Page 2
Local News
“Are you crazy, or just plain stupid?” by Cory Unrein, Co-Owner/Publisher That famous line from the movie Forrest Gump kept coming to mind as we prepared to take on the challenge of starting a newspaper. As you can imagine, when you begin telling folks you plan to start a newspaper, you are met with a mix of reactions.
Our mission is 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 a time that often feels as though there is more that separates us than unites us, we invite you to join with us in sharing information Thankfully, most people we have with your neighbors and join in the met are excited about the conversation. prospect, given the lack of a commuGrain Valley – this is your paper. nity newspaper and the rumor based (and often unkind) noise on social Talk to us, send us your news. We media. But along with the kind words want to hear about your businesses, of support, we are regularly met with volunteer work, celebrations, and milestones. We are excited to start a mix of quiet concern and pity. this venture and thank you for I’ve worked in the nonprofit field reading and for supporting our local for 20 years and my husband is an advertisers. educator, so we are no strangers to seemingly hopeless causes. But the fact is, that while large metropolitan print media is struggling, community -based media is doing quite well.
For Partnership Executive Director, Building Relationships Is Key
Tim Russell, Executive Director for the Grain Valley Partnership, is settling in to his new role and says he is “focused on building relationships”. After 12 years of working with small nonprofits, Russell transitioned into neighborhood work. He is most proud of his efforts as a part of a
neighborhood team in southern Kansas City, Kansas, who worked to transform a food desert into a thriving neighborhood with a grocery store and growing businesses. After working with nonprofits and neighborhood groups to build solid partnerships, he says it was the name Grain Valley Partnership that attracted him to his new role. The Grain Valley Partnership combines Economic Development, which is Russell’s main role, and the traditional chamber of commerce activities, which are managed by Tasha Lindsay, the Partnership’s Director of Business Services. The Partnership is working on building awareness of the organization and how its see PARTNERSHIP page 5
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 | Proofreader Diana Luppens, Switch Focus Studios | Contributing Photographer Mail: PO Box 2972 Grain Valley MO 64029 Phone: 816.809.7984 Email: news@grainvalleynews.com
Free Family Fun at 12th Annual Community Development Event
Families enjoy a variety of games at the 2017 Community Development Event.
The Community Development Department will hold its 12th Annual Community Development Event on Thursday, June 28th from 5:00pm— 7:00pm at Armstrong Park, 711 Main Street. This free event is an opportunity for the department to
meet members of the community. Hot dogs, Papa Murphy’s Pizza and drinks are provided and a variety of activities are offered for families. These include bounces, games, a photo booth, and balloon animals.
Team from Crossroads Church Heading to Peru A team of 12 (six high school students and six adults) from Crossroads Church will be embarking on an 11-day mission trip to Peru on Friday, June 15th. The team will spend their trip with David and Tonya Liles, missionaries to Peru the church has supported for 19 years. The team will spend half of their trip in and around Lima, Peru and the other half over the Andes Mountains and into the Amazon jungle in San Ramon and surrounding villages and communities. According to Pastor Darryl Jones, "The main focus of the mission trip is two-fold: to encourage and support our
missionaries and to catch a vision and experience for what they do and bring that back home to report. A trip like this cannot help but break hearts and change lives for people around the world." The team will provide manual labor at a camp being built for youth camps, family, and adult retreats. In addition, they will be doing work at a seminary that was ravaged a year ago by heavy flash flooding. The team will also have opportunities to share stories of Jesus and their own personal testimonies through interpreters.
Three Reappointed to Grain Valley Park Board Three citizens were reappointed to the Grain Valley Parks and Recreation Board during the June 11, 2018 Board of Alderman meeting. Alderman Jayci Stratton introduced resolutions to reappoint Don Caslavka, Nathan Hays, and Brad Welle to each serve three-year terms on the Park Board. The Board of Alderman unanimously approved the reappointments. The Park Board is responsible for
the long-term planning of the Grain Valley Park System, as well as the maintenance of and improvements to existing park facilities. The Park Board currently has a vacancy for a representative from Ward II. Interested citizens may complete an application, available on the City website, or contact Shannon Davies, Director of Parks and Recreation, 816-847-6230, for more information.
