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by John Unrein A ricochet of the soccer ball off the goal post across the net to the waiting foot of a Platte County Pirate player was the only shot on goal that Senior Bryant Madden couldn't stop. The Eagles goalkeeper would defend 16 shots on goal in route to a 1-Nil loss to the Platte County Pirates on Saturday, November 16th in state playoff action. The winning goal came with just 22 seconds left in overtime. It marked the third time this season the Eagles had played the Pirates tough, losing to them by only one goal each time. Madden tried to put the game and his season in perspective. "Eagles soccer has meant everything to me. All four years growing up playing with these boys has been special. I view these guys like my brothers," Madden said. "I did what I could today to help out my team by defending our goal. We put forth a great team effort and came up just short." The Pirates were the dominant team in getting their feet and bodies on second chance soccer balls as well as getting turned on the ball towards the Eagles’ net. That momentum would abruptly stop and shift tides to the Eagles in the second half. Their hustle would allow them to be the foremost team coming up with second chance balls and getting the ball turned towards the Pirate net. Grain Valley would reduce the shots on goal advantage to 14-21 in favor of the Pirates by the end of the game (the tally was 6-12 at halftime). A big reason for improvement in the advancement of the Eagles offense was due to Senior Defenseman Nate Booker. Booker was dominant in getting in front of Pirate offensive surges and securing any ball that entered the Eagles defensive zone. Furthermore, Booker was continuously the first off the ground and to the soccer ball with his head on 50/50 chances. Different Pirate players would try, but come up empty with same results that ventured into Booker's area. This eventually wore down the Pirates offense in the second half. Booker was composed and grateful in his post game comments. "Intensity. We knew we were going to be the underdogs out here today. I gave it my all. Especially, on the 50/50 balls as they provide momentum swings for your team when they get possessed. That's what it's all about in a quarterfinal game," Booker said. "This program is all about character. I've seen Freshmen through Seniors grow up both on the field and off the field. Eagles Soccer is a great community and I'm proud to be a part of that." Head Soccer Coach Tyler Nichol was proud of his team's effort and how far they've come over the last 12 months. "We tried to keep their number 2 (Chase Peterson) in front of us and not allow him behind us. A lot of their shots came from distance. They were the most dangerous on set plays from throw-ins and corner kicks. Nate (Booker) was an animal today playing possessed.” “He's so athletic at going up and getting his head or chest on contested balls. He grinds things out. We moved him from forward to defender around the Blue Springs game and it paid big dividends for us," Nichol said. "Also, that was one of the best games Bryant (Madden) has ever played. He never played goalkeeper until last year, and yet he's been a natural. I don't know how he saw some of the balls he tipped or got his hands on today.” “I don't know if I have the words to characterize our senior class. You're looking at a team that was under .500 last season. The reason why we only lost to three teams (Platte County, Smithville, and Blue Valley West) this year is all because of the senior class." Senior Goalkeeper Bryant Madden defends a shot on goal. Photo credit: John Overstreet Senior Defender Nate Booker clears the ball from his zone with a header.
