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When we published our very first article more than seven years ago, we opened with a familiar movie line:
“Are you crazy, or just plain stupid?” At the time, starting a local news outlet did feel a little like Forrest Gump deciding to run across the country — just because. But you showed up. You read the stories. You shared the wins and the losses. You cheered for our students, rooted for our businesses, and cared enough to stay informed about our growing little city. You proved that local news still matters here. Over the years, we’ve had the honor of witnessing Grain Valley rise — growing schools, new families, new faces stepping up to serve. We’ve celebrated championships and ribbon-cuttings, shined a light on important issues, and told stories that would have otherwise gone untold. Most importantly — you trusted us. Today, as we wrap up our final edition, our hearts are full. We are grateful for every advertiser who believed in a hometown publication, every contributor who gave their time and talent, and every reader who clicked, liked, commented, and cared. Thank you for making this crazy idea more than just a run — you made it a community. As the credits roll for Grain Valley News, we leave you with one more call to action: Keep supporting local journalism. Whether it’s a new startup, a neighboring community paper, or the next brave soul who picks up the pen — show up for them. Invest in accurate reporting. Encourage the storytellers. Share your voice. Because a town that values its stories is a town that thrives. We’re proud to have been part of Grain Valley’s story. And even though we may not be publishing anymore… That’s all we have to say about that. With heartfelt gratitude, John and Cory Unrein, Co-Owners Grain Valley News Candidate filing for both the City of Grain Valley and the Grain Valley Schools Board of Education opened this week. As of Wednesday, the following candidates have filed to run in the April 2026 election:
City of Grain Valley: Rickie Knox - Alderman Ward II Scotty McMasters - Mayor Bob Headley - Mayor Grain Valley Schools Board of Education: Julie Taylor Lance Pollard Sarah Swartz by Cole Arndorfer, Grain Valley News
The Grain Valley Board of Aldermen met on Monday, December 8 for its only meeting in the month of December. After opening the meeting, the board moved into public hearings, starting with a presentation over rezoning from Steven Warger of Creekside Village. City Administrator, Ken Murphy, also gave a presentation to the board over the Grain Valley Marketplace TIF plans. After no public comments the public hearing was closed and the board moved into resolutions. Under resolutions, the board approved the 2026 wage scales for officers and sergeants in the Grain Valley Police Department. These scales are in accordance with bargaining agreements for both the officers and sergeants and are updated yearly. Next, the board heard two ordinances. The first ordinance the board passed approves the 2026 city budget and comprehensive fee schedule. The board then approved both the first and second readings of an ordinance to amend the 2025 city budget in order to more accurately reflect the actual revenues and expenditures by the city. The board moved into city staff reports, hearing an update on the Front Street project from Community Development Director, Patrick Martin. Martin said that with the weather the project has run into some delays, but the crews are working additional hours and the base layer of asphalt should be down by the end of the week. The meeting was then adjourned. After the second meeting for December was canceled, the next Board of Aldermen meeting will take place on January 12, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. inside City Hall. by Cole Arndorfer, Grain Valley News The Grain Valley Schools Board of Education met on Thursday, December 4 for its monthly meeting. The board began the meeting by honoring the state qualifiers for cross country, golf, softball, swimming and diving, as well as the state champion cheer team. Following this, the board moved into reports, beginning with approving a resolution to authorize the issuance of up to 6.5 million general obligation refunding bonds with L.J. Hart & Company. A representative from L.J. Hart & Company then gave a presentation to the board over the district’s options with those bonds as well as information over a proposed April 2026 ballot measure. Next, the board thanked the curriculum committee for their work and looked at a brief overview of its report. Superintendent Dr. Brad Welle delivered the highlights from his superintendent’s report for the month. Welle noted that the district is on track with its health premium overage payments and is tracking at a 92.01 percent attendance rate. The board then moved into unfinished business, beginning with a motion to approve a contract with Fired Up Consulting Group. The contractor will engage the community in the district’s drafting of a new CSIP plan. Following this, the board moved to new business. For the first item, the board approved nominating Cali Beard for this years Belcher Scholarship. The board then discussed the period for school board candidate filing which opened on December 9 at 8 a.m. and will run through December 30 at 5 p.m. The board also noted the staff holiday reception which will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on December 19 at Grain Valley High School. The next Board of Education meeting will take place on January 15 at 6 p.m. inside the Leadership Center.  Culver's Grain Valley will host a fundraising night for the Santa Bus on Friday, December 12th from 5:00pm - 8:00pm. 10% of all sales and 100% of tips will benefit the Santa Bus, which visits Grain Valley neighborhoods each weekend during the holiday season.
