Sedgwick County Launches New eNews Subscription Service
Sedgwick County is improving the way we communicate with you.
Visit our new eNews Subscription Service to subscribe to county news. Our
new service allows us to send newsletters directly to
your e-mail inbox. And, you can now subscribe to receive news directly
from your county commissioner. Just check one or all of the commission
districts you are interested in when you subscribe to the service.
Sedgwick County is working to keep you informed about government business,
public events, and community issues. NOTE: This new system replaces our previous eNews service and if you
desire to continue receiving Sedgwick County news through e-mail, you will need
to re-subscribe. We apologize for this
inconvenience, but believe our new service will provide more options and better
services to you.
Click here to subscribe to Sedgwick County's eNews service today!
Commissioners' Corner
What are the commissioners doing in the community?
Visit
"Commissioners Around
the County" where you can see photos of the Sedgwick County
Commissioners taking part in various community activities and read
Second District Commissioner Tim Norton's
"A Word in Edgewise"
column.
The
Commissioners recently visited the construction sites of the INTRUST Bank Arena
and National Center for Aviation Training. See more photos of the
Arena construction and the
NCAT construction.
2009 Legislative Platform
On January 28, the commissioners approved the 2009 Legislative
Platform to be used as a guide between Sedgwick County, its citizens and
legislators during the 2009 session. Legislative priorities are
issues of primary importance to Sedgwick County and may involve the
county introducing legislation and/or taking the lead on guiding such
legislation through the legislative process.
Click here to read the 2009
Legislative Platform.
Keep Up with County News
News Releases
Sedgwick County departments are always
working for you, so there are always new developments and information to learn
about. Use the link below to stay updated on what's taking place
throughout the county.
Click here for a complete list of
Sedgwick County news releases.
Around the County
Link 4 Life Run/Walk
The Sedgwick County Suicide Prevention Task Force will host the 6th Annual ‘Link
4 Life’ Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the
Sedgwick County Zoo.
The Open 5K Run will start at 7:45 a.m., and the one-mile Zoo Tour Walk (all
ages welcomed to participate) and special distance events for youth three to 18
years of age will begin at 8:30 a.m. The ‘Link 4 Life’ Run/Walk will be filled
with exciting activities for all ages and will conclude with a celebration party
with awards, entertainment, food, exhibits and hearty handshakes.
You can register for the ‘Link 4 Life’ Run by going to First Gear, 111 N.
Mosley, March 20 - April 17, registering online (open now) at www.Active.com, or
on race day beginning at 7 a.m. at the Zoo.
Fill out the registration form on
this 2009 Link 4
Life Run/Walk poster!
Excellence in Public Service Awards
This program, sponsored by the DeVore Foundation, is an
opportunity to highlight the work of dedicated public servants.
One person from Sedgwick County, the City of Wichita and the
Wichita Public Schools will be selected to receive this award.
The DeVore Foundation has generously sponsored this program for
the past 20 years. By doing so, they help place a spotlight on
the role of a public service employee and the delivery of
quality public service in our community. Each award recipient
will receive a $2,500 check and a reception in their honor.
Stay tuned for the announcement of this year's winners!
2009 Severe Weather Safety Program
Springtime in Kansas brings the likelihood of severe weather and
tornados. Whether you've lived in Kansas all your life or are new
to Kansas storms, you need to know the danger signs when
threatening weather approaches and how to react to keep yourself and
your family safe. Peak months for tornados to occur in Kansas are
April through June. Now is the time to plan. Sedgwick County
Emergency Management is offering a Severe Weather Safety Program
throughout the county during the months of February through April.
The program is FREE. We encourage you to
come and join us to learn more about severe weather.
Click here to find the
program closest to you. Be prepared in case of an emergency;
click here for emergency
information and instructions to prepare your emergency plans and kits.
2009 Fire Camp Essay Contest
Applications and essays for Sedgwick County Fire District #1’s second annual
Fire Camp are being accepted now through April 17.
Fire Camp 2009 will take place at the Kansas Coliseum on May 9. This camp is
open to currently enrolled eighth grade students only and participants will be
selected through an essay contest. At Fire Camp, students will interact
with firefighters, participate in firefighter activities, learn how to become
involved in the Fire Explorer or Fire Reserve programs, and find out why
firefighting is the “toughest job you’ll ever love.” The camp is free and all
participants will receive free T-shirts, certificates, prizes, and much more.
Access the Fire Camp 2009 application and essay
form.
Environmental Tip
Spring Lawn and Garden Care
As the weather warms, Sedgwick County residents will begin to tend to their
lawns and gardens. The Sedgwick County Environmental Resources Department
encourages residents to be mindful of lawn-care practices that are less harmful to
the environment.
For example:
- Place and point sprinklers in a manner that is most
effective - toward the grass or garden and not the street or driveway.
- Check sprinkler heads for leaks.
- Water lawns and gardens in the morning to maximize this
resource - this can save 50 gallons a week.
