The 2025 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01am on Friday, August 1, and runs through Sunday, August 3.

By state law, the sales tax holiday begins on the first Friday in August and continues through the following Sunday. Certain back-to-school purchases, such as clothing, school supplies, computers, and other items as defined by the statute, are exempt from sales tax for this time period only.

The 2025 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday exempts all state and local sales or use tax taxes during the exemption period on qualifying items. 
​The sales tax exemption is limited to:

• Clothing – any article having a taxable value of $100 or less
• School supplies – not to exceed $50 per purchase
• Computer software – taxable value of $350 or less
• Personal computers – not to exceed $1,500
• Computer peripheral devices – not to exceed $1,500
• Graphing calculators - not to exceed $150

​

The Grain Valley Marching Eagles will once again host a car wash fundraiser at two convenient locations this Saturday, August 2nd. The car wash will be held from 9:00am - 3:00pm at Milestone Academy, 1401 S Buckner Tarsney Rd., and the D&T Car Wash at 1320 SW Eagles Parkway. 

​Donations will be accepted to support the Grain Valley Marching Eagles program.

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
As much as the dreaded train which blocks the track and causes delays is our modern-day curse, without the train there would be no Grain Valley. Imagine buying you groceries at Pink Hill or getting your mail at Stony Point.

As noted previously in this column, 150 years ago there was NO GRAIN VALLEY. The people living in this area were at Pink Hill, Stony Point, Lickskillet (Oak Grove), Lone Jack, Tarsney, well you get the picture. Prior to 1878, they moved about the countryside via horseback or wagons. Some may have relied on mules and oxen, or walking.

As the Historical Society prepares to welcome The Smithsonian Exhibit, Voices and Votes, we are preparing our local exhibits.  This portion of the exhibit is designed to show how local decisions influenced our town and our place in American democracy. Over the next few weeks this column will highlight the effects of transportation on our town.

The C & A railroad began in Illinois in 1847 and gradually expanded, reaching Springfield and Joliet by the early 1850s. ​​​​This railroad went through a series of name changes in its early years, becoming the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad in February 1855, the St. Louis, Alton & Chicago Railroad on January 21st, 1857 and the Chicago & Alton Railroad on October 10th, 1862.

The C&A completed its line to Kansas City in 1879, including a bridge over the Missouri River at Glasgow and a bridge over the Mississippi River at Louisiana, Missouri. This connection formed the famous "Triangle" route, linking Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City. 

The railroad established depots in several Missouri towns, including Blue Springs and Grain Valley. The Independence C&A Depot, built in 1879, is notable as one of the oldest and only restored two-story frame stations in Missouri. 

The Chicago & Alton Railroad in Missouri arrival spurred growth in towns like Grain Valley, contributing to the development of industry, transportation, and livestock markets. Situated only a few hundred yards west of Sni Creek, Grain Valley was a stop so they could take on water for the  mighty steam engines which pulled the trains. Later Grain Valley was a stop for passenger trains bring visitors from across the nation and several foreign countries to Sni-A-Bar Farms. Freight trains hauled the Sni-A-Bar grade cattle and other livestock to the market in Kansas City.

The Chicago & Alton underwent several reorganizations and name changes, eventually becoming the Alton Railroad in 1931 and later merging into the Gulf Mobile & Ohio Railroad in 1947.  Today, portions of the former Chicago & Alton tracks are used by Amtrak and other rail operators. 
​

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
 
During the summer, the Grain Valley girls volleyball team builds up for the regular season.

In 2025, the Eagles hosted their summer camp in late May and have played in summer league games and have had open gym and weightlifting sessions in June and July to work on their skills and conditioning before the season starts in late August.

However, there is usually a two-week period where the high school gym is shut down for maintenance and head coach Tori Squiers must find other places for her players to practices.

Two years ago, she came up with the idea for the team to practice at the sand volleyball courts at Wilbur Young Park to give her players a change of pace and a chance to have fun. It’s something the Eagles do at least once every summer.

Earlier this month, forty Eagles practiced on the sand courts and worked on passing the ball, jumping and changing directions in the sand, and played in 4 vs. 4 and 6 vs. 6 scrimmages.

