Vol. 4 No. 51 | December 16, 2021 | www.grainvalleynews.com
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Board passes 2022 budget; City hosts open house for proposed police station The Board of Aldermen met for their final meeting of 2021 on Monday, December 13th, approving the 2022 budget and fee schedule for the city. In other business, the board approved the write off of more than $17,000 in uncollectible and bankrupt utility accounts, and approved a resolution allowing the city to opt into the national settlement related to the opioid epidemic. The board will next meet January 10th. On Tuesday, December 14th, the City hosted an open house to display the
work completed by a resident study group tasked with developing plans for a new police station facility. While the board and mayor remain stymied over the location of the facility, it appears the possibility of an April 2022 bond issue for a new police station will remain on the Board’s agenda in January. Two locations are now being considered: the original site identified behind the Community Center and land adjacent to the city’s Butterfly Trail. Jo Anne Wasson Honeywell, a Ward 1 resident who served on the study group, said her biggest takeaway from their
Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languages in books, movies, and other editorials, and on posters and stamps. DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN it’s so.’ Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus? VIRGINIA O’HANLON. 115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET. VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as
if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished. Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world. You may tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding. No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Yes, Virginia. There is a Santa Claus.
G R A I N VA L L E Y N E W S
Online weekly at www.grainvalleynews.com
work is the current station is not meeting the needs of the officers and is impacting their ability to safely and efficiently do their jobs and recruit new officers. The debate over where to locate the facility is of less concern to her. “It depends on what the community wants. In the end, we need a new police station. We need to make their (the officers) station comfortable and safe so they can do their job efficiently,” Wasson Honeywell said.
Residents viewed two proposed locations and preliminary designs for a new police station d uring an open house event on December 14th. Photo credit: Valley News staff
Candidate filing ends December 28th for April election Candidate filing for the April 5, 2022 municipal election began December 7th. As of December 9th, five candidates have filed: Chuck Johnston - Mayor Rick Knox - Alderman, Ward II Dale Arnold - Alderman, Ward I Ryan Skinner—Alderman, Ward III Chris Bamman—Alderman, Ward I
Good News:
The seats currently occupied by aldermen Bob Headley (Ward III) and Jayci Stratton (Ward I) are both up for election and neither have filed for reelection.. The last day for candidate filing will be Tuesday, December 28th at 5:00pm. Candidates date and time of filing will be recorded and shall appear on the ballot in that order.
Jim Two Crows Wallen Presents a virtual visit from Santa Claus Get in the Christmas spirit with stories from Santa on Thursday, December 23rd from 7:00pm—7:30pm. Registration is required. To enjoy this virtual program, go to our MCPL360 Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mcpl360/ at the scheduled day and time. If you don’t see this program the first time or want to watch it again, visit the MCPL YouTube channel at https:// www.youtube.com/MCPLMO.
Photo credit: MCPL
In This Edition: Looking Back: Advice from 1951
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Business: November Jobs Report
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Sports: Grain Valley wrestling dominates Oak Park 5858 -21
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Cover photo: Grain Valley junior Keegan Hart goes up for a shot. Photo credit: Michael Smith. See page 7 for story.
2 A note to our readers regarding our print edition: When we launched Valley News in 2018, our mission was simple: to affirm a sense of community through our publication, sharing news of interest to Grain Valley citizens, and helping each of us learn more about our neighbors. In order to reach as many people as possible, we provided news at no cost to our readers both online weekly and in print on the first and third weeks of the month. The advertisers and sustaining members you see throughout this publication make this possible. We remain committed to providing free access to fair, comprehensive coverage of issues affecting residents.
In studying readership trends and surveys of our readers, the vast majority access stories online. In order to best leverage the resources we have and continue our coverage of local issues, we have decided to discontinue our print publication at the end of the year. As always, all content included in print editions will remain readily available on our website and new content will be posted each Thursday and when breaking news occurs. We appreciate your readership and support and wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season.
Please Note: Valley News Holiday Break
Our final edition of 2021 will be December 16, 2021.
