Vol 39 • No. 8
Wichita flag first flown July 23, 1937
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By Ken Stephens Page 5 of the June 15, 1937, edition of The Wichita Eagle had an eclectic set of local stories. A horse thief had been sentenced to seven years in prison. There was fear of a grasshopper plague. Two 15-year-old runaways from Larned took a car, a train and a bus on a two-day adventure before running out of money in Wichita. And then there was a story that still has meaning 91 years later: The Wichita City Commission officially adopted a city flag. Although that flag, designed by a local artist named Cecil McAlister, began flying atop City Hall within a month, it was relatively obscure until the last few years, when some local artists and entrepreneurs seized upon
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it for its original purpose, a symbol of civil pride. Now it’s everywhere: on coffee mugs, lapel pins, T-shirts, tote bags, license plates, decals, bumper stickers, key chains, bottle openers, aprons and more. You’ll see it in murals on the sides of buildings, worked into the logos of small business and waving in the
background of commercials for auto dealers. But McAlister, who died at age 78 on Jan. 6, 1969, remains largely unknown. Lynn Campbell Behnke, whose family lived next door to McAlister when she was a young girl, made a
By Debbi Elmore A year after construction began on phase one of the building and remodeling project for the Downtown Senior Center and Meals on Wheels, programs and services have all moved back into the complex at 200 S. Walnut. Members and staff are enthused about the improvements. “It’s beautiful!” exclaimed Laurel Alkire, Senior Services executive director. “We’ve never had anything like this.” Pickleball players are thrilled with the new court. Jeanne Blase said she loves the sport and the benefit it gives her, both physically and socially. Unfortunately, she said, “all that
pounding is hard on knees.” She’s pleased that the new Pickleball floor is somewhat cushioned. At most of the other locations where she plays, Blase said there are also markings on the floor for basketball and volleyball which makes it a little confusing to keep track of the Pickleball boundaries. The Center has only Pickleball markings on the floor.
See Flag, page 2
July 2018
Happy 148th year Wichita
By Ken Stephens Unless you’re a person, 148 is pretty unremarkable as birthdays go. A city, for instance, may want to save its powder for a milestone anniversary like its 150th. And so it is with Wichita, which was incorporated 148 years ago on July 21, 1870. Only a few events are planned for this year’s anniversary. The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum will celebrate a day later on Saturday, July 22, with free admission to individuals and small groups that bring a birthday card. Visitors will be able to enjoy special tours, crafts, activities and refreshSee 148th, page 3
Center phase 1 remodel complete
Questions about services?
Alkire said that Meals on Wheels brand new, state-of-the-art kitchen can now serve up to 3,000 meals per day.
“This will be especially crucial in the next 10 years as Baby Boomers age and more people will need the service,” she added. “We now have the space to begin offering a choice in menu items
Central Plains Area Agency on Aging or call your county Department on Aging: 1-855-200-2372
for those with dietary restrictions, something that is being promoted at the national level and a first for Senior Services.” The Senior Employment Program gained almost 300 square feet and front-door access for job seekers. Cherie Wenderott-Shields, SEP director, said the larger space will accommodate more job seekers, especially on Orientation and Job Club days. It also has more space to post job openings. “This was long overdue,” Alkire said. “Prior to the expansion, clients were forced to stand in line in the hall waiting to speak to a job placement specialist.” As some programs gained space, others lost some. The Center has gone See Center, page 14
Butler County: (316) 775-0500 or 1-800- 279-3655 Harvey County: (316) 284-6880 or 1-800-279-3655