The Shawnee Pulse

The City of Shawnee, Kansas

From City Hall to the Public Works Service Center, find out what’s going on in and around the City of Shawnee. We’ll take you inside every City department and talk to managers, staff, and volunteers working to make Shawnee, Kansas a great place to live, work, and play. Join us for monthly episodes covering big events and happenings from every corner of our Hometown with Heart.

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20 episodes
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Avg 34 min
English

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#25
August 17 · 23 min
The Shawnee Pulse - School Resource Officers
Just like thousands of kids across Shawnee headed back for a new school at the end of summer, so too are two Shawnee Police Officers! Officers John Midiros and Darion Hillman serve as School Resource Officers during the school year. They join the Shawnee Pulse to talk about what goes into their days and why they both jumped at the chance to work with students at Shawnee Mission Northwest (Officer Midiros) and Mill Valley (Officer Hillman).
#24
July 13 · 34 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Municipal Court
This month on the Shawnee Pulse, we're taking you to court! We sit down with Judge Karen Torline who serves as the City of Shawnee as municipal judge. We'll talk about her start as a prosecutor for Johnson County before coming to Shawnee, before eventually becoming judge. Plus, we talk about her School Supplies for Fines program, designed to help students in Shawnee and people with eligible infractions to save some money by donating new supplies ahead of the upcoming school year.
#23
June 15 · 36 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Parks and Recreation Month
Shawnee's Parks and Recreation Director Tonya Lecuru returns to the podcast! July is Parks and Rec Month across the country and right here in your Hometown with Heart. Tonya talks about the newly renovated Garrett Park, the department's upcoming reaccreditation through CAPRA, and the importance of Parks and Rec month. Plus, Kate Kinkaid is here to talk all the special events during July spread across the entire Shawnee community from PARKED to Freedom Fling and more!
#22
May 18 · 38 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Shawnee Chamber of Commerce
Every single day, the City of Shawnee partners with the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce to build a strong economic base for the city, liaison with existing companies, attract new businesses, and bring new residents, events, and the community closer together. The President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, Ann Smith-Tate, joins us for the May episode of the Shawnee Pulse as we talk about what brought her to Shawnee, and how the business community is getting ready for the World Cup this summer. Plus, we'll talk about a new event this summer in downtown Shawnee that's combining craft beer and bluegrass music to give people a taste of Americana and Ales. If you have questions to ask on the podcast or topics you'd like to hear us cover, please email cityofshawnee@cityofshawnee.org.
#21
April 20 · 26 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Codes
There's a lot that goes into making the City of Shawnee a great place to live and raise a family. Part of that work is the responsibility of the Codes Enforcement team in the Community Development Department. From trash on properties to even, yes, the height of grass, they keep an eye out for issues and work with residents and property owners to address them before issues turn into problems. Codes Enforcement Supervisor Kevin Messick joins us for this month's Shawnee Pulse to talk all things code enforcement as he and his team enter the busiest time of the year.
#20
March 16 · 23 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Garrett Park
On Saturday, March 7 the Shawnee Parks and Recreation crew cut the ribbon to officially re-open Garrett Park following a $3.8 million renovation made possible by the City's Parks & Pipes sales tax. The extensive project replaced the park's main play structure, added the City's first dedicated outdoor pickleball courts, and a masterful tribute to the park's namesake and a huge piece of Shawnee's history. Manager of Parks and Facilities Brett McCubbin joined the Pulse for a chilly stroll around Garrett Park to check out the improvements, to share his background and role with the City, and to tell us about the effort that went into the entire renovation. If you have a question or an idea for a Pulse episode, please email us at cityofshawnee@cityofshawnee.org!
#19
February 18 · 29 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Kellie Little and Human Resources
Everyday, the City of Shawnee relies on hundreds of employees to make it run. From police officers and firefighters, and from Public Works crews to the Parks and Rec department, a lot that makes Shawnee a great hometown is thanks to the hard work of the staff. As the lead recruiter when comes to finding the right people to join Team Shawnee, Kellie Little talks to hundreds of applicants every single year. On this month's edition of the Pulse, she takes us through her career and joining the City of Shawnee, plus what she and other teams in Shawnee are looking for when it comes to finding the right person for the right job.
