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by Burton Kelso, The Technology Expert The holiday shopping season is in full swing. If you're like me, your moving away from shopping for your favorite computers and electronic devices in brick and mortar stores and doing your Christmas shopping at online stores.
Why wouldn't you? It's convenient and it's quick, with online stores delivering your gadgets in a matter of days. With more and more people buying high ticket electronics online, there has been a rise of packages being stolen by porch pirates. They're riding in your neighborhoods, snatching your packages up, trying to take them so you need to do something to protect those packages. Want to make sure your gadgets make it under the tree this year? Here's what you can do to stop porch pirates from running off with your stuff and what to do if they are hijacked by a porch pirate. 1. Have Your Packages Delivered to Your Work Place, a P.O. Box, or Use Ship To Store. Probably one of the best ways to stop porch pirates in their tracks is to avoid shipping to your home. Even if you work from home or you are at home the majority of the time, porch pirates can still get your stuff. These crafty individuals will follow FedEx and UPS trucks so they can pounce immediately after your package has been delivered. Having your packages shipped to a location other than your porch is a smart move, especially during the holiday season. 2. Install a Smart Doorbell or Home Camera Security System. Yes, I know there are a ton of videos of people caught on camera stealing packages even in the presence of a smart door bell such as a Ring (www.ring.com), but they really do work as a way keeping people off your property. If installed and used properly, smart home monitoring systems like Ring, Nest (www.nest.com), or Belkin (www.belkin) can keep your alerted when someone is near your door and allow you to capture on video any activity that occurs. With video, you have a means to retrieve your stolen gadgets. 3. Sign up for delivery alerts and have Your Neighbors Help. Most online retailers offer alerts to let you know when your electronics leave the shipping center and more importantly when they arrive at your door. Alerts can help you take action to make sure your get your gadgets. If you're not able to be home for package delivery, ask a trusted neighbor to get it for you. Also, If possible, require a signature for all deliveries. 4. Help Out Your Neighbors. If you work from home, or are home during the day, make a post on Nextdoor (www.nextdoor.com) or in your neighborhood Facebook group (www.facebook.com) and offer to allow your neighbors to ship their packages and electronics to your house. Also, keep an eye out for suspicious things in your neighborhood. If you notice something that doesn't seem right, check with your neighbors or contact the authorities for help. 5. Use free secure delivery lockers offered by Amazon. Amazon offers self service lockers that allow you to ship your gadgets to a locker. You have 3 days to get your items out of the locker. For more details, check out Amazon's website (www.amazon.com). If you have been a victim of a porch pirate do the following things: 1. File a Police Report 2. Contact the shipper. If your gadgets were delivered via US Postal Service, fill out a Missing Mail Search Request. If it was delivered by UPS, you need to contact the shipper. If it was delivered by FedEx, you can go to their web site and fill out their online form for missing packages. Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I'm serious about making technology fun and easy to use for everyone. Need computer or technology help? 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. Our team of friendly tech experts organization can help you with any IT needs you might have. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829. My first memory of Santa is having to wait in line to see the big guy at a makeshift workshop in my neighborhood in Miami, Florida. I don’t remember if I was frightened, but I do remember having to wait in line for what seemed like an eternity.
