TEG
MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016
V V V
PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING
FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1895
V V V
MOTORCYCLISTS GATHER,
RIDE FOR FALLEN EDUCATORS
Good Evening
VVV
Thank you for your
years of service, Patty!
WWW.EMPORIAGAZETTE.COM
LYON
COUNTY
SHERIFF’S
OFFICE
WARNS
OF SCAM
By Jessie Wagoner
[email protected]
By John Robinson
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office is warning Lyon County residents of a possible scam in the
area involving lightning rods.
Deputy Justin Karr with the
Lyon County Sheriff’s Office says
that an area resident was contacted and advised by a company
that the lightning rods on their
house needed to be replaced.
The resident agreed to a certain
price but was later charged more
than the agreed price.
If area residents are ever contacted by a questionable company regarding home repairs they
are encouraged to contact the
Lyon County Sheriff’s office with
their concerns.
[email protected]
The 22nd annual ABATE
Spring Fling Bike Show rode into the Anderson Building at the
Lyon County Fairgrounds on Saturday.
Lori Siebenaler, District 12
representative for ABATE of
Kansas, said the event is a celebration for motorcycles, with a
focus on safety, featured vendors,
contests and activities.
“We have about 1,500 people
who come through the show,”
Siebenaler said. “It grows every
year ... we have bikes from all
over Kansas and we even have
some people from out of state
who came in to join us.”
In addition, motorcyclists
from across Kansas stopped at
the show for lunch on their way
to honor teachers at the Fallen
Educators Memorial at the EmPlease see Abate, Page 5
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEBI FULLER
The 22nd annual ABATE Spring Fling Bike Show was held at the Anderson Building at the Lyon
County Fairgrounds on Saturday
GILLIGAN RETIRES
By Cathryne Scharton
[email protected]
After 31 years with the city Patty Gilligan, human relations director, retired on Friday.
“It feels wonderful,” said Gilligan of her retirement. “I am looking forward to having more time
for family and things that I enjoy
doing.”
Gilligan has been in the role of
CATHRYNE SCHARTON/GAZETTE human relations director for the
last 21 years, but has worked for
Patty Gilligan poses for a picture the city for 31.
in her office. Gilligan is retiring
“There have been a lot of good
from the City of Emporia after
things that have happened,” said
Gilligan. “I am proud of some of
31 years of employment.
the accomplishments we have
made and I hope that whoever
takes the job will continue to work
toward some of the goals we have
already set and helping people
that are in a disadvantaged situation knowing what their rights
are and how to go about asserting
themselves.”
Gilligan started as the secretary
of the human resources office and
then the human relations commission office combined with the human resources office and Gilligan
became the clerical support for
the human relations office.
Several accomplishments Gilligan has seen during her tenure
were employer’s seminars, providing information on fair housing
and helping resolve tenant complaints about landlords.
“My proudest achievement
was the adoption of the minimum
housing code for rentals,” said Gilligan. “It was something that I was
seeing people, particularly people
with small children, that were
in severely sub-standard, unsafe
housing and they were not able to
get their landlords to make repairs
and were living in very, very bad
conditions and everything. It took
six years of really hammering out
the city commission about this for
them to finally go ahead and adopt
a minimum rental code.”
Gilligan said the city has enforced the code and she does not
see nearly as many people living
in sub-standard housing as she did
prior to enacting the code.
The Neighborhood Revitalization program has also been a
proud achievement during Gilligan’s time as human relations
director. The program gives tax
rebates to those who complete
property improvements or new
construction. The program has
been successful in bringing new
apartment communities to Emporia. As people have moved from
the sub-standard housing into the
new apartment buildings, under
the demolition program, the vaPlease see Gilligan, Page 5
JAN BUCKMAN/SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
City Manager Mark McAnarney presents Patty Gilligan with a
plaque that recognizes her 31 years of service to the city at her
retirement reception on Friday.
VOL. 124, NO. 242
JAN BUCKMAN/SPECIAL TO THE GAZETTE
Danny Giefer, Emporia Mayor, greets Patty Gilligan at her
retirement reception on Friday. Gilligan completed 31 years of
service with the city, retiring as the Human Relations Coordinator.
‘HOPE-APALOOZA’
RAISES
MORE THAN
$30,000
By Cathryne Scharton
[email protected]
The SOS dueling piano fundraiser last year left off on such
a high note, the non-profit organization decided to bring back
the dueling pianos at the fourth
annual Hope-A-Palooza, which
was held Saturday night at the
Granada Theater.
Pianist Jason Whorlow led
the entertainment for the crowd
with the sing-along style performance.
“It went great. It went very,
very well,” said Connie Cahoone, SOS executive director.
According to Cahoone the
live auction brought in more
than $13,000 and tips from the
DJ were over $1,000. About 250
people attended.
SOS will use the funds to plug
holes in their budget. While they
have grant funding, additional
funds are necessary for the organization to continue to provide
the services needed by clients.
While the next fundraising
event has not been planned yet,
Cahoone anticipates SOS will
change up Hope-A-Palooza and
do something other than dueling pianos.
“I was really impressed with
the donors and sponsors and others who came out to support us,”
said Caho