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    <title>Court Services</title>
    <link>https://www.jocogov.org/</link>
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  <title>Johnson County’s Veterans Treatment Court celebrates 10th anniversary</title>
  <link>https://www.jocogov.org/newsroom/johnson-countys-veterans-treatment-court-celebrates-10th-anniversary</link>
  <description>&lt;span&gt;Johnson County’s Veterans Treatment Court celebrates 10th anniversary&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;span lang about="https://www.jocogov.org/user/235" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype content="tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org"&gt;tim.dodderidge…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;time datetime="2026-03-09T12:22:18-05:00" title="Monday, March 9, 2026 - 12:22"&gt;Mon, 03/09/2026 - 12:22&lt;/time&gt;
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  &lt;time datetime="2026-03-09T12:00:00Z"&gt;March 9, 2026&lt;/time&gt;


  
  
  

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          &lt;img src="https://www.jocogov.org/sites/default/files/images/2026-03/Veterans%20Treatment%20Court%2010th%20Anniversary.jpg" alt="District Court Judge Timothy P. McCarthy delivers remarks for veterans, staff and community members at a 10th anniversary event for the Veterans Treatment Court on Friday, March 6, at the Johnson County Courthouse"&gt;
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  District Court Judge Timothy P. McCarthy delivers remarks for veterans, staff and community members at a 10th anniversary event for the Veterans Treatment Court on Friday, March 6, at the Johnson County Courthouse.
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  &lt;p&gt;Johnson County’s Veterans Treatment Court recently celebrated 10 years of serving veterans in the criminal justice system and helping to place eligible service members into treatment and court supervision as an alternative to incarceration.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Johnson County founded the first treatment court for veterans in the state of Kansas in January 2016 and celebrated its first graduate a year later. It then added a Behavioral Health Court and an Adult Treatment Court in 2023 to serve people experiencing mental health issues and substance use disorders.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“We’ve had a lot of success with this treatment court, and that’s due to the great team that has come together to help these veterans succeed,” said Judge Timothy P. McCarthy, who spearheaded the effort to bring Veterans Treatment Court to the county. “From law enforcement to court staff to volunteer mentors and many more, seeing everyone working together to help our veterans turn their lives around is truly remarkable.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Some highlights of the court during the last 10 years include:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;88 veterans have graduated from the Veterans Treatment Court in Johnson County, with another 13 currently enrolled.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Veterans from each branch of the U.S. military except the Space Force have graduated from the program.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;The program has served veterans of the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;When the program was founded in Johnson County, it was the 287th Veterans Treatment Court in America. Today, there are more than 530, including six in Kansas.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Staff members and others involved with the program gathered Friday afternoon at the Johnson County Courthouse for an event to celebrate the program’s 10th anniversary.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Learn more about Johnson County’s &lt;a href="https://www.jocogov.org/district-attorney/diversion-program/veterans-treatment-court"&gt;Veterans Treatment Court&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

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  <pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 17:22:18 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org</dc:creator>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">7926 at https://www.jocogov.org</guid>
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  <title>Wanted: Volunteers in Johnson County</title>
  <link>https://www.jocogov.org/best-times/march-april-2026/wanted-volunteers-johnson-county</link>
  <description>&lt;span property="schema:name"&gt;Wanted: Volunteers in Johnson County&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span rel="schema:author"&gt;&lt;span lang about="https://www.jocogov.org/user/151" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype content="tim.phenicie@jocogov.org"&gt;tim.phenicie@j…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span property="schema:dateCreated" content="2026-02-16T20:20:21+00:00"&gt;&lt;time datetime="2026-02-16T14:20:21-06:00" title="Monday, February 16, 2026 - 14:20"&gt;Mon, 02/16/2026 - 14:20&lt;/time&gt;
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  &lt;p&gt;Johnson County truly appreciates volunteers. The just-concluded Best Times readers’ survey indicated 81% of respondents had an interest or even a strong interest in local volunteer opportunities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Nine Johnson County departments/agencies annually rely &amp;nbsp;on volunteers to provide a wide range of services/programs to benefit residents of all ages. Volunteers serve as mentors for veterans, help victims of abuse, become storm spotters, reshelve books and staff book sales or special events.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Johnson County Aging and Human Services always has a need for volunteers for its Home-Delivered Meals and Catch-a-Ride programs; for providing free unbiased health insurance counseling to help older adults understand their Medicare options; and hosting food drives to stock the food pantry shelves at the Gardner, Lenexa and Mission offices.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Volunteers can help clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Johnson County Development Supports, and with many activities at Johnson County Library, Johnson County Park and Recreation District and Johnson County Museum.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Volunteers are needed to plant a community garden, to protect the environment and support green initiatives by the Department of Health and Environment, and to become a vital part in the many programs and activities at the K-State Extension Service.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The list goes on.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Volunteering is a never-ending story. Opportunities are always present as long-time or current volunteers lose interest, move, grow older or face health challenges.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Based on 2025 data, Kansas is ranked 5th in the nation for formal volunteering through organizations. According to Volunteering and Civic Life in America research, approximately 903,000 Kansans participate in volunteer activities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2025, 8,561 volunteers in Johnson County provided slightly more than 369,000 hours of community service to county government. Based on the national standard of a volunteer hour being worth $34.79, the volunteer work has a value of more than $12.8 million. A final report on JoCo volunteerism will be announced in April in celebration of National Volunteer Month and National Volunteer Week (April 19-25) with a 2026 theme of “Shining a Light on the People and Causes that Inspire Us to Serve.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Some local volunteers and their worthwhile causes are showcased in this issue. All volunteers deserve our praise and thanks for what they do in helping others and their community service to county government and the Johnson County community.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;April provides an opportunity to thank volunteers for giving so generously of themselves to meet the needs of our communities. National Volunteer Month/Week is also designed to raise awareness about the ever-growing need for increased volunteer efforts, and the fulfillment experienced by those who volunteer. It’s a never-ending gratitude.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Lend a helping hand in 2026.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Volunteer!&lt;/p&gt;

