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A bright light in the Lanear family of Grain Valley was extinguished Wednesday, May 1st when 20-year old Christian Lanear died in a vehicle accident on Jefferson Road at Pamela Blvd. While the family is dealing with the devastation of losing Christian, they are also working to make the road where he died safer for drivers. Christian Lanear is being remembered by his family and friends as "larger than life” and a “bright light” who impacted everyone he met. “He was larger than life. (Christian) was bright and friendly and welcoming and anyone he was around he made feel happy, seen, and heard. And it did it so naturally, making people feel like they belong and It was ok to be themselves,” Christian’s mother Jessica Briggs said. Christian, a 2023 Grain Valley High School graduate, was a standout student and athlete. Briggs recalled the many activities he participated in at GVHS, including football, track and field, speech and debate, co-hosting the school’s Eagle Media broadcasts, and show choir. Christian was also selected prom king by his classmates. Briggs said Christian was attending Metropolitan Community College, studying mass communiciations, and was working for one of his best friends as a glazier at Elliott Glass. Christian was leaving work the afternoon of May 1st when the fatal accident occurred. Missouri Highway Patrol reported Lanear overcorrected after traveling off the roadway on Jefferson Road at Pamela Blvd. around 4:12pm Wednesday, May 1st. Lanear’s Chrysler was struck by an oncoming 2019 Ford on the passenger side. Lanear was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Ford was transported to an area hospital with moderate injuries. Briggs said Christian was a part of a Life 360 circle with several friends who received a notification from the app that he had experienced a hard break. Briggs began receiving messages and calls from friends asking about Christian and Briggs headed to the scene of the crash where she learned the unimaginable for any parent. Christian’s brother, William Lanear, quickly began to reach out to officials and the community to make the roadway safer for drivers. Jefferson Street is maintained by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT). Lanear said he reached out to Grain Valley Mayor Mike Todd, who explained that the city has communicated with MODOT about concerns regarding Jefferson Street, but that voices from the community would be helpful to initiate changes. William Lanear said he also contacted MODOT, who suggested he complete an online report to express concerns about the road. “It’s gotten really frustrating,” William Lanear said of the response he received from MODOT. “There have been multiple accidents on this roadway, and there needs to be a change.” “There have been multiple accidents in that area. The road is not wide enough. Christian was leaving work from over there, and the other individual was leaving work. There are many folks who travel that road every day. There needs to be improvements to make that area safer, and that’s really what we want to see changed,” Briggs said. William Lanear said he has been told by various elected officials that a meeting is planned for June to look into Jefferson and other roads in Grain Valley maintained by MODOT that are of concern. Grain Valley News reached out to Alderman Ryan Skinner, who said Todd is working with State Representative Jeff Coleman to plan an open house to get citizen feedback. Skinner plans to advocate for a committee to help investigate concerns and determine options to address issues. William Lanear began an online petition via Change.org after his conversation with Mayor Todd to call for MODOT to address safety concerns on Jefferson Street. The petition had resulted in more than 6500 signatures as of the weekend, William Lanear said. Ashlyn Frost, Christian’s girlfriend, said that the response to the petition is just another way of seeing how much of an impact Christian had on people. “I went to school in New York, and people who knew Christian from New York were also passing around the petition. It is one of the things that makes me feel better about all of this is seeing how he impacted so many people.” “There needs to be change and there needs to be improvement on that road. Christian was such a huge loss for our family and the community. We have received such an outpouring of love from coaches to teachers and his peers. Everyone who knew Christian knows what a loss it is to have lost such a bright light and someone who positively impacted so many people,” Briggs said. The family has scheduled a candlelight vigil at Grain Valley High School's Moody Murry Stadium on Sunday, May 5th at 8:00pm. A celebration of life will be held Tuesday, May 7th from 5:00pm - 8:00pm at Grain Valley Community Center, 713 Main Street, Grain Valley, and a visitation is planned for Wednesday, May 8th from 4:30pm - 7:00pm at Royer Funeral Home, 100 Royer Lane, Grain Valley. Petition to add guard rails/shoulders to Jefferson Street: Petition · Adding guard rails/Shoulders to Jefferson - Grain Valley, United States · Change.org Link to report a road concern to MODOT: Report a Road Concern | Missouri Department of Transportation (modot.org) GoFundMe campaign to support the Lanear family: Fundraiser by Brandon Lanear : Long Live Chris❤️ (gofundme.com) Photos courtesy Lanear family
