EGW May 30 AND 31, 2020
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THE DIVE
“Annie Wilson reminds me New song memorializes Flint of what I wish all historical Hills Rodeo legacy movie makers, book writers and presenters of history B L G would try to aspire to — linzi@emporia.com Though the Flint Hills Rodeo someone who cares about has been canceled this year, the history and gets the story rodeo spirit still dances through the Flint Hills. right when it’s retold.” Rancher-songwriter Annie y
inzi
arcia
Wilson has spent her time at her home in Elmdale finishing and releasing a new folk album ‘Peace
SHANNAN HAUSER, Margie Roberts’ great-niece
COURTESY PHOTO
Margie Roberts, a renowned trick rider, is part of the Roberts Rodeo Family.
on the Prairie’ with her band Tallgrass Express. “Part of my object was writing these songs about the beauty of the land, because [the Flint Hills] bring a lot of comfort to people,” Wilson said. One song in particular on the album, “Margie Roberts — Trick Rider,” commemorates the unmistakable rodeo trick rider and one of the Flint Hills Rodeo’s early stars Margie Roberts. Roberts came from the family who founded the Flint Hills Rodeo in 1937. “Margie Roberts was an incredible athlete, a crowd-pleaser, and absolutely fearless in her performances,” Wilson said in a written release.
MOORE SAYS FAREWELL TO DILLONS AFTER 44 YEARS
LINZI GARCIA/GAZETTE
Today, Jan Moore concludes her 44 year career at Dillons. By Linzi Garcia
linzi@emporia.com
Who knew winning a grocery shopping spree would lead to a 44-year career? For longtime Dillons employee Jan Moore, that is exactly what happened. For more than four decades, Moore has helped the community through her care and expertise. Today, she retires from customer service and begins her “new job” as a grandma of a twomonth old. Moore’s career with the gro-
cery store began in April 1976 when she was living and shopping in Manhattan. She decided to apply for a job at Dillons and while at the store, she saw they were giving away a three-minute shopping spree. She entered the contest — and won. Moore did not even have a telephone at the time, so a Dillons employee came to her house to inform her of her award. “I was so nervous,” Moore said. “When I was young, I was extremely shy.” After a successful sprint
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friendliest customer service representatives in town. “It worked for me,” she said, choking back tears. “It fit me. I always loved the customers and the people I worked with, so it’s very bittersweet right now, and it’s kind of hard to leave. They’re like my family.” Moore continued to transfer to other local locations as the stores opened and closed. She ended up back at store 39 and concludes her time at this location. She said her work family especially made the transitions easy. No matter where she went, she felt embraced. “Everybody’s close, and they care about Jan,” Moore’s current boss Shami Delgado said with tears. “She’s like the matriarch of our store. It’s going to be hard to be without her. I’m her boss, but she taught me almost everything I know about my job … and about life, too.” LINZI GARCIA/GAZETTE Delgado said Moore’s retirement will be a huge loss to the Jan Moore and Shami Delgado community but that she is hap— more family than coworkers. py for Moore to be able to spend through the store and over $500 in more time with her grandson. “You will probably never meet groceries later, Moore also hit the jackpot, as she was offered the job a better human being,” she said. “She would do she applied for. She started at “It makes a huge difference who anything for anybody. She that Dillons loyou’re working with, and I’ve would pay for cation, though always been lucky.” anything for she transferred anybody if they to the Emporia JAN MOORE, didn’t have it. store No. 39 Longtime Dillons employee She wouldn’t location soon let anybody go thereafter when without.” her husband deWhen asked cided to pursue an education at Emporia State University. As soon what has changed over the years, as they moved to Emporia, Moore Moore likes to remind people of a started cultivating her reputation as one of the most popular and Please see Moore, Page 6
The song trails through Roberts’ life, highlighting her horsemanship and achievements as a rodeo trick rider. She comes from a family of accomplished rodeo champions, Gerald and Ken Roberts. The Roberts family founded the longstanding Flint Hills Rodeo in Strong City. Wilson approached one of Margie Roberts’ descendants, Shannan Hauser, last year about the idea for the song. Hauser, who is Roberts’ great-niece, gave a presentation at Pioneer Bluffs on her family’s rodeo legacy. Please see Dive, Page 6
THE GYM BAR ISSUED CITATION FOR VIOLATING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER
By Adam Blake adam@emporia.com
An Emporia bar became the first local establishment to be issued a citation for violation of the county’s public health order this week. In a post to his personal Facebook page Thursday, Matt Flowers, owner of The Gym bar located at 1516 W. 6th Ave, retold his experience. According to Flowers, much of the issue surrounded his choice to begin serving food, something which The Gym
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It won’t be the same without you, Jan!
Please see Bar, Page 5