The Shawnee Pulse

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

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.

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.

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. 

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! 

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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