by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society


As the days keep getting shorter, we realize winter is nearly here. The winter solstice, which marks the first day of winter 2023, occurs on Thursday, December 21, 2023 at 10:27 p.m. EST. Winter solstice is the astronomical moment when the Sun reaches the Tropic of Capricorn, we have our shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere in terms of daylight. Regardless of what the weather is doing outside your window, the solstice marks the official start of winter.

For folks in Grain Valley, December 21st meant the Christmas program at school; yes, we could still call it Christmas and sing “Silent Night” by candlelight. Can any of you remember those Christmas programs when we sat on risers on the old gym floor, gathered around the “fresh” cedar tree. Girls wore their formals from prom or homecoming and our full skirts billowed out around us! The aroma from that tree filled the entire gym and spilled out into the stairway. And, by the way, no one ever asked where the senior boys got the tree!

December 21st meant school was out, or it would be soon, for Christmas vacation. With any luck there would be snow on the ground and a “White Christmas.” A few years ago at the fraternity house where I worked in Columbia, several young men were seated around the breakfast table when I mentioned the classic song. To my surprise, and dismay, they didn’t know what I was talking about. I put the CD into the computer in my apartment, turned the volume ALL THE WAY UP, and played it over and over for the next three days. Needless to say, they were really happy for finals to end so they could go home for winter break.

December 21st meant last minute shopping, getting out the sled, and baking cookies to leave for Santa on Christmas Eve. When Santa came to our house he got a plate of Mom’s best Jam Thumbprints, but at Christmas time they were topped with red or green maraschino cherries.
 
JAM THUMBPRINTS (Mom’s recipe)
2/3 cup butter   
1/3 cup granulated sugar                                                                             
2 eggs    (separated)                    
1 tsp vanilla                                                                                                
1/2 tsp. salt                                          
1 1/2 cups sifted flour                                                                                 
/4 cup finely chopped nuts                                                                                                                            Red and green maraschino cherries, well drained
 
Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add 2 egg yolks, vanilla, and salt; beat well. Gradually add flour, mixing well. Shape in 3/4-inch balls; dip in 2 slightly beaten egg whites, roll in chopped nuts. Place 1-inch apart on greased cookie sheet. Press center of each with thumb. Bake at 350-degrees for 15 minutes. Cool slightly, remove from pan and cool on rack. Top each with a cherry (or cherry or strawberry jam).  Enjoy!
 
The Historical Society will be opened on December 13 and 20 with Christmas Decorations, Vintage toys and Thumbprint Cookies, along with Coffee, Hot Tea and Punch! Come and visit!
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​Student artists from Grain Valley South Middle School will be featured Friday, December 15th at a Pawportunties Portrait Project event from 5:00pm - 7:30pm at the school. The event will include a silent auction of pet portraits created by students. Funds raised will be used for medical equipment, food, and other supplies for animals cared for by Pawportunties. 

There will be 60+ paintings/drawings to bid on to raise money for Pawportunites. The organization will be on site to answer any questions about their fostering, volunteering, and adoption policies, and there will also be adoptable animals at the event. 

International Student Exchange (ISE) provides cultural exchange programs for high school foreign exchange students to come to towns and cities across the United States and live their dream - spending a year with an American family as a real member of the family and attending a typical American high school. 

ISE Area Representative Heidi Sullivan has hosted eight students in her home and currently supervises 18 exchange students in this area (northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas, including one at Grain Valley), and she provides support to them and their host families throughout the year.

Each year, ISE selects two Area Representatives from across the country to receive the Area Representative of the Year Award. Some of the criteria for the award are based on the following: passion for the students and the program, provides ongoing assistance to find success with a student’s program, works well through student and host family intervention situations. being active in the community, active as a team member and in training, 100% compliant.

Sullivan was named a 2023 Award winner. She places high school foreign exchange students with local host families and then provides supervision and support throughout the student’s cultural exchange program. She is currently working on placements and finding host families for next school year in NW MO and NE KS. Please contact Heidi at 816-213-5268 for more information about hosting. 

