​Bertrand gets his time to shine in tri dual sweep of Bears, Blue Jays

by Bill Althaus
​

There were several new players in the Kansas City Comets lineup Sunday night, but a trio of familiar faces played a big role in the MASL team's 7-3 victory over the Harrisburg Heat at Cable Dahmer Arena.

All-star goaltender Nicolau Neto, who has battled a series of lower body injuries this week, picked up his first win as a starter, Ramone Palmer scored two goals and Rian Marques finished with five points on three goals and two assists as coach Stefan Stokic's team improved to 8-1-2.

"Personal stats mean nothing to me," said Marques, who leads the MASL with 30 points and 14 assists, "the only stat I pay attention to is winning, and we were able to win a couple of close games this past week and play more like we are capable of playing tonight.

"This was a big win. It was big to get Neto back in the net and it was big to get everyone involved. Stef made some changes, and they worked tonight. Now, we just have to get everyone healthy for the rest of the season."

Daniel Malhue, Erik Pereira, Eduardo Alejo, Joe Wainright and Leonel Palma all took their turns in offensive and defensive rotations, and Stokic was pleased with what he saw.

"We're missing so many key players to injuries like (Lucas) Sousa and Mikey (Lenis), (Zach) Reget is playing high-caliber soccer but it still deal with that high ankle sprain and it was good to get Neto back in the net," Stokic said. "I was not happy with our last performance.

"We should not need three goals in the final minutes to beat a team like Dallas. It's been addressed, and I liked what I saw from everyone tonight."

Palmer scored two of the first three goals Sunday night, and like his coach, was pleased with the team's performance.

"This was an awesome game, we came out strong and played consistent soccer most of the night," Palmer said. "We were coming off a tough game, but it was a tough game and we found a way to win. Tonight, we led from the start, had a lot of new faces on the field and won in front of our fans - which is always great."

After a scoreless first quarter, Palmer scored just 24 seconds into the second quarter, with Marquez adding two goals to make it a 3-0 game at the half.

Palmer scored his second at 4:41 of the third quarter before the Heat's Joey Tavernese scored off a restart to make it a 4-1 game.

Marques then picked up his hat trick to make it 5-1 before a late Heat goal cut Harrisburg's deficit to three heading into the final eight minutes of play.

Reget, who now affects from the ankle sprain, scored to make it 6-2. But the Heat weren't about to let up as Jack Shearer found the back of the net to make the score 6-3.

Captain Nacho Flores, who scored two goals in the last two minutes of the come-from-behind win at Dallas, wrapped up the Comets offense with a goal at 3:13.

"Neto's back, some new guys got some time on the field and we won a game we should have won," Flores said. "This is the type of soccer we need to play the remainder of the season."

After he was congratulated by his teammates, Neto said, "It's great to be back. I this this team and our fans and I can't tell you how great it was to get back in the net today."

Editor's note: Look for a feature story on Nicolau Neto and goalkeeper Phillip Ejimadu later this week in The Grain Valley News.
​ 

by Bill Althaus
​
Following a recent practice session Grain Valley High School girls basketball coach Randy Draper turned to his assistant Brock Tieffenbrun and said, "I'd pay to watch our team play."

And it was easy to see why the veteran coach made that comment following a 78-31 mercy-rule victory over Raytown Monday night on the Eagles home court.

The score was tied 7-7 at the 3:26 mark of the first quarter when the Eagles went on a 12-0 run to finish with a 23-9 lead after the first quarter.

"We corrected a couple of things early in the game - that's why it was 7-7 - and then, we started playing some pretty darned good basketball," Draper said. "I just love the way we're playing right now. They're a fun, exciting group to watch."

Addy Seyfert finished with 19 points in less than three quarters and her running mate Madison Rust added 14 before Draper brought every Eagles player off the bench.

A total of 16 players competed for the Eagles and everyone scored at least one point.

"It's so much fun to play, especially when our starters are cheering for us from the bench," senior guard Pyper Hartigan said. "I tore my ACL last June at a camp at Pitt State, and our girls have been so supportive. We've had some close teams since I've been playing here, but I think this might be the closest team I've played for."

With reserves playing most of the second half, Eagles starters like Rust, Seyfert, Cam Kelly, Aspen Reed and Bella Bollinger looked like they were catapulted off the bench whenever a teammate scored.

"It's as much fun cheering for our girls who come off the bench as it is playing," Seyfert said. "We want to cheer as loud as we can so they know how much we appreciate them. We're so proud when they play because they work as hard as we do and they deserve the playing time."

The Eagles stingy defense allowed just six second-half points as Grain Valley led 48-15 at the half.

With most of the starters out of the game, Grain Valley scored 19 points in the third quarter and finished with the 47-point victory.

"I took some notes tonight," Draper said, "because there is always room for improvement. But we're playing really well right now and need to keep playing like this the rest of the season."