For more information on the Santa Bus and its schedule, visit GV Santa Bus | Facebook. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society As has been the case for the last seven plus years, I sit down pondering what to write about this week. On Sunday I took wreaths to the cemeteries where my family members, having lived a good life, have been “laid to rest” as the saying goes. Well, today this column is being laid to rest. But, I believe this column, too, has had a good life. And in the research and writing for my weekly musings, I have had a curious adventure, sometimes challenging, but always giving me interesting new insights into the history of our town. I’ve learned about many of the families that helped to shape our town. I’ve learned about the roads, and their namesakes. I’ve learned about many businesses both old and new, successful and not so much so. I’ve learned about the churches and traipsed through nearly every cemetery in the area. I’ve learned about Grain Valley when Sni-A-Bar Farms was world famous and I’ve learned about Grain Valley when they experienced the Great Depression, and lost sons during World War II. I’ve also learned about our schools, and the talented and successful people that call Grain Valley High School their alma mater. But mostly, I learned to be extremely proud of the place I call HOME. I am grateful to Cory and John Unrein, owners of the Grain Valley News for asking me to experience this great adventure! While writing a weekly column is not something I ever thought about doing, I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience. So, thank you! If you would like to read more stories about Grain Valley, send me your email and I will add your name to the growing list of readers who receive The Voice. It is a monthly newsletter from the Grain Valley Historical Society. I always include a story about Grain Valley and it is certainly my intention to expand those stores. Hopefully they will have more depth as my research of “all things Grain Valley” continue to find its way to my desk (computer). And, if you want to reread any old stories you can visit the Historical Society Museum at 506 Main Street in Downtown Grain Valley. We have notebooks with copies of all of the articles I have written and artifacts that might trigger a future article for The Voice! Come visit soon. Thanks for reading, Marcia “Marty” Napier [email protected]  Grain Valley Historical Society, 506 N Main ST Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society  by Tara Sallee MS, RD, LD, Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitian The holidays are a time to enjoy the season and extend appreciation for friends, family, and co-workers. This year, try taking a mindful approach to gift-giving and incorporate a healthy holiday theme. It’s the perfect way to share a gift that contributes to overall health and well-being. Here are some of Hy-Vee’s registered dietitians’ favorite healthy food-focused holiday gift ideas. Mixed Nuts Nuts are packed with protein and heart-healthy fats which make them an ideal snack to stay energized between meals. The higher fat content in nuts helps promote satiety, though it also means they are calorie dense. Sticking with a one-ounce serving will give you all the benefits without overdoing your snack. Fill a festive box or basket with mini-packages of favorites such as peanuts, almonds, walnuts, pistachios and more. Fill an attractive holiday decanter with mixed nuts for everyone to enjoy! Additionally, for people with high blood pressure, it’s beneficial to look for options that are unsalted or lightly salted. Elevated Olive Oil Basket Say “heart-healthy holidays” with a gift basket of high-quality olive oil. Graza is always fresh, never blended -- a single origin olive oil. Picked, pressed, and bottled all in the same season, the harvest date is even on the label! Include in your basket the top three varieties:
