The summer months can be dangerous time for teens, as extra free time can lead them to do careless things like talking to strangers on online forums. If you're a parent of a tween or teen, you need to make sure you're speaking to your teens about the dangers of sharing sexual material online, especially because of the rise of sextortion scams targeting them.

Sextortion involves criminals reaching out and forming relationships with teens on social media platforms like Snapchat, BeReal, Discord, as well as online gaming platforms. With the help of AI, criminals are able to disguise themselves as teens to friend them and trick them into sending nude photos.

Here's what you need to know:

How does it work? 
Cyber crooks setup online profiles or steal social media accounts that appear to be around the same age as the victim. They then begin reaching out with friend requests on various online chat platforms, and then move the conversation to a platform such as Instagram where they can view the victim’s personal information and contacts. They then send the victim an intimate image and encourage them to take part in video chats or sharing their own intimate pictures.

Screenshots are taken of intimate images and videos are recorded. As soon as an intimate image or video has been shared, the victim is told they have been recorded and that the recording or pictures will be shared online or with their friends and family unless a ransom is paid immediately. The scammers apply pressure to the victim and tell them the image will be deleted as soon as they pay.

Some cases have incurred losses in the thousands of dollars, and these are just the cases that are reported.  What's worse with sextortion, there have been instances of teens who feel they are put into a no-win situation with this scam and they take their lives when faced with public humiliation from having the photos and videos released to family and friends.

What are some of the signs of a sextortion scam? Some tell-tale signs of a sextortion scam include but are not restricted to:

• Meeting the victim on one app and quickly encouraging them to move the conversation onto another app.
• Inconsistencies with the profile or language – such as English being a second language which may not match their profile picture or story.
• Immediate introduction of sexual conversations – the victim will be encouraged to engage in sexual activities, by either a real person who is part of a larger blackmailing operation or a pre-recorded video.
• The scammer being hesitant to reveal their true identity, giving excuses like their webcam/camera isn’t working for video calls.

What to do if your teen has fallen victim to sextortion?
If your children have fallen victim to a sextortion scam, then immediately support, without questions of why they did what they did, to ensure that they do not pay, and that they and you are prepared for how people may react if the images or video is released.

• The first step is to cease all contact with the scammer.
• Save or screenshot any online chats for evidence, then block the scammer’s profile.
• If they are still sending threatening messages, victims should not pay them and or share any more images or videos.
• It might be helpful to tell friends and family not to engage with any strangers who message them.
• The next step is to contact the correct authorities – by reporting to your local police.
• if you have a copy of the private images or video you are being threatened with, you can use a free service to get them removed. Images or videos of people under 18 years of age: Take It Down. (https://takeitdown.ncmec.org/) Images or videos of people aged 18 and over: Stop NCII (https://stopncii.org/)
• It might be a good idea to deactivate your teens social media profiles for a while or set social media account privacy settings to their highest level.

Hopefully, this post has given you the information you need to keep your teens safe from the dangers of sextortion scams. If you think you're being targeted, don't hesitate to reach out. If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help!



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by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
  
Seven years ago, I returned to Grain Valley full-time after my House Director gig at a Mizzou fraternity. I vowed that I would devote one day each week to the Grain Valley Historical Society. My goal was to spend a few months sorting through the photos and artifacts and get the museum “in order.” Seven years later, I would love to have the museum “in order!” It is an ongoing challenge as new gifts arrive all of the time.
 
But I’m totally off my topic. There was lots of “stuff” in cabinets and boxes that needed to be sorted. Some items, while interesting, had nothing to do with our town. They were given to other societies or trashed. Some items were real treasures, and I was able to get them catalogued and on displayed in a relatively short amount of time. And then, there were the items that definitely pertained to Grain Valley, but would anyone care?
 
Today’s article is about two such items; two small boxes I found on the shelf in the back room. I have no clue as to where they came from or how they came to be at the Historical Society. One member seems to recall that they were found in the attic of an old house on Walnut Street when it was sold. We may never really know.
 
I find the contents interesting today, because the two small boxes, approximately 5” x 7” x 2”, contain the City of Grain Valley Tax records for 1929. With all of the uproar regarding our 2023 tax assessments, I thought you might like to know what taxes were in 1929.

According to his name on the receipt books and the bank deposit books, Albert Hoehn was the city collector and the money collected was sent to the Bank of Grain Valley. It is only a city tax, not a county or state tax. It would be interesting to know how the funds were spent. Of course, there is no mention of school tax or library tax, or police or fire protection. Maybe that’s a topic for further research on my part.
 
At any rate, while you are looking at your current tax assessment, think about some of these bills.

• Loring Hardware: Merchants tax $16.50; property tax for Lot 19, $3.25; W ½ of Lot 32, $1.13; Lot 33, $. .45; W 29  ½ feet of W ½ Lot 35, $ .13; W ½ of 37, $ .20.
• Bank of Grain Valley: Merchants Tax and Lot 12, $35.83.
• Dierks & Sons Lumber Co: Merchants Tax on GV on Lots 13-18.  $  9.15
• Frost, A.M.: Merchants Tax (Frost owned a grocery store)    $  4.25
• Heidelberger, August:  Davis Place, Lot 8, 9, 15 & 16     $  3.06 (300 block on Front Street)
• Johnston, W. B.: Finnell’s addition, lot 1, 2 & 3.   $  2.47 (prior to 1909, this was the location of the Grain Valley School
• Chiddix, Wade: Yennie’s Addition, lot 35.    $  1.53
• Church, Emma : Wyatt’s Addition, lot 9, 10, ½ of 11  $  2.01
• Costigan, Dennis: Davis Place, lot 10, Warren Addition, lot 4.   $  2.06 (300 block on Front Street)

 
How about thirteen cents for the W ½ of lot 35 which is east of Cypress St. just N. of the railroad track.  How did they ever come up with these numbers? If you are curious about what the taxes were on your lot in old Grain Valley in 1929, stop by the Historical Society and look them up! I doubt if they would help you much at the assessment office today, but they might be good for a laugh. And after you pay your taxes in December, you may need a good laugh, or cry!  