By Extension Master Gardener (EMG) volunteers, Joanie Shover, Michele Cole, Sherri Carter, and MU Extension Horticulture Instructor Cathy Bylinowski, [email protected]
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The Blue Springs Historical Society Museum is where history lives in the garden! In 2019, the Blue Springs Historical Society Museum Garden became a University of Missouri Extension Partnership Garden.  Museum staff and Extension Master Gardeners also work with the local MU Extension 4-H Classy Clovers, teaching the children the science of gardening. They apply what they learn to their Regional Fair.  This year five qualified for State Fair Exhibition . 

As the project grew, the museum and garden staff needed direction, so we developed a vision statement and developed goals. 
Goal 1: To Provide education to youth and adults and encourage gardening in the historical section of Blue Springs.  

Goal 2:  To provide education to the community and those who visit the museum about flowers and plants in the gardens.

The vision was to create an educational “place of peace and beauty” that was easy to walk through and inviting for visitors of all ages. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the garden provides a respite for area walkers and visitors and gardening information through plant labels and signage. Historical Society members give tours three times a week during the growing season.

The garden staff and Extension Master Gardeners developed a program of gardening classes during April through August.  These classes are open to Extension Master Gardeners and the public.  Extension Master Gardeners teach these classes to encourage people to grow vegetables, flowers, native plants, and use reliable, science-based gardening methods.  Class includes hands-on learning in the garden.  Museum staff work with Extension Master Gardeners to write and illustrate storybooks for the children to read as they walk through the garden.  These storybooks connect the history of early residents to gardening and how gardening helped to grow the community in the 1800s.

One story book focuses on a female doctor who used medicinal herbs to cure patients. A second tells how people traded farm products with merchants for staples like flour and sugar during winter months. The latest tells how residents grew pumpkins and shipped them through rail service which began in 1879 in Blue Springs.  In addition to offering gardening classes at the museum, EMGs also hold plant sales to raise funds to support the museum, its grounds, and horticulture education programming. 

Delta Dental of Missouri’s popular Land of Smiles® dental education program is on the road this fall, taking the crusade for healthy teeth to 23,000 youngsters at more than 100 schools across the state in the coming weeks. The cast of dynamic superhero characters made their most recent stop in Grain Valley for performances at Stony Point Elementary School, Matthews Elementary School, Prairie Branch Elementary School and Sni-A-Bar Elementary School, teaching good dental health habits to 1,350 students in kindergarten through third grade.
 
The Land of Smiles® experience follows superhero Captain Super GrinSM, as he defeats his nemesis, Caz CavitySM, with help from his sidekicks Terri Tooth FairySM and ToothpickSM. Students learn the importance of brushing teeth twice a day, flossing, using mouthwash, eating healthy foods and visiting the dentist regularly. The program includes an oral health curriculum that adheres to National Health Education Standards, as well as standards for Missouri.

Delta Dental of Missouri also offers free “smile bags” to schools for students who participate in the program. Each bag includes a toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss to help students practice the good oral health habits they learn. Newly created short videos, which recap important oral health tips that the program teaches children in schools, are now available for caregivers and can be found at https://www.landofsmilesmo.org/parent-caregiver-information.
 
Since its inception in the fall of 2002, the Delta Dental of Missouri’s Land of Smiles® program has taught more than 1.1 million kids how to take care of their growing smiles through more than 5,800 onsite performances at schools in 113 Missouri counties, and through its online version. At least 25% of schools receiving the program have more than 80% of students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program. The Land of Smiles® experience is provided free of charge to schools, courtesy of Delta Dental of Missouri.

Bradley Wayne Eldridge, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on December 1, 2023, in Kansas City, Kansas. He was born on January 8, 1969, in Jacksonville, Illinois. Bradley's untimely passing has left a void in the hearts of all who knew him.