Italian and Mediterranean-Themed Meal Prep Packs with Meatballs! Put together an Italian-themed meal prep gift with Graza Olive Oil and include a recipe card with ingredients for Festive Marinara Meatballs (see recipe below). For a Mediterranean version, gather prepared hummus dip, pita bread, and kalamata olives to pair with Nana’s Italian Meatballs from Mulay’s. They’re ready-to-cook and free of the top nine allergens. Mulay’s products are sustainably sourced with simple ingredients and no sugar, nitrates, or preservatives. If traveling, include an ice pack to keep the meatballs at a safe temperature. Popcorn From classic favorites to unique flavor blends, popcorn has always been a pantry staple. A three-cup serving of this whole grain snack offers three to four grams of fiber which helps control appetite and plays a role in supporting stable blood sugar levels. Look for varieties with minimal butter, sugar, and sodium to maintain its nutritious profile. Popcorn that is air-popped is especially healthy as it requires no butter or oil to make. Another bonus, popcorn is naturally gluten-free! If you have celiac disease or a sensitivity to gluten, it’s still important to read the ingredient list to make sure added flavorings or processing did not introduce any allergens. Wrap up a variety pack with a festive ribbon. Fruit Basket Instead of making that forbidden fruit cake, send a seasonal fruit basket this year! Fruit is a sweet treat that’s also filled with vitamins, minerals, and fiber. For best results, look for fruits that are in season as this will help with both affordability and optimal taste. Pomegranates, apples, pears and kiwi are a handful of winter fruits that are sure to make for a colorful gift. If you’re looking to add a few tropical pieces to the basket, pineapple, mango, papaya, dragon fruit, and passion fruit all have their growing season in the southern hemisphere during our winter. Mix and match for your perfect basket!  Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) invites students of all ages across Eastern Jackson County to apply for nearly $1,000,000 available in scholarships for the 2026-2027 school year. THCF’s General Scholarship Application period runs from December 1, 2025, through February 16, 2026. Students should visit https://www.thcf.org/students/scholarships/apply-now to learn more and apply. THCF’s General Scholarship Application takes basic information from applicants and automatically matches them with more than 50 scholarships they may qualify to receive. These include scholarships for undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as career and technical certification programs. Once students are matched, some scholarships may require additional documentation, such as Fall 2025 transcripts, essays, letters of reference, or activity summaries. Some THCF scholarships have separate stand-alone applications, and their deadlines and requirements vary. Full details about all THCF scholarships can be found at https://www.thcf.org/students/scholarships/scholarship-directory. We encourage students to apply for each scholarship for which they are eligible. In 2025, THCF awarded over $970,000 in 516 scholarship awards to 392 students. Since 1982, THCF has awarded more than $8.4 million to help students reach their educational goals. For questions or personal assistance with scholarships, please contact Rachael Cassiday Watkins, Director of Scholarships, at [email protected] or 816-912-4185.  The following information is derived from Grain Valley Police Department daily calls service log for the week of December 3-9, 2025.
December 3, 2025 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol 100 BLK NW JACKIE AVE Stealing Vehicle 1100 BLK NW CHRISMAN FARM RD Alarm-Commercial 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol DEER RUN RD / DUNCAN Agency Assist LE POND AND DILLINGHAM Traffic Enforcement 700 BLK S MAIN ST Special Assignment-Other 700 BLK S MAIN ST Special Assignment-Other 100 BLK ARMSTRONG DR Citizen Contact SNI A BAR / SANDY LANE Crash Unknown 100 BLK E BROADWAY ST Disturbance-Physical 400 BLK W FRONT ST Crash Non-Injury PHQ Administrative 900 BLK SW RYAN RD Citizen Assist 1300 BLK NW WILLOW DR Missing Person-Juvenile SNIABAR / BROADWAY Citizen Contact PHQ Walk In Report PHQ Administrative NW ROSEWOOD DR/NW HEDGEWOOD DR Extra Patrol December 4, 2025 JACKIE ST Extra Patrol NW WOODBURY DR Extra Patrol 100 BLK NE SUNNY LN Disturbance-Verbal NELSON DR Extra Patrol YENNIE AVE Extra Patrol 900 BLK STONEBROOK LN Check Well Being DILLINGHAM / PERSIMMON Traffic Enforcement PHQ Walk In Report 200 BLK CROSSCREEK LN Public Service 1200 BLK