May 9, 2019
Valley News www.grainvalleynews.com
Small Business Week Honors Those Who Take The Leap Starting and building a small business takes more than a good idea and the finances to make it happen. The courage to make the leap and trust in yourself is equally important, according to several local business owners. Celebrating those small business owners and the impact they have on local economies has been the focus of this week’s National Small Business Week. National Small Business Week, hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration, is an annual event that honors the nation’s top small businesses, entrepreneurs, and business advocates. President Donald Trump in his proclamation declaring May 5 – 11, 2019, as National Small Business Week stated, “America’s 30 million small businesses are central to our economy and our communities. Their courageous innovation makes our cities and towns vibrant places to live, work, and raise families. Small businesses employ
almost 59 million workers, more than one -third of our country’s labor force.” He added, “This week, we celebrate the pioneering spirit, creativity, and determination upon which America has always been built. This undaunted conviction drives our entrepreneurs and small business owners, whose hard work and perseverance give our Nation economic strength.” “This isn't just about supporting our small businesses, it is about celebrating the small business owners’ dreams, their courage to take that leap of faith and their determination to succeed. The small business owner is the backbone of our local economy, they are the catalysts of making our growing community better, and they are the ones whose visions inspire others,” Tasha Lindsay, Executive Director of the Grain Valley Partnership, said. Seeing a vision come to life is not only
see BUSINESS on page 4
Vol. 2, No. 19
FREE
A Tribute To Our Wise and Patient Moms by Cory Unrein
There’s something about becoming a parent that gives you an even greater appreciation for your own parents. As a mom of two teenage The author and her daughters, ever patient mother. there is rarely a Photo credit: Unknown day that goes TG&Y photographer by that I don’t circa 1977. marvel at my mother’s patience. Some days my only solace between the eye rolling and door slamming is knowing that my girls will also one day come to the realization that
Wayne’s World
their mom is not quite as dumb as they thought she was when they were knowit-all teens. This weekend, mothers across the country will be celebrated and retailers have ensured that there will be plenty of flowers, perfume, and Roombas to go around. My favorite Mother’s Day memory is my youngest asking me what I was making for breakfast so she could bring it to me in bed. Her heart was in the right place. Valley News recently asked residents to share some stories about their moms. We received a number of great submissions and wanted to share just a few. Sheila Arnold recalled that even though her mother was a small woman, at just five feet tall, she could command attention.
see MOM on page 3
Local Pastor Incarcerated For Weed by Wayne Geiger
“We better cut the grass,” my wife said with a concerned voice, “We’re going to get cited by the city for all those dandelions!” Generally, when my wife says “we” what she means is, “me”. I wasn’t being defiant or lazy. It had been raining for forty days and forty nights—or at least it felt that way. I was drawing up plans to build an ark.
Although my yard was completely saturated, the dandelions stood triumphantly as if to proclaim, “We will survive.” And indeed, they do. Every year I vehemently mow them down, but in Arnold-like-terminator fashion, I hear them mocking me saying “I’ll be back.” And, about a half-hour later, they proclaim, “We’re back.”
Have you ever wondered who was the first one to cut their grass and say, “Hey, that looks nice?” As it turns out, a well-manicured lawn can be traced back to European aristocracy. They kept the land around their castles clear of trees so the soldiers could easily spot potential intruders. In fact, the word lawn comes from the Middle English word launde,
Good News
Graduating Seniors Awarded $155,000 in Scholarships
Fifty--nine Grain Valley High School Class of 2019 seniors receiving scholarships were honored at a reception Fifty May 6th. $155,000 in scholarship funding has been awarded to the senior class. Photo credit: Grain Valley Schools
which meant a “glade or opening in the woods.” By the late 17th century, closely-cut grass lawns began to appear on the grounds of the wealthy, and the idea caught on. I’m guessing their name was Jones, as we’ve been trying to keep up with the Jones’s ever since. Playfully, I wanted to argue with my
see WEED on page 6
Local News
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Police Blotter
The following information is derived from the Grain Valley Police Department daily calls for service log for the week of April 24-30, 2019.