I also remember a certain apprehension of being on the naughty list. I never knew what to ask for, but somehow, he always seemed to know. On Christmas Eve, my parents, attempting to get me and my sister to go to bed, would say that they could hear the rumblings of Santa’s sleigh several blocks over. So, with a sense of excitement and an element of fear, we would rush off to bed listening ever so closely for Santa’s arrival on our rooftop, before helplessly drifting off to sleep. The fact that we did not have a chimney was irrelevant. I was told that, somehow, he was always able to get in. The statement made me curious and left me a little unsettled. I was never able to catch Santa in the act. But, on Christmas morn, I did see evidence of his handiwork. He always sampled my mother’s cookies and drank some of the milk. Why he just sampled several cookies and never ate the whole thing was puzzling. Did he not know there were starving people in China? No matter, Santa left glistening presents under the tree and I had a fear that questioning Santa’s ethics would have repercussions that would perpetually place me on the naughty list. I fully understood the naughty and nice list and, every mid-December, I did my best to rectify my fearful dilemma. To me, it appeared that the list was not binary, but more of a spectrum. Santa had favorites. One Christmas morn, I looked outside at the neighbors’ house and saw the family across the street playing with their new toys. As a creature of social comparison, I investigated further only to find that Santa had brought one of them a Power Wheel’s car. They were on the nice list—or maybe the “nicer” list. I thought about the inequity and wondered why I did not get one. Perhaps, Santa’s list had been compromised, there was a mix-up in delivery, or maybe I had been exceptionally naughty that year (the latter would be closer to the truth). I’ll never forget the Christmas season when my sister and I were jumping on our parent’s bed and I rolled off. I was not hurt but was now at eye level to look under the bed. I noticed boxes of toys tucked away. One of them was a really cool jet that I really wanted to play with. I knew that I had found gold, but I was on someone else’s land so had to simply cover it back up and let it play out. My sister and I were hush hush and went about our daily lives until Christmas morning when, to my joy, I got the jet! Interestingly, it did not come from my parents. It came from a higher authority. It was my passageway into adulthood. From that point on, Christmas lost some of its sparkle. Santa got run over by a Power Wheel’s car. The mystery and magic faded into materialism and empiricism. I did not really understand the power of Christmas until I was 19. That was the age that I became a Christian. That first Christmas was nothing short of spectacular. It was the first time I truly understood what Christmas was all about. A lightbulb went on and the sparkle returned. After getting married, and having children, my wife and I struggled with the whole present thing. Like every family, it was a personal decision we had to make. But, for us, it didn’t feel right to promote the north pole and the manger in the same breath—only to have them discover later that we had told them a partial truth. In addition, we wanted them to know that dad and mom worked really hard to try to provide something special for them at Christmas. We knew that one day they would realize that, in life, sometimes the neighbors get a Power Wheels car and you get a skateboard. In our family, we always wanted all the attention of Christmas to be upon Christ. We reached a workable compromise by focusing on Christ, being honest with our kids, and also creating an element of mystery and fun. The kids got presents from dad and mom, residents of the north pole, the dog, cat, and the parakeet. It was always fun and electric. The presents were always put out Christmas Eve and were not hidden under the bed. Been there. We warned our kids not to “spoil” the fun for any of their friends or classmates whose family chose to celebrate differently. I’ll never forget one of the kids coming home from school and saying defiantly, “My teacher says that Santa is real and he brings the presents.” This child’s face was serious and their hands were firmly on their hips demanding a response. I think I commented back by saying, “We love you and want to be honest with you. Dad and mom make Christmas a special time by getting the presents.” Our little one was not convinced. They folded their arms and blurted back, “Well, my teacher says he’s real.” I concluded by offering to do an experiment. I said, “Okay, let’s do this. Dad and mom will buy all the other kids presents except for you and we’ll see if Santa brings you anything.” After a few thoughtful moments, she changed her tune. As a pastor, I’ve done a great deal of research on the history