“We like to get them out here to get a workout in and have some fun,” Squiers said. “It’s something to mix it up a little bit.”

Junior Amayah Richberg noted that there are benefits to training in the sand.

“I am glad we are getting to do it again,” Richberg said. “It helps you transition from going into the sand to being on the court. It helps me become a faster player.”

Added Squiers: “We are working on a lot of vertical stuff and lots of jumping. It’s hard to move in the sand, so we try to do a lot of sprints and changing directions. We also work on ball control, it’s hard to move.
Communication is still important. We also work on diving because it’s not as scary on soft sand.

“It keeps it fun and lighthearted.”

The workouts during the summer in general helps build chemistry between the incoming freshman and the returning varsity and junior varsity players. This season, the Eagles have around 25 freshmen who have participated in workouts this offseason.

Players like Richberg and senior Kayleigh Casey serve as mentors for the incoming freshman and show them what it’s like playing volleyball at the high school level.

“I think a lot of girls have come out this year,” Casey said. “It allows the younger players to be more involved since we have been here longer. We can show them what our drills are.

“We just start on the basics and build on them. We are trying to figure out who is going to be where. Just having a different environment to train in.”

Added Richberg: “We show them how to be leaders on the court and how to be loud and show them what it’s like to be a part of the program.”

The summer workouts give the experienced varsity players to improve their skills, as well.

“Every player at every level has improvements to make no matter if it’s small or big,” Squiers said. “We are trying to push every single person to reach their potential. We always talk about how every rep counts. Any time you can touch a volleyball, you don’t want to be sloppy.”

So far, through the summer Squiers has liked what she has seen.

​“We have had great numbers,” Squiers said. “I am excited for the season. The commitment has gone up, there are more showing up every day.”

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News

Grain Valley junior Madison Rust is extremely active.

She has been a standout in four different sports for the high school including flag football, track and field, basketball and softball.

And she doesn’t stop there. Even during the summer, she plays with her club team -- Select Fastpitch National Adams 16-and-under. This year, she has traveled all over the United States playing for her team and attending college camps to work on her skills.

“It’s a lot of travel and I am always on the go,” Rust said. “When I wasn’t at home, I squeezed in some camps, too. I have been keeping busy.”

Her club team has played tournaments in Indiana, California, Illinois and Colorado. This week, the Select Fastpitch 16U Adams team traveled to Huntington Beach, California and finished the Premier Girls Fastpitch National Championships tournament with a 3-2 record.

In late June and early July, Rust’s team competed in a tournament in Colorado and Rust shined as she had a .480 batting average and a .552 on-base percentage.

She carried over her success from her elite-level 2024 high school season in which she hit .494, has a ridiculous 1.378 on-base-plus slugging percentage, five doubles, four triples, three homeruns, 24 runs batted in and 10 stolen bases. She also didn’t commit a single error in center field.

She helped lead the Eagles to a program-best 33-3 record.

“My past high school season, I hit pretty well,” Rust said. “I was coming off an injury, so I am proud of how I did. I am not hitting as well as I did in high school batting average wise. I think my swing is still good. I am ready for high school ball. Hopefully I hit as well as I have the past two seasons.”

When playing for her club team, she said she was playing in front of at least five college coaches every game and at the Premier Girls Fastpitch National Championships, there was a large group of college coaches watching behind home plate.

“Summer ball is a good time to showcase your skills to college coaches,” Rust said.

She also attended camps for a handful of Division I programs, including the University of Missouri, University of Arkansas, Louisiana State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Oklahoma University and the University of Texas.

At those camps, Rust had hitting sessions in which the coaches measured the exit velocity of the bat, and she also participated in field drills where she would catch fly balls in the outfield and they would record her velocity on throws to the infield. She also was timed on shuttle runs and agility drills.

“Everyone doing this wants to potentially play in college,” Rust said. “Getting to put yourself on the radar. Maybe that coach will come to your games and watch. You can get an idea on what sort of fundamentals those coaches want so you can work on those. I got two more years to put their style of game into my game. I want to play a more college style of softball.”

Rust said she can officially start talking to college coaches on Sept. 1 and she still has two more years to showcase her skills. But now that her season is over with her club team, she is turning her focus to the high school team at Grain Valley.

