EDITOR’S NOTE: Each Friday, The Gazette salutes those who make Emporia and the surrounding area a better place to live and work. The following folks deserve a pat on the back ...
• Donors who have contributed to the United Way fundraising campaign. They have raised $475,320 of their $575,000 goal. If you would like to make a donation call 342-7564.
• Elizabeth Hodges, who entered a hog in the North American International Livestock Exposition in Kentucky. She beat out over 1,000 hogs to take home the Reserve Champion Market Hog award.
• Members of the Rinker 4-H club who sent Christmas cards to wounded American military recovering in Germany.
• The Emporia Public Library and Emporia Main Street for hosting a breakfast with Santa Claus.
• Sgt. Ralph Tebbetts, who held a care package drive for military personnel serving overseas. More than 900 packages were sent out.
• Citizens State Bank and Trust, which opened a new bank in Reading.
• The Emporia High JV wrestling team, which beat 19 teams to win the Emporia Invitational JV Tournament.
• Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, who held a Governor’s literacy summit at Emporia State University. He outlined three measurable objectives for his “Road Map for Kansas.”
• Colleen Mitchell, who received the 2012 Emporia chapter of the National Educational Association Master Teacher award. Mitchell has taught for more than 28 years.