Valley News will be on holiday break December 17—31st. Our weekly news will resume January 6th.
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy new year!
Police Blotter
Find the police blotter online weekly at www.grainvalleynews.com.
Jackson County to waive online convenience and electronic check fees for property tax payments Jackson County announced that it is once again waiving the online convenience and electronic check (ACH) fees for this year’s property tax payments. The fees will be waived through December 31, 2021 for those who pay their property taxes online through County’s official portal myJacksonCounty. Residents are strongly encouraged to pay online to avoid long wait times in person due to limited staffing at the downtown County Courthouse and Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence. “With the pandemic ongoing, we still have a responsibility to provide a safe way for residents to conduct business with us,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. said. “We know that waiving these fees is an effective way to do that and encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity by making their payment using our contactless and easy online system.” “We have made the decision to waive the $2.00 convenience fee and $1.25 ACH fee within myJacksonCounty to incentivize our residents to pay online,” Whitney Miller, Director of Collection said. “myJacksonCounty is an incredibly user friendly and secure way to pay your property taxes, all without
having to leave the house. Online credit card payments will still incur a 2.75% fee.” How to pay Jackson County property taxes online: Visit payments.jacksongov.org
Create an account or continue as guest
Link account and search by name, address or property account number View and pay your bills
Print or digitally store your receipts
Other contactless payment options: Exterior drop boxes for property tax payments are located at the west door of the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City (415 E. 12th St.) and at the south door of the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence (112 W. Lexington). Taxpayers can also mail their payment to the address on their bill. Payments must be received or USPS postmarked by December 31 to avoid penalty. As a reminder, all County locations and the online payment vendor’s offices will be closed on December 31, 2021 in observation of the New Year.
Looking Back
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Looking Back: Advice from 1951 by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
I’m cheating again this week. Since the Historical Society is all decked out for Christmas, I don’t want to mess it up by digging for new ideas to write about. Also, since this article appeared in The Voice four years ago, many of you have never read it. If you have, it’s worth a “re-read” and it will hopefully put a smile on your face!
While archiving some new “old stuff” at the Historical Society last week, I found in a filing box a 1951 booklet titled Your Household Guide. The foreword provided this information. “This book contains 1001 helpful household hints which have been selected from several hundred Walsworth Bros. Home Recipe Books throughout the nation.” It was published in 1951 by Walsworth Bros., Marceline, Mo. and sold by the ladies of the Grain Valley Methodist Church. Several local businesses had advertisements in the book including Minter’s Food Market, Loring Hardware, Frantz Grocery, E.F. Crull Mercantile Co., R. C. Frantz Petroleum Products, E. A. Ford Mercantile, and Grain Valley Grain Company. From the table of contents, one could quickly see that this guide covered about every topic of “advice” you would ever need to know from Baking and Birthstones to Gardening, Postal Rates, and State Capitals. You should come by the Historical Society some Wednesday, enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and read through some of the great tips and time savers in the book!
• Plant radish and cucumber seeds together to keep bug off cucumbers!
In case you haven’t saved enough time to make it by before Christmas, I would like to share a few of the great tips from 1951.
And if you are thinking of doing some
• When painting indoors, slip a pair of old socks over your shoes. If paint drops on floor, just “skate” it up. Saves stooping. • Red ants can be kept out of the pantry if a small quantity of green sage is placed on the shelves. • To whiten laces, wash them is sour milk. • A little vinegar added to water in which you rinse silk stockings will increase their elasticity and make them practically run proof! • To catch mice, place a gumdrop in the trap, instead of bacon or cheese. When the mouse goes to eat the gumdrop his or her teeth gets stuck and causes the trap to go off. • If a fish bone becomes stuck in the throat, eat a lemon or part of one as soon as possible. The lemon juice will cause the bone to dissolve. • Wax the snow shovel to prevent snow from sticking to it. This makes shoveling much easier.
