Casino

On Saturday, Arkansas City Police responded to Jump Start convenience store because someone was trying to use several cards multiple times at an ATM. When officers arrived, they say they found two people in possession of stolen property. The property was stolen from First Council Casino. An 18-year-old Wichita man is believed to have stolen a purse from a woman at the casino. Authorities returned most of the contents to the victim. The man was arrested for for Possession of Stolen Property, Criminal Use of Financial Card x9 and Possession of Narcotics.

You can't miss it, whether you're driving by, or for some, looking out your back door. "The casino is right across the street from our back yard. We back up to Hwy 81 and the casino will back up to Hwy 81. " Ron and Netta Swihart fought the casino going in, and were less than thrilled to see proof that it's really happening. "We knew this was a long time coming but it was very disappointing to us. " Dirt work started at the site, near the Mulvane exit on the Turnpike, a couple weeks ago. And for a lot of people who don't live across the street, it's what they've been waiting years to see. Mulvane City Administrator Kent Hixson tells Eyewitness News, "There is a level of excitement but there's also a level of relief.

The outcome of a lawsuit between Cherokee County and Penn National Gaming may be determined at trial. Both sides say there's been no settlement during mediation talks. In 2008, Cherokee County filed a lawsuit against Penn National. The suit alleges a breach of contract. The county is seeking $53 million in damages. The casino company decided not to build a casino in Cherokee County after winning the contract by the state. Southeast Kansas remains the only casino zone to either not have a casino or not have one in the works.

Four-hundred jobs are open in Sumner County. The Kansas Star Casino is hiring everything from blackjack dealers to a pastry chef. The job postings couldn't be coming at a better time, since Sumner County has the highest unemployment rate in south central Kansas. It's at 8%, but Sedgwick County is not far behind at 7.9%. "I think it's terrific. We tend to think it's too soon, gosh it's going to be a year before it's open. But they have a lot of people they have to hire," said Sumner County Economic Development Director Janis Hellard.

Long before money goes into a slot machine, details you probably wouldn't even think about are being handled in Sumner County. "This is one of the largest private investment projects in the state's history," said Mulvane City Administrator Kent Hixson.   The Kansas Star Casino will be built on farm land, which until now needed little attention from Mulvane fire and EMS. "We have to figure out what kind of load this casino will put on the city," he said.  Public safety is one of the many issues consultants will study to help the city figure out whether to hire more police officers or build another EMS station.

It's official, the Kansas Star Casino can be built in Sumner County. The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission approved the background checks for Peninsula Gaming Friday morning. It was the final step needed before developers can proceed with construction.   Sumner County has never made it this far in the process. Several years ago, Harrah's pulled out before receiving final approval from the Racing and Gaming Commission. The decision means the $25 million privilege fee paid by Peninsula Gaming is non-refundable.

It's taken years for Sumner County to reach this point. On Friday, the state gave its final approval for the Kansas Star casino. The Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission approved background checks for Peninsula Gaming, which will now open a casino early next year. With the approval, the state is $25 million richer from the privilege fee Peninsula Gaming paid for the casino. And that's a good thing, since Governor Brownback is already counting on that money to help balance the budget.

Word spread quickly across Sumner County when the the Lottery Review Board voted to put the casino in Mulvane instead of Wellington. "My daughter called and said that the casino was accepted for Mulvane," said Cathy McKerracher. She said she's happy her home town was chosen. "We're so glad that it's over with. " That sense of relief was felt across Mulvane. About 30 minutes away in Wellington, while people were disappointed, they were happier that a decision was made.

Legal questions surrounding one of the Sumner County casino sites are over. The Kansas Supreme Court declined to review the Appellate Court decisions on Mulvane's use of strip annexation. That means the Appellate Court's ruling that the annexation was done legally stands.  It's one less thing Peninsula Gaming has to worry about. It wants to build its Kansas Star casino on the site that was in question. The Lottery Review Board votes next week on which casino should be built. You may remember, Mulvane pieced together strips of property connecting its city limits to land on the other side of the turnpike.