed to speak, hold, or have any other contact with them.
     The emperor never discovered the answer to what language they would speak. Sadly, none of the infants survived the isolation. As humans, we were built for connection and interaction. It is a matter of life and death.
     Connection and interaction are so important that isolation has been, and is, used as punishment. I can remember as a kid being sent to my room and had to  close the door until being invited out. In our penal system, more than forty states still use solitary confinement as punishment.
     For the average person, research shows that people without strong social ties are more likely to suffer from major ailments such as heart disease and high blood pressure as well as suffer from lesser ailments such as the common cold. There may be no cure for the common cold, but chicken soup from a friend may help relieve its severity and promote healing. Maybe it’s not the soup.
     But, why do we need one another? Although some social scientists would suggest that our dire need for social interaction goes back to prehistoric times when humans lived and survived in packs in order to protect the herd, as a pastor, I believe the issue is not sociological, but theological.
     Way back in the beginning, in the Garden of Eden, God created the first human in His own image. Adam was one of a kind--literally. He was created for intimacy with his Creator and had the world at his feet. But something was missing—or someone. He was surrounded by other animals in pairs, but he was alone.
     God then said, “It’s not good for the man to be alone” (Gen 2:18). To remedy the pain of this isolation, God created a helpmate and soulmate. That relationship produced other social units such as the family, extended family, and communities. All of it was part of God’s plan and it was good.
     But we weren’t just created to know each other. Primarily, we were created to know God intimately and personally. The French mathematician and philosopher, Blaise Pascal, put it like this, "There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing.” We were built to know our Creator and interact with one another. That’s our happy place. Our place of contentment.
     Isolation, on the other hand, is part of Satan’s strategy. He seeks to divide and conquer. Jesus, the Great Shepherd, leaves the 99 to find the missing one. Satan stealthily attempts to find those who are separated from the fold and in isolation.
     The Bible says “the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:7). Many animal packs, by instinct, learn how to herd in order to protect their young and vulnerable. According to mom.com,   “Bison typically run when they sense danger, but when predators approach without warning, bison form a multilayer circle of protection. The females form a ring around the young, and the males form an outer ring surrounding the females.” Humans, on the other hand, often exclaim, “it’s every person for themselves!” or joke, “I don’t have to outrun the bear, I just need to be able to outrun you.” 
     Loneliness is a crisis, but, I believe, preventable. I guess, if the statistics are true, and 50% of us feel alone, then, either these people are all living by themselves, or some of them are living with us—or are at least in our circle. If you think of it that way, perhaps, we’re never really alone. We’re just disconnected while being surrounded by other lonely people.
     If you fall into this category, my recommendation would be, rather than waiting for someone to come along seeking you—attempt to be proactive.  
     Even in this time of social distancing when many people are not getting out, there are ways to connect. We can connect through the telephone, video, text, and even cards and letters. If you feel the loneliness is severe, seek the assistance of a trained professional.
     In addition to connecting with one another, to connect to God, we have the wonderful power of prayer and the opportunity to connect to Him through His Word. He’s always there. Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:27).
     On some levels, we all feel a sense of loneliness and isolation. This is expected—for now. Because of the rebellion in the Garden of Eden, the curse entered and we were cut off from perfect intimacy with God. This was the ultimate social distancing.
     On this side of heaven, we can certainly “know God” through His Son, Jesus, but there is social distancing. But, a day is coming. The Bible’s comforting words to believers: “We will see His face.” (Rev 22:3-4). The social distancing will end. The masks will come off. On that day, we will enjoy perfect intimacy with our Creator and one another. We’ll even hug.  Perhaps the band, America, was on to something when they sang, “Don't give up until you drink from the silver cup. And ride that highway in the sky.”
 
     Dr. Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer.
 

