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 ...
AMY COFFMAN and Tabitha Peterson, who were honored by the Kansas State Department of Education for exemplary teaching in their first year of the profession. Coffman is a sixth-grade teacher at Lowther North Intermediate School and Peterson is a consumer science teacher at Emporia High School.
• The EHS swim and dive team, which took second at the Emporia Invitational.
• Millard Harrell, who won several classes at the Kaw Valley Woodcarvers show and received a special award from the National Caricature Carvers of America. Harrell operates Foundwood Carving out of his home.
• ESB Financial, which paid to have Dottie, a bald eagle, brought to the Emporia Zoo. Dottie comes from Alaska where she had dislocated her shoulder.
• Members of the First Congregational Church who made cookie trays for Emporia police and firefighters and workers at Newman hospital and Emporia nursing homes. They made 75 dozen cookies.
• Emporia State University’s men’s basketball team, which remains undefeated. They are 8-0 on the season.
• Residents on De Lane, Diane and Darlene and Hillcrest drives, who have decorated their homes for the holidays to help collect toys for area youth. Santa will be at 2314 De Lane Drive today and Saturday night to collect toys.
• Olpe students Dalten Benton, Natalie Kuhlmann and Lee Redeker, who won awards in the Learning Quest essay contest. Kuhlmann and Redeker received a $1,000 credit for their Learning Quest accounts and Benton received $500.
• Garin Higgins, who was selected as ESU’s new head football coach. He previously coached at Tahlequah, Okla.
• Mike Heffron, who retired today as Emporia’s police chief. Heffron started with department in 1975.
Christopher White Walker
Editor & Publisher