Photo credit: John Overstreet by John Unrein Then there were eight. The Eagles advanced to the quarterfinals of the Class 4 Missouri football playoffs with their win over the visiting Harrisonville Wildcats on Friday, November 15th by a score of 32-21. The execution put forth by Grain Valley in all three aspects (offense, defense, and special teams) of the game allowed for them to be dominant in their victory over a rival. Head Football Coach David Allie soaked in the moment as he described why November football is so special. "We thought we would be pretty good up front defensively, and we needed to be. Their kid coming in had 2,000 yards as a running back. Harrisonville only got outside of us a couple of times as we limited the interior running lanes.” “Their offensive line plays with short splits in between gaps which makes it football in a phone booth, and we shut that down. Hats off to Coach Carpino and our staff for the excellent work they put in," Allie said. "November football means everything and is magnified in the playoffs. We are one of the last eight teams in the state for our class and right now it's anyone's ball game. Platte County is our next opponent and we will be traveling to their place. We have to come out and turn what we do in practice to fruition on the field. This is a grind. These kids from day one, I have said are very coachable, and we will enjoy the ride along the way." Proper execution of the game plan and football fundamentals first reared its head with the black shirt defense under the direction of Coach Carpino. Harrisonville's fullback on offense would lead to where the football was going on the ground. The Eagles consistently swarmed to football with multiple tacklers securing the stop. Harrisonville struggled with the snap from center offensively. One from under center was fumbled as were two shotgun snaps over the head of Junior Quarterback River Riley, the second of which was recovered by the Eagles with 32 seconds left in the first half on the Harrisonville 45 yard line. The Eagles capitalized on the error in fundamentals on a cold night as they drove the ball inside the Wildcats’ 10 yard line with 4 seconds left. Grain Valley set up for a field goal attempt that led to a botched snap and a positive reaction by Senior Holder Gavin Oyler, who did not panic. Oyler secured the ball off the ground and drifted left as he rolled away from the placement and pressure. He eventually turned his shoulders and squared himself to the right, initiating a perfectly lofted football into the waiting arms of Junior Riley Brown in the end zone. The Eagles would go ahead 14-7 heading into halftime. Oyler gave credit to his coaches and the team's practice routine for knowing how to respond in that situation. "To be honest with you, at this point in the season it's all reaction. We practice that every day. We are presented with a lot situations so we know how to react without thinking," Oyler said. "I love to take on any challenge that helps our team. Competing with this group is special." Sophomore Wide Receiver Logan Pratt also executed well on special teams. Harrisonville angled kickoffs repeatedly towards the Eagles sideline trying to limit gaps in coverage lanes. Pratt was up for the challenge and broke for several big returns against Wildcat defenders baring down on him at awkward angles. A prime example of this would be Pratt's kickoff return with 3:39 left in the first quarter that provided the Eagles great field position on the Harrisonville 48 yard line. Pratt would also contribute six catches at wide receiver, good for 63 yards. The sophomore is starting to play past his years in Allie's offense and has become a reliable set of hands down the stretch. The last noteworthy feat of execution continues to be the play of Junior Quarterback Parker Bosserman. The junior signal caller, filling in for injured starting quarterback Cole Keller, went 16 for 26 through the air for 173 yards and two touchdowns to go along with two interceptions. Allie adjusted his play calling the second half with rollout passes to better suit the strengths of the 5' 10" Bosserman. The dividends paid off big, with the Eagles able to successfully move the football with chunks of yardage. "Being a short guy like me, you got to get somewhere that you can see to deliver the football. The offensive line and our running backs did a great job providing protection as we moved the pocket. I just read things up and delivered the ball to the open receiver," Bosserman said. "This is the first time I have ever played this late into a season. I sat my freshman year when we lost this game. We will have the fire needed against Platte County when we face them having lost to them earlier in the season. Our determination will center around the 4th quarter, having lost the game late to them last time." Bosserman's biggest pass of the game came with 5:43 left in the fourth quarter. Bosserman rolled left to the trips side of the formation. Upon breaking contain, he stopped and threw right back across the field to Tight End Hunter Newsom. The junior looked the football into his hands after baiting Wildcat defenders perfectly as he delayed the deployment of his route into the flat. Newsome chose to run over the Harrisonville safety at the goal line instead of going around him as his 10 yard touchdown reception put the Eagles up 29-15 late in the fourth quarter. Motivation should not be a factor for the Eagles leading up to the game against their Suburban Conference foe, as they travel north to face Platte County, who they lost to by one point in a week four matchup. Junior Quarterback Parker Bosserman went 16 for 26 through the air for 173 yards and two touchdowns to go along with two interceptions. Photo credit: Valley News staff Senior Holder Gavin Oyler alludes pressure to throw touchdown pass on botched extra point attempt.
