Category: Wyandotte County

Bonner Springs to welcome the holidays with Christmas tree lighting and Candy Cane Christmas Saturday evening

Bonner Springs will kick off a Candy Cane Christmas and Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.

Bonner Springs will have a parade followed by the Mayor’s Christmas tree lighting at Centennial Park, 200 E. 3rd St.

Joy Gilrath of Vaughn-Trent Community Services said children in Bonner Springs elementary schools will participate in the events this year, and there will be parade entries from the VFW, Santa and Mrs. Claus and helpers, the Grinch, Snow Queen, Olaf and other fun characters.

The parade lines up at 5 p.m. at the Bonner Springs Christian Church, 148 N. Nettleton. The parade route will be from Nettleton to Oak to Centennial Park.

A Candy Cane Hunt is planned at Centennial Park at 4:30 p.m., and the Christmas tree lighting is at 5:45 p.m.

Those attending may go to the Community Center, have hot cocoa, and take pictures with Santa Claus, she said.

If they take a picture with Santa Claus, they may bring a canned good to donate to Vaughn-Trent Community Services, although that is not required, she added.

Another highlight of the evening will be the Bonner Springs High School Project Graduation, where high school students will have a Walking Taco fundraiser. Those attending this event may make a donation to Project Graduation, if desired.

Gilrath said her favorite part of the event is seeing people coming to Bonner Springs, seeing what Bonner Springs is all about and spending time with their families at Christmas.

All events are free and open to the public, she said. It is optional to donate a canned good or to donate to Project Graduation.

There will be vendors and merchants open to 6 p.m. on Oak Street in downtown Bonner Springs, she added.

Sponsors of the event are Vaughn-Trent Community Services, the city of Bonner Springs and the Business and Professional Women.

The schedule of events includes:


– 4:30 p.m., a Candy Cane Hunt at Centennial Park;


– 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Project Graduation Walking Tacos fundraiser, at the Community Center Gymnasium, 200 E. 3rd St.;


– 5 p.m., Parade Line-up at Bonner Springs Christian Church, 148 N. Nettleton;


– 5:30 p.m. Parade, Nettleton to Oak to Centennial Park;


– 5:45 p.m., Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting at Centennial Park, performance by elementary school choirs.


– 6:15 p.m., Pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, with hot cocoa and cookies, Community Center Gymnasium, 200 E. 3rd St

Mayor Garner calls for community-wide effort to address key issues in Wyandotte County

Mayor Garner delivers annual message

Mayor Tyrone Garner in his annual message about the Unified Government, Dec. 1 at the UG Commission meeting. (Screenshot from the UG Commission meeting)

Mayor Tyrone Garner, in his annual message about the Unified Government, called for a community-wide effort to address key issues in Wyandotte County.

Garner delivered the annual message at the Thursday, Dec. 1, UG Commission meeting. Often in the past, similar speeches have been delivered at a “State of the UG” address at the Reardon Convention Center. According to the mayor, an annual message is required by the UG charter.

Among the key issues Garner touched upon in his speech:

  • Tax relief for residents;
  • Equitable development throughout the county;
  • Stabilizing the Unified Government, including selection of a county administrator and addressing issues such as debt and financing;
  • Investing in critical infrastructure; and
  • Promoting county-wide unity.

Mayor Garner said Wyandotte County has faced a triple pandemic in the past few years and has had to deal with the health, economic and social justice effects of COVID-19 across the community. It has brought attention to racial and economic disparities to be faced, he said.

Mayor Garner also said the UG has started early on next year’s budget process.

“As highlighted throughout our recent budget process, we are not operating in a way that sets up for success in the future. We must address the deficit in our city general fund, look closely at property taxes and the BPU Pilot, and ensure that the benefits of our services and programs reach all neighborhoods, whether you live in the Historic Northeast, Rosedale, Piper, or Bonner Springs,” Mayor Garner said. “By taking a collaborative approach, we will be able to usher the changes needed for our long-term resiliency and sustainability as a community.”

Realignment of the UG organizational structure also was one of the topics he discussed. Other topics included repairing infrastructure, such as bridges and roads, along with economic development throughout the county.

A link to a video of Mayor Garner’s speech and the commission meeting is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbv7D6kykSg.

To see a text with more information from this speech, visit https://www.wycokck.org/Engage-With-Us/News-articles/2022-Mayors-Annual-Update.