​As I visit with gardening friends or farmers market shoppers, I often hear that people are anxiously awaiting the tomatoes. America’s most popular home garden plant happens to be my favorite (and most successful) crop as well. It doesn’t matter if it is fresh from the garden or prepared into a favorite sauce or salsa, the versatility of the tomato makes it easy to understand why it is America’s favorite.

Tomatoes belong to the Solanaceae family, more commonly known as the nightshade family. Other members of the Solanaceae family include peppers, potatoes, tomatillos, eggplant, and even tobacco. For centuries, the association with the nightshade family coupled with the strong scent given off by the plant, led to the myth that tomatoes were truly poisonous. Long before it was considered fit to eat, it was grown only as an ornamental garden plant, sometimes called "love apple."

Tomatoes are native to the Andes of Peru, where they first grew in the wild as a bright red, marble-sized, cherry-type tomato. Gradually, they would spread throughout South America and north into Central America but then the trail goes cold until Christopher Columbus’ travels to and from the ‘new world,’ which would eventually land the fruit in Spain in the mid-16th century. Over the next several decades, different cultivars spread through Spain, France and Italy and became a widely accepted food in the Mediterranean region. As the tomato varieties spread north and east through Europe, they were not as widely accepted among the English and German and were often thought to be poisonous.

As the colonies established in the United States, the tomato became less feared. One of the earliest notable growers of tomatoes was Thomas Jefferson, who was a remarkably progressive Virginia farmer as well as a statesman, who grew them in the late 1780’s. By the early 1800’s, tomatoes had become a common enhancement in the Creole gumbos and jambalayas of Southern cooking. By 1850, the tomato had made its way into most American urban markets and today is grown world-wide, where the temperate seasons allow. California, Florida, and Georgia lead tomato production in the US.

Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and fiber. They are also one of the richest sources of lycopene, a phytonutrient that shows great promise in cancer prevention. It’s worth noting that the amount of lycopene increases when tomatoes are cooked, as in a sauce. Whether cooked or fresh, there are numerous ways to enjoy tomatoes. This salad recipe is great as a quick meal and can be personalized with any of your favorite vegetables. It also gives a nod to the Mediterranean region who first accepted tomatoes.

Mediterranean Bowl

Salad Ingredients
1/3 cup cooked brown rice
1 cup fresh spinach, roughly chopped
½ cup diced cucumber
½ cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
½ cup garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

Vinaigrette Ingredients
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon olive juice
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper

1. Wash hands and work surfaces with soap and water.
2. Measure cooked brown rice and place into a medium size bowl.
3. Wash and rinse spinach, cucumber, and cherry tomatoes. Chop or slice vegetables to your preference. Place on top of brown rice.
4. Drain and rinse a can of garbanzo beans. Place ½ cup on top of brown rice and vegetable mixture.
5. In a small bowl, combine vinaigrette ingredients. Whisk together with a fork. Drizzle all over brown rice, vegetables, and beans.
6. Toss to combine. Add lemon slices as garnish if desired.

 
Nutrition information: Calories: 277, Total Fat: 16g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 150mg, Carbohydrates: 31g, Fiber: 6g, Protein: 7g
 
Recipe adapted from medinsteadofmeds.com, analyzed by verywellfit.com
 

Denise Sullivan is a Nutrition and Health Education Specialist for MU Extension in the Urban West Region, serving Jackson and Platte Counties. For research-based nutrition and food safety information and programs, visit https://extension.missouri.edu/counties/urban-west-region
 
 
MU Extension is a partnership of the University of Missouri campuses, Lincoln University, the people of Missouri through county extension councils, and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 
​

Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased by 10,000 jobs in June 2023, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point to 2.6 percent. Private industry employment increased by 9,200 jobs and government employment increased by 800 jobs.

The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.6 percent in June 2023, up from 2.5 percent in May 2023. Over the year, there was an increase of 59,800 jobs from June 2022 to June 2023, and the unemployment rate increased by half of a percentage point, from 2.1 percent in June 2022 to 2.6 percent in June 2023.

UNEMPLOYMENT    
Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased by one-tenth of a percentage point in June 2023, increasing to 2.6 percent from the revised May 2023 rate of 2.5 percent. The June 2023 rate was half of a percentage point higher than the June 2022 rate of 2.1 percent. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 81,562 in June 2023, up by 2,663 from May.

The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate increased in June 2023 by four-tenths of a percentage point to 3.3 percent. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 2.3 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for June 2023 was 3.8 percent.

Missouri's labor force participation rate was 63.6 percent in June 2023, nine-tenths of a percentage point higher than the national rate of 62.6 percent. Missouri's employment-population ratio was 61.9 percent in June 2023, 1.6 percentage points higher than the national rate of 60.3 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate was 2.6 percent in June 2023, one point lower than the national rate of 3.6 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for more than eight years.

EMPLOYMENT     
Missouri's non-farm payroll employment was 2,991,900 in June 2023, up by 10,000 from the revised May 2023 figure. The May 2023 total was revised upward by 4,200 jobs from the preliminary estimate.

Goods-producing industries decreased by 400 jobs over the month, with mining, logging, and construction gaining 200 jobs and manufacturing decreasing by 600 jobs. Private service-providing industries increased by 9,600 jobs between May 2023 and June 2023. Employment in private service-providing industries increased in leisure and hospitality (3,900 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (3,600 jobs); other services (1,100 jobs); professional and business services (500 jobs); private education and health services (300 jobs); and financial activities (200 jobs). Total government employment increased by 800 jobs over the month, including state government (500 jobs) and federal government (300 jobs).
​
Over the year, total payroll employment increased by 59,800 jobs from June 2022 to June 2023. Gains were in leisure and hospitality (17,600 jobs); professional and business services (10,200 jobs); manufacturing (9,800 jobs); other services (6,100 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (6,000 jobs); private education and health services (5,600 jobs); and financial activities (1,200 jobs). Employment decreased in mining, logging, and construction (-1,600 jobs); and information (-900 jobs). Government employment increased by 5,800 jobs over the year, with increases in local (4,100 jobs), federal (1,300 jobs), and state government (400 jobs).

by Michael Smith


Summer is one of the most important times of the year for the Grain Valley cross country team.