     Parental controls have become a handy tool for parents that are looking to balance their kids, tween, and teen screen time by blocking online sites and setting time limits.
     Whenever you limit kids' screen time with their devices, it’s going upset your younger family members. It is  important to limit the time your children spend in front of the screen. Most sites and games they play are designed to keep them engaged. Kids always think they know more than their parents and bypassing parental controls.is one of the ways they try to get the upper hand. 
     Want to make sure your kids aren't pulling the wool over your eyes? Here are some ways you can prevent your kids from getting around parental controls.
     Keep in mind there are many devices you can use for parental controls. You can configure routers to keep your kids in check and there are many apps that you can download on their devices for parental controls. In this digital age we live in, there are many methods kids can use to circumvent parental controls.
     If you use the following steps, you should be able to have a good handle of making sure you parental controls stay secure.
 
1. Your kid tries to perform factory reset to their devices.
     On many devices resetting a smartphone, tablet, computer, or, gaming system back to factory defaults will remove the parental control settings. For any device you are using for parental controls, you should always have an admin account and a user account. This way, the device your kids are using doesn't have the ability to have changes made to it.
 
2. Your kid tries to access the admin account to change or remove privileges.
     Kids are crafty and will do anything to get full access to their devices. Whatever you are using for parental controls, make sure you keep the master password safe. To make things even more secure, set up two-factor authentication on your parental control app or device so you are alerted to any unauthorized changes to parental controls.
 
3. Your kid tries to connect to another Wi-Fi network.
     If you have an in-home unit like Disney Circle (www.meetcircle.com), Gryphon (www.gryphonconnect.com), ASUS (www.asus.com), or Netgear (www.netgear.com), as long as their devices are connected to your network, you are safe.
     If you find your kid wants to take their devices over to friends’ homes, they might be using the opportunity to connect to another network to access the stuff they aren't supposed to be accessing.
 
4. Your kid tries to use a VPN.
     A VPN or virtual private network is normally used when you are trying to keep your location and places you visit on the web secret. Your kids and set up a VPN (usually on a computer) to get around your home Wi-Fi and device parental control settings.
     Using app-based parental controls work best because it protects the device regardless of what network they are connected to.
 
5. Your Kid tries to delete the parental control app.
     Most kids are smart enough to install and uninstall apps on their devices. Some parental controls software will alert you if the app is removed from a device. For total protection, set up your devices under a family account. Android, Apple, and Windows devices allow you to configure their devices so you can view the activity on all of the devices under that account. Doing so allows you to see if new apps are installed and if apps are being removed from them.
     Sometimes, no matter what you do, some kids are just extremely motivated to get around those parental control settings. For the ultimate protection, it's sometimes best to go 'old school' and take their devices away at bedtime. It always helps as a backup to parental controls that you look at their devices once a week to view the activity. 
     Unfortunately, there isn't a one solution fits all for parental controls so it's best you get a little familiar with the devices you purchase for your kids so you can keep them safe from all of the threats out on the Internet and make sure they have a good balance with their screen time.
 
     Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to [email protected]. If you prefer to connect with me on social media, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and watch great tech tip videos on my YouTube channel. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I want to make technology fun and easy to use for everyone!
 
     If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral.
     My team of friendly tech experts are always standing by to answer your questions and help make your technology useful and fun. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829. 
 

​The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of July 15-21, 2020.
 

     The Board of Aldermen met Monday, July 20th at City Hall for a workshop session to discuss strategic planning, City owned properties, plans to address crowding and facility issues at City Hall and the Police Department, and to discuss food truck fees.      
     City Administrator Ken Murphy provided a list of city-owned properties to facilitate a discussion of what is owned and plans for each piece of land.
     Mayor Chuck Johnston said he would like to see properties that do not have a use to be sold, allowing the City to recoup some of the investment.
     Johnston questioned if the land on Main Street currently used as a community garden could be sold.
     “Do we even see if those people have their own properties where they could be putting their own garden rather than using our facilities,” Johnston asked.
     “I’m sure they do. It’s just the idea of a community garden that is common,” Murphy said, pointing to similar gardens in the area, including Blue Springs.
     Murphy explained the property used as a community garden lies in a flood plain, making it difficult for development.
The Board discussed other smaller pieces of land along Main Street that may be suitable for sale. The sale of the Sni-A-Bar Farms property was also discussed, with Murphy cautioning the board to carefully consider future land needs before selling larger pieces of property.
     The Board discussed current facility needs at City Hall and Police Department, and the next steps forward following the defeat of a bond issue in June which would have created a municipal campus at the old Sni-A-Bar farm property. The Board must decide on a plan in the near future due to the upcoming debt levy decision. Baker Tilly will present options at the next board meeting to address City facility needs.
     The board also reviewed comparable fees for food trucks in surrounding cities and debated what fees would be appropriate. Murphy will review options discussed with the City’s legal counsel.
      The next regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen is set for 7:00pm on Monday, July 27th at City Hall.
 