A'lurea Atkinson led the Blue Jays with 10 points.

by Cole Arndorfer
 
The Grain Valley Schools Board of Education met on Thursday, January 16 for its monthly meeting.
 
The Board recognized boys swimming and diving state qualifiers and all-state band members. Six swimming and diving state qualifiers were recognized and two all-state band members were recognized.
 
Following recognitions, Valley Kids Program Director Amanda Hegarty, spoke to the board about the program. Hegarty outlined the goals she hopes to achieve as the program director, which include expanding enrollment at all sites, enhancing staff training with broader professional development, increasing awareness of the Valley Kids program by participating in school events, and deepen community engagement through staff and student participation in local community service projects.
 
The board then moved into new business, starting with discussion over the 2025-2026 budget planning process. The board’s attention was brought to important calendar dates regarding budget planning.
 
For the second item under new business, the board approved adding a 0.25 FTE 504 coordinator for the spring of this school year. This is a part-time position from now until the end of the school year with no guarantee that the job will continue past that. This position will help take some of the stress off of the current full-time employees in these roles.
 
The final item the board approved was adding a baseball coach stipend for the spring season. In the past, the high school has had three baseball teams. With one more coach a fourth team can be added, thus minimizing the number of cuts that need to be made while accommodating the growing interest and level of talent.
 
The meeting was then adjourned into executive session. The next Board of Education meeting will be held on Thursday, February 20th at 6:00pm in the Leadership Center. 

by Michael Smith


Grain Valley grad Cole Keller had a tumultuous start to his college football career.

After redshirting his first season at Washburn University in 2021, he played eight games in 2022 before he tore his patellar tendon in his right knee, which caused him to have surgery in February 2023. He attempted to return for Washburn’s fall camp, and he tore the same ligament in August.

He had a platelet-rich plasma injection in that knee in in, which occurred a few months after another surgery. Keller was then able to start lifting weights about a month before the season started on Aug. 29.

He didn’t get a lot of playing time, Keller said, and while he was originally supposed to play tight end for the Ichabods, he was moved to slot receiver because he was coming off an injury and didn’t have enough time to build enough strength to block linemen. During the 2024 season, he caught 15 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown.

“I was fine with my knee, but I only lifted for a month before the start of the season,” Keller said. “I came off a year and eight months of rehab essentially. I didn’t squat, deadlift nothing. I just felt weak. Not being able to prepare and be a football player is tough.”

Following the season, Keller entered the transfer portal and originally committed to the University of Central Oklahoma in early December before switching his commitment and signing to play for Division I FCS East Tennessee State University on Dec. 29.

Now, the former Eagle will get a chance to start his college career after an injury-plagued tenure at Washburn.
Keller was a three-year starter at quarterback for the Grain Valley and totaled 2,700 all-purpose yards and scoring 36 touchdowns during his senior season. He was a four-sport athlete with the Eagles, excelling at basketball, track and field and baseball, too.

He then committed to Washburn University, and after four years there, Keller said it was time to move on.
“I got enough on film,” Keller said. “I was scared when going into the transfer portal as you know, it’s a pretty tough landscape at the moment. Some coaches were interested. I had a few colleges that wanted me.

“I couldn’t lift weights but not enough to play the tight end position (before his sophomore season at Washburn). They started me at receiver. I didn’t play very much for a lot of reasons.”

Keller originally committed to the NCAA Division II University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos because he was guaranteed a starting spot at tight end by the coaches. A couple weeks afterward, ETSU had to talk Keller into take a visit of the campus at Johnson City, Tenn. He eventually accepted and liked what he saw.

At the time, the Buccaneers didn’t have any tight ends on scholarship. Keller was looking for a team in which he would get guaranteed playing time but would also have other tight ends challenge him for snaps. After he committed to ETSU, the team signed three other tight ends, but Keller said he expects to play at least 50 percent of the offensive snaps for the Buccs.

“That was one thing I talked to them about was I let them know I already has a spot somewhere else and playing time was important to me. I was saying, ‘Don’t waste my time if you’re not going to play me.’ They were very adamant that I was going to see the field a lot and that I was going to be one of their guys.”

“At Central Oklahoma, the big thing with them, I was going to be their guy. They didn’t have anybody else. They had one other dude, but I was the starter without having to step on the field. But I don’t think that’s necessarily healthy. I want competition. I want people there to push me.”

His decision was aided by the atmosphere on campus at ETSU and Johnson City itself.

“I went there and liked it a lot,” Keller said. “Johnson City is a mountain city of about 80,000 to 100,000 and everyone there supports the football program. They average 8,000 to 10,000 fans per home game.”

Keller, who currently weighs 230 pounds, said his goal is to put on 15 pounds of muscle before the start of his junior season, so he will be big and strong enough to block defensive ends.

