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 EMPORIA Rescue Mission, which recently got a $35,000 donation for the men’s shelter and the Abundant Harvest soup kitchen.
• Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, one of the newest additions to Emporia’s food sector. Between 1,600 and 2,000 people flocked to the franchise in its first two days.
• Virginia Moxley of Council Grove, who was named the new dean of Kansas State’s college of human ecology.
• Wes Book, who pulled down 15 rebounds for Emporia State against Southwest Baptist, despite having only one 10-rebound game in his career.
• Grant Riles, who started the ball rolling by becoming the first person to file for the Emporia school board race. Anyone else ready?
• Modern Air Conditioning, which was named business of the year by the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce.
• Hector Rubio and Ali Aceves, who have started Emporia’s first fully bilingual real estate agency.
• Andrew Davison, who sank two key free throws with time running out to lift ESU over Washburn. The win puts Emporia at 12-0, which ties the record for its best start ever.
• The Emporia High School girls basketball team for a win against powerhouse Blue Valley, the No. 5 team in the state.