Photo credit: John Overstreet by Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Did you know that one in 11 Americans have diabetes or that someone is newly diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. every 23 seconds? We also know that 86 million Americans are at risk of developing diabetes. There is no better time than now to prepare yourself for the upcoming holidays and to learn healthy eating strategies for lifelong behavior change to prevent, delay or manage diabetes. Managing diabetes is about controlling blood sugar levels. One method of meal planning to control blood sugar levels involves counting carbohydrates. To better understand carbohydrate counting (aka: carb counting) one must learn what foods have carbohydrates and their portion sizes. Foods that contain carbohydrates and recommended to be counted: Dairy: milk and yogurt Grains: bread, pasta, cereal, crackers, oatmeal, rice Starchy vegetables: potatoes, corn, peas Vegetable proteins: Beans (any variety), soy products Dessert foods/beverages: Regular soda, juice drinks, cakes, cookies, candy Fruit: Fresh, canned, frozen and juice-based To figure out how much carbohydrates packaged foods contain, look to the food nutrition facts panel. First check serving size, followed by total carbohydrates. Foods that do not have a food label will require an estimation of how much carbohydrate is in it. When planning meals as a diabetic, 1 serving of a carbohydrate food equals about 15 grams. A few food examples with approximately 15 grams of carbohydrates: 1 tennis ball of fresh fruit 1 slice of bread ½ cup cooked oatmeal ¼ of a large baked sweet potato 1 cup milk (skim to whole) ½ cup cooked beans (ex: black, kidney, etc.) The amount of carbohydrates one needs will vary on the individual. A great place to start is 15 to 20 grams at snacks and 30 to 45 grams at meals. A person’s carbohydrate amount will depend on many factors; an individual’s activity level and prescribed medications will influence how many carbohydrates your body can handle to keep your blood glucose in a healthy range. Animal-based proteins (ex: chicken, eggs, fish, beef, etc.), healthy fats (ex: nuts, seeds, oils, etc.), and non-starchy vegetables (ex: lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, etc.) have either no carbohydrates or contain little carbohydrate. These foods, especially non-starchy carbohydrates, should always be included on your food plates. However, it’s generally easier to not focus on including these foods in your carb counting. Whether you are a diabetic needing more assistance to manage your blood sugar, pre-diabetic or have never had your glucose measured, a registered dietitian is available to help you better understand. Try this recommended fall favorite recipe, Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash. Tracey Shaffer, RDN, LD is a registered dietitian at the Blue Springs Hy-Vee. She can be reached at tshaffer@hy-vee.com. The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Serves 4 (1/2 stuffed squash half). All you need: 2 (8 oz each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 (2 1/2 to 3 pound) spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded 1 1/4 cups red enchilada sauce, divided 1 medium zucchini, diced 1 cup shredded pepper Jack cheese All you do: Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 450 degrees. Place chicken in a medium saucepan, add water to cover and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and gently simmer until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165 degrees, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board and shred with 2 forks. Transfer to a large bowl. Meanwhile, place squash cut-side down in a microwave-safe dish and add 2 tablespoons water. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH until the flesh is tender, about 10 minutes. Alternatively, place squash halves cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake in a 400-degree oven until the squash is tender, 40 to 50 minutes. Use a fork to scrape the squash from the shells into the large bowl. Place the shells on a broiler-safe pan. Stir 1 cup enchilada sauce, zucchini, 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt into the squash and chicken. Divide the mixture between the shells; top with the remaining 1/4 cup enchilada sauce and cheese. Bake on the lower rack for 10 minutes. Move to the upper rack, turn the broiler to high and broil, watching carefully, until the cheese starts to brown, about 2 minutes. To serve, cut each shell in half. Nutrition Facts per serving: 408 calories, 22g fat, 11g saturated fat, 136mg cholesterol, 426mg sodium, 20g carbohydrates, 4g fiber, 7g sugars, 34g protein. Daily values: 22% vitamin A, 32% vitamin C, 28% calcium. Source: EatingWell, Inc. Jesse Frank Long, 94, of Bolivar, Missouri passed away Sunday, November 17, 2019 at his home in Bolivar, Missouri, surrounded by his loving family. Jesse was born on April 27, 1925 in Eureka, Kansas to John and Mable Coulter Long, the youngest of nine children. Jesse primarily grew up in Reece, Kansas, also living in Neosho and Burlington, Kansas. At the age of 17, Jesse enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he earned the distinguished title of Navy Frogman. He served his country with honor in the Second World War. Following his time in the military, Jesse moved back to the Midwest, where he joined the Santa Fe Railroad as a mechanic, retiring after 33 years. From the age of eight, Jesse was an accomplished harmonica player. It was a talent that he cultivated over years and enjoyed playing until the end. Jesse was also a very gifted storyteller and shared his life with many around him. He could often be found fishing, fixing cars, or playing cards with his friends or family. Jesse was generous to a fault, and loved his country, his family and his God. His example leads the way for those who loved him most to follow. Jesse is preceded in death by his loving wife of over 60 years, Marjorie Elizabeth Long. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Long of Bolivar, Missouri, as well as his two sons, Lewis Michael Long and Steven Alan Long. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Norma Jean Henry, Michael Anthony Long, Morgan Macrae Dolan, Jessica Ann Long, Robert Alan Long, Justin Wessel, Logan Varner, Lacey Varner, April Doherty, and his great-grandchildren: Lawson James Henry, Tressa Anne Henry, Caleb Delaney Dolan, Roman Ezekiel Harris, Josiah Mason Long, Braelyn Grace Harris, and Sabra Watkins. Visitation for Jesse Long will be held Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 1:00pm at the Heritage Baptist Church in Bolivar, MO. Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 2:00pm at the Heritage Baptist Church in Bolivar, MO. Burial will be held at Royer Cemetery in Grain Valley, MO on Saturday, November 23, 2019 at 1:00pm. Memorial contributions can be made in Jesse’s honor to the Heritage Baptist Church in Bolivar, MO. by Wayne Geiger “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7).