    The Grain Valley School Board voted to approve the issuance and sale of $8 million in general obligation bonds during its July 16th meeting. The board plans to issue another $6.5 million in bonds in January.  The bond sale is a result of the $14 million bond issue passed on June 2nd.
     Superintendent Dr. Marc Snow informed the board it would be 2024 before another bond issue could be considered.
     Improvements and construction around the district are in full swing, ranging from a soft remodel and carpet upgrade at Sni-A-Bar Elementary, to the renovation of the high school’s performing  arts center and new parking lot on the east side of the high school.
     Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services Beth Mulvey updated the board on summer school, stating the students and teachers were both eager and excited to return to the classroom and are managing COVID-19 related changes well.
     “Students deal with the mask requirement much better than adults do,” Mulvey said.
     Board member Jeff Coleman raised the issue of how the schools are monitoring how students who have an exemption from wearing masks are being treated by other students. Coleman shared he has an exemption to Jackson County’s mask mandate due to health reasons.
      “I’m one of the exemptions, but if I don’t wear a mask, everyone just swarms on me. I just want to know how are we treating those kids with other kids who may be giving them a hard time for not wearing a mask,” Coleman said.
     “I’ve not had any reports of anyone being mistreated. However, we’ve only had three students out of the entire summer school population request an exemption, and no teachers,” Mulvey said. 
     “We’ll take care of that the same way we take care of any bullying incident. Fortunately, it hasn’t been an issue.”
     The district anticipates releasing plans regarding the 2020-21 school year later this week. Families were asked this summer to indicate whether they intended to return to the classroom or request a virtual option.
     “If a child is going to be virtual to start the school year, we’re going to ask them to make at least a nine week commitment on that,” Dr. Brad Welle, Deputy Superintendent of Student and Community Services, said.
     Welle indicated he has talked with several families regarding concerns and emphasized the district is simply asking families to indicate their intentions at this point so administrators can plan accordingly. As of last week’s meeting, 65 families had requested to participate in a virtual option.
     “Parents get to change their mind. It’s too important a decision for us to lock them in at this point. We’re just trying to plan ahead, so we’re asking people now what their intention is,” Welle said.
     In other business, the Education Foundation’s golf tournament has been postponed to October 16th due to COVID-19.
 