of Christmas and could write extensively. In short, no one knows the exact day of Christ’s birth. We do know that in the fourth century AD, Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth should be celebrated on December 25. The date merged Christmas with the pagan celebration of Saturnalia. It was an unholy compromise that began a slippery slope that led to Frosty the Snowman. If you look around at most Christmas celebrations nowadays, Christ is reduced to a small figure in a nativity set under the tree, hidden by the wise men, shepherds, and the little drummer boy, while Santa, reindeer, elves, snowmen, elf on a shelf, and a host of other holiday fixtures take prominence in the front yard and in the home. The true, historical celebration of the Messiah’s birth is easily lost, or worse veiled, through an endless array of holiday décor. But we don’t have to throw the baby out with the bathwater. It’s possible to have a Christ-centered, fun celebration. My wife and I love the lights, colors, and the celebration of Christmas, but we also try to keep Christ as the central focus of our celebration. We also like to make it fun. All of our four children are grown now and each of them say that they appreciated our honesty and plan on taking the same approach with their own families. None of them have needed counseling. So, here I am, on the ladder, attaching Christmas lights to the gutter of the house. My wife is inside trying to figure out where to put our six trees and the Christmas village. It’s best for me to stay out of the way. In the end, although under protest, my outdoor mission will be to try to rival the illumination of the Griswolds. I love Christmastime. If, for only a brief season, the world pauses to consider the whisper of the birth of Christ, I’m all for it. For me personally, Christmas is another day to celebrate what I know to be true all year long. Christ came into the world to seek and save the lost. Christmas is more than just a day or an event. The problem with viewing Christmas as an “event” is that in early January, the lights, tree, and Christmas village will all be put back in the garage on the shelf. The unfortunate thing is many people lose the Christmas joy because happiness that is found in a box is only temporary. The beautiful thing about seeing Christmas as a “season” which last all year is that even after the bling comes down, the joy remains. The difference is keeping Christ central—all year. Because of Christmas, I have no fear of being on the naughty list. That was settled at the cross. I have no fear of losing Christmas joy. I know that my Redeemer lives and that He is alive in me. Jesus is the best present ever and the gift that keeps on giving. Dr. Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Church Grain Valley, an Adjunct Professor of Speech, and freelance writer. I love Christmas. Singing Silent Night while we pass candle light to one another always moves me to tears. When the pastor retells the story of Christ’s birth, I listen as though hearing it for the first time. One chorus of Oh, Holy Night, and it is a joyous noel for me.
I don’t complain about shopping because I visualize the face of the person opening the gift I have carefully selected. I don’t mind the inevitable paper cuts from wrapping gifts or the fact that my husband uses nearly a whole roll for a small package. I stockpile tape throughout the year like toilet paper hoarders in 2020. I bake sweet treats and place them in tins for delivery to neighbors. This is my adult behavior around Christmas, and this is not to say I don’t get a little Grinchy once in a while. But I come by loving Christmas quite naturally, I think. My snapshots of Christmases past are so wonderful, that I cannot enter this time of year without a walk down memory lane. -a ham the size of a small town on the table each year, weirdly, served with spaghetti, a tradition we keep to this day. -a pre-requisite huge box of chocolates on the baby grand piano, and my Grandy helping us poke holes in the bottoms of candy until we found an edible caramel or creamy filling; none of that nougat for us. -a Rings and Things toy maker. Metal plates that heated ridiculously high, into which we poured an Elmer’s glue-like substance of colorful plastic and waited for the beautiful rings and necklaces it produced. -eating candy from our stockings on the sly then not being hungry for breakfast. -heavy pajamas and bathrobes and bad haircuts with bangs, all captured in Polaroids. - my dad’s response to every present, where he made it seem like you had delivered the original gold, frankincense, and myrrh right to his doorstep -peppermint ice cream, sometimes in the shape of a Christmas tree or Santa, to be consumed only at the kitchen table. -noises on the rooftop that were surely Santa, and a Grammy who showed me footprints in the snow, verifying the reindeer had been