​“I want to keep my batting average at .400 or above,” Rust said. “I didn’t make any errors in the outfield I want to limit those and work on the small things. I think we should be able to win conference again and hopefully districts. I think we have a shot to make the state.”

by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News


A milestone moment resulted in smiles and thankfulness at Monday night's Blue Springs City Council meeting.HeroFundUSA co-founder and CEO Darrell Smith and members and volunteers from his staff were on hand for  the council's weekly meeting. The non-profit organization, located in Blue Springs, is a first responder to first responders.

“We want to do something for first responders that would keep them from getting injured,” Smith said.

“There are many ways for them to get care after they are injured while on duty, but we want to offer care that keeps them safe and equipment that could prevent a tragedy.”

Monday night, Smith presented a check for $8,733 to Blue Springs Police Chief Bob Muenz. The money will be used to purchase new tactical headsets for Blue Springs Police officers.

It was a milestone moment as the celebration was the 100th HeroFundUSA funding request fulfilled over the past 8 ½ years.

"To be a part of the 100th funding request to be filled by HeroFundUSA makes tonight even more special,” the chief said. “I've know Darrell, and have served on his board, and I can't say enough good things about HeroFundUSA and the work they do.”

HeroFund USA, Inc., is a private funding source for first-responder safety equipment and resources.

“We want to fill the gap to prevent critical injuries to our local heroes,” Smith said.

HeroFundUSA, headquartered in Blue Springs, doesn’t take government grants. All funds are raised via local fundraising events and from donors.
 
Some of the equipment HeroFundUSA has provided include police body armor, ballistic helmets and shields, outer carrier vests, K9 vests and related safety gear, drones, safety partitions, communication equipment, throw ropes and related water rescue gear.For firefighters, that includes bunker/turnout gear, helmets and headlights, body armor, thermal imaging cameras, drones, communication equipment, gas detection meters, water rescue gear, throw ropes and particulate-blocking hoods.

And for EMS personnel, gloves, face shields, body armor and ballistic helmets.

“We are fully self-sustained in our fundraising efforts with 100 percent of our public support and fundraising event income used to support mission services,” Smith added.

Blue Springs special force team leader Alex McIntyre, has helped coordinate this donation effort.

“I met Darrell several years ago at a Hero Fund fundraiser,” McIntyre said. “And he told me 'If the department needs anything, give me a call,' so I did.

“And today we no longer have to worry about earpieces falling out of our headsets thanks to HeroFundUSA. Thank you so much!"

To find out more about HeroFundUSA, call Smith at 816-812-1965 or go to herofundusa.org.

Editor's note: The Grain Valley news will have a future story on how HeroFundUSA helped provide equipment to the Grain Valley Police Department. 

by Bill Althaus, Grain Valley News

Vale Basham and her friend Olivia Frisch collected their gear on the final day of the Grain Valley High School Youth Softball Camp.

The two sixth graders took their time in the Eagles dugout, as if they wanted the camp to continue well into the afternoon.

Basham, who has a great last name for a softball player, explained that it resulted in her nickname.

"My last name's Basham, like bash 'em, when your hitting the ball," she said, with a grin. "So my nickname is 'Brick Wall Bash 'em,'" She said. "I think it's a pretty cool nickname."

So does assistant coach Katie Kelly, who quipped, "Vale is a brick wall behind the plate, and when she's hitting, she bashes the ball. She had a great camp."

So did Frisch, who a pitcher who looks forward to being a battery mate with Bashman when they are freshmen.

"It's so cool to pitch to Vale in the camp," Frisch said. "We know each other and familiar with each other and that will be important when we get to high school. This was a great camp for me because I got to work on my hitting and the release of my pitches. This is the second time I've attended the camp, and I will attend every camp until I reach high.

"Coach Courter has a great camp. And I think there were so many kids at this camp because his softball team is so good."

Last season his 33-3 team set a regular-season record for most wins, before they were upset in the district finals by Columbia Rock Bridge.

"That loss still stings," the personable Courter said. "But camps like this recharge my battery. I've had as much fun as the campers, and what was really cool about this week's camp was we had about 15 high school players working the camp. In the past few years, they attended the camp."

Courter said about 20 campers attended the first youth camp, with 30 the following year and 40 in 2024.