​     The evolution of moving the football down the field has changed dramatically over the last 70 years.  Especially, since 1980. Statista online reveals that the average passing yards per National Football League game from 1970 to 1979 was 156 yards per game. The rushing average per game in the NFL during the same decade was 139 yards per game.
     Fast forward to the recently completed decade (2010-2019) and passing yards per game in the NFL have increased significantly while rushing yards have declined moderately. From 2010 to 2019 the average passing yards per game in the NFL grew to 234 yards. An increase of 78 yards per game over the 1970’s. Concurrently, the average rushing yards per game in the NFL from 2010 to 2019 was 113 yards a game. A mild drop of 26 yards per game.
     The Kansas City Chiefs averaged 379 yards and 28 points per game during the regular season in route to their Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers. This permitted the Chiefs to rank sixth in total yards (6,067) in the NFL during the 2019 season. The Chiefs run a West Coast Spread Offense. Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid has overseen the progression of this offense grow from his assistant coaching days with the Green Bay Packers through head coaching stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.
     It is easy to pontificate as to why these offensive statistics have migrated in the direction they have. Quarterbacks are protected now more than they ever have been in football. Rules favor the offense regarding pass interference and defensive holding penalties. Practice time in pads has been reduced for player safety that lessens the amount of time offensive lineman get to practice the physicality of run blocking fundamentals. The list goes on.
     One element that should not be overlooked that helps explain the point explosion and offensive growth in the passing game of football is the spread offense. A football field is 160 feet or 53 and 1/3 yards wide and 300 feet or 100 yards between goal lines. That is a tremendous amount of space for a defense to have cover horizontally and vertically on the field.
     The implementation of three, four, and five wide receiver offensive formations pulls defenders out of the tackle box (the area on the line of scrimmage between the offensive tackles). Spread formations also permit offensive coaches to align players against defenders creating favorable matchups that can be exploited. Not to mention, the running lanes created for the offense in the way the defense adjusts to cover receivers.
     This often leads to quarterbacks and coaches at all levels of football doing simple math prior to the snap. It comes down to counting the number of defenders inside and outside of the tackle box. A quarterback or the offensive coordinator from the sideline may audible to a running play because they outnumber the defense in the tackle box, giving them an advantage rushing the football.
     A passing advantage may also be found pre-snap for the offense due to a defender covering a preferred receiver by defensive alignment. This may include a linebacker matched up unfavorably against the speed and athleticism of a wide receiver. Furthermore, a safety can be pulled to the three receiver side of an offensive formation leaving a ton of real estate in the middle of the field or on the backside of the offense.
     Offenses all the way down to the high school level tend to have multiple route concepts (four verticals, flooding a zone with multiple receivers, running a rub route with two receivers to wall of a defender, etc.) they prefer to run against various defensive man and zone coverages. The game continues to migrate towards who can manipulate the use of space better, achieve more possessions in a game, and finding the fastest way to score points.
     Football in Eastern Jackson County boasts two coaches with more than 50 years of combined experience coaching high school football. David Allie is the head football coach of the Grain Valley Eagles. Greg Smith is the offensive coordinator for the Blue Springs South Jaguars. Both Allie and Smith are close friends, believe in the spread offense, and have paid their dues to win accolades and respect within the football coaching community.
     Allie took over the reigns of the Grain Valley Eagles Football program in 2014 after spending fourteen previous years at Raytown South High School as their head coach (including leading the Raytown South Cardinals squad to the 2009 state championship game). Allie was also recognized as the Kansas City Chiefs 2016 Missouri High School Coach of the Year while at Grain Valley and is fresh off leading the Eagles to the Class 4, District 7 Championship last season.
     Smith helped the Jaguars offense accumulate an average of 25.8 points a game in his first season at Blue Springs South. The Jaguars were also able to boast success late in the season with a Class 6 state playoff win over Holt. Smith has enjoyed previous achievement as a head coach at Plattsburg, Smithville, and Pleasant Hill, guiding each of those programs to playoff wins. Smith was rewarded for his efforts in 2018, when he was inducted into the Missouri High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame.
     Both Allie and Smith offered their thoughts on football’s spread offense as it continues to evolve.
     “I don’t know if what we do is exactly the spread offense, but more a hybrid of philosophies. I’m a firm believer in running offensive schemes that fit the team’s personnel, not just dedication to a scheme regardless,” Allie said.
     “During my high school days, we ran the I-formation. At Raytown South as an assistant coach, we ran the I, and when I first took over as head coach there I was fascinated with and installed the Wing-T formation. However, the best traditional Wing-T teams always have a good tight end and I have not always been able to find one.”
     “Because some teams lack a tight end, and as offensive philosophies have generally evolved, many Wing-T concepts were adopted and morphed into spread formations.”
     Allie continued, “At Grain Valley and Raytown South we have not always been blessed with great size up front, but we have had quickness and athleticism. Spread formations can be adapted to use a variety of different running schemes.”
     “Elements of deception from the Wing-T and athleticism of the group you coach can be utilized to confuse the defense in the spread offense. It is also a very fan friendly offensive scheme – as these formations are what spectators see during college and pro games, and can provide offenses with big play potential, which leads to scoring more points.”
     The journey to the spread offense for Smith was one born more out of necessity.
     “My team had suffered some injuries in key positions which led us to make the change in season. What I found to be true was that the spread concepts matched well with my philosophies and there was more space on the field because the defense was forced to spread out as well,” Smith said.
     Both Allie and Smith are old school in the splendor of observing battles in the trenches that result in positive rushing yards for an offense. Neither is oblivious to the benefits gained by making the opposing defense stretch to account for offensive players lined up all over the field.
     “I’ll have to admit, it is a thing of beauty to watch six or seven enormous lineman stand foot to foot while the quarterback hands off the football to a bruising 220 pound running back only to see the entire vanguard march down the field destroying everything in its path,” Allie said.