there. -divinity and peanut butter candy stored on the back porch to keep it cold and butter horn rolls, fresh roasted turkey with dressing. -begging anyone and everyone to play whatever new board game we had gotten that year. -snuggling on bed pallets on the floor as all of us poured into my Nanny and Pa’s small farm house, listening to the adults’ late night conversation until I drifted to sleep. -the squeaky sound of a Styrofoam vanity seat, one that opened for storage and pulled right up to the hard plastic vanity with the aluminum foil mirror. -spray snow and stencils on December Saturdays, wiping the window with a cloth diaper to remove any dampness before we created our designs. -finding a stray piece of tinsel in July, tying it into my hair around my ponytail, then rushing inside to count the days until Christmas. -pulling out the beautiful pink and purple advent candles to place in the fresh pine wreath to start the season leading to Christ’s birth. -unwrapping a baby doll with eyes that opened and closed, long eyelashes and beautifully painted lips, and promising to care for her forever. -white opaque tights that never seemed to stretch quite long enough to tuck themselves in neatly below my Christmas dress that matched my sis, and black patent leather shoes, to which we often added Vaseline for an extra gleam. - the anticipation of Rudolph and Frosty, without updated animation on the television. -hard candy ribbons in a tin -trying to stay awake for 11:00 p.m. church, which ended right as Christmas day began - my mom’s Danish pastry and it’s buttery goodness. - the organ at my Nanny’s house, with Christmas carols sung with extended family -Pa sliding his finger under the tape of his package wrapping to get ready for his turn to open a gift. -Lifesaver story books. -kids’ table meals too numerous to mention and graduation to the big table I hope 2020 finds you making some special snapshot memories with your family! Merry Christmas from Musings from the Middle. Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer. by Jerry Vaughan, Grain Valley Assistance Council Board Member The Grain Valley Assistance Council (GVAC) is a community services organization which was founded in 1994 by a group of concerned citizens. The original purpose of the GVAC was and continues to be to provide support and counsel to those families and individuals in the Grain Valley community who are less fortunate.
Over 700 families and more than 1,200 children are helped by the GVAC every year. The services provided to our clients are quite varied according to their need, but in this holiday and COVID season the food pantry is being stretched to the max. With limited school attendance due to the pandemic, food drives through the schools are at a minimum of what they normally provide. That’s where you come in. Below is a list of the most needed items for the pantry so that the GVAC can continue to make food one less thing for families to worry about: Cereal Canned Fruit Canned Vegetables Spaghetti and Noodles Pancake Mix Syrup Jelly Toilet Paper Instant Potatoes Corn Muffin Mix Rice or Noodle Side Dishes Pork and Beans Dry Beans – Pinto or Navy Chili Seasoning Packets Tomato Sauce Saltine Crackers Spaghetti O’s Canned Ravioli Ramen Noodles Instant Oatmeal Mac and Cheese The best location to drop off food items would be the Grain Valley Community Center during their regular hours. The GVAC has a barrel just inside the Community Center lobby, and pick-ups are done at least once a week. An alternative would be to drop items at the GVAC directly, but with the current restrictions you cannot bring the items inside the building. Our location is 513 Gregg St. in Grain Valley, just around the corner from the Post Office. We are open on Wednesdays from 9 to 12 and 1 to 4, and our phone number is 816.355.0328. Pull up to the curb and let them know you are there, so that someone can come out to receive your donations. And monetary donations are always helpful. Our mailing address is GVAC, PO Box 262, GVMO 64029. The GVAC is an affiliate of the Community Services League, which was founded in 1916 by former First Lady Bess Truman. CSL is both the largest and longest-serving social service provider in the metro area, and serves all of eastern Jackson County through its 15 locations including Grain Valley. Our affiliation with CSL gives the GVAC and our clients access to many more goods and services, while assuring our supporters that all funds and nearly all donated goods remain IN Grain Valley, FOR Grain Valley. Yours truly, Jerry Vaughan, GVAC Board Member Sadly, willpower doesn’t always win. Stress and life? Those get in the way, too. Therefore your attempt at eating healthy is usually the first to go. But Happy New Year, readers! January marks the start of resolution season, and weight loss typically tops the list. What are you going to do differently this year?
