by Michael Smith The Grain Valley football team had some big shoes to fill. The Eagles had their season opener against Raytown Friday at Ted Chitwood Stadium. It was their first game without Ty Williams, a player who had the best offensive season in the history of the program last season. He was a Simone Award finalist and a first-team, all-state selection in a year he rushed for 2,485 yards and 33 touchdowns. That is a lot of production that head coach David Allie would have to replace. Can Grain Valley do it? Well, it helped answer that question Friday in its season opener against Raytown. Senior Robert Palmer, a transfer from North Scott in Iowa, gave the Eagles a huge boost as he carried the ball 20 times for a career-high 197 yards and a touchdown while sophomore Sjoeren Aumua had nine carried for 72 yards and two scores as they helped their team earn a 34-12 victory. “DJ (Harris) had a couple of good runs for us, too,” Allie said of Harris, who had three carries for 26 yards. “Those guys carried the load for us.” The Eagles started out slow on offense as they were only able to muster field goals of 39 and 28 from kicker Colton Clyman, whose latter field goal came 10.8 seconds left in the first half to tie the game at 6-all going into halftime. Raytown’s score came when quarterback G Williams found a wide-open Larry Porter Jr. wide open over the middle for a 12-yard TD pass late in the second period. Raytown failed on a two-point conversion attempt. The Blue Jays defense did a good job stopping Grain Valley’s runs up the middle in the first half, so head coach David Allie made an adjustment to mix in more outside runs after halftime. I ended up paying off. Raytown junior Armon Weathers recovered an Aaron Barr fumble on the kickoff return after halftime, but the Blue Jays were unable to capitalize with any points as the Eagles got a turnover on downs. The offense finally got going as Palmer later carried two Raytown defenders in the end zone with him for a 9-yard scoring run to put his team ahead 13-6 at the 6:10 mark in the third. “We had some creases inside in the first half, we just weren’t hitting them,” Allie said. “When they were loading up inside, that gave us the edge. We had a sweep and toss that helped us attack the C and D gaps.” Raytown drove the ball down the field on the ensuing possession and made it to the Eagles’ 22-yard line. Williams connected with Hunley on a 17-yard pass, but Barr, a senior safety, punched the ball out of his grasp and junior Brody Jones’ recovered it at the Raytown 14. The Eagles then had a drive that was highlighted by a 76-yard jaunt from Palmer. “I saw that gap and I took advantage of it,” Palmer said of the big run. “It was a perfect moment.” Aumua later found a huge hole on the left side and ran into the end zone untouched for a 14-yard TD run, the first varsity score of his career, to make it 20-6 with 2:20 left in the third quarter. “It feels good, man,” Aumua said. “I finally get to show my talent. I can just show out from here on out. I like the outside runs because I have more space to do what I want and juke tacklers.” The Blue Jays responded on their next drive. Williams lobbed a pass to the right side of the end zone and Porter made a leaping catch over Grain Valley cornerback Jordan Fuller for a 14-yard score. That narrowed the gap to 20-12 after another failed 2-point conversion try. After that, the bend but don’t break Grain Valley defense did just enough to win, while Aumua scored a 2-yard run and quarterback Chase Neer connected with a wide-open Landon Marriott for 8-yard TD pass to cap the scoring for the 1-0 Eagles in the fourth period. “The blocking was way better in the second half,” Palmer said. “The first half, we struggled blocking and things weren’t going our way, then we hit the switch in the second half. The execution was perfect, and we played our game.” Grain Valley senior Robert Palmer, left, rushed for 197 yards and had a touchdown, while Sjoeren Aumua had 78 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in Grain Valley's 34-12 win over Raytown Friday at Ted Chitwood Stadium. Photo credit: Michael Smith
by Michael Smith The Grain Valley boys soccer team had a mixed bag of results in Wednesday’s preseason jamboree. It was a final tune-up before they start the regular season on Aug. 31 in the Harrisonville Boys Soccer Shootout. The jamboree featured Raymore-Peculiar, Platte County and Blue Springs at the Blue Springs soccer field. The Eagles showed flashes of brilliance in a 1-0 win over Ray-Pec but had some struggles against Blue Springs in their second scrimmage as they fell 3-0. In the jamboree, each scrimmage lasted 35 minutes and there was about a 2-3 minute break while the clock was running for a water break. While the Eagles had mixed results, they had two players who stood out who were major bright spots – sophomore Cooper Bousselot and junior Cohen Hackworth. Both play on the back line and showed they could be key pieces for the 2024 version of the Eagles. During Grain Valley’s 1-0 victory over the Panthers, Bousselot scored the team’s only goal. He blasted a 25-yard from the middle of the field and perfectly placed the shot inside the top right corner of the goal. “I knew I was going to shoot it after my first touch,” Bousselot said. “I saw that the goalkeeper had come off his line and just had a well hit and clean shot.” Grain Valley head coach Brett Lewis mouth was left agape for a few seconds as he was in shock at how impressive Bousselot’s shot was. “Cooper is only a sophomore, but he plays like he’s older,” Lewis said. “He has a high IQ and he’s good on the ball. If he gets time and space, he can put the ball in a dangerous area for the goalie.” Grain Valley had a bend-but-don’t break defense against the Panthers led by Cohen Hackworth, who had some excellent recovery runs on defense as he often chased down Panther players on breakaways to make stops. The Panthers had a few opportunities to score but missed some shots wide and high of the goal and senior goalkeeper Alex Tuttle made a diving save on a hard-hit shot with 10 seconds left against Ray-Pec. “You saw how comfortable he is back there tonight Lewis said of Hackworth. “He played up top for us late last year, but his natural position is center back. “He’s one of our top defenders with how athletic he is and how quick he can recover.” There are some things the Eagles can shore up before their season-opener, according to Lewis and his players. Against the Wildcats, Grain Valley surrendered a hat trick to senior Will Ahring, who scored all three of his goals inside the Eagles’ penalty box. “I told the team they were going to press more than Ray-Pec and they were going to be more intense and try and win the ball in the attacking third. We had some guys that were shying away when they should have been trying to get the ball. We just have to mature a little bit and get some confidence in our younger players.” Even following the loss against Blue Springs, the Eagles had some positives to take away, especially after a strong performance against one of the strongest programs in the Kansas City area – Ray-Pec. “That gave us confidence as a team that we can play well against them,” Hackworth said. “It gives us some chemistry and hope.” Grain Valley junior Cohen Hackworth, left, and sophomore Cooper Bousselot had strong performances at the preseason jamboree Wednesday at the Blue Springs soccer field. Photo credit: Michael Smith
