by Michael Smith
 
     One of the goals for the Grain Valley boys cross country team was to qualify for the Missouri State High School Cross Country Championships.
     The Eagles had to accomplish that against a tough field at the Class 5 District 4 meet Saturday at Jesse James Park in Kearney.
     While they fell short of their ultimate goal, Grain Valley did the next best thing by qualifying three of their runners – Carson Hill, Rylan Smith and Landon Barnes all punched their ticket to Columbia by finishing in the top 30.
     “Coming and looking at the rankings, we knew it was going to be close with some of those guys,” Grain Valley head coach Nick Small said. “They really stepped up today. They came up big in a tough district.”
     As a team, Grain Valley finished sixth as a team with 146 points. Liberty North won with 25 points.
     Carson Hill, who started his season late because of a knee injury, was sharp during the district race as he took 10th with a time of 16:38.30.
     “I am very happy with my race,” Hill said. “This is the best race I have had in a while. I have recovered (from the injury). I am just getting back to fitness.”
     Smith will be joining Hill at state for the first time as this is his first year running cross country. He was 23rd at 17:02.69.
    “I kind of knew I was going to make it,” Smith said. “I am excited. I had a dog mentality going into it.”
     Barnes just made the cut with a 28th-place finish with a time of 17:11.37.
     “It was really close, too close for comfort,” Barnes said. “There’s a really bad hill there at the end. But I am really excited that I made it.
     “My time was all right. This course is really hard so I probably wasn’t (going to get a personal record).”
     Finishing outside the top 30 for the boys were Adrian Bobzien (17;33.42, 41st), Landon Blew (17:42.65, 46th) and Nathan Allen (18:11.31, 62nd).
     For the girls, no one was able to push through the state field as the Eagles finished eighth with 239 points. Blue Springs won with 69 points.
     Competing for the girls were Jordan Gossage (43rd, 21:27.20), Amyah Graybill (45th, 21:34.52), Kayley Bell (44th, 21:34.87), Lexie Nicholson (50th, 21:47.07), Braylin Larkin (66th, 22:47.94), Kelli Stevens (67th, 22:49.08) and Taylor Nicholson (83rd, 23:38.06).
     “As far as placing, we have had better team finishes,” Small said. “But this was the best race of the girls’ season. They came ready to compete and they put themselves in a position to do something. They had no business even really racing where they did. They stepped up. They were just a little off.”

​Coleman’s Election Information:
     Please find below a detail summary of the amendments that will appear on the ballot on November 8, 2022, General Election Ballot. I encourage everyone to review and research these amendments, and to vote the way their conscience dictates. We live in a blessed country where we have an active role in what we want to see and demand from our leaders and constitution.
 
Constitutional Amendment 1
     This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, modifies the powers of the State Treasurer. Specifically, the State Treasurer is required to invest certain state moneys in:
     Missouri banking institutions selected by the State Treasurer and approved by the Governor and State Auditor; or
Obligations of the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof maturing and becoming payable not more than seven years from the date of purchase.
      The amendment additionally authorizes the State Treasurer to invest in:
Municipal securities possessing one of the five highest long term ratings or the highest short term rating issued by a nationally recognized rating agency and maturing and becoming payable not more than five years from the date of purchase; and
     Other reasonable and prudent financial instruments and securities as otherwise provided by law.
 
Constitutional Amendment 3
     This constitutional amendment makes various modifications to the regulation of marijuana. See the below summary for a more detailed description.
 
Constitutional Amendment 4
     Under current law, the General Assembly cannot require a city to increase an activity or service beyond that required by existing law, unless a state appropriation is made to pay the city for any increase costs. This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, provides an exception to allow for a law that increases minimum funding, if increased before December 31, 2026, for a police force established by a state board of police commissioners to ensure they have additional resources to serve their communities.
 
Constitutional Amendment 5
     This constitutional amendment, if approved by the voters, creates the Missouri Department of the National Guard, which shall consist of the Adjutant General and shall administer the militia, uphold the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the state of Missouri, and provide for other defense and security mechanisms.
 
Question on Convening Constitutional Convention
     Every 20 years, the Missouri Constitution requires a question be submitted to the voters inquiring whether a constitutional convention shall be held for the purpose of revising and amending the state constitution. A "yes" vote would support calling a constitutional convention. A "no" vote would oppose calling a constitutional convention.
 
