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by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society The Historical Society Museum looks forward to welcoming our new neighbor, Iron Kettle Brewing. And while the business is new to Grain Valley, the building is 100 years old.
A few years ago, Patricia Davis Parr made a presentation to the Historical Society. She took us on tour through the streets of our town and told us what she knew about the homes, churches, and businesses that made up Grain Valley from about 1900 to 1940. Beginning at Walnut Street and preceding south along the west side of Main we would have passed the Christian Church, two small houses, and the Sni-A-Bar Bank. South of the bank was a building which housed different businesses including a café, a millinery shop, and a locker plant. If I had remembered this reference in April, I would have known that the millinery shop was on the west side of Main Street. The next building is the subject of this article. Mrs. Parr’s grandfather, John T. O’Connell, was the local barber when he married Creola Warren in 1906. He also helped his brothers with a café (circa 1912) across the alley where the Historical Society is currently located. His tonsorial (April 23, 2020 Valley News) burned in 1920 and he replaced it with the current two-story brick building which may well be built on the original foundation. The building was rented to Charles and Ida Ryan who ran a general store. Inside along the north wall were dry goods and the groceries shelves were on the south side. Mrs. Parr recalled the rolling ladder that allowed customers to reach the top shelves. At some point, the Ryan’s opened the locker plant in the building on the north side and a wide door was put into the wall, connecting the two buildings. Later, Ed and Louise Crull ran the grocery store until 1953. After that I have no memory of the building being occupied downstairs until the antique shops came to Grain Valley sometime in the 1990s. I’ve talked with a few “old-timers” and no one remembers much about the building during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. Maybe it was vacant? The second floor housed a theatre which was popular after the Royal Playhouse closed. It was also used for meetings by The Royal Neighbors and The Modern Woodman of the World. I can recall going up the steep, creepy stairs to attend Halloween parties sponsored by The Royal Neighbors when I was in elementary school. That is also where I took tap and ballet lessons from Glo-Del Dance Studio between 1950 and 1953. Gloria was my teacher and she and Deloris came to Grain Valley on Saturdays in the winter to teach tap, jazz, and ballet. “If these walls could talk…” We’ve all heard that old saying. But it’s true and if walls could talk I’m sure there are many stories to tell. We’ll just have to patronize Iron Kettle Brewing and make up some new stories for the second hundred years in the life of this great old building. The November ballot includes a number of judges up for retention. The Missouri Plan, also known as the Non-Partisan Court Plan, allows the voters to have a say in the retention of judges and remains a model for the nation. In the City of St. Louis, and in St. Louis, Jackson, Clay, Platte and Greene counties, judges apply for their positions on the bench and are selected on the basis of merit.
In this judicial process laid out in the state’s constitution, judges who serve under the Missouri Plan have been nominated by a judicial commission and then selected by the governor. After their first 12 months on the bench and the end of each term, nonpartisan judges must go before the voters in a retention election. Voters are asked whether each of these judges should be retained. To be retained, each judge must receive a majority vote. If a judge does not receive a majority of votes, his or her judicial seat will become vacant at the end of its present term. The judicial commission will then nominate three candidates for the position and the governor will appoint one to fill the vacancy. The terms for appellate court judges are 12 years. Among trial judges, circuit judges serve six-year terms, while associate circuit judges serve four-year terms. The performance of Missouri judges serving under the Non-Partisan Court Plan are reviewed by a statewide committee. The Judicial Performance Review Committee votes on whether they believe a judge substantially meets overall judicial performance standards. The Judicial Performance Review Committee analyzes the performance of judges up for retention. The committee conducts its reviews based on whether a judge substantially overall meets judicial performance standards. Relevant information from a variety of sources is considered as part of the review process. The Committee voted all judges up for retention votes in November substantially met overall judicial performance standards. Jackson County voters will decide on the retention of the following judges in November: Supreme Court of Missouri: Judge Patricia Breckenridge Judge Patricia Breckenridge was appointed to the Supreme Court of Missouri in September 2007. Prior to being appointed to the Missouri Supreme Court, she was appointed to the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District in 1990 and served until 2007. Prior to that, she served as an associate circuit judge in Vernon County from 1982-1990. Judge Breckenridge received both her bachelor’s degree with honors in agricultural economics and juris doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia. The civic and charitable activities of Judge Breckenridge pertaining to the administration of justice include volunteering with Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance (LEAP); being master of the Elwood Thomas American Inn of Court, providing mentorship and education to young lawyers and law students; and volunteering time as a speaker on civic education to both students and adults throughout Missouri. Missouri Court of Appeals: Judge Thomas N. Chapman Judge Thomas N. Chapman began serving on the Missouri Court of Appeals – Western District in September 2018. Prior to this appointment, he spent seven years as a circuit judge for the 43rd Judicial Circuit, and as presiding judge from 2012-2018. Judge Chapman graduated from Westminster College with a bachelor’s in political science in 1988. He holds his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and