Shawnee County Newsletter

Adia Vaughn-Hunter, MBA - Health Promotion Specialist (Health Department)

This month, we’re highlighting the outstanding work of the Shawnee County Health Department WIC Garden Club. This committee is committed to growing vegetables and sharing them with WIC clients and Health Department staff!

Who We Are and What We Do

The garden club is comprised of Health Department members who enjoy gardening and sharing the fruits of our labor with colleagues and the clients we serve.

We get our vegetables and flowers from Topeka Common Ground. Last year, we grew broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, corn, tomatoes, jalapeños, bell peppers, cilantro, potatoes, sweet potatoes, marigolds, basil, cucumber, green beans, dill, onions, and sunflowers. All the produce we grew went in our WIC lobby, where clients were able to grab whatever they wanted. We also had produce for our Baby Basics participants. When they learned about healthy foods to eat during pregnancy, participants were able to see them and take them home. We also share the produce with our staff. This makes everyone happy because of their different meals using the produce.

Our plans for next year include growing the same items, but we are looking into adding fruit bushes and a pumpkin patch for our clients to enjoy. The possibilities are endless when it comes to gardening, and that’s what makes the club so special.

Meet the Committee Members: Adia Vaughn-Hunter, Dante Mallory, Craig Barnes, Shelley Ramos, Jené Yoder, Missy Middendorf, Allie Vega, Kathleen Burrows, Ariona Atkinson, Jami Butler, Brittany Rambo and Chris Stinson.

Get Involved: If you’re interested in helping out with the Garden Club or have things you would like to donate, please get in touch with Adia Vaughn-Hunter at  adia.vaughnhunter@snco.us !

Shawnee County Parks + Recreation participated in the Kansas Lawn & Garden Show at the Stormont Vail Events Center on February 6 - 8, 2025. Also, Parks + Recreation Horticulturists and staff did a great job creating an awesome display!

Shawnee County Sheriff's Deputy Holmes & Part-Time Lieutenant DeJesus had a fabulous time at the Night to Shine event. Grace Community Church hosted "Night to Shine" on February 7th, 2025 at Westridge Mall. This FREE event, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation is for teens and adults ages 14 and older with special needs.

National Wear Red Day was on February 7th to raise awareness of women's heart health. It's also the first Friday of American Heart Month. Shawnee County Health Department gladly participated!

The Kansas State Department of Education wrote a feature article in their newsletter in regards to National School Resource Officer Appreciation Day. Our very own Deputy/SRO Fehr was honored The article said...Dep. Doug Fehr, of the Shawnee County Sheriff's Office, has served as an SRO in Seaman USD 345 for the past 17 years. Dep. Doug Fehr knows firsthand the importance of building relationships and trust, especially among the Seaman High School students he interacts with every day. “I have an open-door policy where students can come talk to me whenever they need on whatever they want to talk about,” he said. “I have found some students do not like cops or do not feel comfortable talking with cops for whatever reason. I’ve also found some students feel safer talking with cops than school counselors. You never know what type of situation may come your way.” Fehr has been an SRO with Seaman USD 345 where he also has helped teachers in the classroom as a guest speaker for a variety of subjects including history and an introduction to law enforcement class, that educates students about probable cause, Miranda rights and the importance of cooperating with law enforcement officers during a car stop or some other type of situation.

The Department of Corrections "CARE Committee" hosted a Chili Cook Off on Friday, February 14, 2025. There were 13 entries and several winners. First place was Captain Potter. 2nd place was tied between Jeannie Vincent and Officer Zach Martens. The event raised $320.

The Department of Corrections Care Committee was established to promote camaraderie amongst employees, increase employee morale, support family members, and to improve community relationships.  As part of our commitment, we promote fundraising events to provide the resources needed to hold programs, gift cards, flowers, and so on for employees (funerals, births, birthdays, etc..)   