That couldn’t be more true for the 2023 boys and girls cross country squads as head coach Nick Small and the Eagles will depend a lot on underclassmen in the fall.

From June until late August, Grain Valley holds five running sessions per week at different locations to get some miles in before the regular season starts.

“These kids have been getting mileage in since track season,” Small said. “They put in hard efforts every week.”

“We are bringing in quite a few freshmen and some sophomores that have matured. We are definitely younger with all of the runners we graduated last year.”

With a bevy of newcomers entering the fold, the summer workouts are more critical than ever as Small looks for his team to build continuity.

“One of the biggest things is the team bonding,” Small said. “We want them to get used to each other. You’re coming off a season in track where there is togetherness and then there is fragmentation because of the graduations.

“It’s GV cross country 2023. What does that look like? In a sport like this when you are outside and it’s hot and you’re tired, you want to get out there and run for that kid next to you. If you form that relationship with everyone and that family aspect over the summer, that goes a long way.”

Not only does it help with team bonding, it helps with conditioning, especially for the younger kids who may not be used to going at a pace to keep up with high school athletes.

“Right now, our focus is to build up a lot of mileage,” Grain Valley senior Kayley Bell said.

Our team is so young and they don’t have a lot of experience. Previous we have had really old teams so this is new for us.”

To aid in building chemistry, the runners sometimes get together and participate in activities outside of just running.

“Coming in and running cross country as a freshman is not an easy thing to do,” Grain Valley senior Rylan Smith said. “Being brand new, you may not know a lot of things. Sometimes we all group together before we start running.”

“We will do some group activities like play pickleball. We also have games we play when we run. We call one “Wavelength.” Then we also go out and eat breakfast sometimes.”

The annual Twilight Relays, which will take place today, helps with the team bonding aspect, also. It’s an event where current cross country runners get together with alumni and they play games at the school track from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Some of the games include spike ball and relay races.

“I get to see a lot of my friends that I ran with when I was younger,” Bell said of the benefits of the Twilight Relays. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Small said he likes to have some variety in regard to the courses his team practices on. He said he likes to mix it up and the Eagles practice on some easier courses and on some more difficult ones to get used to what the regular season will be like.

This year, Small has added some new trails in Unity Village and in Lake Jacomo to his course list. He also has had his team run on the Little Blue Trace, Rock Island and Vista Trail the past couple of seasons. They also run on the Grain Valley track, as well.

“We mostly like to run on soft surfaces to prevent injury and avoid wear and tear on the body,” Small said. “We like the variety of terrain so we can get on hills here and there.”

While both the boys and girls teams may be young, runners like Bell and Smith have set high goals for themselves for the 2023 season, and getting warmed up during the summer is just the beginning.

“I want to make it to state,” said Bell, who finished 46th at the Class 5 District 4 meet last season. “I need to get a lot of (personal records) this year to make that happen.”
​
Added Smith, who qualified for state and finished 91st in 2022: “I am more of a track guy but I am really focusing on cross country this year. I want to get my times down. I have been working on getting my miles. Right now I am running 55 miles (per week). I want to get that up to 60.”

By POWRi WAR PR (Grain Valley, MO)

Jack Wagner would hold steady and thrill through thick and thin with the POWRi Wingless Auto Racing Sprint League to capture the Valley Speedway feature event and notch his second career feature win in an elbows-up action-packed twenty-five lap feature event.

Early on-track accomplishments would witness defending event winner Xavier Doney start quickest in hot laps with a 13.668-second lap as Luke Howard, Kory Schudy, and Wesley Smith each earn heat racing wins with Cody Baker pocketing the event’s high-point qualifier award.

Contesting on the initial green flag start would find Cody Baker battle against front-row companion Kory Schudy into the first pair of corners with Schudy taking the early lead as Cody Baker pulled off with mechanical issues on the opening lap with Jack Wagner, Xavier Doney, Wesley Smith, and Chad Tye running inside the top-five while attempting to run down the speedy leader.

Battling intently for several laps, Kory Schudy and Jack Wagner would contend for the top spot for most of the feature event with Wagner gaining the edge in a daring chose-cone restart. With Schudy choosing low, Jack Wagner would start on the high side only to dive low and slide the leading Schudy into the first pair of corners. Taking the top spot and never relinquishing the preferred position, Jack Wagner would hold on through all challenges.

“I can’t thank my family, team, and everyone else that makes this all possible to put this Jesse Hockett Racing #77 back into victory lane,” said a very elated Jack Wagner in the Valley Speedway victory lane. Adding, “From earlier in the season with all those podiums and the long time since I was able to last pick up a POWRi win, it just makes this so much sweeter.”

Leading sixteen laps of feature competition Jack Wagner would pick up his first feature victory of the season as Wesley Smith would use lap traffic to his advantage to place a close runner-up as early leader of nine laps of the feature would find the always present Kory Schudy finishing third.

Maintaining a solid showing all night, Wyatt Burks would hard-charge his way past ten other drivers to finish fourth as Xavier Doney rounded out the top-five finishers in the POWRi Wingless Auto Racing Sprint League feature event at Valley Speedway for the Second Annual Bill Lawson Memorial.