Remaining Issues of 2019 Legislative Session The end of the 2019 legislative session is fast approaching. With a constitutional deadline of May 17, members of the Missouri General Assembly have less than two weeks to get their legislative priorities across the finish line and to the governor’s desk. While that deadline nears, there are still several important pieces of economic development legislation for the Legislature to consider. I sponsored Senate Bill 182, which works to end the economic border war with Kansas. This bill prevents certain tax incentives from being offered to businesses that relocate from Kansas border counties to the Kansas City metropolitan area. Without this ban, companies will continue to be able to take advantage of these valuable incentives for simply relocating a matter of miles or, in some cases, blocks. This policy has already cost Missouri $151 million over the past decade without creating any net new jobs. By passing SB 182, I believe we are showing our commitment to real, sustained job growth and economic development. This bill is awaiting a conference committee to work out differences between the bill’s House and Senate versions. Another bill I am ushering through the legislative process is House Bill 255. This bill, in part, modifies the Missouri Works Program, one of the state’s top tools for incentivizing job expansion and retention by providing qualified businesses access to capital through withholdings or tax credits. House Bill 255 seeks to keep the Missouri Works Program competitive with other states by allowing it to offer more upfront incentives to projects that have a positive economic impact. Other states are already doing this, and I believe these changes will give the Missouri Works Program the flexibility it needs to better help Missouri businesses grow and succeed. House Bill 255 is similar to my Senate Bill 56. Regardless of which bill makes its way to the governor’s desk, I am cautiously optimistic that the idea of keeping our economic development programs competitive will pass the Missouri General Assembly. Another economic development bill is House Bill 225, which creates the Fast-Track Workforce Incentive Grant program. This scholarship program intends to help eligible adults further their education to ensure they have the qualifications needed to fill the high-in-demand jobs in today’s technology-driven economy. Ultimately, HB 225 will help prepare the next generation of Missouri workers for good paying jobs that are needed now and in the near future. House Bill 225 is on the Senate’s informal calendar for House bills on third reading. There is another bill that has gotten quite a bit of attention as it has moved through the Legislature this year. House Bill 1062 specifies that a private entity does not have the power of eminent domain for constructing high-voltage, direct current electric lines that do not service this state. This legislation stems from the issues surrounding the Grain Belt Express line which plans to supply wind power from Kansas to Indiana and further east, by going through Missouri and Illinois. House Bill 1062 is seen as a way to protect landowners from having their property taken through the use of eminent domain for this project. I am sympathetic toward the concerns of property owners regarding this issue. I believe there should be a high threshold for the use of eminent domain, and I am not completely convinced the Grain Belt Express project meets that threshold. After being voted out of the Senate’s Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment Committee, HB 1062 now heads to the Senate floor for further debate. While the end of session is approaching, I am optimistic that we can get most of these bills passed out of the Missouri General Assembly and keep our state moving in the right direction economically. Please feel free to contact my office in Jefferson City at (573) 751-1464. For information about committees or sponsored legislation for the 2019 session, please visit my official Missouri Senate website at senate.mo.gov/Cierpiot.
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April 24, 2019 700 Block Main Street 300 Block Woodbury 100 Block Eagles Parkway 600 Block Cross Creek 700 Block Main Street
Stealing Abandoned Auto Stolen Auto Standby to Prevent Citizen Contact
April 25, 2019 600 Block Cross Creek 700 Block Brome 1200 Block Sawgrass 700 Block Main Street 600 Block Montana Ridge EPW/Kirby AA/Jackie Centurion/Stockman 500 Block Hickory Ridge 700 Block Main Street
Check the Welfare Disturbance Checkk the Welfare Citizen Contact Check the Welfare Vehicle Accident Area Check Area Check Check the Welfare Citizen Contact
April 26, 2019 1400 Block Burr Oak 300 Block Front Street 500 Block Main Street 400 Block Orion 1400 Block Burr Oak 200 Block Harris 40/Sni A Bar 1000 Block Willow Drive 700 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street McDonalds 400 Block Main Street 600 Block Muriel 1000 Block Dean
Suspicious Activity Citizen Contact Area Check Area Check Area Check Citizen Contact Area Check Parking Complaint Harassment Agency Assist (P&P) Suspicious Activity Vandalisim Area Check Agency Assist (CJC)
April 27, 2019 BB/I70 1300 Block Stoney Brook 1200 Block NW Ashley 700 Block Main Street 200 Block Jefferson
Area Check Vehicle Accident Agency Assist (BSPD) Assault Assault
1200 Block Eagles Parkway 1200 Block NW Pamela 1100 Block Buckner Tarsney 1100 Block Golfview Drive 500 Block Centurion Court Bucker Tarsney/Jefferson Camping World
Citizen Contact Area Check Citizen Contact Animal at Large Animal at Large Vehicle Accident Alarm
April 28, 2019 700 Block Logan Drive 600 Block BB 1400 Block Golfview Hudson Street, Buckner 100 Block Buckner Tarsney
Alarm Suspicious Auto Stealing Agency Assist (BSPD) Stealing
April 29, 2019 600 Block Nicholas EB I70/Grain Valley Exit 1200 Block Pamela 1400 Block Mary Court 700 Block Main Street RD Mize/Meadow Main Street/40 Highway 700 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street 700 Block Main Street Main/McQuerry 400 Block Orion 700 Block Main Street
Suspicious Auto Vehicle Accident Suspicious Activity Alarm Vandalisim Area Check Area Check Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Citizen Contact Vehicle Accident Citizen Contact Stealing
April 30, 2019 900 Block Stonebrook McQuerry/Wolf Circle 40/Barr Wolfcreek/Seymour 500 Block Woodbury 1300 Block Lindenwood
Check the Welfare Flooding Vehicle Accident Citizen Contact Vehicle Accident Alarm
Additional calls for service: Suicidal subject – 6 Domestic Violence – 3
Valley News
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 Diana Luppens, Switch Focus Studios | Contributing Photographer John Overstreet | Contributing Photographer
Mail: PO Box 2972 Grain Valley MO 64029 Phone: 816.809.7984 Email: news@grainvalleynews.com Sign up for our weekly emails and join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @grainvalleynews).
