Defense Department honors city of Shawnee

The city of Shawnee has received the “Above and Beyond” award from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a unit of the U.S. Department of Defense. The award recognizes employers at the state and local government levels who have “gone above and beyond the legal requirements for granting leave and providing support” to employees who are called to military duty.

In addition, the Defense Department recognized Shawnee Mayor Jeff Meyers, City Manager Carol Gonzales and Police Chief Larry Larimore and Fire Chief John Mattox for their support of employees who are in the military.

The Olathe Chamber of Commerce will hold its 93rd annual meeting on Jan. 31 at the Ritz Charles in Overland Park. The chamber will present its Citizen of the Year and Corporate Citizen of the Year awards at the event, which starts at 11:30 a.m. and is expected to draw about 400 attendees. More information: 913-764-1050 or

www.olathe.org

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The Johnson County K-State Research and Extension group is partnering with Next Step KC and El Centro to provide a volunteer income tax assistance center in the Sunset Drive Office Building, 11811 S. Sunset Drive in Olathe. Volunteers will help taxpayers prepare and file federal and state returns for free. The Sunset Drive site will be open Thursday afternoons and Saturdays, beginning Feb. 1 through April 12.

Tax experts will be available from noon to 4:45 p.m. on Thursdays, and from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays. No appointment is necessary. Spanish-language assistance is available.

More information: 913-715-7000 or www.johnson.ksu.edu.

This story was originally published January 21, 2014 at 11:00 AM with the headline "Defense Department honors city of Shawnee."