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Two Grain Valley police officers who were hospitalized on Tuesday, August 3rd after encountering an unknown substance during a search of a vehicle have returned to work on light duty according to GVPD Police Chief James Beale. There is no update on the substance that injured the officers.
In a brief meeting on August 9th highlighted by proclamations honoring the Grain Valley Historical Society’s efforts related to the state’s bicentennial and the service of retired Judge John Jack, the Board of Aldermen approved a resolution to repair a storm water drainage swell located between Blue Branch Dr and Dean Drive. The estimated cost for repairs is $27,383.
Mayor Johnston took a moment at the end of the meeting to thank the Board, City staff, and residents for their condolences following the passing of his wife and for the get well wishes as he recovers from a recent illness. The next scheduled board meeting will be held Monday, August 23rd. The 2021 Grain Valley Fair Parade returns on Saturday, September 11th and will be presented by Grain Valley News.
This year’s theme will be “Looking Back. Moving Forward.” As our state celebrates its bicentennial this year, we thought it was a fitting theme to look back at where we have been as a community and look forward to a bright future. Our honorary Grand Marshals, the Grain Valley Historical Society, will receive 100% of the entry fees from this year’s event. To guarantee you are judged and announced, entry forms (and payment, if required) must be received by Friday, September 3, 2021. The parade will begin at 2:00pm with lineup at the high school beginning approximately 12:30pm. Judging will occur on the parade route. There is no fee for school or non-profit organizations. For entry forms and more information, visit www.grainvalleynews.com/parade, or email news@grainvalleynews.com. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Several months ago the historical society signed up to place a packet in the Bicentennial Time Capsule which will be stored at the State Historical Society of Missouri. Organizations and institutions, businesses, as well as local and state government agencies were invited to participate by contributing three items: one to represent our past, one to represent our present, and a note to future Missourians.
Once the items are received and sent to the State Historical Society in Columbia, MO., we will be sent a certificate of contribution. The time capsule contents will be housed there until August 10, 2046, when they will be made available to the public. We are sending three photographs to represent our past: Main Street, circa 1912; the original Grain Valley Depot and a photo representing Sni-A-Bar Farms. To represent the present, three photo collages have been prepared, one of city buildings, one of our schools, and one with business logos. The following letter will be included as a note to future Missourians. by Denise Sullivan, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, MU Extension Zucchini – an often misunderstood and scorned vegetable. When it is growing in abundance, people often try to give it away to neighbors or even ‘dropping and dashing’ on doorsteps!
I too, have shared my overage with friends and family, sometimes to the point of begging them to please take it. My solution to overabundance is to have a wide variety of preparation options to choose from. Zucchini is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family and is known in Europe as ‘courgette’. It descends from squash plants grown through Central America and into Mexico more than 7000 years ago. Zucchini as we know it today was bred in Milan in the late 19th century and appeared in North America in the early 20th century. It is categorized as a summer squash, with a tender skin and small edible seeds. Ordinary zucchini can range in color from shades of green to deep golden. Squash is one of the ‘three sisters’ plants, along with corn and beans, commonly grown in native American cultures. The corn provided a structure for the climbing beans, while the bean vines better rooted the corn to ground so the stalks were not as easily blown over or washed out. The beans added nitrogen in the soil to fertilize the other plants. The squash vines acted as living mulch to deter weed plants and retain moisture in the soil, while the prickly stems deterred pests from damaging the plants. When the three crops were eaten together, they provided a nutritional balance of carbohydrates, protein, healthy fats, and vitamins. Zucchini, alone, is a good source of antioxidants Vitamins A and C, as well as potassium, magnesium, and folate. These nutrients help to reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers, aid in eye health and healing of skin and gums. Zucchinis are best when harvested when they are six to eight inches long. They can be eaten raw on a vegetable tray or cooked in a variety of ways. Some of my favorite cooking methods included sauteing or roasting as a side dish, stuffed with a variety of fillings as a main dish, or even baked as a sweet treat like cake or muffins. It is not uncommon for zucchini to ‘hide’ in my garden and suddenly grow to the size of my forearm! When they grow past the ‘young and tender’ stage, I prefer to use these for baking into bread, and I will often shred and freeze in one to two cup quantities to use later. With this method, you will want to drain the liquid that separates prior to use. Another good use for over-mature zucchini is preparing in a relish. The recipe provided is one that I prefer over a standard cucumber relish and is simple for even a novice canner. If you are new to food preservation, please seek out reliable, research-based resources, like the National Center for Home Food Preservation at https://nchfp.uga.edu/ or MU Extension’s Food Preservation website https://extension.missouri.edu/programs/food-preservation You might also consider enrolling in MU Extension’s self-paced on-line course, which can be found at https://extension.missouri.edu/food-preservation-2021 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 The Jacomo Chorale hired Marvin G. Byas IV as Musical Director.
