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 ....
CITY AND COUNTY emergency crews and area utility workers, who battled the effects of this week’s inclement weather and kept Emporia and Lyon County running smoothly through the sleet and slush.
- Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who issued a proclamation today in support of the National Teachers Hall of Fame’s “One in a Million” campaign. The campaign hopes to find 1 million people nationwide to donate at least $1 each to the hall of fame to recognize an influential teacher in their lives. Sebelius proclaimed next week to be “One in a Million — Teachers Who Make a Difference” week in Kansas.
- The Emporia Human Relations Commission lacked a quorum to conduct its meeting on Monday night, so the commission found a way to make good use of its time. Following up on a request by the city commission, the HRC conducted an informal brainstorming session on coming up with projects to make Emporia a more inclusive community.
- Those who donated to the first annual Hunt for Hunger. The Salvation Army charity event raked in various types of game and more than 200 canned goods to help hungry people.
- Community organizations who volunteered their services preparation and participation in the annual Seasonal Celebration. Organizations willingly picked up such duties as laundry and ushering to make the event a success.
- Gary Smith, who has been hired as the new police chief for Emporia.
- The residents of Hillside, Darlene and Diane Streets and DeLane Drive in northwest Emporia who have been decorating the neighborhood for their annual Christmas food and toy drive, which is scheduled for 6 to 9 o’clock tonight and Saturday night.
- Terry Lambert, the chief executive officer of Newman Regional Health, who will serve as the chairman of the Kansas Hospital Association Board of Directors for 2008.
Joey Berlin
Reporter