by Cole Arndorfer
The Grain Valley Board of Aldermen met on Monday, August 26th for their second regularly scheduled meeting of the month. The meeting began with a proclamation recognizing the 10th anniversary of Valley Baptist Church. Following the proclamation, the board moved into ordinances. The only item under ordinances was a bill that would prohibit parking on the south side of James D. Rollo Drive. Grain Valley Police Chief Ed Turner explained that the road is marked for no parking, but it was found that there are no city ordinances to enforce it. The proposed ordinance would remedy this oversight. This bill was approved on its first read, then brought back right away for its second read by title only where it was passed unanimously. During City staff reports, Parks and Recreation Director Shannon Davies noted that the 2024 city pool season is wrapping up with Labor Day just ahead. City Administrator Ken Murphy shared the Downtown Grain Valley organization is hosting a homecoming pep rally at the community garden to be held on September 18th. Murphy said that one of the things that the group wishes to have at the event is a food truck and board policy dictates that the board must approve a food truck to be on city property. A motion was made to allow the food truck, and it was approved. Mayor Mike Todd reminded the board and the public about the Grain Valley Fair taking place on September 6 and 7. The Board then moved into executive session and the meeting was adjourned. The next Board of Aldermen meeting will take place at 6:30pm on Monday, September 9th at City Hall. The Grain Valley Police Department is hosting "Cakes, Cops, and Conversations" on Saturday, August 31st from 8:00am - 11:00am at Armstrong Park.
Chris Cakes will be cooking up their famous all-you-can eat pancake breakfast for attendees. School resource officers, police officers, and staff members that serve the community will be in attendance to chat with community members. The event is free to attend and open to everyone. Truman Heartland Community Foundation reports that 334 students have been awarded $828,181 in scholarships for the 2024-25 school year to help them pursue higher education. This is a 70 percent increase over the total awards made just four years ago in 2020. The Foundation received 2,271 applications from students throughout the region, with 409 community volunteers investing thousands of hours meticulously reviewing. There were 461 total scholarships awarded from 173 named scholarships. Since 1982, THCF has been dedicated to supporting area students through its scholarship program and has now surpassed $7.5 million in total awards.
Rachael Cassiday Watkins, THCF Director of Scholarships, expressed her gratitude for the commitment of THCF advisory board members and the dedicated community volunteers who played a critical role in the rigorous review process. "Every year, members of the THCF advisory boards and dedicated community volunteers join forces to review and evaluate hundreds of scholarship applications," Cassiday Watkins said. "Without the invaluable support of our volunteers, it would be impossible to accomplish such a task. They are the cornerstone of our program, offering the essential support needed to make these critical decisions." The THCF Scholarship Committee members are Scott Chase, Dr. Robert Cordell, John Dane, Antwan Daniels, Trey DeRousse, Linda Gerding, Chris Lievsay, Kelley Manning, Matt Medley, Nick Parker, Rochelle Parker, Janice Phelan, Demonte Rochester, Mike Rodriguez, John Ruddy, Canise Salinas-Willich, Dr. Beth Savidge, Ian Scott, Patti Simcosky, Terri Steele, Cory Unrein, and Michael Vestweber. The THCF Donor Directed Scholarship Committee (working as the official THCF representative on private- or family-managed scholarship funds) are Toni Alexander, Don Claphan, Ryan Gibson, John Grant, Ruth Hafner, Mindy Hampton, Travis Hunt, Randy McClain, Shari Miller, Steve Morgan, Brian Morris, Patrick Nelson, Rick Taylor, Jerry Vaughan, and Matt Verlinden. A scholarship fund at THCF combines a person's desire to provide educational assistance with the foundation’s administrative expertise to provide students with the support they need to pursue their dreams of higher education. For more information about the Truman Heartland Community Foundation and its scholarship program, please visit www.thcf.org or call (816) 836-8189. by Maddie Fennewald, Missouri Department of Conservation
Ponds can be managed to improve fishing and to reduce problems from nuisance aquatic vegetation. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will host a pond management workshop from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, at Powell Gardens to provide participants with tips for managing their own ponds. MDC staff will provide participants with information on managing fish populations and aquatic vegetation in ponds. Controlling nuisance aquatic plants will be among the topics covered. Pond owners can ask questions and get specific information about dealing with problems at their pond. Participants are also asked to bring plant samples or photographs of any plants causing problems in their pond as MDC biologists can identify the plants and recommend options for control. Participants will also learn about aquatic plant identification. For MDC’s online information about pond management, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZNa. Powell Gardens does have a $15 admission fee that participants will need pay to access the workshop location. Participants are encouraged to tour the garden’s rich floral displays and scenic ponds before and after the workshop. Registration for this event is required at http://short.mdc.mo.gov/4s5. Questions about this event can be emailed to [email protected]. Powell Gardens are located east of Kansas City and west of Warrensburg off U.S. 50 in Johnson County. The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of August 21 – August 26, 2024.