There is an often forgotten weight management secret – a secret that doesn’t require detox dieting or cardboard meals. This secret is a simple, yet powerful, habit to develop. Preparation! That’s it! Without this, even the most dedicated healthy eaters can fall off track. Now that you know the secret, here’s how to put forth the effort. Stop your Scroll and Make a Meal Plan: There’s no guessing how much time is spent on our phones these days, as a daily average report is sent at the end of each week (whether you were asking for one or not). Ever wonder how productive you’d be if you weren’t nose deep in your news feed? Take 20 minutes between social media sites, and sit down and plan a weekly menu. Heck, just worry about the dinner meal (bonus if those dinner ideas have leftovers = lunch the next day). Don’t Start from Scratch: Sure, the cookbook you received from your grandma has hundreds of wonderful recipes, but the last thing you need to worry about are new menu items while working on this new habit. Start with your go-to meals - tacos, spaghetti or soups, perhaps. Repeat these every few weeks. Then, when you’re up to it, add a new recipe – hy-vee.com has hundreds to choose from. Or, take advantage of your Hy-Vee dietitian’s new Healthy Habits program – a weekly meal plan made just for you. Lean on Frozen Veggies: Just as nutritious as their fresh counterparts, frozen produce should be a staple on your grocery list. First of all, many of us don’t eat the recommended five cups of fruits and veggies daily, and no meal is complete without a pop of color. Brave the cold and take a peek behind the frozen doors. There are so many products that abandon the bland and scream flavor, making it an easy add to your meal plates. Ask for Help: Your solution for all your resolutions? Possibly some guidance from a Hy-Vee dietitian. Turn your health goals into action with some assistance from a nutrition expert, as consultations and a variety of programs are offered both in person and virtually. Life’s hectic, but remember meal planning and eating healthy doesn’t have to be. I dare you to do this year differently. Small steps lead to big wins, and a dietitian found within the walls of Hy-Vee can help you attain anything you want. During year 2021, be sure to make your health priority number one! The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. Megan Callahan is one of your Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitians. She is dedicated to helping people live healthier and happier lives. Megan received a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Missouri State University. She completed her dietetic internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center, where she also received her Master of Science degree in dietetics and nutrition. Megan has been working with Hy-Vee full-time for 10 years. With a passion for nutrition and wellness, Megan is dedicated to educating customers and promoting healthy lifestyles to our Hy-Vee community. Megan lives in Lee’s Summit with her husband Matt, and their 2 children Kennedy (4) & Carsyn (2). by John Unrein A jubilant Grain Valley locker room had reason to celebrate following their 59-36 victory over the Pleasant Hill Roosters on December 8th. The Eagles boys’ basketball team established the tone for the game early on by jumping into a full court press against the Roosters after the first made basket of the game, and not relenting from that point on.
Offensive fireworks were provided by senior forward Cole Keller and sophomore guard Owen Herbert. The duo fueled the Eagles to the start the game on a 15-0 run. Keller filled the Grain Valley stat sheet by scoring 20 points, pulling down 13 rebounds, providing 4 assists, and 5 blocks. Equally as impressive was Herbert, who sank five three pointers in route to a 15 point outing in his first varsity basketball game. “I knew we would not be an experienced varsity team heading into the game tonight and I was interested in seeing what we got. Our ball distribution was good tonight, multiple people got to shoot, and most of time they went in. It was great to help contribute to a win,” Keller said. “This group is one hundred percent tight, without selfish personalities. That’s huge on a basketball team when you are talking success. We trust each other on offense and play hard on defense.” Herbert added, “I have been practicing my shot a lot. Reps have helped me get my timing and release point down. This was fun tonight.” Keller combined moving through the lane seamlessly to gain offensive positioning along with put backs from offensive rebounds to pile up his scoring total. Herbert would settle at a 45 degree angle on the wing beyond the arc once moving through his motion responsibilities on offense. Herbert’s confidence in his shooting touch was on display as the game progressed. This was important for the Eagles, as it gave them a counter to when Pleasant Hill would collapse their defense in the post against Keller. Sophomore forward Alex Snyder also