     “Unfortunately, I have never had the players to do that, so I try to adapt our scheme to what we have. I feel the spread offense gives you that freedom. I also feel that spread formations stretch the defense both horizontally and vertically, so there are natural seams created in the defense that can be exploited.”
     “I am a fan of getting the ball to athletes in space. Also, by adding shifts and motions, you can create other seams to exploit while gaining a numbers advantage against one side of the defense.”
     Smith agreed, “In my opinion, one of the most difficult things to do in the sport of football is tackling in the open field. By spreading the defense out and forcing them to defend the entire width of the field, it forces defenders to do exactly that.”
     “Offensively, we try to manipulate the ‘box.’ By the offense taking a player out of the box, whether it is tight end, running back, or both; the defense is forced to match that movement. This spreading out the defense allows for better running lanes for the ball carrier.”
     “If the defense does not spread out to match the formation, it gives the offense an advantage in the passing game. Essentially, spreading out the offensive formation puts certain defenders in a conflict, giving the offense the advantage.”
     The spread offense may sound like a no brainer for coaches looking to seek a winning edge. There are things that must be considered that are not always apparent on the surface if the move is made away from football’s traditional offenses. Any offensive line coach in the spread offense will likely tell you their number one stress is finding a player that can execute the shotgun snap consistently.
     Coaches like having their five best offensive lineman play up front and be plugged into a position. The spread offense may consist of one player who can get the shotgun snap back to the quarterback without sailing over his head, or dribbling along the ground, and their four other best offensive linemen. In a perfect world, one of your five best offensive lineman overall can also perform the shotgun snap successfully on a consistent basis.
     The spread offense also requires a team to be in great shape if they are going to get off a play every thirteen seconds after the ball is spotted for play by an official. Teams must commit to practicing and conditioning this way if they want to gain offensive possessions during a game to score more points.
     Quarterbacks must learn the skill of seeing the ball into their hands by feel or with their peripheral vision to gain the advantage of reading a defense down field on a pass play or the defensive end man on the line of scrimmage if they are to read what he’s doing prior to deciding to hand off the football (on a read option run).
     Additionally, quarterbacks must develop a clock on how long they can hold the football before it must be gone on a passing play. Typically, that’s four seconds or less. Something that is done naturally when a quarterback lines up under center and performs a three or five step drop. The quarterback knows the ball should be out of their hand when the last step in their drop is completed. This meshes well with the natural time it takes for wide receivers to get into their routes.
     “The quarterback can survey the defense more cleanly lined up in shotgun. In the modern game of quarterback reads and RPO’s, the extra 4 to 5 yards of depth give the quarterback good angles of vision to make the decision to stress read defenders,” Allie said.
     “We allow our quarterback to survey the defense and make audibles based on their (the defenses) alignment to the play we have called, again looking to put our players in the best position to be successful. I also feel it makes it easier for the quarterback in the passing game because there is more time to see the overall coverage schemes for both pre and post snap reads and footwork is easier in drops.”
     Allie concluded, “the big disadvantage is the potential for error on the snap. The snap must be consistent, and the quarterback has to make sure he handles whatever ball comes to him. Adding weather issues like rain or snow creates another obstacle. Our centers and quarterbacks need to have reps snapping before, during, and after practice to make sure snaps are not an issue.”
     “Another disadvantage is that the deceptiveness of the quarterback hiding the ball from the defense is almost nil in the shotgun. You have to find ways to be deceptive, but that is much more difficult than the quarterback turning around from under center with his back to the defense hiding the football.”
     Smith concurred with Allie’s assessment on the advantages and disadvantages of the shotgun.
     “The biggest advantage to the shotgun is that it increases the quarterback’s ability to see the defense. From the snap of the ball to the completion of the play, the quarterback is able to have the entire defense in his line of vision. Another advantage to the shotgun is time. The moment that the quarterback catches the snap, he is immediately at a depth that would take a quarterback at least three steps to attain if he were under center,” Smith said.
     “The major disadvantage of the shotgun is the center-quarterback exchange (the snap). The exchange is less consistent than if the quarterback was under center. This inconsistency is magnified if there are adverse weather conditions. Another disadvantage is short yardage situations. The actual football must physically travel backwards five yards before moving forward. That is not ideal in a fourth-and-one situation, or on the goal line.”
     The final thoughts Allie and Smith shared were regarding two universal truths about football, being up tempo offensively can wear down your opponent and the game of football is still won or lost at the line of scrimmage, even in the era of the spread offense.
     “Coach Smith likes to be up tempo all the time. I like to use it situationally. It creates an advantage in that you usually see a more generic defense as they don’t have time to huddle, substitute personnel, or stem and blitz,” Allie said.
     “However, listening to Coach Carpino (Grain Valley’s Defensive Coordinator), if the offense is unsuccessful by having a quick ‘three and out,’ it makes your own defense have to be on the field longer without needed rest, which actually is the opposite of the goal and hurts your own team.”
     “We like to use up tempo for a series of plays (usually scripted, but sometimes a whole series), especially after a turnover, to gain advantage over a tired opponent, and to change momentum or ignite some excitement.”
      Smith provided the final word with his thoughts, “The sport of football is very intricate with a lot of moving parts on every play. As complicated as we try to make it as coaches, the game really comes down to two basic things: blocking and tackling.”
     “In addition to that, most games are won or lost in two major areas: winning the line of scrimmage and the turnover battle. It doesn’t matter what offensive philosophy you use, winning at the line of scrimmage is the key to having a successful offense. Your team is going to struggle to score points if the offensive line is unable to create creases for the ball carrier in the run game of if they can’t keep the defense from hitting the quarterback in the passing game.”