August 21, 2024 10000 BLK E 59TH ST Prisoner Transport NW OOIDA DR Follow Up Investigation PHQ Walk In Report PHQ Walk In Report PHQ Walk In Report WB70 RAMP / MAIN Agency Assist LE 1100 BLK NW ASPEN CT Crash Left Scene PHQ Walk In Report 1300 BLK NW CRESTWOOD DR Standby to Prevent PHQ Walk In Report 1400 BLK GOLFVIEW DR Area Check 1200 BLK NW WILLOW DR Disturbance-Verbal 5300 BLK NW BARR RD Parking Complaint/Viol 1100 BLK CHRISMAN FARM RD Vehicle Check SNI-A-BAR / SNI-A-BAR Security Check August 22, 2024 WB 70 / BATES CITY Information 800 BLK NW HICKORY RIDGE DR Citizen Contact 700 BLK SW GRAYSTONE DR Stealing Over 500 BLK SW FOOT HILL DR Stealing Vehicle 500 BLK SW OAK WOOD LN Property Damage 1300 BLK NW CRESTWOOD DR Missing Person-Juvenile 1400 BLK BLUE BRANCH DR Check Well Being 1100 BLK NW WILLOW DR Harrassment 1900 BLK NW HACKBERRY CT Standby to Prevent 1200 BLK R D MIZE RD Disturbance-Physical PERSIMMON/ROSEWOOD Disturbance-Verbal 1200 BLK R D MIZE RD Citizen Contact 300 BLK SW EAGLES PKWY Missing Person-Adult 4100 BLKS RUST RD Residence Check GREYSTONE BLVD / SHALE CT Check Well Being August 23, 2024 EB 70/LEE'S SUMMIT RD Agency Assist LE 1100 BLK NW CHRISMAN FARM RD Crash Left Scene BILLS IRON WORKS Property Damage CLIPPER DR Area Check 600 BLK NW WOODBURY DR Disturbance-Physical 200 BLK SW EAGLES PKWY Disturbance-Verbal PHQ Public Service PHQ Walk In Report BLUE BRANCH TRAIL OFF AA Citizen Contact PHQ Citizen Contact 1100 BLK N BUCKNER TARSNEY RD Motorist Assist 100 BLK SW ROCK CREEK LN Missing Person-Juvenile 1100 BLK N BUCKNER TARSNEY RD Citizen Contact 2000 BLK ELMWOOD DR Area Check 1500 BLK NW BROADWAY ST Suspicious Vehicle 1100 BLK N BUCKNER TARSNEY RD Disturbance-Verbal 400 BLK N MAIN ST Stealing 300 BLK SW EAGLES PKWY Noise; Animal Neglect 1300 BLK NW LINDENWOOD DR Disorderly Conduct 1100 BLK N BUCKNER TARSNEY RD Pedestrian Check NW OOIDA DR Security Check GREYSTON Extra Patrol August 24, 2024 WB70 / JE BROADWAY Agency Assist LE 31000 BLK E ARGO RD Alarm-Commercial 200 BLK NW BARR RD Disturbance-Verbal 700 BLK N MAIN ST Vehicle Check 700 BLK N MAIN ST Check Well Being 1700 BLK NW NICHOLAS DR Agency Assist DFS 1300 BLK NW SYCAMORE DR Citizen Contact 500 BLK SW EAGLES PARKWAY Off Duty Assignment MAIN NEAR RR TRACKS Area Check PHQ Walk In Report PHQ Public Service PHQ Citizen Contact GREYSTONE Extra Patrol 800 BLK SYCAMORE Extra Patrol JEFFERSON / BUCKNER TARSNEY RD Area Check 800 BLK SYCANORE Extra Patrol 1400 BLK NE MARY CT Suspicious Person I 70 / JW GV EXIT Motorist Assist 1300 BLK GOLFVIEW DR Threats PHQ Walk In Report August 25, 2024 35000 BLK E OLD HWY 40 Vehicle Check 900 BLK NW HILLTOP LN Noise 1100 BLK NE EAGLE RIDGE DR Check Well Being 30300 BLK E PINK HILL RD Stealing Under 1800 BLK NW MYA CT Stealing Vehicle 500 BLK SW CENTURION CT Stealing Over 1800 BLK NW MYA CT Follow Up Investigation 200 BLK SW EAGLES PKWY Animal Neglect 800 BLK NW GREEN DR Alarm-Residential PHQ Walk In Report SNI A BAR AND SNI A BAR Area Check 900 BLK SW MONTANA RIDGE DR Citizen Contact 700 BLK NW GREEN DR Area Check 200 BLK NW GARDEN ST Harrassment PHQ Warrant Arrest 300 BLK NE COLDWATER CREEK DR Citizen Contact 500 BLK ELIZABETH ST Agency Assist EMS 600 BLK NW YENNIE AVE Disturbance-Verbal August 26, 2024 MAIN/JEFFERSON Pedestrian Check 1100 BLK NW WILLOW DR Check Well Being PHQ Public Service PHQ Administrative 100 BLK SW EAGLES PKWY Stealing Vehicle PHQ Administrative 600 BLK SW NELSON DR Alarm-Residential 1400 BLK NW HICKORY RIDGE CT Civil Matter KIRBY / W OF 40 HWY Crash Non-Injury 700 BLK N MAIN ST Citizen Contact PHQ Public Service PHQ Walk In Report 600 BLK SW NELSON DR Disturbance-Physical 600 BLK SW NELSON DR Standby to Prevent August 27, 2024 1400 BLK SW CROSS CREEK DR Citizen Contact 1400 BLK EAGLES Security Check 1100 BLK CHRISMAN FARM RD Security Check 500 BLK MAIN ST Vehicle Check 500 BLK MAIN ST Security Check EB I70 OFF RAMP Area Check PHQ Public Service W OF I70 Check Well Being 3300 BLK NE OUTER BELT RD Alarm-Commerical BUCKNER TARSNEY RD / N RD MIZE Area Check PHQ Administrative PHQ Walk In Report 700 BLK SW GINGER HILL DR Area Check 700 BLK SW WOODLAND CIR Agency Assist EMS 1100 BLK NE MCQUERRY RD Follow Up Investigation 1209 BLK NW HIGH VIEW DR Trespass 700 BLK SW MINTER RD Alarm-Residential 200 BLK PEBBLE BROOK LN Crash Non-Injury PHQ Public Service 400 BLK JAMES ROLLO DR Vehicle Maintenance PHQ Public Service 700 BLK SQUIRE CT Citizen Contact PHQ Public Service 600 BLK SW NELSON DR Follow Up Investigation 1000 BLK SW FOXTAIL DR Citizen Contact 500 BLK NW WILLOW DR Check Well Being 1000 BLK R D MIZE RD Check Well Being 600 BLK NELSON DR Follow Up Investigation 900 BLK NW HIGH VIEW DR Missing Person-Juvenile 31000 NE PINK HILL RD Security Check Additional calls for service: Order of protection: 2 Poll shows Missouri voters back Trump, Hawley, abortion rights and minimum wage hikeby Rudi Keller, Missouri Independent Missourians seem poised to legalize abortion and increase the minimum wage in November but are unlikely to embrace the Democratic statewide candidates who are among the ballot measures’ most ardent supporters, a new poll shows. The proposal to enshrine the right to abortion up until the point of fetal viability in the Missouri Constitution drew support from 52% of people surveyed between Aug. 8 and 16 for the St. Louis University/YouGov poll. The minimum wage increase, to $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2026, had even stronger backing, with 57% of those surveyed saying they support it. The poll also found majorities supporting every Republican running statewide, who each held at least a 10-percentage point lead over Democratic opponents. Former President Donald Trump was selected by 54% of respondents, with 41% backing Vice President