POWRi WAR Sprint League | Central Missouri Speedway | 6/17/23:
Hoosier Racing Tire Hot Lap Quick Time: 74-Xavier Doney(13.663)
Advanced Racing Suspension Heat Race 1 Winner: 2H-Luke Howard
Auto Meter Heat Race 2 Winner: 28-Kory Schudy
Schure Built Suspensions Heat Race 3 Winner: 44-Wesley Smith
MVT Services High Point Qualifier: 9-Cody Baker
Super Clean Hard Charger: 11W-Wyatt Burks(+10)
Toyota Racing Development Feature Winner: 77-Jack Wagner

A Feature 1 (25 Laps): 1. 77-Jack Wagner[3]; 2. 44-Wesley Smith[6]; 3. 28-Kory Schudy[2]; 4. 11W-Wyatt Burks[14]; 5. 74-Xavier Doney[4]; 6. 73-Samuel Wagner[13]; 7. 2H-Luke Howard[5]; 8. 24C-Craig Carroll[15]; 9. 2L-Brian Beebe[11]; 10. 26-Zachary Clark[12]; 11. 41-Brad Wyatt[10]; 12. 24H-Ty Hulsey[9]; 13. 21M-Michael Moore[19]; 14. 88-Chad Tye[8]; 15. 45-Jesse Bebee[21]; 16. (DNF) 11X-Tom Curran[16]; 17. (DNF) 15E-Dakota Earls[20]; 18. (DNF) 74N-Natalie Doney[18]; 19. (DNF) 9-Cody Baker[1]; 20. (DNF) 87-Jason Billups[7]; 21. (DNF) 52-Blake Bowers[17]; 22. (DNS) 82-Vinny Ward.

Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 2H-Luke Howard[1]; 2. 74-Xavier Doney[4]; 3. 41-Brad Wyatt[2]; 4. 88-Chad Tye[6]; 5. 11W-Wyatt Burks[5]; 6. 73-Samuel Wagner[8]; 7. 74N-Natalie Doney[7]; 8. 82-Vinny Ward[3].

Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 28-Kory Schudy[3]; 2. 9-Cody Baker[6]; 3. 77-Jack Wagner[7]; 4. 26-Zachary Clark[4]; 5. 52-Blake Bowers[2]; 6. 21M-Michael Moore[1]; 7. 45-Jesse Bebee[5].

Heat 3 (8 Laps): 1. 44-Wesley Smith[1]; 2. 87-Jason Billups[2]; 3. 24H-Ty Hulsey[3]; 4. 2L-Brian Beebe[5]; 5. 24C-Craig Carroll[4]; 6. 11X-Tom Curran[7]; 7. 15E-Dakota Earls[6].

Next up for the POWRi Wingless Auto Racing Sprint League will be a return trip to Central Missouri Speedway on Saturday, July 29th.

For additional information on Start2Finish or to sign up for a subscription and catch all the excitement LIVE & ON-DEMAND, visit http://www.s2ftv.com.

Follow along for more information such as race recaps, updates, full results, and press releases online at www.powri.com, on Twitter & Instagram at @POWRi_Racing, or on Facebook at POWRi.

B MODIFIEDS
A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 73T-Truman Asher[2]; 2. 27-Jarret Beach[1]; 3. 37-Daniel Charles[3]; 4. 2-Brayden Bohn[5]; 5. 53-Charlie Laizure[4]; 6. (DNF) 20-Tyler Cochran[6]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 73T-Truman Asher[1]; 2. 27-Jarret Beach[4]; 3. 37-Daniel Charles[3]; 4. 53-Charlie Laizure[5]; 5. 2-Brayden Bohn[2]; 6. (DNS) 20-Tyler Cochran

MOD LITES
A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 46-Dillon Raffurty[10]; 2. 98-Jeff Raffurty[6]; 3. 03-James Beebe[5]; 4. 41-Michael Raffurty[9]; 5. 4K-Garrett Stonum[8]; 6. 3-Nathan Wolfe[4]; 7. 00-Jared Corn[2]; 8. (DNF) 75-Justin Raffurty[7]; 9. (DNF) 34-Tyler Furrell[3]; 10. (DNF) 84-Joe Gunn[1]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 75-Justin Raffurty[4]; 2. 03-James Beebe[3]; 3. 41-Michael Raffurty[5]; 4. 34-Tyler Furrell[2]; 5. 84-Joe Gunn[1]
Heat 2 (8 Laps): 1. 46-Dillon Raffurty[5]; 2. 4K-Garrett Stonum[4]; 3. 98-Jeff Raffurty[3]; 4. 3-Nathan Wolfe[2]; 5. 00-Jared Corn[1]

VALLEY E MODS.
A Feature 1 (20 Laps): 1. 32-Mike Richardson[1]; 2. 33-Jeremy Curless[3]; 3. 14P-Adam Paul[6]; 4. S21-STEVE TIEDEMAN[4]; 5. 42X-Levi Cox[7]; 6. 243-Brayden Abrams[5]; 7. (DNF) 75-Rayce Martin[2]
Heat 1 (8 Laps): 1. 32-Mike Richardson[2]; 2. 75-Rayce Martin[3]; 3. 33-Jeremy Curless[4]; 4. 243-Brayden Abrams[1]; 5. S21-STEVE TIEDEMAN[6]; 6. 14P-Adam Paul[5]; 7. 42X-Levi Cox[7]
​
DIRT DEMONS
A Feature 1 (15 Laps): 1. 13JR-Nick Dangerfield[1]; 2. 15-Roman Stump[3]; 3. 32T-Taylor Harp[4]; 4. (DNF) 26-Jeff Stump[2]
Heat 1 (6 Laps): 1. 13JR-Nick Dangerfield[2]; 2. 26-Jeff Stump[1]; 3. 15-Roman Stump[3]; 4. 32T-Taylor Harp[4]

​The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of July 12-18, 2023.
 