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by Michael Smith
The Grain Valley girls soccer team had a golden opportunity. The Eagles faced off against Blue Springs South in a non-conference matchup Thursday at home and the match had major playoff implications. Because both teams will be Class 4 District 6 Tournament, and had the two best in the district, it was likely that the winner would be the No. 1 seed, especially since head-to-head records are typically a major factor in where teams seeded. Grain Valley just missed out on that opportunity. The contest came down to a shootout and the Jaguars won it 4-2 as the Eagles fell 1-0 at Moody Murry Memorial Field. Because of the loss, South nabbed the No. 1 seed in the district and Grain Valley is No. 2. The Eagles will face off against Fort Osage in the first round of districts at 6 p.m. May 3 at the Blue Springs soccer field across the street from the district’s Freshman Center. South Seniors Gwen Maggard, Mary Hoffman and Avery Ringgenberg along with sophomore Haley Cramer made their penalty kicks against backup goalkeeper Emma Thiessen. For Grain Valley, Thiessen and junior Ally Gilbert made their PKs but South goalkeeper Siman Loethen came up with a diving stop on an attempt from junior Mia Cole and an attempt from Sophia Giuliano sailed over the net to give the Jaguars the win. South controlled possession about 60 percent of the time, but the Eagles had their fair share of chances to score. Loethen came up with five saves with her biggest one coming on a shot from Cole late in the second half. Cole rocketed a shot from 29 feet out that appeared to be headed inside the right post but the Jaguar keeper made a diving stop to keep the game scoreless. Thiessen also had an open shot from the left side of the penalty box after a give-and-go with Gilbert, but Loethen stopped her shot. South had about a 60-40 advantage on time of possession, but played excellent defense whenever Grain Valley got the ball into the final third. The Jaguars (10-4-1) man-marked Thiessen, who played forward for most of the game. The physicality on South’s tackles on Thiessen led to turnovers on a few occasions. “In the final third, we were a little bit sloppier than I wanted to be. We were really close to get some really good opportunities,” Lewis said. “Mia had a great shot. Emma had a couple opportunities where she was one more touch to the left or one pass that was a little bit too far to the right. It’s just about polishing those things up. But I am proud of our effort. We pushed South to the brink.” The Eagles also were missing sophomore forward Radleigh Childers, who was out with a knee injury. She is a big part of their offense and could have helped her team put some chances away. “I wanted to help Radleigh out as a precaution because she tweaked her knee. We want her ready for the playoffs,” Lewis said. “We didn’t have a lot of speed going forward but we found ways to connect on passes. I hoping we get an opportunity to play South again.” Lauren Elizabeth Sullivan, 24, of Grain Valley, Missouri, passed away on January 30th, 2024 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Lauren was born on September 28th, 1999 to Jennifer and Michael Sullivan. Lauren attended school in Grain Valley, Missouri, graduating in 2019. Lauren was preceded in death by her grandfather, Edward Sullivan. Lauren is survived by her parents Jennifer & Dan Cassidy and Mike & Chrissy Sullivan; two brothers, Stephen Sullivan and Brady Fern; grandparents Donnie Sullivan, Frank & Debbie Mance, Jim & Theresa Cassidy, Jim & Mary Fern and Sheryl Sullivan; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. During her short life, Lauren touched many people with her love and humor. Throughout her life she spent an unfair amount of time in the hospital, but she rocked her extra chromosome like a warrior. She loved Christmas and Halloween, watching her movies, and being outside. She loved playing with her stuffed animals and babies. Lauren loved all of her dogs, and they all loved her. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. A visitation was held Monday, February 5th from 6-8 pm at McGilley Stateline Chapel, with a Celebration of Life at 7pm. by Michael Smith The Grain Valley boys tennis team will go into next week’s Class 2 District 8 Tournament with a little bit of momentum. The Eagles played in their regular season finale against William Chrisman Wednesday at home, and head coach Randy Draper said his team is playing some of the best tennis it has all season. That reflected in the Eagles 9-0 victory over William Chrisman. Senior Ben Drinkwater and Draper noted that the team’s early season schedule, which featured a bevy of good teams in the Kansas City area, helped prepare them for the postseason. “It hurts your feelings some when you don’t win as much,” Draper said, “but we get over our feelings and just get better. We have gotten a lot better. We must keep our foot on the gas, or it won’t matter.” Added