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Page 3
Looking Back: The Oldest Schools by Marcia Napier Grain Valley Historical Society
The oldest recorded Grain Valley School was Capelle School so named for the landowners. Britton and his wife, Sarah (Clayton) Capelle immigrated to Jackson County from Simpson County, Kentucky in the fall of 1839. The Capelle School was built on land leased from the Capelle’s 460-acre farm located in Township 49 N, Range 30 W, section 34 near the present site of the East Kansas City Airport. The second site was on property purchased in 1877 from Mason and Emma Lobb for $75. The 1904 Atlas shows a school slightly west of the first school, however, it could have been the same building. Unfortunately, the Atlas only identifies the school locations, but no school names are given. Also, neither school appears on property owned by the Lobbs. Research into previous articles about the Grain Valley Schools states that the Capelle School was later abandoned and the property was sold in 1908. Proceeds were used to build the first brick school building, When I began this series about the Grain Valley Schools, I thought it would be quite easy. Instead, it has been extremely challenging. By the time I finish, I hope to have the available materials better organized, and hopefully more accurate. At the time of this writing, I have come to believe that Round Grove School and Round Prairie School might both have been within the bounds of the Grain Valley School District at one time. In a book titled “Place Names of Five West Central Counties of Missouri” by Anne Atchison, we find the following description: “In central Sni-A-Bar
MOM
Township. A grove of oak trees in which the school is located is approximately round. The site was located northwest of town on property leased from Jacob and Agnes Crow in 1873. The second site for the school was on property leased from Z. D. and Elva Ketterman in 1883. The 1887 Illustrated Historical Map of Jackson County shows their name in Township 49 N, Range 30 W, section 23. I have concluded that the property was sold but the school remained on the same site. In the 1904 Jackson County map the Ketterman property is shown north of town and adjacent to property on the north owned by Dillinghams and property on the west owned by Slaughters. Interestingly enough, the Round Grove School would have been very near the current North Middle School, Early Childhood Center and Administrative Offices. Again, referring to Atchison’s book, I found the following description for Round Prairie School: “In southeastern Sni-A-Bar Township. The hills surround the prairie in such a way as to give a round effect to the prairie on which the school is located.” However, I can find no evidence of where it was located. The 1904 Historical Atlas has numbers by the school, but the online version has no index or legend, so I believe a trip to the Jackson County Historical Society or the Midwest Genealogy Center is in my future. My reason for thinking it was close by is because I found two photographs of Round Prairie School taken in 1920 by Goldie Russell. Miss Russell was also a teacher at Oak Hill during the same school year. She later taught at the Grain Valley High School.
Above: Photos of students from Round Prairie School, dated 1920. Photos courtesy of the Grain Valley Historical Society Museum, located at 510 Main Street. Society’’s website, www.grainvalleyhistory.com, and follow Visit the Historical Society the Society on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@grainvalleyhistory).
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“My Mom raised 5 girls, 2 dogs and 1 husband. She only stood 5 foot, but when she stomped her foot we all lined up,” Arnold said. “She was a ‘meter maid’ (parking officer) in Carrollton, MO. When my husband (Dale) and I were getting our marriage license, Mom was writing him a parking ticket.” Kelly Leach recalled a time when she was just certain her mom had caught her skipping school. “One time I was skipping school and my mom called the house. I thought, ‘Oh, no! Busted!’ Well, she called to leave a happy birthday message on the answering machine for the dog,” Leach said. Mother’s Day is a day of celebration, but it can also be difficult for those who have lost their mom. Dustin Osborn of
Grain Valley lost his mother, Sheila Osborn, in January 2018. She was just 53 years old. “For those 53 years, she was an amazing mother and a father. She was Superman and Superwoman to me. She was a single parent and she taught me how to play sports and taught me how to be a man. She taught me how I should treat my wife and my child, how I should respect my elders, and to remember that I'm always someone to be looked up to. She taught me to always be kind to others no matter what, no matter when, and no matter where. You never know the struggle someone else is going through, and how much just your little touch of generosity could change their life,” Osborn recalled.
