The Klamath Falls City Schools Transportation Department brought its employees together for its second annual Foothills Chili Cookoff.
Although the event’s judges were unable to attend, the cookoff continued with strong participation from the transportation team.
Three members of the department, Brittany White, Shawnee Hinshaw and Debra Pouliot, each prepared a chili for coworkers to sample. Transportation Supervisor Marvin Babb added to the meal by providing hot dogs, allowing staff to enjoy chili dogs alongside the homemade dishes.
The informal gathering offered an opportunity for employees from transportation to step away from their daily routines and connect over lunch. While there was no official judging this year, staff members shared feedback, compared flavors, and enjoyed the variety of recipes brought to the table.
Among the chili contributors was Hinshaw, who has served the district as a bus driver since 2002. Hinshaw said her long tenure reflects not only her dedication to her job, but also the close-knit nature of the transportation department.
“These guys are like family to me,” Hinshaw said. “We have big Christmas dinners, Thanksgiving together, and we all get along really well. We’ve got each other’s backs.”
Hinshaw said she stepped away from driving in 2020 after undergoing major back surgery that included disc replacement, spinal fusion, and the placement of hardware, requiring an extended recovery period.
Despite the ongoing challenges of her back pain, she was determined to return to the district as soon as she was able.
“I was off about a year, and then I came back,” Hinshaw said. “When they really needed drivers, they talked me into coming back, and I wanted to be here. The pain is still always really there (in my lower back). But you just get into really loving something you have been doing for so long.”
After her return, Hinshaw transitioned to working as a substitute driver rather than maintaining a regular route, allowing her to stay involved while managing her health.
“I drive the short bus and I really enjoy the relationship I have with all the kids, and they are all great kids,” Hinshaw said. “When you’ve been somewhere this long, it becomes part of who you are. I missed it while I was gone. As soon as I was able, I knew I wanted to come back and be part of this again.”