July 12, 2023
1600 Blk NW Hedgewood Dr
Suspicious person

1300 Blk Cherry
Arrest

1300 Blk SW Eagles Pkwy
Suspicious person

1200 Blk NW Phelps
Harassment

1200 Blk SW Cross Creek
Stealing

NW Valley Ridge Cir
Disturbance

700 Blk Main St
Curfew violation

1900 Blk NW Hackberry Ct
Extra patrol requested

1400 Blk Blue Branch
Alarm

 
July 13, 2023
PHQ
Citizen contact

600 Blk Willow
Property damage

1100 Blk NW Buckner Tarsney Rd
Suspicious person

PHQ
Citizen contact

PHQ
Stealing report

NE James Rollo/Main St
Indecent exposure

PHQ
Stealing report

200 Blk Eagles
Citizen contact

700 Blk SW Greem Dr
VIN Check

 
July 14, 2023
PHQ
Citizen contact

400 Blk NW Jefferson
Stolen vehicle

500 Blk SW Graystone
Citizen contact

500 Blk NE James Rollo Ct
Area check

700 Blk N Main St
Trespassing

1800 Blk Tyler Ct
Area check

33000 Blk Pink Hill Rd
Agency assist

Duncan/E of Buckner-Tarsney Rd
Down tree

1100 Blk S Buckner-Tarsney Rd
Trespassing

1300 Blk NW Eagles Pkwy
Motor vehicle accident

 
July 15, 2023
1900 Blk SW Eagles Pkwy
Motor vehicle accident

PHQ
Citizen contact

700 Blk NE Greystone Blvd
Residence check

100 Blk S Buckner-Tarsney Rd
Suspicious person

200 Blk NW Concord Cir
Welfare check

800 Blk SW Harvest
Stolen phone

700 Blk Main St
Welfare check

1600 Blk NW High View Dr
Standby

NW Long Dr/NW Meadow
Extra patrol request

PHQ
Citizen contact

PHQ
Citizen contact

EB I-70/24 MM
Agency assist

1300 Blk NW Sycamore
Suspicious vehicle

W Ryan Rd/SW Cross Creek
Noise complaint

900 Blk NW Scenic
Verbal disturbance

1300 Blk NW Sycamore
Suspicious person

EE Kirby Rd/Willow Dr
Railroad gate down

 
July 16, 2023
EE Kirby Rd/Willow Dr
Railroad gate malfunction

900 Blk NE Lindenwood Dr
Citizen contact

100 Blk SW Nelson
Disturbance

1200 Blk SW Eagles Pkwy
Disturbance

PHQ
Citizen contact

PHQ
Citizen contact

1400 Blk SW Eagles Pkwy
Suspicious person

BB/Milestone
Area check

BB/McQuerry
Area check

1100 Blk NW Jefferson
Alarm

Jackie Ave/Willow Dr
Area check

1400 Blk SW Blue Branch Dr
Disturbance

800 Blk SW Highland Ave
Suspicious vehicle

Jefferson Blvd/Pamela Dr
Disturbance

1100 Blk NW Golfview Dr
Disturbance

Armstrong Park
Disturbance

 
July 17, 2023
W Ryan Rd/SW Cross Creek
Animal control

1100 Blk Buckner-Tarsney Rd
Abandoned auto

PHQ
Citizen contact

1200 Blk NW Long Dr
Welfare check

500 Blk W Ryan Rd
Welfare check

2100 Blk NW Rosewood Dr
Citizen contact

Main St/3rd
Leaving the scene

500 Blk W Ryan Rd
Missing juvenile

700 Blk Main St
Standby

1100 Blk NW Golfview
Suspicious person

100 Blk NE McQuerry
Agency assist

700 Blk Main St
Stealing

 
July 18, 2023
200 Blk SW Cross Creek
Standby

1100 Blk Buckner-Tarsney Rd
Abandoned auto

800 Blk Harvest
Standby

100 Blk E Old 40 Hwy
Trespassing

1100 Blk Ephraim
Citizen contact

400 Blk SW Rock Creek
Fraud

300 Blk SW Rock Creek
Agency assist

 
Additional calls for service:
 Suicidal subject: 2
Order of protection: 1
 

by Michael Smith

The running game was prominent for the Grain Valley football team in 2022.

The Eagles totaled 2,845 rushing yards as a team, averaging a whopping 237 yards per game. Because of their rushing attack, they finished the season with a healthy 9-3 record and made the Class 5 state quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive year.

Leaning heavily on the ground game is something that is common among Missouri high school teams, but it was especially true for Grain Valley. It kept the ball on the ground for 75.5 percent of their plays a year ago and was an effective strategy.

There is a possibility that percentage could trend downward as the Eagles could end up passing the ball more in the upcoming 2023 season and that has the wide receivers salivating at the possible opportunity for more touches.

“I’ve been dreaming about it,” Grain Valley senior Anthony Greco said of getting more targets. “I am excited.”

Recent graduate Caleb Larson, who was the starting signal caller for Grain Valley in 2021 and 2022, was more of a running quarterback as he rushed for over a 1,000 yards a season ago, which was just one reason the team leaned heavily on the run before.

Senior Sal Calderella, who transferred to Grain Valley from Blue Springs, is a reason the passing game could be utilized more. He describes himself as more of a passer than a runner and he brings two years of varsity experience as he started two seasons for the Wildcats.

It could help Caldarella’s cause that he has familiarity with one of Grain Valley’s returning receivers, senior Noah Olah. The two played together at Blue Springs in 2021 before Olah transferred in 2022.

“We all came from the same school so we’ve known Sal for a minute,” Olah said. “We have great chemistry; it’s been there for a couple of years. We have played together since Pop Warner. Me and him have always had that good connection. We plan to have a big season.”

Added Greco: “There is a big difference between (Larson and Caderella because they are two different quarterbacks. Sal can throw it and he can get it to me a lot and more efficiently. That’s no shade to what we had previously, Sal is just a different type of guy.”

Olah is one of two returners at the position for the Eagles. In 2022, he caught 12 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns. The senior is a speedy receiver who can stretch the field and that also allows him to be successful on short and intermediate routes as opponents have to respect his ability to get behind a defense.

“Defense have to worry about his speed and that opens him up for short and break routes,” Grain Valley head coach David Allie said of Olah. “Sometimes defense commits a safety over the top to double team him which can open up a tight end underneath. Speed is his main game but he also has great hands.

Greco is the other returning wide receiver that brings experience to the core. He’s started the last two seasons for the tea m and last season he had at least one catch in every game but one and caught 24 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns.

While Greco has speed to beat defense deep, he’s been most effective as a possession receiver. He’s thrived on short and intermediate routes and was a dependable option for Larson the past two seasons.

“He’s had some of the best catches in the history of our program,” Allie said of Greco. “He had that one catch against Belton where he caught a pass against his helmet. He fits really well in the (run-pass option) game. That’s where the quarterback has the option to run with it or pass it. And if the quarterback throws it, Anthony will catch it.”