Dustin Osborn, Grain Valley, remembers his mom, Sheila Osborn (pictured at left), this Mother’’s Day. Mother “She taught me to always be kind to others no matter what, no matter when, and no matter where. You never know the struggle someone else is going through, and how much just your little touch of generosity life.”” could change their life. Photo courtesy of Dustin Osborn.
Valley News wishes all moms a very happy Mother’’s Day! Mother
Read Valley News online weekly at www.grainvalleynews.com.
Business News
Page 4
BUSINESS continued from page 1 satisfying for the business owner, but according to Jayci Stratton, owner of Studio Five Beauty Boutique, it impacts the entire family. “There’s a sense of fulfillment when your kids watch you get to start something from nothing, and it succeeds and grows in ways you didn’t even see coming,” Stratton said. Kirby Welsh, owner of Vintage Chic Scents, built a successful online business and recently opened a storefront in downtown Grain Valley. Welsh enjoys the flexibility owning her own business affords her and her family. “The most satisfying thing about owning my own business is flexibility with my schedule to balance my personal and professional life. I had a baby last year and it is great to be able to spend extra time with her when I want,” Welsh said. Local business owners are quick to mention that the road is not always smooth, and there are real risks and sacrifices to consider. Dr. Catherine Dowd, owner of Grain Valley Chiropractic, agrees that the decision to start a business can be daunting. “I was terrified to start my own business. What motivated me was a quote from Tony Robbins: ‘It is not a lack of resources that makes a person fail. It is a lack of resourcefulness.’ Some people start businesses in their garage and get told they can't do it. They didn't give up. Now they are millionaires,” Dowd said. “I co-owned a salon in Blue Springs for 11 years before the opportunity came along for my husband and I to own a
salon on our own. The response from the residential community and the business community here in Grain Valley has been overwhelmingly positive. The staff and I find ourselves saying ‘Why didn’t we make this move a long time ago?’ But we all know that timing is everything, and it wouldn’t be what it is today if it had happened any differently,” Stratton said. “Once you have determined that there is a market for what you’re offering, get creative, be open minded and don’t be afraid to ask lots and lots of questions. Think outside of the box, but make sure you have someone on your side who thinks inside that box! Then prepare yourself for very little sleep while getting your business ready to open. It’s all worth it in the end.” “The biggest piece of advice I’d give someone opening their own business is to do what’s best for you, your family, and your business even when it’s incredibly hard. Others always have opinions, but they are not in your shoes. Trust your gut,” Welsh said. The Small Business Administration’s Kansas City District Office offers a variety of resources and events to support new and established business owners. For more information on their programming and services, visit https://www.sba.gov/ offices/district/mo/kansas-city. The Grain Valley Partnership serves the business community in Grain Valley through a variety of business services and networking opportunities. For more information on the Grain Valley Partnership, visit www.growgrainvalley.org.
Partnership Hosts Kissick Classic
The Grain Valley Partnership hosted the first annual Kissick Classic on May 3rd at Adams Pointe Golf Club. The tournament honors Jim Kissick, a long time supporter of economic development in Grain Valley. Photo credit: Diana Luppens, Switch Focus Studios
Business News is provided weekly by the Grain Valley Partnership, whose mission is to be a leader in the growth of Grain Valley. The Grain Valley Partnership is located at 1450 SW Eagles Parkway, and can be reached by phone, 816-443-5162 or via email at info@growgrainvalley.org.
Learn more about the Partnership: www.growgrainvalley.org
Coleman Recognized As Freshman Legislator Of The Year
State Rep. Jeff Coleman has earned the praise of House Leadership for making a significant impact on the legislative process during his first term and office. This week House Speaker Elijah Haahr presented Coleman with a Freshman Legislator of the Year Award for the work he has done as an advocate for promoting economic development in Missouri. In presenting him with the award, Speaker Haahr noted the work Coleman has done as the Vice-Chair of the House Economic Development Committee. Coleman has helped lead the committee’s efforts this year to approve a variety of
bills designed to help develop Missouri’s workforce and attract new job creators to the state. “I am very proud and humbled to be chosen for this award. I am very excited to be a part of building the future of the economy for our State and am anxious to continue work during the interim as session comes to a close,” said Coleman, R-Grain Valley. Coleman serves as the state representative for the 32nd House District, which represents part of Jackson County. He was elected to his first two-year term in the Missouri House of Representatives in November 2018.