Brad had an illustrious career as a diesel mechanic. He worked tirelessly at Gully Transportation before venturing out on his own to establish Mico Transportation and Mico Repair in Grain Valley, Missouri. His dedication to his craft and commitment to excellence earned him the trust and admiration of his clients.

A graduate of Lincoln High School, Brad valued education and always strived to learn new things. While his professional achievements were admirable, it was his warm and genuine personality that truly set him apart. Bradley never met a stranger; he had an extraordinary ability to connect with people and forge lasting friendships wherever he went. His ornery humor and magnetic presence would light up any room he entered. Above all else, Brad cherished his role as a father. He was an exceptional parent who loved his children unconditionally and supported them in every aspect of their lives. Their happiness meant the world to him, and he dedicated himself wholeheartedly to their well-being. In his spare time, Brad found solace in the great outdoors. He had a deep love for nature and sought refuge at his cabin in Mark Twain Forest. Whether it was canoeing along tranquil rivers or embarking on exhilarating off-road adventures with his four-wheeler, Brad found peace and joy in these outdoor pursuits. Brad was active in the Boy Scouts of America with Troop 605 and a member of Mic-o-say as Thundering Black Sky.  

Brad is preceded in death by his parents; Wayne Eldridge and Phyllis Neff, and his grandmother; Lillie Peters. He is survived by his wife and love of his life; Carrie Eldridge, his children; Mike Eldridge (Sarah), Emily Eldridge (Nick), Jared Eldridge, Jake Dwyer, Tyler Dwyer, and Ryan Dwyer, his granddaughters; Malia Eldridge, Morgan Eldridge, and Tapanga Soberalski and her mother; Emilee, his very special aunt and uncle who cared for and loved him as his own; Donna and Steve Blanford,  his pups; Oreo, Leo, and Moose, and his cats; Mogley and Freeway.

Brad's life will be celebrated through two meaningful events. The visitation will take place on December 8, 2023, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Speaks Suburban Chapel located at 18020 East 39th St S, Independence, MO 64055. This gathering will provide an opportunity for family and friends to share fond memories and offer support during this difficult time. The funeral service will be held the following day, December 9, 2023, starting at 10:00 AM. The family will have a private interment for Brad in Potosi, Missouri at a later date.
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In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Brad’s memory to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The holiday season is made extra special with quality time and delicious food shared with family and friends! However, hosting can come with its own set of challenges – especially if you are inviting guests with food allergies. So, what do you need to know about navigating the holidays when it comes to guests following a gluten-free diet? Let’s start by breaking down the basics of what exactly gluten is and how you can help gluten-free guests coming to your holiday celebration.
 
Gluten isn’t as scary as it may seem – it is simply a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and a wheat-rye hybrid called triticale. It helps provide elasticity and structure to many of our favorite baked goods but can also be found in a myriad of products on store shelves. Gluten can cause discomfort or even serious health issues in people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance. But what is the difference between celiac disease and gluten intolerance?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which an autoimmune response causes damage in the small intestine when gluten is consumed. An individual with a gluten intolerance may experience many of the same symptoms as someone with celiac disease, but there is no damage that occurs in the small intestine. Also, while there are tests to detect celiac disease, there are no diagnostic measuring tools to diagnose a gluten intolerance.

How can you make guests who are following a gluten-free diet more comfortable at your holiday gathering? Thoroughly wash all dishes, serving utensils, cookware, etc., when preparing and serving gluten-free dishes. This is because those with celiac disease can be impacted by cross contamination. So, if you commonly prepare items containing gluten in your kitchen and you are even serving other dishes that contain gluten at the party, be sure to give those dishes and surfaces an extra scrub! It could also be helpful to label dishes and let guests know what options are gluten-free so they can freely serve themselves.

Now that you’re ready to host, let’s talk sweet and savory baked treats that all party guests can enjoy – even those with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance! Starting with sweet – I recommend Sweet Loren’s ready-to-bake cookie dough. These sweet treats are not only gluten-free but dairy-free, peanut- and tree nut-free. Sweet Loren’s even offers select varieties that have 40% less sugar than other leading national brands but that still satisfy your sweet tooth. For guests preferring savory, common pantry staples like the gluten-free Chex Cereals come in handy! Gluten-free Chex Cereals are made with whole grains and fortified with key vitamins and minerals and make a great base for a snack mix.

