TEG
Thursday, June 9, 2016
V V V
PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING
FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1895
Good Evening
VVV
Fallen, but
not forgotten.
WWW.EMPORIAGAZETTE.COM
V V V
ZapataGrimaldo
taken into
custody
By Mary Ann Redeker
[email protected]
Memorial to Fallen
Educators Rededicated
By Jessie Wagoner
[email protected]
Above, Attendees at the rededication of the Memorial to Fallen Educators pause for
a moment of silence. Below, the Memorial to Fallen Educators was rededicated on
Wednesday. Names of educators who have died in the line of duty are etched on
the memorial.
D i r t y
K a n z a
Anne-Marie Dansicker and Susan Jordan
were remembered somberly at the rededication of the Memorial to Fallen Educators held
Wednesday afternoon.
Dansicker and Jordan are the most recent educators to die in the line of duty and have their
names added to the memorial.
Executive Director of the National Teachers
Hall of Fame Carol Strickland said it is important to rededicate the memorial each year to
honor the fallen and remember the sacrifice
they have made.
“Susan Jordan was a well-loved principal,”
Strickland said. “One day, a bus jumped the
curb and she pushed two children, her students, out of the way. She saved them but lost
her life in the process. That is what teachers
do. They put their students’ lives before their
own. It is never in any contract they sign; it is
just an educator’s instinct.”
Dansicker was a Special Education teacher who stayed late at school one evening. As
Please see Memorial, Page 3
2 0 0
R i d e r
Jorge Zapata-Grimaldo, 32, of
Emporia is in
custody in the
Lyon County
Detention
Center facing rape and
attempted
second-degree murder Zapata
charges.
Emporia Police Sergeant Lisa
Sage said Zapata-Grimaldo was
taken into custody at 1:56 p.m.,
May 6, in Hidalgo, Texas, at the
port of entry near the Mexican
border.
“Zapata-Grimaldo is being
investigated on a case that occurred August 1, 2015, in Emporia in the 600 block of Lincoln
Street,” Sage said. “Officers
were called for a domestic dispute between Zapata-Grimaldo
and a 25-year-old female victim.
Charges in that case include rape
and second-degree murder.”
Sage said Emporia Police
Detective Kevin Shireman was
instrumental to the arrest of Zapata-Grimaldo.
“Kevin Shireman and EPD’s
Investigations Division worked
closely with outside agencies,”
she said. “Those included U.S.
Customs and Border Protection,
leading to the apprehension of
the suspect.”
Zapata-Grimaldo was on the
Lyon County Sheriff ’s Office
Most Wanted List. He is currently under investigation for additional sex offenses unrelated to
the May 6 arrest.
U p d a t e
Injured cyclist in high spirits
many messages and texts from people
since the accident,” Adams said expressing gratitude for the cyclists who stopped
Thomas Adams pulled into the first to assist him. “It really means a ton. Having people stop and help just shows how
checkpoint feeling good.
Arriving around 9:15 a.m. he was much good there is in the cycling comahead of his fellow cyclists from Still- munity, and how much good there still is
water, Oklahoma, and was on track to in the world.”
LeLan Dains, event coordinator for the
finish the Dirty Kanza 200 before sundown. The only immediate problem was Dirty Kanza, also stopped by the hospital to pay a visit to Adams and offer supa broken bike chain.
“I was prepared for this, and was go- port. He wasn’t surprised that the other
ing to fix it once I had slowed down,” Ad- cyclists stopped and helped Adams.
“That’s the spirit you’ll see in gravel
ams said “Well, I did something I don’t
ever suggest anyone do. I tried to put a events,” Dains said. “We look after each other before our own results.”
foot down to slow down.”
So what’s next for
The next thing Ad- “Be forewarned, the DK will
Adams?
He said he’s not
ams remembers is wakgoing
to
stop cycling
never
beat
me
again.”
ing up surrounded by
anytime soon — and
fellow cyclists, who
Thomas Adams,
that he’ll be back on the
were telling him to
2016 Dirty Kanza 200 Rider
starting line for the DK
stay calm. According
200 in 2017.
to Tammy Seimears of
“I want to win the DK
the Madison News, a
one day,” Adams said. “I’ll absolutely
trauma surgeon and an ER nurse were be back, and I will absolutely take what
among those other riders who stopped I want one day. This won’t stop me. If
to provide aid.
anything, it’s motivation to become
“I remember waking up with riders stronger and become faster.
surrounding me and that taste of iron
“So be forewarned: the DK will nevin my mouth,” Adams said. “I was in er beat me again.”
shock.”
Adams jaw was broken, he lost some
teeth and had injuries along his torso. It
was then Adams had a seizure.
“That was the scariest part,” he
said. “People thought I was dead.
Honestly, I probably should be.”
Adams was airlifted to a Wichita hospital where he underwent
surgery. Now, he is in good spirits and “healing quickly.” Adams said he’s been receiving a
steady stream of supportive
text messages and
notes.
“I’ve gotten so
By John Robinson
[email protected]
VOL. 124, NO. 292
Courtesy photo
LeLan Dains (left), event coordinator for the Dirty Kanza 200 and Thomas Adams.
Adams was involved in a bicycle crash during the race which left him with a broken jaw.
Adams is recovering and hopes to attempt the DK 200 again next year.