Each Friday, The Gazette salutes those who make Emporia and the surrounding area a better place to live and work. Give these folks a pat on the back ...
CHIP WOODS, who received the Kansas County Association’s highest award — Engineer of the Year. Woods has been the Lyon County engineer since 1988.
F The Emporia Public School Foundation, which awarded nearly $6,600 in grants to teachers in elementary and intermediate schools. The grants go to teachers for projects that are unique, innovative and affect a large number of students. Teachers who received the awards were Cheryl Lane, Michael Burton, Lisa Temeyer, Carla Fessler, Jill Jones, Amy Chapman, Jodie Leiss and Deon Hall.
• Cooper Tire and Uniroyal, which donated money and equipment to the Two Rivers Youth Soccer Association.
• Kurt Steinkuhler, who has been elected president of the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association.
• Deer Trail Implement, which built and moved into a new building. The new facility cost $2.3 million and has 35,000 square feet.
• Organizers and volunteers who are preparing for Emporia’s sesquicentennial celebration. Events are planned for Feb. 20, 2007, and July 3 and 4, 2007.
• ESU basketball player Wes Book, who scored a career-high 33 points to lead ESU to a 98-89 victory over Central Oklahoma. Book was also named the MIAA mens’ Basketball Player of the Week.
• Emporia High soccer player Alex Guevara, who was named to the Kansas Soccer Coaches Association boys soccer first team in Class 5A.
• Susan Grother, who won the “7 Grand in Hand” contest sponsored by the Emporia Chamber of Commerce.