​     In the first of several planned Community Forums, Grain Valley Police Department staff presented information on use of force policies, body cameras, and the impact of social media on policing to residents on July 20th at First Baptist Grain Valley Church.               
     Sergeant Shannon Carr discussed the impact of social media on policing, and tips for residents to report crimes or suspicious activity.
     Captain Palecek reviewed use of force policies, the complications  and costs surrounding tools such as body cameras,  segueing with Carr into a discussion on Crisis Intervention Training (C.I.T.), and how officers are trained to respond to the individual needs of each  person they encounter.
     Residents in attendance were able to talk with police department staff in an informal meet and greet after the program.
     The next session is scheduled for August 26th from 6:30pm—7:30pm and will discuss drug trends.  Additional information on future community forums will be shared on the City and Police Department’s Facebook pages.

 

     The remains of 32-year old Kensie Aubry, the subject of a missing person investigation out of Independence, was recovered from a residence at the 4000 block of South Buckner Tarsney Road in unincorporated Grain Valley.                 
     A large police presence, including the Independence Police Department, FBI, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and Grandview Police Department, searched the residential property  in the morning hours of July 14th. Grain Valley Police Chief James Beale confirmed his department was  not involved in assisting in the search. The property is owned by Michael J. Hendricks and his spouse.
     Hendricks was charged in May with a series of felonies, including two counts of enticement of a child less than 15 years old, two charges of first-degree sexual misconduct, a third degree count of child molestation involving a child less than 14 years old, one count of tampering with physical evidence and three counts of tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution.
     Charges have yet to be filed  related to Aubry’s death.
    
 

​     An Independence police spokesperson, Officer John Syme, confirmed human remains have been recovered from a residence at the 4000 block of South Buckner Tarsney Road in unincorporated Grain Valley. The remains are connected to a missing person case out of Independence. Officials have been in contact with the family of the missing person and are not releasing the name of the victim at this time.
     A large police presence, including the Independence Police Department, FBI, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, and Grandview Police Department, searched the residential property in the morning hours of July 14th. Grain Valley Police Chief James Beale confirmed they were not involved in assisting in today’s search. The property is owned by Michael J. Hendricks and his spouse.
     Hendricks was charged in May with a series of felonies, including two counts of enticement of a child less than 15 years old, two charges of first-degree sexual misconduct, a third degree count of child molestation involving a child less than 14 years old, one count of tampering with physical evidence and three counts of tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution.
     Syme indicated updates would be posted to the Independence Police Department’s social media channels as information becomes available. 

     The Purple Peace Foundation for Epilepsy Awareness hosts the annual “Cruise for Consciousness” car show annually to raise funds for its programs which provide resources and support for families impacted by epilepsy.
     The 2020 car show was canceled due to COVID-19, which makes this year’s event even more exciting for event organizer Stacey Perry. Perry has missed the car show participants, her “car show guys”, just as much as she’s missed the in-person programs hosted by the Purple Peace Foundation.
     The event returns on Sunday, August 1st at Armstrong Park from 11:00am—3:00pm. While it remains to be seen how ongoing COVID-19 related restrictions will impact the event, Perry promises a good time for car show participants and the public.
    The first 100 vehicles to pre-register will receive a goodie bag and dash plaque. All registrants will be entered into participant-only drawings throughout the day.
     A popular part of the event, and a major ingredient in the success of the fundraiser,  are the raffle baskets featuring items from local businesses. 
     Perry is mindful of the toll COVID-19 has had on small businesses, and has a suggestion for those who would like to support the cause and do some good for local businesses.
     Gift cards and products are needed for raffle baskets, and Perry suggests donors support local businesses while supporting Purple Peace Foundation by picking up a gift card or item for the raffle from a local business.
     “The businesses benefit immediately from the purchase, and we’ll raise money at the event from people buying raffle tickets to win these great items,” Perry said.
     Volunteers are also needed to help spread the word to local car enthusiasts at area car shows, and Perry will equip volunteers with all the materials and directions to help market the event.
     For more information on the “Cruise for Consciousness” car show as well as the programs and services the Purple Peace Foundation provides for families impacted by epilepsy, visit www.purplepeacefoundation.org. To volunteer or for information on registering to participate in the car show, call Stacey Perry at 816-847-6856 or email
Stacey@purplepeacefoundation.org.
 

​     First Baptist Church Grain Valley welcomes Blake Wyatt as Minister of ROCK Student Ministries (6th-12th grade). Blake has served in various capacities of youth ministry for several years and is a student at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminar completing a degree in youth ministry. Kelsay, Blake's wife, is graduating this semester with her Master of Social Work degree. 
     Blake says, "I'm excited to be a part of what God is doing in the Grain Valley community and excited to serve students and their families at First Baptist." Blake and his wife, Kelsay, have been married for a little over a year.
 

     An accident, resulting in the death of a Blue Springs man, on the afternoon of Sunday, April 18th in the area of R. D. Mize & Stillhouse Rd in eastern Jackson County is being investigated by Jackson County Sheriff’s Office detectives and troopers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol. 
     Richard Allen Hearn, Jr., 20, of Blue Springs was killed in the crash.
     According to a spokesman for the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle was said to have lost control in the area of the accident. There were four occupants, and one subsequently was killed as a result. The investigation is yet ongoing and details will be made available by the department as they are uncovered. 
 