Community Voices
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Musings from the Middle
An Ode To My Mom by Cathy Allie, an appreciative daughter
Many years ago, a young woman from rural north Missouri headed to college, the first in her family to do so. There she met a skinny guy with a fashionable crew cut, thick glasses, and a pretty good golf game. Eventually they married, and that small town girl became my mom. To put it simply, I lucked out, and my mom is one of those ladies who really rocks the Mom Gig. Like really rocks it, and is in fact, so good at it, that I suffer greatly in comparison. When people say I remind them of her, I am always pleasantly surprised and generally amazed because truthfully, I feel like she is everything I am not. She is the masterpiece, and I am the work in progress. To begin with, Mom is creative and artsy, but I am only able to admire and not join in her creative ventures. She weaves baskets, sometimes from patterns she finds, and then more baskets from patterns she just makes up as she goes along. And they are beautiful and functional and people pay actual money for them when they are displayed in galleries. She sketches out a drawing she wants to paint in faintest of pencil, and then she paints it. And I’ll be darned if it doesn’t look so much like the thing she originally sketched, that people recognize it. The limited extent of my artistic ability is particularly useful with children under the age of three, who understand nothing about proportion or shading or composition. I draw a circle (which technically looks more oval), and they roar with delight. Is it a ball? A donut? A tire? A Cheerio? Who knows? And I have learned to stick with my appreciative audience over the years. My daughter’s dance teacher has a toddler who thinks I am the Van Gogh of drawing triangles, and she even asked me to sign my work, so there may be a small glimmer of hope. The extent of my weaving is a rickety, plastic pot holder loom I confiscated from my daughter’s toy stash. I work those garishly colored, ratty nylon loops into a pattern of sorts and then gnash my teeth when required to finish the edge. I just didn’t get the art gene, and I have about 50 lopsided hot pads to prove it. Mom is musical, and I like music, but the similarities stop there. When I say musical, I am not talking about her ability to hum along with the radio. I am talking about her ability to perform---like in front of people—like with music that is printed on multiple pages—like with harmonies and riffs and key changes and with a real director in fancy clothes. People applaud when she sings. To be fair, I had a musical moment or two in my life, where I dabbled as a flutist and a piccolo player, and even spent some time on percussion, initially due to having a huge crush on the band’s bass drummer. But I never really used my voice, and there is a reason. Years of allergies and being a
classroom teacher have mellowed my voice to a sort of lady tenor, where in the mornings I sound somewhat like Springsteen after a three-day bender, and later in the day I sound like Springsteen after just a two-day bender, but never Connick or Buble. In my mom’s little hometown, there was a mother/daughter duo who sang at some church services. They wore matching or color-coordinated dresses, and everyone nodded appreciatively throughout the songs. I used to think how cool it would be if Mom and I could do that. I am about 100% sure Mom never wondered if that would be cool, possibly never wondered about it all. My mom has a great memory, putting my fluid mental storage to shame. She will say to my dad, “Oh Frank, remember that couple that lived on Grim Drive that had the bird dog who died of asphyxiation when their son Paul ran the car with the garage door down?” And my dad will start to say the last name of the couple. “No, I know their last name, but I was trying to remember the dog’s name---oh wait, the dog’s name was Jet.” Bam. Just like that, she pulls up a memory from 52 years ago. I seriously forgot my nephew’s middle name, where I put my car keys, and how to make tea all in one day. Suffice it to say memories of things past about noon yesterday are not exactly cemented in my mind, like they are in Mom’s. My mother has the organizational skills of a top executive assistant, and I missed that gene entirely. She has a place for everything, an organized filing system, and handwritten lists that actually make sense and seem chronological. We ate dinner at her house on Easter weekend, and I was cleaning up the dishes (see I am not that bad a daughter…), when I noticed her list. She had all the food she was making, what we were bringing, and the order she would set it out to serve. I wanted to frame it. I also make lists. Here is what one of them that I recently fished from the bottom of my purse said, “Yarn… Wednesday…ibuprofen.” Below the word ibuprofen was an unrecognizable sketch of some sort and what appeared to be a partial zip code or bank account number. The meaning of this list and how planes disappear in the Bermuda Triangle may be forever unknowns. My mom’s basement shelves are organized by holiday and hobby. She can find anything at a moment’s notice. Looking for the cute shamrock planter she brings out every March? Guessing you will find it right between the Valentine platter and the Easter bunnies. My shelves are organized by…well, who am I kidding? They are not at all organized, or perhaps by which ones looks like they would hold a little more of my junk without collapsing. My mom loves new experiences and embraces change, while having just typed those words, I have broken out in hives. Mom planned and enjoyed an entire Alaskan cruise in her 70’s. She taught