The Shawnee County Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT) had the pleasure of assisting the Shriners selling of circus toys as well as a few other tasks.

The Shawnee County Communications Division of the Commission Office has started a Shawnee County Podcast. Check it out!  https://www.snco.gov/commission/communications_division.php 

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, the Department of Corrections CARE Committee held a food sale of Beef or Chicken Nachos, rice, beans, fideo, dessert and a drink for $10. They raised $750.00 and had a blast doing it!

The Department of Corrections Care Committee was established to promote camaraderie amongst employees, increase employee morale, support family members, and to improve community relationships.  As part of our commitment, we promote fundraising events to provide the resources needed to hold programs, gift cards, flowers, and so on for employees (funerals, births, birthdays, etc..)   

The partnership of  US National Weather Service Topeka Kansas , Shawnee County Department of Emergency Management and  Washburn University  are offering a Storm Spotter Class March 5th, 7pm at 5724 SW Huntoon Topeka, KS 66604. Do not miss this informative opportunity! For a virtual option check out National Weather Service's website:  https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/c82156f248964163b87ff425aad288d1?fbclid=IwY2xjawIptL1leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTyK5XluIjHBqVXPDMIgmYcA3rUtMd-DbDGib8ZJAX3nmuRc-MtFsFEguA_aem_EvpQ-7zzRlKyQKYRbnVQ5w 

The Shawnee County Health Department is excited to announce an Open House to celebrate Public Health Week! Stop by to learn more about the programs and services they offer and enjoy refreshments and prizes.

$19.89/hr  Under general supervision, this position operates a variety of construction equipment to repair and maintain roads and signs. Performs other duties as required. This position is a Trainee position and is limited to 180 days in length. During this time, Trainees must successfully complete the required probationary period, successfully complete a third-party Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training course, and obtain a Class A CDL. Successful completion of the probationary period will permit the Road Maintenance Trainee position to be reclassified as into a Road Maintenance II position. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS • High School Diploma or GED Certificate. • One (1) year of experience in the use of tools, materials, and equipment used in general construction or agriculture. • Must be twenty-one (21) years of age. • Valid Driver’s License and eligible to operate a County-owned vehicle (HR-2013-2).

$16.27/hr Under general supervision, this position performs a variety of technical duties. Performs other duties as required. Data Storage, Recording, Archiving, and Handling Electronically scans and stores documents into archiving system. Performs data storing and recording functions. Transfers data from recorded documents into computer databases. Audits documents and data fields to ensure that they are maintained and retrievable. Reproduces various electronic copies of records in digital formats. Technical Maintenance and Monitoring. Tests and evaluates recording system for reliability and accuracy. Diagnoses hardware and software faults in recording system. Troubleshooting and Support. Works with the Information Technology department to provide troubleshooting support for use of electronic records in our operating systems and applications.

$19.35/hr  Under general supervision, this position performs a wide variety of specialized and/or difficult clerical and administrative duties for the Shawnee County Planning Department. This position is responsible for the initial intake and processing of permit and case applications; answers inquiries on departmental processes, history of tracts of land, and violations of local codes; makes decisions in routine procedural matters without supervision, based on training or knowledge gained through experience on the job; supports office staff and Min. Qualifications: •High School Diploma or GED Certificate. •Minimum of four (4) years of clerical/office experience including, but not limited to: customer service and answering phone calls, record/document management, computer applications (word processing, power point, database, spreadsheet, inter-office communications). •Valid Kansas Driver’s License. (see full description).

Apply online:     https://jobs.sncoapps.us 

Don't forget about the ongoing fundraiser to raise money for Shawnee County Fundraisers. A percentage of each item sold will be given to the organization, after our annual Department fundraisers.

The link to the Apparel store is on the Intraweb, under "Home" - Apparel Website. The link is located on the right hand side menu items. Click on "Products" to view the full inventory. Once you choose an item, there will be a drop-down menu of all the logos. All logos will default to the left chest.