by Cole Arndorfer
The Grain Valley Board of Aldermen met briefly for their second August meeting on Monday, August 28. This short meeting included a proclamation for National Service Dog Month, approval of a liquor license for Valley Moments, a public hearing on the property tax levy, two resolutions, and five ordinances. Mayor Todd and the board of aldermen presented a proclamation to recognize September 2023 as National Service Dog Month. Todd said that the need for service dogs is growing and the city is continuing to work toward becoming an inclusive community, in which all citizens and their service dogs are embraced. Deborah Morrison and her service dog, Mango, accepted the proclamation from Mayor Todd. Under previous business, the board heard the second presentation for a liquor license for Valley Moments. As the business owner, Sadie Gibson, has a state license in hand and the police department has signed off on the application, the board approved the liquor license for the business. The board then moved on to a public hearing for the property tax levy. General fund, debt service fund, parks and recreation, and public health are all the pieces that make up the total tax levy. Going through the current levy, the general fund currently makes up $0.4685, the debt service fund is at $0.8362, parks and recreation comes in at $0.1035, and public health rounds out to $0.0412. This makes the current total tax levy $1.4494. With regards to the increase in assed property valuation seen in the past year, the following changes to the levy have been proposed: general fund would be brought down to $0.3907, the debt service fund would drop to $0.5427, parks and recreation would come out to $0.0863, and public health would be decreased to $0.0344, bringing the proposed total for the tax levy to $1.0541. City Finance Director, Steven Craig explains, “since this is an odd year, Jackson County has been appraising the properties and we saw about a 26.8% increase in the assessed valuation compared to last year. The state law does require that the levies be rolled back to be revenue neutral… and ours did roll back approximately 40 cents as a result of that.” City Administrator Ken Murphy said that these are the numbers that the city has at this time and that they should be receiving a more solid round of numbers by the next board meeting in order for the board to take action on the issue. He also pointed out that the city has to have these numbers sent back in to the county by the end of September, noting that this is later in the process. The board then discussed possible problems that changing the levy may cause as there are still citizens in the appeals process with the county regarding their property assessments. Craig said that there is a statute in Missouri state law that would allow the board to take action to adjust the levy if, for whatever reason, the assessments were to be held at the 2022 rate. After no members of the public stepped forward to talk on the matter, the public hearing was closed. The issue will come back for the next board meeting. Under resolutions, the board discussed and took action on two resolutions. The first resolution was to establish the need to amend the 2023 budget in order to fund the all-inclusive playground project at Armstrong Park. The board approved this resolution unanimously. The second resolution was related to the first. This resolution entered the city into a contract with Cunningham Recreation to build the all-inclusive playground at Armstrong Park. The new playground would be installed by the end of the year and will take the place of the two existing playgrounds at Armstrong Park. The two existing playground sets have the capability to be moved to some of the other, smaller, parks in the city once they are removed. The board approved this resolution unanimously. Under ordinances, the board heard five bills, four for their second reads and one for its first and second read. The first bill approved the vacating of the platted cul-de-sac on the east and west side of NW Jefferson Court as discussed in the previous meeting. This was approved 6-0. The next bill approved amending chapter 415 of the Code of Ordinances relating to Flood Hazard Prevention in order to adopt a new countywide flood insurance study. This item was also discussed in the previous board meeting. It was approved 6-0. The third bill was approved to allow the city to create an ordinance that outlines the procedure for disclosing potential conflicts of interest and substantial interests for certain officials. This item was discussed previously in the last meeting. It was approved 6-0. The fourth bill was approved to allowed the city to add Chapter 255, Article I, Section 255.010 to the City Code in order to allow bow hunting for deer within city limits. This item was discussed at length in the previous meeting. This was approved 5-1 with Alderman Arnold being the sole “no” vote. The final bill discussed went with the first resolution discussed previously in the meeting. This bill was approved to allow Mr. Murphy to amend the 2023 budget in order to fund the all-inclusive playground project at Armstrong Park. The first read was approved and it was read again, by title only, where it was approved again 6-0. Next on the agenda was city administrator and staff reports. City Administrator Ken Murphy had just one item for his report: he said that the city is making progress on the construction of the new police station and that officials should be on the lookout for upcoming dates to walk the site in September. For his mayor’s report, Mayor Todd spoke on the upcoming