- Use fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides sparingly and
not before a rain storm.
- Don't bag leaves or grass clippings. Instead, mulch mow or
create a compost pile.
Visit Environmental Resources for more
energy-saving tips.
Recreation in Sedgwick County
For just a few months, beginning February 28, you will join the unseen world
of the awe-inspiring whales of the South Pacific at Exploration Place with the
international traveling exhibition, Whales ׀ Tohorā. Exhibit highlights include:
- Encounter two life-size sperm whale skeletons, and several other whale
skulls, models and more.
- Listen to haunting whale voices.
- Crawl through a model of a blue whale heart.
- Become a whale as you dive to the depths in search of a giant squid.
- Learn about the history of whaling - including the Whale People, whale
riders, authentic artifacts, and the current efforts that center on
preserving the species. And more!
For more information, visit EP
online, call 263-3373 or visit the ticket counter in the main lobby to
purchase tickets.
Summer hours begin March 1! Spring is near and that means summer hours
at Sedgwick County Zoo. The Zoo will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every
day of the week through October. And, don't forget, the Slawson Family
Tiger Trek will be open for all to see May 22! Memberships are available
by visiting www.scz.org.
Health Alerts
World TB Day -
Tuesday, March 24 is World TB Day. 2009 marks the 10th year for World
TB day. Each year the day falls on the 24th of March; this day was
selected because it commemorates the day in 1882 when Dr. Robert Koch announced
he had discovered the cause of tuberculosis. Sedgwick County will acknowledge
World TB Awareness day with a conference on Thursday, April 9. The conference's
topic is “Managing Complex Tuberculosis Patients” and it will be held at the KU
School of Medicine-Wichita. If you're interested in this conference, access the
brochure at this
link. To learn more about TB, click
here to see a health fact
sheet.
Shigella Outbreak - The Sedgwick County Health Department is currently
investigating a shigella outbreak. Twenty-three cases were reported to the state
from the Sedgwick County area since January 1, 2009. Shigella is a bacterium
that causes diarrhea. Click here for more
information about shigella.
Syphilis Outbreak - The Sedgwick County Health Department is currently
investigating a syphilis outbreak. Twenty-four syphilis cases were reported to
the state from the Sedgwick County area for 2008. During 2007, there were only
three cases of syphilis in Sedgwick County.
Click here for more
information about syphilis.
Flu Vaccines - Flu season is upon us and the Health Department is ready
with multiple ways you can get vaccinated against the seasonal flu:
- FREE FluMist doses, while
supplies last at the Health Department's West Central location (2716
W. Central). FluMist is a nasal spray
that offers protection against the flu.
- The Health Department's West Central location
(2716 W. Central) also offers traditional flu shots
during hours of operation.
-
Mobile Clinics throughout Sedgwick County
are offering the flu shot.
The Health Department Clinic is open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday, noon to 6 p.m. The cost for shots is $30 for adults and $15 for children under the age of
nine.
Check out the Health Department's Web page
for more information on the seasonal flu, including downloadable educational
posters and a list of who's most at risk.
Healthy Recipes - Need an idea for a healthy dinner option? Try this
Rigatoni
with Beef & Eggplant Ragu recipe. At less than 400 calories per serving, this recipe is
great for the whole family!
Digital TV Conversion
DTV technology is more flexible and efficient than the current analog system.
By law, full-power television stations nationwide must begin broadcasting
exclusively in a digital format by June 12, 2009. The U.S. Congress
approved an extension of the deadline, which was originally set for February 17.
The DTV converter box coupon program has reached its funding ceiling.
However, coupon requests from eligible households will be filled when funds are
available from expiring coupons or from recent Congressional legislation.
If you would like to apply for a coupon, you will be placed on a waiting list
and will receive a coupon on a first-come-first-served basis.
Click here to apply for a converter box
coupon. If you have questions about the switch or how to install and
use your converter box, visit
dtvanswers.com.
DTV Switch Assistance for Seniors
The switch to
digital broadcasting will go unnoticed for many individuals
throughout the country, but many citizens who will be affected
require assistance before, during and after the transition.
Central Plains Area Agency on Aging (CPAAA) is one of many
agencies across the country chosen to receive funding from
National Telecommunication Information Administration to assist
older adults with the DTV transition.
The purpose of
the program is to ensure older adults who currently rely on
over-the-air television signals are provided the education and
one-on-one assistance to successfully make the conversion to
digital programming. Education efforts include community and
one-on-one presentations. The individualized assistance
includes the following:
-
Assessment to determine the need for a converter box
-
Assistance in applying for the coupon, completing the
application and tracking its status
-
Assistance in securing the converter box, arranging pick-up,
delivery or accessing them at a reduced bulk price
-
Assistance with installing the converter box and training
the recipient to use the new technology
To schedule a presentation or to inquire about the program,
contact 316-660-5120.
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