baking for Christmas... • To keep cookies fresh and crisp in a jar, place a crumpled tissue paper in the bottom. • Set pies and cobblers on a rack to cool and the bottom crust will not be soggy. • When bread is baking, a small dish of water in the oven will help to keep the crust from getting hard. • An easy way to chop nuts, place in a cloth bag and roll with a rolling pin. There was some fairly outdated and laughable advice like “jot down the important things you want to say on a long distance call, and it will prevent all that humming and hawing that cost money.” On the other hand, I found many good ideas! Is there something “historical” you would like to know about Grain Valley? Send me an email and I will be happy to try and answer your request. Happy Holidays! Marty
Grain Valley News is a free community paper, published weekly on Thursdays online at www.grainvalleynews.com and on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month in print. Cory Unrein | Co-Owner/Publisher John Unrein | Co-Owner/Production Manager Cathy Allie | Staff Writer, Proofreader John Overstreet | Contributing Photographer
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Business
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Lindsey among 26 graduates of Leadership Missouri Tasha Lindsey, Executive Director of the Grain Valley Partnership, recently graduated from the Missouri Chamber’s Leadership Missouri program. In a ceremony on December 9, the 2021 class of Leadership Missouri graduated 26 leaders from organizations across the state. The class spent the previous seven months traveling across Missouri, networking with peers and learning about challenges and opportunities facing our state. The celebration also marked the completion of the 30th class of the Leadership Missouri program. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry founded the program in 1990
and has hosted classes each year — with the 2020 program postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I would like to congratulate all of our Leadership Missouri graduates. It’s been a great experience to work with these very talented leaders from across Missouri and help grow their potential to Missouri move forward,” Daniel P. Mehan, president and CEO, Missouri Chamber said. “We designed Leadership Missouri to elevate the talent of our state’s leadership pool and establish a forum for sharing ideas and best practices. Over the past 30 years, all of our expectations for this program have been met — and more.”
November Jobs Report
Missouri non-farm payroll employment increased from October 2021 to November 2021, and the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point. Employment, seasonally adjusted, increased by 7,600 jobs over the month, with job gains in both the goods-producing and serviceproviding industries. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in November 2021, down from 3.7 percent in October 2021. Missouri’s recovery continued with an increase of 73,300 jobs from November 2020 to November 2021. Missouri’s smoothed seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased by two-tenths of a percentage point in November 2021, dropping to 3.5 percent from the October 2021 rate of 3.7 percent. The November 2021 rate was 1.2 percentage points lower than the November 2020 rate. The national unemployment rate decreased from 4.6 percent in October 2021 to 4.2 percent in November 2021. The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 108,380 in November 2021, down by 6,150 from October’s 114,530. The state’s not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate also decreased in November 2021, dropping by two-tenths of a percentage point to 2.6 percent from the October 2021 not-seasonallyadjusted rate of 2.8 percent. The corresponding not-seasonally-adjusted
national rate for November 2021 was 3.9 percent. Missouri’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment was 2,863,300 in November 2021, up by 7,600 from the revised October 2021 figure. The October 2021 total was revised upward by 4,200 from the preliminary estimate, producing a revised increase of 7,700 jobs from September 2021 to October 2021 and a revised increase of 76,500 jobs from October 2020 to October 2021. Goods-producing industries gained 500 jobs over the month. Manufacturing declined by 2,900 jobs. Serviceproviding industries gained 7,100 jobs between October and November 2021, with increases in professional & business services (+3,100 jobs); trade, transportation and utilities (+3,000 jobs); and leisure & hospitality (+1,600 jobs). Government employment showed a loss of 400 jobs over the month. Missouri’s seasonally adjusted rate had reached a low of 3.1 percent starting in August 2018, before gradually edging up to 3.5 percent by the end of 2019, and then to 3.7 percent in March 2020. In April the rate spiked to 12.5 percent. The rate decreased monthly for the rest of 2020, reaching 4.4 percent in December, and continued gradually downward through the first four months of 2021. A year ago, the state’s seasonally adjusted rate was 4.7 percent, and the not-adjusted rate was 4.2 percent.
