🌟 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: Ada McKinney & Devlynn Reseigh   🤗 A big thank you to Ada McKinney and Devlynn Reseigh, students in the Olathe West Public Safety Academy, for helping welcome participants to this year's Alison's Allies Walk.   ⏰ Arriving bright and early at 7:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning, Ada and Devlynn took their positions along the street, greeting walkers and directing drivers to parking areas. Their positive attitudes, enthusiasm, and friendly smiles helped set the tone for a wonderful day from the moment participants arrived. ☺️ While their role may have seemed simple, their warm welcome was an important part of creating the caring and supportive atmosphere that makes the Alison's Allies Walk so special.   💗 They weren't alone in keeping walkers safe and traffic flowing smoothly. Special thanks to Dr. Katy Swancutt and her husband, Jason, who assisted with pool and street parking, and Scott Philipp for providing additional parking support. We are also grateful to Larry Katzif, Matt Wiltanger, and golf cart driver Steve Arrington, who helped walkers safely cross busy Clare Road as teams made their way to the waterfall for photos. Their efforts behind the scenes helped ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.   ☺️We are grateful for these outstanding volunteers, both young & experienced, who dedicated their time to a cause that matters: raising funds for breast cancer screening for underserved women and breast cancer research.   ✨ Small Acts. Big Ripple. Whether directing traffic, greeting walkers, assisting with parking, or helping participants safely cross the street, each act of service contributed to a successful and memorable day.   #AlisonsAllies #VolunteerSpotlight #SmallActsBigRipple #OlatheWest #PublicSafetyAcademy #VolunteerAppreciation #BreastCancerAwareness 💕

🫶 Today, we pause to remember the 2,977 innocent lives lost on September 11, 2001, and honor the courage of the first responders who ran toward danger while others sought safety. I am especially humbled today as I reflect on the opportunity I had, alongside then-Mayor Mike Copeland, city and school district leaders, including Fire Chief Jeff DeGraffenreid and Police Chief Steve Menke, and many dedicated community partners, to help secure a piece of steel from the World Trade Center. That beam now stands on permanent display at Olathe West High School, serving as a powerful reminder for future generations of both the tragedy we experienced and the resilience that followed. I am also proud of the work of the 21st Century Public Safety Academy, which continues to ensure that the lessons and sacrifices of 9/11 are never forgotten. Each year, students participate in a tribute to the heroes of that day, including the stair climb conducted by students in the Fire Safety program. As they climb, they honor the 343 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others. Other Olathe West High School students also pay tribute. For many of our students, 9/11 is history. For those of us who lived through it, it remains a vivid reminder of our nation's strength, unity, and determination. It is our responsibility to ensure the stories of courage, sacrifice, and service continue to be told. May we never forget. God bless the families of the fallen, our first responders, our military members, and the United States of America.🇺🇸 #NeverForget #September11 #911Memorial #Olathe #ServiceBeforeSelf @OlatheWestOwls @ADNovacekOPS233 @CityofOlatheKS @LaLainOz @olatheschools @OWPSAcademy