Kamala Harris. The poll gives Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe a 51% to 41% advantage over House Minority Leader Crystal Quade in the governor’s race. The best-funded Democratic statewide candidate, Lucas Kunce, was 11 percentage points behind incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, with the poll showing Hawley with a 53% to 42% edge. “I’d be very surprised if any Democrat won a statewide race this year,” poll director Steven Rogers said. “It’s not breaking news that Democrats struggle in statewide races in Missouri.” The poll surveyed 900 voters and has a 3.8% margin of error. It included 69 questions, seeking views on major issues facing the state in addition to tracking approval ratings for politicians and testing election contests. The results showed: The economy is the biggest concern for voters, listed as the No. 1 issue by 47%. The survey also showed 69% view the national economy as fair or poor and 71% give that rating to the state economy. Health care, at 18%, and education, 16%, are the second and third issues listed as top concerns.A plurality of voters, 42%, oppose four-day school weeks, but those aged 18 to 29 support it by a 44% to 35% margin. Voters 65 years old or older had the strongest opposition. A new law requiring a public vote to adopt a four-day week in districts in charter counties and cities larger than 30,000 people had overwhelming support at 77%, which was consistent across all demographic, income and partisan groups.Laws to require a background check for gun sales and banning minors from carrying guns on public property without adult supervision also had overwhelming support, 79% and 85% respectively. But voters oppose other measures to control firearms, including allowing local ordinances that are stronger than state law.Polling by SLU/YouGov began in 2020, making this the second presidential election year for the project. Its last poll before the 2020 election pointed correctly to the outcome, but Republican candidates generally did better than the poll indicated. Gov. Mike Parson was shown with a 50% to 44% lead over Democratic State Auditor Nicole Galloway and ended up winning by a 57-41 margin. That poll showed then-President Donald Trump with a 52% to 43% advantage over Joe Biden, with the final result a Trump win, also by a 57-41 margin. Democrats are banking heavily on voter support for ballot measures, especially the abortion rights proposal, to help overcome some of the other disadvantages they face. No Democrat has won a statewide race since 2018. Historically, however, ballot measures have only a marginal impact on candidate races, said Rogers, an associate professor of political science at St. Louis University. “A presidential election year is probably the least effective time to have something else to boost turnout,” he said.
Ballot measures can drive turnout. Three of the most high-profile Missouri ballot measures this century — same-sex marriage in 2004, right to work in 2018 and Medicaid expansion in 2020 — were placed on the August primary ballot by governors worried about the impact of ballot-measure voters on November campaigns. In 2004, the issue coincided with a titanic battle for the Democratic nomination for governor and 847,000 Democrats voted. In 2018, with no significant primary, 607,577 votes were tallied in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate and in 2020, where there again was no hotly contested primary, 537,000 Democrats voted in the gubernatorial race. In years with no high-profile ballot measures, Democrats since 2000 have averaged about 350,000 voters in statewide primaries for governor and U.S. Senate. Republicans also showed an increase in primary voters in the years with ballot measures, but not by the same degree. In years without controversial ballot measures, the GOP has averaged about 530,000 voters in statewide contests for governor and U.S. Senate. The average for 2004, 2018 and 2020 was about 640,000 votes. That data shows that ballot measures can impact low-turnout elections, Rogers said. Presidential election years traditionally have the highest turnout. “Those voters may already be turning out, and so the difference that you’re making is probably going to be marginal,” Rogers said. The poll found very few voters are undecided, so the target for Democrats will have to be voters who support the ballot measures but intend to vote for Republican candidates. The poll shows that about one-third of voters who said they will vote for Trump, Kehoe and Hawley will also support the abortion rights amendment and minimum wage propositions. Democrats will have a tough time switching voters, Rogers said. “There isn’t much evidence of what we would call reverse coattails for ballot measures,” he said. The only Democrat already airing television ads in advance of the November election is Kunce, who has spent $2.7 million through Tuesday, according to FCC records reviewed by The Independent. Hawley has spent $1.2 million on television ads in defense of the seat he won in 2018. Hawley is in the best position he has been in any of the previous SLU/YouGov polls. His approval rating is 53%, which is 14 percentage points higher than his negative rating. That is the best overall number recorded, Rogers said. He also had a 14-point net positive rating in July 2021 in the first SLU/YouGov poll after the Jan. 6 attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Hawley’s lowest net positive was two points in an August 2022 poll taken just after video of him running away from the Senate chamber during the Jan. 6 riot was included in hearings of the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. In that survey, Hawley had a 46% favorable rating and a 44% unfavorable rating.