Senior Aaron Barr is someone who brings a little varsity experience to the Eagles, as well. Last season, he was the team’s fourth receiver and saw some playing time.

“I am excited to be able to get out there and show what I can do,” Barr said. “Sal is a good quarterback, so it should be fun. Our chemistry is getting there.”

He’s a similar receiver to Greco as he’s a possession receiver who can catch passes effectively on short and medium routes.

“He’s got a long body and he’s got a good reach,” Allie said. “He can go up and get some higher passes. He’s got soft hands.”

Allie said his receivers are not only have the talent to catch passes but they are important in the running game as blockers, too.

“The kids know when we run the football, it’s also important to block,” Allie said. “When teams try to run zone on us and get the defensive backs involved in stopping the run, those guys do a good job of getting their hands on those guys and moving their feet. They work hard in the weight room and are physically pretty strong. I’d match them up against any defensive backs that we see.

Aside from Barr, Greco and Olah, Allie said there are others who are fighting for a role at wide receiver. Returning tight ends Eli Monrian and Peyton Woodrome are also expected to contribute to the passing game.  

Both started for the Eagles last season and are effect as pass catchers and blockers. Monrian caught nine balls for 123 yards in 2022. Woodrome served more as a blocking tight end last season as he had one catch for eight yards.

“We like to keep two tight ends in the game because it’s pretty tough for a defense to line up against,” Allie said. “We can also flex them out and they can play the wide receiver position. They are both big bodies.

“Peyton was actually a converted wide receiver. We needed another tight end and he volunteered. He ended up playing really well for us. Eli has started the last two seasons for us so his experience is valuable. Those two guys are versatile and are important to our offense.”

With multiple pass catchers returning for the Eagles, there is a chance of the passing game being a much bigger part of the team’s success on offense. When asked about their personal goals, the receivers said they didn’t have any, but they did have one team goal in mind.

“We want a ring,” Olah said of wanting to win a state championship. 

by Cole Arndorfer

​The Board of Aldermen met briefly for their regularly scheduled meeting on July 10th, approving three resolutions and one ordinance.
 
Under resolutions, the board unanimously approved a resolution to appoint Latisha Robinson to the Grain Valley Parks and Recreation board for a three-year term.
 
The Board also approved a resolution to authorize the City Administrator to reach an agreement with Quality Custom Construction to build a new sidewalk on Ryan Road that would connect SW Cross Creek Drive to the entrance of South Middle School.
 
While discussing the resolution, Alderman Dale Arnold raised a question concerning the high traffic on Ryan Road and children crossing the road to get to the entrance of the school. Addressing this concern, it was noted the board had previously allocated funds to put in a pedestrian light at the crossing in order to cut down on the danger of crossing that road, as well as the crossing guard the school has at the crosswalk.
 
The Board also approved a resolution to reach an agreement with Valbridge Property Advisors to give the city an appraisal for acquiring easements needs for the Buckner-Tarsney Trail project.
 
Under ordinances, the Board approved the second reading of a bill to approve the final development plan and final plat for Creekside Village fourth plat.
 
In staff reports, Parks & Recreation Director Shannon Davies, said that the department will be holding a public open house event on Thursday, July 13 from 4-7 pm at the Grain Valley Community Center. The event will allow citizens to view plans developed as a part of the City’s comprehensive plan as well as the drafting of the new parks master plan.
 
Mayor Mike Todd brought up the issue of solicitors, noting the city requires solicitors to have a license and they receive the no soliciting list.  However, Todd stated many appear to ignore the list as well as no soliciting signs on doors. Chief Ed Turner answered Todd’s concerns stating that the best thing residents can do if they are dealing with issues from solicitors would be to make a report to the police department.
 
Todd also expressed his desire to put together information for residents that may have concerns over the license plate readers being installed on police vehicles. Todd asked Turner to address some of the privacy concerns about the plate readers. Turner said that the readers will only alert officers if the license plate was tied to specific incidents, such as AMBER Alerts, Silver Alerts, violent crimes, and other incidents of that nature. By law, the information collected would be stored for 30 days and anything retained past that period would relate to special circumstances.
 
The next Board of Aldermen meeting will be held at 7:00pm on July 24 at City Hall. 

by Michael Smith
 

​Rylan Childers is a name that is etched in the history of the Grain Valley girls soccer program.
 
With the Eagles, she broke the school record for goals in a season with 63 during her senior season in which she was Co-Offensive Player of the Year in Class 3, and she holds the Missouri state record for assists in a career with 119. Her 194 career goals were also fifth best in state history and her 504 points is ranked second all time.
 
After playing two seasons with the University of Missouri-Kansas City and three more with the
University of Kansas, a dream came true for the former Eagle.
 
Childers, a midfielder, was a fourth-round draft choice (42nd overall) of the Kansas City Current of the NWSL and was signed through the 2023 season.
 
Being a professional soccer player wasn’t on her radar when she first joined UMKC as a college freshman. It wasn’t until her senior season at KU where she saw it as a possibility.
 
“Once I was getting to the end of my college career, I thought, ‘Well, I really love this sport.’ I feel like God opened the door for me to play for the Current and I thought it would be exciting to see what this would look like in the next chapter of my life.”
 
With the Kangaroos, she set school records with 11 goals and 14 assists as a freshman as she was named the West Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year. As a sophomore, she scored 10 goals and had 10 assists as she was named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year.
 
She then transferred to KU and started all 52 games and totaled 14 goals and 11 assists. In her third season as a Jayhawk, she notched seven goals and a team-high six assists.
 
The resume she built in college was strong enough to pave a path to becoming a pro.
 
“I think I had two different experiences at the two universities that I was at,” Childers said. “I had a lot of experienced players around me at UMKC and I got a lot of exposure playing at a high level.
 
“Then I went to Kansas to play against more difficult competition and grow more as a player. If you look at the results, we didn’t have the most winning seasons but I was able to grow as a leader on the team. I was challenged in different ways.”
 
While playing in college, Childers said she had to get used to the increased speed of play and the increased strength of the players she went against.
 