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  Staffing food pantries
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  Dave and Barb Dukes
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  &lt;p&gt;Dave and Barb Dukes have been food pantry volunteers at the Lenexa office since 2020. Collectively, they have served nearly 800 volunteer hours.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The pantry, along with sites in Gardner and Mission, are operated by Johnson County Aging and Human Services. The pantries provide supplemental food and hygiene products. In 2025, 1,188 households were served by nine volunteers contributing 749 hours of community service.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“We like helping other people. We realize how blessed we are and we are reminded not to take it for granted.” – Barb Dukes&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“This is one of a few volunteer jobs that we do. Barb volunteers with Jewish Family Services in their food pantry, and I also volunteer with Harvesters back-snack program delivering to 10 different schools across three school districts.” – Dave Dukes&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Volunteering has many rewards for the couple who have been married 47 years. Both get as much as they give – and sometimes more.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“It depends on the day, a lot of times, we get to be the bright spot in someone’s day. Dave enjoys joking with them.” – Barb Dukes&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“I do,” – David Dukes, admitting to being a jokester. “I am always trying to get them to take the sardines. I really like developing a rapport with them.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2025, 827 volunteers provided 42,084 hours of community service to activities and programs by Aging and Human Services, including its Home-Delivered Meals program (page 13). To learn more about the Johnson County food pantries visit: &lt;a href="https://www.jocogov.org/department/aging-and-human-services/human-services/food-pantry"&gt;jocogov.org/ahsfoodpantry&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

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  Providing Library services
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  Beth Longmoor and Linn Speak
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  &lt;p&gt;Linn Speak, right, has been connected to Johnson County Library all her life. She began volunteering at the Library in 2016 after retiring. Inspired by the welcoming Cedar Roe Branch Library community, she now serves at multiple library locations and helps patrons find books and resources.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“People sometimes come to the Library distracted or feeling down. I love helping them find something to turn their day around. So often, people are looking for kindness and connection, and I am glad to be in a situation and place that I can help create that sense of community.” — Linn Speak&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Beth Longmoor, left, started volunteering in 2020 by distributing free COVID testing kits at Johnson County Library. She assists with special events like the Writers Conference, handling mailings, data entry and event hospitality.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“It’s rewarding and enjoyable. I do data entry, which helps keep my mind sharp in retirement. It’s nice to use the detailed, methodical part of my brain and to stay engaged and updated with new technology. I wanted to stay involved and connected. Volunteering gives me purpose and keeps me active.” – Beth Longmoor&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2025, Friends of Johnson County Library had 863 volunteers who contributed 42,630 hours of service.&lt;/p&gt;

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  Mike Ralls
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  &lt;p&gt;Mike Ralls retired in 2015 as an Army Command Sergeant Major after 23 years of service spanning the Vietnam era through the Gulf War. Thirty-five years later, he joined the Johnson County Veterans Treatment Court program as a mentor for five years and has served as mentor coordinator since 2022.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Started in 2016, VTC is a specialized court, the first in Kansas, at the Johnson County Courthouse for selected veterans in the criminal justice system.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mentors provide vet-to-vet support and camaraderie to engage, encourage and empower eligible veterans to change their lives.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Mentoring veterans brought me back to what mattered most during my Army years, helping people who were struggling, needed direction or just needed someone steady in their corner. VTC gave me a way to use those experiences for something that truly mattered — supporting fellow veterans. I have learned that mentoring isn’t about fixing people — it’s about walking alongside them. VTC makes that possible, and I’m grateful to still be serving in a way that matters.” – Mike Ralls&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Approximately 50 mentors have served in VTC in the past 10 years. Thirteen mentors provided more than 2,300 hours of community service in 2025.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ralls also volunteers with Johnson County Emergency Management through its Emergency Communications Service, often called “storm spotters.” This group of trained amateur radio operators supports the National Weather Service during severe weather events. He has been a certified net controller (dispatcher) since 2022, helping coordinate communications during weather emergencies.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;More information about Veterans Treatment Court and the role of a mentor is available at &lt;a href="https://courts.jocogov.org/forms/VTC_Brochure.pdf"&gt;courts.jocogov.org/forms/VTC_Brochure.pdf&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

