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 ...
FOUR-YEAR-OLD Kenlie Parks-Walburn, who donated her hair to Locks of Love. Locks of Love provides hairpieces to children who have suffered hair loss from medical conditions.
• Nayelli Tavarez and Zaira Ruiz, who are candidates for Fiesta Queen. The candidates will compete for the title by raising money for scholarships.
• Tanner Coble, who competed in the Kansas Junior Amateur Championships and placed 38th.
• Sue and Mark Haslett, who have served as Emporia’s Salvation Army captains. They will now move to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Their replacements are Jeremiah and Hope Burriss from Cadillac, Mich.
• Wheat State Pizza, which will open a new bar and grill in downtown Emporia.
• The Flinthills Nature Trail, which is celebrating its grand opening. The five-mile trail section runs from Allen to Bushong.
• Disc golfer Jake Newell, who will advance to the professional level. Newell got to advance after he won a national tournament this month.
• Renewable Energy Group, which broke ground on its new Emporia biodiesel plant. The plant will cost $70 million and is expected to be running by October 2008.