“The speed of play got even quicker when I went from UMKC to Kansas,” Childers said. “When I got the ball, I had to know where I was going with it quickly. Throughout my time in Kansas, I eventually got more comfortable.”
 
Now that she has taken the next step in her career, the difficulty is turned up even more. Right now, Childers is coming off the bench for the Current and has played 16 minutes and has appeared in four games.
 
According to the NWSL website, Childers has a 100 percent success rate on tackles and an 86.4 percent success rate with her passes. She has not yet had a shot attempt.
 
“You have to know where you’re going with the ball at all times,” Childers said of playing in the NWSL. “You have to learn how to hit long balls under pressure.”
 
Childers also has had to adjust to playing in front of significantly larger crowd than what she saw in college and high school. There have been games in which the Current have had more than 10,00 fans attend.
 
“I think my role on the team right now is to be an encourager and a supporter. I am not playing a ton, so getting to be in that environment is really cool. Getting the city to rally around the team has been really cool to be a part of.”
  

While I often refer to the Bank of Grain Valley, established in 1905, as the oldest continual business in downtown, it was not the only bank in Grain Valley. The Sni-A-Bar Banking Company existed for just over ten years.

The bank was owned by William Hall and David Herrington. While I am still waiting for the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds to re-open the historical records division, I believe the bank was built around 1913-1915. It was located on the west side of Main Street on Lot 5 of the Graves & Ashcroft Addition.

From my research, I believe that Williams was mainly an investor in the bank and Herrington was more involved in the day-to-day operation. The bank closed in 1926.  While I have read many stories about the bank, I am unsure as to why it closed. While I believe it was in financial stress due to bad loans that were made, leading up to the Great Depression, I also know that David Herrington (my great, great uncle) died in 1926. I have found some legal documents dealing with lawsuits against the bank for default on bonds extended to the Grain Valley Schools after the 1925 fire.

Regardless of the cause, this beautiful bank closed.  The one-time stately structure was allowed to deteriorate and was finally raised in the early 1970s. When I was growing up it was sometimes occupied by apartments on the upper floor.

Many old-timers will remember Claude Batman’s barber shop located upstairs on the right. When Mr. Batman wasn’t cutting hair, he could be found up front at his easel benefiting from the light shining in the large window. (One of his oil paintings hangs in the Historical Society Building.) On the left side of the building steps lead downstairs. There was a beauty shop there during the 1950s.

Can you only imagine the impact this beautiful building would bring to Main Street if it were still here today!

by Cathy Bylinowski, M.S. Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension

“Because they are difficult and expensive to replace, your trees need attention during and after periods of drought,” says University of Missouri Extension State Forestry Specialist Hank Stelzer. “Most of a tree’s active roots are within the top few inches of soil and can extend well beyond the edge of the tree’s canopy,” Stelzer says. Not only are they competing for water during drought, but high air temperatures can actually bake the soil and severely damage or kill fragile, fine roots critical for water and nutrient uptake.

“Perhaps most life-threatening to a tree suffering drought is invasion by borers and disease organisms as the tree is recuperating and still in a weakened state,” he says. Oaks are more susceptible to oak wilt, hypoxylon canker, and hardwood borers. Pines are more likely to become infested by pine bark beetles during drought.

Some common symptoms of drought-stressed trees include wilted foliage, leaf scorch, leaf drop, and premature fall coloration. Closer inspection may reveal poorly formed buds. Proper watering is critical. “Slow, deep watering every five to seven days during drought is ideal for mature trees here in the Midwest,” Stelzer says. “When temperatures climb above 95 degrees Fahrenheit, water every four to six days.”

A good way to water is to put a sprinkler beneath the tree canopy. Place an empty, shallow can close by and run the sprinkler slowly until 2 inches of water has collected in the can. Be sure to water the entire root zone beneath the tree canopy. The best time to water is in the morning. “If turf is underneath the canopy of the tree, more water will be needed because the turf will absorb much of the water that is applied to the surface,” he says. The goal is to get the water through the turf roots and down to the tree roots. Removing the turf around the base of tree and replacing it with mulch can help eliminate competition for water between the turf and the tree.

“For young or newly planted trees, slow, deep watering every two to three days is a good gauge,” Stelzer says. “There are also a number of soaker products available to keep newly planted trees from drying out.” Soil moisture check. “When watering any tree, remember that soil type and method of water delivery have a big impact on how successful the general recommendations might be,” he says. Trees planted on a slope may need some type of soaker hose or drip emitter, as water can run off. Sandy soils need shorter watering intervals, and clay soils should have longer intervals. Clay soils are hard to wet, and water will not infiltrate but puddle if applied too quickly. “The puddling of water may make one think sufficient water has been applied, but often only the top inch may be wet.”

“The depth to which water has infiltrated the soil must be checked by hand,” Stelzer says. “It is always advisable to physically check soil moisture by hand to a 1-foot depth instead of using watering intervals or relying upon automatic timers.”

Proper tree care during drought includes watering, mulching and pest management. Applying organic mulch such as wood chips to a depth of 2 inches will help the soil retain moisture. But if the soil does not have any moisture, mulch will have little effect as there is no water to retain. Inorganic mulch like rocks or crushed granite might help the soil retain moisture but may not be as effective as organic mulch, and it can add to the heat stress as temperatures climb above 90 degrees.

“Routine pruning is not recommended during severe drought,” Stelzer says. Pruning can cause tree stress, which can make the trees even more prone to borer attack. Late-season fertilization is not recommended. Fast-release fertilizers like urea will utilize water first and make the effects of drought more severe. Slow-release fertilizers can encourage new growth when the drought breaks and make it susceptible to an early frost. Planting or transplanting trees is not recommended during drought conditions.
​
Missouri drought map-
https:// droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MO
 

It’s finally summer, which means many families are hitting the road. Whether you’re taking a day trip to the beach, heading out on a long road trip, or joining Hy-Vee at the INDYCAR Race Weekend in Newton, Iowa, it’s important to fuel your adventure with nutrient-dense foods. Here are Hy-Vee dietitians’ top three tips for packing a variety of snacks and drinks to help make travel a breeze.