elementary school and then thought ‘oh what the heck,’ I will just try teaching college courses, and she did. Just like that. In contrast, I am on year five of pretty much the same hairstyle (with the exception of the four minutes I had bangs). On my drive to work yesterday, I decided to be adventurous and try a different turn lane for the final leg of my journey; but I chickened out at the last minute, instead landing in my safe interior lane to complete the turn. Mother has a chameleon like ability to blend in, to adapt to any situation, and to make everyone feel welcome and loved. She is just as comfortable at her hometown’s Harvest Jubilee Celebration in the middle of a field with an old bandstand, swatting away killer mosquitos you only find in the country, as she is at fancy dinners at the university. Without hesitation, each of her grandchildren would tell you that they are her favorite because of the way she makes them feel. That’s because of her ability to giggle with her younger grandkids to the point of teary laughter over the word “fart” and turn right around and take her oldest grandson on one of his college visits. In stark contrast, I stand out like a sore thumb pretty much anywhere I go. I am not exactly a wallflower, but I am just as likely to offend as to embrace. Case in point was a recent decade birthday party for a friend. I just kept thinking about the music and how I would have picked something different. I excused myself to the restroom, returned to the main area, and sort of leaned against the door. A nice man was standing near me, and I tried to make conversation about the party and shifted to the music eventually. “Are you hoping to avoid dancing to some of this crazy music like I am?” I said. “Uhhhh, no, I actually made the playlist for tonight.” Of course you did. So much for being a chameleon. My mom and I are very physically different as well. Her actual middle name is Kay, but it could be Petite, and next to her I feel gigantic. She is just tiny enough to allow the grandkids to pass her in height in their teens, but not so tiny she seems childlike. Her mother in law once told her she had beautiful feet, which we have giggled about over the years. But they are really cute, little tiny, magazine ad worthy appendages. Unlike Mom, I grew to a height which made me not one of the cute short girls that guys go for to show off their own towering height, and just tall enough to make a threeinch pair of heels a no-go with medium height fellas. I saw a meme the other day that said, “Weight loss isn’t working out, so I am focusing on getting taller.” That’s a good summary of my recent efforts. At this point, according to a height and weight chart, I should
be 6’3”. My feet and hands, while perfectly acceptable for walking and for typing newspaper columns, are man-like. I remember when I was fitted for my class ring, the young lady helping us said, “You win the prize for the biggest girl ring size I have measured today!” She surely could not tell that I was hoping the prize was a get out of jail free card for after I punched her. Lastly, my mom is multi-faceted, and I have one facet, it that is even a thing. You might catch Mom playing a round of tennis, setting up the altar for church, or gardening on any given day. The next day she is serving as recording secretary of her women’s group, tutoring at an elementary school, or baking a made from scratch coconut cream pie. And she is pretty talented in all those facets. My one facet is being the “What ya’ see is what ya’ get girl.” I promise I won’t amaze you, no matter how long you hang around. Looking for #12 of a group of 25? That’s me, hanging out in my one dimensional world, right smack in the middle. Actually, I think my one facet might be standing amazed at other people’s multiple facets. Oh, my mom and I are not complete opposites. We share the trait of perseverance, and that has served me handily over the years. Don’t tell us we cannot get something done, because that’s all the motivation we need. We get tickled at things that other people might not get tickled at, snickering behind our hands, making funny faces at one another, or raising our eyebrows. One of my favorite things is to hear Mom start laughing when telling a funny story about her dog or a friend, reminding me so much of her own mother that it is scary. And we are both competitive, practically to a fault. A recent dominoes game at our house went on into the wee morning hours, and I think she is still contesting my victory. Or maybe she won. As you know, my memory is poor. Happy Mother’s Day, Linda Kay Elam Colton. I love you. Thank you for being you and allowing me to just be me. I have yet to win the lottery, but it’s such a pleasure to have you as my mom, I feel very rich all the time.
Cathy is a retired public school English teacher and Public Information Officer.