#18
January 19 · 36 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Kevin Taylor and Snowplows
Shawnee is finally experiencing winter weather, but when Kevin Taylor, Director of Field Operations for the Public Works Department, sat down to talk to the Shawnee Pulse, the mercury was topping 60 degrees! During the winter months, though, Kevin is always watching the weather since he oversees Shawnee's fleet of 22 snowplows and all the drivers behind the wheel. Kevin takes us through his career in public works, how snow operations work in the City of Shawnee, and we test Kevin's memory for some of the most memorable snow events he's seen. To find out more about Shawnee's winter weather operations, check out CityofShawnee.org.
#17
Dec 16, 2025 · 30 min
The Shawnee Pulse - City Manager Paul Kramer
For the final episode of 2025, Shawnee's City Manager Paul Kramer stops by to share his journey through the ranks of municipal government that brought him to Shawnee, plus he looks back at the year that was and looks ahead to 2026 and what's on the horizon for the City. A special thanks to everyone who joined us for the first year of the Shawnee Pulse. We'll be back in 2026 with more conversations, more insights, and more guests to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to make the City of Shawnee operate. If you have questions or guests you'd like to hear from, please email us at cityofshawnee@cityofshawnee.org
#16
Nov 18, 2025 · 36 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Mayor's Christmas Tree Fund
The Mayor's Christmas Tree Fund has been a holiday-season fixture in Shawnee for more than a decade, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for non-profit organizations in the City. This year, Mayor Mickey Sandifer selected Shawnee Community Services as the sole beneficiary of the fundraiser and they have a specific need your donations will help fund. We talk to David Aramovich and Craig Gibson from the Shawnee Community Services Board of Directors about their experience with the organization, the good work it does, and the need to build a new storage space behind the main building to help even more people. If you'd like to donate to the Mayor's Christmas Tree Fund, you can visit: https://www.cityofshawnee.org/mctf And, if you'd like to join us for Dine at the Vine on Tuesday, Dec. 2, you can call the Wandering Vine at 913-379-1300 or visit: https://www.wanderingvine.com/mct2025 to reserve your seats now.
#15
Oct 20, 2025 · 42 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Volunteers
This month, we talk with Elizabeth Griffith, the Volunteer Coordinator the City of Shawnee. She connects residents and companies who want to help out with residents who need assistance. From small, house-hold maintenance to snow shoveling, the programs she administers helps hundreds of residents each year in Shawnee. She'll tell us how the programs originally started with help from the community and how they've grown over the years. If you'd like to get involved in helping your neighbors, visit: cityofshawnee.org/volunteer or email: egriffith@cityofshawnee.org.
#14
Oct 6, 2025 · 34 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Co-Responders
Seven days a week, Co-Responders from the Johnson County Mental Health Department team up with the Shawnee Police Department to assist residents in crisis by responding the scene when a mental health call comes in to 911. That's just the beginning of the work they do to help people in the community. This week, we're talking to Jen Melby, Co-Responder Team Leader, and Haley Carrillo, Co-Responder, about the history of the Co-Responder program, the work they do, and how they help people in crisis achieve better outcomes. If you, or someone you know, is in need of mental health help Johnson County provides resources through the county's dedicated Mental Health Department. Visit them online at https://www.jocogov.org/department/mental-health or you can call the Mental Health Crisis line, 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 913-268-0156 and be connected to resources.
#13
Sep 22, 2025 · 42 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Fire Department and Turnout Shawnee
Every single day of the year, firefighters staff each of Shawnee's four fire stations ready to respond to calls 24 hours a day. This week, we sit down with Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Pyle, a 27-year veteran of the Shawnee Fire Department, who started as a volunteer. He's seen the department evolve to meet the growing and changing needs of Shawnee. We talk his career path through the ranks, how the department looks different today than it did almost three decades earlier, and what the future may hold. Plus, he and the entire Fire Department want everyone to stop by Fire Station 71, 6501 Quivira Road, on Saturday Oct. 4 from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. for Turnout Shawnee! Meet Shawnee firefighters, check out the equipment they use, watch a live burn demo, and find out how fire safety starts at home. Plus, Kate Kinkaid is here to talk other events happening in Shawnee! If you have a topic you'd like us to talk about on the Pulse, you can email us at cityofshawnee@cityofshawnee.org!
#12
Sep 8, 2025 · 40 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Shawnee Town 1929