"We had early registration, and I'm like, 'WOW!' We're going to have 95 kids in camp," he said. "Then, with late sign ups and some walk ups we finished with about 108 - and I couldn't believe it. We had two camps - kindergarten through fifth grade from 9 a.m. to 10:30 and sixth through eighth grade from 10:30 to noon.

"We worked on all the basics, and I think the kids had a great time, and learned a lot, too."

As always, one of Courter's assistants, who checked players in and wrote a name tag for each of them, was his daughter Caffrey, who will be a freshman this fall.

"I love being around my dad and working his camp," Caffrey said. "And like my dad said, the girls learned a lot and had a lot of fun. It hot - and I mean really hot - but we have water breaks and he kept the girls so busy they didn't have time to think about the weather."

by Erin Woodiel, Missouri Department of Conservation 


BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) requires hunters at certain conservation areas to use non-toxic shotshells while hunting for waterfowl and various other game species. Hunters seeking to improve their skills with non-toxic shot are invited to attend a fundamentals clinic from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16, at Lake City Shooting Range.

This class will help migratory and upland bird hunters become more efficient and ethical at harvesting game while using non-toxic ammunition. This free, all-day program includes an introduction to wingshooting fundamentals, distance estimation, non-toxic shotshell ammunition selection, and shotgun patterning. Instructors will teach participants how to choose the correct choke, load, and shot size for different game, how to estimate shooting distances, and how to effectively lead their target. This program includes shotgun safety, operation, maintenance, and safe storage.

Registration is required. Participants must be at least 15 years old. Visit https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/210472 to register. Participants are responsible for bringing their own food and drinks for the day and are encouraged to bring their own chairs.

For more information on the nontoxic shot regulation, you can visit https://huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/regulations/nontoxic-shot-regulations.

Lake City Shooting Range is located at 28505 E Truman Road, Buckner Mo., near Blue Springs. For any questions regarding the program, contact MDC Conservation Educator Adam Brandsgaard at [email protected]

The Jacomo Chorale is pleased to introduce its new accompanist, Suzanne Isbell. 

Isbell began her career as an acclaimed singer, coach, conductor, arranger, and vocal pedagogue having taught and performed throughout the United States and Europe. Now, she prefers to play the piano while other people sing. Isbell's training includes degrees from California State University, Stanislaus (B.A.); Rice University (M.M.); and studies at the University of Miami, where she completed the coursework and exams for the Doctorate of Musical Arts.

Isbell is the Administrative Coordinator and Music/Worship Director for Indian Heights UMC and a staff accompanist at Kansas City, Kansas Community College. 
​
The Jacomo Chorale is now rehearsing at Colonial Hills Community of Christ, 3539 SW Highway 7, Blue Springs.  The Chorale's fall season begins on August 21st at 7:00pm. The Jacomo Chorale has been part of the Eastern Jackson County music scene for more than 43 years, presenting concerts three times a year in a variety of locations. 

The Chorale performs many types of music, from Broadway to Bach and welcomes new singers. No audition is required, only a love of singing with others in a fun, learning, collaborative atmosphere.

​For more information, please contact Nancy White at 816.560.9148 or see the Chorale's webpage http://jacomochorale.org/ or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jacomochorale.

The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of July 23-29, 2025.
 