Community Voices
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wife that a well-manicured lawn may not be good for the environment. According to a 2015 Washington Post article by Sarah Baker, a well-manicured lawn undermines a natural ecosystem. Baker says, if we don’t cut our grass, we can attract all sorts of wildlife. My wife was not excited about the thought of rodents and reptiles joining our family. I assured her that the abundance of snakes would also attract hawks to control their overpopulation. She was not impressed or amused. I’m not the last guy to cut the grass in the neighborhood, but I’m not the trailblazer either who wipes the snow off the mower and gets after it. As much as I appreciate the wonderful temperatures and lush vegetation that spring reveals, there is a sense of dread and angst when I hear the first lawnmower go off in the neighborhood. For me, lawn maintenance is more of a nuisance than an opportunity to showcase my outdoor, artistic qualities. Making ice sculptures with a chainsaw sounds much more exciting. Dandelions were on my mind as I drove through our neighborhood in the drizzling rain. I noticed that many of my neighbors also struggled with their dandelions! Secretly, I was ecstatic to know I was not alone. In fact, there were several neighbors more worthy of a dandelion citation than me. I didn’t judge them. I felt their pain. I decided to see what the lawn ordinance was in Grain Valley. According to the City of Grain Valley website, weeds, grass, and brush can be considered worthy of a citation. Under Section 225.050—Weeds, it says, “Growth of weeds or grass to a height of ten (10) inches or higher shall be deemed guilty of a public nuisance.” I have about 4 tape measures lying around in drawers in the house, but thought it would be kind of weird, if not overly rebellious, to be outside measuring dandelions in the rain. Plus, I might have another angle. I wondered if dandelions were actually weeds or plants that flower. I hoped for the latter. In the “search box” on the ordinances page I put in “dandelion”. Nothing. There are hundreds of pages, but not one word on dandelions. “Hmmm,” I thought, “maybe that’s my out.” I’m not a rebel, but for a fleeting moment, I imagined myself on one of the major news networks with the caption, “Local pastor incarcerated over 11-inch dandelions is victoriously freed as court rules it’s not a vicious weed.” Dandelions, as it turns out, are not a weed and are not listed on the USDA’s Federal Noxious Weed List. The scientific name is taraxacum officinale. The morerecognized name, dandelion comes from the French and means “lion’s tooth” which refers to the toothy-type leaves. The flowers are important to bees, providing nectar and pollen. In addition, they are also eaten by some birds and are beneficial to the soil adding minerals and nitrogen.
I decided to settle this with an unscientific poll with friends and fellow residents of Grain Valley. Although the topic of dandelions is not as popular as the citywide garage sale, there seemed to be some interest. At the close of the poll, 62% of respondents thought dandelions were a “beautiful part of nature” as opposed to 38% who thought they were “annoying and ugly”. Some great comments came in too! Most of the comments were positive, as people loved their beauty and fact that they are good for the bees. They’re even fun to blow the seeds and make a wish. Some of the seeds can travel up to five miles (of course, that’s probably someone else’s yard). On the negative side, allergies were a concern and the fact that they seem to take over everything. The pesky plants are prodigious and all it takes is one in your neighbor’s yard and next thing you know—well, you know—they’re everywhere. They are also extremely annoying to farmers, gardeners, serious lawn aficionados, and those trying to keep up with the Jones’s. Thankfully, there are many ways to get rid of dandelions. Digging them up is tough considering their taproot can be up to 10 inches long. Herbicide is the most popular, but not good for the environment. Some people actually eat them. In a 2018 article by Ansley Hill in Healthline Magazine, she lists thirteen health benefits of dandelions suggesting that they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and essential minerals. I did notice that all of Hill’s thirteen health benefits started with the phrase, “may help…” and she concluded the article with jargon about insufficient data and little testing on humans. I remember, years ago, a coworker bringing in dandelion jelly and saying her grandmother makes it. She said she had tried it before and, “It wasn’t bad.” “Wasn’t bad” is not a good motivation for me to try anything. I prefer strawberry jelly anyway. Everything eventually comes to an end—including the rain. And, of course, although the rodents and reptiles won’t be happy, I’ll get out there and take care of the dandelions. Even the ones under 10 inches. Perhaps someone else can carry the dandelion mantle. I do see a potential, future entrepreneurship on the horizon. Perhaps, a small business making dandelion jelly would be in order. I hear it’s not half bad. I would recommend the name, “Grain Valley Greens” or “Valley Dandi-Dallys”. Who knows, maybe they’d even sell them at the communitywide garage sale.
Wayne Geiger is the Pastor of First Baptist Church Grain Valley, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Speech at Johnson Country Community College, and a freelance writer.
Submit your community news and events to news@grainvalleynews.com.
