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 ...
MATT SLATER, Evora Wheeler and all the volunteers responsible for bringing the Twin Rivers Festival back to Emporia. The festival committee has been working hard for months planning for the day-long event to give community members a way to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday.
• The Kansas Legislature, for passing a law that took effect at the first of the month making it illegal to drive in the left lane of a multi-lane highway except for passing, turning left or moving for an emergency vehicle. Interstate and turnpike travel will be much less aggravating without those left-lane lingerers.
• Judy Conway, whose blackberry pie won first place in the year’s first Murphy’s Menu Cook-Off. Pats also should go out to all who made pies for the contest, from lemon pecan to Triple Layer Thin Mint.
• Members of the Emporia Energy U-16 softball team, who recently won the Girls of Summer tournament in Augusta, defeating the Kansas Heat 6-5 in the championship game.
• Members of the Emporia A-16 Blue baseball team, who earned their second straight tournament championship, defeating Burlington 7-4 in the title game of the Burlington Slugfest.
• Bernie Toso and the Flint Hills Optimist Club, who will be putting on Saturday’s fireworks display at the Jones Aquatic Center. The display, which used to be held at the Lyon County Fairgrounds, will be Emporia’s first Fourth of July show since 2007.
• Bob Davis, Marshall Miller and Scott Briggs, Lyon County Commissioners last year who made the fireworks display possible with a $10,000 contribution after the city of Emporia decided not to fund a display in 2008 because of budget cuts.
• Members of the Emporia Sluggers U-11 baseball team, who earned first place at a tournament in Council Grove last weekend, going 5-0 during the tournament.
• Katie Mona, Vincent Howze, Derwin Hall and Asher Delmott, members of the Emporia State University track team who represented Emporia last week at the USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Russ Morgan
Reporter