Walnut Elementary students gathered at Messiah Lutheran Church while a potential gas leak was investigated. Students have returned to school as the investigation continues. Chuck Samples/KVOE News
Emporia Public Schools moved students at Walnut Elementary offsite for close to two hours Friday morning after concerns about a possible gas leak.
District Community Relations Director Lyndel Landgren told KVOE News about the situation shortly before 7:30 am. Landgren says food service personnel and other staff noticed a smell of natural gas when they came in, so the district sent students to Messiah Lutheran Church until the situation was resolved. Ultimately, no gas leak was found.
Hilary Dow Wardâs mornings started earlier than most during her four years at Emporia High School. Ward, driven by her passion for music and choir, commuted for more than an hour one way just to attend school.
It was worth it, she says, for the support and education she received from longtime choir director Don Grant.
âI drove over 30,000 miles for over four years to be in his choir at Emporia High School,â Ward said. âAnd every day when I got there, he always said, âThank you for being here.â And at the time, I donât think it meant the very much, but it was significant because it took me more than an hour to get to school and more than an hour to get home every day, but I did it because it was such a superior opportunity to what I would have had otherwise.â
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