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by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Listed as a National Historic Landmark, the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis is the oldest Botanical Garden in the Nation. Missouri has two additional Botanical Gardens.
The Mizzou Botanical Gardens, established in 1999, it is comprised of eleven thematic gardens and seven special collections including the Jefferson Garden featuring Thomas Jefferson’s original grave marker surrounded by cardinal flowers, columbine, Virginia bluebells, sweet shrub and Rose of Sharon. The beautiful campus of Northwest Missouri State University also doubles as the state’s Official arboretum with more than 1,700 trees and over 130 different species. The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of October 14-20, 2020.
by John Unrein Valley Speedway concluded their 2020 season on October 17th with a Halloween Trunk or Treat for kids prior to ATV heat racing and demolition derby contests. The stands were relatively packed on a brisk fall afternoon as young and old alike took in the experience in Grain Valley. Spider Man, Wonder Woman, and Kansas City Chiefs players were among the most common costumes during the meet the driver Halloween Trunk or Treat prior to racing. Valley Speedway track announcer Greg Clemons interviewed drivers prior to racing along with youngsters on what they enjoyed the most about racing. The Carrera family of Eastern Jackson County were among those in attendance. Chris, Angie, and River Carrera enjoy getting outdoors and being able to do something together in a fun atmosphere. The Carrera’s do not come from a family racing background and were introduced to the sport upon attending their first demolition derby when they moved to Missouri. “I like the pretzels here and when the cars crash into each other,” River Carrera said. Chris Carrera added, “There’s a sense of community here and it’s fun to watch the comradery amongst the drivers. It’s low key and a relaxed crowd compared to what the stereotype may be.” “The sportsmanship is good. This is a little bit inherently dangerous to do, but if someone’s at risk or it looks like someone is or could get hurt, they stop the race and check on them.” Angie Carrera concluded, “Valley Speedway is family friendly. The modifications to cars are interesting that drivers complete to be competitive. You find yourself getting behind a driver and rooting for their car.” “I love when they drive a minivan. The tailpipes come through the hood as part of the modification. It kind of has that Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome look to it.” Cars with hulking overhangs in the front and back along with old school body-on-frame construction are advantages drivers look for when assembling their derby vehicles. Older domestic cars provide that lengthened crumple zone in the face and trunk of the car to team with high strength steel when the weight of a vehicle (for fuel efficiency) was not quite as big of a concern as it is today. Modifications to demolition cars continue to demonstrate innovation at Valley Speedway. Spare tires are being used more on the rear ends of cars. The idea being that the smaller size of the wheel and tire will help prevent it from flattening or being bent in during collision racing. Solid wood landscape timbers for front bumpers are also in vogue as they do not bend as easily as metal. Oversized radiators protected by a variety of metal reinforcements to protect from being damaged or overheating round out the advantage’s drivers try to gain for competition. Willie Brown who competes in the Summit Pizza sponsored 1986 Chevrolet Caprice was among those on hand to be a race ambassador and compete in the derby. “I’ve grown up around demolition racing my whole life. They used to race back along the tree line here in the 1980’s and 1990’s when my cousin done it. That’s what got me into this sport,” Brown said. “I’ve had this Caprice for about a year and put it together for competition within the last week. I don’t do this for the money, I do it for the fun of it. Hitting people is an adrenaline rush. It’s better to be the hammer instead of the nail.” “Some people will hold back at the start of a race. I don’t hold back, I just hit people and let things play out.” Above: Demolition driver Willie Brown participates in “meet the driver” at Trunk or Treat. Below: #81 Hawkins was the winner of the small budget class.
by John Unrein The battle of attrition did not go the way of the Grain Valley Eagles on October 16th in their loss to the Raytown Blue Jays. Raytown’s size and speed enabled them to take the lead with 5 seconds left in the game on a 23 yard touchdown run by halfback Zahmari Gary. The conclusion was as dramatic as the two proud teams that stood on the gridiron and figuratively exchanged punches throughout the course of the game.