Truman Heartland Community Foundation announces new board members Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) will welcome three new members to the Board of Directors: Joe Mullins, consultant for the University of Central Missouri’s Center for Workforce and Professional Education; Dr. Beth Rosemergey, a family medicine doctor affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Truman Medical Center-Hospital Hill and -Lakewood; and Dr. Jason Snodgrass, Superintendent at Fort Osage School District. These individuals will bring their expertise to the Board beginning January 1, 2022. In 2022, Karen Schuler, Director of Community Engagement at United Way of Greater Kansas City, will take on the role of Board Chair. Jeff Walters, Chief Financial Officer at Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co., will move into the Vice-Chair role. Bret Kolman, Chief Executive Officer at Centerpoint Medical Center of Independence, will be the Board Treasurer and Chair of the THCF Finance Committee. Lynette Wheeler, Chief Operating Officer at Truman Medical Center-Lakewood, will be Secretary. Steve Potter, Library
Director and Chief Executive Officer for Mid-Continent Public Library, remains on the Executive Committee as Past Chair and will Chair the THCF Audit Committee. The THCF Board adopts sound management policies and serves as a fiduciary of the organization’s assets. Beyond fulfilling legal duties, THCF Board Members are an essential resource for the organization. Members play a significant role in contributing to the organization’s culture, strategic focus, effectiveness, and financial sustainability and serving as ambassadors and advocates. Truman Heartland Community Foundation is a public charity committed to improving area communities by promoting and serving private giving for the public good. Founded in 1982, THCF serves the region with assets of more than $72 million and annual grants surpassing $5.3 million. For more information on charitable giving, visit www.thcf.org or call THCF at 816-836-8189.
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Your Health Plants on your plate: acorn squash
by Denise Sullivan, Nutrition and Health Education Specialist, University of Missouri Extension
As you begin planning the next special menu in the holiday line-up, acorn squash is a vegetable that is worth considering as an addition on your table. While not as common as the traditional sweet potato, the similar color, flavor, and texture of acorn squash can make a great mix-in with sweet potatoes or stand on its own in a variety of preparations. This is yet another vegetable that I didn’t learn to appreciate until I was an adult, once again demonstrating that our tastebuds are always evolving. Acorn squash is another member of the Curcurbitaceae plant family, which are related to cucumbers, gourds, and melons. The main difference between summer and winter squash is the state of maturity at harvest. While summer squash is harvested while immature with a tender skin, winter squash is allowed to fully mature and develop a hard rind. The hard rind retains moisture and allows the squash to be stored for several months in cool, dry conditions. Archaeologists have long considered that squash is one of the oldest known food crops, having found evidence that squash varieties were grown by early civilizations thousands of years ago.
Many of the types of squash we know as winter squash are believed to have originated in the Andes mountains, then on through Central American and Mexico and eventually to the United States. Historical documents indicate that squash was served at the first Thanksgiving dinner between Pilgrims and Native Americans at Plymouth Colony in 1621. Though botanically classified as a fruit, acorn squash is more commonly recognized as a starchy vegetable, thus it is prepared similarly to vegetables like butternut squash and sweet potatoes. The most common variety of acorn squash has a variegated green and orange rind, but they can also be variegated green and cream, orange or even white. All varieties will reveal a golden flesh inside. When selecting squash, look for those that are free from blemishes, have hard, dull skins and are heavy for their size. Acorn squash is a rich source of vitamins A, C, numerous B vitamins, minerals including manganese, magnesium, and potassium and both soluble and insoluble fiber. These nutrients are shown to be beneficial in eye, skin, and gut health, as well as the prevention and management of chronic diseases like hypertension, heart
New Year’s Eve Appetizers by Tara Sallee, MS, RD, LD , Hy-Vee Corporate Dietitian
No matter how you celebrate, your favorite foods often appear this time of year. Here are a few tips to help you navigate New Year’s Eve gatherings while sticking to your health goals! Plan Ahead While you can’t control for everything, having a plan can help you stay on track and stick to your goals. Don’t skip meals in anticipation of a gathering but try eating a healthy snack with a good source of fiber to fill you and protein to sustain you. Bring a healthy dish to share when invited to parties, and take inventory of the buffet prior to filling your plate so you can choose where you want to indulge in and where you can cut back.