The only Republican statewide candidate who equals Hawley’s support is state Sen. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg, shown with a 54-36 lead in the secretary of state race over state Rep. Barbara Phifer, the Democratic nominee. Hoskins ran in the primary as a team with state Sen. Bill Eigel, who finished second in the primary for governor. Eigel’s combative style found an enthusiastic audience in some areas and that is likely helping Hoskins, Rogers said. Hawley also has a reputation for being combative and that may explain why he is doing so well, Rogers said. “Hawley is not Eigel, but he sometimes acts Eigel-like,” he said. The poll found support for the abortion rights initiative, which is slated to appear on the November ballot as Amendment 3, is increasing. It is eight percentage points higher than found in a February poll, Rogers said. Amendment 3 has a plurality or majority of voters in most demographic, income and education subgroups, with only Republicans, as a group, and voters in rural areas of northeast and southern Missouri showing more opposition than support. The abortion measure would overturn a Missouri law that took effect in June 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that provided federal constitutional protection for abortion. Under current Missouri law, abortions are only allowed to save the life of the mother or when “a delay will create a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function.” Exactly how many initiative proposals will be on the Nov. 5 ballot remains uncertain. The abortion rights measure and the proposal to legalize sports wagering must survive court challenges, and backers of a proposal to allow a new casino near the Lake of the Ozarks are trying to overturn the decision that they fell short of the required signatures in one congressional district. No hearing had been set as of Wednesday afternoon for the challenge to the abortion rights amendment. Attorneys will be in court Sept. 5 for arguments over the sports wagering proposal, which would be Amendment 2 on the ballot, and on Friday for the casino proposal. With no legal challenge, the campaign committee for increasing the minimum wage, known as Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages, has already begun reserving television ad time for the final three weeks of the campaign. Through Tuesday, the committee had spent $904,000, according to FCC records. The minimum wage proposal, which also includes a requirement for businesses to provide paid time off to full-time employees, is supported across all regional, demographic, income, and education subgroups. Only Republicans, as a group, showed more opposition than support. On another question, pollsters surveyed what voters thought the minimum wage should be in Missouri and the median was $15, the level targeted in the initiative. Support for sports wagering, seen in 50% of those polled, was also widespread. Only one subgroup, voters in southeast Missouri, showed more opposition to sports wagering than support. Each of the initiative campaigns is poised to spend millions to hold and expand the support shown in the polls. Rogers said he’s confident that effort will pay dividends. “My anticipation,” he said, “is that as the campaigns become more active, and based off our previous polling, that support will only go up.” SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST.
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Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: [email protected]. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X. Evergy is hoping its regulators OK higher electric bills for its Missouri West customersby Meg Cunningham, Beacon: Missouri Evergy confused and angered its Missouri customers in 2023 when it rolled out time-of-use rates that meant prices would run highest when people use the most electricity. Missourians, especially those on fixed incomes, complained of high costs and having to choose between things like groceries and their medications or powering their homes during peak hours. Now, Evergy Missouri West, which has a monopoly on service for much of the western part of Missouri outside of Kansas City, is heading back to its regulator to ask for more from the 340,000 users in the region. (Here's how you can weigh in.) Evergy wants the Public Service Commission to OK a 13.99% increase in electric rates, giving the company up to $104.5 million more in revenue a year. In 2023, the company reported $731 million in earnings. “As people do we pick between: are we eating, or are we paying our power bill?” said Kelly Smith, who showed up to testify at a public hearing in St. Joseph on the proposed rate hike. “My bill is just shy of $300. I work all the time. I’m hardly ever home. … My thermostat is set to 75 degrees.” The Public Service Commission held several hearings across Evergy’s coverage area in late July. Dozens of Missourians, including lawmakers, showed up to argue against the rate hike. They shared stories of $700 bills, finding every energy-efficient upgrade to their home they could and making tough choices about which bills to pay. Just because the company asked for a rate increase doesn’t mean it’ll get what it asked for. The commission started an 11-month review in February. It will decide in December how much rates might go up starting Jan. 1. Why is Evergy asking for a rate increase?Evergy argues it needs the higher rates to recoup money it spent on two natural-gas plants and for a range of upgrades to withstand severe weather and surges of demand for electricity. The upgrades in the grid have already been made, said Gina Penzig, a spokesperson for Evergy. “We make the investments and the power grid, and then we go to the commission and ask to recover those investments,” Penzig said. “So we are asking for money that the company has already spent.” The company is asking for funds to aid in its purchase of part of a natural-gas plant in Pleasant Hill to generate more electricity for the region. It’s also reupping its longtime request to make back some of the cost of transporting power from a natural-gas plant in Mississippi to Missouri, a request the state regulators have previously denied. Evergy has conducted studies that show transmitting the energy from Mississippi to Missouri is the most cost-effective method of serving some customers. If they can’t recover those costs, Evergy may have to revisit the issue in the future to find another way to transmit that energy, Penzig said. The rate hike request alarmed some Evergy customers, which drew the attention of lawmakers. They’d already been hearing complaints about the time-based plans mandated by the commission. “They said that the average customer was supposed to have a rate decrease,” said Rep. Dean VanSchoiack, a Republican who represents parts of the state north of St. Joseph. “I’ve not met that average customer yet.” He takes issue with how