made some noise in his first varsity start for the Eagles. Noticeable stress on the face of Snyder melted away as the game progressed, and adrenaline took over. Snyder would go on to score 6 points, grab 5 rebounds, pass for 2 assists, add 1 steal, and 1 block. “I was nervous to start the game. Once you start playing though, it all goes away. Being surrounded by teammates I can trust makes all the difference. Our ability to push the ball tonight in transition and guarding them tight was why we came out on top,” Snyder said. Snyder having a pulse on the Eagles win reflects work that has been done in practice by the Eagles during the summer and since the start of the winter season. Grain Valley’s ability to run the floor in transition lends itself to the timed competitive drills that head coach Andy Herbert often uses at the beginning of practice. The same can be said for the importance of communication when reading screens and closing out on defense. What is emphasized and pushed hard in practice is showing up as second nature on the court for a young Eagles roster. Herbert was as happy for his young team as he was about getting the win in his postgame comments. “We went press to open the game because I wanted to get our own jitters out. Flying around and making something happen is a good way to forget about being nervous. We did a pretty good job of that as a team tonight,” Herbert said. “This is a special group of kids in the way they do things. They are like minded and unselfish.” “Keller’s ability speaks for itself. What they can’t see is the leadership he provides in practice on a daily basis. He’s selfless for someone who has accomplished so much, in so many different areas.” “Owen (Herbert), that’s what he does from beyond the arc. We tell our kids to play in their box (role on the team), and that’s his box from the outside. He’s been a part of our program his whole life and it was great to get to seem him on the floor tonight.” Herbert concluded, “Alex (Snyder) is athletic. He can run and jump. His growth in maturity over the last year as a basketball player has provided us a second post option. He’s also relentless on the glass.” Grain Valley (1-0) will next host the Platte County Pirates at 7:00 pm on December 11th. by John Unrein The Grain Valley Lady Eagles basketball team dropped a close game late to the Belton Pirates on December 8th by a score of 37-33. Despite a strong effort by the Lady Eagles to obtain and extend their lead in the second and third quarters of the contest, it was not enough to hold of the surge by the Pirates who put up 20 of their 33 overall points in the second half in route to their win.
Belton was led by forward Kyndal Lewis who scored 18 points. The athleticism on display by Lewis allowed her to be a dual threat in driving the lane and scoring underneath the basket. Play was stopped during the second half to honor Lewis in surpassing 1,000 career points at Belton. Grain Valley worked hard to turn the tide of momentum attained by Belton, with the Pirates going on a 12-2 run to start the game. Eagles sophomore point guard Grace Slaughter started her first game of the season and heated up from beyond the arc by scoring 9 points in the final four minutes of the 1st quarter. The Lady Eagles would continue to claw their way back due to adjustments made by Grain Valley head basketball coach Randy Draper. Grain Valley would rotate in and out of a 1-3-1 zone at the start of the second quarter. The defensive switch by Draper made Belton space the floor more offensively and permitted the Lady Eagles to play better help defense as Belton attacked the rim. Furthermore, Grain Valley also refused to give Belton easy looks at the basket and would commit fouls in making the Pirates earn points at the free throw line. Offensively, Draper also encouraged movement without the basketball through the lane in looking for open post players. This also opened windows for Slaughter to drive the baseline or shoot from behind the three point stripe based on if the Pirate defense collapsed to support down low. Slaughter would go on to score 19 points to team with her 4 rebounds and 1 steal. The paint would be patrolled by the Eagles with senior Gabbi Keim and sophomore Ella Clyman. Keim would produce 8 points in the post to go along with her 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Clyman would use footwork and body positioning to pull down 9 rebounds that helped contribute to her 4 points. Both Slaughter and Clyman indicated a desire to get back into the gym after the loss and work to help the team improve. “Boxing out tonight was a collective team effort that helped me get a fair share of boards. The outcome wasn’t what we wanted tonight, but we never game up and tried our best until the end,” Clyman said. “We are going to get back in the gym and work even harder. We know what we need to work on after this game. We will come back excited to play them (Belton) again.” Slaughter added, “It felt great tonight to get back out there with my