Build in Activity Stay active by carving out time to move despite hectic schedules. Physical activity can help make up for increased holiday portions and can reduce stress levels. Try creating new family traditions like going on a family walk or hike. Mindful and Moderate Be careful to not fall into party grazing. Calories can add up quickly when we are grabbing bites here and there. Instead, eat from a plate, be mindful in your choices using portion control and, if you slip up, get right back with healthy eating at your next meal. Lighten up your next gathering with holiday fare that is full of nutrition and flavor! Try these party-ready appetizers to ring in the New Year.
disease and even certain cancers. The neutral flavor of acorn squash lends itself well for a variety of preparation methods. The unique fluted shape can be accentuated by cutting the squash crosswise in one-inch slices and removing the seeds in each slice, then lightly drizzling with vegetable oil, and seasoning with herbs before baking. They can also be cut in half and baked without any seasoning, then scooping and pureeing the cooked squash to be used in baked goods like muffins. Baked pureed squash can also be frozen for later use. With their natural ‘bowl’ shape when cut in half (and the seeds removed) stuffing squash with either a sweet filling like apples or savory meat filling is a common practice. When caramelized in the heat of the oven, the natural sweetness of the juice and honey in the recipe below makes a delicious finish to simple dish. Oh…and don’t forget that you can roast the seeds just like pumpkin seeds for a healthy snack!
Honey Orange Acorn Squash (makes 6 servings)
3 small acorn squashes 2 Tablespoons orange juice 2 Tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons butter, melted ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon ground ginger Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 2. Cut squash in half. Remove seeds and place halves in shallow baking pan. 3. Combine orange juice, honey and butter and mix well. Divide the mixture (about one tablespoon each) among each squash half. Sprinkle with ginger. 4. Cover pan with aluminum foil to keep steam in and speed cooking. 5. Bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking 30 minutes more, or until squash is tender and slightly browned. Nutrition information: information Calories: 144, Total Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 34mg, Carbohydrates: 29g, Fiber: 3g, Protein: 2g Recipe adapted from MyPlate Kitchen, analyzed by verywellfit.com extension.missouri.edu/counties/urbanwest-region
Denise Sullivan is a Nutrition and Health Education Specialist for MU Extension in the Urban West Region, serving Jackson and Platte Counties. Crostini with White Bean Spread and Beef Tenderloin
Mini Taco Cups
All you need: 1 (14oz) can white beans, rinsed and drained 1 clove garlic 1 tbsp Hy-Vee select olive oil, plus additional for brushing 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley Sea salt and freshly cracked Hy-Vee black pepper to taste 1 lbs beef tenderloin Crackers or lightly–toasted Take & Bake French baguettes for serving
Taco Cups
All you do: To make white bean spread, place beans, garlic, olive oil and parsley in a food processor and process until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. To prepare steak, pat dry with paper towels, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill steaks to preferred doneness and thinly slice. Spread bean spread on crackers or toasted bread slices. Top with sliced beef. Brush with olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper.
All you need:
1 Hy-Vee large egg ½ cup finely chopped yellow onion 1 (1.25-oz.) packet Hy-Vee taco seasoning 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 lb lean ground beef Hy-Vee canola oil, as needed 20 wonton wrappers
Optional Toppings
Hy-Vee taco sauce Hy-Vee sour cream Hy-Vee finely shredded Mexican cheese Jalapenos, sliced Tomatoes, chopped Red onion, chopped All you do: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl, combine egg, onion, taco seasoning and garlic. Add beef and mix well. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls. Place meatballs on a baking sheet and bake 20 to 30 minutes or until internal temperature of beef reaches 160 degrees. Meanwhile, brush wonton wrappers with vegetable oil, then nestle into nonstick mini muffin tin cups. Bake cups until crisp and golden brown, about 6 minutes. Place a meatball in each wonton cup and garnish with desired toppings.