Join us for a trip back in time, sort of. For this episode of The Shawnee Pulse, we're chatting with Charlie Pautler and Hannah Howard from Shawnee Town 1929. We talk about the museum's own history of how it started and when the City of Shawnee took over management, along with the time period the staff and volunteers work to tell and keep alive in the heart of the City. Plus, we talk the final events that will happen at Shawnee Town 1929 this fall along with the return of the award-winning Veterans Lantern Tour on Saturday, Nov. 15. For details about the tour and everything else related to Shawnee Town 1929, visit ShawneeTown.org.
#11
Aug 18, 2025 · 49 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Elections 2025
Election season is right around the corner and we're talking to our first guest from outside the City of Shawnee. Johnson County Election Commissioner Fred Sherman joins us to talk about how he landed the job, what his team does leading up to Election Day, and what you can expect on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. Plus, we have a complete rundown of all the important Election season dates including the deadline to register to vote (or update your registration), advanced voting, and requesting an absentee ballot. To register to vote, find candidates, and make your plan to vote this year, visit: https://www.jocoelection.org/ for complete details.
#10
Aug 6, 2025 · 36 min
The Shawnee Pulse - City Budget
Just like you have a budget, whether it be for weekly groceries, monthly entertainment, or buying a new car, the City of Shawnee does, too. When you're talking about all the services the City provides, there's a lot of work that goes into preparing that budget and making sure it covers all the bases for the residents of Shawnee. Finance Director Sean Rocco joins us for this special edition of the Shawnee Pulse to talk about the budget process and when residents can share their thoughts with the City Council before the budget is approved.
#9
Jul 22, 2025 · 31 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Shawnee Police and National Night Out
This month, we're chatting with Shawnee Police Chief Sam Larson and getting you ready for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5 at the Thomas A. Soetaert Aquatic Center. Chief Larson is talking about his career in law enforcement, starting as a patrol officer and working his way up the ranks all the way to the leader of the Shawnee Police Department. He'll take us through his time in uniform and the changes he's seen working for the City of Shawnee and why National Night Out is important for the Shawnee Police Department to make connections in the community. Plus, there's still time left to enjoy National Parks and Rec Month. Kate Kinkaid is here to talk the events left in the month of July and what's happening as summer wraps up in August.
#8
Jun 17, 2025 · 32 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Parks and Recreation Month
July is National Parks and Recreation month and what better way to celebrate than a conversation with Tonya Lecuru, Parks and Rec Director for the City of Shawnee. Kate Kinkaid also joins us for the entire conversation as we talk everything the Parks and Rec team does to care for more than 1,000 acres of parkland, two aquatic centers, the Civic Centre, and provide hundreds of programs every year in Shawnee. Find out what free events are planned for Parks and Rec month, kicking off with PARKED at Stump Park on Friday, June 27! For complete details visit cityofshawnee.org/parkmonth
#7
May 19, 2025 · 27 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Shawnee Mission Parkway Mill and Overlay
It's National Public Works Week, kicking off a full week of recognizing and honoring all the hard work and accomplishments of Public Works crews around the country and right here in our Hometown with Heart. We thought who better to talk all things Public Works than the department director, Kevin Manning! He chats about all the work accomplished by the City's third largest department to keep roads in good condition, stormwater pipes draining, and streets cleared when it snows. Plus, Kevin gives us a detailed look at the upcoming mill and overlay of Shawnee Mission Parkway between K-7 and Lackman Road, coming later this summer. We'll talk what project entails, how drivers will be impacted, and how long you can expect the work to last.
#6
Apr 22, 2025 · 28 min
The Shawnee Pulse - Moonlight Market
One of our favorite events of the summer is just one month away! Assistant City Manager Lauren Grashoff joins us this month to talk Moonlight Market. Find out how this exclusive Shawnee event got its start in the summer of 2021 and what you can expect for the event during summer 2025. From a larger variety of vendors to new look along Johnson Drive, there's a lot to be excited about for this season of Moonlight Market. Make you plans to shop local-made, hand-made vendors, dine on fantastic fare from local food trucks, and wile away the hours enjoying the tunes from local bands. It's all about bringing Shawnee, and our neighbors, together to enjoy Moonlight Market! Plus, event season is right around the corner for the City of Shawnee. Kate Kinkaid is here to go over the upcoming calendar and get you ready for the unofficial fifth season of the year... pool season!

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