Amendment 3 modifies the state's current medical marijuana program in several ways, including:
     Permitting nurse practitioners to determine if a patient has a qualifying medical condition for medical marijuana use;
     Modifying existing definitions for the various licensed facilities and medical marijuana products;
     Repealing the existing scoring system for facility applicants and replacing it with a lottery selection process in cases when more applicants apply than the constitutional minimum;
     Limiting regulations governing medical marijuana product advertising to those no more stringent than comparable regulations for alcohol sales;
Modifying provisions relating to public records retained under these provision;
     Adding a reasonable cure period of at least 30 days prior to a suspension or revocation of a license or certificate;
     Limiting an entity or entities under substantially common control, ownership, or management to not more than 10% ownership of the total marijuana facility licenses in each category of license for both medical and comprehensive (non-medical) facilities;
     Modifying the number of marijuana plants a qualifying patient or primary caregiver may have for personal use to include non-flowering plants and clones, as well as increasing the limit on purchased medical marijuana from 4 ounces to 6 ounces of dried, unprocessed marijuana in a 30-day period, with exceptions as specified in the amendment;
     Modifying the offense of purposeful possession in excess of twice the legal limit from a year in prison and a fine of up to $2,000 to an infraction;
     Modifying the qualifying patient and primary caregiver identification card fees and renewal requirements;
     Modifying language relating to the collection of a retail sales tax on medical marijuana, including adding a provision modifying certain taxpayers' state adjusted gross income as it relates to medical marijuana;
     Permitting non-resident patients to purchase medical marijuana if authorized by that patient's state or political subdivision of that state;
     Modifying provisions relating to disciplinary actions against attorneys involved in medical marijuana businesses;
     Adding provisions relating to medical marijuana patients and civil and criminal procedures, including search and arrest warrants, pre-trial release or probation, family courts, child custody, and the right to bear arms; 
     Modifying penalties relating to violations of these provisions; and
Adding provisions relating to the applicability of this language in the event of federal legalization of marijuana.
 
Comprehensive (non-medical) marijuana
     This amendment establishes a framework for the legal cultivation, production, sale, and use of non-medical marijuana for Missouri adults 21 years of age or older. The Department of
Health and Senior Services shall grant licenses or certificates for comprehensive marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, and dispensary facilities, testing facilities, and microbusiness wholesale and dispensary facilities, as specified in the amendment. Licenses for such facilities shall be established by a lottery system, except that any entity holding a medical marijuana facility license shall have the right to convert such medical marijuana facility license into the equivalent comprehensive facility license. Such converted licenses shall be the only licenses granted, excluding any microbusiness licenses, within the first 548 days after the Department begins to issue comprehensive marijuana licenses. If the number of comprehensive licenses falls below the constitutional minimum, the Department shall award by lottery at least 50% of any new licenses to microbusiness license holders who have been in operation for at least one year and who are otherwise qualified.
     Comprehensive license holders licensed to distribute marijuana to non-medical consumers may also distribute marijuana to qualifying patients and primary caregivers. The Department may limit the amount of marijuana that may be purchased in one transaction by a non-medical marijuana consumer, provided that the limitation shall not be less than 3 ounces of dried, unprocessed marijuana or its equivalent. Additionally, individuals may apply for and receive a registration card with the Department for personal cultivation of marijuana in accordance with the limits set forth in the amendment.
     Entities seeking a microbusiness license may only obtain one license, either a dispensary or wholesale facility, and may not hold a comprehensive or medical facility license at the same time. Microbusinesses may only do business with other microbusinesses or qualified patients, primary caregivers, or consumers, as specified in the act. Applicants for microbusiness licenses shall meet at least one of several specified qualifications, including those of net worth, disability, region, or education. At least 6 microbusiness facility licenses shall be granted initially, with that number expanding over time and in accordance with demand.
     Non-medical marijuana sold to consumers shall be subject to a 6% sales tax, which shall be used to fund the regulatory program, expungement proceedings relating to marijuana offenses, and programs for veterans, drug addiction treatment, and public defenders.
     A local government may prohibit dispensary facilities from operating in that jurisdiction through a ballot question to the voters. Additionally, local governments may impose an additional sales tax on adult use marijuana of not more than 3% upon voter approval.
     This amendment establishes an expungement process for marijuana offenses, in addition to other provisions relating to warrants and searches, product labeling and advertising, and penalties for violations of this amendment.
     Finally, this amendment prohibits conduct permitted under this amendment from being the basis of detention, searches, or arrests; denial of eligibility in public assistance programs; denial of the right to keep and bear arms; and denial of parental rights, custody, or visitation of a minor child.
      Please let me know If you have other concerns and suggestions.  If you would like to schedule a specific time to meet locally, please call my office at 573-751-1487, or email my office at jeff.coleman@house.mo.gov. 
 