July 23, 2025
CONSTRUCTION ON SNIBAR
Area Check

700 BLK SW TISHA LN
Agency Assist LE

1100 BLK NW BUSH DR
Extra Patrol

1100 BLK VALLEY RIDGE DR
Security Check

PHQ
Follow Up Investigation

300 BLK SW CREEK RIDGE DR
Alarm-Residential

PHQ
Meeting

3600 BLK S RUST RD
Public Service

PHQ
Administrative

1000 BLK EPHRAIM DR
Follow Up Investigation

1200 BLK SW EAGLES PKWY
Suspicious Person

PHQ
Public Service

3600 BLK S RUST RD
Area Check; Disturbance-Verbal

500 BLK ELIZABETH ST
Citizen Contact

400 BLK W FRONT ST
Standby to Prevent

100 BLK AARON CT
Citizen Contact

1000 BLK WILLOW DR
Citizen Contact

800 BLK NW VALLEY WOODS DR 
Disturbance-Verbal

PHQ
Administrative

1100 BLK WILLOW DR
Citizen Contact

700 BLK WOODLAND
Citizen Contact

PHQ
Walk In Report

100 BLK S BUCKNER TARSNEY RD
Citizen Contact

PHQ
Vehicle Maintenance

PHQ
Public Service

700 BLK S MAIN ST
Suspicious Activity

1100 BLK SW CHRISTIE LN
Citizen Contact

700 BLK S MAIN ST
Area Check

1100 BLK NW BUSH DR
Extra Patrol

1500 BLK NW HILLTOP LN
Disturbance-Verbal

100 BLK E HARRIS ST
Extra Patrol

1100 BLK NW HILLTOP LN
Disturbance-Verbal

 
July 24, 2025
800 BLK NW EAGLE RIDGE DR
Area Check

1300 BLK SNI-A-BAR BLVD
Extra Patrol

1100 BLK NW BUSH DR
Extra Patrol

100 BLK E HARRIS ST
Extra Patrol

1300 BLK NW SNI-A-BAR BLVD
Extra Patrol

1100 BLK NW GOLFVIEW DR
Missing Person-Juvenile

100 BLK SW EAGLES PKWY
Security Check

400 BLK  JAMES ROLLO
Vehicle Maintenance

PHQ
Administrative

PHQ
Administrative

BARR RD / SAWGRASS
Parking Complaint/Viol

PHQ
Walk In Report

PHQ
Follow Up Investigation

2200 BLK HILLSIDE DR
Follow Up Investigation

300 BLK BLUE BRANCH CT
Agency Assist EMS

1900 BLK NW HACKBERRY CT
Citizen Contact

PHQ
Walk In Report

800 BLK NW WILLOW DR
Public Service; Animal Control

PHQ
Walk In Report

WOODBURY / WHITNEY 
Traffic Enforcement

500 BLK W WALNUT ST
Agency Assist Fire

LOUIS LN
Fire-Structure

1100 BLK NW BUSH DR
Extra Patrol

700 BLK N MAIN ST
Careless and Imprudent Driver

300 BLK SW ROCK CREEK LN
Disturbance-Verbal

 
July 25, 2025
1100 BLK NW BUSH DR
Extra Patrol

900 BLK NW HIGH VIEW DR
Area Check

200 BLK N MAIN ST
Citizen Contact

2000 BLK NW HEDGEWOOD DR
Agency Assist EMS

1000 BLK SW CHRISTIE LN
Agency Assist EMS

200 BLK NE KIM CT  
Alarm-Residential

PHQ
Walk In Report

200 BLK NE CYPRESS ST 
Standby to Prevent

CHARLOTTE AND FRONT ST
Standby to Prevent

2100 BLK NW CHERRY CT
Area Check

300 BLK YENNIE AVE
Noise

900 BLK NW BIRCH CT
Check Well Being

100 BLK S MAIN (BUCKNER TARSNEY)
Standby to Prevent

 
July 26, 2025
100 BLK E HARRIS ST
Extra Patrol

1500 BLK NW NOLAN DR
Animal At Large

QT GRAIN VALLEY
Citizen Contact

1600 BLK NW HIGH VIEW DR
Animal At Large

900 BLK SW CROSS CREEK DR
Public Service

1100 BLK R D MIZE RD
Property Damage

1000 BLK NE MCQUERRY RD
Crash Non-Injury

PHQ
Walk In Report

1800 BLK NW BROADWAY ST
Suspicious Vehicle

1400 BLK S BUCKNER TARSNEY RD
Area Check

1700 BLK OVERHILL RD
911 Open Line

9000 BLK E 22ND TER
Suspicious Person

1400 BLK NE MARY CT 
Agency Assist EMS

600 BLK NW WALNUT ST 
Sound of Shots

 
July 27, 2025
EB70 / W BB
Agency Assist LE

1400 BLK NW EAGLES PKWY
Security Check

RD MIZE E OF PD
Disturbance-Verbal

100 BLK SUNNY LN
Warrant Arrest

SNI A BAR AND SW EAGLES PARKWAY
Area Check

500 BLK SW CENTURION CT
Disturbance-Verbal

100 BLK SUNNY LN ROOM 129
Citizen Contact

600 BLK SW NELSON DR
Check Well Being

1100 BLK NW BUCKNER TARSNEY RD