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  Sharing master skills with others
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  Paula Dix, Mike Rafferty and Kim Handley
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  &lt;p&gt;Volunteers at Johnson County Kansas State Extension Office serve in many ways. Paula Dix, an Extension Master Gardener since 2013, has volunteered at Johnson County Developmental Supports to share her love of gardening and expertise with residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“I help clients with special needs at JCDS find a connection with gardening through sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. I enjoy seeing the participants experience the joy plants bring while feeling successful in their community garden.” – Paula Dix&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Mike Rafferty enjoys the outdoors, oversees natural resources and educates the public on environmental issues. He has been an Extension Master Naturalist since 2019 in partnering with the Johnson County Park and Recreation District.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“By working to remove invasive species as well as collecting and distributing native seeds, I help restore the biodiversity of our local woodlands at Ernie Miller Nature Center. I do this work to preserve our natural resources for future scientific discoveries and to ensure the community can enjoy the natural landscape in the park.” – Mike Rafferty&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Since 2024, Kim Handley has been an Extension Master Food volunteer at Johnson County Corrections and other community nutrition initiatives. The program’s volunteers help deliver research-based food, nutrition and safety education throughout the county. One example she gives is:.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Master Food volunteers provide a monthly nutrition education program to those in the JoCo Corrections 28-day re-entry program. I share information on how to adopt healthier eating habits and maximize their food budget. Learning these practical skills supports a successful transition into the next stage of their lives.” – Kim Handley&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Volunteers also help with youth development through Extension 4-H programs; plan, plant, tend and staff the Sunset Community Garden in Olathe; participate in Family and Community Education; and volunteer with VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) during tax season. In 2025, 1,154 volunteers provided 96,205 hours of community service at these and other programs at Johnson County Kansas State Extension Office.&lt;/p&gt;

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  Delivering home meals
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  Larry Roos
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  &lt;p&gt;Laurence (Larry) Roos, has been a Home-Delivered Meals program volunteer with Johnson County Aging and Human Services for three years, serving more than 400 hours delivering meals in Spring Hill.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Volunteering for me is a continuation of a family tradition of service, with family members having served as teachers, nurses, a respiratory therapist, a firefighter, and in various roles at food kitchens. My wife and I began volunteering for Home Delivered Meals after our grandchildren became independent, leaving us with time to fill. We saw serving those in need as the perfect way to spend that time. As we delivered meals, we became deeply engaged with our recipients, coming to consider them friends. This close connection allows us to be attentive to their health needs and concerns.” –Larry Roos&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2025, 665 volunteers in the program delivered 226,956 meals to eligible homebound residents.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Personally, I derive great satisfaction from lifting some of the burden of food insecurity from the lives of so many people, and I will continue to do so for as long as I am able.” – Larry Roos&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;More information about the Home-Delivered Meals program at Aging and Human Services is available by calling 913-715-8861.&lt;/p&gt;

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  Showing raptors &amp;amp; showcasing talent
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  Bill Araujo is shown at the re-cent winter solstice program at the Ernie Miller Nature Center.
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  &lt;p&gt;Bill Araujo, who will celebrate his 80th birthday in June, started as a parttime facilitator in 2007 for the Johnson County Park and Recreation District at TimberRidge Adventure Center, Olathe.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The following year, he began volunteering at Ernie Miller Nature Center, Olathe, in glove training the Great Horned Owl.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“I love presenting nature programs to all ages, working with the animals, especially the raptors, and helping with training others. Working with Ernie Miller’s very creative staff keeps me young.” – Bill Araujo&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Each of JCPRD’s five departments, including Administrative Services, Culture, Parks and Golf Courses, Recreation, and Safety and Outdoor Education use volunteers to help keep facilities and programs running smoothly and to serve the Johnson County community to its fullest.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Volunteers greet guests. Some play an instrument. Others work with plants, drive a golf ball, run or care for animals.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“It’s the people. JCPRD is first class in all areas. The guests of all ages I come in contact with really seem to appreciate what we do by their constant words of thanks and smiles.” – Bill Araujo&lt;/p&gt;

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  Jenny Hines
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  &lt;p&gt;Jenny Hines, 62, has volunteered at the Theatre in the Park program since 2021. She has participated as a singer and dancer in five outdoor shows in Shawnee Mission Park and one indoor &amp;nbsp;show at the Arts &amp;amp; Heritage Center in Overland Park. In addition to acting, she regularly ushers for TIP’s indoor shows.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Her favorite role was playing Dorothy/Dottie in “Halftime: Gotta Dance” five years ago. That appearance was the first time she performed on stage since graduating from college in 1985.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“I really love all of the shows, but ‘How to Succeed in Business’ is a favorite!” – Jenny Hines&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The 2026 TIP outdoor season begins May 22. “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” is scheduled from July 24 to Aug. 1. Hines plans to audition for a role. More information about TIP is available at &lt;a href="https://theatreinthepark.org/"&gt;theatreinthepark.org&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“The best people are with JCPRD. I took 36 years off acting, but now the kids have moved out, the pets have died and I’ve returned to the stage!” – Jenny Hines&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2025, 3,961 volunteers provided 146,488 hours of community service to various JCPRD programs, events and activities, including Theatre in the Park.&lt;/p&gt;

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&lt;div class="paragraph text-image paragraph-margin paragraph--type--text-image paragraph--view-mode--default image-left image-small"&gt;
            &lt;h2 class="image-text__title"&gt;
  Assisting law enforcement
&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;div class="image-text__body "&gt;
    &lt;div class="image-text__body--content"&gt;
              &lt;div class="image-text__body--image"&gt;
          &lt;img src="https://www.jocogov.org/sites/default/files/images/2026-02/Dean%20and%20Sarah%20Borchardt.jpg" alt="Dean and Sarah Borchardt"&gt;
                         &lt;p class="image-text__body--image-caption"&gt;
  Dean and Sarah Borchardt
&lt;/p&gt;
                   &lt;/div&gt;
                    