teammates. This was not the outcome we wanted, but Belton is an amazing team with a lot of talent. We will learn from this game, and that starts by what we do when get back to practice.” “My shot was there to start the game. During the second half it got kind of cold though. That’s alright because we started finding Ella and Gabbi more on the inside and they scored some layups.” “We will watch some film and push ourselves moving forward to get better.” Getting better was a mantra that Draper focused on as well after the game. Draper’s disappointment was tempered by his optimistic look of what the future potentially holds for his team this season. “We changed defensively during the game because we let them get to the basket too many times. Offensively, we need to find some ways to score more points. Part of that is us not being impatient or committing turnovers,” Draper said. “Clyman is physical and we count on her down low for her a rebounding presence. We will continue to find ways to get the five correct pieces on the floor as it is early in the season.” “Having Grace (Slaughter) back on the floor changes our team. In particular, the way we are guarded. She has to get her feet back under her, and she will as she is a great player.” Draper concluded, “I am ready to go back to practice and solve what pieces need to be on the floor together. I am confident as we move forward that we will improve as a team.” Grain Valley (0-2) will next host the Kearney Bulldogs at 7:00 pm on December 14th. by John Unrein It has been almost a month since the Grain Valley Eagles football team concluded their 10-2 season on November 20th in the quarterfinal state playoff round. The Eagles were suburban conference co-champions for their division as well as repeating as district champions, this year in Class 5, District 7. The accolades do not stop there though for Grain Valley and head football coach David Allie.
The Eagles were honored with having seven 1st Team All-Conference selections, five 2nd Team All-Conference selections, and 13 Honorable Mention selections. The importance of this acknowledgment is significant as it is conducted by football coaches within the Suburban Conference who face off against each other and get to know their competition well. Allie shared what goes into the process of being an All-Conference honoree. “Each coach nominates players from their team they believe are deserving for All-Conference recognition. All the conference coaches meet and talk about their players, usually by position group, and then vote for the position,” Allie said. “Coaches cannot vote for their own players, and the results are compiled and based on the number of positions available, the vote tallies delineate the first and second teams. If a player receives at least one vote, but not enough to be on the first two teams, they receive Honorable mention honors.” Allie continued, “Special awards, such as ‘Athlete, Players of the Year, and Coach of the Year’ are voted on at the end of the meeting, in much the same manner; coaches nominate, the group discusses and then votes.” The following Grain Valley football team members were recognized with Suburban All-Conference selection. Offensive Player of the Year Quarterback Cole Keller, Senior Defensive Player of the Year Linebacker Hunter Newsom, Senior 1st Team All-Conference Quarterback Cole Keller, Senior Running Back Jaxon Wyatt, Junior Wide Receiver Parker Bosserman, Senior Offensive Lineman Jack Bailey, Senior Offensive Lineman Landen Hinton, Senior Defensive Lineman Donovan McBride, Senior Linebacker Hunter Newsom, Senior 2nd Team All-Conference Running Back Hunter Newsom, Senior Defensive Lineman Josh McCoy, Senior Linebacker Zach Kirk, Senior Defensive Back Keegan Hart, Sophomore Defensive Back Cameron Mickelson, Senior Honorable Mention Offensive Lineman Connor Heitman, Sophomore Offensive Lineman Donovan McBride, Senior Offensive Lineman Cooper Terry, Junior Wide Receiver Carter Day, Senior Wide Receiver Carter Vrlenich, Senior Tight End Parker Stone, Senior Returner Keegan Hart, Sophomore Kicker Austin Schmitt, Sophomore Defensive Lineman Quincy Jones, Senior Defensive Lineman Sawyer Farris, Junior Linebacker Jayden Jacobson, Senior Defensive Back Brayden Terry, Senior Punter Parker Bosserman, Senior Both Cole Keller and Hunter Newsom were also nominated for the Simone Award and Buck Buchanan Award, respectively. The Simone Award is entering its 33rd season and is given to the best all-around football player in the Kansas City area. The award originated in 1931 by Dr. Nigro and continued until his death in 1976. The award was reinstated by Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Simone as a tribute to their 12 year old son Tommy. The award is selected by a vote of the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association (GKCFCA), head coaches in the metro area, and other selected media members. The 24th Annual Buck Buchanan Memorial Award recognizes the top big class (MO 5-6, KS 5A-6A) in the Kansas