Byas brings with him several years of experience in choral music. His educational preparation in Vocal Music Education is from Northwest Missouri State University and Missouri Western State University. He has worked in both community and church settings as well as in musical theatre. Prior to joining the Jacomo Chorale, Mr. Byas was the Choirmaster at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Maryville, MO; Director of Music and Choirmaster at Christ Episcopal Church, St. Joseph, MO; Director of Music and Choirmaster at Calvary Episcopal Church, Columbia, MO and was the founding Artistic Director of The Farnham and Byas Playhouse in Columbia. In addition, he was a member of the development committee of the Maplewood Barn Community Theatre, also in Columbia. While with Christ Episcopal Church, Mr. Byas was the Artistic Director, Choirmaster and Conductor for a regional tour of Handel’s “Funeral Anthem for Queen Caroline” and Artistic Director and Conductor of Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”. Founded in 1987 by Harold Neal of Independence, MO the Jacomo Chorale is a 30-voice community choir based in Eastern Jackson County. The Chorale looks forward to resuming rehearsals and performances in late 2021. Tentative plans include beginning rehearsals in October, with a Christmas concert in December. The chorale is actively seeking new members. No formal audition is required. For more information contact Nancy White, Chorale Manager at njwhite1973@gmail.com or 816-560-9148. http://jacomochorale.org To support local teachers, local owner-operators of McDonald's Great Plains Co-Op launch Fries for School Supplies fundraiser. At more than 130 McDonald’s restaurants across the Greater Kansas City metro, Lawrence, St. Joseph, and surrounding areas, 10% of proceeds from a la carte fry sales between August 16th - 20th will be donated to local school districts.
The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of July 28—August 3, 2021.
by Michael Smith Ashley Burns has been a middle school science teacher for 12 years, and she couldn’t be happier with where her career is currently at. She’s currently entering her fourth year at Grain Valley North Middle School, and it’s been like a second home to the Blue Springs resident as she enjoys working in the town. Burns graduated from Blue Springs High School, got her Associate’s degree from Blue River Community College, and then attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City before getting her Master’s Degree in Teacher Leadership. After she got her Associate’s Degree, Burns knew what she wanted to do for a living. Teaching children at the middle school level was what she had her heart set on. “I always knew I wanted to do something to help other people and make an impact on other people,” Burns said. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so that’s why I got my associates. I had a science class I really liked at Blue River and I was tutoring my classmates. I realized I really liked helping them learn and study. “I thought middle school would be a fun grade to teach. I think middle schoolers are special. They are in a transition period where they need a little extra guidance in their life. I think that's a good point in their life to get interested in science.” Burns started her career teaching at Raytown Middle School for eight years before spending one year teaching at a middle school in the North Kansas City School District. After teaching for nine years, she wanted to teach in a smaller, tight-knit community. The Grain Valley School District fits that desire. “The Grain Valley School District has a really good reputation,” Burns said. “I heard really good things about it. My brothers attended Grain Valley schools and they liked it. “All the teachers are phenomenal and the administrators are awesome. This is the best school I have ever worked for. This is more of a small-town type of atmosphere than where I worked at Raytown and North Kansas City. This feels like a closer community.” The science she teaches at Grain Valley North Middle School focuses on life science, biology and ecology. Burns said she likes to have her students do a lot of hands-on work. One of the more interesting projects she had her students do involved incubating and hatching chicken eggs. She’s also enjoyed some of the extra things she got to go during assemblies on the last day of school and playing games against the students. One of those game included egg roulette where Burns got raw eggs cracked on top of her head. “They do a lot of fun, team-building activities that I didn’t really get to do at other schools,” Burns said. And she hopes to be doing those type of activities at Grain Valley Middle School North for years to come. “Honestly, if I stay teaching, they are stuck with me. I am not leaving,” Burns said. “I feel like a part of the community.” by Michael Smith Quarterback Cole Keller and running back Jaxon Wyatt formed quite a formidable duo for the 2020 Grain Valley football team.
