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 FIRST United Methodist Church of Emporia, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary. The celebration will include a reunion concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, bringing back several former church members.
• Norfolk Iron & Metal, which announced a $2.2 million expansion Wednesday that will bring 30 jobs to the community. The expansion also includes about $1 million in new equipment.
• Corner House, which has been working to build a new treatment center for people with drug and alcohol addictions. The agency recently received $400,000 in challenge grants from the Jones Trust and the Oklahoma-based Mabee Foundation.
• The Girl Scout Council of the Flint Hills, for taking bullying seriously. The Girl Scouts recently hosted a conference on bullying, including how to recognize it and how to deal with it.
• The Lyon County Sheriff’s Department and the Retired Senior Volunteers Program for giving seniors a chance to lend a hand. The two announced a program called the Senior Patrol, which will give elderly residents a chance to help out the sheriff’s office.
• The nearly 200 people who joined in the Walk to D’Feet ALS last Saturday. The event raised $9,100 this year.
• Emporia State University’s womens soccer team, which gave new coach Jim Schneiderhahn a win Sunday in his first game with the team. Welcome aboard, coach.
• The Emporia Recreation Commission and the various teams of this year’s Corporate Challenge, for two weeks of fun and entertainment.
• Robyn Sadowski of Emporia, whose softball number was recently retired by Butler County Community College. Sadowski was the school’s first All-American.