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 ...
LOCAL LAW enforcement, which gave away $275 in $1 bills. The money went to adults and children for wearing safety restraints. The program was a cooperative effort by Safe Kids Kansas, State Farm Insurance and the Kansas Department of Transportation.
- Participants of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. The event raised $58,000 for cancer research.
- The Emporia High School cross country team, which defeated No. 1-ranked St. Thomas Aquinas at the Emporia Invitational. St. Thomas is the defending state champion.
- Rural Water District No. 3, which received an award from Kansas Department of Environment for excellence in its water system. The award program is the first in the country to encourage public water systems to go beyond mere compliance with the Safe Water Drinking Act.
- Liz Martell, who served nearly 11 years as Emporia’s Emporia Convention and Visitors Bureau director. Next week will be her last week on the job.
- Dianna Beebe, Noel Certain, Jim Hayes, Joe Rich, Hank Thompson and the 1989 football team who will be inducted into the Emporia State Athletics Hall of Fame for 2007.
- Martin Hinrichs and Joe McIlvain, who qualified as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists. They will now compete for Merit Scholarships worth $34 million.
- Kapila “Kap” Senanayake, who is spending money to remodel Emporia’s Guesthouse Inn hotel. Among the changes, — he is upgrading the room and has reopened the pool and restaurant.
Christopher White Walker
Editor & Publisher