Owner Jared Montgomery is excited to open the doors at 8:00am on Monday, November 21st and bring Scout's brand, which is focused on coffee and kindness to Grain Valley. 
      "I've been in coffee awhile. It started out by hanging out in coffee shops or working in coffee shops, but it seemed I always had to go to Kansas City for a good atmosphere and a good cup of coffee. So, eventually I wanted to bring that to my own community," Montgomery said.
     Montgomery grew up in Blue Springs with family ties to Grain Valley, and after a decade of scouting out the best coffee shops in the metro area, decided to open his first shop in downtown Blue Springs in 2019. The shop developed a reputation as a community gathering space with great locally roasted coffee and latte creations. Montgomery had his eye on expanding to Grain Valley for awhile, and jumped on the space at 101 W. Walnut when it became available. 
     "We're excited about revitalizing downtown districts, and we're excited about the potential here. The coffee shop is really about high-quality coffee, and an inclusive space for everyone."
     "We want to serve the best coffee in Kansas City and create a welcoming community."
     In addition to their coffees, lattes, and tea selections, the shop offers a variety of breakfast items and food offerings throughout the day. A full selection of Scout Coffee merchandise can also be found at the new shop. 
     With the expansion of Iron Kettle Brewing's event space just west of Scout Coffee, Montgomery said the possibilities to expand their product line to accommodate new guests to downtown are endless. 
     The Grain Valley location will be open 6am - 5pm Monday - Friday, 7am - 5pm on Saturday and closed on Sunday. The shop will open its doors for its grand opening at 8am on Monday, November 21st. 
     Scout Coffee is located at 101 W. Walnut in downtown Grain Valley. Order online for store pick up at Scout Coffee, and follow them on social media: Facebook (Scout Coffee | Blue Springs MO | Facebook) and Instagram (Scout Coffee (@scoutcoffeekc) • Instagram photos and videos). 