“This the first season I have had that I’ve been 100 percent healthy, and I have been able to do intense workout with zero pain,” Keller said. “I feel like I am going to make a big jump this season.

“I need to put on that extra 15 pounds and be able to block in the box every single play. Route running and catching the ball will come naturally to me.”

Keller, who will be working under offensive coordinator Cam Aiken and head coach Will Healy, anticipates that he will be utilized in one- and two-tight end sets in the offense. The Buccaneers run a fast-paced offense, which Keller said he will be a good fit for.

“I think if I put on the right amount of weight and do everything that I think I can, I think I can do anything for the team. Since they run a high-tempo offense, and they don’t stop a whole lot, I think I can step in there and be (an all-around tight end).

“They really liked what I had to offer. So hopefully I can get in there work hard and do what they ask of me.”
Playing Division I football is not the end goal for Keller. Part of the reason he went to ETSU was so the coaching staff with the program would develop him into a professional-level football player by the end of his career. Keller’s dream is to play in the National Football League.

“The goal is to get to the next level,” Keller said. “I have been injured for such a long time; I am taking it one day at a time. Making a pro league would be sick. Playing at ETSU is the first step in achieving that.

​“That was one of the first things I talked about with the coaches. I need to be developed. I told them, ‘You guys need to have same goals for me that I have for myself.’ They have no doubts I can get to the next level as long as I put the work in.” 

by Bill Althaus

The mood was upbeat in the Grain Valley High School boys locker room following a 76-68 conference victory over the visiting Raytown Blue Jays.

"I was driving home from practice the other day and thought, 'What is going to take to win a big game this season?'" asked guard Aaron Barr, who teamed with Sam Pendergrass and the always reliable Eli Herbert as the offensive standouts of the game.

"Tonight, we found out. We finally got a big boy win, and it feels so good."

But the victory didn't come without its challenges as the Eagles led 23-9 after one quarter and 38-27 at halftime.

But coach Cody Buford's Blue Jays opened the third quarter with a 12-2 run to see the momentum from the first half swing the way of the visitors.

"Now, we can talk about that run as a good thing," a smiling Eagles coach Andy Herbert said, after his team improved to 9-7 and 6-0 in conference. "We gave up the lead, which was not good, but the way our guys responded the rest of the game was great.

"We buckled down, regained the lead and won the game. That's what I've been waiting to see all season."

So has his son Eli, who is second in the metro area in scoring with a 23-plus points per game average.

There have been many games where Eli received little offensive help from his teammates. That was not the case against the Blue Jays.

Eli led the way with 26 points - including four free throws in the final 53 seconds of the fourth quarter, while Barr scored 25 points - on a free throw and six 3-pointers, and Sam Pendergrass owned the paint, with a season-high 19 points and 12 boards.

"Sam was great, and Aaron and Eli knew he was having a great game so they kept looking for him inside," said Coach Herbert, Eli's father. "Cody does a great job with his kids, and they are tenacious. We needed all three of those guys to get some points and everyone else did plenty of good things when they were in the game."

Pendergrass praised his coaches and his teammates following the victory.

"Everyone contributed, and I was glad to be one of those players," the 6-foot-6 center said. "I haven't been an important member of the offense this season, and I hope tonight changes all of that. Now, I know I can have an impact inside, and I want to keep doing that to help us win."

That was great news for the Eagles guard combo.

"We were looking for Sam inside and he really came through," Eli said, "and Aaron was hitting all his 3-point shots. We've wanted to win a really big game this season. They just won the Lee's Summit Invitational, and they beat a lot of good teams, and now we know if we settle down and do what we need to do - and don't get used out there - this could be the start of something big for our team."

Barr added, "When Sam plays like he did tonight, we're a different team. I just keep thinking how big this win was, and what a great game it was - for our team and our fans."

Eli scored seven and Barr and Pendergrass scored six points each in the first quarter. Eli added seven in the second quarter and the Eagles had the double-digit lead.

But five 3-point baskets in the third quarter played a big role in the Jays 12-2 run. Once the Eagles offense came to life, Pendergrass had scored eight points and Grain Valley led 53-50 in what turned out to be a thrilling fourth quarter.

The game was tied 58-58 at 4:51 of the final eight minutes of action Barr scored 13 points and he and Herbert each hit key free throws at the end of the game.

Ramelo Smith, who finished with 20 points, hit four 3-pointers in the second half.

Downtown Grain Valley's SouperBowl soup cookoff and tasting event returns this Saturday before the Chiefs take on the Eagles in the Super Bowl on Sunday. Local businesses and organizations are competing against one another for bragging rights and gift cards to downtown businesses. The public is invited to join in the fun during a tasting event beginning at Noon at Valley Moments, 517 Gregg, Grain Valley. 