Drinkwater: “We play some teams that are tough at the beginning. As we kept going, we played some of our conference opponents and got to see how much better we’ve gotten. Playing tough teams early because it doesn’t give us a false sense of reality if we don’t play teams that aren’t as good.” The Eagles will attempt to have a lead foot and push down on the gas when they take on Winnetonka Monday in the first round of the districts. “Chrisman will be a tough match and Platte County is really good,” Draper said of the district tournament. “I love the way we’re playing, though. This is the time to do it.” Drinkwater was one of those who played well on Wednesday as he teamed up with junior Trace Compton in the No. 1 doubles match as they topped John Eppert and Jeremy Campos 8-3. He also won his singles match with Brandon Keltner 8-3. He said he was able to figure out his opponent’s weaknesses, which contributed to his success. “I was able to put the ball where I was supposed to put it,” Drinkwater said. “I was able to figure out what he wasn’t good at. He kept leaving the ball short and in the middle of the court. As long as I put pace on the ball in the middle of the court, I was going to be fine.” Senior Campbell Childers has been on a roll since being inserted into the lineup for singles. He dominated Emerson Rensing in the No. 6 match 8-0. In the No. 3 doubles match, he joined sophomore Riley Spencer in an 8-5 win over Noah Guldner and Trevor Jolley. “We were down early to start,” Spencer said, “but we figured out a way to win the last three games. Our motto this year is to see the ball and keep it in play. That’s worked really well for us.” Added Childers: “We have really great chemistry, and it shows on and off the court.” Grain Valley’s No. 2 doubles team of senior Carter Williams and junior John Cassidy edged Keltner and Giuseppe D’angelo 9-7. Williams took down Eppert 8-2 at No. 2 singles, Compton defeated Guldner 8-5 at No. 3, Cassidy cruised to an 8-1 win over Campos at No. 4 and No. 5 Blake Galvan beat Jolley 9-7. Senior Campbell Childers, left, and sophomore Riley Spencer teamed up at No. 3 doubles to win 8-5, helping the Grain Valley boys tennis team cruise to a 9-0 victory over William Chrisman Wednesday at home. Photo credit: Michael Smith
The City of Grain Valley will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of its newly completed police station on Wednesday, May 8th, from 5:00pm - 7:00pm at the new facility located at 719 NW R.D. Mize Road, Grain Valley, MO 64029. Voters approved a measure for a new facility in April 2022. The police department has been housed at City Hall since its construction in 2001. Designed in collaboration with architects from Hoefer Welker and constructed by McCown Gordon Construction of Kansas City, the new headquarters promises to provide essential updates and enhancements to support the police department's operational needs. Notable features include an upgraded property storage area, a juvenile holding area, ample space for officers to complete reports, holding cells that meet state statutes, and a dedicated training room for both officers and community use. Members of the public are invited to join city officials, community leaders, and law enforcement personnel at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Following the ceremony, guided tours of the new facility will be available, offering attendees an opportunity to explore the features of the police headquarters. Photo credit: City of Grain Valley
First Fridays returns to downtown Grain Valley this Friday, May 3rd with a focus on the arts. The popular event, hosted by the Grain Valley Fair Association in partnership with Downtown Grain Valley, Inc., is held the first Friday during the summer months. The event features a variety of food trucks and a different theme each month. For the month of May, the arts are in the spotlight, with student artwork from Grain Valley Schools displayed in downtown businesses and a chalk artist creating an original work outside of El Tequilazo restaurant beginning at 5:00pm. "We are very excited about this year. We took to heart the survey we conducted earlier this year regarding what people wanted to see as part of First Fridays and have incorporated as many of those activities as possible. Food Trucks play a big part in First Fridays, but we have really tried to grow the event from when we first started from just Food Trucks to other events for the whole family. I think this year we have some really cool things in store and hopefully it will give our residents a chance to stay in town for their Friday nights while at the same time bringing in people from outside our community as well so they can see the great things going on in Grain Valley," Grain Valley Fair Committee Chair Mike Todd said. Main Street will close at around 4:45 PM and reopen around 8:00 PM between Front and Walnut. Access to the parking lot across from the Bank of Grain Valley will be available. Image credit: Grain Valley Fair Association
Jackson County Parks + Rec invites the community to enjoy a day of outdoor entertainment for the entire family at its Sheep Shindig event on Saturday, May 4th from 9:00am - 4:00pm.
