Campaigns against muscular dystrophy
Through Aug. 22, the Casey’s General Stores in Emporia are taking part in a national fundraiser to support the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
The two Casey’s stores, at 1402 E. Sixth Ave. and 126 S. Commercial St., are selling colorful “Caring Makes Good Neighbors” mobiles. Customers can buy a mobile for $1 and sign it. The mobiles are on display in the stores to remind others of the campaign.
Last year’s mobile campaign raised more than $84,000 to help families affected by diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) as well as to support worldwide research and the association’s network of 225 hospital-affiliated clinics. Donations also enable children with muscular dystrophy attend barrier-free summer camps.
Emporian promoted at U.S. Cellular
Justin Youngberg has been promoted to sales manager at the Emporia U.S. Cellular retail store.
Youngberg, who has been with U.S. Cellular since 2003, previously worked as a collections specialist for Birch Telecom and as a wireless consultant for Kansas Wireless. A resident of Emporia, he holds a bachelor of science degree in marketing from Emporia State University.
Lyon County Sheriff’s officer graduates
Heath Samuels, an officer with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department, is one of 54 July graduates of the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center near Yoder.
Samuels, a native of Eureka, began training on Feb. 4, with personnel from 49 municipal, county and state law-enforcement agencies. Graduates receive certificates of course completion and Kansas law-enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s law-enforcement licensing authority.
The center, a unit of the University of Kansas Continuing Education, trains most law-enforcement officers in Kansas.
Manager at Wellington
Native Emporian Mike DeRemer has been promoted to store manager at the Orschein Farm & Home store in Wellington. He joined the company in 2007 and trained in McPherson. Before joining Orschein, he had 12 years’ experience in retail-store management.
DeRemer graduated from Emporia High School in 1974.
Bennigan’s bankruptcy
NEW YORK — Restaurant chains Bennigan’s and Steak & Ale have filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection and stores owned by its parent company will shut their doors.
The companies owned by privately held Metromedia Restaurant Group of Plano, Texas, filed for bankruptcy protection Tuesday in the Eastern District of Texas, less than two months after Metromedia said it was not preparing to do so. Metromedia Restaurant Group is a part of Metromedia Co., owned by billionaire John Kluge, that has interests in entertainment, radio stations and medical equipment.