Many of us try to watch our language. Even the saltiest sailor will try to curb his or her language around the little ones or in front of the preacher. For most of us, the true test is not what flows from out of our mouths in a controlled environment, but what flies out of our mouth when we step on a Lego. That’s the true test. The issue is not the mouth, of course, but the heart. The ten commandments are found in the book of Exodus 20:1-17. They are not random “things to do” to rob us of our fun, but structured, rationale instructions that reveal the heart of God. The first four commands give instruction about our vertical relationship with God. These are commands that deal with people and God. The last six commands reveal what God expects of our horizontal relationships or how we deal with other people. So, when Jesus said, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31) he was basically reminding us that the key to obeying the commandments is vertical and horizontal love. But that’s another article. For this article, I’d like to call commandment number three to the witness stand and put it under the microscope. Most people do not know what it means to “not take the Lord’s name in vain.” It has little to do with cussing (there are other passages for that). The command literally has to do with God’s name. God’s name is special—or holy. Most parents spend a great deal of time “naming” their child. Some children are named after a family member or someone that left a significant imprint upon the father or mother. Some children are named after pop culture—like Disney characters or actors or actresses. Some parents won’t even reveal the name of their child until the baby is born. Names are unique and special. I had a student some time ago whose name was Semaj. I had a hard time remembering it, until he informed me that his mother named him Semaj because it’s James backwards. I’ve never forgotten it. I was mortified when in second grade I found that my name meant “wagon maker.” Through the chuckles, my teacher informed the class that wagon makers were very important people in the expansion of the old west. I was not convinced. Neither were they. We like to identify people by name. If your eye catches that special someone for the first time, you want to know, “what’s their name?” We are hurt when people don’t remember our name. There have been people who have made us so angry that we say, “don’t even mention their name in my presence!” Names mysterious and powerful. In the biblical creation story, God allowed Adam to name all the animals—thus exercising dominion over them. As a child in school, I remember the story of Rumpelstiltskin. In order for the king’s daughter to keep from having to give up her baby to the imp-like-creature, she needed to discover his name. According to research, the tale was one collected by the Brothers Grimm in the 1812 edition of “Children's and Household Tales” and may have been circulating for about 4000 years. We give personal names to inanimate objects that we value. Maybe you grew up with a favorite doll or bear—and you named it. It was uniquely yours. We also name our pets and by the tone of our voice we can get our dog to come running with excitement or to have their ears go down in shame. When my mom yelled out, “Wayne Richard Geiger!” I knew I was in trouble. Names are powerful and defining. When was the last time you met someone named Judas? We some times use the phrase, “make a name for yourself” or someone’s “name up in lights.” What we are saying is a person’s name personifies their character and identity. The same is true with God. When you talk about God’s name, you talk about God. God’s name is to be revered. For example, several passages from the Bible: “Praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven” (Ps 148:13). “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name (Matthew 6:9). “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11). God has a personal and powerful name and He wants to protect it. This is where the third command comes in. God’s command is that His name be used properly. God is extremely protective of His name and His nature. That means 2 things. First, obviously, God’s name must not be used as an obscenity or curse word. At this point, my desire to be illustrative and give an example, but that desire is overpowered by my desire to be respectful. But, any time we use the words, God, Lord, Jesus, or any other way to describe God and use it improperly, we have violated the third command. Second, not only must God’s name not be used as an obscenity, it must also not be used flippantly. This is the main thrust of the command. As the command states, “You shall not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain”. The key word is “vain”. The word vain is Shav in Hebrew. It literally means vanity or emptiness. The command is to not take God’s holy, revered name and associate it with anything that is empty, shallow, or common. God’s name must only be used in connection with praise and adoration. The Old Testament Jews understood this and would never even utter God’s name and would not write it