Families will enjoy time-honored games and crafts typical of the mid-1800s and watch as Missouri Town's flock of sheep receive their spring haircuts. Missouri Town interpreters will demonstrate the wool-making process from sheep shearing to carding and beyond. Admission is $8/adults, $4 for seniors and children ages 5-13. Children 4 and under are free. Missouri Town Living History Museum is located at 8010 East Park Road, Lee's Summit, MO 64064. by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society Last Saturday evening, the Grain Valley High School Alumni Association held their (almost) annual Alumni Banquet. World War II and the recent pandemic have prevented us from meeting every year since the founding in 1909. But over the past 115 years, Grain Valley alumni have missed fewer than five years coming together to celebrate a true rite of passage, high school graduation. In some instances, we can count among our classmates teachers at every level of education, doctors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs of every type. There were moms and dads, and lots of grandparents at our gathering. We had representatives from several states, including New Mexico, Wyoming, Alaska, Texas, and yes, Costas (Class of 1966) was here from Australia! But mostly, we can count among our classmates a group of lifelong friends and genuinely good people. And although we don’t see each other often, sharing our high school years gives us a bond that last forever. This year, the oldest alumnus in attendance was John Robert Washburn, Class of 1953. Others from the 50s included Janice Thompson Butler, Donald Uptegrove, Donna Mann, Donald Perry and Clyde and Don Nebgen. (I apologize for anyone I left out). But what I really wanted to talk about this week was the banquet location. With very few exceptions, the banquet has always been at the high school, unless you considered the cafeteria from 1954 through 1995 to be at the elementary school. Some years, it was held upstairs in the library in the 1925 school. And some years, the banquet was held in the gymnasium, but in recent years it has been in the high school commons. This year, due to construction of the new gymnasium at the high school, the event was held at North Middle School. Memories were shared, dinner was enjoyed, and scholarships were awarded to three soon to be alumni: Megan Davies, granddaughter of Ron Davies (Class of 1962); Carson Sallee, grandson of Beverly (Wolfe) and Carl Sallee (Class of 1966), and Evan Dennard, son of Mary (Tapense) Dennard (Class of 2005). And speaking of location, Nancy (Class of 1964) and Terri Norris (Class of 1967) were in town for the event and they brought me the abstract for the land which was owned by their family during the 1950s, 60s and 70s, Next week, I will give you the history of that land, now home to North Middle School, the Early Childhood Center and perhaps someday, Grain Valley North! Visit the Historical Society and see old yearbooksand the artifacts from Grain Valley High School. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society
Have you ever wondered if you’re getting the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy? Knowing if you are missing the mark or balancing essential nutrients can be challenging with so many nutrients. Many forms of anemia range from nutrient deficiencies such as iron, B12 and folate to sickle-cell anemia, hemolytic and anemias associated with chronic medical conditions.
Iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent nutrient deficiency globally; some people are at greater risk than others. But how do you know if you are at risk for iron deficiency anemia? Your Hy-Vee registered dietitian is here to help with simple tips. Read on to learn how you can determine your risk for anemia. Iron is an essential nutrient, meaning we must obtain it through food. Iron performs several vital bodily functions, including synthesizing hemoglobin – a key component of red blood cells that helps carry oxygen to your tissues. Hemoglobin is made of protein, copper and iron. Measuring hemoglobin reflects the body’s level of functional iron, making it a sensitive indicator for detecting iron deficiency anemia. Absent any other medical condition, normal hemoglobin levels for adult females is 12-16 g/dL and is 14-18 g/dL for adult males. Anything lower is defined as anemia, which could be due to iron deficiency, other nutritional deficiencies or other medical conditions. The RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for iron intake varies based on the individual; from 8 mg per day for men and postmenopausal women to 11-15 mg per day for teenage boys and girls, respectively, to 18 mg per day for premenopausal women. Iron deficiency anemia symptoms may occur when we don’t obtain enough iron in the diet, including fatigue and weakness, pale skin or conjunctiva, thin spoon-shaped nails or decreased resistance to cold temperatures. Individuals at most significant risk for iron deficiency anemia include premenopausal women, young children, or people with a vegan diet, malabsorptive diseases, pregnancy, blood loss or chemotherapy. Meat is a significant source of iron that is most readily absorbed by the body – this is called heme iron. There are many plant-based or non-heme sources of iron, including iron-fortified grains, pasta made from garbanzo beans or lentils, pumpkin seeds, potato with skin, spinach and prunes. These non-heme sources of iron require strategic planning to promote optimal absorption. Dairy foods, coffee and tea should be consumed separately from iron-rich foods or supplements as these will inhibit plant-based iron absorption. Uptake of non-heme iron is enhanced by foods rich in vitamin C, including oranges, broccoli, dark leafy greens, kiwi, bell peppers, tomatoes and strawberries. Register for a free Hy-Vee Healthy You Anemia Screening, thanks to our generous sponsor Sanguina. During your appointment, a Hy-Vee dietitian will perform a simple finger stick to collect a blood sample to test your hemoglobin, determine your risk for anemia and provide same-day results. Contact your local Hy-Vee registered dietitian for more information or schedule your appointment today by registering here. For a simple, iron- and vitamin-C-rich meal, try this Shortcut Steak Fajitas recipe. Mix up taco night using Hy-Vee Shortcuts to cut down on prep time and get dinner on the table in a flash! Shortcut Steak Fajitas Serves 4 All you need: 2 pounds Hy-Vee Choice Reserve beef fajita mix 8 (6-inch) Hy-Vee street taco flour tortillas ½ cup Full Circle Market organic pineapple salsa ½ cup Finely shredded red cabbage 1 ripe avocado, peeled, seeded and sliced ¼ cup crumbled Cojita cheese Cilantro, for serving Lime wedges, for serving All you do:
Recipe adapted from: https://www.hy-vee.com/recipes-ideas/recipes/shortcut-steak-fajitas The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice. This content was made possible with the paid support of our sponsor Sanguina. Missouri Independent: Missouri Senate committee approves bill to expand college core curriculum5/1/2024 Missouri Senate committee approves bill to expand college core curriculumby Annelise Hanshaw, Missouri Independent Legislation that could expand the number of college credits universally transferable between Missouri’s public two-year and four-year institutions took another step towards becoming law on Tuesday as time runs short before lawmakers adjourn for the year. A Senate committee, in its last scheduled meeting of the legislative session, debated and passed a bill Tuesday morning that seeks to create a 60-credit-hour core curriculum in concert with Missouri’s higher education institutions. Currently, there is a 42-credit-hour block that transfers between all Missouri’s public colleges, created in 2018. The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Cameron Parker of Campbell, passed the House unanimously earlier this month. “This will eliminate some problems for students transferring from a two-year to a four-year. It reduces the cost,” Parker told the committee. “What we’re looking at is a seamless transition from a two-year to a four-year.” SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST.
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Parker’s bill calls for the coordinating board for higher education to craft the 60-hour block for “at least five degree programs with substantial enrollment.” Paul Wagner, executive director of the Council on Public Higher Education in Missouri, testified in “soft opposition” because the bill could exclude students outside of popular degree programs. “This only applies to a certain type of student,” he said. “That is a student that knows from the beginning that they want to major in one of the five degrees that are chosen.” It is going to be a large undertaking to get each public college to agree on a 60-credit-hour program, he said. “If we are going to put in that kind of work, we would prefer that there was a broader result,” Wagner said. State Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City Democrat who serves on the committee, said Wagner’s comment was “well-taken.” “I would like to see it more broadly applied,” she said. She voted in favor of the bill, along with the other nine members in attendance. Representatives from community colleges said the legislation would solve problems their students face. Brian Miller, president and CEO of the Missouri Community College Association, testified that there is a “high frequency” of students retaking classes after transferring to a four-year university. State Fair Community College President Brent Bates said his students have a similar frustration. “Each year students transfer from State Fair Community College,” he said, “sometimes they are surprised when they transfer to a public university in the state and the classes don’t transfer as they anticipated.” To make it to the governor’s desk, the legislation must pass the Senate before the legislative session ends on May 17. GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
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Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Missouri Independent maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jason Hancock for questions: info@missouriindependent.com. Follow Missouri Independent on Facebook and Twitter. |
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