     The Grain Valley Police Department will host a Drug Take Back event on Saturday, April 24th as a part of the national Drug Take Back effort.
     This annual event is a great reason to clean out your medicine cabinet and keep loved ones safe. Unused prescription drugs can often find their way into the wrong hands, resulting in dangerous and often tragic situations.  
     Residents are encouraged to come to this free event in the parking lot of the Grain Valley Police Department on Saturday, April 24th from 10:00am—2:00pm to safely dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications. No syringes will be accepted.
 

The City of Blue Springs recently announced Amazon plans to open a delivery center in Blue Springs. The delivery center would be located at 2400 NE Coronado Drive, in the former Haldex facility.
     “We are thrilled to announce that Amazon is coming to Blue Springs,” said Blue Springs Mayor Carson Ross. “This facility will not only bring jobs to Blue Springs but it also fills a vacant industrial building in our community. We are proud to see companies like Amazon investing in our community and creating more opportunities for our residents.”
     The existing facility is approximately 70,000 square-feet and is currently being remodeled to accommodate Amazon’s process of receiving and sorting product for final delivery to customers.
    A 30,000 square-foot overhead canopy will be constructed to the rear of the building for loading. An additional 357 parking spaces will also be added to the rear and side of the building for van parking.
     “We look forward to becoming part of the fabric of the Blue Springs community and are thrilled to be able to expand our operations in Missouri,” said Nikki Wheeler at Amazon. “Amazon is a great place to work and grow professionally. We’re grateful for the support we’ve received from local and state leaders and look forward to creating new, full-time jobs for the local community.”
     With its location just outside Grain Valley city limits, traffic impacts on nearby residential areas and wear on Grain Valley roads are a concern.
     Reached for comment on the development and projected traffic impacts, Grain Valley Community Development Director Mark Trosen stated the City “did not have any conversations with Blue Springs or have we been a part of any discussions/planning of the Amazon facility.”
     Grain Valley Mayor Chuck Johnston commented on the development at the April 12th Board of Aldermen meeting.
     “There’s already a lot of people with concerns about traffic. I addressed that with Mr. Murphy (City Administrator Ken Murphy) tonight, and we are going to try to make contact with Amazon to see what we can get them to do, because I’m real concerned (about delivery trucks on R.D. Mize).”
     Valley News reached out to the City of Blue Springs for details on projected traffic impacts. Per a study done for project, the following is expected at the site:
34 AM peak hour trips (one truck, 33 passenger) and 36 PM peak hour trips(two trucks, 34 passenger) are projected;
157 total vehicles are projected for the Weekday Average Daily Traffic (46 trucks, 111 passenger);
Line haul truck deliveries are anticipated daily, primarily between the hours of 10:00pm and 8:00am.
 
Trip distribution is anticipated as follows:
35% to/from the west along I-70;
5% to/from the east along I-70;
10% to/from north along Adams Dairy Parkway;
35% to/from south along Adams Dairy Parkway;
5% to/from west along Coronado;
10% to/from east along Coronado.
     The facility will operate 24/7 to support delivery of packages to customer locations between 11:00am and 9:00pm.
     Amazon plans to be fully operational by the end of 2021. The company expects to start hiring about two months before the facility opens. Those interested in jobs should visit https://buff.ly/2PIwliY.
 

​    Shaley Elizabeth Harper from Grain Valley, daughter of Daniel and Chandra Harper has been selected to participate in the 2021 Miss Missouri USA pageant. The pageant will take place May 1st at B&B Live Theatre in Shawnee. She will be competing as Miss Mizzou and will compete in swimsuit, evening gown, and personal interview.
     The pageant has two age divisions, and the winners will represent our state in the 2021 Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageant. Miss USA goes on to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss USA pageant system stresses good morals, physical fitness, communication skills, social awareness, and community involvement.
     Harper is a freshman at the University of Missouri-Columbia, studying journalism with a minor in textile apparel management. Harper aspires to work for E! as a red carpet correspondent.
 

     The recent frigid winter weather, which closed schools and businesses and caused headaches for many home owners with frozen pipes and rolling blackouts was on the mind of the Board of Aldermen during their regularly scheduled meeting, held virtually via video conference on February 22nd.  
     During the individual reports and comments portion of the meeting, each alderman and Mayor Johnston took the opportunity to praise the public works department for their efforts to keep the streets cleaned and water main problems tackled during the polar vortex, which gripped most of the nation the week of February 14th.
     Public Works crews responded to a water main break on February 14th on Old 40 Highway, and another on February 16th on McQuerry Road. Road crews plowed roads as snow fell February 15th through February 16th.
     The Board approved a resolution authorizing the City Administrator to enter into an agreement with Lamp Rynearson for engineering design of the Old 40 Highway water main replacement from Main Street to Sni-A-Bar Creek. The 2021 budgeted project has an estimated cost of $27,190.
     The Board passed two resolutions addressing Public Works needs, including a resolution to purchase a coldplaner attachment for road maintenance and repair, and a resolution to purchase a 10-foot stainless steel salt spreader for snow and ice control.
     The Board also approved a resolution to continue a lease agreement with the Grain Valley Assistance Council, located at 513 A&B Gregg Street in Grain Valley. The space is provided at no cost to the organization, which provides emergency assistance to residents of Grain Valley.
     The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be Monday, March 8th at 7:00pm in the council chambers at Grain Valley City Hall.