Disturbance-Verbal

CROSS CREEK / ROCK HILL
Area Check

500 BLK NE MAIN ST
Extra Patrol

PHQ
Administrative

500 BLK N MAIN ST
Extra Patrol

 
July 28, 2025
1300 BLK NW WHITNEY DR
Extra Patrol

PHQ
Administrative

1100 BLK BUSH DR
Security Check

1100 BLK NW VALLEY RIDGE
Crash Non-Injury

BUCKNER TARSNEY RD / AA HWY
Agency Assist

PHQ
Administrative

PHQ
Walk In Report

PHQ
Walk In Report

30 BLK ELLEMERE RD
Warrant Attempt

1000 BLK SW PRIMROSE CT
Check Well Being

PHQ
Public Service

PHQ
Administrative

WB 70 / BB
Crash Injury

700 BLK E RD MIZE RD
Stealing Under

PHQ
Walk In Report

1600 BLK NW HIGH VIEW DR
Citizen Contact

1700 BLK NW CREEKLAND DRCL
Public Service

700 BLK OF MAIN
Motorist Assist

PHQ
Walk In Report

1700 BLK NW CREEKLAND DR
Stealing Under

PHQ
Public Service

1100 BLK NW BUSH DR
Extra Patrol

1100 BLK NW HICKORY CT
Public Service

PHQ
Walk In Report

 
July 29, 2025
1700 BLK NW CREEKLAND DR
Assault

1100 BLK NW BUSH DR
Extra Patrol

100 BLK E HARRIS ST
Extra Patrol

100 BLK NW SNI-A-BAR PKWY
Suspicious Person

PHQ
Administrative

1300 BLK NW EAGLE RIDGE DR
Property Damage

900 BLK NW MAPLEWOOD CT
Abandoned Vehicle

900 BLK NW BARR RD UNIT A
Citizen Assist

PHQ
Administrative

100 BLK EAGLES PKWY 
Security Check

900 BLK NW SCENIC DR
Public Service; Noise

PHQ
Walk In Report

PHQ
Walk In Report

MAIN / 70
Special Assignment-Traffic Control

PHQ
Walk In Report

PHQ
Administrative

PHQ
Public Service

PHQ
Public Service

1700 BLK NW CREEKLAND DR
Threats

800 BLK N CAPELLE ST
Area Check

1100 BLK NW BUSH DR
Extra Patrol

600 BLK NW ALBATROSS CIR
Animal At Large

1000 BLK NW HICKORY CT
Follow Up Investigation

900 BLK NE DEER CREEK RD
Disturbance-Verbal

1100 BLK NW BUSH DR
Extra Patrol

 
Additional calls for service:
Suicidal Subject : 1
CIT/Mental Health Welfare Check: 1

 

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News


The boys high school tennis season may not be until the spring of 2026, but seniors Riley Spencer and Marius Cooper made sure to work on their game this summer.

The duo has been playing together during the summer in the Kansas City Summer Slam Series, which consists of six tennis tournaments in the Kansas City area spread throughout June and July.

Spencer and Cooper, who were the Eagles No. 2 doubles team in 2025, will likely be the No. 1 team going into next season. They have been working on their chemistry so far in the summer and through five, they have finished with three place-medals and one third-place finish in the series.

In the individual varsity standings in the Kansas City Summer Slam series, Spencer ranks second with 321 points and Cooper is fourth with 255 points out of 86 competitors. Some of those points were earned in the singles and mixed doubles brackets.

At the recent Jaguar Slam Tournament at Grain Valley High School, Spencer and Cooper won their first two doubles matches 8-5 before Maxon Chen and Tye Frashier 8-3 in the championship.

For Cooper, playing in the series has been a valuable experience as he’s building on the skills he developed in the spring.

“It is my first time playing singles during the summer and it’s helping me develop as a singles player,” Cooper said. “It was my first time varsity this last year. This event helps me play against some of the best players around the city.”

The series has allowed both players to try new things that they could possibly take into the 2026 season.

