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 ...
EVERYONE who remembered to register to vote in November’s general election. If you haven’t gotten around to it yet, have no fear — the deadline is Monday. Get to the county clerk’s office!
- ESU women’s basketball coach Brandon Schneider, who has received a verbal commitment to play from Iowa high school standout Allison Volkens. Nice shot, coach.
- Patrick Martin, Roberta Eichenberg and everyone else responsible for Emporia’s new “Artist in Residence” program. Its first participants, Hurricane Katrina survivors Robin Cole and Anthony Henderson, head home after today.
- This year’s distinguished alumni for Emporia State University: Jeremy Kohomban of New York, Marshall McNott of Maryland, Jacqueline Snyder and Russell Meyer of Missouri and David Robertson of Wichita. All five have given today’s students a lot to live up to.
- Rob Curley, an ESU graduate who showed a campus audience Friday how fascinating a digital newspaper can be. Curley now works for The Washington Post/Newsweek Interactive.
- Emporia High’s football team, which came within one point of upsetting the No. 2 team in the state. Wichita Heights came away with the win 21-20.
- The Olpe Eagles, who maintained their undefeated record with an overwhelming 71-6 win over Yates Center.
- The ESU women’s basketball team, which was picked as the preseason No. 3 team in the nation by the Women’s Division II bulletin.
- The Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy which now has 10 miles of the Flint Hills Nature Trail open to the public and three miles of it resurfaced with limestone.