​     It was a normal day in the life of a 17-year-old. I was doing my own thing, living my own life. The phone rang at the house. In a strong Italian accent, I heard, “Wayne! No hotta watah. It’s the watah heateh, the elementa.”
     It was my grandfather on the phone. I called him papa. He was about 89 at the time. My papa and noni came into the U.S. in 1919 from Italy and eventually migrated down to Hialeah, Florida. He spoke English well, but just had a strong accent. Papa and I had a special relationship. I admired him and I always knew that he loved me and was proud of me. I enjoyed being with him and learning things from him.
     As I listened to papa on the phone, I was trying to decipher what he was trying to say. I tried to ask for clarification, but he was a little hard of hearing and didn’t do well on the phone. Finally, I was able to figure out that he had no hot water at the house and the issue was the hot water heater. At the time, I worked at an electrical supply house, but knew very little about actual electricity. However, papa asked for me to come and I headed over.
     Once at papa’s, he walked me outside to a garage where the water heater was located. He said, “the hot watah heateh is no working. He then pointed to a cover plate on the unit and said, “the elementa.” “Oh, the element,” I thought. “That’s what he is saying. He thinks it’s the element.”
     He showed me how to drain the heater, remove the cover plate, locate and remove the element. I was curious how he knew that was the issue, but I respectfully headed to the hardware store to get a new one. In a short time, I replaced it, turned the water back on, and it worked like a charm! I was thrilled. As a 17-year-old, I had no idea how he knew what the problem was, but he knew. He was kind of like that. Papa knew a lot of stuff about a lot of stuff.
     He was a hard worker. As a product of the Great Depression, he was very frugal. I remember him doing odd jobs on the home and as a jack of all trades. He was still trying to get onto the roof of his home when he was in his 80s. I have many wonderful memories of my papa and think about him often. I wish I had learned more from him.  Kids just have their own agenda and do their own thing. Only when we get older do we look back and wish we could have changed a few things.
     I know have a grandson of my own. He, too, calls me me papa. I’m truly blessed in that I get a chance to see him several days a week. Having a child around the house is challenging, to say the least. After raising four kids, I thought my wife and I were finally empty nesters, but that’s not the case. Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
     He’s always filled with energy and always wants to play. We have toys laying around the house and watch shows like Puppy Dog Pals, Roadster Racers, and Bluey. I’m glad that he enjoys coming over and we have a great relationship. Like a typical papa, I at times, spoil him something terrible. Nothing melts my heart more than hearing, “papa” from his lips.
     “Do you want to come in the pool papa?” he said playfully as he splashed around. I had just gotten home. Now, I’m not really a “pool person”. I grew up in Miami and had a pool growing up. To make matters worse, the pool that mama and papa got him is only 10-foot round and 30 inches deep. There is no actual swimming in this pool. I was resistant to join him. “Pweese,” he begged, giving me the sad face. Now, I’ve got a million things to work on, but five minutes later, I am in the pool and he and I are swimming away from the sharks, whirlpools, and tornadoes and having battles with the squirt guns.
     I realize my time with him is limited. Nothing is stable. I am enjoying the time. Although I am extremely busy, and there’s never a dull moment, one of the things that I’ve tried to do is say “yes” to him when I have every reason to say no. “Do you want to play Minecraft?” he asks as I sit on the couch perusing a book for an upcoming study. “Yes,” I say.
     There are times when he plays Minecraft on his handheld or on the game system, but that’s not what he’s talking about. He has quite the imagination and loves to make up games. He wants us to actually be the characters in Minecraft.
     The main character in the game is Steve who walks around and builds stuff. So, he and I, are both named Steve. “What should we do, Steve?” I ask. “Let’s go in the portal, Steve,” he says. For the next twenty minutes, or so, we’ll walk around the house and play Minecraft trying not to get killed by the zombies. He makes sure I get all the verbiage correct and that I’m faithful to the rules of the game.
     Pause” he says as I’m sitting on the couch. We’ve learned that when he says, pause, we’re supposed to freeze exactly where we are and not be cognizant of anything he’s doing while in this frozen state. Then, while we’re paused, he will move our arms around, put our finger in our own nose, or put objects in our hands. “Un-pause,” he says. At that point, we are supposed to be surprised at our unpleasant demise. For him, it never gets old. I have to cut him off at about thirty-seven times.
     BURRRRP. I couldn’t believe what came out of a six-year-old (think Elf and Pepsi). Laughing hysterically, he says, “That was a really big burp!” Triumphantly he asks, “Did I sound like a dinosaur?” “You did,” I said chuckling, “But, buddy, we need to practice good manners. “Excuse me,” he said. I try not to laugh uncontrollably.
     “Hey, buddy, do you want to make a movie?” Puzzled, he answered, “what kind of movie?” “You know,” I said excitedly, “I’ll just use my phone to record us doing something fun and we’ll make it into a movie!” He was all in and moments later, in interview style, I say, “today is [day/date] and we’re talking about what we did today.” We then shared the events of the day and I asked him to conclude with a short story that he had made up while we were in the pool.
     To be honest, I did have ulterior motives for making the video. Time passes so quickly and he’s growing up so fast. One of the things I wish I had was a way to remember my papa. That option doesn’t exist.
     But, one of the things that I can do is help my grandson remember our time together. He doesn’t know it, but I plan on uploading these short videos to a YouTube channel that he’ll have access to when he gets older. So, in a sense, we’re making movies and memories.
     I’m sure, as he gets older, he won’t always be as excited to see papa. But one day, when I’m gone, he might want to reminisce about some of the fun times we had together. In addition to the fun times, I also look forward to sharing important information with him—like how much I love him, how proud I am of him, and how my ultimate desire is for him to know and serve the Lord, and that I’ll be waiting for him in heaven.
 