“We kind of experimented with a couple of different things,” Spencer said. “We’re able to see some things that other doubles teams aren’t, so it gives us opportunities to draw some plays up to experiment with. If it works, we can try it out during the season.”

Individually, Spencer has been working on sharpening his serve.

“I have been experimenting with my serve,” Spencer said. “I am trying to figure out if I can slice it out to the left when I am on the right side, so I can give Marius a chance to get an overhead if I can get one opponent out wide. It’s just about experimenting with spin and my toss.”

Cooper said he had multiple aspects of his game that he is focusing on.

“I have been working on a lot of things, just everything together,” Cooper said. “I have been working on my serve and just keeping my rallies going instead of trying to rip winners all the time. I want to make them make the mistake. And I have been working on lobbing it behind the opponents when I come up to the net.”

The Jaguar tournament was the last time the duo will play together in the series and both have set goals for the 2026 season.

“It’s always the goal to make it to state,” Spencer said. “Moving up a class certainly did not help last year, so it was an adjustment playing against Blue Springs South and Pembroke Hill. We are confident in our chances against Blue Springs South this year and we hope we can meet them in the championship and that will be enough to get us to state.”

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News


When Grain Valley head softball coach Flip Courter arrived at the district for his first year, there was not a summer youth camp.

He joined then head coach Garrett Ogle as an assist that season before being named the head coach in 2023. In his first season leading the softball program, Courter wanted to bring back youth camps for the summer to get more children involved from Kindergarten through eighth grade.

“When I got hired to take over as the head coach, I thought one of the first things we needed to do was to bring back the youth camp, Courter said. “They have done it in the past, and I don’t know if it was a COVID thing that led to it not being done.”

This year’s youth camp ran from July 22-24 and it was the most successful one yet of the three run by Courter. In 2023, Courter said he had about 30 players attend the camp, in 2024, that number increased to 44. But this year, the numbers of campers ballooned all the way up to 107.

“This week happens to be the summer before we have before dead week that has the least number of tournaments that would take a lot of our kids,” Courter said. “This is the opportunity to get the most kids here.

Courter noted that it helped that the high school experienced so much success in the 2024 season as the Eagles finished with a program-best 33-3 record and were ranked No. 1 in Class 5 in Missouri for most of the season.

“We promote through the schools, and we talk about it. We promote in on social media and the school website. I think the year we had last year has been attracting more kids to come out. We had the national ranking for the first time. I think kids looked and that and thought, ‘Hey, we want to be a part of that, too.’”

Courter split the campers into two groups – kindergarten through fifth grade and sixth through eighth grade.

For the elementary aged campers, he has them hit off tees, work on bunting and running to first base. He also allows them to experience pitching for the first time for those who want to try it.

For the middle school campers, they worked on more advanced level skills such as hitting off a pitching machine and soft toss, fielding in the infield and outfield and they play in scrimmages with the players pitching.

“You’re a fourth or a fifth grader and get to try some of this stuff out and think, ‘In a few years I get to play on this field,’ Courter said. “’I get to hit off that machine. I get to wear those uniforms.’ We want to get these girls into softball in general.”

For eighth grader Nova Hober, the camp gives her a chance to sharpen her skills and gives her the experience of what practices will be like at the high school level.

“I learn new things and I refresh my skills on things I have learned in the past.” Hober said. “Today I kind of hitting off the machine. I need to work on that more.”

Some of the high school varsity and junior varsity players help out with the camp by helping to organize the drills and scrimmages. They also serve as secondary coaches and help the younger campers with their mechanics while taking batting practice and their kills fielding the ball on defense.

“I am like a coach,” Grain Valley sophomore Abe Scott said. “I like helping all the kids out, especially the younger ones. Some of them are just now learning how to do softball. It’s nice.”

Senior Ashlynn McConnell had similar sentiments as Scott.

“I like talking to the girls and getting different perspectives,” McConnell said. “I love talking to little kids.”
 

Grain Valley's Dennis Ellsworth will be among four honorees inducted into the 2025 Missouri Newspaper Hall of Fame.