fair and parade taking place in the city September 8-9. He stated that the parade start time was moved up to 10 am this year in hopes to draw more attendance for that. He also said that there are well over 120 vendor spots, which is the most the city has ever had and the first time he can remember having to put together a waitlist for the event. The next board of aldermen meeting will be held on September 11 at City Hall, starting at 7 pm. Drew Melching and Brooklyn Spencer of Grain Valley, Missouri, are among Missouri’s brightest high school students who attended the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA) in June at the University of Missouri. MSA began in 1985 and each summer provides more than 300 rising high school juniors the opportunity to expand their educational and social skills. The program provides enrichment opportunities to support learning and personal development for gifted Missouri students, and offers a variety of daily extracurricular activities to enhance critical thinking and communication. More than 11,000 students have completed the academy to date. “MSA was an opportunity to expand my horizons to an extent that has bever been available to me before,” Melching said. “I am grateful to have experienced MSA and the unique insights it brings.” Melching, who attends Grain Valley High School, is the son of Michael and Jennifer Melching. As a rising junior, Melching participates in tennis and pilot training. “MSA introduced me to philosophy and an incredibly diverse group of very funny and intelligent people,” Spencer said. Spencer, who attends Grain Valley High School, is the daughter of Jason and Mendi Spencer. As a rising junior, Spencer participates in tennis. As the state’s largest and oldest public, land-grant university, Mizzou has more than 30,000 students, 13,000 full-time employees and 305,000 alumni. Since 2015, the Missouri Scholars Academy has been administered by the MU Honors College. Drew Melching and Brooklyn Spencer of Grain Valley, Missouri attended the Missouri Scholars Academy (MSA) in June at the University of Missouri. Photo courtesy Grain Valley Schools
Colonel Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, encourages everyone to plan for a safe 2023 Labor Day weekend. Whether you are on the water or on the road, it’s everyone's responsibility to travel safely and observe all Missouri laws. Never operate a vehicle or vessel while you are impaired.
Alcohol affects your judgement, reaction time, vision, coordination, and comprehension. The movement of the boat, vibration and noise from the boat’s motor, sun, and wind are all boating stressors and enhance the effect of alcohol on your body. If alcohol is part of your water activities, drink responsibly, and never operate a vessel if you’ve consumed alcohol. The 2023 counting period for the Labor Day holiday will be from 6 p.m., Friday, September 1, 2023, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 4, 2023. The Labor Day holiday is a busy boating weekend. Before you take your boat on the water, inspect fuel lines and hose connections for leaks, and test the battery to confirm it is charged. When refueling, turn off any electrical devices which could create a spark. After refueling, open the engine compartment to visually inspect and smell for fuel leaks. Activate the blower system for at least four minutes before restarting the vessel. In 2022, there were eight boating crashes which included one fatality and five injuries. One person drowned over last year's Labor Day holiday. Troopers arrested five people for boating while intoxicated during last year's counting period. Marine enforcement troopers will be working to make our waterways safer during the holiday weekend. Missouri’s boaters are asked to do their part by remaining alert for other boats and swimmers and being courteous on the water. Smaller vessels should yield right-of-way to larger vessels. Boaters should avoid overloading their boat with too many passengers and always pay close attention to the boats around them. Causing harm to another person or their property with an excessive boat wake may subject you to enforcement action or civil liability. Treat other boaters and property owners as you want to be treated. Be courteous and follow all of Missouri’s boating laws. Remember: Life jackets save lives. Wear one when you are on or around water. If you'll be on the road this Labor Day holiday, make sure your vehicle is in good working condition before you depart. Drive courteously and obey all of Missouri's traffic laws. Remember to buckle up and pay attention as you travel. Help ensure a safer Labor Day weekend for everyone. In Missouri, seven people died and 398 were injured in 1,041 traffic crashes over the 2022 Labor Day holiday. This means one person was killed or injured every 11.5 minutes. Troopers arrested 121 people for driving while intoxicated during last year’s holiday weekend. The Highway Patrol will be participating in Operation C.A.R.E. (Crash Awareness & Reduction Effort) over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Speed, inattention, and impaired driving are leading causes of traffic crashes. All available troopers will be patrolling Missouri’s roadways and waterways. Troopers on the roadways will be enforcing Missouri’s speed limit, seat belt, and impaired driving laws, in addition to being available to assist motorists. The public is encouraged to call the Patrol's Emergency Report Line (800) 525-5555 or *55 on your cellular phone if they witness criminal activity or experience an emergency. These emergency numbers are operational for both highway and