     Three Grain Valley residents were among 100 welcomed as new U.S. citizens during a ceremony hosted by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. District Court Western District of Missouri at the Kansas City Public Library’s downtown Central Branch on Tuesday, November 15th. 
     Ana Laura Best, Gabe Cross, and Thalia Celina Orendain Ortiz were among the 100 candidates originating from 39 countries who participated in Tuesday's ceremony. 
     For Gabe Cross, who came to the United States with his family at age 16 from Australia, his citizenship journey began in earnest with his marriage to his wife Grace. Cross moved from Brisbane, Australia in 2015 with his family, settling in Nashville. Cross met his wife in Nashville and the couple settled in Grain Valley, as her family resides in the area. 
     Cross works in the creative field, working in social media and photography for Kansas City's MADE MOBB, and loves the vibrant creative community in the area. "They are all about supporting each other," Cross said.
     Speaking with Cross prior to the ceremony, he said it felt like a "monumental moment" in his life and was proud to become a U.S. citizen. 
     For Ana Laura Best, originally from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, it was a chance meeting at church that brought her to the United States. 
     Her future husband was visiting the church as part of a missionary group, and the two met in the cafeteria as she helped her mother in the kitchen.
     "The whole thing has been God’s plan," Best said.
     "You've heard the phrase, 'Tell Him your plans, and he will laugh', and this is true.  I had no intention of coming to the United States, and had dreamed of traveling to Italy. But God had a plan. Now, here I am in the United States, married to an American," Best quipped.
     Best and her future husband kept in contact for about a year after they met and then began traveling back and forth to visit each other.  After they married, Best began the process to become a citizen. 
     "The hardest part (of the visa process) was the 1-year waiting period when you cannot travel outside the country. It was hard not being able to see my parents."
     Best also said the process to find employers to take a chance on someone with a green card or work visa can be daunting. Best found work with First American Title and has worked with the company for two years. She praised her boss for the opportunity.
     "I'm really grateful for her," Best said.  
     While she had heard stories about how difficult the interview process as a part of the citizenship requirements would be, Best said she had the opposite experience.
     "The officers were really kind, and the process was quick. They were really nice. It was such a blessing, and the opposite of what many told us it was."
      Best said Tuesday's ceremony was "pretty emotional".
     "One of the speakers commented that even though we were becoming citizens of the United States, you do not forget about where you come from. You keep your roots. You may have come to different country, but you still are who you are. No matter where you are. I kept this in my heart."
     Thalia Celina Orendain Ortiz, originally from Jalisco, Mexico, came to the United States in 2012 with her husband Adrian Armenta. 
     "We made the decision to enter the U.S.A. with the hope of being able to have a better quality of life, a permanent job, and a more stable economic solvency.  In short, we were looking for the American dream," Ortiz said. 
     "After living in this country for 10 years, with my 2 children Adrian and Emmanuel and my husband, who are now American citizens, I decided to choose the U.S.A. as my country, and not because I felt excluded. On the contrary, my roots and my language have never been a reason to feel discriminated against, each inhabitant here makes me feel part of them, they make me feel at home."
     "I made the decision to become a citizen one year ago. Actually the process is super easy and fast, although due to my little knowledge of English, it was a bit difficult for me to study the questions, but nothing is impossible, because I finally made it.  I chose this country, and this country accepted me with open arms, and I admit it, it was exciting to see so many people at the ceremony. 100 people, 39 countries and one dream come true for each of us."
     John Herron, library chief executive, gave opening remarks at the ceremony and spoke to the importance of active engagement as citizens.
​     "The promise of America works only with an active and engaged citizenry. It is now part of your responsibility to ensure that the ideal remains valid for every citizen. It is no small obligation. But it is required to ensure that you and your children get access to the benefits of our national system," Herron said.
     U.S. Bankruptcy Chief Judge Brian T. Fenimore presided, and Paige Wymore-Wynn, court executive, administered the Oath of Allegiance. Denesha Snell, library board member, delivered congratulatory remarks to the newly minted citizens.
     The citizenship candidates originated from 39 countries: Afghanistan, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo (Kinshasa), Cuba, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, the Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Samoa, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Venezuela and Vietnam.
     USCIS.gov provides information and resources for those considering U.S. citizenship. Specificallyuscis.gov/tools and uscis.gov/citizenship. Other resources can be found at the USCIS YouTube page, including the “Applying for Citizenship Online” video that helps someone fill out the online application to become a U.S. citizen. Those preparing for the civics test can practice by downloading the USCIS Civics Test Study tools app.
 

Tuesday's ceremony can be viewed online at : 
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sk0Dd-RipM

     The Central Jackson County Fire Protection District (CJCFPD) announced on Friday the loss of firefighter Adam Williams. Williams was involved in an off-duty, single vehicle accident. Williams joined CJCFPD in February of this year. 
     In a release to local media, CJCFPD stated Williams "had already proven to be a dedicated, motivated and valuable member of the District. Our hearts, prayers, and thoughts are with his wife, their two young boys, and the rest of his family."
     Prior to joining CJCFPD, Williams worked for the Belton Fire Department and was a veteran of the US Army. ​

     The Grain Valley Police Department is now accepting child nominations for its annual Shop with a Cop event.  This program is an opportunity for local children to be matched with an officer during a shopping event at Target. After shopping, children can wrap gifts for family members with officers at City Hall/Police Department.
     Nomination forms open on November 8th and will close on Friday, December 9th. Forms can be turned in at the police department or to the child's school counselor. Parents/guardians of the selected children will be contacted after the application process closes. Shopping is scheduled to take place around 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 20.
     If you would like to support Shop with a Cop, cash/check donations can be made in person at City Hall, located at 711 Main Street. Checks must be made payable to City of Grain Valley - with the memo line dedicated to Shop with a Cop. 
     To access the nomination form, visit this link. Contact the Grain Valley Police Department at (816) 847-6250 with any questions. 

     Gerald Dickens, the great-great-grandson of Charles Dickens, will return to Mid-Continent Public Library this holiday season for his annual rendition of A Christmas Carol. During his oneman performance, Dickens leaps, laughs, and sobs as he portrays the voices of nearly all the characters, and his energy and striking resemblance to his ancestor bring the classic to life. Registration is required for Dickens’ inperson performances at mymcpl.org/Holidays.