I recommend whipping together this crowd-pleasing party snack in advance. It’s perfect to serve as guests are arriving at your holiday gathering or enjoy as an on-the-go snack while traveling to your holiday destination! To satisfy their sweet tooth, it’s easy to keep a package of Sweet Loren’s ready-to-bake cookie dough on hand to throw in the oven just before guests arrive. Everyone loves a warm cookie!  
 
Gluten-Free Original Chex Party Mix
Makes 22 servings
 
All you need:
4 cups Corn Chex
4 cups Rice Chex
2 cups Cheerios
2 cups bite-size gluten-free pretzel sticks or twists
6 tbsp vegan dairy-free buttery vegetable oil spread
2 tbsp gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
1½ tsp gluten-free seasoned salt
¾ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
 
All you do:

1. Heat oven to 250°F.
2. In large bowl, mix cereals and pretzels until well blended. In small microwavable bowl, microwave vegetable oil spread uncovered on High 30 to 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated. Transfer to ungreased roasting pan.
3. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container at room temperature.

 
Recipe source: https://www.chex.com/recipes/gluten-free-original-chex-party-mix
If you’re ready to take a deeper dive when it comes to navigating a gluten-free diet, check out our On-Demand Virtual Gluten-Free Nutrition Tour! It’s complimentary and you receive access to the recorded tour immediately after registering. Register for your on-demand tour today: https://www.hy-vee.com/healthnew/dietitians.
 
The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.
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The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of November 28 – December 4, 2023.
 
