Newman names top worker
Joy Sloat, who has been on the Newman Regional Health staff for 17 years, is the hospital’s employee of the year for 2006. Chosen from more than 50 nominations, she earned the honor for outstanding service and dedication to the hospital.
During the award presentation, Newman cited Sloat’s “positive attitude and ever-present smile, her concern and compassion, and for going above and beyond the job requirements.”
Throughout the year, Sloat collects aluminum cans throughout the year, using the money from recycling them to buy Christmas gifts for hospital patients.
When she’s not playing “Mrs. Santa,” Sloat works the night shift as a licensed practical nurse in medical, surgical and pediatrics. She is a graduate of Twin Lakes Vocational Technical School in Harrison, Ark.
New firm launched
Two former Emporians have teamed up to form a national full-service communications firm. Bob Hartsook and Bill Hoch have established HochHartsook in Kansas City, Mo.; Hartsook is chairman and Hoch is president and chief executive officer.
The two, whose careers comprise 60 years of communications experience, say they will serve profit and non-profit clients through long-range strategic communications planning and execution, media relations, video production and new media communications, crisis communications management and executive communications counseling.
Members of HochHartsook’s national advisory council are Dan Glickman, chief executive officer of the Motion Picture Association of America; David Bushong, an international business and public affairs consultant and diplomat; Jill Docking, a vice president of A.G. Edwards; Merwyn Hayes of the Hayes Group International; Drue Jennings, retired chairman of Kansas City Power & Light Co.; Ron Loewen, a national media consultant; Annie Presley of the McKellar Group; Bob Regnier, president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Blue Valley; Teri Rogers, owner of T2 Productions; and Phil Witt, WDAF television anchor.
Town Royal Changes
The Town Royal club, 405 Commercial St., is remodeling its storefront.
New energy-efficient windows and doors have already added and the project is now waiting for outside brick work that will match the existing brick on the old storefront. Over the next three months, the interior will be painted and new flooring will be laid. Woodcraft Construction is the general contractor.
Owners Linda and Steve Corbin said in a news release that, despite the dust, they will keep the business open during the remodeling.
Town Royal is one of only two places in Emporia that has the new “Kansas Hold’em” game from the Kansas Lottery. Based on the popular Texas Hold’em card game, the new game awards up to $20,000 on wagers that start at $2.
Certified in work
Farah Naylor, owner of Made in the Shade Blinds in Hartford, is now a certified professional installer for Hunter Douglas Window Fashions.
Naylor recently attended a certified professional installer training program, an intensive three-day workshop that focuses on the tools needed to install window coverings more efficiently and help installers meet challenges encountered on the job.
Naylor may be reached at (620) 392-5969.
Service extend
Seamless Net, a division of Emporia-based Seamless Data Systems, has announced that its high-speed Internet access service is now available to Reading-area businesses and residents.
“Generally speaking,” said Jim Belford, Seamless Data Systems president, “small towns and rural areas have been left out of the broadband explosion. The older broadband technologies rely on wires or cables and are very expensive to deploy and maintain. These factors make it difficult to cost-justify deployment in small markets.”
Seamless Data uses wireless technology to provide service.
The company provides services within five miles of downtown emporia and in large portions of southeast Lyon County and western Coffey County. Other customers may also receive service and are advised to check with Seamless.Net to check on availability.
Information is online at www.seamless.net or at 343-8500.
Adds new lines
A new line of special-occasion books and an expanded selection of table covers and skirting has been added to the sale inventory available at Hahn Rental Co., 104 W. Fourth Ave.
Owner Phillip Hahn said that the company now stocks Carlson Craft’s “Precious Moments” and Spanish-language “Festividades” books for weddings, baptisms, anniversaries and other special events.
Hahn also has added metallic and “Opalessence” table covers and skirting from the Special Occasions by Covington line. Including standard colors and the new glitzier models, the company offers about 50 color options to match or coordinate with celebration color schemes.