Note from Commissioner Dennis: | |
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I make every effort to recognize and thank our veterans and those now serving in our U.S. Armed Forces. November is a great time to let our veterans know how much you appreciate their service.
First, on November 9, the USD 259 JROTC program will honor our veterans with the 29th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony. The event will be held at Century II Exposition Hall at 10 a.m. Then, on November 11, the Annual Veterans Day Parade will start at 11 a.m. on Main St. near Central Ave. and continue through downtown to Exploration Place, where vehicles in the parade will park for a "Show and Shine," so visitors can take a closer look.
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The Wichita Wagon Masters will cook hamburgers and hot dogs in the parking lot, and the Sedgwick County Register of Deeds will file veterans' DD214 military discharge forms for free. Vets and active-duty military can also get a government-issued ID card from the Register of Deeds that can be used for discounts from area merchants wanting to show their appreciation. Exploration Place will hold a short ceremony to recognize the sacrifices of our military men and women, and then free admission is offered to all veterans, their families and Gold Star families. Please invite a vet to these events and come out to thank our nation’s military.
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The Sedgwick County Zoo hosted a great Zoobilee fundraiser this year! A new record of 6,296 people attended the event. Wild Lights is going on now. Come out and enjoy the new light show with an Alice in Wonderland theme. More great news from the zoo - the elephant herd is expanding, now that several of the elephants are pregnant! As the zoo looks forward to the births, planning is in place to “baby proof” the elephant enclosure and to look ahead at what the future may hold. Currently, there are eight elephants at the zoo, but with more babies expected, that number could reach 22 in ten years.
Sedgwick County, the City of Wichita, our Kansas State legislators and several non-profits have been holding emergency shelter roundtable discussions to ensure our homeless have a warm, safe place this winter. The City of Wichita and members of the Homelessness Taskforce are leading the effort.
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The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) held its Local Consultation meetings across the state recently. The Transportation Coalition, Sedgwick County, City of Wichita, the Greater Wichita Partnership, Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WAMPO) and the Regional Economic Area Partnership (REAP) coordinated our input and prioritized our requests for funding of current and future KDOT projects. By working together, we have had great success in receiving KDOT funding for critical projects within this region.
The public is invited to an important Solar Town Hall Meeting about the future of solar energy in Sedgwick County. Join us Thursday, Nov. 16 at 4:30 p.m. at the Sedgwick County Extension Center to learn more and to voice your opinion.
Congratulations to Richard LaMunyon on his retirement as the Maize City Manager! He is a great leader and will be missed. I appreciate everything he has done for the fastest-growing city in Kansas. Enjoy your retirement.
It is an honor to serve the citizens of Sedgwick County and especially, District 3. Please let me know if I can be of assistance to you.
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The views expressed by Commissioner David Dennis in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the governing body of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners or Sedgwick County Government. | |
Early voting for the 2023 General Election has begun!
Registered voters can now cast their ballots in-person at the Sedgwick County Election Office, 510 N. Main, Suite 101, during weekday business hours. Satellite voting centers will also open Nov. 2. Voters who requested an advance mail ballot can return them in three ways - by mail, at a community-located drop box or in person at the Election Office or a polling site on Election Day. Visit Election Office | Sedgwick County, Kansas for more information.
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If you prefer to cast your ballot on Election Day, polls open at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, and remain open until 7 p.m. Voters must go to their assigned polling location. Find your polling place here. As a reminder, any voter who arrives before 7 p.m., stay in line and you WILL be allowed to cast a ballot. | |
Employee Service & Value Awards honor Sedgwick County staff
The annual ceremony recognized nearly 500 employees who received awards for their years of service and for modeling Sedgwick County's core values of Trust, Integrity, Collaboration, Compassion and Innovation. The County Manager and Commissioners personally thanked employees for their hard work and dedication.
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Proclamation honors Native Americans
Sedgwick County Commissioners declared Oct. 9 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day to recognize their contributions in business, technology, science, philosophy and the arts. This momentous day was first proposed in 1977.
Sedgwick County continues to embrace our local Indigenous Peoples’ culture, particularly the work of Blackbear Bosin, whose “Keeper of the Plains” is featured on the county seal.
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Sedgwick County needs YOU on an advisory board or committee! | The Board of County Commissioners values input from its citizens and encourages you to consider serving on an advisory board or committee in one of the five districts. Sedgwick County currently has two openings on the Solid Waste Management Committee. | |
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First Responders celebrate a second chance at life
A special ceremony hosted by Sedgwick County EMS reunited several survivors of cardiac arrest or heart attack with the first responders who helped save their lives. The event raised awareness about the warning signs of heart problems and how to respond, including the importance of knowing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
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Out and About with Commissioners | |
The Sedgwick County Manager and Commissioners caught a glimpse of the future at the 44th Annual Kansas Economic Outlook Conference. They learned about issues affecting local, state and national economies. | |  |
Commissioners attended the Community Gaps and Solutions: Coming Together to Address Mental Health, Addiction and Homelessness event. A panel of experts discussed these issues in our community and how Sedgwick County fits into the solutions. | | |
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City and county leaders joined law enforcement at the Wichita Metro Crime Commission's ceremony to kick off Red Ribbon Week Oct. 23-31, 2023. Working together with the community, the mission is to help keep kids drug-free. | | | |
Connect with Sedgwick County | | | | |