out. Jews today will often write the word “God” with a missing vowel or hyphen out of respect. Here are some things to think about: The phrase, O-M-G has been floating around for some time. Many people use it as an expression of shock or unbelief. If the “G” stands for God, doesn’t this flippant use of God’s name violate the third command? Also, I’ve heard some people say “Jesus Christ!” but not utter it in a way to bring praise, but to express exasperation, disbelief, or pain. Same idea. One last example, some refer to the mighty God of the universe by calling him, “The Big Man Upstairs”, “The Big Guy”, or “The Man.” None of these phrases captures the essence of God’s holiness and identity. In short, the third command means that we don’t sacrifice God’s holiness by indiscriminately involving Him in vulgar or vain vocabulary and we don’t make God relevant by bringing Him down to our level. Our heavenly Father, who is a God of love, mercy, and compassion, wants to be loved by us and deserves to be shown the proper respect and admiration that He alone deserves. So, before you step on that next Lego or catch your toe on chair leg, determine what verbiage should come out of your mouth. Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech, and freelance writer. by Mayor Mike Todd, City of Grain Valley Can you believe that we will soon be ushering in the year 2020? So much has happened in our community over the last twenty years. Most of you are aware of the growth that we have experienced. As of the 2000 census, there were just over 5,000 residents in Grain Valley. The US Census Bureau reported in July 2018, a population of 14,277, so it will not surprise us if Grain Valley reaches a population near 15,000 by the reporting of the April 2020 Census.
The growth in population has brought many changes. The City is averaging 10 new home construction permits per month. New businesses are continually coming to Grain Valley, two of which are nearing completion. Taco Bell, north of I-70, will open its doors in the coming weeks, as will TempStop, just north of City Hall. The TempStop will include a BluTaco and Champs Chicken. QuikTrip should be breaking ground soon also. All of these will be great options for families on the go. The growth we have experienced has had City staff evaluating the conditions and space constraints presented by the current city facilities, including City Hall, the police department and the community center. These facilities were completed in 2001, when the total population of the city was approximately 1/3 of it’s current size. City staff has worked with architects and construction consultants to evaluate the current needs of City staff and amenities for our citizens. Looking ahead and in an effort to preserve our City’s history, the City purchased property several years ago at the location of the former Sni-A-Bar farms. The 2014 comprehensive plan set the long-term vision to create a community campus at this property. City staff and the project’s partners have appeared at community events seeking public input regarding the project. They also facilitated a community meeting, which was held in October with 200+ in attendance. We encourage citizens to stay informed regarding the project by visiting www.envisiongrainvalley.com. Our Parks & Recreation Department has been busy throughout the year with programs such as little league baseball and playtime for toddlers, but have also been involved in larger impact projects, such as the Blue Branch Trail. It is a continuation of the City’s Trails Master Plan that focuses on connecting neighborhoods to schools, schools to parks, and parks to the downtown corridor. The Blue Branch Trail extends from Buckner Tarsney Road, west to SW Eagles Parkway, running parallel to Blue Branch Creek. The trail will be completed in the coming months, with plans to add a pedestrian bridge in 2020. We are gearing up now for the Holiday Festival at Armstrong Park on Thursday, December 5th. The event begins at 6:00 pm with the lighting of the Mayor’s Christmas tree and lights throughout the Park, Main Street, the Community Center and City Hall. We support the Grain Valley Assistance Council throughout the year, but this is a huge event for them as they rely on the community’s support to serve more than 100 families. This year they will be collecting non-perishable food items throughout the evening. Join us to enjoy this tradition as the community comes together to kick off the holiday season with free hot chocolate, cookies and photos with Santa. Please feel free to contact me with questions or concerns at mayor@cityofgrainvalley.org or feel free to give me a call at 816-719-9436. Happy holidays to you! by Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert You probably didn't know this, but the holiday shopping season is prime time for identity thieves. Cyber-criminals know that during this hectic season, you and millions of others like you become more lax with their personal and financial information, leaving a great opening for thieves for stealing everything from your credit card numbers and more importantly, your personal identities.