NW LONG DR Citizen Contact 1500 BLK NW HILLTOP LN Disturbance-Physical 1100 BLK NW EAGLE RIDGE DR Abandoned Vehicle PHQ Walk In Report 1500 BLK NW HILLTOP LN Disturbance-Verbal 1400 BLK SW EAGLES PKWY Suspicious Person DILLINGHAM Traffic Enforcement 40 / KIRBY Crash Non-Injury 1100 BLK NW CEDAR LANE Harassment WOODBURY / ASPEN Traffic Enforcement PHQ Off Duty Assignment 700 BLK N MAIN Crash Non-Injury 1400 BLK NW WILLOW DR Animal Control 200 BLK NW WILLOW CT Citizen Contact 500 BLK BROADWAY Agency Assist EMS December 5, 2025 NELSON DR Extra Patrol 1300 BLK NW PECAN DR Agency Assist EMS NW WOODBURY DR Extra Patrol 200 BLK N MEMORIAL DR Prisoner Transport VALLEY RIDGE DR Security Check 500 BLK WHITESTONE DR Parking Complaint/Viol 700 BLK N MAIN ST Vehicle Maintenance DILLINGHAM / POND Traffic Enforcement 1900 BLK NW ELMWOOD DR Agency Assist EMS PHQ Follow Up Investigation MAIN/40 S Crash Non-Injury PHQ Public Service 700 BLK N MAIN ST Vehicle Maintenance PHQ Walk In Report 1100 BLK NW EAGLE RIDGE BLVD Alarm-Commercial 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol 1800 BLK NW NICHOLAS DR Noise December 6, 2025 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol 700 BLK N MAIN Vehicle Check 35000 BLK E OLD HWY 40 Vehicle Check 1200 BLK NW WILLOW DR Agency Assist EMS 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol PHQ Administrative 100 BLK EAGLES PKWY Security Check 100 BLK N MAIN ST Off Duty Assignment 200 BLK NW BARR RD Disturbance-Verbal PHQ Public Service 200 BLK SE 21ST ST Property Damage S BB / PINK HILL Area Check PHQ Administrative PHQ Public Service 1900 BLK NW HACKBERRY CT Agency Assist EMS PHQ Administrative 1100 BLK CHRISTIE LN Disturbance-Verbal PHQ Walk In Report 100 BLK SW NELSON DR Citizen Contact 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol December 7, 2025 1300 BLK NW BROADWAY ST Noise 200 BLK YOUNG ST Disturbance-Physical 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol CHRISMAN FARM RD Extra Patrol PHQ Administrative JAMES ROLLO / MAIN Pedestrian Check 300 BLK CONCORD CIR Citizen Contact 1400 EAGLES PKWY Security Check VALLEY RIDGE DR Security Check 600 BLK NW VALLEY RIDGE CIR Warrant Arrest PHQ Information BARR RD / BET ASHLEY LN & ASHLEY DR Area Check 1100 BLK SE GRAHAM RIDGE RD Missing Person-Juvenile PHQ Standby to Prevent 900 BLK NW CEDAR LN Property Damage 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol PHQ Public Service 200 BLK NW SNI-A-BAR BLVD Noise 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol December 8, 2025 1100 BLK NW BUSH DR Extra Patrol 1400 BLK NW MAPLE DR Alarm-Residential PHQ Public Service 1400 BLK SW MINTER WAY Alarm-Commercial PHQ Administrative 700 BLK NW SCENIC LN Disturbance-Verbal 300 BLK NW JEFFERSON ST Burglary 1100 BLK NE MCQUERRY RD Area Check 1200 BLK NW WILLOW DR Property Damage 1100 BLK NW CASEY BLVD Alarm-Commercial 700 BLK SW GINGER HILL DR Animal Control BARR / SAWGRASS Motorist Assist 100 BLK SW EAGLES PKWY Animal Control NW ROSEWOOD DR Extra Patrol December 9, 2025 VALLEY HILLS ESTATE Extra Patrol SW HAMILTON LN Extra Patrol SAVANNAH HEIGHTS Extra Patrol NELSON DR Extra Patrol NW WOODBURY DR Extra Patrol NW JACKIE AVE Extra Patrol 1300 BLK SW EAGLES PKWY Extra Patrol S DILLINGHAM RD / NW PERSIMMON DR Traffic Enforcement 1100 BLK DEAN DR Property Damage PHQ Public Service BARR RD / SAWGRASS DR Follow Up Investigation PHQ Walk In Report BB / GREYSTONE Fail To Yield 1000 BLK E RYAN RD DARE N MAIN ST / I 70 Pedestrian Check 100 BLK SW NELSON DR Residence Check DILLINGHAM / DUNCAN Vehicle Check 700 BLK N MAIN ST Court 1100 BLK CHRISTIE LN Property Damage 1100 BLK NW PAMELA BLVD, APT D Alarm-Commercial 1600 BLK NW HILLTOP LN Parking Complaint/Viol 700 BLK MAIN ST Protection Order Service 40 HWY / OOIDA Crash Non-Injury 1600 BLK NW POND AVE Area Check 1300 BLK NW BURR OAK LN Open Door-Structure 100 BLK ARMSTRONG DR Alarm-Commercial Additional calls for service: Suicidal subject: 1 CIT/Mental Health Welfare Check: 2 Order of Protection: 1 by Lisa Addington, Xi Iota Phi Chapter