Sports
Page 7
Eagles Sizzle On Senior Night by John Unrein
Senior Night proved memorable for seniors Christian Lynn, Jesse Scholtz and the rest of the Eagles baseball team. They dispatched the visiting Raytown South Cardinals by a score of 13-0 across a five-inning spread on Monday, May 6th. Lynn pitched the final out of the 5th inning, while Scholtz contributed an RBI single. Both seniors were met with hugs from their teammates and loud applause from the crowd as they exited the field. Head Coach Brian Driskell is grateful for the contributions both seniors have made to the program. “Both young men are positive products of their parents. Christian and Jesse are two of the best individuals I’ve coached during my time in the program. The impact of their contributions is noticeable.” Junior Max Chapman and Sophomore Riley Bown combined with Scholtz to hold the Cardinals scoreless. Chapman spread four strikeouts across the first three innings. His fastball displayed good velocity as he was judicious with the location of the pitch
within the strike zone. Bown picked up where his predecessor left off upon his entry into the game in the 4th inning. He spread three strikeouts across 1 and 2/3 innings of work. Bown pounded the bottom of the strike zone while working through Cardinal hitters. Lynn secured the shutout by pitching the final out during the top of the 5th inning. “I was pleased with our pitching this afternoon. We were efficient in getting people out. I thought Max and Riley both did a good job on the mound,” Driskell said. The Eagles offense did not miss opportunities presented to them. Both Sophomore Parker Bosserman and Junior Mason Rogers were productive at the top of the lineup. Bosserman reached base safely three times as well as contributing a steal. Rogers diverse offensive skills were highlighted by a sacrifice bunt, an RBI single, two stolen bases, and speeding down the third base line to score on a wild pitch. Junior Catcher Caden Matlon also
Junior Infielder Seth Dankenbring with a hit for the Eagles. Photo credit: Valley News staff made noise with the bat. He contributed two RBI’s along with a single and double prior to being taken out of the game in the 3rd inning with the Eagles sizeable lead. “Both Parker and Mason did a solid job at the plate today. They followed
that up by applying pressure on the base paths. It was exciting to watch what they accomplished at the top of the lineup,” Driskell said. Grain Valley was scheduled to face the Smithville Warriors on May 8th, but the game was canceled due to rain.
Grain Valley Girls Soccer celebrated Senior Night on May 6th, made even sweeter 10--0 win against Winnetonka. Six seniors were honored: Stephanie Branson, by a 10 Kailyn Duett, Brittney McKay, Lilly Pederson, Kendra Sibert, and Dakota Vogel. Photo credit: John Overstreet
Seniors Jesse Scholtz (left) and Christian Lynn (right) posed for photos with their 13--0 against parents during Senior Night for Grain Valley baseball. The team won 13 the Raytown South Cardinals. Photo credit: Valley News staff
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Community Calendar Sunday, May 12, 2019
Moms Shoot FREE 12:00pm—6:00pm Lake City Shooting Range Moms shoot free all day; must have a child with her.
Monday, May 13, 2019
Senior Coffee Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 9:00am—11:00am Time to visit with friends and make new ones. Free. Senior Yoga Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 10:30am—11:15am $2 or Free for SilverSneakers, Silver & Fit, and Renew Active Members Teens Draw Caricatures with Marietta! Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley 6:30pm—7:30pm Register online: www.mymcpl.org/ events Board of Aldermen Meeting City Hall, 711 S Main 7:00pm
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Last Day of Schools—Grain Valley Schools
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Read to a Pet Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley 10:30am—11:30am Register online: www.mymcpl.org/ events
Monday, May 27, 2019
Memorial Day— Day—City Hall Closed
Saturday, June 1, 2019
City Wide CleanClean -Up Event Free community event for Grain Valley residents to dispose of unwanted items. Proof of residency required (water bill or driver’s license). Bag loose items. Items not accepted include tires, paint, oil, refrigerators, air conditioners, bagged trash, and yard waste or clippings. 8:00am—2:00pm
Monday, June 3, 2019
Senior Coffee Weekly on Mondays 9:00am—11:00am Time to visit with friends and make new ones. Free.
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Senior Yoga Weekly on Mondays Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 10:30am—11:15am $2 or Free for SilverSneakers, Silver & Fit, and Renew Active Members
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Book Group Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley 6:30pm—7:30pm Register online: www.mymcpl.org/ events
Email for Beginners Mid-Continent Public Library Grain Valley 2:00pm—3:30pm Register online: www.mymcpl.org/ events City Wide Garage Sale Add your garage sale to the City-Wide Garage Sale Directory, which will be published in the May 16th print/online edition of Valley News. Listings are only $5. Reserve your ad by May 9th at www.grainvalleynews.com.
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Park Board Meeting Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 7:00pm—9:00pm
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Senior Citizen Luncheon Grain Valley Community Center, 713 S Main 11:30am—1:00pm $3 suggested donation. RSVP by calling 816-847-6293 or email to info@cityofgrainvalley.org.
Add your community event online at www.grainvalleynews.com.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES The City of Grain Valley is now hiring for a Building Official, City Engineer and a Public Works Maintenance Worker. Apply online at https://www.cityofgrainvalley.org/employment/. https://www.cityofgrainvalley.org/employment/.