  &lt;p&gt;Dean and Sarah Borchardt, who recently celebrated their 60th anniversary, have volunteered at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office for 11 years.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“During that time, we have helped train the new deputies. We help by doing different scenarios, from domestic violence, to sitting in a car and getting arrested for speeding, careless driving and many more, and the car never moves. We also help with filing and repairing the uniforms that the inmates at the jail damage. If there is a parade and the Sheriff Office is involved, we will be road guards.” – Dean and Sarah Borchardt&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;All volunteers come from the Sheriff’s Citizens Academy spanning 13 weeks with one 3-hour class each week.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“You will learn everything there is to know about how the department operates. This includes the classroom, doing a ride-along with a deputy. You will also go to the shooting range and take part in the driving course. After you complete all of this, you can now volunteer. There is not a finer group of men and women to be found anywhere. It is truly an honor to be allowed to work with them.” – the Borchardts&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Volunteers are also used for mail couriers, scanning and shredding documents and maintaining records. In 2025, 25 volunteers provided 721.5 community hours of public service to the Sheriff’s Office. Application for the Sheriff’s Citizens Academy is accessible at &lt;a href="https://jocogov.jotform.com/232925385669067"&gt;jocogov.jotform.com/232925385669067&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;

          &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

  
  


&lt;div class="paragraph text-image paragraph-margin paragraph--type--text-image paragraph--view-mode--default image-right image-small"&gt;
            &lt;h2 class="image-text__title"&gt;
  Cooking with juveniles
&lt;/h2&gt;
        &lt;div class="image-text__body "&gt;
    &lt;div class="image-text__body--content"&gt;
              &lt;div class="image-text__body--image"&gt;
          &lt;img src="https://www.jocogov.org/sites/default/files/images/2026-02/Gloria%20Burk.jpg" alt="Gloria Burk"&gt;
                         &lt;p class="image-text__body--image-caption"&gt;
  Gloria Burk
&lt;/p&gt;
                   &lt;/div&gt;
                    
  &lt;p&gt;Gloria Burk, who recently celebrated her 85th birthday, has volunteered at the Johnson County Department of Corrections since 2013.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“I coordinate a team of eight volunteers from Blue Valley Church. Two volunteers rotate each Saturday to meet with interested youth from JDC (Juvenile Detention Center). We help them cook a simple meal which they enjoy preparing and then eating. We call our session Cooking with the King. We teach basic cooking skills while we enjoy getting acquainted with and encouraging these young people. We then share a simple Christian lesson and encourage them to share prayer requests. We enjoy our time with these youth and appreciate the opportunity to do so. We feel blessed and hope they feel encouraged.” – Gloria Burk&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Volunteers complement departmental services by providing additional support and encouragement that strengthens client progress and supports a successful transition back into the community.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2025, 156 volunteers provided 3,505 hours of community service to the department’s programs.&lt;/p&gt;

          &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

</description>
  <pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 20:20:21 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>tim.phenicie@jocogov.org</dc:creator>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">7875 at https://www.jocogov.org</guid>
    </item>
<item>
  <title>Pathway to Public Service Expo</title>
  <link>https://www.jocogov.org/meetings-events/pathway-public-service-expo</link>
  <description>&lt;span&gt;Pathway to Public Service Expo&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;span lang about="https://www.jocogov.org/user/264" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype content="Melissa.Reeves@jcw.org"&gt;Melissa.Reeves…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;time datetime="2025-07-08T13:23:16-05:00" title="Tuesday, July 8, 2025 - 13:23"&gt;Tue, 07/08/2025 - 13:23&lt;/time&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;

    &lt;div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text paragraph-margin"&gt;
            &lt;div class="body"&gt;
      
  &lt;p&gt;Are you a student wondering what's next after graduation? Consider learning more about fulfilling careers in public service!&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The JoCo Pathway to Public Service Expo is an annual event that invites high school aged students to meet with public service experts in a variety of occupations. This will provide students with a realistic preview of public service careers, removing the mystery and exciting the mind for new career opportunities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The event features small group breakout sessions, a career fair, swag, lunch and touch-a-truck! Join us&amp;nbsp;10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Nov. 12, 2025 at the Central Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th St. Overland Park, KS 66212.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Featured Careers:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Corrections&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Wastewater&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Library&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Mental Health&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Communications and Engagement&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Human Resources&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Planning&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Health and Environment&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Court Services&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Emergency Services&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Sheriff's Office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;And More!&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

    &lt;/div&gt;
      &lt;/div&gt;


  &lt;time datetime="2025-11-12T16:00:00Z"&gt;November 12, 2025 - 10:00am&lt;/time&gt;
  &lt;time datetime="2025-11-12T20:00:00Z"&gt;November 12, 2025 - 02:00pm&lt;/time&gt;


&lt;div class="field-location"&gt;
  &lt;i class="far fa-map-marker-alt fa-fw icon"&gt;&lt;/i&gt; &lt;a href="https://www.jocogov.org/contact-us/all-locations/central-resource-library" hreflang="en"&gt;Central Resource Library&lt;/a&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div class="field-category"&gt;
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  Community Event

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  Emergency Services

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      &lt;div class="taxonomy--department"&gt;
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  Health and Environment

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      &lt;div class="taxonomy--department"&gt;
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  Human Resources

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      &lt;div class="taxonomy--department"&gt;
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  Library

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      &lt;div class="taxonomy--department"&gt;
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  Planning, Housing and Community Development

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  Wastewater

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

  &lt;/div&gt;
</description>
  <pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2025 18:23:16 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Melissa.Reeves@jcw.org</dc:creator>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">7245 at https://www.jocogov.org</guid>
    </item>
<item>
  <title>Veterans Treatment Court honors latest graduates during Feb. 26 ceremony</title>
  <link>https://www.jocogov.org/newsroom/veterans-treatment-court-honors-latest-graduates-during-feb-26-ceremony</link>
  <description>&lt;span&gt;Veterans Treatment Court honors latest graduates during Feb. 26 ceremony&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;span lang about="https://www.jocogov.org/user/235" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype content="tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org"&gt;tim.dodderidge…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;time datetime="2025-02-26T11:07:03-06:00" title="Wednesday, February 26, 2025 - 11:07"&gt;Wed, 02/26/2025 - 11:07&lt;/time&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;