Evergy is passing along the costs of its upgrades to customers, who don’t have the choice of simply switching providers if they can’t keep up with the bill. “From what I understand right now — 13.99% — it’s mostly to cover the expenses they did upgrading their poles and lines,” VanSchoiack said. “I was in business. You have to make money…but there are certain costs of doing business that you don’t get to expense right away.” But because utility companies are monopolies, they aren’t faced with the same burdens of a typical business in a free market. “Utilities are basically glorified construction companies,” said Geoff Marke, the chief economist at the Missouri Office of Public Counsel, a sort of ombudsman. “When they build assets, they make a return on it. So they have a perverse incentive to build as much as they can.” Evergy says its rates lag its peers across the country. But the OPC said that lacks context. When Evergy was formed in 2018 from the merger of Kansas City Power and Light Co. and Westar, regulators froze its rates for five years. In 2018, the Missouri General Assembly passed a law that allowed utilities to access plant-in-service accounting, which spreads out the cost of investments over years. Those costs are typically passed on to the consumer. “I’d say it’s much less ‘We didn’t ask for anything,’” said John Clizer, the senior counsel for the Office of Public Counsel, “and much more about ‘We delayed asking for a lot of things, but you are still going to pay for all of that.’ They may not have gotten the rate increases, but you’re also seeing all these other increases to certain charges.” The Public Service Commission’s options on the Evergy rate increaseThe Public Service Commission consists of five members and has the power to approve the rate increase as is, deny it or respond with a rate different than what Evergy asked for. The commissioners are appointed by the governor. Gov. Mike Parson has appointed all but one of the current members, who have a staff of over 200 at their disposal. The commission is structured like its regulatory counterpart in Kansas, the Kansas Corporation Commission. The KCC has three members, also appointed by the state’s governor. They approved a rate increase in November for Evergy’s central Kansas customers, also to cover costs associated with power plant investments and new infrastructure. The proposed rate increase comes as many Republicans in Jefferson City are looking to regulate the regulator. After frustration over the time-based plans, some lawmakers want to add two more people to the commission and require more varied professions. Some proposed legislation looks to require some members to have farming or utility backgrounds. Kayla Hahn is the current chair of the commission. She was most recently Parson’s policy director. Three other members previously served in the Missouri General Assembly. The most recent addition to the commission is John Mitchell, who spent over three decades in various roles at Burns & McDonnell Engineering in Kansas City. Renew Missouri, a group that advocates for the state to move toward cleaner energy sources, says the most recent appointment is breaking from the traditional model. “Generally it’s been lawmakers and aides to the governor who are on there,” said James Owen, the group’s executive director. “I think it’s good to see different professions represented there.” Some lawmakers, like VanSchoiack, want to see commissioners who aren’t necessarily politicians. “They’re working too much for the power companies, not enough for the people,” VanSchoiack said. Owen said the commission is “pro-utility.” “They need to be confronted with the fact this is not just some line on a balance sheet,” Owen said. “It is actually real people who are struggling and suffering.” VanShoiack isn’t confident that all of the legislature or Republican leadership sees the need to take another look at the structure of the commission. “We need to be looking at things that really do truly help people,” VanShoiack said. “I think we’d be better off if we did try to focus more on some of these issues and less on the political issues.” This article first appeared on Beacon: Missouri and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Campbell’s Sho-Me Gun Shop
Tim Campbell owned a gun shop at 506 N. Main Street for a number of years during the 1980’s and 1990’s. Thus far, the exact dates have not been determined, but I’m working on that. This building, now home to the Grain Valley Historical Society, requires a bit more researching before I can give you its entire history. A hundred-year-old plus photograph, the July calendar page, indicates that among other things, this general store sold “Worthmore Shoes"; however, it also pictures a wooden structure, not brick, and it was not attached to the garage on the south side of the building. Photos from later years depict the current brick structure. In a newspaper article written by Winona Burgess, the first president and a founding member of the Grain Valley Historical Society, she remembered the building as the Frost Grocery Store when she moved to Grain Valley in the late 1930s. I remember this building as the Minter Grocery Store in the early 1950s. Last year, a visitor to the Historical Society said his grandfather had an upholstery business in the store few a few years in the 1970s; however, he didn’t know the exact dates. Sometime during the 1980s it became the Sho-Me Gun Shop. It was vacant when the Historical Society bought it in 1998. After a total gutting and an extensive remodeling job which included installing restrooms, a kitchen and restoration of the original tin ceiling, hidden above the 1980s drop ceiling, it opened just before Christmas in 1999 as the Grain Valley Historical Society. While it may require quite a bit of research, stay tuned to this column. I’m on a mission to learn more about this historical old building. When I do, I’ll certainly let you know! Deadline for Missouri’s new marijuana plain packaging is Sept. 1by Rebecca Rivas, Missouri Independent Marijuana companies face a hard deadline to meet Missouri’s new plain packaging requirements on Sept. 1 — more than a year after the rule was initially put in place. For decades, there’s been a global movement urging “plain packaging” on tobacco products — or packaging with limited colors and frills — after numerous studies found it makes cigarettes less appealing to young people. Missouri is now atesting ground to see if plain packaging has the same impact for recreational marijuana. When voters passed the constitutional amendment to legalize recreational marijuana in 2022, it included a provision that labels and packaging for marijuana-related products, “shall not be made to be attractive to children.” Now under new state rules, packaging can only be one primary color, and it can have up to two logos or symbols that can be a different color or several different colors.