Our sorority year kicked off in June at the home of Diana Boyce. This year’s theme to build our monthly programs around is angels. Some of the ideas for programs could be a biblical angel that you connect with, books, movies, or tv programs. The different committees shared their ideas for our socials for our 2025-2026 sorority year. Some of the ideas presented were trips to the Miniatures toy museum, the WW1 museum, Warm Springs Ranch, and a visit to Parkville for a day of shopping and lunch. Service plans for the year were passed around for anyone that had questions or concerns. While at Diana’s we finalized our plans to the lake for our yearly girls weekend, we always have a wonderful time swimming, eating, sharing stories, and relaxing. Karen Sutton was our host for the July meeting. Bobbie presented our program, it was about the book “The Littlest Angel” by Charles Tazewell, it was first published in 1946. Our service project for the month was a donation to Heart to Heart foundation. City Council information and convention information was shared from Karen Sutton and Karen LaJaunie. Our August meeting was at the home of Cathy Talley, Cathy’s program was about the tv show Highway to Heaven and Michael Landon and how he was instrumental in the show. For our service project members brought school supplies to be donated to Community Services League of Blue Springs and they would share with the school district. Chris Smith and Debbie Reardon passed out our yearbooks with updates and changes for our calendars for the upcoming year. Lots of hard work is put into them and we all appreciate the time and effort it takes. Bobbie read thank you notes from Lisa Addington and Kim Meyers regarding sympathy for their family members passing. Each year we choose a Program of the Year recipient, this year Chris Smith received the pin. Chris does an excellent job of giving programs that are informative and interesting. September found us at the home of Karen Blau for our meeting. We had a guest join us this month who is interested in joining a chapter in our area, her name is Sophia Morales. Our service project for the month was Chain of Hope, a non profit organization that helps those in need with their pets. Bobbie Brubeck and Chris Smith passed out our memory pages for the year. They looked wonderful! It’s nice to see our photos from the last year of events. We took a trip to Warm Springs Ranch in Boonville to see the beautiful horses and learn about what is involved in the breeding process and the expectations for becoming a horse for the Anheuser-Busch wagon. We then went and had a nice lunch, Debbie Wood’s sister joined us. October Chris Smith hosted our members and presented her program on the movie Angels in the Outfield, it’s different versions and the faith that is had by the characters in the story. Our chapter attended the Cancer Action dinner and fashion show fund raiser at Adam’s Point Convention Center, all members attended the evening which was a success. The purpose was for raising money to support people going through issues with cancer and meeting their needs that aren’t covered by insurance and making their journey a little more comfortable and easier. Our yearly Preferential Tea will be held at the United Methodist Church on Woods Chapel Rd with other chapters in City Council. Those that attended convention shared about all the fun that was had and the different things that were done. There were Beta Sigma Phi members from 17 different states. Christmas plans were discussed and invitations will be sent to former members for them to share with us in our celebration of the holidays. November members held their meeting at the home of Debbie Reardon. Janet Gemar attended our meeting again as a guest. Chris Smith announced that we received our 3 Star standing with International. This months outing was to the World War 1 museum and Liberty Memorial and lunch afterwards. Karen La Jaunie shared about the committee plans for our inter chapter social in January, it will be snowman themed. Debbie shared her program on Touched by an Angel and Roma Downey and the accolades that she acquired throughout her career and the impacts she has made on others' lives. Our last meeting of the calendar year 2025 will be hosted by Karen LaJaunie for Christmas. We all look forward to being with each other and sharing the Christmas spirit. We will have snacks, have our gift giving for our secret sister and gifts for each other as well as a program presented by Karen. Happy Holidays everyone and a blessed new year.