  &lt;time datetime="2025-02-26T12:00:00Z"&gt;February 26, 2025&lt;/time&gt;


  
  
  

&lt;div class="paragraph text-image paragraph-margin paragraph--type--text-image paragraph--view-mode--default image-right image-medium"&gt;
    &lt;div class="image-text__body image-with-text"&gt;
    &lt;div class="image-text__body--content"&gt;
              &lt;div class="image-text__body--image"&gt;
          &lt;img src="https://www.jocogov.org/sites/default/files/images/2025-02/Veterans%20Treatment%20Court%20Graduation%20Feb.%202025.jpg" alt="Judge, graduate and mentor at veterans treatment court graduation in courtroom"&gt;
                         &lt;p class="image-text__body--image-caption"&gt;
  Left to right: Judge Timothy P. McCarthy; Mark McMahon, Friends in Service of Heroes; Andrew Bergman, veterans treatment court graduate; Bill Meyer, Bergman's mentor in the program
&lt;/p&gt;
                   &lt;/div&gt;
                    
  &lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Johnson County’s veterans treatment court honored its latest program graduates with a ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the Johnson County Courthouse.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Among the graduates included the first graduate to serve in the Coast Guard.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;A total of four veterans were honored during the graduation:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Mark Sterling&lt;/strong&gt; – Army (1985-1989)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Justin Scoville&lt;/strong&gt; – Coast Guard, Active Duty (2002-2022)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Andrew Bergman&lt;/strong&gt; – Army (2001-2015)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Brian Burch&lt;/strong&gt; – Army (2006-2012)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;After Wednesday’s ceremony, a total of 79 veterans have graduated from veterans treatment court in Johnson County.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;District Court Judge Timothy P. McCarthy, who spearheaded the effort to bring veterans treatment court to the county, presided over the recognition ceremony. Courthouse and county officials were present for the ceremony.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Johnson County District Court founded the first treatment court for veterans in the state of Kansas in January 2016. A year later, veterans treatment court recognized its first veteran to graduate from the program.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;A behavioral health court and an adult treatment court launched in 2023, joining the county's veterans treatment court in serving individuals’ mental health and substance use disorder needs.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Veterans treatment court’s mission is to identify veterans in the criminal justice system and to place eligible service people into treatment and court supervision as an alternative to incarceration.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;In 2008, Judge Robert Russell in Buffalo, New York, began the first docket dedicated to veterans after he saw an increase in the number of military servicemen appearing on his drug and mental health court dockets.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Learn more about&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="http://www.justiceforvets.org/what-is-a-veterans-treatment-court"&gt;Veterans Treatment Court&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp; and&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://courts.jocogov.org/cs_vtc.aspx"&gt;court services available in Johnson County&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

          &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;


&lt;div class="field-department"&gt;
      &lt;strong&gt;Department: &lt;/strong&gt;
        &lt;div class="taxonomy--department"&gt;
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    &lt;i class="far fa-building"&gt;&lt;/i&gt;
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  Court Services

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

      &lt;div class="taxonomy--department"&gt;
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    &lt;i class="far fa-building"&gt;&lt;/i&gt;
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  &lt;span class="taxonomy--department__name"&gt;
  
  District Attorney

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

      &lt;div class="taxonomy--department"&gt;
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  District Courts

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

  &lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div class="field-category"&gt;
        &lt;strong&gt;Category: &lt;/strong&gt;
     
      &lt;div class="taxonomy--category"&gt;
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  News

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

  &lt;/div&gt;
</description>
  <pubDate>Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:07:03 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org</dc:creator>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">6889 at https://www.jocogov.org</guid>
    </item>
<item>
  <title>Veterans Treatment Court honors latest graduates during Aug. 28 ceremony</title>
  <link>https://www.jocogov.org/newsroom/veterans-treatment-court-honors-latest-graduates-during-aug-28-ceremony</link>
  <description>&lt;span&gt;Veterans Treatment Court honors latest graduates during Aug. 28 ceremony&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;span lang about="https://www.jocogov.org/user/235" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype content="tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org"&gt;tim.dodderidge…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;time datetime="2024-08-28T12:56:29-05:00" title="Wednesday, August 28, 2024 - 12:56"&gt;Wed, 08/28/2024 - 12:56&lt;/time&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;

  &lt;time datetime="2024-08-29T12:00:00Z"&gt;August 29, 2024&lt;/time&gt;


  
  
  

&lt;div class="paragraph text-image paragraph-margin paragraph--type--text-image paragraph--view-mode--default image-right image-medium"&gt;
    &lt;div class="image-text__body image-with-text"&gt;
    &lt;div class="image-text__body--content"&gt;
              &lt;div class="image-text__body--image"&gt;
          &lt;img src="https://www.jocogov.org/sites/default/files/images/2024-08/VTC%20Aug.%202024%20%281%29.jpg" alt="Blue Veterans Treatment Court banner on podium in a courtroom"&gt;
                   &lt;/div&gt;
                    