Dr. Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer.
 

     The quest to learn more about the establishment of the town of Grain Valley has led to some surprising revelations.  From previously written histories I had learned, “When the railroad came through, the two townships (Pink Hill & Stony Point) relocated at a midway point between them. They consolidated and formed the City of Grain Valley, Missouri on September 5, 1878 at a location near the main line of the railroad. James Lucas surveyed the land for Joseph Peters.”  Several histories noted that the town size was 10-acres.
     In last week’s article for Valley News, I noted the land was probably owned by Lucas. Several hours of research on ancestry and a telephone call to the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds revealed what I believe is a more accurate picture.
     In 1877, James F. Lucas of Lake Fork Township, Logan County, Illinois, owned 120-acres in the southwest quarter of Township 49, Range 30, Section 35 in Jackson County, Missouri.  A genealogy search for Mr. Lucas revealed that he was born in Logan County on December 20, 1845, married in Logan County in 1867, farmed in Logan County and appeared on the U. S. Census as a Logan County resident from 1850 through 1880. By 1890 he had moved a few miles south to Illiopolis, Illinois, now a suburb of Springfield, in Sangamon County. In other words, he was a lifelong resident of Illinois.  On the 1900 Census it did state his occupation as “landlord.”
     When I contacted the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds, I received this document.
     A strong magnifying glass and a couple hours work revealed this statement at the top of the first page. (The top of the map is East, the left is North, the bottom is West, and the right is South)
     Know all men by those present that I James F. Lucas of the County of Logan in the State of Illinois do by those present set apart four acres of land located in the County of Jackson and the State of Missouri described as follows, that is to say, commencing fifty-eight feet south of northwest corner of the east quarter of the southwest quarter of Section (35) thirty-five, Township (49) forty-nine, Range 30, hence seven hundred and fifteen feet, hence east four hundred and forty feet, hence south to the railroad hence following the railroad due West one hundred and twenty feet hence south to the southern limits of the town hence West to the place of beginning making in all four acres more or less all of said tract of land situated on the Kansas City-St. Louis and (  ? )  railroad. For the ( ?  ) and purpose and profit of the town of Grain Valley.  The aforesaid town being laid off by Joseph Peters given under my hand and seal this fifth day of September A.D. 1878.  James H Cannon
 