water emergencies. If your celebration includes alcohol, designate someone else to drive whether you are in your boat or your car. Please don't become a statistic. Submitted by Christy Martin On August 26, five members of the Grain Valley Swim and Dive Team woke up at 5:30 a.m. to prepare for the St. Louis Swim Across America Open Water event. Open water swimming is comparable to cross country running. Due to the many safety requirements, there is only one formal race event held in Missouri each year. Each of the swimmers had a reason to swim the 1 mile or 2 mile distance. Some were swimming for a personal challenge, and others were swimming for the people they love who were affected by cancer. These athletes were able to use their drive and talent to fundraise as a team to donate $1000 for cancer research. They proudly wore GVHS and #The Valley Way sharpied in their backs as they stood in a crowd of 530 collegiate, high school, and past olympian swimmers. As they stood for two hours in the pouring down rain prepared to swim, the storm rolled in with thunder and lightning. The event was canceled, as it was unsafe to get into the water. These five teenagers realized then, that being a part of a cause and helping others is what life is about. Although they were very disappointed, each understood that being a good competitor is not always about best times or racing. The canceled event only made them excited to participate in this event next year. Pictured: Alayna Power-Tuttle, Ellie Martin, Gage Wright, Morgan Brown, and Haden Harshman. Photo credit: Christy Martin
by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society This photograph was chosen for August because students now go “back to school” in August. When the picture was taken, school began after Labor Day in September. This gave young men more days to help their fathers with the crops and girls more days to help their mothers with canning the garden vegetables. Today, the school calendar seems to be tied to ending the first semester before the winter break. Mr. Frantz’s Bus Route, 1940 This photograph first appeared in Valley News on July 1, 2021. Since that time, I have learned a bit more about transportation in the Grain Valley School District. Transportation began in the fall of 1937 when Mr. T. D. Peal purchased two buses which he contracted to the school district. The drivers were Mr. Peal a local feed salesman and Mr. Ray Frantz, the owner and operator of a gas station and a bulk fuel oil delivery business. Each bus had two morning and evening routes. One driver first picked up the rural students south of town with a second route of students living near the school. The second driver also had two routes on the north side. (They didn’t mention how students living east and west got to school!) To my surprise, this information comes from the 1942 Treasure Chest. It appeared near the back of the yearbook in the section labeled “advertising". It is titled “Transportation Report for Last 5 Years”. The above table is a financial report of our transportation facilities. These facilities have operated five years without a single minor or major accident and with a profit each year to the school district.
Very truly yours, T. D. Peal Attested: Jay Walker, Superintendent of Schools I would point out to you that disbursements probably included gasoline, motor oil, repairs and salary for both drivers – for an entire year! I wonder if that would be enough for one bus for one week today? It is really too bad that schools must provide buses today that probably operate at less than 50% capacity! It is a high price to pay when we realize the number of parents that drive their children to school. Riding the bus was always a fun time in my day. We got to visit with our friends! by Michael Smith The Grain Valley volleyball team is deep. Head coach Tori Squiers had plenty of options to choose from when constructing the rotations for her varsity roster. Freshman Piper Jackson was one player who was in the running for varsity minutes. At first, Squiers chose to have her start out playing the junior varsity team. However, after seeing an entire summer of Jackson playing with the JV girls, the head coach noticed that it wasn’t a good fit. It’s because Jackson excelled so much during the summer that Squiers elevated her to the varsity roster and she played in the team’s season opener Monday at home against Smithville. The freshman proved she belonged as she made an impact with four kills and four blocks in a 25-18. 25-16, 25-13 sweep of the Warriors. “We knew about her and we were excited about her,” Squiers said. “She was just too fast for the JV speed. “She was a standout on the court so we tried her out at the KU camp this summer. She was able to keep up with the pace and that’s what we needed.” The Eagles are six players deep in terms of players who can put the ball away and get blocks at the net. Jackson was one of those as she made life difficult for any Warriors player that went for a kill. For a player who admitted she was nervous before the start of the match, she didn’t look like it as she looked composed and in control at the net. “I was pretty nervous before but once I started playing, I was good,” Jackson said. “Everyone was really welcoming so it was easy to connect with the team.” Whenever she did something positive on the court, the Grain Valley student crowd chanted, ‘She’s a freshman!’ On Monday, she didn’t look like one. She looked like a player who had one or two years of varsity experience. “I think it’s always tough coming in as a freshman,” Squiers said. “Her teammates supported her and the crowd supported her well. When you hear, ‘She’s a freshman,’ it gets you fired up.” Junior Kayla Gallagher was one of those teammates showing support for the freshman as she was impressed with Jackson’s debut. “She fits right in,” Gallagher said. “Her energy matches what we do.” Jackson is a part of a deep Grain Valley squad that saw nine players on the court Monday. Everyone who played got at least one kill. Gallagher led the way with 10 kills and showed a strong jump serve that was effective enough for a team-high five kills. “We are all pretty good players, we can play wherever she puts us,” Gallagher said. Added Squiers: “A lot of teams have weak rotations. That’s a strength of ours because we don’t have a weak rotation. We have the depth. All six rotations are strong.” The Eagles never trailed by more than two points as they dominated throughout. They put the nail in the coffin of any hope of a comeback from Smithville early in the third set. There was a rally that lasted nearly two minutes, and Grain Valley ended up winning it when sophomore outside hitter Kyliegh Casey put away a kill that put her team up 9-4 as Grain Valley never looked back. “It definitely was an adrenaline rush for our side,” Gallagher said. “It’s always good to win those kinds of points when the motivation is on your side.” Senior Megan Davies added seven kills for the Eagles. The Grain Valley volleyball team celebrates a 25-18, 25-16, 25-13 win over Smithville in the season opener Monday at home. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley junior Kyla Gallagher utilizes a jump serve. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley senior libero Haylie Jennings prepares to serve the ball. Photo credit: Michael Smith
Jackson County Public Works Environmental Health Division inspects all restaurants, grocery stores, schools, mobile food and temporary food establishments in the City of Grain Valley. The following violations were reported in the last 7 days:
El Maguey 102 Buckner Tarsney Road Observed rice, taco meat and fresh vegetables without proper date markings in the walk in cooler. Corrected on site. El Tequilazo Cocina Y Cantina LLC 522 S Main Observed moldy block cheese. Corrected on site. Observed unlabeled chemicals. Corrected on site. Sonic Drive-In 706 Main Observed hot dogs stored in container full of water and unknown particles floating. Corrected on site. Observed containers of shredded lettuce stored in make table kept longer than 24 hours with no prep/discard dates. Corrected on site. Sushi Avenue 1191 NE McQuerry Road Sushi Chef was unable to provide demonstration and knowledge of Approved HACCP Plan. Unable to locate HACCP Plan when requested by inspector. Re-inspection required. Note: Chef did locate approved HACCP Plan. Unable to obtain parasite destruction letter. Corrected on site (letter was located). pH logs were not logged as required under HACCP Plan the last 3 days. Re-inspection required. Chef checked pH for current date in front of inspector. The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of August 21-27, 2023.
August 21, 2023 PHQ Citizen contact 1200 Blk Phelps Ct Animal control 600 Creek Ridge Alarm 200 Blk Cypress Welfare check PHQ Public service August 22, 2023 Buckner Tarsney Rd/Woodbury Motor vehicle accident 1400 Blk NW Eagle Ridge Dr Welfare check 1100 Blk Buckner Tarsney Rd Stealing 1200 Blk Phelps Dr Stealing 1400 Blk Blue Branch Suspicious vehicle August 23, 2023 2100 Blk S Dillingham Citizen contact 1200 Blk Long Dr Citizen contact 1400 Blk NE Mary Ct Verbal disturbance 600 Blk Jefferson Area check PHQ Citizen contact 300 Blk SW Crestview Suspicious vehicle 800 Blk Poplar Disturbance 1400 Blk Blue Branch Parking complaint Main/Yennnie Welfare check Main/Eagles Suspicious vehicle 800 Blk Harvest Fraud August 24, 2023 1100 Blk Sandy Welfare check 100 Blk Jenson Parking complaint 700 Blk Brome Leaving the scene 1200 Blk Willow Dr Property damage PHQ Citizen contact 300 Blk SW Eagles Pkwy Suspicious vehicle 200 Blk SW Eagles Pkwy Noise disturbance 200 Blk SW Eagles Pkwy Verbal disturbance BB/Duncan Traffic light damage 1000 Blk NW Eagles Ridge Dr Extra patrol 1800 Blk Pond Animal control 1400 Blk Olympic Dr Alarm August 25, 2023 400 Blk Walnut Harassment 100 Blk Old 40 Hwy Stealing PHQ Citizen contact Kirby/Eagles Suspicious vehicle 2100 Blk Hedgewood Suspicious vehicle 700 Blk N Main St Welfare check 700 Blk Tall Chief Agency assist 500 Blk SW Eagles Pkwy Suspicious activity August 26, 2023 1600 Blk Eagles Citizen contact 800 Blk LeeAnn Threats 800 Blk Ridgeview Assault 1600 Blk Eagles Citizen contact PHQ Citizen contact 800 Blk San Karr Stealing 800 Blk San Karr Physical disturbance 200 Blk SW Eagles Pkwy Area check Woodbury/Woodbury Pl Citizen contact August 27, 2023 300 Blk Front St Harassment 1100 Blk Dean Abandoned auto 300 Blk Front St Suspicious activity PHQ Public service BB/Jefferson Road obstruction 1300 Blk NW Ashley Ln Physical disturbance 1300 Blk NW Ashley Ln Disturbance Additional calls for service: Suicidal subject: 2 by Joe Jerek, Missouri Department of Conservation