  &lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Johnson County’s Veterans Treatment Court honored its latest program graduates with a ceremony on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at the Johnson County Courthouse.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;A total of five veterans were honored during the graduation:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Timothy Baptist (Marine Corps)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Kenneth Payne (Army)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Jorge “Alex” Rosales (Army National Guard)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Andres Salcido (Army Reserves)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Allen Smith (Navy)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;After Wednesday’s ceremony, a total of 74 veterans have graduated from VTC in Johnson County.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;District Court Judge Timothy P. McCarthy, who spearheaded the effort to bring VTC to the county, presided over the recognition ceremony. Courthouse and county officials were present for the ceremony.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Johnson County District Court founded the first treatment court for veterans in the state of Kansas in January 2016. A year later, VTC recognized its first veteran to graduate from the program.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A behavioral health court and an adult treatment court launched in 2023, joining the county's veterans treatment court in serving individuals’ mental health and substance use disorder needs.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;VTC’s mission is to identify veterans in the criminal justice system and to place eligible service people into treatment and court supervision as an alternative to incarceration.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;In 2008, Judge Robert Russell in Buffalo, New York, began the first docket dedicated to veterans after he saw an increase in the number of military servicemen appearing on his drug and mental health court dockets.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Learn more about&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="http://www.justiceforvets.org/what-is-a-veterans-treatment-court"&gt;Veterans Treatment Court&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp; and&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://courts.jocogov.org/cs_vtc.aspx"&gt;court services available in Johnson County&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

          &lt;/div&gt;
  &lt;/div&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;div class="paragraph paragraph-margin paragraph--type--embed paragraph--view-mode--default"&gt;
            &lt;h2&gt;
  Veterans Treatment Court Graduation: Aug. 28, 2024
&lt;/h2&gt;
              &lt;iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KdelDls-Fa0?si=Te1Ji0HP2M8hDd-F" height="500" title="Veterans Treatment Court Graduation: Aug. 28, 2024" allow="encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin"&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;
      &lt;/div&gt;


&lt;div class="field-department"&gt;
      &lt;strong&gt;Department: &lt;/strong&gt;
        &lt;div class="taxonomy--department"&gt;
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  Court Services

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  District Attorney

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</description>
  <pubDate>Wed, 28 Aug 2024 17:56:29 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org</dc:creator>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">6245 at https://www.jocogov.org</guid>
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  <title>Veterans Treatment Court honors latest graduates during April 24 ceremony</title>
  <link>https://www.jocogov.org/newsroom/veterans-treatment-court-honors-latest-graduates-during-april-24-ceremony</link>
  <description>&lt;span&gt;Veterans Treatment Court honors latest graduates during April 24 ceremony&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;span lang about="https://www.jocogov.org/user/235" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype content="tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org"&gt;tim.dodderidge…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;time datetime="2024-04-25T10:24:57-05:00" title="Thursday, April 25, 2024 - 10:24"&gt;Thu, 04/25/2024 - 10:24&lt;/time&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;

  &lt;time datetime="2024-04-25T12:00:00Z"&gt;April 25, 2024&lt;/time&gt;


  
  
  

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          &lt;img src="https://www.jocogov.org/sites/default/files/images/2024-04/VTC%20Graduation%20April%202024.jpg" alt="Two graduates of Veterans Treatment Court in a courtroom at the Johnson County Courthouse"&gt;
                         &lt;p class="image-text__body--image-caption"&gt;
  John Lewis (left) and Timothy Tizya (right) were among the four graduates of Veterans Treatment Court honored at the April 24 graduation ceremony.
&lt;/p&gt;
                   &lt;/div&gt;
                    
  &lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Johnson County’s Veterans Treatment Court honored its latest program graduates with a ceremony on Wednesday, April 24 at the Johnson County Courthouse.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;A total of four veterans were honored during the graduation:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Timothy Tizya (Marine Corps, 1980-1983)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Ramsey Penn (National Guard, 2012-Current)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;John Lewis (Army, 1990-2006)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Kenneth Payne (Army, 1984-1990)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;After Wednesday’s ceremony, a total of 70 veterans have graduated from VTC in Johnson County. There are currently 12 veterans in the program.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;District Court Judge Timothy P. McCarthy, who spearheaded the effort to bring VTC to the county, presided over the recognition ceremony. Courthouse and county officials were present for the ceremony.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Johnson County District Court founded the first treatment court for veterans in the state of Kansas in January 2016. A year later, VTC recognized its first veteran to graduate from the program.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;VTC’s mission is to identify veterans in the criminal justice system and to place eligible service people into treatment and court supervision as an alternative to incarceration.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;In 2008, Judge Robert Russell in Buffalo, New York, began the first docket dedicated to veterans after he saw an increase in the number of military servicemen appearing on his drug and mental health court dockets.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Today, more than 250 treatment courts in 40 states offer services to military veterans. VTC programs in Missouri are available in Jackson and Clay counties and the city of Kansas City. Wyandotte County, Kansas started a second VTC in 2021.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Learn more about&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="http://www.justiceforvets.org/what-is-a-veterans-treatment-court"&gt;Veterans Treatment Court&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp; and&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="https://courts.jocogov.org/cs_vtc.aspx"&gt;court services available in Johnson County&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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</description>
  <pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2024 15:24:57 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org</dc:creator>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">5891 at https://www.jocogov.org</guid>
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  <title>Johnson County celebrates community volunteers during National Volunteer Week</title>
  <link>https://www.jocogov.org/newsroom/johnson-county-celebrates-community-volunteers-during-national-volunteer-week</link>
  <description>&lt;span&gt;Johnson County celebrates community volunteers during National Volunteer Week&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;span lang about="https://www.jocogov.org/user/235" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype content="tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org"&gt;tim.dodderidge…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;time datetime="2024-04-17T15:58:50-05:00" title="Wednesday, April 17, 2024 - 15:58"&gt;Wed, 04/17/2024 - 15:58&lt;/time&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;