Grain Valley was effective most of the game in limiting Raytown’s Flexbone attack. Veer option along with wingback sweeps and reverses were largely corralled by the Eagles black shirt defense. Raytown countered by getting into double tight end and unbalanced formations to run behind their impressive size along the offensive line. Offensive tackle Logan Reichert goes 6’ 7” and 370 pounds as a sophomore for the Blue Jays. He is joined by 6’ 4” and 340 pound senior Justin Sasser at offensive guard. This tandem is who Raytown leaned on as the game progressed in using the duo to clear space at the line of scrimmage. The front seven of the Eagles defense fought hard to create two turnovers, stop their opponent twice on 4th down, and limit the Blue Jays offense to just 21 points. Raytown controlled the time of possession, holding on to the football for 29 minutes and 50 seconds during the game. This was fueled by the Blue Jays rushing the football for 373 yards on 61 attempts. Eagles senior linebacker Hunter Newsom put forth a herculean effort racking up 16 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and lead blocking as a fullback when Grain Valley was on offense. A tired and composed Newsome was proud of this team and showed respect for his opponent in his postgame comments. “We were encouraged to lay it on the line tonight by our coaches and not leave anything on the field. Especially, with the situation we are in with COVID, you never know when your last game is going to be. We played all out and played this game like it might be our last as you are never guaranteed anything,” Newsom said. “We fought hard tonight and butted heads with them (Raytown). They had some plays though where they were able to slip free.” Grain Valley countered offensively with the arm of quarterback Cole Keller, the legs of Jaxon Wyatt, and the receiving abilities of Parker Bosserman and Parker Stone. Keller would find Bosserman on a 33 yard fade pass down the sideline to the end zone with 10:40 left in the second quarter that would tie the game for the Eagles. Stone would be the recipient of the last successful scoring effort by Grain Valley on a 9 yard pass from Keller with 2:43 left in the third quarter. The Eagles offense under the direction of head football coach David Allie found success running isolation or “iso” during the second half to counter Raytown’s blitzing linebackers. Wyatt’s number was called running behind Newsome as he struck Blue Jay linebackers at the line of scrimmage in his lead blocking role as fullback. Wyatt would go on to rack up 104 yards rushing on 20 attempts behind Newsome and his offensive line. Eagles senior offensive guard Jack Bailey and his counterpart, junior offensive tackle Cooper Terry, who returned from injury against Raytown were a significant part of the Eagles rushing success in the second half. “They (Raytown) left ‘B gap’ open quite a bit and were moving their linebackers all around (their defensive front). We said to heck with it and started running ‘iso’ with success during the second half,” Bailey said. Time, the quickness of Raytown’s defense, and their blitzing ability was not on Grain Valley’s side as they would go on to loss 21-14 against the Blue Jays. Allie was gratified with the grit his team displayed in a losing effort. Perspective was offered by Allie to his team after the game in what they can look forward to this coming week in preparation against the Belton Pirates. Allie reminded his team that they still had influence on their playoff aspirations in how they conducted themselves in practice to make sure they were in the best possible position at the conclusion of week nine. Allie’s sentiment was joined by defensive coordinator Pete Carpino after the game. “You guys played in one heck of a football game tonight and came out on the wrong end. Let’s work our tails off to make sure that the next time we are in one of these games, we come out on the right end. Keep up the positive body language and hold your head up high when you leave here,” Carpino said. Allie was honest in his postgame assessment as well as his outlook for the rest of the season. “Raytown is fast on defense. They had success with run throughs and blitzes. We were unable to get their backside linebacker or defensive end, depending on who we blocked. Their speed would catch us from behind. They did a good job spying on Keller as well and that took him out of the game with his legs a little bit,” Allie said. “Our defense put forth a heck of an effort tonight. Raytown got some big yards, but we got into a situation as the game progressed where we could stay ahead of the chains on defense and that helped a lot.” “Unfortunately, a couple of times tonight we under ran some stuff on defense. They (Raytown) have some big boys that they utilized late in the game to run behind. Film will help us evaluate what we need to tweak.” Allie concluded, “One of our kids said it best, ‘It’s only a loss if we don’t learn from it.’ We will lick our wounds and evaluate film before we turn the page. This team is a resilient group, and they understand you only get so many opportunities. We will get back to work to face another great team in Belton knowing that a share of the conference title is up for grabs that also has district implications.” Grain Valley (7-1) will host Belton (7-0) at Moody Murray Stadium on October 23rd. In response to an emergency blood shortage, the Community Blood Center will hold a blood drive at the Grain Valley Community Center, 713 Main Street, from 1:00pm—7:00pm on Wednesday, October 28th.