Need trees and shrubs for your landscape? Go native with tree and shrub seedlings from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). Native trees and shrubs can help improve wildlife habitat and soil and water conservation while also improving the appearance and value of private property. MDC’s George O. White State Forest Nursery offers a variety of low-cost native tree and shrub seedlings for sale for reforestation, windbreaks, erosion control, wildlife food and cover, and other purposes. The nursery provides mainly one-year-old, bare-root seedlings with sizes varying by species. Seedlings varieties include: pine, bald cypress, cottonwood, black walnut, hickory, oak, pecan, persimmon, river birch, maple, willow, sycamore, blackberry, buttonbush, hazelnut, redbud, ninebark, elderberry, sumac, wild plum, witch hazel, and others. MDC recommends ordering early for the best selection. “The nursery grows millions of seedlings each year, but some species are very popular and sell out quickly,” said Forest Nursery Supervisor Mike Fiaoni. “And some seedlings occasionally succumb to harsh weather or hungry wildlife, despite the nursery staff’s best efforts.” Fiaoni added that even if a species is listed as “sold out,” customers can still place an order for those seedlings because other orders may get cancelled, freeing up inventory. Customers won’t be charged for seedlings unless they are available to ship. Seedlings are available in bundles of 10 or increments of 25 per species. Prices range from 34 cents to $1 per seedling. Sales tax will be added to orders unless tax exempt. There is a shipping fee and a $9 handling charge for each order. Receive a 15% discount up to $20 off seedling orders with a Heritage Card, Permit Card, or Conservation ID Number. Orders will be shipped or can be picked up at the nursery, located near Licking, from February through May. Orders can be placed beginning Sept. 1 through April 15, 2024. Place orders online at mdc.mo.gov/trees-plants/tree-seedlings. by Michael Smith After an impressive offensive performance in the jamboree last week, the Grain Valley football team proved it was a sign of things to come. The Eagles looked impressive in a jamboree against Liberty North and Lee’s Summit as they scored a total of five touchdowns and were able to move the ball effectively throughout. That seemed to carry over into Friday’s season opener against Fort Osage at Murray Moody Memorial Field. The Indians had won four in a row against the Eagles, including two in the Class 5 state quarterfinals. It appeared that the Indians streak was on the verge of continuing after junior running back Ryver Peppers scored on an 18-yard run to put his team ahead 42-32 with 5 minutes and 53 seconds remaining. However, new Grain Valley quarterback Sal Caldarella had other ideas. The senior signal caller responded with two touchdown passes in the final 5 minutes, including the game winner to junior wide receiver Aaron Barr with 37.2 seconds left as he led a comeback in a 46-42 victory, ending Fort Osage’s four-game winning streak over the Eagles. “It’s bittersweet,” Grain Valley senior running back Ty Williams said of ending the losing streak against Fort. “My freshman year was the last time we beat them. We though, ‘We got to beat Fort. We got to beat Fort. Tonight we did it.” The Eagles overcame a bevy of mistakes, including two failed extra point attempts, an unsuccessful two-point conversion, a blocked punt that led to a Fort Osage TD and a fumble in the red zone that swung the momentum of the game in the Indians’ favor in the second quarter. Even after all that, the Eagles showed grit and resiliency to win a game in which it trailed for the majority of it. After Grain Valley went down by 10-points late in the fourth, Caldarella went to work. He fit a pass over the top, in a tight window, as senior wide receiver Noah Olah made an over-the-shoulder catch with a defender right behind him and he raced into the end zone for a 44-yard catch-and-run to make 43-39 with 4:28 left. “I played little league with Noah, so we already had that connection growing up,” said Caldarella, who credited his offensive line for his success. “He was at Blue Springs with me. It’s constant reps and we have learned how to play with each other over time.” Added Williams: “Noah is a dog. He’s probably the fastest guy in the state right now.” Grain Valley forced a three-and-out from the Fort offense and got the ball back with a little more than two minutes left. Disaster seemed to strike the Eagles on the next drive as Williams suffered a leg injury after a low tackle on a 2-yard run by an Indian defender. He was out for the rest of the game. Williams finished with 224 yards on 20 carries and four touchdowns. There were three occasions trainers had to work on Williams’s leg throughout the game due to what appeared to be cramping. Each time the senior toughed it out and came back into the game. “He can break it, he’s got some speed,” Grain Valley head coach David Allie said of Williams. “If you give him a crease, he has good vision and gets up field.” With Williams out, Caldarella hit Barr along the left sideline and the junior wide receiver tight roped his way into the end zone for the winning score. “That was our waggle switch play,” Barr said of the winning score. “Normally we switch it and we did because Fort Osage’s safeties like to bite down and we knew it would be open.” Caldarella, a transfer from Blue Springs, was brilliant as he totaled 204 yards and three TD through the air, while completing 11 of his 18 passes. He also had six carries for 82 yards. “Honestly, everything is good and we have more opportunities to throw the ball,” Barr said. “We couldn’t do that last year – it’s two different quarterbacks. He can fit passes into small windows. We are grateful to have him on our team.” Both teams exchanged touchdowns in the first quarter as Williams scored on a 2-yard run and Peppers hit pay dirt on an 11-yard scamper to go into the second period tied at seven apiece. Fort Osage then outscored Grain Valley 14-6 to go into halftime up 21-13. Indians senior Xander Shepherd blocked a Colton Clyman punt and returned the