Education
6 Welle named Superintendent of Schools The Grain Valley Board of Education has named Dr. Brad Welle as Superintendent of Schools effective July 1, 2022. This decision follows the announcement from current superintendent Dr. Marc Snow last month that he will retire effective June 30 following 5 ½ years as superintendent and 21 years in the district overall. Welle has served as a school or district leader in Grain Valley for 14 years, having first served as the principal of Sni-A-Bar Elementary from 2007-2011 before being named assistant superintendent for academic and student services in 2011, and then deputy superintendent for student and
community services in 2016. This year marks Welle’s 29th in public education overall. Prior to Grain Valley, Welle was with Liberty Public Schools for 15 years, serving as a paraprofessional and then social studies teacher at Liberty Middle School, then assistant principal at Franklin Elementary and Manor Hill Elementary, followed by principal for the opening of two new schools, Shoal Creek Elementary and Warren Hills Elementary. In a district email, Welle said, “It has been a great pleasure serving our school community the past 14 years and I am humbled by the opportunity to serve as superintendent. We have a remarkable
team of educators and support staff who consistently put kids first. I have no doubt we can overcome any challenge as a school community to ensure student success and excel." "Dr. Welle has much knowledge of our school culture and community. We are very pleased he has accepted the role of Superintendent of Schools for Grain Valley," Board President Eddie Saffell said.
Dr. Brad Welle has been named Superintendent of Schools effective July 1, 2022. Photo credit: Grain Valley Schools THEME: Winter Fun ACROSS 1. Rope fiber 5. Mai ____ 8. Russia's Terrible one, e.g. 12. "What ____ Happened to Baby Jane?" 13. Tattled 14. Actress Reed 15. Internet share-able 16. Inwardly 17. Black tropical hardwood 18. *Winged impression in winter 20. Home of the Hawkeyes 21. Investigative report 22. Chicken or this? 23. Not dense 26. Early-day supercontinent 30. Afternoon shut-eye 31. Even though 34. Picture on a coat 35. Anti-seniors sentiment 37. Jean of Dadaism 38. Crewneck alternative 39. Half-man, half-goat 40. Arm cover 42. Victoria Beckham ____ Adams 43. Lacking sense of moral standards 45. Flying high 47. Often part of disguise 48. Queen-like 50. Wood file 52. *____ ____ Plunge 56. Secret stash 57. Damien's prediction 58. Not at work 59. Opposite of cation 60. Abbreviated seconds 61. Precedes stated rank 62. Moon pull 63. *Like toddy or cocoa 64. Trans-Siberian Railroad city
DOWN 1. Shortens pants 2. Like fair share 3. Short for memorandum 4. Antebellum 5. Polynesian kingdom 6. Ten-pin establishment 7. Bucolic poem 8. *Ride on runners 9. *Winter building material 10. Tolstoy's Karenina 11. R&B Charles 13. *Glittery decor 14. Condescend 19. Indian black tea 22. Nibble 23. Big mess 24. Like a Druid, e.g. 25. Celery, technically 26. *Snowman's corn cob accessory 27. Are not 28. Wedding singer, e.g. 29. Questioned 32. *Snow____, ammunition 33. *"But I heard him exclaim, ____ he drove out of sight..." 36. *Winter walking aid 38. Type of consonant 40. Actors' grp. 41. a.k.a. strict vegetarians 44. Mature, as in fruit 46. Like Silas of "The Da Vinci Code" 48. Young Montague 49. Decide at the polls 50. Jasmine of "Aladdin" 51. Turns blue litmus red 52. #42 Across, once 53. Cheese from Netherlands 54. Contributions to the poor 55. Stink to high heaven 56. *Arctic ____, snowmobile brand
Sports
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Grain Valley takes fourth at home tournament by Michael Smith