Think about it, in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we all get caught up in purchasing and gift giving, that we lose track of keeping up with finances. Stealing credit card information is one of the goals of criminals, but ultimately they want your identity. Want to keep your identity safe, follow these steps during the Holiday Shopping Season and beyond. 1. Check your financial accounts often. Get with the times and sign up for online banking with your financial institution. If you have members of your family who haven't signed up, convince them to do the same as well. You might think you're opening up yourself to risk by signing up for online banking, but it's one of the best things you can do to stay on top of your money. Check your debit and credit accounts often to ensure nothing is amiss. 2. Beware of Credit Card Skimmers. Credit card skimming at ATMs, gas stations and other locations are becoming more common, so pay attention to your surroundings. Skimmers attach to existing devices and are designed for quick removal. If you have to use credit card reader you aren't use to using, look for signs of tampering before placing your card into the reader. 3. Sign up for alerts from your financial institution. Your bank and credit card company offers mobile alert services that let you know when suspicious purchase has been made. These services will help you catch fraud faster, which makes remedying the situation that much easier. 4. Keep track of your smartphone. Your phone contains tons of information about your financial habits and accounts. Keep track of your smartphone at all times. Enable “find my phone” feature just in case you lose your phone, Make sure you keep your phone protected with a strong passcode. 5. Be careful when using public Wi-Fi. Yes, it's convenient to use that public Wi-Fi, but you don't want to use them to make purchases online or to log into your financial accounts. Criminals can set up shop and tap into your computer to siphon your data. 6. Only enter personal information on secure websites. Sites with an HTTPS address have a stronger security protocol than sites with the regular HTTP address. Only enter information in secure sites. 7. Monitor your credit score. There are many services that offer free credit reports. Check your credit before the Holiday Season and after the holidays to make sure you haven't been taken advantage of. Want to ask me a tech question? Point your email program to burton@callintegralnow.com and send it in! If you prefer to connect with me on social media, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and watch great tech tip videos on my YouTube channel. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I want to make technology fun and exciting for you. If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. My team of friendly tech experts are always standing by to answer your questions and help make your technology useful and fun. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Often the subject for this column comes from questions from the readers. This week’s topic, “Sni-a-Bar,” comes from perusing the Historical Society files. Over the past many years, numerous newspaper stories have been archived. It appears there are as many explanations for the name as there are researchers and writers of the stories.
Sni-A-Bar Township was established in Jackson County in 1834. It encompassed land stretching from the Little Blue River east to the county line and roughly 4 miles north and south of what is today Interstate 70. In other words, the township runs from just west of Blue Springs to just east of Oak Grove with Grain Valley as its’ center. Early pioneers named the township for the two previously named creeks that crisscross the township and flow north to the Missouri River. It is generally agreed that the work “sni” is derived from one of two French words: chenal (creek) or chenail (river channel). It is the “a-Bar” that has kept people guessing and I can assure you this writer is no closer to an answer than the many who have speculated this mystery. Let’s begin this week with a story taken from the Kansas City Star and published on March 23, 1914. “Out in the eastern hills of Jackson County, close to the Lafayette County line, Sni-a-bar creek wanders among well wooded hills of oak and hickory. It has never been anything but Sni-a-bar Creek, and the hills have been the Sni Hills since a time when the memory (of pioneer settlers) ran not to the contrary. And very rightly, too. For there’s a story connected to the Sni-a-bar country, which perhaps had not been heard by the man who wrote to The Star the other day demanding that the new highway to that portion of the county take the name East Wood Road rather than Sni-a-bar. “Once upon a time—this story begins in the delightfully indefinite manner of fairy tales and other proper lore—once upon a time there was a Frenchman named Abar. At least, that was the way his name was pronounced. We do not know very much about him, except that he liked to poke the nose of his boat into waters he didn’t know, and that he was always filled with curiosity to know what lay around the next bend, or over the next hill. “He set about out of New Orleans up the main highway of the Mississippi River. It must have