Keller and Wyatt combined for 2,291 yards on the ground and were a part of a potent offense that averaged 34 points per game and helped the Eagles make it to the Class 5 state quarterfinals. Now that Keller, who will play for Washburn University this fall, has graduated, Wyatt will take on a bigger role on the Grain Valley offense, one that he has embraced. “I think it’s cool. I have never been this high as far as being a leader on a team,” said Wyatt, who is 5-foot-8 and 170 pounds. “This is my first year doing it and it’s kind of cool.” Wyatt, who was an all-Suburban White Conference team selection, rushed for 959 yards and eight touchdowns on 150 carries. Without Keller, Grain Valley head coach David Allie said Wyatt likely will see more carries, especially with junior Caleb Larson likely playing his first varsity season at quarterback. “We have some other guys who can run the ball, too, including some slot guys, so we’ll mix it up,” Allie said. “Jaxon is definitely going to take on a bigger load and he has been working hard. He runs hard and he kept getting better each game last year with his vision. He was making jump cuts and finding those open holes.” When it comes to running with the football, Wyatt has proven to be a solid all-around running back. “He’s a power guy, but he’s not slow,” Allie said. “When he gets into the open field, he can turn it on.” One area where Wyatt focused on improving was his ability to catch passes. It’s an aspect of his game that he struggled with when he was a starter, but has since made a lot of improvements in that area. Allie recalls a time when Wyatt and his father came to Moody Murray Memorial Field at night and worked on Jaxon’s pass catching. Wyatt’s father turned on the lights of his car so his son could see the football when he threw passes to him. The football field has been like a second home for Wyatt as he’s often come there in his free time to work on his game. “I come here almost every night and do that kind of stuff,” Wyatt said. “I have been working on my 40-yard dash times out here and at college camps. I will just come out here and sprint and condition myself. “I think I have made a lot of progress. Two years ago, I could hardly catch it. I would sometimes catch it and sometimes not. Now I can catch it almost 100 percent of the time.” Allie has been impressed with the progress Wyatt has made in that area. Jaxon wasn’t blessed with great hands, so that’s a skill he’s had to work on,” Allie said. “It started in the spring when he would work on that after every track meet. He’s really been working on being multi-faceted. He gives 100 percent effort in everything he does.” Wyatt said it will also help that he’s developed a solid chemistry with Larson over the summer. Both should carry the football a lot this coming season in an Eagle offense that features plenty of plays that involve option runs. “Well, Cole Keller is very tall, so it was kind of hard to get a handoff from him,” Wyatt said. “A handoff from Caleb is almost perfect because he’s my size.” Going into the 2021 season, Wyatt has some big goals for himself. “I want to rush for 1,000 yards and get at least one touchdown a game,” Wyatt said. “Most importantly, I want to be reliable for my team whenever they need me.” |
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