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County, city planning first responder appreciation event
Claire Kowalick
Wichita County and the city of Wichita Falls are teaming up to show appreciation for local first responders.
Monday morning the commissioners began their meeting with a moment of silence for the Dallas police officers who died last week in a shooting. Commissioner Barry Mahler said county, city staff and many area groups will be serving a lunch and dinner Friday at the Elks Lodge in Wichita Falls.
'We want to give thanks to those who serve in Wichita County. We want to say, 'We support you and we stand behind you,' Mahler said Monday.
Commissioner Lee Harvey said the Wichita Falls Police Department has been inundated with phone calls of support. 'This is another avenue for the public to say 'thank you,'' he said.
Organizers hope to get a $100 gift card for each first responder that comes to the event. 'If we can give away 100 $100 gift cards, then that would be great,' Harvey said.
Anyone would you like to donate a gift card or funds toward purchase of gift cards or food for the event can drop it off at the WFPD station, 610 Holliday St., Wichita County Courthouse, 900 7th St., or the WFFD Central Station, 1005 Bluff. For more information contact the WFFD Central Station at (940) 761-7901
The event Friday will be split into two shifts to accommodate the schedules of as many first responders as possible. Lunch will 11-2 p.m. at the Elks Lodge and the dinner will comments from WFPD Chief Manuel Borrego will begin at 6 p.m.
County and city staff are also hoping to plan a larger first responder appreciation event possibly at the Multi-Purpose Events Center in October or November.
In other matters, the commissioners:
-	Approved regular and emergency bills.
-	Received a presentation by Joe Wargo, CEO and President of Alpha Omega, on wireless connectivity and the use of microwave technology.
-	Approved adding five part-time jail positions to the jail budget. The addition brings the number of PT positions to 10 who will work no more than 120 hours per week, keeping the item budget neutral.
-	Wichita County Treasurer Bob Hampton gave a report saying the county is one percent ahead of where they were in May 2015.
-	The court reviewed jail work orders saying there were 16 work orders complete eight jobs completed without an order for a total of 24 resolved issues. Harvey said crews are finally working on the vent-a-hood in the kitchen of the downtown jail annex. This item has been on the to-do list for nearly one year. Fixing the vent should allow better air flow into the area and decrease the humidity.