I’m often asked why Americans don’t connect with their neighbors like they used to. Why is there such a noticeable drop in neighborhood interaction—fewer block parties, fewer waves from the porch, fewer casual conversations across fences? For years, I’ve leaned on four key reasons, drawn from research and observation, that help explain this trend: First, loneliness itself often keeps us from reaching out. Second, busyness. We overbook our calendars and run from one commitment to the next, leaving little margin for spontaneity or neighborly encounters. Third, is a retreat mentality. Many of us view our home as a place to hide, not a space to connect. Fourth, entertainment focus. We often choose virtual engagement at home over real-world relationships. But recently, I’ve come to believe there’s something deeper going on. I’m adding a fifth category that I call “heart obstacles.” These are the internal, emotional barriers that quietly but powerfully sabotage our capacity to connect. Specifically: fear, shame, an unwillingness to be vulnerable, and selfishness. Fear causes us to hide our true thoughts and feelings for fear of being judged or rejected. Fear erodes trust and leads to avoidance—of neighbors and potential friendships. Shame whispers that we’re not good enough. So instead of inviting others in, shame convinces us to stay silent and alone. It also fuels defensiveness, which can stop real connection. Unwillingness to be vulnerable may be the most subtle obstacle. Many people keep up a polished exterior but never let others get close. Without vulnerability, relationships remain shallow. Selfishness, though it may not be obvious, poisons relationships. When we constantly prioritize our own comfort there’s no room left for empathy. Selfishness makes connection feel like a burden instead of a joy. Together, these heart obstacles form a relational fog. They cloud our clarity, block our closeness, and distort our sense of community. They keep us guarded and emotionally distant—sometimes even from the people living just a few feet away. However, unlike the size of our front porches or the placement of our garage doors, these obstacles are within our control. They aren’t fixed by government policy, homeowner’s association rules, or new urban design. They’re fixed by the choices we make in our own hearts. If we want stronger neighborhoods—and a healthier, more connected society—we must confront these internal barriers head-on. That means being willing to slow down, to risk vulnerability, to push through fear, to let go of shame, and to put others before ourselves.  Missouri nonfarm payroll employment increased by 18,300 jobs in September 2025, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from August at 4.1 percent. Private industry employment increased by 4,400 jobs and government employment increased by 13,900 jobs. Over the year, there was an increase of 48,900 jobs from September 2024 to September 2025, and the unemployment rate increased by four-tenths of a percentage point, from 3.7 percent in September 2024 to 4.1 percent in September 2025. EMPLOYMENT Missouri's nonfarm payroll employment was 3,041,200 in September 2025, up by 18,300 from the revised August 2025 figure. The August 2025 total was revised upward by 1,100 jobs from the preliminary estimate. Goods-producing industries increased by 500 jobs over the month, with manufacturing gaining 1,800 jobs and mining, logging, and construction decreasing by 1,300 jobs. Private service-providing industries increased by 3,900 jobs between August 2025 and September 2025. Employment in private service-providing industries increased in professional and business services (4,400 jobs); trade, transportation, and utilities (1,100 jobs); financial activities (700 jobs); other services (600 jobs); leisure and hospitality (500 jobs); and information (100 jobs). Employment decreased in private education and health services (-3,500 jobs). Total government employment increased by 13,900 jobs over the month, with increases in local (7,800 jobs) and state government (6,300 jobs) and a decrease in federal government (-200 jobs). Over the year, total payroll employment increased by 48,900 jobs. The largest gains were in private education and health services (15,500 jobs); leisure and hospitality (12,000 jobs); mining, logging, and construction (2,100 jobs); other services (1,700 jobs); and financial activities (100 jobs). Employment decreased in manufacturing (-4,000 jobs); professional and business services (-2,700 jobs); information (-2,700 jobs); and trade, transportation, and utilities (-2,300 jobs). Government employment increased by 29,200 jobs over the year, with increases in local (23,100 jobs) and state (8,200 jobs) government and a decrease in federal government (-2,100 jobs). UNEMPLOYMENT Missouri's smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 4.1 percent in September 2025. The September 2025 rate was four-tenths of a percentage point higher than the September 2024 rate of 3.7 percent. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 131,808 in September 2025. The state's not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate decreased in September 2025, declining by one point to 3.5 percent from the August 2025 not-seasonally-adjusted rate of 4.5 percent. A year ago, the not-seasonally-adjusted rate was 3 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted national rate for September 2025 was 4.3 percent. Missouri's labor force participation rate was 63.7 percent in September 2025, 1.3 percentage points higher than the national rate of 62.4 percent. Missouri's employment-population ratio was 61 percent in September 2025, 1.3 percentage points higher than the national rate of 59.7 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate was 4.1 percent in September 2025, three-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 4.4 percent. Missouri's unemployment rate has been at or below the national rate for more than 10 years.  by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News It didn’t take long for the Grain Valley boys basketball team to put its imprint in the game. The Eagles took on Suburban White Conference foe William Chrisman Tuesday on the road and put on a clinic on defense from the jump. They held the Bears without a point until the 2:18 mark when Chrisman junior Kenneth Heath made a driving layup. Grain Valley carried that defensive momentum into the rest of the game and didn’t allow more than 12 points in the quarter en route to a 65-38 victory. “I thought our defense and rebounding was better (than the previous three games),” Grain Valley head coach Andy Herbert said. “We had spurts where I thought we were tremendous defensively. We were very connected and our communication was at a high level. “When we are locked in like that defensively, we are pretty good.” Last season, the Eagles had three players who were 6-foot-5 or taller in the rotation, which allowed the team to use a variety of zones to use their length to get deflections and contest shots at the rim. Two of those tall players graduated in May, so Grain Valley (3-1) has had to adjust their offensive and defensive strategies with a more guard-heavy rotation. The Eagles rotations were sharp, the guards pressured the ball and created turnovers and they limited open looks in the paint for the Bears. “We knew their game plan was to screen a lot,” Grain Valley senior Anthony Juarez said. “We just talked and communicated and we took away the drive first because they don’t shoot the ball very well. After we took the drive away, we then closed out.” The defense of star senior Eli Herbert was a big part of Grain Valley’s success. The Liberty University commit made things tough on Chrisman’s guards, using his length and athleticism to cut off passing lanes and disrupt shots. He had two blocks and three steals on the day to cap off his stellar defensive performance. “I think my defense has gotten a lot better,” Herbert said. “I think that is because I spent the summer working on getting bigger, faster and stronger. My athleticism has gotten a lot better.” “We were enthusiastic on defense as a team. We took everything away they wanted to do. When we can guard the ball and not have to rotate behind it, we are pretty good.” Grain Valley raced out to a 15-0 lead to start the first before going into the second period with a 17-6 lead. The Eagles then expanded the advantage to 34-18 at halftime as Herbert hit two key 3-pointers while coming off screens and releasing the shots from the right wing. Senior 6-foot-7 center Sam Pendergrass then made his presence felt in the third period by dominating the interior and putting in nine points to put the Eagles ahead 65-28. From there, Andy Herbert went deep into his bench and used 10 players in the contest. Juarez had one of his best games of the season as he finished with a team-high 17 points, while Herbert had 15 and Pendergrass chipped in with 12.  Grain seniors Anthony Juarez, left, and Eli Herbert combined for 32 points in a 65-38 victory over William Chrisman Tuesday on the road. Photo credit: Michael Smith REVISED: Traffic shift & ramp closures scheduled on I-70 between MO-7 & Grain Valley, begins Dec. 1012/10/2025
Crews will conduct traffic shifts and ramp closures on Interstate 70 between Missouri Highway 7 in Blue Springs and Jackson County Routes AA/BB in Grain Valley beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Westbound traffic will be moved from the current lanes of travel to the newly constructed pavement in the median of I-70. This traffic configuration is scheduled to last until Spring 2026 and will include narrowed lanes and shoulder work as crews work on reconstructing the current westbound lanes. The current I-70 eastbound configuration will remain in place.