ball 26 yards for a score. A fumble recovery by junior Levi Carter on a lost ball from Williams set up a long drive that was capped by a 5-yard Peppers TD run. Before that score, Fort Osage senior quarterback Kyle Wilson had his pass tipped by a Grain Valley’s Jordan Fuller, but sophomore Nicholas Penamon caught the deflection and made it to the Grain Valley 5-yard line on a 50-yard passing play. The Eagles’ lone score in the second came on an 80-yard run from Williams, in which he found a huge hole in the middle, cut right and outran the Fort defense. The Indians continued their momentum into the early third period when Wilson, who completed 12 of 18 passes for 194 yards and three scores, found Curtis Holloway over the middle for an 80-yard TD through the air to make it 28-13. However, the never-say-die Eagles responded with a play action that resulted in a 50-yard scoring pass from Caldarella to Olah. Grain Valley then got an interception of Wilson from junior Toby Inman as he returned the ball to the Fort Osage 4. Williams plunged into the end zone on the ensuing play to cut the lead to 28-26 after a failed two-point conversion late in the third. Fort Osage then answered with a swing pass from Wilson to junior Alex Snodgrass that resulted in a 33-yard score 11 seconds into the fourth. But once again the Eagles came back with another score as Williams found pay dirt on a 37-yard run in which he juked two Indian defenders. “I want to thank God for this opportunity,” Williams said. “Without him, we’re nothing. Secondly, shout out to my O line, they make me look way better than I really am. Without that O line, we aren’t doing anything.” Olah finished with five catches for a 123 yards and two touchdowns for the Eagles, while Barr added three receptions and 65 yards and a TD. After Grain Valley went down by 10-points late in the fourth, Caldarella went to work. He fit a pass over the top, in a tight window, as senior wide receiver Noah Olah made an over-the-shoulder catch with a defender right behind him and he raced into the end zone for a 44-yard catch-and-run to make 43-39 with 4:28 left. Photo credit: Clara Jaques Photo credit: Clara Jaques
by Michael Smith There is one attribute that may be key to a successful season for the 2023 Grain Valley volleyball team – depth. The Eagles return five players that were a part of the 6-person rotation in 2022. But after Wednesday’s jamboree against Fort Osage and Truman, it appears head coach Tori Squiers will have plenty of options outside of the returning starters to see minutes on the court. Newcomers like Chesnie King, Kyleigh Casey, and Piper Jackson made their case for being a part of the rotation with strong performances as they helped Grain Valley win all four sets. In the jamboree, the Eagles played two sets against Truman and a pair vs. Fort Osage. The first team to 21 points won the set. Junior Kayla Gallagher returns as an outside hitter and showed her experience Wednesday. Senior Izabella West is another outside hitter with varsity experience as she saw time at the net, as well. Those two should be getting plenty of assistance at the net throughout the season from players like King and Casey showing they can be a force at putting up points. “She’s an outstanding offensive player,” Squiers said. “We have had a lot of chats about working on defense, but offensively she is strong for our team. Since she’s a lefty, that helps her when she’s hitting from (the right) side.” King looked like one of the best ball strikers on the Eagles as she was tied with Gallagher with the second most kills at seven. She had a strong left-handed swing and her strikes proved to be difficult for Fort Osage and Truman to defend. One of her kills came on a well-placed fingertip strike that landed just inside the boundary lines in the back right corner of the opponent’s floor. She appeared to be a strong defender at the net, as well as the sophomore totaled three blocks. “This is definitely different than (junior varsity),” King said. “The competition is a lot better. It was fun. I am excited for this year.” Casey could also be an option at the net for Squiers as she showed she can score, too, as she totaled five kills and two blocks which resulted in points. “She had a small injury that took her out for a few weeks,” Squiers said of Casey. “She’s trying to earn a six-rotational spot and she’s been a stud for us offensively. She also puts up a big block defensively and so does Chesnie.” Jackson, a freshman, impressed with her two kills, two blocks and an ace. “Defensively, she’s such a strong player,” Squiers said of Jackson. The returning starters also looked sharp. Davies led the team with eight kills and she added two blocks. West displayed her prowess for serving as she had a team-high four aces. Allison Koepkey, the setter, looked strong as she had two saves and multiple assists as the team’s primary setter. Senior libero Kaylie Jennings provided the team a strong punch on defense as she protected the back line well with several digs. “I feel like we have a really good connection with our defense and offense,” Davies said. “When we are putting balls away, we have a lot of good setters we can use.” “We have been running a lot of different combinations for kills and we have been running a lot of sets. We are working on perfecting them.” Overall, the Eagles looked strong as they never trailed in any set. They defeated Truman 21-19, 21-14 and topped Fort Osage 21-16, 21-9. While there were some mistakes here and there for Grain Valley, the team looked like a cohesive unit for the most part and could be in for a strong 2023 campaign. “I am glad we were able to get some nerves out during the jamboree,” Squiers said. “We want to teach them some little things during this that they haven’t seen in practice. They’re pumped, we have a great group of kids that just want to play.” Grain Valley senior Allison Koepkey prepares to serve the call during the preseason jamboree Wednesday at Truman High School. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley senior Megan Davies led the Eagles with eight kills against Fort Osage and Truman. Photo credit: Michael Smith