Each presenting donor will receive a Royals t-shirt. Appointments are preferred; walk in welcome if capacity permits. To sign up as a donor, visit savealifenow.org/group, enter Group Code: EH27. For medical eligibility questions, call 800-688-0900. For information regarding Community Blood Center’s response to COVID-19, visit safealifenow.org/coronavirus. Jackson County voters will be asked November 3rd to decide on whether to add a fee of up to $1.00 for all subscribers to communication services that features the ability to call 911, with revenue going to the County’s E-911 System Fund.
The measure is an attempt to fix Jackson County’s current funding mechanism for the service, which is supported entirely by a 7% landline surcharge. Most 911 calls are made by cellphones and the number of landline users continues to decline. Jackson County states the declining revenues threaten emergency response. The measure, if passed, would impose a fee of up to $1.00 on any device capable of contacting 911, which would include cellphones. Fees would be included on service bills. The fee would replace the current funding mechanism of 7% service charge on landline users, representing a decrease in monthly fees for these users. Fees will be assessed based on the address associated with the cellphone account or landline within Jackson County. The fee will be assessed on a maximum of 100 lines per location/address. Fees will be capped at 100 lines for businesses or organizations with more than 100 lines. The measure restricts the spending of the new fee revenues to the 911 system, so none of the funds can be spent for other purposes by the County. If passed, the new fee will go into effect on April 1, 2021. Polls are open 6:00am—7:00pm on Tuesday, November 3rd. Absentee voting in person continues at 110 N. Liberty, Independence. The absentee drop off location is located at 112 N. Liberty, Independence. For more information, visit www.jcebmo.org. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society The first newspaper printed west of the Mississippi was established in 1808 in St. Louis. Joseph Charless, the first editor, is considered to have published the first number on July 12, 1808, although the earliest located issue is vol. 1, no. 3. This weekly newspaper was printed on sheets of 12 x 8 in. until a supply of larger sheets became available. Initially, articles appeared in both French and English, reflecting the region’s Francophone roots. The title changed several times during its first decade reflecting the region’s transition into the United States. The Kansas City Star began publication in 1885.
by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society With a career that spanned four decades, and a school named in her honor, Essie M. Matthews is a name that won’t be forgotten. Anyone that has lived in Grain Valley, attended school in Grain Valley or has had a child go through the Grain Valley School system in the last 70 years must surely be familiar with her name.
Mrs. Matthews came to Grain Valley in the fall of 1951 as the only 7th grade teacher. It would be safe to say the school was much smaller in those days. She became the elementary principal in 1958, but continued teaching 7th grade. In 1963, she also added freshman Civics to her busy schedule. In 1967, during my college days I did some substitute teaching over Christmas break. It was Mrs. Matthews that hired me, and by that time she was a full-time principal, a position she held until her retirement in the early 1980s. In 1978, a $562,000 bond issue was used to complete the first phase of Matthews Elementary School. Not many people have buildings named for them. Almost no one works in a building named for themselves. Essie Matthews was the exception. Essie Mildred Boone grew up in rural Lafayette County and attended Central Missouri State Teachers College in Warrensburg (now UCM). She began her teaching career at Weaver School near Odessa, and taught in rural Lafayette Schools five years. Four years in Colorado followed and then she came to Grain Valley. She and her husband Calvin made their home in Odessa. So, while she never actually resided in our town, her contribution to the students and teachers of this community is still evident today. by Megan Callahan, Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitian Protein is critical to building and maintaining muscle mass. Despite what many think, athletes are not the only ones who need more protein. The elderly, those looking to lose fat mass, and the ill or injured have increased needs for protein too. There may be times you struggle with getting the protein you need in each day, which can happen to all of us.