As part of the traffic shift, the following lane and ramp closures will be in place from Wednesday, Dec. 10 at approximately 10 a.m. until Thursday, Dec. 11 at approximately 6 a.m.
All work is weather permitting. Improve I-70: Blue Springs to Odessa is the third project in MoDOT’s Statewide Improve I-70 Program and will add a third lane of travel in each direction to I-70 from just west of MO Route 7 in Blue Springs to approximately MO Route H. The project also includes interchange improvements at Route D in Bates City and at MO Route 131 in Odessa. The project was awarded in Spring 2025 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028. by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News With last year’s leading scorer, Addy Seyfert, still recovering from a left ankle injury, the Grain Valley girls basketball team has needed others on the team to step up. That’s exactly what’s happened to start the 2025-26 season for the Eagles as they have looked good on offense. In Monday’s Suburban White Conference opener against William Chrisman, the Grain Valley offense was humming thanks to well-executed set plays and juniors Bella Bollinger and Madison Rust combining for 37 points in a 75-25 blowout victory on the road. “It really accelerates the scoreboard when you share the basketball,” Grain Valley veteran head coach Randy Draper said. “This group is doing a good job of that.” Bollinger has stepped up in a big way for her team on offense. She just came off a 25-point performance against Lee’s Summit last Friday and stayed hot against the Bears. Seven of those points came in a first quarter in which the Eagles led 23-13. “I played all over the country this summer,” Bollinger said. “I play competitively and that helps me prepare for games like this.” She was a part of an offense that utilized off-ball movement on cuts to the basket that resulted in wide-open layups. Rust, who had 17 points, received a quick pass from senior Aspen Reed on a cut for an open layup in the second period. Senior Chloe Hernandez scored on a similar play later in the period on a pass from junior McKenna Heidrich. “We have really been spreading the floor and moving without the ball well,” Bollinger said. “We want to constantly move and not stay in one spot. It benefits everyone when we do that.” Draper emptied the bench in the second period as his team took a 43-16 halftime advantage. Sophomore guard Malaina Green was the beneficiary of the extended minutes that the reserves received as she was the third Eagle in double figures with 10. Four of those points came in the third period, one of her steals and a fast-break layup as she helped extend Grain Valley’s advantage to 69-22 going into the final period. “Getting turnovers and playing fast really helps us get ahead early in the game,” Rust said. “We broke their press and they started sitting back. Then we can start working on (halfcourt offense).” From there, the mercy clock ran for the remainder of the contest as every available reserve on the roster received playing time. Chrisman (3-1) struggled with turnovers as the Eagles converted many of those into baskets in transition. Many of those turnovers came on passes that went out of bounds as Grain Valley’s zone defense threw coach Reid Titus’ offense off. “Our four freshmen who started probably haven’t seen a team (at Grain Valley’s) level before,” Titus said. “There are going to be errors. We played really well in the first quarter, but you would tell the floodgates opened after that.” Bears junior Camila Woodruff led the Bears with 13 points.  Grain Valley juniors Madison Rust, left, and Bella Bollinger combined for 37 points in a 75-25 rout if William Chrisman Monday on the road. Photo credit: Michael Smith
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