A BOGO (buy-one, get-one free ticket) offer is currently offered for the tasting event. Tickets are $10/adults and $5 for children 10 and under (children under 3 are free) before the BOGO discount. Beverages will also be available for purchase on-site. All proceeds benefit Downtown Grain Valley, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization supporting the revitalization of downtown Grain Valley.

For more information and to purchase tickets to the SouperBowl tasting event, visit 2025 Souperbowl Tickets. 

by Bill Althaus
​

Not all heroes wear capes.

Just ask Kansas City Comets coach Stefan Stokic, whose heroic team pulled together to defeat the MASL defending champion Chihuahua Savage 5-2 Saturday night at Cable Dahmer Arena.

Goaltender Phillip Emijadu faced 50 shots and came away with 19 saves, Chad Vandegriffe scored two goals off assists from Zach Reget and their teammates turned in a performance that helped the Comets defeat Chihuahua for the first time in team history.

Ironically, the Savage defeated the Comets in two one-goal victories in 2024 to claim their second consecutive MASL championship.

MASL commissioner Keith Tozer, who attended the game, summed up the moment following the world-wide television broadcast when he said, "We could not have written a better script for this game. Unbelievable."

Perhaps now the nightmarish finish to last season's 4-3, 5-4 losses to the Savage in the MASL Ron Newman Cup Championship series will be replaced by a dream performance that you had to see, to fully appreciate.

"I feel like all the weight on my chest, since last year's championship series, has been lifted," Stokic said, after his team improved to 6-1-2. "This is our first win against Chihuahua in our team's history. There was an extra edge in this game - and we were ready for it."

Ejimadu turned in the performance of a lifetime as he added two assists, and came to the defense of his teammates during many of the skirmishes on the field.

Vandegriffe, hooked up with Regret, the Comets forward who is playing through a high-ankle sprain, for two goals that brought the fans out out of their seats.

Those goals also broke a 2-2 third-period tie and paved the way to the victory.

"Phillip played the game of his life," Stokic said. "You can't ask for more from a goalkeeper than we got from Phillip tonight. And our defense was amazing - holding Chihuahua to two goals? I don't know if that has happened over the past three seasons.

"Chad is having an unbelievable year, and it's great to see him get two big goals. And Zach is improving every game. He is an important part of our team, and while he is not. 100 percent, he is still Zach Reget. Overall, a win we will celebrate this weekend and get back to work Monday (at practice).

Ejimadu was quick to credit his teammates for the victory

"Our defense was amazing," said Ejimadu, who improved to 6-0-2. "Chad was blocking everything, and those goals were perfect. Chad got the two passes from Zach and put the goal in the back of the net. When we led 3-2, I felt like we were going to win.

"Then, when Chad's second goal made it 4-2, we knew there was a lot of soccer to be played, but that just gave us more confidence." 

Ejimadu then paused, and added, "Do you remember when we talked after we won the I-70 Cup (by beating St. Louis 4-3 at the Family Arena)? I told you I couldn't breathe in the closing minutes of that game.

"Tonight, I couldn't breathe for 60 minutes (chuckling). It was that intense our there - we were brothers and we were not going to be denied."

Reget also scored a goal to give the Comets a 2-1 lead at 13:00 into the second half. Following the goal, he ran to the Comets bench and put on a Leo Gibson No. 14 jersey, to honor the greatest player in Comets history.

"We lost a great coach, player and friend last year when Leo retired, and I wanted our fans to remember what he means to our team and our community," Reget said. "My mom actually made the jersey and we're going to get it to him soon."

Vandegriffe was the last player to leave the field after the emotional win, and he joked, "I don't know what I'm going to say - my brain is scrambled."

He was quick to add, "We played a complete game and got one of the biggest, if not the biggest (regular-season) win in team history. What can you say about Phillip in goal? Amazing. Those two passes from Zach were perfect - I didn't even break stride - and we proved that we can beat the best team in the league.

"It was intense and it got crazy out there and we found a way to win."

Each team scored one time in the opening frame with Kansas City's Nathan Durdle picking up his first career MASL goal with 2:11 to go in the quarter. Ejimadu assisted on the goal.

Chihuahua had an answer for on a Roberto Escalante goal less than a minute later to knot the game at 1-1 after 15 minutes of play.


Reget score the lone goal in the second quarter, on Comets' goalkeeper Ejimadu's second assist of the game to give Kansas City a 2-1 lead at the half.


Ríos converted a shootout opportunity to knot the score at 2-2 with 8:46 left in the third.


Vandegriffe and Reget then hooked up on their back-to-back goals and Lesia Thetsane accounted for the final goal of the game late in the fourth quarter to seal the win for the Comets.
​
"These are the types of games you dream about," Thetsane said. "Everyone contributed and we were able to give our fans something to cheer about. Now, we have to keep playing like this the rest of the season!"

by Bill Althaus

​
Perhaps no player in the history of the storied Grain Valley High School boys basketball program has earned more respect from opposing players than junior guard Eli Herbert.