“This approach to packaging is familiar to all of us,” said Amy Moore, director of Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation, during a legislative committee hearing last year. “You think about the cereal aisle versus tobacco packaging or over-the-counter medicines.” The initial deadline for compliance was May 1, but regulators heard from licensees that potential delays in global shipping could impact their ability to receive the packaging in time. Now starting on Sept. 1, marijuana manufacturers must package and label all products in division-approved designs before sending them to a dispensary. Dispensaries can continue to sell non-compliant products they already have in the store until Nov. 1. The new rules also require the division to pre-approve the labels, a process that didn’t exist under medical marijuana rules. Nick Rinella, CEO of Hippos Cannabis, said companies have seen delays in the state’s approval of their submitted designs. “The state just doesn’t have the manpower to go through and approve them,” Rinella said. “And until they’re approved, they can’t go onto the shelves in their new packaging.” Since the approval process opened on Sept. 1, 2023, the division has received nearly 150,000 submissions, said Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the division. Half of those were submitted within the last 60 days. “Licensees have had a year to submit applications for approval,” Cox said, “and five months’ notice that they should not expect another extension.” Cox said all applications are being processed within 60 days. The constitution says that no marijuana facility can sell edible marijuana-infused candy in shapes or packages that are attractive to children or that are easily confused with commercially sold candy that does not contain marijuana. Penalties include fines of up to $5,000 and a loss of a business license. The packaging requirements are part of Missouri’s new cannabis regulation rules that went into effect on July 30, 2023. In the division’s first draft of proposed rules last year, it required companies to have only one color on the label. That caused an uproar from the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, which argued in a letter to lawmakers that marijuana businesses had already invested “many millions” in packaging designs. And companies did so, the trade association contends, because “attractive, interesting, and attention-grabbing packaging is essential to effectively advertise and promote marijuana product sales.” After the pushback from both MoCann Trade and some legislators, the agency changed the rule to allow “limited colors.” Another compromise, Moore told lawmakers, was allowing for QR codes on the labels to send consumers to their website for more information. Missouri becomes one of few states that require plain packaging in the adult-use cannabis market, according to the Network for Public Health Law. The others include Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Moore said the rules align with what voters asked for in the constitutional amendment. The requirements regarding children’s safety are more stringent than what was included in the constitutional amendment legalizing medical marijuana in 2018. “We have to notice that,” she said, “and say, ‘Apparently we’re to do more, we’re to do better for children and for health.” Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: [email protected]. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and X. The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) Air Quality Program has issued an orange Ozone Action Alert for Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. This alert indicates that an unhealthy level of ground-level ozone is expected tomorrow in the Kansas City region.
“During my 15 years with MARC, this is the first time I can recall issuing our first ozone alert this late in the season,” said MARC Air Quality Senior Planner Doug Norsby. “We appreciate everyone taking steps to protect their health and the environment.” Ozone pollution is formed when emissions from vehicles, lawn and garden equipment, and other sources react in heat and sunlight. Environmental factors — such as warm, sunny weather; low wind speeds; and lack of rain — increase the likelihood of poor air quality. The two most important things residents should do on Ozone Alert days are: 1. PROTECT YOUR HEALTH Ozone pollution can cause a variety of problems — even in healthy adults — including chest pains, coughing, nausea, throat irritation and difficulty breathing. People who are sensitive to air pollution, including children, older adults and people with breathing or heart problems, should limit outdoor activity between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Everyone should consider scheduling outdoor activities before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m. 2. REDUCE POLLUTION More than half of all emissions that lead to ozone pollution are caused by everyday activities such as driving and yard work. To help reduce air pollution, you can postpone mowing and wait until evening to refuel vehicles. If you live close to where you work, consider riding a bike or walking instead of driving. Both options produce zero emissions and the exercise is great for your health. Try to schedule walking and biking trips before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m., and avoid prolonged exposure to outdoor air. Learn more about simple actions to reduce pollution and follow the SkyCast, the region’s daily air quality forecast, at AirQKC.org. MARC issues the SkyCast each afternoon from March 1 through Oct. 31. SkyCast information is also available via the air quality information line, 816-701-8287, on social media at www.twitter.com/airQKC and from area media outlets. by Michael Smith The Grain Valley softball team has had a good amount of success in recent years. Last season, the Eagles went 23-7 last season, but fell 5-3 in the first round of the Class 5 District 6 Tournament against Fort Osage. The team has won at least 20 games for five consecutive seasons, but was unable to come away with a district championship. Second-year head coach Flip Courter and his players hope to overcome that hump and win a district championship in 2024 behind a trio of talented pitchers. Senior Makenna Moore, junior Sidney Hemme, and sophomore Molly Jones are three hurlers who will see time in the circle and whom Courter expects to be major contributors for this season. Last season, Hemme made both the all-region and all-district teams. Moore was someone who helped keep the scores close against elite level opponents such as Raymore-Peculiar and Troy Buchanan. Moore, the ace of the staff, has the most velocity behind her pitches and is someone who an NCAA Division I caliber prospect as she will pitch for Jacksonville State in 2025. Hemme had a stellar season in 2023 as she went 8-2 with a 1.32 earned run average and had 63 strikeouts, 23 walks and notched a 1.13 walks and hits per inning pitched. Hemme stated her breaking pitches are her best ones and what helped her have success last season. Jones doesn’t throw as hard as Hemme or Moore, but she is good at locating her pitches and using her changeup to get outs. Courter said he plans on using all three pitchers this season, which is a different approach than most other teams use. Most teams usually have one workhorse pitcher to toss most games, while having a second pitcher who goes in when the ace needs a rest or if the workload needs to be split due to having to play multiple games in one day. “In softball, 90 percent of the game is pitching,” Courter said. “We bring back three good pitchers off last year’s team. “Having three pitchers gives us the flexibility so we don’t have to use the same pitcher over and over. “Our pitchers aren’t going to have the gaudy numbers because we are splitting things three ways.” Hemme noted that having three pitchers could provide an advantage for the Eagles. “Our pitching is really diverse,” Hemme said. “A lot of our pitchers are good for different situations. All our pitchers can handle any situation. We are deep.” It will help the Eagles have a solid defense behind them, led by sophomore center fielder Madison Rust, who covers a lot of ground, according to Courter and his players. “I could put ball anywhere in any situation and I, 100 percent trust my field to back me up and get us out of any situation,” Hemme said. Olivia Slaughter will be tasked with calling