by Cole Arndorfer
The Grain Valley Schools Board of Education met on Thursday, August 17, for their brief monthly meeting. The meeting included a report on prepaying the district’s series 2019A bonds, a couple new business items, and discussion of three board policies. Under reports, the Board heard a presentation from Wesley Townsend and Brad Wegman of L.J. Hart and Company. The two presented an option to the board to prepay the district’s series 2019A bonds in order to save money in interest. Prepaying the full $3 million amount of the bonds would equal a savings of $225,000 over time. The board elected to go through with the bond prepayment and will pay the full amount on September 1. During the superintendent’s report, Dr. Brad Welle made note that the district is in need of paraprofessionals and custodians as the district is down nine paraprofessionals and eight custodial workers. If the positions go unfilled for the start of the year, paraprofessional positions will be run on a substitute basis with subs filling in to meet the state requirements. Custodians will run on a skeleton crew at night in order to make up their shortage to start and there will be a higher emphasis on daytime cleaning to not overwork that small crew. Following a question from Sarah Swartz on the outcome of the district’s inaugural Back to School Fair, Dr. Amanda Allen said the number of sign-ups was great but the number of attendees was a bit lacking. Allen said that there were over 90 kids that signed up for the fair but just half of those turned out at the event. Overall, Allen called the event a success and hopes that it will gain more traction in the future. For now, the district will hold supplies for the kids that signed up but were unable to come at their respective schools to be sure all kids get what they need. Under new business, the Board reviewed annual CSIP (Comprehensive School Improvement Plan) priorities for the upcoming school year. This was a list of five priorities for the upcoming year. The first priority was to improve early literacy instruction. Dr. Welle said that this is something the district has been trying to hit hard the last few years. Second, was to develop a comprehensive facilities audit and use it to create a long-range facilities plan for the future. The third priority was to look at redefining K-12 processes for assessing behavior. Fourth, developing school and district safety plans that highlights any needed improvements. The last priority was to evaluate local funding options and to propose a levy increase, and timeline for a vote by the district’s patrons. “The last time our levy went to a vote of the people in our community was 2004,” Welle said. “If you think about how our district and our community has changed in the last 20 years, that is a long time.” The board will take these priorities under consideration and bring them back for further discussion at the September meeting. The second item of new business was adding a new bus aide position for this school year. This is a position that was not budgeted for but was rather found to be a need due to the number of students that need a bus aide and how they fall along the bus routes. The board approved this item and is expected to come back in the coming months with an amendment to the budget reflecting this position. The last portion of the meeting was covering board policies. The first item discussed under board policies was discussed at length in the previous meeting. There were no changes to the policy referring to the acceptance of gifts by staff other than making note that, if offered a gift, Welle would have to speak with board president, Eddie Saffell, before accepting said gift rather than calling a board meeting. Dr. Welle made sure to point out that he is seldom offered gifts, receiving a chuckle from the board and audience, before saying that this policy is mostly a formality. This policy passed 7-0. The second policy the board discussed was options for professional staff members wishing to resign over the summer months. The specific section of the policy the board discussed was liquidated damages. As the policy states right now, a professional staff member wishing to resign from their contract between June 1 and July 1 is subject to board approval and payment of a $1,000 processing fee. The later a staff member wishes to resign, the higher the fee. Between July 1 and August 1, the fee jumps to $3,000 and for after August 1 the fee is currently $5,000. Welle said that he would have a hard time removing this section from the policy given the teacher shortage at the moment but would be open to any revisions the board may want to discuss. The board discussed adding a clause that would allow the board to waive the fee at their discretion or possibly taking away the tier system that is in place currently or taking it from three tiers to just two. The board will continue to discuss this item further. The final item in policies is the new MSBA Series 2023B policies. Main changes have to do with instructional practices, interventions, promotion/acceleration, retention, and assessment, as well as adding Holocaust Education Week to the ceremonies and observances calendar. Welle said the board will take time to go through these changes and discuss them the next time they meet. The next school board meeting will take place on September 23 at 6 pm at the Leadership Center. Grain Valley students returned to school Tuesday, August 22nd, and hundreds of proud parents shared their first day memories in our annual call for photos on Facebook. Below are just a few of the smiling faces we enjoyed seeing on Tuesday. Visit our Facebook page to view all of the submitted photos - and thanks, parents, for sharing your photos with us. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
