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TEG Wednesday, January 20, 2016 V V V E m p or i a PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING S t a t e FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1895 U n i v e r s i t y Garrett welcomes students Good Evening VVV Be safe out there. WWW.EMPORIAGAZETTE.COM V V V Winter Weather Advisory Emporia Emporia Predominate Weather for Wed. Jan., 20, 2016 | 6PM Predominate Weather for Wed. Jan., 20, 2016 | 9PM NONE RAIN SNOW ICE MIX Emporia Kendra Johnson/Gazette Allison Garrett, the new president of Emporia State University, speaks during the spring general assembly on Tuesday. Garrett spoke about progress made at the university in the past semester and what new things are to come. By Cathryne Scharton [email protected] New Emporia State University President Allison Garrett welcomed students to the spring semester at the general assembly on Tuesday in Webb Hall. Garrett began the assembly with a brief introduction of herself. She then highlighted a variety of exciting things happening at ESU this semester. The new forensic science program will have an open house this spring. The honors program quadrupled its fall class size thanks to a $1 million gift from the Kansas Legislature. Garrett commended the campus community for their increased compassion for others as the number of students submitted to the Early Alert system tripled over the past year. The system is a program where students, staff and faculty can submit names of E m p o r i a students who are struggling academically or emotionally, so that proper support staff can offer them help. Last semester, faculty and staff received raises. Garrett also praised the athletics department. She applauded the football team for their hard work and noted there is no shame in losing in the quarterfinals to the National Division II champions. She Please see Garrett, Page 5 C o m m u n i t y Predominate Weather for Thurs. Jan., 21, 2016 | 7AM By Brandy Nance [email protected] More winter weather is on the way today with 1 to 4 inches of snow expected, along with freezing drizzle. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the area from 6 p.m. today through 6 p.m. Thursday. A mix of snow and freezing drizzle is anticipated. Light snow will begin to develop by early evening over the area. By F o u n d a t i o n ECF awards grants to 5 organizations early morning Thursday, snow is forecasted to change to light freezing drizzle. Ice accumulations of less than one hundredth of an inch are expected. Roads likely will become snow-packed by morning, so caution is encouraged.  The Gazette will post closings and cancellations at www.emporiagazette.com. Closings can be sent to [email protected] for publication on the website. Weather photos can be sent to the same email address for potential publication in the print and online editions. Salvation Army offers help to those in need By John Robinson [email protected] John Robinson/Gazette Emporia Community Foundation members stand with grant recipients holding a giant check representing the $16,381.98 given out by the foundation on Tuesday. By John Robinson [email protected] Five area organizations received a combined $16,382 in grant money from the Emporia Community Foundation on Tuesday. “We choose five projects that the foundation felt good about and wanted to see funded,” said Cynthia Kraft, the vice chairperson on the board of trustees for the ECF. The foundation receives proposals on what to fund with the grant money and then votes to see which projects will be funded annually. “The funding comes from our ‘fund for the future’ an endowed fund we have for the purpose of providing grants to non-profit organizations,” Shirley Antes, executive director for the ECF said. “We also have an unrestricted VOL. 124, NO. 172 fund from Loretta Langley that we have used for these grants.” Grants were given to the following organizations. ✦✦ $1,113.98 to the Emporia High School Library. Carmaine Ternes, a librarian at Emporia High School said the money will go towards the purchase of a program designed to help students learn to code. “The Zing Aircut will help the students to be able to code and make different pieces of art in the form of pop-up books or different types of displays,” Ternes said. “The students can download the books right onto their Chromebooks.” ✦✦ $2,500 to the Emporia Public Library. Tiffany Fay, the young adult librarian with the Emporia Public Library said their grant will go towards the purchase of a 3D printer and towards holding a “Maker’s Fest.” “We are doing so much with our grant,” Fay said. “Not only are we purchasing the 3D printer but it’ll also go towards hosting ‘Maker’s Fest’ in March which we are very excited for.” ✦✦ $3,000 to the Kansas Children’s Service League. Beverly Long said the money will go towards a “Safe Sleep Campaign.” “Providing cribs and ‘Pack’N’Plays,’ as well as the sleep sacks that keep babies warm and safe from suffocation,” Long said. “Our goal is to prevent infant deaths in Lyon County and help families provide safe sleeping options for their children.” ✦✦ $4,528 to the Emporia Farmer’s Market. Tracy Simmons, the manager of the Emporia Farmers Market said they are going to help individuals on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. “We will be matching funds for people who have SNAP benefits,” Simmons said. “Basically doubling their grocery money.” ✦✦ $5,240 to the Strong City Park Committee. Kay Lauer, a member of the steering committee for the Strong City Park said the grant funds will go towards park renovations. “We are going to build a new community park in Strong City,” Lauer said. “All funds will be used for purchasin