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 ...
THE STAFF, students and friends of Riverside Elementary School, and especially Grace United Methodist Church, who collected food, clothing and toys for 25 families through the school’s “Warehouse of Giving” project. The families in need who were helped were those of Riverside students.
• And the many people and organizations in and around Emporia who collected food, gifts and money for the needy this Christmas. Thanks to the community’s generosity, the Salvation Army exceeded its goal of $90,000 for the Christmas campaign.
• Lorene Haag, who knows how to keep Christmas. Once again this year, her house was a wonderland of holiday decorations.
• Brandon Schneider, who is on track to become the winningest women’s baskeball coach in the history of Emporia State University. A win Saturday night against Southwest Baptist will tie Val Schierling’s 214 wins, and Schneider will have done it in 135 fewer games.
• Emporia Middle School science teacher Dennis Newell, who has become the third teacher in the Emporia schools to receive national certification. The certification is provided by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
• ESU guard DeAndre “Bear” Townsend, whose passionate and athletic play has helped the Hornet men stay undefeated in the regular season.
• Myron Van Gundy, who retires soon after 16 years on the Lyon County Commission. His stalwart defense of the interests of rural residents has kept the critical balance between agriculture and urban interests in the county.