City area. Junious “Buck” Buchanan was a defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs dating back to the American Football League. Buchanan was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. Keller, Newsom, and Jack Bailey shared their thoughts on what the distinguishment means to them. “When I heard the news (about the Simone nomination) I was honestly shocked. It’s just cool to see my name on the same list as so many other great football players,” Keller said. Newsom added, “I had just finished eating dinner and was headed back to my room to do some homework and chill out on my phone. I got a text from Coach Allie congratulating me on being announced as one of the semifinalists for the Buck Buchanan Award. I was really excited to share the news with my family.” “It was a huge honor to be recognized and to represent Grain Valley.” Bailey finished, “The All-Conference selection means so much. I’ve dreamed about playing football for Grain Valley since I was in elementary school. It was my goal to become someone that a little kid could look up to.” Allie is proud of the recognition for his program and what this group of seniors means to him. “This one of the most successful football classes to grace the halls of Grain Valley High School. We knew from when they were freshman that this class would be special. During their careers they played in three District Championship games, winning two, and making the quarterfinals of Class 4 and Class 5 the past two years, respectively,” Allie said. “As sophomores, they led the change from the MRVC (Missouri River Valley Conference), and this year led us into the larger division in the conference, in addition to a larger state classification. Their overall record in high school was 33-14.” “There would have been no better group of experienced and mature young men to lead the Grain Valley Eagles during this unique season that was full of angst and uncertainty. When there were doubts if we would finish (or even start) the season, when nobody thought they could compete in Class 5, when obstacle after obstacle challenged their mental toughness, the class of 2021 took it in stride and never doubted themselves or their potential.” Allie concluded, “Their success on the field is a testimony to their dedication to the program and to their teammates. They truly lived up the mantra of #GVOWNIT.” The Grain Valley Education Foundation recently awarded three grants totaling $1905.26. The following projects received funding:
"'Seas' the Day: Splash into Oceans!", Wendy Davies, Gifted Education Teacher for grades 3-8, based at Prairie Branch Elementary. The $470.00 grant will purchase 10 Spheros robots (similar to BB-8 from Star Wars) that can be programmed using coding skills and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math). "Slammo XL", Nick Leiker and Cris Byington, PE Teachers at South Middle School. The $749.85 grant will purchase equipment for Slammo, a 2-on-2 volleyball style game that combines athleticism and strategy while promoting hand/eye coordination and fitness. "Designing the Future", Sarah Malott and Tiffany Lane, Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers at Grain Valley High School. The $685.41 grant will purchase the Silhouette White Cameo 4 equipment for use by the Apparel, Textile and Fashions classes to create, market and sell the products that they make to students, staff and the community. These three grants will impact over 800 students in three buildings. Since the beginning of the school year, over $9,650 in classroom grants have been awarded. A second round of grants will be considered after January 1st, depending on the availability of funds. To make a contribution to the Education Foundation, visit https://grainvalleyschools.networkforgood.com/projects/97102-main-giving-page or contact Jerry Vaughan, Foundation Director at jvaughan@gvr5.net. School Board To Decide On Second Semester Plans For Middle, High Schools Before Holiday Break12/10/2020
Grain Valley Schools announced in a December 4th email to parents that a
decision regarding the return of in-person hybrid learning for middle school and high school students for second semester is expected to be made by the school board prior to the Christmas Holiday break. Second semester begins January 25th. In the email, the district stated, “Whether or not any students are at school for their learning is a separate decision that depends on gating criteria, such as school substitute fill rates”. Parents will continue to have the option to elect 100% virtual instruction for their child. Once a decision is made and communicated for second semester, families will have until the end of the day on January 7th to select the 100% virtual option for their child. The learning model for elementary and early childhood students will remain full in-person, except for days or weeks 100% virtual is declared by the district due to gating criteria, such as substitute fill rates. |
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