Vol. 1, Issue 8                                          September 2017
The next District 3 Citizens Advisory Board is scheduled for Monday October 2 nd at the Goddard School District Conference Center. Everyone is welcome to attend. Over the past several months, the Advisory Board has received presentations from County representatives including the Register of Deeds, Treasurer, Clerk, Manager, Chief Financial Officer, Counselor’s Office, and the Metropolitan Area Planning Department. In the future, we will have other elected officials and additional members of the staff. Each meeting provides the citizens in District 3 the opportunity to learn more about the county and about issues facing the county. Everyone is welcome to attend.
 
Congratulations to the Sedgwick County Zoo on another great Zoobilee. The staff and the Zoo Board did a fantastic job again this year in organizing and executing the event. If you did not make it to the event, please stop by and visit the zoo and bring the family. It is one of the finest zoos in the nation.
 
Please join the members of Sedgwick County as they participate in the Veteran’s Day Parade on Saturday, November 11 th beginning at 11:00 a.m. Another event honoring our Nation’s Veterans will be held on Wednesday, November 8 th at Century II where over 2000 JROTC cadets will hold a formal military parade for our Veterans starting at 10:00 a.m. Both events are free and everyone is invited.
2017 City to City Leadership Visit
A number of community and elected leaders from the area participated in a City to City three day Leadership visit to the Raleigh Durham Triangle area in North Carolina. 

I had the opportunity to join the other leaders as we saw first-hand the local initiatives and had the opportunity to meet with, talk to and learn from their leaders. We explored their entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives, the development of a vibrant downtown, workforce development and education, with a focus on regional economic development. In addition, the visit provided each of us an opportunity to network and get to know each of the other participants from this region. 

At the conclusion of the visit we discussed what the next steps should be. We talked about individual projects and opportunities, but did not nail down any specifics or look at a roadmap on how to get where we need to go. We did discuss having a local follow-up meeting with the participants and as the vision becomes more clearly defined other stakeholders in the community who would be invited to provide their input.

I hope we can then formalize a strategic economic development plan that is supported by projects that lead to the success of the plan rather than identifying a number of projects without an overarching strategic plan in place. 
Visit the Kansas African American Museum
The Kansas African American Museum endeavors to make the African American experience relevant and resonant to every Kansas resident.
How to Prepare for Disasters
After witnessing the destruction of Mother Nature in Texas, Alabama, and Florida, it is fitting that September is National Preparedness Month. Sedgwick County Emergency Management recommends following some basic steps to ensure that you, your family, and your pets survive in the event of a disaster.
 
Make a Plan  - Involve your family members in developing a plan, then remember to post the plan somewhere everyone can see the details. Discuss the dangers of fire, severe weather, hazardous materials spills, floods and other emergencies. Talk about the ways in which you will respond to each situation. Identify two ways out of each room in your home. Talk about where your family will meet if you have to evacuate. Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1.
 
Build a Disaster Kit  – This kit should include a three day supply of food and water for every family member, a complete change of clothes and footwear for each person, battery operated/ non-electronic tools and supplies, and a first aid kit. Include copies of your important documents like birth certificates, social security cards, and insurance information. Don’t forget about your pets and their needs!
 
Stay Informed  – In emergency situations such as severe weather, flooding, and other disasters, Sedgwick County Emergency Management will be able to report information and developments to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). This information will be posted to the  Emergency Log . NOAA Weather Radio, local television and radio stations, and social media are other methods to help you stay informed. Be sure to like and follow Sedgwick County to get up to date information about local government and emergencies in our area! 
 
More details about emergency preparedness can be found on our  website . 
County Raises Suicide Prevention Awareness
Following a recent proclamation declaring September 11 to 15 as Suicide Prevention Week in Sedgwick County, commissioners received a report of annual data from the Suicide Prevention Coalition.
 
Sedgwick County had 91 deaths by suicide in 2016 – the most reported since the data has been tracked. This is a growing trend.
 
There are several opportunities for the public to get involved and help reverse this trend. COMCARE offers a Mental Health First Aid class which teaches individuals how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.
 