August 5, 1998; The Examiner On Tuesday the voters of Grain Valley eased the stresses and strains of growth by approving four bond issues, for a total of more than $4 million, that will help the city move ahead and won’t even raise taxes. The city plans to refinance some debt, taking advantage of lower interest rates. At the same time it can now issue bonds for a new water tower, a new city hall complex with a community center and police headquarters, street and sewer work and work on a park. It’s history, but it sounds like we could write the same article today; a new water tower, a new police station, work on streets and new handicap accessible equipment for Armstrong Park. August 19, 1998; The Examiner Grain Valley city officials agree that the city’s population will pass the 5,000 mark this year and that growth—both homes and businesses – will probably continue. Some of the new businesses that opened in the past year included Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which put its $3.2 million expanded national headquarters near the Interstate 70 Grain Valley exit. Groundbreaking on a Comfort Inn motel is expected to take place later this year. Growth--both homes and businesses--will probably continue. Boy that “ain’t no joke.” While more than 45 new businesses came to our town in 1998, only a relative few have survived. They include American Family Insurance, Farmers Insurance, State Bank of Missouri, Brass Armadillo, Sonic Drive-In, K & M Office Products, Marsh Screw Machine Products and GV Truck Sales. Obviously, these few have been joined by many, many more. September 1, 1998; The Examiner A big change was expected this afternoon for Buckner Tarsney Road drivers in the vicinity of Pink Hill Road north of Grain Valley. Signs were to go up to make the intersection a four-way stop and an overhead flashing light there will blink red in all four directions. (Weather conditions delayed the installation a few days.) Now if we could just resolve the situation on Buckner Tarsney at Duncan Road! November, 1998, The Pointe In November, 1998 Volume 1, Issue I of The Pointe newspaper was launched from 514 Main Street in Grain Valley. The paper was mailed free to patrons of the Grain Valley School District. The first edition included the following information, Matt Farlin, Editor; Monique Church, Advertising Director, Vickie Officer, Administration Director; Chris Fischer, Associate Editor; Gina Farlin & Brent Ince, Staff. The paper was printed for about 6 years. Grain Valley has changed “just a bit” in the past twenty-five years. It’s always interesting to look back and learn where we started, be it 150 years ago or 25! When it comes to estate planning, many people focus solely on legal documents, such as wills and trusts. However, there is another key component that is often overlooked: the family letter.
A family letter is a personal document that allows you to communicate your wishes, thoughts, and feelings to your loved ones. It can be a valuable tool for your family members during a difficult time, as it provides important information and guidance on a variety of topics that are important to both you and your loved ones. One of the main benefits of a family letter is that it allows you to express your gratitude and appreciation to your family members. This can be especially meaningful for those who may not have heard those words from you before. Additionally, a family letter can provide comfort and reassurance to your loved ones during the grieving process. It is your opportunity to say “I love you” one last time. In terms of practical information, a family letter can cover a wide range of topics. For example, it can include details about your estate planning choices, such as who your attorney and financial advisors are and where your important documents are located. It can also let them know where they can find information on all of your assets and financial information, as well as any online accounts and passwords. Another important aspect of a family letter is the inclusion of family history. This can provide valuable context for your loved ones and help them understand their own place within the family. Additionally, a family letter can include information about your wishes for the care of children, grandchildren, or pets, as well as any memberships or other obligations you may have. Your family letter can also include your final words of wisdom or a blessing for your family members. This is a powerful way to leave a lasting impression on those you care about most. A family letter is an important part of every estate plan, regardless of the size of the estate. It allows you to fully communicate your wishes and feelings to your loved ones, while also providing practical information and guidance. If you still need to create a family letter, now is the time. Your family will thank you for it. |
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