November 28, 2023
PHQ
Citizen Contact

 
November 29, 2023
1000 Blk Phelps
Area Check

800 Blk Lake View Dr
Motor Vehicle Accident

 
November 30, 2023
1000 Blk Phelps
Area Check

Walnut/BB
Area Check

Eagles Pkwy/Sni-A-Bar
Motor Vehicle Accident

600 Blk Woodbury
Careless Driving

Woodbury/Phelps Ct
suspicious Activity

200 Blk Sunny Ln
Assault

Walnut/Smith
Area Check

1000 Christie Ln
Area Check

James D Rollo Ct
Agency Assist

988 Sycamore
Area Check

 
December 1, 2023
i-70/Westbound
Agency Assist

1000 Blk Willow
Suspicious Activity

600 Blk Wagle Dr
Stolen Auto

1000 Blk Sycamore Dr
Welfare Check

1000 Blk Stockman Ct
911 Hang up

WB/ I--70
Agency Assist

1000 Blk Phelps Ct
Unattended Death

800 Blk San Kar
Assault

1000 Blk SW Lakeview
Stand By

1000 Blk SW Sandy Ln
Residents check

600 Blk NW Yennie
parking complaint

WB I-70 /Main
Agency Assist

 
December 2, 2023
600 Blk NW Eagle Ridge Dr
Stolen Auto

100 Sunny Ln
Citizen Contact

1000 Blk MW Cedar Ct
Parking Complaint

US 50 Hwy
Warrant Arrest

1000 NW Ashley Ln
Verbal Disturbance

PHQ
Citizen Contact

600 Blk W Walnut
Area Check

1000 Blk NW Hickory Wood Ct
Parking Complaint

1000 Blk NW Ashley
Verbal Disturbance

1000 Blk Rosewood
Abandoned Auto

700 Blk Fox
Welfare check

800 Blk Highland Dr
Four-wheeler on Roadway

1000 Blk SW Blue Branch
Agency Assist

500 Blk N Main
Property Damage

800 Blk Kar
Citizen Contact

 
December 3, 2023
1000 Blk S Buckner Tarsney Rd
Stealing

1000 Blk S Buckner Tarsney Rd
Suspicious Activity

NW East KC Industrial Dr
area check

100 Blk Sunny Lance
citizen contact

 
December 4, 2023
Minter/eagles Pkwy
area check

Culver's
missing juvenile found

700 Blk Crestview Terr
parking

400 Blk main
dealer license

900 Blk Eagle Ridge
Disturbance

1000 Blk Eagle Ridge
Burglary

1000 Blk Burr Oak
agency assist

McQuerry/Main
Suspicious Person

 
Additional calls for service:
Suicidal Subject: 1
Domestic Violence: 2
Order of Protection: 1  
CIT/Mental Health Welfare Check: 1

 

U.S. News & World Report has named Saint Luke’s East Hospital as a 2024 High Performing hospital for Maternity Care (Uncomplicated Pregnancy). This is the highest award a hospital can earn for U.S. News’ Best Hospitals for Maternity Care.
 
Best Hospitals for Maternity Care is an annual evaluation designed to assist expectant parents, in consultation with their prenatal care team, in making informed decisions about where to receive maternity care that best meets their family’s needs.
 
Saint Luke’s East Hospital earned a High Performing designation in recognition of maternity care as measured by factors such as newborn complication rates. 
 
“We are proud of the exceptional care and supportive environment that our women and children’s services team provides to expecting mothers in the Eastern Jackson County community,” Ingrid Larson, Chief Nursing Officer at Saint Luke’s East Hospital said.

“We are pleased to receive this recognition for the third year in a row and to be only one in four hospitals to be honored in the state of Missouri. This demonstrates our commitment and dedication to the quality care we provide daily.”

U.S. News evaluated hospitals from across the nation that provide labor and delivery services and submitted detailed data to the publication for analysis; 680 hospitals, an all-time high, participated in this year’s U.S. News survey. Fewer than half – 46% – of all hospitals that offer maternity care and participated in the survey received a High Performing designation.

The U.S. News Best Hospitals for Maternity Care methodology is based entirely on objective measures of quality, such as C-section rates in lower-risk pregnancies, newborn complication rates, exclusive breast milk feeding rates, early elective delivery rates, birthing-friendly practices and transparency on racial/ethnic disparities, among other measures.

by Michael Smith


Despite losing four seniors who were state qualifiers a season ago, Grain Valley is still one of the top Class 4 high school wrestling teams in the Kansas City area.

MissouriWrestling.com ranks Grain Valley at No. 11 in the Class 4 poll in the state and the Eagles are fifth among teams in the metro area.

They showed why they could be a team to look out for this season as the Eagles took second place with 134.5 points at the annual Grain Valley Invitational Saturday.

Fort Osage took first at the tournament with 183.5 points and Lee’s Summit West was third with 129.5 points.

“I think right now we are being overlooked,” Grain Valley senior Gavin Parks said. “We lost some of the good talent that we had from last year. Some people aren’t ready for the new talent that we got.”

The Eagles had three winners and five others who placed in the top four of their weight division.

Junior Colston Parks (113) is looking to make an impact this season as he aims for his first state tournament appearance. He got a pin in the semifinals to earn a spot in the championship, where he got a big 8-4 decision against Lee’s Summit West’s Zach Pruitt.

“I think that I got a lot better over the summer,” Parks said. “Going to Fargo and all of the tournaments over the summer really helped me improve.”

Gavin Parks, a returning state medalist, is ranked third in the 126-pound division in Class 4 according to MissouriWrestling.com. Parks pinned his first two opponents to set up a finals match with Excelsior Springs’ Micah Danner. He dominated that one, too, taking a 16-0 tech fall victory to claim his bracket.

“The computers were shutting down, so there was a long break between the semifinals and finals,” Gavin Parks said of the TrackWrestling.com website crashing, which keeps track of the match and team scores of the tournament. “I knew I had to keep moving and keep thinking about what I was going to be doing. I felt like I executed pretty well and teched a pretty good wrestler.”