Inductees for 2025 are the late Kevin Jones, past MPA (Missouri Press Association) president and chief operating officer of the St. Louis American; Dennis Ellsworth, former MPA board member and executive editor of the St. Joseph News-Press; Barbara Ann Horton, staff writer for the Daily American Republic in Poplar Bluff; and Jerrilynn Voss, former owner and editor of The Unterrified Democrat in Linn.

With more than 40 years working for newspapers, Dennis Ellsworth’s career is a testament to not only his dedication to journalism but also a commitment to community and as a leader in the industry. A native of eastern Kansas, he earned his journalism degree from the University of Kansas and had early work experiences with newspapers in Parsons, Osawatomie and Lawrence and with The Associated Press in Topeka.

Before joining the St. Joseph News-Press as executive editor in 2000, Ellsworth spent 21 years working as an editor and assistant editor — first at the Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat, then for eight years at the Wichita (Kan.) Eagle-Beacon and 11 years at the San Angelo (Texas) Standard-Times. At the News-Press, Ellsworth oversaw 45 employees and was instrumental in the company’s evolution into a converged media operation, as it integrated television stations with the newspaper in 2012.

Meanwhile, he took opportunities to mentor the next generation of journalists, helping to guide them while sharing his knowledge and passion for journalism. Ellsworth said this one of the most rewarding aspects of his career - hiring and mentoring the next generation of journalists.

In addition to several years served on the MPA Board of Directors, he was chairman of the Missouri Associated Press Managing Editors and twice president of the Northwest Missouri Press Association. Earlier in his career he was a Knight Ridder Fellow in the Visiting Journalists Program at Duke University.

Even after retiring, Ellsworth remained committed to public service, volunteering as the first executive director of the Missouri Sunshine Coalition. His five years in the role allowed him to promote government transparency and freedom of information to Missourians in every part of the state. He also reinvigorated the Sunshine Heroes recognition program, working to acknowledge those individuals and groups who support the Missouri Sunshine Law and its role in keeping the state’s residents informed.

A true believer in local reporting, Ellsworth continues to advocate for the power of the newspaper to inform and entertain. This extends to the papers of eastern Jackson County, where he currently lives, and to the Miami County Republic, which covers his hometown of Osawatomie and still benefits from tips and story ideas as he comes across them.

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by Cole Arndorfer, Grain Valley News

The Grain Valley Schools Board of Education met on Thursday, July 17, for its monthly meeting. The agenda included discussion of six reports, three items of unfinished business, five items of new business, and three sets of board policies.

After opening the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Brad Welle presented highlights from his monthly superintendent’s report. He noted that the district’s financial standing—including health premium overages—looks very strong at this time.

The second report focused on a summer school update. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Amanda Allen recognized the summer school administrative staff for their efforts, noting the many compliments received from students, parents, and fellow staff members.

Welle then reviewed the district’s financial summary and addressed the ongoing issue of student lunch debt. He outlined several potential solutions, including:

• Covering negative balances for families who apply and qualify for the free and reduced lunch program,
• Promoting local community donation efforts to help eliminate student debt,
• Referring debts over $500 to a collection agency, and
• Declaring balances under $500 as bad debt for former students.

Next, the board briefly reviewed exit interview summaries from the past school year.

The final report addressed annual staff training modules for the upcoming year.

The board then moved into unfinished business, beginning with the search for a new superintendent. The district’s request for proposals (RFP) for a search firm closed on July 3, with six firms nationwide submitting proposals ranging from $7,800 to $40,000. The board selected three firms to bring in for presentations and interviews:

• Missouri School Boards’ Association (MSBA) – $15,600
• Ray and Associates – $22,500
• Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates – $26,500

Following this, the board approved the meeting calendar for the upcoming school year and discussed health benefits for staff.

In the new business portion of the meeting, Dr. Welle outlined the district’s CSIP (Comprehensive School Improvement Plan) priorities for the 2024–25 school year. He emphasized an increased opportunity for community engagement compared to previous years.

The board also discussed issuing key cards to board members for access to the Leadership Center.

Additionally, the board considered implementing background checks for current school board members and future candidates.

Next, the board reviewed changes to the district’s policy on administrative cell phone use. Rather than issuing phones to certain administrators, the district will now provide a stipend to cover business use of their personal devices.

The meeting concluded with a brief review of three sets of board policies before the board adjourned into executive session.