  
  
  

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          &lt;img src="https://www.jocogov.org/sites/default/files/images/2024-04/Volunteer%20Month%20Proclamation.jpg" alt="County staff and volunteers hold a proclamation for National Volunteer Month"&gt;
                   &lt;/div&gt;
                    
  &lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Johnson County recognizes the work of volunteers across the community. At Thursday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting, the Board proclaimed the week of April 21-27, 2024 as National Volunteer Week in Johnson County.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;This year’s National Volunteer Week theme, “&lt;span&gt;Celebrate Service,” is an opportunity to celebrate the people who serve Johnson County. National Volunteer Week also encourages residents to participate by volunteering.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Jorge Gaona, volunteer and programs coordinator, Johnson County Corrections Volunteer Community, accepted the proclamation alongside volunteers and other volunteer coordinators – representing departments/agencies/offices from Aging and Human Services to Johnson County Library.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Volunteers play a vital role in our community, and their selflessness and dedication help support those in need throughout the county – whether it’s food assistance, nonprofit work, military service or another valuable service.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Johnson County Government also relies on volunteers to support many of its functions. In 2023, Johnson County had 22,893 volunteer slots filled, totaling more than 356,000 hours of service – the equivalent of 171 FTEs. Volunteers contributed $11.3 million in service to the county.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;Learn more about volunteer opportunities with the county, with opportunities regularly available in the following areas:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
&lt;tbody&gt;
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&lt;td&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.jocogov.org/node/88"&gt;Aging and Human Services&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="http://boards.jocogov.org/"&gt;Boards and Commissions&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://connect.jocogov.org/county-corrections-volunteer-program"&gt;Corrections Department&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://da.jocogov.org/volunteer-program"&gt;District Attorney's Office&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://joco.samaritan.com/"&gt;Developmental Supports&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.jocoelection.org/voting-election-info/election-workers"&gt;Election Workers&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.jocogov.org/department/emergency-management/emergency-management-community/volunteer-and-internship-opportunities"&gt;Emergency Management&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;/td&gt;
&lt;td&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://courts.jocogov.org/dcPopupNotice.aspx"&gt;Family Court Services&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.jocogov.org/department/county-managers-office/joco-academy"&gt;JoCo Academy&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://joco.samaritan.com/custom/501/"&gt;Johnson County Library&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.jcprd.com/759/Volunteer-Opportunities"&gt;Johnson County Museum&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.johnson.k-state.edu/volunteers.html"&gt;K-State Research and Extension&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.jcprd.com/247/Volunteer-Opportunities"&gt;Park &amp;amp; Recreation District&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.jocosheriff.org/webform/join-citizens-academy"&gt;Sheriff's Office Citizens Academy&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
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  Aging and Human Services

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  Board of County Commissioners

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  County Manager's Office

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  Election Office

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  K-State Extension, Johnson County

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  Sheriff

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</description>
  <pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2024 20:58:50 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>tim.dodderidge@jocogov.org</dc:creator>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">5845 at https://www.jocogov.org</guid>
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  <title>New courthouse had busy first year despite pandemic</title>
  <link>https://www.jocogov.org/newsroom/new-courthouse-had-busy-first-year-despite-pandemic</link>
  <description>&lt;span&gt;New courthouse had busy first year despite pandemic&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;span lang about="https://www.jocogov.org/user/117" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype content="theresa.freed@jocogov.org"&gt;theresa.freed@…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;time datetime="2022-01-07T10:20:29-06:00" title="Friday, January 7, 2022 - 10:20"&gt;Fri, 01/07/2022 - 10:20&lt;/time&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;

  &lt;time datetime="2022-01-07T12:00:00Z"&gt;January 7, 2022&lt;/time&gt;


    &lt;div class="paragraph paragraph--type--text paragraph-margin"&gt;
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  &lt;p&gt;The new Johnson County Courthouse in downtown Olathe opened a year ago in the middle of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.&amp;nbsp;During its first year of operations, court activities were done differently – in-person and virtually – and remain that way.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Health and safety protocols were established and enforced in 2021, continuing with the new year. That included a decision to place jury trials on hold, effective Jan. 10 until Feb. 14, due to current wide spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. All other hearings will take place as scheduled and will be a hybrid of in-person and remote depending on the nature of the case and hearing.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Security screenings of people entering the courthouse declined from a year ago, but the Tenth Judicial District Court, also known as Johnson County District Court, in the new courthouse was busy since opening on Jan. 7, 2021.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“We are extremely proud of our continual ability to pivot and provide quality services during the pandemic whether it is in remote or in-person,” said Court Administrator Laura Brewer. “The district court continues to make safety our top priority. Most of our hearings are still held remotely with in-person hearings done only when necessary, especially with the recent spike in COVID cases.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2021, 3,053 marriage license applications were filed in the new courthouse. The district court had 19 jury trials; 65,674 criminal, juvenile or traffic hearings; 26,300 civil hearings; and 1,737 probate hearings. Jury trials were modified with guidance from health officials.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“During jury selection, multiple rooms are used to stream proceedings to allow for social distancing,” Brewer said. “Jurors seated in the jury box remain masked and are separated with plexiglass dividers. Deliberations are being held in the courtroom as opposed to the jury assembly room as the courtrooms provide the ability to comfortably maintain six-feet distance.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Court security officers of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office screened 135,955 people entering the new courthouse in 2021.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Heading into the start of 2022, the health and safety guidelines at the new courthouse continue to follow recommendations from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.&amp;nbsp;Masks and physical distancing are required in all courtrooms but are not required in most other public areas inside the building. Courthouse employees must wear masks and practice physical distancing.&amp;nbsp;Unvaccinated visitors are strongly encouraged to wear a mask while in the courthouse. Free masks are available upon entry.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Our pandemic response team continues to meet every two weeks with local health officials to ensure we are operating in the safest manner possible,” Brewer said.&lt;br&gt;
&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