been quite early spring, with a lingering edge of winter in the air as one rowed northward through the moss-hung trees. Ten men pulled the great boat, or polled it, or trotted along the bank with the cordelle or tow rope. So they came up the Mississippi and struggled through the turbulent, tossing, menacing gateway of the Missouri, where it poured out its yellow waters angrily. “Then the long voyage up the Missouri was begun. How turbulent a stream. But consider, that it was all quite new and that around those castled cliffs. Abar must, without a doubt, have a little swagger in his swinging walk, and a touch of crimson in his costume. But gayety or not it was hard work making headway against the yellow stream, that was how Sni-a-bar happened to be discovered. Out of what is now Lafayette County, they came upon this quiet waterway. “A little breathing space, a quiet time, a resting from the river. A sni is French for slough; Abar fancied he had struck a quiet loop of back water which would lead him again to the river in a mile or two, But, in a mile it became apparent that there was no slough, but a small stream. And so the board was turned and they polled back to the Missouri. “He named the slough after himself. And he polled out of sight and hearing with a song and a laugh. Whatever he did, we don’t know, except that was of no great importance. There was without doubt some trading with the Indians, a little bland and roguish trafficking, And who can say how many trifling creeks may not have drawn the long boat’s prying nose from its course. You may safely let your fancy run riot with Abar, for there is little enough known of him that you’ll run no risk of contradiction. “Sni-a-Bar Township—sometimes spelled with two hyphens, sometimes one and sometimes none—took its name, of course, from the stream, and so did the hills from which flow the tiny streams that make the small river. And really, wouldn’t it be a great shame to take the name away, with all its glamour of romance? “East Wood Road, indeed! You might have an East Wood Road anywhere. But there’s only one Sni-a-Bar in the whole world, as far as the atlas can show.” Next Week: Other stories behind the name, Sni-a-Bar. The Grain Valley Historical Society Museum is located at 506 South Main Street and online at www.grainvalleyhistory.com. Six quirky middle schoolers competing in the local spelling bee, a few interesting parents and teachers, and an improv element with audience interaction spells F-U-N to be had this weekend at the Grain Valley High School’s (GVHS) production of the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”. The musical will be performed Thursday, November 21st—Saturday, November 23rd at Grain Valley High School. Theatre Director John O’Neil, in his third year at GVHS, knew he the talent to pull off the show. “I chose the show this year because I had a number of great comedic actors and wanted to give them an opportunity to showcase their work. It is a very fun musical comedy,” O’Neil said. The musical debuted in 2004 and was nominating for six Tony awards in 2005, winning two including an award for Best Book of a Musical. Four audience members are recruited to participate in each performance, keeping the cast on their toes and each performance unique. Junior Aidan Kroemke portrays William Barfee, “He (Barfee) is kind of a weird kid. He’s got a mucous membrane issue, so he snots a lot. He’s got a hankering for McChicken’s, and a sea anemone collection. He’s a very fun person, but he’s also very competitive,” Kroemke said. Kroemke may excel at playing quirky characters like Barfee, but he is an accomplished member of the Speech and Debate team with an eye on a career as a history and philosophy teacher. Freshman Mariah Gattenby-Snyder portrays Marcy Park, a high strung, snobby Catholic school student. “She has always been pushed to achieve the highest grades and be the best at everything,” Gattenby-Snyder said. “The show is hilarious. The musical numbers are all fun. The teamwork that has gone into putting this production together has been absolutely amazing.” Gattenby-Snyder is involved in acting outside of school, performing recently in the Wizard of Oz production at Starlight Theatre. A silent auction will be held in the lobby during this weekend’s performances. “People can come out, see the show, and do a little Christmas shopping to support the Theatre Department,” O’Neil said. The Department will also host a Chipotle fundraiser at the Blue Springs location on Tuesday, November 26th from 4:00pm—8:00pm. Tickets for this weekend’s performances at the Jerry Mueller Performing Arts Center are $8/adults, $5/students and can be purchased at the door prior to each performance or online in advance at www.grainvalleytheatre.org. Grain Valley High School’s Theatre Department presents the “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” on November 21st—23rd. Tickets can be purchased online at www.grainvalleytheatre.org. Photo credit: Grain Valley High School Theatre Department Junior Aidan Kroemke portrays William Barfee and Mariah Gattenby-Snyder portrays Marcy Park in this weekend’s GVHS Theatre production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Photo credit: Valley News staff
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