He set an all-time single-game scoring record with a 44-point performance in a Grain Valley Invitational semifinal win over Fort Osage, and attracted a lot of attention from Jaguar defenders in a 67-57 loss to Blue Springs South in Friday night's championship game.

South guard Chris Ellis asked coach Josh Smith for the assignment of guarding Eli, who finished with 24 hard-earned points.

"Man, Eli scored 24 and I feel like I did a great job guarding him," Ellis said, grinning. "He's a baller. He can play and he can shoot, but I made him work hard for every point he got tonight."

After the game, Ellis was greeted by Eagles coach Andy Herbert, who is Eli's father.

"Now that's class," Ellis said. "For their coach to come over and congratulate me on our win, that is pure class."

As Ellis talked, his teammate Jesiah Fisher stood behind him and mouthed, 'The best!'"

And then gave his teammate a thumb's up."


Eli always draws an opponent's top defender, and he had to work hard just to get the ball against the Jaguars.

"Chris played great defense tonight and they all played a great game," Eli said after his team fell to 8-7 on the season. "It was a physical game, and they collapsed on me. The biggest difference tonight was they played tougher than we did. 

"We had too many turnovers and weren't tough enough when we needed to be."

Smith was thrilled with his team's overall performance as the Jaguars improved to 14-3.

"We just gave Chris a shout out in our locker room," Smith said. "He had a heckuva game. Eli is an unbelievable player. He scored his points - he always does - but we made him work for all of them. Chris just locked him down all night."

Another marquee player for the Jaguars was all-state football star Blayne Marshall, who is quickly becoming an all-state basketball candidate.

"Blayne is a great football player and a great basketball player - he's just a great athlete," the coach added. "We knew Andy's players would make a run at us - which they did - and we always had an answer."

The Jaguars led 33-27 at the half, and then had to deal with Eli's 13-point third quarter, as Grain Valley went into the fourth quarter trailing 48-44.

"You don't stop Eli," Ellis said, "you slow him down, and we able to slow him down in the fourth quarter."

Eli did not score a point in the fourth quarter, and didn't receive much offensive support as no other Eagle scored in double figures.

"We need to get more offense going," Coach Herbert said, "it's something we've worked on all season."

Marshall scored 11 points in the first quarter, foreshadowing his 21-point night.

"Let's talk about Chris," Marshall said, pointing to his teammate. "He wanted that matchup, he wanted to guard Eli, and that set the tone for everyone. We saw how hard he was working, how hard Eli was working, and we knew we had to match their work ethic. This has turned into a great rivalry and we're excited to win the championship for the second year in a row."

Sully Mohamed, South's always-smiling 6-foot-8 center, had his hands full all night going against the Eagles' Kevin Johnson and Sam Pendergrass.

"You better be willing to play hard for 40 minutes when you play Grain Valley," said Mohamed, who scored 10 points and added 11 boards. "Everyone knows what a great player Eli is, and everyone should know what a great player Blayne is. There was a lot of talent on the court tonight and it's cool to win our second consecutive championship.

Cooper Callahan also scored 10 points for the Jaguars.

by Erin Woodiel, Missouri Department of Conservation 


The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites those wishing to get their hunter education certification to attend a skills course offered from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13, at MDC’s Kansas City Regional Office on James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area in Lee’s Summit.

Courses are designed for participants ages 11 and up. Parents are invited to attend with younger participants, though it is not mandatory.

The skills course is the second half of the hunter education certification process. Participants will need to have completed the knowledge portion of certification prior to attending. The online version can be completed for a fee, or participants may complete the chapter review questions in the student Hunter Education manual. Student manuals and access to the online courses can be found on MDC’s website at  https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZCt. Student manuals are also available at any MDC office free of charge. Bring proof of completion to class.

Register for this in-person course at https://mdc-event-web.s3licensing.com/Event/EventDetails/205649.
​
The MDC Kanas City Regional Office is located at 12405 SE Ranson Road in Lee’s Summit. For any questions, contact the office at (816)622-0900.
​

Downtown Grain Valley's Love the District fundraiser returns, raising funds for downtown revitalization and allowing residents and businesses to share a message of love, appreciation, or remembrance. Custom printed hearts are $30 and will be displayed downtown the week of February 10 - 17. 

To order a custom heart, visit: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/2025-love-the-district

by Michael Smith

When wrestlers on the Grain Valley bench cheered, one person’s cheers were noticeably louder than the rest.
Senior Mason Bertrand was the center of attention in Grain Valley’s tri dual against Raytown and William Chrisman. His teammates went into a frenzy after both of his wins in the 175-pound weight class. He pinned Chrisman’s Anthony Loring in 1:46 and edge Raytown’s Adonis Holguin 12-8 as he helped his Grain Valley boys wrestling team take down Chrisman 75-6 and Raytown 57-15 Wednesday at home.