LL.M Taxation from the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law. He is currently a member of the Kansas City Missouri Bar Association, the Livingston County Bar Association, The Missouri Bar and Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity/Honor Society. Judge Chapman was recognized by the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce in 2007 with an Outstanding Personal Community Service Award and in 2018 as Chamber Person of the Year. Jackson County Circuit Court: Judge Cory Atkins Judge Cory Atkins was appointed as circuit judge on October 4, 2019. Previously, Judge Atkins served as an associate circuit judge. Judge Atkins earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Rockhurst University and his law degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. Judge Atkins is a member of The Missouri Bar, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, and the National Courts and Sciences Institute (faculty). Judge Patrick W. Campbell Judge Patrick W. Campbell was appointed as Family Court commissioner for the 16th Judicial Circuit in 2006 and became circuit judge in March 2013. He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and administration of justice from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is a member of The Missouri Bar, the Kansas Bar, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association and the Association of Women Lawyers. In addition, he serves as chair of the Jackson County Circuit Court’s Commissioner Retention Committee and serves on both the executive and rules committees. Judge Kenneth R. Garrett III Judge Kenneth R. Garrett III was appointed as circuit judge in 2013. He was an associate circuit judge in the 16th Judicial Circuit from 2010 to 2013. Previously, he had served as an assistant prosecuting attorney and an assistant attorney general. Judge Garrett received his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and his Juris Doctor from the same institution. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from UMKC. Judge Garrett is a member of The Missouri Bar, The Kansas Bar Association, the Jackson County Bar Association, the Eastern Jackson County Bar Association and the Missouri Association of Associate and Probate Judges. In addition, Judge Garrett serves on the following committees: Civil Justice Reform; Commission on Racial and Ethic Fairness; Criminal Records and Justice Information Advisory Committee; Missouri Supreme Court Civil Rules Committee; Missouri Court Automation Committee; and the State Judicial Records Committee. Judge Kevin D. Harrell Judge Kevin D. Harrell was appointed to the bench in August 2012. He received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He received his law degree from UMKC, as well. Prior to his service on the bench, Judge Harrell served as the chief deputy prosecuting attorney for the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. Since his last retention election, he has served as a criminal administrative judge. Judge Harrell is a member of the Jackson County Bar Association and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association. He has also served as a mock trial judge for UMKC. Judge John M. Torrence Judge John M. Torrence was appointed to the bench in August 2001 as a circuit judge. He served as presiding judge of the Jackson County Circuit Court in 2017 and 2018. Judge Torrence earned his bachelor’s degree in history cum laude at Saint Louis University and his Juris Doctor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He is a member of The Missouri Bar, the Missouri Judicial Conference and a board member for CASA of Jackson County. Judge Jeffrey C. Keal Judge Jeffrey C. Keal was appointed as associate circuit judge on November 5, 2013. Prior to his appointment, Judge Keal was with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. He joined the prosecutor’s office in 1991, and during his 22-year tenure there, he handled white collar and property crimes. He obtained his J.D. degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City in 1986 and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from UMKC in 1983. He is a member of The Missouri Bar, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Association for Women Lawyers and the Eastern Jackson County Bar Association. Judge Janette K. Rodecap Judge Janette K. Rodecap was appointed as associate circuit judge in May 2014. She previously served as a trial team leader in the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office. Judge Rodecap graduated from Northwestern University summa cum laude in 1997 with a B.A. degree in European history and obtained her J.D. with distinction from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2001. Judge Rodecap is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association; member and connections program mentor through the Association for Women Lawyers; member of the Western District Historical Society board of directors; master for Ross T. Roberts Trial Academy; and a member of the Supreme Court Trail Judge Education Committee. Judge Kyndra J. Stockdale Judge Kyndra J. Stockdale was appointed as associate circuit judge for the 16th Circuit Court of Jackson County on March 1, 2019. Prior to her appointment, she served as an assistant prosecutor with the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office from 2005 until 2012. Judge Stockdale attended the University of Kansas and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 2000, and a Juris Doctorate degree in 2003. Judge Stockdale is a member of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, the Kansas Bar Association, the Association of Women Lawyers and the American Bar Association. The Grain Valley Partnership welcomes two new partners
Hegagon Hair and Yoga Puppy Love For more information on business partners and upcoming events hosted by the Grain Valley Partnership, visit www.growgrainvalley.org. With the 2020 Census ending a month early on September 30th, the Kansas City Regional Complete Count Committee is asking all residents to fill out the survey now. Residents have three options to complete the census. They can visit www.2020Census.gov to complete the form online. They can respond by phone by calling 844-330-2020 (English) and 844-468-2020 (Spanish). If a household received the paper survey, they can complete the form and return it by mail.