The public is welcome to attend several upcoming events:
  • Sunday, Oct. 1 - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Candlelight Vigil at Newman University
  • Thursday, Nov. 2 – Party for Prevention at Abode
  • Saturday, Nov. 18 – Survivors of Suicide Day at Via Christi St. Joseph
 
If you or someone you know is talking about suicide, please call the suicide prevention hotline 316-660-7500 . It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
 
Click on the photo in this article to watch a brief video of mental health crisis services offered by COMCARE.
 
For additional resources visit COMCARE’s website: http://sedgwickcounty.org/comcare/ .
Central Plains Area Agency on Aging Receives National Recognition
The First Step program offered by the Central Plains Area Agency on Aging (CPAAA) recently received an Aging Innovations Award from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a). This is the highest honor presented by n4a to member agencies. CPAAA also received the Aging Achievement Award for their partnership with local universities to extend Medicare Counseling services. Both awards were presented at the n4a Annual Conference & Tradeshow in Savannah, GA.
 
First Step facilitates a safe and smooth transition back to the community with limited in home services after an individual is discharged from an acute care hospital, rehab, nursing home, or upon referral/discharge from a Medicare home health agency. According to Annette Graham, Executive Director of CPAAA, “without this transition program many people couldn’t return home safely. These clients receive care management, in home services, and future needs planning.”
 
This year’s Aging Achievement Award winning program was developed in 2014 when volunteer opportunities were developed by CPAAA for students in KU School of Pharmacy and Wichita State School of Social Work. Students trained through the local Senior Health Insurance Counseling of Kansas program to offer Medicare counseling during Medicare open enrollment.
 
Plan to attend this year’s Senior Expo on Thursday, Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Attendees can receive program information, caregiver resources, and enjoy the popular Local Favorite Fashion Finds Fashion Show. The event will be held at Botanica, Exploration Place, and the Wichita Art Museum with a shuttle to take people to all three locations. Follow Sedgwick County Government on social media for more details.
 
More information about aging services can be found online . 
Bike Share Station Added to Sedgwick County Park
Take advantage of the changing season and cooler temperatures at the Sedgwick County Park. Recently, a Zagster bike station was installed at Sedgwick County Park – near the 13th Street park entrance. 

To use the bike share program, download the free Zagster mobile app, create an account, and follow the instructions on the phone’s screen to check out and unlock a bike. Then, enjoy the roughly four miles of bike paths and more!
National Forensic Science Week
Sedgwick County's Regional Forensic Science Center opened its doors to the public on Monday, Sept. 18. Monday kicked off National Forensic Science Week, an initiative which recognizes and promotes forensic work.
Kellogg & 235 Update
Follow the progress on the Kellogg and I-235 interchange project here: http://www.235kelloggcentral.com/.
 
Beginning Monday, Sept. 25, all four cloverleaf ramps at the I-235/ US- 54 interchange will be closed until winter. Work on the I-235 bridges over US-54 will move to the outside I-235 lanes that day as well. The new southbound I-235 ramp to westbound US-54 is scheduled to open on Friday, Sept. 29. 
Current Public Works Projects
District 3 is home to the most miles of roads and the most bridges maintained by Sedgwick County. Here’s a snapshot of current and future projects in this District. 

Zoo Blvd Crack Seal (R175-H)
  • Lane closures to occur but road will remain open at all times to traffic.
  • Expected to occur in mid-October.
  • 2 day duration.
Bridge Construction on MacArthur between 327 th St W and 343 rd St W (B467)
  • Road to close early to mid-October.
  • Expected to reopen Spring 2018.
Concrete Pavement Construction on 151 st from K-96 to bridge 150 ft north of K-96 (R175-B)
  • Road to close October 16.
  • Expected to reopen in mid-November.
316-660-9300
525 N. Main, Ste 320, Wichita, KS 67203

Contact Public Information Officer:
Kate Flavin, 316-660-9370
525 N. Main, Ste 343, Wichita, KS 67203

Contact Corporate Communications Manager:
Keturah Austin, 316-660-9370
525 N. Main, Ste 343, Wichita, KS 67203