​Looking Back: 25 years ago, Grain Valley got a facelift

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society

 
August 5, 1998; The Examiner
              On Tuesday the voters of Grain Valley eased the stresses and strains of growth by approving four bond issues, for a total of more than $4 million, that will help the city move ahead and won’t even raise taxes. The city plans to refinance some debt, taking advantage of lower interest rates. At the same time it can now issue bonds for a new water tower, a new city hall complex with a community center and police headquarters, street and sewer work and work on a park.
 
It’s history, but it sounds like we could write the same article today; a new water tower, a new police station, work on streets and new handicap accessible equipment for Armstrong Park.
 
August 19, 1998; The Examiner
              Grain Valley city officials agree that the city’s population will pass the 5,000 mark this year and that growth—both homes and businesses – will probably continue.
              Some of the new businesses that opened in the past year included Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, which put its $3.2 million expanded national headquarters near the Interstate 70 Grain Valley exit. Groundbreaking on a Comfort Inn motel is expected to take place later this year.
 
Growth--both homes and businesses--will probably continue. Boy that “ain’t no joke.”  While more than 45 new businesses came to our town in 1998, only a relative few have survived. They include American Family Insurance, Farmers Insurance, State Bank of Missouri, Brass Armadillo, Sonic Drive-In, K & M Office Products, Marsh Screw Machine Products and GV Truck Sales. Obviously, these few have been joined by many, many more.
 
September 1, 1998; The Examiner
              A big change was expected this afternoon for Buckner Tarsney Road drivers in the vicinity of Pink Hill Road north of Grain Valley.
              Signs were to go up to make the intersection a four-way stop and an overhead flashing light there will blink red in all four directions. (Weather conditions delayed the installation a few days.)
 
Now if we could just resolve the situation on Buckner Tarsney at Duncan Road!
 
November, 1998, The Pointe
 
In November, 1998 Volume 1, Issue I of The Pointe newspaper was launched from 514 Main Street in Grain Valley. The paper was mailed free to patrons of the Grain Valley School District. The first edition included the following information, Matt Farlin, Editor; Monique Church, Advertising Director, Vickie Officer, Administration Director; Chris Fischer, Associate Editor; Gina Farlin & Brent Ince, Staff. The paper was printed for about 6 years.
 
Grain Valley has changed “just a bit” in the past twenty-five years. It’s always interesting to look back and learn where we started, be it 150 years ago or 25!