    &lt;/div&gt;
      &lt;/div&gt;


&lt;div class="field-department"&gt;
      &lt;strong&gt;Department: &lt;/strong&gt;
        &lt;div class="taxonomy--department"&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--department__icon"&gt;
    &lt;i class="far fa-building"&gt;&lt;/i&gt;
  &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--department__name"&gt;
  
  Court Services

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

      &lt;div class="taxonomy--department"&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--department__icon"&gt;
    &lt;i class="far fa-building"&gt;&lt;/i&gt;
  &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--department__name"&gt;
  
  District Attorney

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

      &lt;div class="taxonomy--department"&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--department__icon"&gt;
    &lt;i class="far fa-building"&gt;&lt;/i&gt;
  &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--department__name"&gt;
  
  District Court Trustee

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

  &lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div class="field-category"&gt;
        &lt;strong&gt;Category: &lt;/strong&gt;
     
      &lt;div class="taxonomy--category"&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--category__icon"&gt;
    &lt;i class="far fa-tags fa-fw icon"&gt;&lt;/i&gt;
  &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--category__name"&gt;
  
  News

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

  &lt;/div&gt;
</description>
  <pubDate>Fri, 07 Jan 2022 16:20:29 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>theresa.freed@jocogov.org</dc:creator>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">3127 at https://www.jocogov.org</guid>
    </item>
<item>
  <title>Domestic Court Services</title>
  <link>https://www.jocogov.org/item/service-listing/domestic-court-services</link>
  <description>&lt;span&gt;Domestic Court Services&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;span lang about="https://www.jocogov.org/user/57" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype content="Tami.Fasching@jocogov.org"&gt;Tami.Fasching@…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;time datetime="2021-10-11T14:06:29-05:00" title="Monday, October 11, 2021 - 14:06"&gt;Mon, 10/11/2021 - 14:06&lt;/time&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;

  &lt;p&gt;The Domestic unit of Court Services provides services and resources for families going through the separation / divorce process or in post-divorce matters in the Johnson County District Court. These services include&amp;nbsp;mediation&amp;nbsp;and&amp;nbsp;conciliation&amp;nbsp;for separated or divorce parents, written family assessments&amp;nbsp;(home studies)&amp;nbsp;for the District Court, supervised visitation and supervised exchange program.&lt;/p&gt;

  &lt;a href="https://courts.jocogov.org/cs_dom.aspx"&gt;Domestic Court Services&lt;/a&gt;

&lt;div class="field-department"&gt;
        &lt;div class="taxonomy--department"&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--department__icon"&gt;
    &lt;i class="far fa-building"&gt;&lt;/i&gt;
  &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--department__name"&gt;
  
  Court Services

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

  &lt;/div&gt;

  &lt;div class="taxonomy--category"&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--category__icon"&gt;
    &lt;i class&gt;&lt;/i&gt;
  &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--category__name"&gt;
  
  Children and Family

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

  &lt;div class="taxonomy--category"&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--category__icon"&gt;
    &lt;i class&gt;&lt;/i&gt;
  &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--category__name"&gt;
  
  Courts and Legal

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

</description>
  <pubDate>Mon, 11 Oct 2021 19:06:29 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Tami.Fasching@jocogov.org</dc:creator>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">2002 at https://www.jocogov.org</guid>
    </item>
<item>
  <title>Adult Probation Services</title>
  <link>https://www.jocogov.org/item/service-listing/adult-probation-services</link>
  <description>&lt;span&gt;Adult Probation Services&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;span lang about="https://www.jocogov.org/user/57" typeof="schema:Person" property="schema:name" datatype content="Tami.Fasching@jocogov.org"&gt;Tami.Fasching@…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;
&lt;span&gt;&lt;time datetime="2021-10-11T14:00:45-05:00" title="Monday, October 11, 2021 - 14:00"&gt;Mon, 10/11/2021 - 14:00&lt;/time&gt;
&lt;/span&gt;

  &lt;p&gt;Resources and services for adult offenders including adult supervision, community service, drug testing, house arrest and pretrial supervision.&lt;/p&gt;

  &lt;a href="https://courts.jocogov.org/cs_aserv.aspx"&gt;Adult Probation&lt;/a&gt;

&lt;div class="field-department"&gt;
        &lt;div class="taxonomy--department"&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--department__icon"&gt;
    &lt;i class="far fa-building"&gt;&lt;/i&gt;
  &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--department__name"&gt;
  
  Court Services

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

  &lt;/div&gt;

  &lt;div class="taxonomy--category"&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--category__icon"&gt;
    &lt;i class&gt;&lt;/i&gt;
  &lt;/span&gt;
  &lt;span class="taxonomy--category__name"&gt;
  
  Courts and Legal

  &lt;/span&gt;
&lt;/div&gt;

</description>
  <pubDate>Mon, 11 Oct 2021 19:00:45 +0000</pubDate>
    <dc:creator>Tami.Fasching@jocogov.org</dc:creator>
    <guid isPermaLink="false">2000 at https://www.jocogov.org</guid>
    </item>

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