The 2021-22 Grain Valley boys basketball team has a different look than last season’s squad. Last year, the Eagles centered their offense around 6-foot-6 forward Cole Keller, who often dominated the paint and would kick it out to teammates for open looks from the perimeter. This season, the Eagles don’t have a dominant big man that can do what Keller did, so head coach Andy Herbert has had to adjust his offense to involve more motion, cuts and screens to get shooters open. That formula worked at times against Platte County Friday night on the road. The Eagles’ 3-point shooting helped them make a late comeback against the Pirates, but it wasn’t enough in a 63-60 loss. “I am proud of our guys,” Herbert said. “It would have been easy to fold up and go away but we stayed resilient. We were down double digits multiple times, and we found a way to get back in the game.” “We had a focal point in the middle last year. Alex (Snyder) and Rhylan (Alcanter) are doing a good job there. We are going to have to make threes. That’s going to have to be part of who we are
to win games.” The Eagles (1-2) had a chance to tie it in the final 15 seconds when they were down 63-60. Platte County heavily defended the 3-point line, which made it difficult for Grain Valley to get an open look. Senior Nick Hooper then got a sliver of space on the right wing and took a shot from the outside, but it was partially blocked by a Pirate defender as time expired. Grain Valley got off to a good start as it led 7-2 early in the first period. However, Pirate senior Jarrett Mueller helped his team tie it 17-all to end the quarter after he exploded for 10 points including two 3-pointers. Platte County started to pull away in the second period as it shot 5-for-9 from the 3-point line while swinging the ball around the perimeter using precision passing and off-ball movement to get open shots. Senior Jace Trimble led the Pirates in that quarter with eight points. They led 3827 at one point but Grain Valley junior Avery Garmon found Alcanter under the basket for a layup to cut the lead to 3829 at halftime. “They were speeding us up and we were playing at their pace,” Garmon said.
“We just have to remember to play at our pace and play our style of basketball.” The Eagles started to make a comeback in the third quarter after starting on a 12-7 run to cut the Pirate advantage to 45-41 following a Garmon 3 -pointer. However, four costly turnovers for the Eagles were created by an aggressive Pirate defense that got into passing lanes for steals helped them push the lead back up to 53-45 by quarter’s end. ‘They take calculated risks defensively,” Herbert said of Platte County. “They are smart about when they do that.” “We were a little careless with the ball, especially in the first half, but a lot of that had to do with (Platte County’s) defense.” In the fourth, Grain Valley slowly chipped away at the lead. Garmon hit a 3 -pointer and junior Owen Herbert had two of his own, both of which came late with the last one cutting the Pirate lead to 62-60. Eli Nelson hit 1 of 2 free throws to make it 63-60 and the Eagles were unable to tie it and send the game to overtime. Garmon helped keep his team in it
Grain Valley junior Rhylan Alcanter shoots a layup over a Pirate defender. Photo credit: Michael Smith with a game-high 22 points, which included five 3-point baskets. Herbert added 11 points, including two clutch 3pointers and Snyder gave Grain Valley some interior presence by getting some baskets inside and chipping in with 10 points. “In warmups, my shot felt like it was the worst out of the three games,” Garmon said. “I got out and made the first one and I was like, ‘Alright. That one felt pretty nice.’ Coach has been talking a lot to me about confidence, and I was confident tonight.”