Census data guides the distribution of more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to support programs in states and local communities. For every adult and every child not counted in the census, Missouri stands to lose $1,300. Experts estimate that the 2010 census undercounted the population by 1 percent. A similar undercount in 2020 could cost the Kansas City region more than $48 million each year over the next decade. As of September 22nd, Missouri reported a 65% response rate. Grain Valley’s response rate is currently 78.7%. Jackson County continues to provide COVID-19 testing opportunities throughout the county at mobile locations. Events next week include:
Monday, September 28th: Lee’s Summit: Old Fire Station #3, 210 Sw Pryor Rd. Tuesday, September 29th: Metro Christian Fellowship, 2217 High Grove Rd, Grandview Wednesday, September 23rd: .Buckner Masonic Lodge, 611 S. Sibley ST Thursday, October 1st: Blue Springs: Vesper Hall, 400 NW Vesper St Friday, September 25th: Eastern Jackson County Courthouse parking lot, 308 W. Kansas, Independence Advance registration is requested and may be completed at https://jacohd.org/events/ Walk-ups will be taken on a limited basis. Our front porch is decorated with mums, pumpkins, corn stalks, vines, and other junk. My wife, the highly creative one, loves to decorate. I’ve never had an eye for the aesthetically pleasing, although I do admire the colors in a well-dressed turkey club sandwich.
Like his Maw-Maw, my grandson also has “the eye.” He loves to decorate and knows how to make things look nice. It’s a passion of his and he loves to decorate. When I think about decorations, I think about work. For weeks, the grandson has been talking about putting up “fall stuff.” That’s his vernacular for fall decorations. A couple of weeks ago, when it was 90 degrees, he was wanting to put up fall stuff and my wife had to redirect his attention and energy. It just wasn’t time for fall stuff. Honestly, I wasn’t ready either. I love summer and try to hang onto it as long as I can. I wasn’t ready for fall stuff. There is much about fall that I love. For example, I love the “cooler” temps and the beginning of football season. It’s also a great opportunity to get outside and enjoy a walk. Although I despise pumpkin spice anything, I do enjoy some of the fall foods and the beginning of baking season. There are also things about fall that I’m not fond of. Like an hourglass running out of sand, the brisk breezes of October will give way to the bone-chilling temperatures of December. It also reminds me of the approaching holidays and the focus on commercialism not to mention that I’ll have to hang the Christmas lights. As I watch from my comfortable spot on the couch, my grandson, aided by his Maw-Maw, is putting little plastic pumpkins into a glass container that will be placed upon a shelf. He puts them in methodically and creatively. They have already weaved the vines with orange leaves (my wife uses the fancy name garlands) throughout the staircase banister. After putting in the last pumpkin, he smiles proudly and examines his creation. “Do you like fall stuff, Papa?” he asks. “I love your fall decorations. You make it look very pretty!” I reply heartily, strategically avoiding the pointed question, but still attempting to boost his self-esteem. The mention of fall stuff stimulates an area in my brain that secretes some type of substance into my brain resulting in massive amounts of pain and unvoluntary physical reactions, like comments that protrude from my mouth such as, “Really, why do we need to put up all that stuff?” My wife gives me “the look,” but graciously allows me about three to five days to wallow in my misery before I face the inevitable trip to the attic. My wife, the decorator, has filled our attic with plastic tubs marked “fall” and “Christmas decorations.” It’s been a long time since I’ve been up there. The attic is a scary place. By design, I am a strategist and planner. My hope is that the fall stuff is in front of the Christmas stuff. Once in the attic, I look around at all the plastic bins. The memory of the pain from putting them away last year begins to reemerge. The stuff looks painfully familiar. As I peruse our tubs, we have gray, the most-popular, black, orange, and red. Unfortunately, the colors do not represent an organizational structure, but probably what happened to be on sale at the time. I am not happy that all of the labels are not facing out. As I think back to last seasons I had some help putting stuff away last year. After moving back and forth through the plastic bins, stacked four or five bins high, I flip