Bertrand had been dealing with a shoulder injury earlier in the season and came into the dual with a 3-12 record. However, he services as a vocal leader in the wrestling room and at any event for Grain Valley.

“He’s an awesome kid. He’s the most personable kid on the team,” Grain Valley head coach Donald Horner said. “Everyone loves Mason. He works his tail off. He’s a fighter. He doesn’t have the best record, but you will never see Mason give up. He is the epitome of what it means to be a fighter.”

Freshman Dalton Burch agreed with his coach.

“Mason is an amazing leader,” Burch said. “He’s a leader in the wrestling room. He is always doing something right. Seeing him win tonight was great for the team.”

Bertrand admitted the dual was his best of the season and he was happy to receive the audible cheers from his teammates and coaches.

“Everything went well for me,” Bertrand said. “Things were clicking. I wrestled the Chrisman kid a few times. I am glad I pulled out the win that time. The match with the Raytown kid was a hard-fought match.
“It meant a lot to me. To hear everyone cheer me felt amazing.”

Not only did Bertrand get his time to shine, but some junior varsity wrestlers also had an opportunity to wrestle at the varsity level with wrestlers like senior Gavin Barker, freshman Brody Davis and junior Zac Bleess being held out by Horner in order to avoid exceeding the match count limit set by the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

Burch (165) was one of those who had an opportunity to wrestle for the varsity team the past two weeks. The freshman pinned Raytown’s Javier Bejarano in just 37 seconds and won by forfeit over Chrisman to finish 2-0.

“I am so grateful that I get the opportunity to wrestle at the higher level,” Burch said. “It’s not only that, but it gets me better and more used to what’s to come.

“I think I wrestled solid. Everything felt smooth. I felt good.”

Fellow freshman Jett Parks (132), the younger brother of Colston Parks, got the same opportunity as Burch. He pinned Raytown’s Michael Battaglia in 3:06 and won by forfeit against the Bears.

“I had down the technique that I wanted to do,” Parks said. “I am the next guy up so it means a lot (to get to compete at a varsity dual).”

After finishing 2-0 in a tri dual against Truman and Ruskin last week, junior Timmy Harris was bumped up from junior varsity again and saw similar success. He edged Chrisman’s Logan Perrin 2-1 and pinned Raytown’s Chace Lindsay.

“I know before the match I was thinking, ‘Man, this kid is big, I don’t know what to do,’” Harris said of his match with Perrin. “When I go out there, I try to stay concentrated and don’t lose focus and work through what I know.”

Other Eagles to finish 2-0 on the day were freshman Brody Jones (113), junior Tyler Jones (120), junior Justin King (126), senior Colston Parks (138), freshman Kobe Hughes (144), junior Chase Brenner (150) and sophomore Brody Braa (157).

Girls
The Grain Valley girls wrestling team split a pair of duals, defeating Raytown 30-27 and falling to Chrisman 30-24.

​All of the Eagles wins came via forfeit. Senior Mackenzie Davis (125), junior Addison Cross (145) and sophomore Lucy Dampf (140) all went 2-0 for the Eagles.

Missouri Republicans consider delaying voter-approved minimum wage hike, paid sick leave

by Rudi Keller, Missouri Independent
February 5, 2025

A bill changing the terms of the Missouri minimum wage law approved by voters four months ago will leave all the promised benefits in place but may delay their implementation, the chairman of a House committee looking at the law said Wednesday.

State Rep. David Casteel, a High Ridge Republican, told members of the House Commerce Committee during a hearing that they will rewrite the several bills seeking to change Proposition A. That process will take time, he said, telling them not to expect a vote at the panel’s regular meeting next week.

“No one in this body is trying to overturn the choice of the people,” Casteel said.

In an interview, Casteel said he’s considering ideas that would delay a minimum wage increase set for Jan. 1, 2026, or the provision requiring most employers to offer paid sick and family leave.

“We’re going to get into the nitty gritty of everything within the bill,” Casteel said. “There’s a lot we don’t like, and there’s a lot we do like, about all the bills that have been and will be presented.”

Republicans who control the legislature must find a sweet spot between the 58% majority who approved Proposition A and the major business groups who opposed the measure and are among the GOP’s most reliable supporters.

Proposition A increased the minimum wage in Missouri to $13.75 an hour on Jan. 1 and $15 an hour next year. In future years, the wage would be adjusted for changes in prices, a provision that has been in state law since 2006. It also requires employers with business receipts greater than $500,000 a year to provide one hour of paid sick and family time for every 30 hours worked.

The paid leave provisions take effect May 1.

On Wednesday, the Commerce Committee held public hearings on two of the five bills on its agenda that would alter aspects of Proposition A.