     The City of Grain Valley is hosting Downtown Spooktacular on Friday, October 28th. Festivities include a Witches and Wizards Walk, entertainment, and trick-or-treating sponsored by local businesses and community organizations. 
     The Witches and Wizards Walk will begin at 6:00pm. Participants are encouraged to assemble at Armstrong Park at 5:45pm for some witchy warmups. Participants will then march down Main Street and gather at the stage for the opening ceremony. 
     Those not participating in the Witches and Wizards Walk may attend the Downtown Spooktacular from 6:30pm and will run through 8:30pm.
     For parking, restroom locations, and a tentative schedule for the night, visit: bit.ly/3r7sWco

by Jason Hancock, Missouri Independent (www.missouriindependent.com) 

     A new report released this week documents the impact of COVID-19 on student performance in Missouri, with test scores for math and reading dropping from pre-pandemic levels. 
     The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assesses students in fourth and eighth grades throughout the nation in math and reading every two years, though its 2021 assessment was delayed until this year because of the pandemic. 
     Missouri’s scores mirror those of most other states, with decreases in both math and reading for both grade levels from the 2019 assessment.
     The percentage of Missouri eighth graders who performed at or above the proficient level in math was only 24%, down from 32% in 2019 and only slightly higher than the 21% from the 2000 assessment. 
     Reading scores were not much better, with only 28% of students at or above proficient, compared to 33% in 2019.
     For fourth graders, 34% tested at or above proficient in math compared to 39% in 2019 and 23% in 2020. In reading, 30% tested at or above proficient, compared to 34% in 2019 and 28% in 1998. 
     The report also shows a performance gap between white and Black students in Missouri. Black fourth grade students, for example, had an average score in math that was 36 points lower than that for white students.
     “The results serve as another indicator that high-quality instruction matters,” Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven, said in a statement. 
     “It’s clear that the pandemic had an impact on student learning and that there is work to do. We must use this information,” Vandeven said, “alongside state and local metrics, to continue accelerating post-pandemic learning with improved systems and processes to meet the needs of each student.”
     The NAEP is not the first data showing student performance was impacted by the pandemic. 
In August, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released preliminary test scores for the 2021-22 school year showing that, just like last year, fewer than half of Missouri students statewide passed with proficient and advanced scores across subjects.
     There were small improvements compared to results from the 2020-21 school year, with 39% of students proficient or advanced in math — an increase in four percentage points, and 38% of students proficient or advanced in science — an increase of one percentage point. However both scores remained below the 42% of students testing proficient or advanced in both subjects in 2019. 
     Meanwhile, students’ performance slightly declined in English language arts, with a 2 percentage point drop to 43% compared to last year. In social studies, ​​40% of students tested proficient or advanced.
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     (StatePoint) Diabetes can impact the body in a number of ways, especially creating potentially serious complications for your feet.
     “Foot care is a central component of overall diabetes care,” says Bryce Paschold, DPM, FACFAS, a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon and a fellow member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. “Without precautions, even small foot problems can lead to amputation or be life-threatening.”
     To help those living with diabetes understand potential complications and how to avoid them, ACFAS is sharing these important insights:

Potential Complications
     Nerve damage that affects arms, hands, legs and feet known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy not only makes you more likely to experience numbness, burning, and loss of your protective sensation, but losing sensation in your feet can also make it easier to miss common minor skin pathologies and other foot issues while they’re still relatively easy to treat.
     With diabetes, the blood vessels below the knee often become narrow and restrict blood flow, causing infections that don’t heal. This common and serious complication can lead to the loss of your foot, leg or your life.
     Stress fractures and sprains are commonplace among all athletes, but those living with diabetes who experience neuropathy are more likely to be unaware of foot and ankle injuries and exacerbate them by continuing their activities.
     While still relatively rare, Charcot foot seems to be growing in prevalence as more Americans develop diabetes. This sudden destruction and erosion of the foot’s bones, caused by severe nerve damage, can trigger an avalanche of problems, including joint loss, fractures, collapse of the arch, massive deformity, ulcers, amputation and even death. Symptoms appear suddenly and include warm and red skin, and swelling, but commonly without pain.

Prevention

You can play a vital role in reducing your risk for complications. Here’s how:

• Inspect feet daily. Check for cuts, blisters, redness, swelling and nail problems. Use a magnifying mirror to look at the bottom of your feet. If you need assistance, have someone else do it for you. Be proactive by knowing what is going on with your feet on a daily basis.

• Don’t ignore pain. Seek care immediately if you experience pain in your leg at night or with little activity. It could mean you have a blocked artery.

• Don’t perform “bathroom surgery.” Never trim calluses or corns yourself, and don’t use over-the-counter medicated pads. See a foot and ankle surgeon for proper treatment.

• Keep floors clear. To prevent injury, make sure no needles, insulin syringes or other sharp objects are on the floor. You should also always wear shoes, indoors and outdoors.

• Prevent Irritation. Shake shoes free of small objects you may not be able to feel and ensure your socks aren’t bunched up. Wear lighter colored socks so you’ll notice blood or drainage if they occur.

• Be temperature aware. Never use heating pads, hot water bottles, ice or electric blankets, and never put your feet in hot water without testing the temperature; you can easily burn your feet without noticing.

• Stay active. Improve circulation by wiggling your toes and moving your ankles for five minutes, two to three times a day.

• Control blood sugar levels. Good diabetes management reduces your risk of developing complications.

• Book an appointment. Visit a foot and ankle surgeon to determine if you have lost any feeling or circulation. Periodic foot exams can also help prevent complications. “Advanced therapies for foot wounds, such as the use of bioengineered skin substitutes and negative pressure wound therapy, are saving limbs and restoring mobility for people who suffer from nonhealing foot ulcers,” says Dr. Paschold.

     For more information and to find a foot and ankle surgeon near you, visit FootHealthFacts.org, the patient education website for the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

     Grain Valley junior Kollin Hansuld is looking to make a return trip to the Missouri State High School Boys Swimming and Diving Championships this season.
     It will start with him attempting to qualify at the district diving event next week.
     His performance at the Suburban Conference Diving Championships Thursday at Belton High School might be a good indication that he has a solid chance of punching his ticket to the state competition.
     The junior took first place in the Suburban White Conference out of four divers with an 11-dive score of 343.85. He was fourth among all Suburban Conference divers.
     “This was a big goal I set at the beginning of the year,” Hansuld said of winning the conference diving title. “Up next is to just get ready for districts.”
     “I just have to listen to my coaches and I will be all right.”
     In practice, Hansuld said he has been working on “the little things” like the hurdle, the rotation and the entry. He said he has been working on his reverse 1 ½ and front 2/12 twister. He said his best dives were the inward 1 ½ and the back 1 ½.
     “I can do those dives any day. Those are easy for me,” Hansuld said of the inward 1 ½ and the back 1 ½.
His teammate, freshman Gage Wright, will be joining him at districts.
     He took second in the conference and finished sixth among all divers with a score of 329.30. His best dive was the reverse 1 ½ pike.
     “I was really surprised on that dive,” Wright said. “I did a good job on it. That’s the first time I have done that dive at the meet.”
      The freshman said he is confident he can make it state if he puts in the proper work. Another goal of  his is to increase the difficulty of his dives so he can achieve higher scores.”
     “I think I can,” Wright said. “I will have to put some extra work in.”
     The other Eagle to compete Thursday was Riley Strickland, who was fourth in the conference with a score of 189.90.
 

​Grain Valley junior Kollin Hansuld too first place in the Suburban White Conference driving meet with a score of 343.85. Photo credit: Michael Smith

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
     Last week my book club discussed Eileen Garvin’s novel, The Music of Bees. The question was asked, “Do you know anyone who raised bees?” While I would be the first to admit I knew and still know people who raised bees, I’d also be the first to admit, I knew nothing about the process.
      My Grandmother Rumbo had a beehive behind the smokehouse at her home on Walnut Street in Grain Valley. So did her neighbor, Rhodie Pearson. I can recall from my youth several beehives in our town. I was afraid to walk down the alley between Walnut and Front Street west of the old Methodist Church.  At certain times of the year bees swarmed there and I had a fear of being stung.
             By the 1950s, bees were more of a hobby. Some years, depending on the forage and flowers the hives had honey, some years they did not.  I can only recall once, perhaps twice, when an old cake pan would set on Grandma’s kitchen cabinet with a honeycomb and dripping honey. (I thought it was gross!) Many years earlier, the beehives around town were probably there by necessity. Because sugar was in great shortage during the depression and rationed during World War II, I suspect many residents saw honey as a luxury during those years.
             Did you know that in 1926, Jackson County was one of the largest producers of honey in Missouri? It was stated that there was almost no cost in the raising of nectar honey and neither did it require a lot of land--only enough on which to set the hives. The bees ranged from one to five miles and gathered pollen from the plentiful wild flowers, clover and alfalfa. (Sni-A-Bar Farms provided plenty of the latter.) The average production throughout the county was from 60 to 200 pounds per hive taken from approximately 2,500 colonies. There were between 65,000 bees in the smaller colonies to as many as 200,000 in the larger hives.
             In 1926, beekeepers in the Grain Valley area included Ms. Vivian Hall with 10 hives, F. W. Sellmeyer with 4 hives, T.J. Corn with 22 hives, C.O. Webb with 20 hives, Major Luther with 12 hives, and Mrs. H. M. Hannon with 12 hives.
     Missouri’s annual honey yield comes from beekeepers, apiaries, and honey farms of all shapes and sizes. Many of them are large businesses and professional companies, of course, but at the same time, much of Missouri’s honey is produced by hobbyists and small local businesses
     Although its honey production is not as high as it once was, Missouri produces a notable amount of honey each year. A report by the US Department of Agriculture found that Missouri bees had produced more than 400,000 pounds of honey in 2018.

       Owen White had a Senior Night to remember.
     The midfielder for the Grain Valley soccer team was involved in every Eagle goal in Wednesday’s Suburban White Conference matchup with Belton.
     White had a goal, an assist, and a free kick that resulted in an own goal for Belton as he led Grain Valley to a 3-1 victory at Moody Murry Memorial Field.
     “It was a very emotional night,” White said. “I have been very close to this family all this time. Last games are very special to me and I just wanted to put my all into it.”
     That is what it looked like early on as White got the assist on Grain Valley’s first goal. In the 25th minute, he sent a long-distance rainbow pass inside the box and junior defender Isaiah Johnson hit a shot as the ball was in mid-air and put it in for a 1-0 lead.
     “I saw him set up to take the kick and I thought, ‘I know this is going in,’” Johnson said. “He sends the best balls and I just went and a flicked it in.”
     About 6 minutes later, White had a free kick that got deep in the Belton 18-yard box. A pair of Belton players tried to clear the ball but ended up knocking it into their own net for an own goal, giving the Eagles a 2-0 advantage.
     The Eagles (12-6, 6-2) dominated possession in the first half, holding a 5-1 edge in shots on goal. In the second half, it was more of the same as they won the shots-on-goal battle 4-1. However, the one shot on goal form Belton went in as Zach Lattimer had a free kick from about 30 yards out that hit off the bottom of the crossbar and barely crossed the goal line that helped the Pirates narrow the gap to 2-1 in the 68th minute.
     White then capped off his special senior night by putting the game away late in the second half when he had a free kick from the far left side of the field, parallel to the left side of the Belton penalty box. He perfectly placed the ball inside the right post for Grain Valley’s third goal.
     The senior has emerged as a go-to scorer for Grain Valley as he leads the team in goals and assists according to head coach Brett Lewis.
     “This is the third year (White) has been with us and we always knew he could score,” said Lewis, whose team has won eight out of their last nine games. “This is his second year being in that attacking center-midfielder role. He’s flourished in it. He’s scored a lot of goals.
     “We have had a lot of other players step up, too. (White) is always going to get his goals. He has created some chances for his teammates, too. Chase Simpson has stepped up and scored some goals, Braxton Roach has scored some goals and Ethan Galvan has, too.”
     White noted that the season he had as a junior helped him emerge as one of the best offensive weapons on the team.
     “Last year, I think I separated myself from the group by scoring all those goals,” White said. With the help of everyone else, I get goals.”
     Grain Valley has some momentum going into the Class 3 District 7 tournament as it will be the No. 3 seed. The Eagles will take on Raytown South in the first round at 2 p.m. Saturday.
     “We have some film on them and we know they have some really good players we need to be aware of,” Lewis said of the Cardinals. “But I feel like as a team, we are capable of going out there and taking care of business.”

     Jackson County will host its first-ever Vendor Diversity Outreach Forum on Thursday, October 27, 2022 from 5:30pm– 7:00pm at JE Dunn Construction, 1001 Locust ST, KCMO. This free event will show how easy it is to do business with the County, with a specific focus on increasing awareness of contract opportunities for minority, women and veteran-owned business enterprises, trade partners, suppliers and vendors.
     There will be information and resources, including the opportunity for businesses to network and get answers to their questions. All interested businesses should RSVP their attendance to communications@jacksongov.org. A flyer is attached to share with your networks in an effort to encourage participation.
     “We are proud of the progress we have made to increase our ability to engage with more diverse businesses, specifically through the launch of a new software system that improves efficiency, transparency and communication in our available contracts,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. said. “This forum is a chance for our minority, women and veteran business owners to see that first-hand in an effort to strengthen relationships, create job opportunities and build economic equity in our community.”
     “Our diversity-owned businesses bring significant value to our community and it has always been a priority of mine to ensure they are educated on our procurement practices to successfully compete in the marketplace,” 2nd District Jackson County Legislator Ron Finley said. “I am excited about the connections, guidance and support this forum will provide them as part of the County’s ongoing commitment to fairness, equity and inclusion.”

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