Which is why your Hy-Vee dietitian recommends using whole foods in conjunction with protein supplements like our Dietitian Pick of the Month: Performance Inspired Whey Protein. One serving contains 25 grams of protein per scoop, plus it has probiotics and fiber to help with digestion and keep you from feeling bloated. The current recommended daily allowance for protein is 0.36 grams per pound of body weight. However, there are many people who can benefit from adding more protein to their diet. A Hy-Vee dietitian is happy to help you determine how much protein per day is right for you. 3 Reasons to Consume Whey Protein: Building blocks: Whey is a complete protein, which means it contains all the essential amino acids our bodies cannot make on their own. These amino acids serve as the building blocks for new muscle. Hormonal impact: Whey protein causes the release of insulin, a key muscle-building hormone that helps drive nutrients into our cells. This spike in insulin helps feed our muscle cells and fuel recovery after physical activity. Leucine content: Whey is rich in this branched chain amino acid known to stimulate muscle protein synthesis or muscle building. If you’ve been cutting your calories to lose weight, there is a good chance you are losing muscle along with fat. However, studies show that eating more protein, or at least 0.5 – 0.8 grams per pound of body weight per day, in conjunction with resistance exercise, reduces the amount of muscle lost during dieting. This is especially important since more muscle burns more calories at rest. As we age there is a natural loss of muscle strength and function. Studies show that someone over the age of 65 needs more protein to maintain muscle and protein balance than someone who is younger. This may be because we become more resistant to muscle building as we age. Therefore, it is important for the aging population to continue weight training and increase their protein intake to 0.45 – 0.60 grams per pound of body weight per day. Performance Inspired Whey Protein powder isn’t just for a post-workout shake. This trustworthy protein product uses natural ingredients without any synthetic additives or fillers. The products are also gluten-free. Try mixing it in oatmeal for a high-protein breakfast choice, blending it into pancake mix for high-protein pancakes, adding it into a fruit smoothie for an antioxidant- and protein-packed snack, or mixing it with yogurt for an evening treat to aid in muscle protein synthesis overnight. No matter how you use it, you can feel good about giving your body the quality protein it needs. The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. Megan Callahan is one of your Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitians. She is dedicated to helping people live healthier and happier lives. Megan received a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Missouri State University. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she also received her Master of Science degree in dietetics and nutrition. Megan has been working with Hy-Vee full-time for 10 years. With a passion for nutrition and wellness, Megan is dedicated to educating customers and promoting healthy lifestyles to our Hy-Vee community. Megan lives in Lee’s Summit with her husband Matt, and their 2 children Kennedy (4) & Carsyn (2). The Jackson County Health Department will offer COVID-19 testing at the following sites the week of October 26th—October 30th:
Monday, October 26, 2020: City of Lee’s Summit, 616 Ne Douglas St., Lee’s Summit 64081 Register: https://form.jotform.com/202584505376155 Tuesday, October 27, 2020: Metro Christian Fellowship Church 2217 High Grove Rd. Grandview Register: https://form.jotform.com/202644518179157 Wednesday, October 28, 2020: Fellowship Church Greenwood Campus 1601 W Main St. Greenwood 64034 Register: https://form.jotform.com/202734873504153 Thursday, October 29, 2020: Connection Point Church 10500 E State Route 350 Raytown Register: https://form.jotform.com/202655293520149 Friday, October 30, 2020: St. Marks Methodist Church, 603 N Jennings Rd. Independence Register: https://form.jotform.com/202614656282152 Pre-registration is not required but highly encouraged. Due to increased demand, we can not guarantee openings for walk-ins. Drive Thru Flu Clinics will also be offered at the Health Department located at 313. S Liberty St., Independence on the following dates: Friday October 23rd https://form.jotform.com/202755591541154 Friday October 30th https://form.jotform.com/202755864219159 Pre-registration is required for flu clinics. Clients will be billed $15 or $30 based on their insurance coverage. |
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