One of the bills, filed by state Rep. Carolyn Caton, a Republican from Blue Springs, would repeal the inflation adjustment. It would also allow employers to pay workers younger than 20 the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour and exempt all employers with business receipts less than $10 million annually.

“It isn’t that we don’t want to pay people,” Caton said. “We want to pay people well, but we need to do so in a manner that is going to protect our small businesses.”

The other bill, filed by state Rep. Scott Miller, a Republican from St. Charles, would exempt workers under 21 from the state minimum wage and businesses with fewer than 50 employees. It would also allow employers to reduce the final paycheck of anyone who doesn’t give at least two weeks notice before quitting, or any employee who violates the provisions of the employer’s worker handbook.

“If a business is going to be obligated by law to pay a minimum wage, which is, frankly, the government is price-fixing labor, then the government ought to performance-fix the employees,” Miller said.

The campaign to pass Proposition A drew no large-scale opposition prior to the vote. But a court challenge filed in early December by major business advocacy groups asks the Missouri Supreme Court to invalidate the vote. The court has set the case for arguments on March 12.

At the same time, those business groups — Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and industry groups representing retailers, restaurants and grocers — are urging lawmakers to repeal portions or delay their implementation.

“In an ideal world, we would love to roll it all back,” Kara Corches, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said in a recent webinar. “But part of the legislative process, or the sausage making process as we say sometimes, you don’t always get, in the end, what you started with.”

Ron Berry, lobbyist for one of Proposition A’s biggest backers, Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action, said during Wednesday’s hearing that the proposals to exempt businesses with fewer than 50 employees would cover 96% of all private businesses.

Responding to a question about the difficulty employers will have covering the additional cost, Berry said labor isn’t the only thing driving up prices.

“Whether it’s wages or it’s the cost of energy, all of you know inflation is higher, and we’re all having to tighten our belts,” Berry said.

Buddy Lahl, CEO of the Missouri Restaurant Association, told the committee that his members want the exemption threshold raised to 100 employees as well as implementing the $10 million revenue floor.

He also said the sick leave provisions should not allow hours to be carried over from one year to the other.

“It should be a use it or lose it thing,” Lahl said.

Business lobbyists also warned of job losses, or even businesses that won’t survive, if the increased minimum wage stands.

State Rep. Steve Butz, a Democrat from St. Louis, said he didn’t believe that argument, noting that Missouri voters increased the minimum wage twice before without sinking the state’s economy. 

“We’ve had other increases in minimum wage,” Butz said. “We always have been told that it’s going to kill jobs and jobs continue to grow in the state.”

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1904 Map, Original Town. 4 acres, more or less.
Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
 

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society

The City of Grain Valley is currently 6.17 Square miles. My quick calculation revealed that it is approximately 3,948.8 acres or 987 times larger than the original town in 1878. According to city records the population of Grain Valley in 1880 was 80 people. In 2020, the official population was 15,627 or about 196 times larger than 140 years earlier. That kind of puts things in prospective!

The Original town was platted to include 38 lots of varying sizes and stretched North to South from Walnut Street to Harris Street and East to West from Cypress Street to Broadway (now Main Street).
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According to early records from the County Recorder of Deeds at the Jackson County Courthouse in Independence, the early lots were sold to W. B. Bishop, G. C. Browne, R. D. Wood, L M. Harris, J. A, Spindle, J. O. George, Dr. Keener, J. Keshlear, Mell Hulse, M. Bokin, Elisha Moore, Jacob F. Gregg, E. F. Williams, D. M. Majors, H. H. Dean, and the Chicago & Alton Railroad.

The railroad property included Lot 35 plus the “right of way” and the land where the original depot was built. That depot burned in 1920, and the new depot was built further west in the Graves ad Ashcraft Addition. This group included shop owners, a doctor and a few homeowners. (Visit the Historical Society to learn more about Grain Valley’s first citizens.)

Over the years these lots housed a livery stable, a couple of gasoline stations, a small hotel, a lumber yard, a farm supply and feed store, a hardware store, a millinery shop, a tonsorial (barber and bath), a plastics manufacturing company, grocery stores, a marina, restaurants, an ice house, a slaughter house, the depot, and two homes of very prominent residents: the Williams Family and Mr. & Mrs. Loring.   

These lots are currently occupied by two beauty shops, the muffler shop, the car wash, the tattoo parlor, a pet shop, J & M Auto Repair shop, EMIG Racing, and soon to open, a restaurant on Lot 26. I’ve read that the U. S. Post Office was housed in one of the businesses and by 1915, another business housed the telephone office. Of course, the telegraph office was at the depot.