the pitches as she is a returning starter who will play at catcher. She split time with another catcher in 2023 but will start most games in 2024. On offense, she is one of the best hitters on the team. She is good at hitting line drives and had a few homeruns last season. Senior Sal Haley returns as the starting third baseman after coming off an outstanding season in which she hit .432 and had a 1.210 on based plus slugging percentage with three homeruns and 33 runs-batted in. “She’s a phenomenal third baseman,” Courter said. “She gives us a really good bat in the middle of the lineup.” Senior Kiersten Parker will return to play second base for the Eagles. She is a power hitter with a big swing and gives the team some speed on the basepaths. Rust likely will be Grain Valley’s leadoff hitter as she provides speed and is an above-average contact hitter at the plate. Junior Syndee Wagner is a returner at shortstop. Like Parker, she has some pop in her bat and can hit some homeruns. The Eagles have some vacancies at the corner outfield spots and at first base. Courter said Jones and Hemme can play in the field when they are not pitching. Seniors Melissa Riggle and Bailey Mason and junior Morgan Hart could get some playing time, too. Newcomers such as freshmen Abrianna Scott and Mackenzie Rust could get into the mix, as well. “We have a lot of different girls who play a lot of different positions. We will be pretty stacked this year.,” Haley said. With multiple options and pitcher and in the field, Grain Valley could have the depth and the talent to win an elusive district championship. “There has been only one final four team in Grain Valley’s history,” Courter said. “Grain Valley has a strong softball tradition, but we haven’t gotten over that hump to make the final four. I don’t see why that shouldn’t be one of our goals.” Grain Valley junior pitcher Sydney Hemme, left, and senior third baseman Sal Haley are two of the six returning starters for the Grain Valley softball team and hope to lead the Eagles to a district title. Photo credit: Michael Smith
by Michael Smith The Grain Valley football team is coming off a season in which it had arguably the best offensive player in the history of its program. Running back Ty Williams, a Simone Award finalist, rushed for 2,485 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also had 385 yards through the air and five more scores in 2023. He’s now a graduate and is playing for Washburn University’s football team. That’s a lot of production Grain Valley will have to try to replace. It may be near impossible, but after Friday’s preseason jamboree, the Eagles appear to have someone who could provide some good production at the position. Senior Robert Palmer, a transfer from North Scott High School in Iowa, had an impressive showing at a jamboree that featured defending Class 6 state champion Liberty North, Lee’s Summit and Class 3 semifinalist St. Pius X at Moody Murray Memorial Field. He carried the ball six times for 30 yards and caught one pass for six yards, scoring one of the Eagles’ two touchdowns of the day. At the jamboree each team got to run 11 plays on offense and 11 on defense against each team while starting drives from the opponent’s 35-yard line. If a team failed to get a first down, it would start over at the 35. His big run came against Lee’s Summit as he broke a tackle on a run between the tackles and used his speed to get to the second level of the Tigers’ defense for a 20-yard gain. He ended up scoring on a 1-yard run later in the drive. He’s a physical running back who looks good on runs between the tackles but also showed he can be a good pass catcher out of the backfield. “He’s a tough runner,” Grain Valley head coach David Allie said. “He can bring the physicality when he needs to. He’s a great kid and has worked from Day 1 since he’s been here.” Junior quarterback Chase Neer has liked what he’s seen from Palmer so far. “When he gets the ball, he’s at least getting four yards,” Neer said. “He’s not taking no for an answer. He’s powerful, strong, fast, he does it all. I am excited to see how he can help our offense this year. “When the defense crashes in the middle to try and stop Robert, that opens up opportunities for me to get to the outside and run or even pass it on a run-pass option.” He could be the team’s primary running back or could split carries with fellow senior DJ Harris. So far, the transition has been seamless after moving to Grain Valley. “At my old school, we ran similar things as Grain Valley did,” Palmer said. “Coming into Grain Valley, I knew what I needed to get done and knew my role.” Neer also had a solid day at quarterback as he completed 3 of 4 passes for 18 yards and four times for 29 yards. He had a 12-yard touchdown run against North on a passing play. He couldn’t find an open receiver so he took off running to the right side and got the edge for the score. “I didn’t think he was going to run it, but he did,” Palmer said of Neer’s TD run. “I was impressed. I am excited to work with him this season.” Grain Valley did have its fair share of struggles, however. The Eagles had a handful of fumbles throughout, including two which were recovered by the opposing defense. They also struggled to defend the passing game on defense as seven of the nine touchdowns surrendered by the Eagles defense came through the air. “Across the board we have some things to work on,” Allie said. “We had too many balls on the ground and near turnovers. You can’t beat yourself. We got another week to improve on that. “We were rotating some kids in and out (on defense). We didn’t play a few kids tonight because we had some bumps and bruises. But we will have some kids who will hopefully start next Friday.” Grain Valley will have its season opener next Friday at 7 p.m. at Raytown High School. Correction: An earlier version incorrectly listed Ty Williams as attending Truman State University. This was corrected to read Washburn University. 8/25/2024 9:50am. Grain Valley senior Robert Palmer, a transfer from North Scott High School in Iowa, had 30 yards on six carries and a touchdown and had one catch for six yards in the football team's preseason jamboree Friday at Moody Murray Memorial Field. Photo credit: Michael Smith
by Cole Arndorfer
The Grain Valley Schools Board of Education met on Thursday, August 15th for their August meeting. This meeting included the Superintendent's report, a discussion on annual CSIP priorities, four items of new business, and discussion on a set of board polices. In his report, Superintendent Dr. Brad Welle reported that the high school construction was progressing well. Back-to-school events, including meet-the-teacher nights, are in progress in advance of the first day on August 20, 2024. Welle then moved into discussion of the district assessment plan. After providing a brief overview and answering a couple of questions, Welle concluded his report. The board then looked at a revised version of the 2024-2025 CSIP annual priorities, which will be brought back as an action item at the next board meeting. One of the main highlights of this plan is the implementation of academic multi-tiered system of supports in grades K-8. These guidelines would be used to classify the needs of an individual student based off their understanding of class material. Tier one would be general all-class instruction, tier two would be devoting some special time and focus for an individual student, and tier three would be a more intensive intervention with the student. In order to implement this, professional development would focus on tiers two and three, Welle said. The board then moved into new business. First, the board approved extra duty positions, and then approved the additions of two elementary teachers. Third, the board discussed the curriculum review committee. Welle pointed out to the board members that the names of those serving on this community engagement committee is listed on their handouts for them to review before the item comes back as an action item. For the final item of the meeting, the board was introduced to a set of polices for them to review before they come back as action items at a future meeting. After some clarifying questions, discussion closed on the item. Following this, the board adjourned into executive session. The next Board of Education meeting will take place on Thursday, September 19, at 6 pm in the Leadership Center. |
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