1. Keep MyPlate in mind.
The MyPlate method of meal planning is a great way to make sure you’re getting foods from all five food groups – protein, dairy, grains, fruits and vegetables. This provides the balance of nutrients your body needs. A general rule for meal planning is to include three to five different food groups for meals and one to three different food groups for snacks. Utilize this tool when selecting foods to pack for your trip.

A great choice for protein on the road is peanuts and peanut butter. Peanuts contain 7 grams of protein per serving and are a good source of fiber and good fats. Use peanuts to create your own trail mix that features several food groups. Combine peanuts, dried fruit and cereal or popcorn for a quick snack that includes protein, fruit and grains. Energy balls, like the ones featured below, are also great for traveling. They combine protein and carbohydrates to fuel your day.

2. Pack a Variety of Cold and Shelf-Stable Snacks
Include a mix of foods that need to be refrigerated with shelf-stable ones to save cooler space. Fill up a cooler with things like raw vegetables, hummus, guacamole, cut-up fruit, string cheese and Greek yogurt. Complement those items with shelf-stable things like whole-grain crackers, applesauce, bananas, peanut butter sandwiches, nuts and popcorn. To maximize cooler space, freeze water bottles and drink them when they melt.

3. Don’t Forget the Drinks
Speaking of water, make sure to include a variety of drinks to keep everyone hydrated. Besides water, another great option is Remedy Kombucha. Kombucha is known for containing probiotics, or live cultures, which promote digestive health. Remedy Kombucha is also a great choice because it doesn’t contain sugar. And because it can be stored in or out of the fridge, it’s perfect for travel.

Need more ideas for fueling your summer? Consider working with a Hy-Vee dietitian. Our new Healthy You Subscription is a monthly subscription program where you will have access to a Hy-Vee dietitian, including two 30-minute consultations per month, as well as access to virtual Hy-Vee classes such as freezer meal workshops and Short & Sweat fitness videos, plus free registration in Healthy You Challenges and much more! Ready to start your health and wellness engine? Reach out to a Hy-Vee dietitian today.
 
Make a batch of these nutrient-packed energy balls for your next road trip.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Energy Balls
Serves 25
​
All you need:
1½ cups Hy-Vee quick oats 
1½ cups Hy-Vee creamy peanut butter
½ cup Performance Inspired whey vanilla bean protein powder
½ cup Hy-Vee semisweet chocolate baking chips
¼ cup Hy-Vee honey
Pinch of salt
 
All you do:

1. Combine oats, peanut butter, protein powder, chocolate chips, honey and salt in a medium bowl. Use a tablespoon measure to scoop dough; roll into balls. Store, covered, at room temperature for 3 days or refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

 
Recipe source: https://www.hy-vee.com/recipes-ideas/recipes/peanut-butter-and-chocolate-chip-energy-balls
 
This information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.

Threads is a new app from Meta, which is touted as the 'Twitter Killer'. The app looks a lot like Twitter, with a feed of largely text-based posts, but like Twitter, you can also post photos and videos as long as five minutes. Content posted to Threads has a 500-character limit and like Twitter, users can reply to, repost, and quote others’ Threads posts. Also, the app offers the ability to share posts from Threads directly to Instagram Stories. Here's what you need to know:

What's the difference between Twitter and Threads? 
There are many differences between Twitter and Threads even though the interface looks the same. With Twitter, you're expected to share your thoughts and feelings as well as keep up with current events. Threads is more geared for social networking.

On both platforms, you can share pictures, videos, and website links. You're limited to 280 characters on Twitter while Threads allows you to post 500 characters per post. There is direct messaging on Twitter, but none on Threads. Twitter has a strong hashtag presence but there isn't one on Threads. Also, Twitter is an independent app whereas Threads is tightly integrated into Instagram. Finally, you can use Twitter from a desktop computer and app while Threads is only available via an app.

How to get started with Threads. 
You're probably thinking "Oh no, not another social media app" but if you're a solo, small, or even large business, you might want to reconsider and embrace this new social media app. It's estimated that the Threads user count cruised past 30 million in under 24 hours. To get the app, just visit the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and download it to your device.

Once you've downloaded the app, you be asked to set up an account. The great thing about Threads is you can import your account information from Instagram and even follow the same people you follow on Instagram. Posting content is simple as Threads layout is pretty similar to an Instagram Feed and you can share pretty much the same content to Threads as you would to Instagram.

Why do you want to jump on another social media platform?
As of this writing, the Threads algorithm hasn't quite kicked in so you will see more content and fewer ads at this stage of the game. Also, if your company uses digital marketing, you should always have several social media accounts you post content to in the event that something happens to one or more of your accounts. With criminals targeting social media accounts, it's likely one of your accounts can fall into the hands of cybercriminals. Also, current algorithms can mistake innocent content you post as something malicious or offensive and you can wind up in social media jail or suffer a lifetime ban.

What about fake accounts? 
Do I need to worry about those? As with any social media account, you're bound to get criminals who set up shop at some point, but as of this writing, there aren't any fake accounts on the platform. If a criminal had an Instgram account they stole, it's possible they could transfer that account to Threads, so beware.

Is it safe? Is Threads looking at my data?
Don't be fooled into thinking this is a freebie from Meta as there are still privacy issues with Meta. The goal with Threads is to compete with Twitter, but the ultimate goal is for the tech giant Meta to pull even more users into its universe and to lure many who left Facebook back. Just like most social media apps, Threads is able to collect a wide range of personal information, including health, financial, contacts, browsing and search history, location data, purchases, and “sensitive info”. Just check out those terms of service. As with any social media account. Use strong passwords or passphrases to keep those accounts secure.

If you have a little free time this week, why not add another app to your smartphone or tablet? For the time being, you can experience an add free fun social media platform and perhaps connect with some friends you haven't seen in a while. Let me know your thoughts about Threads.

Hopefully, this post has given you the information you need to know about Meta's new app Threads. If you need further assistance, please reach out to me with any questions you might have. I am always happy to help!

Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to [email protected]. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone.