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The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of October 19-25, 2022. October 19, 2022 NW Valley Woods Drive-Butterfly Trail Suspicious Person 700 Block of Main Citizen Contact-Additional Info on a Burglary 200 Block of NW Jefferson ST Stolen Auto 1300 Block of NW Jefferson ST Alarm 700 Block of Meadowood DR Suspicious Activity 1200 Block of Pamela BLVD Stolen Auto 1100 Block of Bush DR Stolen Auto 1400 Block of Sw Minter Way Unattended Death BB South of RD Mize Debris In Roadway 1400 Block of Hilltop VIN Verification 700 Block of Main Assault 700 Block of NW Scenic LN Homicide October 20, 2022 700 Block of SW Graystone Dr Motor Vehicle Accident 800 Block of SW LeeAnn Dr Open Door 800 Block of NW Hickory Ridge Dr Stealing Eagles & Kirby Motor Vehicle Accident 900 Block of SW Sandy LN Welfare Check Eagles & Garden Roadway Debris 700 Block Of NW Scenic Citizen Contact 700 Block of Main Motor Vehicle Accident NW Bailey and Rust Rd Motor Vehicle Accident October 21, 2022 Broadway & Valley Animal At Large 500 Block of SW Meadowood Harassment 1100 Block of Christie LN Motor Vehicle Accident 300 Block of Eagles PKWY Verbal Disturbance 500 Block of Meadowood DR Verbal Disturbance BB & McQuerry Area Check 1500 Block of Eagle Ridge Area Check 700 Block of Main Found Property 700 Block of Scenic LN Civil Standby 31000 Block of E Blue Mills RD Agency Assist-Jackson County SD 100 Block of SW Rock Creek Alarm October 22, 2022 700 Block of Main Warrant Check Rosewood & Hedgewood Suspicious Auto 800 Block of Country Hill DR Parking Complaint 700 Block of Foxtail DR Noise Complaint 1000 Block of Stoneypoint Verbal Disturbance 600 Block of Crestview Verbal Disturbance 1300 Block of RD Mize Welfare Check 1200 Block of NW Phelps DR Property Damage 300 Block of Lela LN Agency Assist- Buckner PD 1200 Block of NW Hickory CT Burglary 700 Block of Main Warrant Confirmation 700 Block of Main Walk-In Lost Property 300 Block of SW Eagles Burglary 1200 Block of NW Phelps DR Agency Assist-DFS 800 Block of SW Montana Ridge DR Agency Assist-DFS October 23, 2022 800 Block of Country Hill DR Parking Complaint Cross Creek & August Suspicious Auto 1000 Block of Stoneypoint Area Check 900 Block of SW Sandy LN Citizen Contact-Animal Control 1300 Block of NW Jefferson ST Alarm 800 Block of SW Lee Ann DR Found Property 500 Block of SW Brome DR Lost Dog 900 Block of NW Scenic DR Disturbance 1100 Block of Christie LN Abandoned Auto 700 Block of N Main Harassment 1200 Block of NW Long Burglary 400 Block of James Rollo Citizen Contact October 24, 2022 US 40 Hwy & E. E. Kirby Rd Motor Vehicle Accident PDHQ Confirmed Recovery - Stolen Plate 1200 Block of Hickory Citizen Contact 1300 Block of Valley Woods Ct Abandoned Auto 100 Block of Royer Ln Funeral Escort 1300 Block of Ashley Dr Civil Matter PDHQ Citizen Contact-via phone-Suspicious Activity 700 Block of N Main Citizen Contact October 25, 2022 Buckner Tarsney & 40 Hwy Motor Vehicle Accident 900 Block of NW Persimmon Found Property 500 Block of Willow Welfare Check Additional calls for service: Suicidal Subject: 4 Domestic Violence : 1 Fall is a great time of the year with a chill in the air, football season, and the trees putting on their annual autumn show. Hopefully, our current drought conditions won’t mute the autumn colors. As you are beginning to think about the holidays, remember that now is the time to do some planning about your year-end giving and how it may impact your taxes. I know none of us like to think about taxes; however, smart planning now can help you reduce your tax burden while supporting your favorite charities.
Your tax professional can help you calculate your potential itemized deductions to see where they are compared to the standard deduction which was raised in 2017 and indexed. The standard deduction for single taxpayers is $12,950 in 2022, and for married individuals filing jointly the standard deduction is $25,900. Earlier this year, one of my columns discussed charitable bunching, a strategy that can assist with year-end tax planning. Charitable bunching is when you group the contributions you intend to make over a period of years into one large donation to a Donor Advised Fund (DAF). In the year you make your "bunched" donation, you will be able to itemize your tax return and enjoy a larger deduction. In the years you do not bunch contributions, you will continue to make regular donations to your favorite charities through your DAF and claim the standard deduction on your taxes. This method allows you to continue to support your favorite charities while maximizing the tax benefit of your charitable contributions. Another way to maximize your charitable impact while minimizing your tax burden is to donate appreciated non-cash assets such as stocks (held more than one year). The current stock market environment is certainly making it a challenge to identify appreciated securities in your portfolio. Assuming you still have some, they can be donated to a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) or directly to your chosen nonprofit organization. By donating the asset itself, rather than donating the proceeds from the asset's sale, you can eliminate capital gains tax on the gift and get an itemized deduction for the value of the donation. As long as the nonprofit accepts your asset type, it is a win for you and the charity. With a Donor Advised Fund, you can make tax-deductible contributions of cash or non-cash assets at any time. Community Foundations are uniquely positioned to accept many different gifts, including appreciated securities, cryptocurrency, and real estate. All donations to DAF funds made by December 31 are eligible for a 2022 tax deduction. Once your DAF is established (with as little as a $5,000 initial contribution), you can start making grants immediately or wait until the timing is right for you. And if you manage all your charitable giving through your DAF, the only receipts you need at tax time are for the gifts into your fund. You won’t have to track down tax receipts from multiple charities to give to your tax preparer. If you have an IRA and are over the age of 70 ½, making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from your IRA directly to a charity is a tax-wise way to give, as well. RMDs now apply to those over 72 ½, but the QCD can still be made at 70 ½. A QCD will count towards your RMD, and you won't pay taxes on the withdrawal. It’s a smart way to avoid ordinary income tax on withdrawals from your IRA while supporting your favorite charities. Unfortunately, current rules don’t allow QCDs to a DAF, but they may be made to a scholarship fund or designated fund. While none of us like to think about taxes, taking a little time now to do some smart planning will enable you to support your favorite charities and reduce your tax burden. Let us know if you would like more information about charitable giving and year-end tax planning. We mournfully announce the passing of Dale Myard Eisele of Grain Valley, Missouri on October 22, 2022 after a protracted illness. Dale was born on June 22, 1958, to Leonard Eisele and Martha Ruff Eisele who preceded him in death. Dale graduated from Valley Falls High School, attended Colby Community College, Kansas University, and in 1990 received a BA from the University of Missouri. He brought a high level of curiosity and attention to detail when working as a risk management insurance agent in Kansas City. While Dale never married, he lived a full life before his illness. Dale was a passionate gardener, sharing fruits and vegetables with friends and neighbors. He loved 60’s rock and roll, gospel music and was an avid historian. He researched newspapers and called local historians to write a book featuring Missouri ghost towns. Survivors include his brother James Eisele of Lawrence, Kansas, and sister, Maxine Eisele of St. Louis, Missouri, nephews Robert and Ryan Eisele, Nikolas Swider and niece, Aniela Swider. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. October 28, 2022, at Memorial Park Cemetery 1517 E. 15th St. Lawrence, KS. The family will greet friends at noon on Friday prior to graveside at Warren-McElwain Mortuary 120 W. 13th St. Lawrence, KS. For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com. by Michael Smith The importance of senior Adelyn Bybee cannot be understated for the Grain Valley volleyball team. Not only is she a senior leader for the Eagles, she is their top kills leader and a strong server. Late in the third set of the Class 4 District 7 semifinal match with St. Michael The Archangel Catholic, the Eagles suffered a heartbreaker as Bybee landed awkwardly on her right leg on a block attempt and injured her ankle. In tears, the senior was writhing in pain, holding her right ankle as the St. Michael trainer was tending to her injury. She had to be helped to the sidelines as she was out for the rest of the game while getting an ice pack applied to her ankle. St. Micahel went up 24-22 on the play and eventually won the third set and went up 2-1 going into the fourth set. It was a moment the Eagles could have folded after an important piece to the team went down to injury. They did not as they fought hard, to force a fifth set, but the Guardians came up with key points down the stretch to end the Eagles season following a 25-14, 19-25, 24-26, 25-19, 13-15 loss Saturday at St. Michael The Archangel Catholic High School. “It’s terrible for a senior, in potentially the last game, to go down,” Grain Valley head coach Tori Squiers said. “That was really hard and it hit a lot of girls' hearts. They wanted to do it for Addy. Everyone wanted it for themselves and the team.” “Two girls came in and stepped up, Allison Schafer and Olivia Dickson and they did their jobs.” Following the Bybee injury, Grain Valley battled back to tie the third set at 24-all after scoring the next two points, but an out-of-bounds serve by the Eagles and kill senior outside hitter Remi Covinski gave the Guardians the third set. Grain Valley did not go away quietly, however. Late in the fourth set, the score was tied at 19-19, but behind the serving of junior setter Allison Koepkey, Grain Valley went on a 6-0 run to win the set 25-19. The spurt included an ace from Koepkey dropped just inside the back line. In the absence of one of the best front line players, sophomore outside hitter Kayla Gallagher stepped up for the Eagles in a big way by accumulating a game-high 14 kills, including five in the fifth and deciding set. She had a kill and two aces that helped Grain Valley go on a 3-0 run that put it up 10-9. “I am excited to have Kayla Gallagher for another two years,” Squiers said. “She’s really stepped up this year. Earlier in the season, she was voted as a team captain. She’s continued to surprise and hit expectations every single day. She has great potential for sure.” However, St. Michael junior Lily Vanbebber led a comeback for the Guardians (26-5-1) as she got two critical kills down the stretch, including the game-winner that painted the back left corner of Grain Valley’s side of the court following a long rally, ending the Eagles season. Grain Valley got strong performances from multiple players, including junior Izabella West, who had nine kills. She tied Bybee with four kills in the first set to help the Eagles win that one 25-14. She also had a team high three aces. “She has the highest vertical on the team,” Squiers said of West. “She is just one of our best defensive players. She is all over the floor. She’s the fastest kid on the team. Her athletic ability is outstanding. The future is bright.” Following the loss, the Eagles will say goodbye to four seniors, including Bybee, who will play volleyball at Baker University next year. “I think this team was something special with energy and teamwork,” Squiers said. “We got along and that’s important.” Grain Valley junior Isabella West had a strong performance with nine kills and three aces. Photo credit: Michael Smith The Grain Valley volleyball team celebrates a point scored during a five-set loss to St. Michael The Archangel Catholic Saturday in the Class 4 District 7 tournament. Photo credit: Michael Smith Grain Valley sophomore Kayla Gallagher had a game-high 14 kills. Photo credit: Michael Smith
by Michael Smith Grain Valley junior Ty Williams doesn’t like fumbling the ball. That is evident when he is on the football field as he always puts two hands on the ball when quarterback Caleb Larson hands it to him. Even while being careful, the junior always has the potential to break off big runs. He did exactly that in Friday’s Suburban White Conference matchup with Raytown as he exploded for 160 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries to help his team earn a 28-14 victory at Moody Murry Memorial Field. “I just don’t want to fumble the ball so I put two hands on the ball,” Williams said. “When no one is around me, that’s when I go to one arm and start pumping. That ball is the most valuable thing on the field, so I don’t want to lose it.” With the win, the Eagles (7-2) won the Suburban White Conference with a 4-0 league record. Not only that, they earned the No. 1 seed in the Class 5 District 7 tournament and will get a first-round bye. “We got a couple linebackers banged up,” Grain Valley head coach David Allie said. “It’s nice to have that time off and heal a little bit.” Even while using two hands to carry the football, Williams still broke four runs of more than 10 yards. “We were minus-7 in our two losses,” Allie said of his team’s turnover ratio. “In our six wins, we are plus-12. So that’s what you have to do, control the ball and not fumble. “Ty does a great job of that. He keeps two hands on the ball and runs fast. He reads the holes pretty well.” His longest TD run came on the first play in the second half when he found a huge hole up the middle for a score to put the Eagles ahead 14-7 following a 68-yard scoring run. At the 2:22 mark in the third, he scored on a 2-yard run that was set up by a 44-yard pass from quarterback Caleb Larson to wide receiver Noah Olah that made it 21-14 with 2:22 left in the third. The junior later iced the game and made it 28-14 with a 6-yard TD run with 4:36 left in the game. “That dude is a tank,” Grain Valley senior wide receiver Noah Olah said of Williams. “He can break any arm tackle out there.” Olah was also a big part of the offense as he caught two passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. His score came with 40.2 seconds left in the first half. He dropped an open pass earlier in the drive that likely would have been a touchdown, but the senior overcame adversity to make a big catch on fourth-and-6 as he hauled in a 39-yard TD pass from Caleb Larson. “They started playing their safety 20 yards off (the line of scrimmage) and I still beat him,” Olah said. Grain Valley had to overcome a sluggish start following a 5-yard TD run from Raytown quarterback Nathan Whitebear that put the Eagles in a 7-0 hole with 6:32 left in the first. That Raytown drive was aided by two fourth down conversions, including a fake punt on fourth-and-15 that resulted in a 26 yards pass from Whitebear to Travon Johnson. After the drive, Baker shouted at his defensive teammates to try and get them fired up, telling them “not to put their heads down” and “we are better than them.” “My job is to keep the team in the game,” Baker said. “We are a family out there. I just got to let them know what we need to do better and when we get down on ourselves, I got to let them know we don’t need to.” Baker’s motivational speech seemed to work as Grain Valley held Raytown to just seven points the rest of the way. The only other Raytown touchdown came on fourth-and-25 at the 4:31 mark in the third quarter when Whitebear hit Trevon Johnson for a 32-yard scoring pass. The Eagles defense limited the Blue Jays to 304 yards of offense despite losing the time of possession battle as Raytown had the ball for 32:38, while Grain Valley only had it for 15:06. Raytown seemed to be on its way to tying the game midway through the fourth period as it had the ball at the Grain Valley 26-yard line. Up to this point, the Blue Jays had converted all six of their fourth down attempts into first downs. On fourth-and-3, Grain Valley senior Jake Allen tackled Freddy Ersery for just a 1-yard gain, which resulted in a turnover on downs with 8:32 left. On Allen’s big tackle, he was lined up against Raytown’s 6-foot-7, 345 pound left tackle Logan Reichert, who is a four-star recruit according to rivals.com and has committed to the University of Missouri. Even in a tough matchup, Allen beat Reichert for the biggest tackle of the game. “He’s an animal out there,” Grain Valley junior Brody Baker said of Allen. “He was lined up against one of the best lineman in this area. We put Jake on him for a reason.” Grain Valley scored on the following possession and got a turnover on downs on Raytown’s final possession to secure the first-round bye. Junior Ty Williams exploded for 160 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries to help his team earn a 28-14 victory at Moody Murry Memorial Field. Photo credit: Clara Jaques Olah was also a big part of the offense as he caught two passes for 83 yards and a touchdown. His score came with 40.2 seconds left in the first half. Photo credit: Clara Jaques
Update 10/20/22, 3:00pm: In a press release, the City of Grain Valley provided additional details beyond their initial statement via Facebook the afternoon of 10/19/2019: "Officers discovered a 24-year-old male with gunshot wounds - who was later pronounced deceased at the scene. Firearms were located at the scene and three subjects were detained for questioning. Grain Valley Police Department detectives, with assistance from detectives from the Oak Grove Police Department, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department and Kansas City Police Department Crime Scene Unit processed the scene and interviews were conducted. It was determined that all persons involved knew each other and were staying in the residence where an argument preceded the shooting. This investigation is ongoing and once complete will be presented to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office." As reported the afternoon of October 19th, Grain Valley Police Department reported at approximately 1:00pm on Wednesday, October 19th that police were dispatched to a shooting on Scenic and Sawgrass that left one person deceased. In a Facebook post at approximately 2:30pm on October 19th, Grain Valley Police reported officers were currently at the scene of the shooting. The statement said the investigation continues, but police are not searching for a subject and there is no threat to the public at this time. While new details have yet to be released, Grain Valley News spoke with a couple who found themselves at the center of the tragedy yesterday. Courtney Smith and James Smith, residents in the Truman Lake area, were in Grain Valley on business and to visit Courtney’s parents, who live in a neighboring duplex where the shooting took place. The couple were outside visiting with Courtney’s mother and a friend, when they witnessed a white truck arrive on the scene and a verbal altercation begin. The Smiths said the truck then left, but they had a sense that there would be further trouble. “There were loud arguments going on and the truck left, but it was obvious it would return given the threatening things being said,” Courtney Smith said. They called to another neighbor whose children were in a vehicle to get the children inside. The Smiths report a vehicle returned to the scene minutes later, where the apparent victim entered the home where the verbal altercation had just taken place. The Smiths then heard shooting from within the house. Both of the Smiths heard hollering from the home and sprang into action. James Smith had a handgun and entered the home in an what he described as an attempt to help stop or disarm the individual shooting inside the home. James described that he then saw Courtney, a nurse, run past him toward the basement where the shooting victim, identified by the Smiths as a young man in his 20s who had returned in the vehicle and enter the home, was located. Courtney Smith began administering CPR until police and paramedics arrived and ordered her aside. According to Courtney Smith, the victim was not transported for care as he was deceased shortly after their arrival. James Smith reported seeing two young men, appearing to be in their 20s, run from the scene following the shooting, with Smith calling to them to return. The men reportedly returned to the scene, one of the men referred to as the shooter of the man who entered the home and was shot in the basement, according to Smith. According to the Smiths, the young man who reportedly shot the individual who entered the home was placed under arrest. James Smith was ordered to the ground by police and dropped his weapon while the scene was secured. The couple were later individually questioned and released by police. Courtney Smith had to relinquish the clothes she had been wearing to police as evidence, as they were bloodied following her attempts to administer CPR to the victim. According to the Smiths, those at the scene as well as family members they later encountered stated the altercation was related to an intimate relationship between the victim and a woman associated with the home. Police remained on the scene late afternoon on October 19th as the Smiths, stating they were still in shock, left to return home. “The neighborhood is pretty quiet. It’s scary to think that would happen near to my mom and dad. We were just outside, talking with a friend, and this happens. And today was very sad,” Courtney Smith said, her voice breaking. “The fact is that two young men lost their life today. One was shot and lost his life, and another arrested and his life is changed forever.” The shooting incident took place the afternoon of October 19th in the area of NW Sawgrass Drive and NW Scenic Drive.
by Clara Bates, Missouri Independent
A state commission Tuesday laid out its recommendations to improve teacher recruitment and retention in Missouri, including a push to raise starting salaries that currently rank among the lowest in the nation. The State Board of Education approved the commission’s nine recommendations and pledged to bring the findings to the public and lawmakers. “I look forward to taking this out and sharing it with Missouri citizens and, ultimately, with the legislature and our legislative partners,” said Charlie Shields, president of the state board of education. Nearly 8% of available full-time teaching positions in the school year 2020-2021 were vacant or filled by not fully qualified individuals, according to the report. Shortages have particularly afflicted elementary, early childhood and special education, the report noted, as well as specific subjects and high-need schools. The Teacher Recruitment and Retention Blue Ribbon Commission was formed by the State Board of Education earlier this year and is composed of 22 members, including nine business members, four state legislators and two teachers, as well as staff from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, governor’s office, State Board of Education, and School Board. One of the commission’s immediate recommendations was for the legislature to amend the state’s base teacher salary, which is currently set by state law at $25,000 for a beginning teacher, to “at least $38,000” and to conduct annual reviews of the starting salary level. According to the National Education Association’s review from earlier this year, Missouri’s average teacher starting salary ranks second-to-last in the nation, at $33,234, higher only than Montana. At a public hearing in August, educators recounted taking on second jobs to get by. “We cannot fall behind again like we have and play catch up,” Mark Walker, CEO of the transportation company TransLand and chair of the commission, said as he presented the report Tuesday morning. According to the report, it would cost the state around $29.5 million to ensure all teachers were making at least $38,000 a year. The commission also recommended the legislature fund a program which allows districts to supplement teacher salaries for hours worked outside contracted hours, called the Career Ladder program, and expand grants to fund teacher recruitment programs. The legislature should also establish a state fund to help local school districts pay more competitive salaries overall, the report recommended. The average teachers salary in Missouri ranks 47th in the nation, at $51,557, according to the National Education Association. Pay varies widely by district. In smaller districts, with fewer than 250 students, teachers are paid an average of $9,000 less than their counterparts in larger districts, the report said. To bump up the average teacher salary by just $1,000 would cost the state $81.2 million, according to the report. “We recognize you can’t do it immediately,” said Walker, of creating a state fund to raise salaries across the board, “But we certainly think this probably has one of the largest impacts we could ask to have in the system.” Other short-term priorities in the report include increasing support for teacher mental health and funding a student loan forgiveness program to incentivize teachers to work in at-risk schools. In the long-term, the commission recommends the state allow schools to provide salary supplements and bonuses to fill high-need positions, which would require several provisions of the Missouri Constitution to be modified, and recommends the legislature help fund teachers to become certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, which studies have linked to teachers’ effectiveness and retention. The commission recommends future work be done to assess school cultures and climate for teachers, as well as Missouri’s heavy reliance on local funding for education, which “creates inequities in the available resources and supports available to schools, teachers, and students.” One board member, Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, weighed in on the point of inequitable funding, praising the commission’s efforts as a first step but pointing to funding as the “big white elephant in this room” that needed to be further addressed. Without focusing on structural funding issues, “if we try to apply Band-Aids,” Westbrooks-Hodge said, “we’re going to be sitting here 10 years from now talking about the same issue.” “You’ve issued a charge,” she said to the commission, “but what you’ve listed as a next step or consideration really needs to be our first step. We’ve got to attack the structure.” Reprinted with permission by the Missouri Independent, www.missouriindependent.com. Construction of new fire station begins, part of several projects in the works in Grain Valley10/20/2022
Construction began this week as crews began moving dirt at the location of a new fire station to be located at the corner of Duncan Road and Dillingham Road. Tim Anderson, Deputy Chief of Operations for Central Jackson County Fire Protection District, said the process, which began with the approval of a tax levy increase and bond approval in early 2021, moved to the construction phase following the approval of bids at the end of August. "We decided on a design/build process to construct the station and McCown Gordon Construction was chosen in this process. We wrapped up the design phase of the project in early June of this year, and McCown Gordon sent the specifications out for bidding purposes for the construction of the station. They received the bids, and those bids were approved by our Board of Directors on August 30th, 2022. Construction mobilization began earlier this week with dirt being moved," Anderson said. "We anticipate that construction will be completed by late September to early October of 2023 and anticipate being in the station in late October weather permitting. We will be staffing an engine and an ambulance out of the station, with storage for reserve apparatus and other ancillary equipment." Ground will soon be broken on the south end of town for Mid-Continent Public Library's (MCPL) new branch. On Thursday, November 10, at 9:00am, Mid-Continent Public Library staff and local leaders will break ground on the new Grain Valley Branch at 400 SW Buckner Tarsney Road, The brand-new building will be located approximately a mile south of the current Grain Valley Branch at 101 SW Eagles Pkwy., which it will replace when it opens in late fall 2023. The current Grain Valley Branch, located in a local storefront MCPL has leased since 2014, will remain open for services until construction of the new building is complete. As well as 4,000 additional square feet, the new building will offer customers a variety of upgraded amenities, including:
Also under construction, the new central office building for Grain Valley Schools is on schedule for a March 2023 opening. The new building is being constructed just south of the district's Dr. Amanda Allen, Deputy Superintendent, School and Community Services, reports the roof should be completed by the end of October, and exterior walls (brick and stone) are scheduled to be completed by the end of November. Dirt began being moved this week at the site of a future fire station at the corner of Dillingham and Duncan roads in Grain Valley. Photo credit: Grain Valley News staff
(StatePoint) As people return to their fall routines, economic concerns are top of mind, and many are finding themselves spending more time worrying about the health of their things than the health of themselves.