This statement appeared on the top of page two.
 
State of Missouri
County of Jackson
 
Be it remembered the James F. Lucas who is personally known to me the undersigner, Notary Public, within and for the said County to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument in writing
As proxy there in this day and hour (?) and acknowledged that he executed and delivered the same as his voluntary act and deed for the title and purchase wherein mentioned given by my hand and official seal this fifth day of September A.D. 1878
      J. H. Cannon
     My commission is dated April 7th, 1877
     And expires April 2nd, 1882
 
     While the wording is unusual, the second document grants Mr. Cannon the right to represent Lucas and turn the land (only “about” 4-acres) over to the City of Grain Valley. I would suspect that Mr. Lucas never left Logan County. James Cannon was a resident of the area and had a vested interest in the town.  He had moved his mercantile business to a store he built on Main Street south and adjacent to the new railroad.   
As for Joseph Peters, there is no record that he ever lived in Grain
     Valley. However, I did learn that he married Amanda Parlee Christison on July 29, 1869. She was the daughter of John Christison who owned property in Section 36 (just north of U. S. 40 Highway & the East Kansas City Airport). His post office box was Blue Springs because there was no Grain Valley at that time. The Christison family was living on this land in 1845 when Amanda was born.
     Joseph and Amanda Peters may have lived with her parents or rented a house, but there is no record of their having owned any property.  The 1880 U. S. Census stated their residence as Preston in Jasper County, MO. The 1885 and 1895 Kansas Census stated their residence was Key West Township, Coffey County, Kansas and Joseph Peters occupation was listed as “surveyor.”  They remained in California, Coffey County, Kansas until their deaths in 1909 (Joseph) and 1915 (Amanda).
     So, it might be safe to say that Peters & Lucas were just in town to earn a living as a surveyor and make a buck off of some land when the town came to the railroad. They didn’t stick around to earn any prominent citizen awards.
 
Next Week: Learn about the Cannon Addition, and Graves & Ashcroft Addition.