bins around to ensure that all of the labels are facing out. “What will the labels say?” I shout from the attic. “They will say fall decorations,” my wife replies, “There are five or six bins.” I’m amazed that she remembers the number and don’t doubt her memory. I’ve learned to trust her on decorating stuff. I just keep looking. Like an archeologist on an expedition in the sweltering heat of the desert, I begin to sweat profusely and am getting steamed in the process. After twenty minutes of looking I have reached the end of the line. “I can’t find anything that says fall decorations,” I complain, “everything says Christmas.” The fact that everything says Christmas frightens me because I know in several months, these will need to come down too. “They’re up there somewhere,” she says, “you put them away.” Leaving no stone unturned, I begin the process again and find the missing bins. Fall stuff is seasonal. I guess that’s a good thing. God created the seasons for a reason. In Genesis it says, “And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years” (Gen 1:14). Seasons were created by God and are a gift from God. They break up the monotony of life and serve as signposts. The four seasons give us four changes. We have changes in the weather, changes in our wardrobes, changes in our food choices, and changes in our decorating. It also gives us some different things to complain about. It’s too hot, too cold, too windy, too wet. Life also comes in seasons and that’s a good thing. For most of us, this has been a tough season. Between the pandemic, the strife, the politics, and all the personal stuff we always have to deal with, we’ve all experienced a rough season. But, be encouraged. It’s just a season. It will change. Just this morning, my grandson exclaimed “Hey, Maw-Maw, we haven’t finished our fall stuff.” So true. Fall stuff is never finished, but it’s not about the product, but the process. Last year, the grandson was a mere observer in the placement of fall stuff. This year, he is a part of the planning team. A year of seasons made the difference. There is so much in each season to take advantage of. We can, and must, celebrate the good and deal with the difficult in every season. Through every season, God is faithful. Soon, fall stuff will give way to winter stuff and the cycle continues. Dr. Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Professor of Speech, and freelance writer. Low-income Missourians now have until October 31, 2020 to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to get assistance with payments for their summer cooling bills if they are in crisis. The Department of Social Services also increased the income level for Missourians to qualify for help with their summer cooling bills.
Missourians who earn up to 150 percent of the federal poverty level, for example a maximum monthly income of $2,666 for a 3-person household or $3,219 for a 4-person household, now may qualify for assistance. In June, $15 million was added to LIHEAP to double the maximum benefit from $300 to $600 and to support a likely increase in the number of low-income Missourians eligible for cooling assistance. DSS recently added the option to apply online for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to assist the process to get help with energy bill payments. Previously, applicants could only mail, fax, or drop off their paper LIHEAP application form. To be eligible for the summer cooling program, in addition to meeting the income criteria, low-income Missourians must: Be responsible for paying home cooling costs, Have $3,000 or less in bank accounts, retirement accounts, or investments, and Be a U.S. citizen or legally admitted for permanent residence. An easy way to apply for LIHEAP is for the household to complete and submit one application form online. Applicants can also mail or fax the completed paper application form to the office serving their community listed on last page of the application. Missourians in need of information on LIHEAP, Food Stamp, Medicaid, Child Care Subsidy, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefit programs can visit dss.mo.gov. Missourians can also apply for those services 24/7 online by visiting MyDSS.mo.gov, or sending completed applications and verification documents by email to FSD.Documents@dss.mo.gov, or by fax to 573-526-9400. by Denise Sullivan, MS, CWP, CNWE, Field Specialist, Nutrition and Health, University of Missouri Extension Red, yellow or green…sweet, spicy or hot…fresh, roasted or pickled. There is so much variety among peppers and their preparation methods; it is no wonder that Peter Piper picked a peck!