According to new research by MDLIVE, an Evernorth company and leading provider of virtual care services, most people (67%) view fall as a time to get back into routines, pointing to reprioritizing schedules, getting kids started in the new school year and prepping for winter. However, only 20% of people say they are on top of routine doctor visits. Instead, they’re prioritizing the health of their homes (71%) and their cars (63%), more so than are focused on routine, preventive care for their personal health (57%). Why are Americans so avoidant when it comes to caring for their physical wellness? Time, or lack of it, is one major factor. Despite 56% of people recognizing that putting off personal health affects how well they can care for other aspects of their lives, 47% say they put off routine health tasks because they are too busy. Another factor is cost -- 39% of respondents say prioritizing health would be too expensive or force them to dip into money they have earmarked for other things. “The majority of people with employer-sponsored health insurance have access to low-cost or no-cost preventive care, and millions can now access routine preventive care virtually through their health plan,” said Dr. Vontrelle Roundtree, interim chief medical officer, MDLIVE. “It’s incredibly convenient to fit into busy schedules and enables people to stay on top of important preventive care like wellness screenings and chronic care management.” According to Dr. Roundtree, there are three simple steps people can take as part of a fall preventive health routine that are low-cost and require little time: 1. Keep up on vaccines: Some experts predict a challenging flu season combined with the risk of other infectious diseases, all while bracing for a potential COVID surge. It’s critical to get your flu shot and stay current on COVID boosters. 2. Stay current on screenings: Routine screenings are the first line of defense against many common illnesses, and addressing early signs of those conditions can often keep them from becoming chronic. However, since the start of COVID, screening rates for a number of conditions have fallen. Take an inventory of any overdue doctor visits or preventive care, such as screenings for breast and cervical, colorectal and skin cancer, and make the time to get them done. Check your health plan to see your options, such as virtual wellness screenings that can save you a trip to the doctor’s office and may be available to you at a $0 copay depending on your health plan. For example, MDLIVE, a leading U.S. provider of virtual health care services, offers convenient, affordable access to medical and behavioral health care 24/7 from the comfort of home. More than 62 million individuals nationwide have access to the service as a covered benefit through their health plans and employers. To learn more, visit mdlive.com. 3. Take control of chronic conditions: Those living with chronic conditions should review their medications and dosages with their doctor to ensure they are up to date and to determine if anything should be changed or stopped. “The fall season, with its focus on fresh starts, is the perfect opportunity to turn your attention to preventive healthcare,” says Dr. Roundtree. “After all, your health is your most valuable asset.” The event is scheduled to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 29. The drop off location will be in the City Hall/Police Station parking lot located at 711 South Main Street.
According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), National Prescription Drug Take Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible way of disposing unwanted, unused, and expired prescription drugs – while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medication. Note that only potentially dangerous prescription medications, including tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs will be accepted. Liquids, syringes/sharps, illegal drugs, and inhalers will not be accepted. For more information on this event, email info@cityofgrainvalley.org or visit www.dea.gov. |
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