SUMNER COUNTY, Kansas, August 25, 2008 – The casino battle is heating up again in Sumner County. The Kansas Lottery Review Board selected Harrah’s as the developer of choice, but some in Wellington say the fight is not over.

Representative Vince Wetta isn’t ready to give up on Wellington’s casino dreams just yet. He took the lottery board’s decision pretty hard Friday. But now he and other Wellington supporters are being told not to back out.

“Don’t give up, fight until the last dog is dead and the last dog isn’t dead yet,” Wetta said.

Wellington’s last hope may center on a five-mile annexation from Mulvane to the Harrah’s exit. Sumner County Commissioners took the issue to court to question if the move was legal.

Wellington supporters will be in Topeka Tuesday morning, to meet with Sumner County Commissioners directly, asking them to continue the lawsuit against Mulvane. But Mulvane supporters know commissioners could go a different route.

The Harrah’s casino could move forward without any snags if commissioners back out of the lawsuit.

“Governments work best when they work together, working against each other only penalizes the citizens,” said Mulvane City Administrator Kent Hixson.

Hixson says citizens could lose money if the annexation lawsuit plays out in court.     

“Continued litigation will only delay the gaining of over $2 million a year in gaming revenue, again that benefits every citizen of Sumner County.”

Still, many in Wellington feel the fight is worth it.

“I want the people of Mulvane to know that this isn’t a personal thing, but this is something I feel and Shelly Hansel, and Gus and the county commissioners, we have to do this and we are going to do it,” Wetta said.

Despite Friday’s ruling, it would appear that the battle in Sumner County is far from over.

KSN.com