July 2024

The views expressed by Commissioner Ryan Baty in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the governing body of the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners or Sedgwick County Government.

Sedgwick County Zoo is now home to rescued bear cubs

Two 8-pound black bear cubs - a male and a female - now call Wichita home. They were transported from Oregon after their mother was shot and killed, leaving the helpless cubs on their own in the wild. Visitors to the zoo will soon be able to see the cubs in their exhibit for a few hours each day, as the tiny bears get familiar with their new surroundings. Watch the video above to learn more about their story.

If you want to support the Sedgwick County Zoo, tickets for its biggest fundraiser - Zoobilee - go on sale Aug. 1. The annual event will be Saturday, Sept. 7, from 6 p.m.-midnight with more than 60 local restaurants and bars offering delicious bites and drinks. Visitors can also enjoy live music and one of Wichita’s largest silent auctions, with hundreds of items to bid on. To buy tickets, visit Zoobilee – Sedgwick County Zoo (scz.org).

Congratulations to 10 new Sheriff’s deputies who graduated July 12, after 25 weeks of training. Four of the deputies are women – one of whom, Mary Vannatter, earned the highest GPA in the class. The new deputies are now in field training, partnered with a veteran deputy on the streets. With these new deputies on board, the Sheriff’s Office now has 37 open positions to fill, compared to 133 in late 2022. A big improvement in staffing! Watch the video below to see some of the training recruits went through.

Leaders, Achievers & Winners (LAW) Camp entertains area youth

Sedgwick County Fire District 1, Sheriff's Office and other first responders teamed up to host a fun and educational camp for kids ages 10-14 years old at OJ Watson Park. The three-day event provided hands-on learning, allowing campers to see firsthand what law enforcement and firefighters do on the job and then try it themselves.

Out and About with Commissioners

The Kansas African American Museum hosted A Taste of Africa - an immersive experience featuring the foods, music, dancing, culture and history of Africa.

The family of Mark Sroufe, former Park Superintendent, attended the dedication of a pavilion and bench at Lake Afton in his name. Sroufe worked for Sedgwick County 38 years before his sudden death last year.

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Sedgwick County Online

Sedgwick County Job Opportunities

Contact Commissioner Ryan Baty

316-660-9300

Ryan.Baty@sedgwick.gov

100 N. Broadway, Ste. 660, Wichita, KS 67202

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