Sophomore Zac Bleess, who took sixth at state last season, was another Eagle to take his bracket. He faced a familiar opponent in Fort Osage sophomore Antonio Martinez in the finals. Bleess had a late takedown in the third period and hung on to a nail biting 3-2 victory.

“We’re great friends,” Bleess said of himself and Martinez. “You really need those type of guys to push you to be the best version of yourself. We might be wrestling five times during the regular season, but in the summer, we are training together.”

Senior Justin Deweese had a strong showing as he earned pins in his first two matches to set up a match with Van Horn senior Darrius Paige in the finals. He was pinned in that match during the second period as he finished as the runner up.

Other Eagles to finish in the top four included Gavin Barker (third, 215), Ethan Jones (third, 138), Trenton Rock (fourth, 132) and Isaac Kusick (fourth, 106).

by Michael Smith
 
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With senior Annabelle Totta out with an injury, Grain Valley girls basketball coach Randy Draper decided to give someone a chance.
 
That person was Pyper Hartigan, who was inserted into the starting lineup for the Eagles in Friday’s championship game of the Cardinal Division of the Winnetonka Tournament against Lee’s Summit.
 
The move paid off for the veteran head coach as Hartigan exploded for 18 of her 21 points in the second half to help her team overcome a 28-21 halftime deficit in a 61-48 victory at Winnetonka High School.
 
“I just thought in our first two games, she did a good job,” Draper said of Hartigan. “When we found out Totta couldn’t play tonight I thought, ‘We’re going to find out what Pyper can do.’ We found out pretty good today.”
 
Hartigan came off the bench during the first two games of the tournament, but because of the injury to Totta, Draper decided to play his freshman more minutes in an important championship game.
 
She didn’t disappoint, as she connected on four 3-pointers and had multiple key baskets in the second half to help her team get the win.
 
Arguably her biggest basket came in the third period when Grain Valley had a 35-32 lead. Senior guard Finley LaForge brought the ball up past halfcourt and was trapped in the left corner by a pair of Tigers defenders. LaForge, who had multiple assists in the contest, made a skip pass out of the trap and found a wide open Hartigan, who buried a trey from the right wing.
 
“It definitely changed the whole game around,” Hartigan said. “Once we start getting up by a few points, that is when we go off.”
 
Added Draper: “I don’t think Finley came out. She can rest up tomorrow. She’s so good with the ball.”
 
Junior guard Camryn Kelly was just as important to the Eagles’ offense as she helped Hartigan space the floor with her 3-point shooting. She had a trio of 3-pointers herself as she finished with 18 points.
 
Kelly put the game away late in the fourth period when she converted a conventional 3-point play after getting a steal and finishing in transition to put Grain Valley up 58-44.
 
It was a struggle for the Eagles (3-0) early in the game as they trailed 15-11 at the end of the first period. Grain Valley was only down 12-11 with under three seconds left, but a pass from senior forward Megan Knust was stolen by Lee’s Summit junior Avery Rausch, who was fouled by Hartigan on a three-quarters court shot at the buzzer.
 
She made all three of her free throws to put her team up 15-11.
 
Rausch then made back-to-back threes midway through the second quarter, which helped Lee’s Summit take a seven-point halftime lead.
 
From there, Grain Valley picked up its defense and held the Tigers to just four points in the third period. Lee’s Summit took tough, contested shots and missed the few open looks it had.
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“I think there was a mentality switch,” Kelly said. “We knew we were in the game and wanted it more than them. We had to show them and prove to them that we are a good team and we deserve to win this game.”
 
Meanwhile, Haritgan went off for 10 points in the quarter and a putback layup from sophomore Addy Seyfert put the Eagles ahead for good at 31-30 midway through.
 
Seyfert alongside Knust and senior Emma Jane Ogle did the dirty work for their team, crashing the glass to get key rebounds throughout.
 
“She had 14 rebounds in the semifinals,” Draper said of Seyfert. “We need her. She’s really good.”
 
In the fourth, Hartigan and Kelly combined for 14 points to help ice the game.