From the beginning, the town had a mayor and council members who came together to vote and voice their opinions. In 1881, they voted to annex the Graves and Ashcroft Addition and the first City Directory was printed. (Grain Valley News, May 23, 2022). Next week I will write about the “west side” of Main Street.
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​Madison Rust
Grain Valley girls basketball

1. Who would you want to be by your side if there was a zombie apocalypse? My teammates, they're warriors.
2. Favorite movie: Christmas Vacation
3. Dream vacation? Alaska
4. Craziest teammate? Cam Kelly
5. Favorite snack? Beef Sticks Chomps

From the Illustrated Atlas of
Jackson County Missouri, 1877
 
by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society

When doing research for my weekly article in Grain Valley News, it is always good to feel the information is accurate. Fortunately, this map is as accurate as we can get. It was printed just one year before Grain Valley became a town, so we know precisely who owned the land in and around our town when it was established on September 5, 1878.

Downtown Grain Valley is about as close as we can be to the center of Section 35.* In the May 19, 2022 issue of this paper, I wrote about James Lucas, the individual that gave 4 acres (more or less) of land to the city of Grain Valley. The information below was copied from the document found at the Recorder of Deeds office at the Jackson County Courthouse in Independence.
 
Know all men by those present that I James F. Lucas of the County of Logan in the State of Illinois do by those present set apart four acres of land located in the County of Jackson and the State of Missouri described as follows, that is to say, commencing fifty-eight feet south of northwest corner of the east quarter of the southwest quarter of Section (35) thirty-five, Township (49) forty-nine, Range 30, hence seven hundred and fifteen feet, hence east four hundred and forty feet, hence south to the railroad hence following the railroad due West one hundred and twenty feet hence south to the southern limits of the town hence West to the place of beginning making in all four acres more or less all of said tract of land situated on the Kansas City-St. Louis and (  ? )  railroad. For the ( ?  ) and purpose and profit of the town of Grain Valley.  The aforesaid town being laid off by Joseph Peters given under my hand and seal this fifty day of September A.D. 1878.  James H Cannon.
 
As I stated at the time, my research revealed that Lucas was a land speculator from Illinois and he never actually lived in Grain Valley. Once the town was established, his surrounding land would have been more valuable. James H. Cannon was the Notary Public who signed the deal. Remember, he had already built a mercantile next to the railroad! It would appear that nearly 150 years ago men were already looking for a great “financial” deal.

A few prominent patrons were listed in the atlas with addresses in Pink Hill or Stony Point. Remember it was 1877; there was no Grain Valley, yet! Those names were T. C. & D R. Broaddus, Jacob Gregg, and A. B. Hiell; all of Stony Point. And from Pink Hill the atlas listed M.L. Hall, B. F. Mitchell and Merrick Herrington (my great-great grandfather).
 
If you look closely, there are many names on the map in Sections 25 through 27 and 34 through 36 that I have written about in previous issues of Grain Valley News. They helped to establish our town which was incorporated on July 11, 1884. Hopefully, you will recognize some of them: Levi Potts, Britton Capelle, Elisha Moore, John Christison, and W. T. Gilliland to name a few. The men I have mentioned still have descendants in the area.  
 
 * A section if land is 640 acres or 1 square mile.
 
You can visit the Grain Valley Historical any Wednesday from 10:00am - 3:00pm and learn more about the families that participated in the democratic process that shaped our town.                                                                                       

Photo credit: David Rainey, Grain Valley News

Photo credit: David Rainey, Grain Valley News

Grain Valley's leading scorer Addy Seyfert hits a long 3-pointer early in the Eagles' 78-31 victory over visiting Raytown. Seyfert finished with 19 points in less than three quarters of play. Photo credit: Bill Althaus

Nicolau Neto stands ready in the goal. Photo credit: David Rainey

From left, junior Timmy Harris, freshman Jett Parks, senior Mason Bertrand and freshman Dalton Burch all finished 2-0 in a tri dual Wednesday at home as the Eagles defeated William Chrisman 75-6 and Raytown 57-15. Photo credit: Michael Smith

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites those wishing to get their hunter education certification to attend a skills course offered from 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13, at MDC’s Kansas City Regional Office on James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area in Lee’s Summit. Photo credit: MDC

Members of the Grain Valley High School basketball team, from left, Chloe Hernandez, Cara McHardie, Avery Lunn, Melanie Marcum and Malaina Green came off the bench and saw plenty of action Monday night as the Eagles defeated Raytown 78-31. With starters playing less than three quarters of the game, coach Randy Draper used 16 players in the victory and each of them scored at least one point. Photo credit: Bill Althaus

Rian Marques works the ball against the Heat defense. Photo credit: David Rainey

Senior Mason Bertrand looks to improve his position on top in his match with Raytown's Adonis Holguin. Photo credit: Michael Smith

The Grain Valley coach and wrestlers stand up and give senior Mason Bertrand an applause following his 12-8 win over Raytown's Adonis Holguin. Photo credit: Michael Smith
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