While most people commonly think of peppers (genus Capsicum) as vegetables, they are actually fruits, and a member of the botanical family Solanaceae. Spices derived from peppers, such as chili powder and paprika are also in this family. A common name for this botanical group is nightshades, which may not have the best reputation in some circles. Nightshades contain alkaloids, which is dangerous in high concentration as evidenced in other family members like belladonna and tobacco. This negative association, unfortunately, often flows over to other nightshade vegetables like potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, as well as peppers, all of which are abundant in many nutrients. Some sources may associate nightshades with an inflammatory response in the body; however; there is not a significant body of research supporting this theory. Food sensitivities are very individualistic and people with certain autoimmune disorders may find that nightshade vegetables exacerbate individual symptoms. For most people there is no reason to avoid nightshades like peppers. They are a rich source of Vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and potassium. Green peppers are considered under-ripe and will have a more bitter taste than a red pepper. There are also yellow, orange and purple varieties that have similar nutrient profiles, differing mostly within the phytonutrients they provide based on their color family. Because red bell peppers are also a decent source of iron, it is well absorbed because of the high Vitamin C value. Another big difference among peppers is the heat factor, which comes from the phytonutrients known as capsaicinoids, which have shown benefits to heart health. The heat from capsaicinoids often results in people using less salt; therefore helping to lower blood pressure. Capsaicinoids may also improve cholesterol values and blood vessel function. The heat of a pepper is measured using Scoville units: The scale ranges from zero (as in bell peppers) all the way to 3,000,000 (as in the spiciest chile in the world, the Pepper X). The Scoville scale is a good base for knowing how hot your peppers are, but know that the heat can vary according to climate and vegetation. The relatively mild poblano (or ancho) pepper weighs in at about 1,500 (SHU), while the super-hot habañero packs a whopping 250,000 SHUs! Because peppers are mostly water, they will wrinkle and dehydrate as they age, so select firm unwrinkled fruits that feel heavy for their size. Store unwashed bell peppers in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to a week. Green bell peppers will stay fresh a little longer than yellow or red ones. If you have an abundant crop, peppers can also be frozen or pickled and you can find instructions on the Seasonal and Simple app or the website at https://seasonalandsimple.info/ One of my very favorite uses for peppers is stuffed peppers. There are as many versions of this recipe as there are people, but the recipe below has become one of my favorites. While most recipes use bell peppers, this one is also good with poblano peppers (sliced lengthwise and seeded) if you want it a little spicier! MU Extension is a partnership of the University of Missouri campuses, Lincoln University, the people of Missouri through county extension councils, and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Visit our website at: https://extension2.missouri.edu/ With 20 season best 5K performances, 9 personal best 5K times, and 15 course personal best times, the Grain Valley Cross Country team continues to progress this season. The team competed in the Kris Solsberg Invite at Liberty North High School on September 19th. The boys team placed 14th with an average time of 19:01. The girls placed 8th with an average time of 21:21.
Mason McCain placed 27th at the invite with a time of 17:11.40. Ella Casey placed 20th with a time of 20:37.40. The team next heads to Rock Bridge on September 26th. The Grain Valley Eagles Cross Country team has celebrated a number of strong performances so far this season, but it is the team’s actions outside of competition that has impressed their coaches.
Head Cross Country Coach Nick Small explained the team’s theme for this season is “More Than Running.” “Our team is progressing well this season. They have really bought in to our theme this year. Eating habits, sleeping habits, the little things before and after practice like rolling, dynamics, mental training/education, giving back.—all of it. As a coaching staff we take pride in how they have approached each race and they have had some pretty solid performances against some of the best teams in the state,” Small said. “Even more, what makes us most proud is the love they show to our community. For the last 2 weeks, members of our team have organized on their own to pick up trash at local trails we run consistently. They noticed a problem and they mobilized to fix it. They meet before our runs, donating their time. As coaches, we have been blown away by their self organized philanthropy and the joy in which they give back. I am truly honored to coach this team.” See Sports for results from GVHS Cross Country’s recent meet. Photo courtesy Grain Valley Cross Country |
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