Kyle Palmer  - JoCo Notes

JoCo Notes: Olathe East grad Justin Cooley gets Tony moment

Justin Cooley, 19, was up for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. His co-star, Victoria Clark, left, won the Toney for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. Photo via Facebook.

Happy Monday, Blue Valley!

🌤 Today’s forecast: Mostly sunny and unseasonably cool. High: 75. Low: 53.

🚨 One thing you need to know today

Johnson County native Justin Cooley got his Tony Awards moment Sunday night.

Two years after graduating from Olathe East High School, the 19-year-old was up for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance in the hit Broadway show “Kimberly Akimbo.”

He didn’t win that individual honor (it went to Alex Newell for “Shucked”), but he still got the spotlight for a time in New York City Sunday night, performing a number from the show during the awards ceremony.

Cooley also hit the red carpet beforehand.

The show Cooley is a part of, “Kimberly Akimbo” was still one of the big winners, taking home five Tonys, including the award for Best Musical.

Cooley’s co-stars also won: Victoria Clark for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her turn in the title role, and Bonnie Milligan for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

🗓 Public meetings Monday

🚀 Post’s top stories since Friday

  1. First Beef-A-Roo location in Kansas to open in Overland Park June 16
  2. 🥳 Best of Johnson County 2023: And the finalists are…
  3. McLain’s Market coming soon to southern Overland Park
  4. Ex-choir director at Overland Park school sentenced for sex crimes
  5. Former Tippin’s exec eyes Leawood as home for his own growing pie business

📰 Other local news

  • Overland Park native Mo Abualnadi, who currently plays for Sporting KC’s developmental squad, has been called up to play on Jordan’s Under-23 national team. [Sporting KC]
  • The world’s largest rubber duck will be on display at the Overland Park Convention Center this coming week for a regional conference of Head Start early childhood education affiliates. [Fox 4]
  • A Blue Valley grade schooler is seeking donations of Squishmallows — soft, plush toys — to donate to young patients at Children’s Mercy Hospital. [Fox 4]

📸 A thousand words

Overland Park Public Works staffers recently gave Josh, above left, a tour of the Blue Valley Maintenance Facility. He also got to ride a plow and visit a street repair construction site.

Josh heartened city workers during the pandemic by regularly writing them letters, and this was them returning the favor. Photo via Instagram.

Hi! I'm Kyle Palmer and I'm the editor of the Blue Valley Post and the Shawnee Mission Post.

I believe deeply in the power of local news and strive each day to make our readers feel informed, so they can get the most out of life in this great place we all call home.

Our work is only possible because more than 7,000 Johnson Countians subscribe. To those of you who already support us as subscribers, THANK YOU! If you aren't a subscriber yet, I hope you'll try it out today! Your first month of full access is just $1.

A bit about me and my background:

Prior to joining the Post in 2020, I served as News Director for KCUR. I got my start in journalism at the University of Missouri, where I worked for KBIA, mid-Missouri's NPR affiliate. After college, I spent 10 years as a teacher and went on to get a master's degree in education policy from Stanford University.