A Christmas Carol with Gerald Dickens, A Special Engagement, will be held: • Friday, November 4, at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. at the Midwest Genealogy Center
• Saturday, November 5, at 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. at the Woodneath Library Center Auditorium
     A professional actor in England, Dickens has been performing for MCPL audiences for nearly three decades. This year, in addition to A Christmas Carol, Dickens will perform A Child’s Journey, another work by Charles Dickens recounting a train journey from Portland, Maine, to Boston, Massachusetts, during which he met a 12- year-old girl who considered him her literary hero.

Gerald Dickens Presents: A Child's Journey will be held:
• Thursday, November 3, at 2:00 p.m. at the Midwest Genealogy Center
• Thursday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m. at the Woodneath Library Center Auditorium
​     In addition to Dickens’ performances, the Library is offering a variety of holiday programs in November and December. Find more information about each of these programs and register at mymcpl.org/Holidays

     Blue Springs Parks & Recreation announced the name and logo for its new waterpark at a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, November 3rd. 
     The new waterpark, called Blue Surf Bay, is set to begin construction in mid-November next to the Blue Springs Fieldhouse. It is scheduled to open in Spring of 2024.
     “The name Blue Surf Bay embodies what a waterpark atmosphere should be: exciting, thrilling and most important, fun,” Blue Springs Parks & Recreation Director Dennis Dovel said. “With all of the amenities, both indoor and outdoor, we will offer, Blue Surf Bay will be one of the premier entertainment destinations in the area.”
     The waterpark is funded through the no-sunset Parks Sales Tax approved by voters in April 2021. The construction of Blue Surf Bay was one of the signature projects outlined in the renewal along with the construction of Southwest Park. The renewal passed with an 80% yes vote by the residents of Blue Springs.
​     Visit www.bluespringsgov.com/waterpark to view videos and learn more about the new waterpark and its amenities.

Updated: November 3, 2022 to add information regarding court date for DWI charge in Jackson County.
Updated: October 24, 2022 to add Jackson County Sheriff Office Offense/Incident Report (PDF provided below). 
Original story posted October 13, 2022

November 3, 2022 update
     As reported October 13, 2022, former Grain Valley mayor Chuck Johnston will appear in Grain Valley Municipal Court November 8th on two charges, fail to signal/gave improper signal when stopping/turning left or right, and operating motor vehicle in careless and imprudent manner, related to a September 17th traffic stop which resulted in an arrest by Jackson County deputy on suspicion of driving under the influence. Johnston is scheduled to make an initial appearance in Jackson County on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 on a DWI charge. 

Original story posted October 13, 2022
     Former Grain Valley mayor Chuck Johnston was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence in the early morning hours of September 17th following a traffic stop by a Grain Valley police officer. 
     According to the police report, at approximately 2:47am on September 17th, a Grain Valley officer on patrol encountered Johnston's vehicle driving ahead of him traveling west on South Outer Road. The officer stated he witnessed Johnston fail to use a left turn signal when getting into the southbound lane on South Outer Road. The vehicle was then observed to pull approximately two car lengths into the intersection at a red traffic light. The officer then reported witnessing the vehicle almost strike a center barrier when making a left-hand turn onto southbound Main Street. The officer conducted a traffic stop in front of 711 Main ST.
     The officer reported "an odor of an intoxicating beverage coming from the vehicle" when requesting Johnston's license and proof of insurance.
     The officer stated in the report that citing a potential conflict of interest with Johnston serving as mayor when the officer was hired, the officer requested a deputy from Jackson County to assist. Johnston was then placed under arrest.
     Valley News has requested a copy of the arrest record with Jackson County, and will report any additional relevant details when the report is received. (October 24, 2022 - PDF of redacted police report attached to story.)
     Reached for comment, Johnston declined to comment on the matter.
     Johnston is scheduled for an initial appearance in Grain Valley Municipal Court on November 8th on two charges: fail to signal/gave improper signal when stopping/turning left or right, and operating motor vehicle in careless and imprudent manner.