Grain Valley wrestling dominates Oak Park 58-21 by Michael Smith Grain Valley lost two of its best wrestlers to graduation from the 202021 season, including state champion Hunter Newsom. In that season, Grain Valley was a solid team, qualifying five wrestlers for the state tournament. And even after losing two high-quality wrestlers, it looks like Grain Valley could meet or exceed the success it has last season. In their first dual of the season, it doesn’t appear that the Eagles have lost a beat. Grain Valley got five pins as a team and cruised to a 58-21 victory against Suburban Middle Six Conference for Oak Park Wednesday at home. “I was really happy,” Grain Valley coach Jeff Bowman said. “When you look at what Oak Park did to us last year, it was really bad. Today, the tables were turned.” “There are still a lot of things we need to work on. Our first move off the
whistle, especially from bottom, is not satisfactory. On top, we are waiting for guys’ reactions before even doing anything.” Andrew Czeschin (285) was one Grain Valley wrestler that waited for his opponent to do anything. He got a quick takedown and pinned Ever Melendez in 25 seconds in his first year as a full-time varsity competitor. Last season, he got a little bit of varsity experience when heavyweight Donovan McBride was out with an injury. This year, Czeschin is getting his opportunity to make an impact for the Eagles. “I went to a snapdown. I was trying to move to a shot, but I couldn’t get down far enough,” Czeschin said. “I tried to go for a cradle, but my arms are honestly too short, so I just rolled him with a half (nelson).” Brock Smith (120) was another Eagle
to get a pin. He just missed out on going to the state tournament last season when he lost to Van Horn’s Ethan Moses 4-2 in the third-place match. He’s hoping to get there this season and he looked capable of doing that in his match with Anthony Cherco. He used an armbar to roll over his opponent into a pin that he got in 3:29. “I used a power half with my legs. It’s something we work on every day in the room,” Smith said. “Being able to use it shows how hard we practice in the room.” “I was feeling him out a little bit. I knew what he was going to do. I knew if I could stay clear of his two and ones, the match was mine.” Kollin Hanshuld (!38) also got an impressive victory for Grain Valley. He overcame a 5-2 deficit against Cole Counts-Davis, by getting a reversal and a pin in the third period.
“I noticed halfway through the match that the guy was getting tired,” Hanshuld said. “I used that to my advantage. I waited it out and played it safe and then eventually do what I needed to do.” Dru Azcona (126) got a pin against Jamison Tunstill in 4:35; Tyler Groves (132) earned a fall against Adrian Aguirre in 2:44; Tanner Barker (152) controlled his match from start to finish in a 18-4 major decision vs. Brent Compton; Evan Reich (160) won by forfeit; and Aven Aumua (195), Colston Parks (106) and Gavin Parks (113) won by forfeit for the Eagles. For Oak Park, Paul Hernandez (182) and Josh Gant (220) earned pins; Jacob Wooten (145) won by forfeit; and Karl Knaack earned a 7-1 victory against Jace Worthington.
Solution to this week’ week’s puzzle.
Community Calendar December 18, 2021
Discover Nature: Nature Film Festival 9:00am—11:00am Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center Join us once again for an end of the year film festival! We are featuring wonderful fish, forests and wildlife found right here in Missouri. Sit back and enjoy these spectacular films. No registration required (all ages). www.mdc.mo.gov Discover Nature: Rockin’ Rockin’ & Readin’ Readin’ Nature Tales 11:00am—Noon Burr Oak Woods Conservation Nature Center Join us for story hour as we lead you on fantastic nature adventures! www.mdc.mo.gov
December 20, 2021— 2021— January 2, 2022
Grain Valley Schools— Schools—Holiday Break
December 21, 2021
Celebrate the Winter Solstice with Mr. Stinky Feet 10:00am—10:45am Let's rock 'n roll and shake off our cabin fever! To enjoy this virtual program, go to our MCPL360 Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mcpl360/ at the scheduled day and time.
Frosty Morning: Sounds of Christmas 7:00pm—7:45pm Get into the spirit of Christmas as Frosty Morning presents a collection of holiday favorites on Hammered Dulcimer and Guitar. Registration is required. To enjoy this virtual program, go to our MCPL360 Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/mcpl360 at the scheduled day and time.
December 21, 2021
Mad Science Holiday Show December 22, 2021 4:00pm—4:45pm Celebrate the season with Mad Science! Students will visit Santa Eggbert, defrost a snowman, and watch bubbling bubbles of fun in this wacky holiday adventure. Program registration will close 30 minutes prior to the start of the program. Participants will be emailed a Zoom access code 15 minutes before the start of the program. So please include your email in the registration. Please note: You must sign into the room prior to the start of the program. Admittance to the classroom will close five minutes after the program's start time. Space is limited.
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