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Out of the office
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: May 18, 2017

Wetig's response to fire praised

Jamie Wetig jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire, literally.

Jamie, former assistant principal at Valley Center Middle School, is superintendent of the Ashland school district in southwest Kansas.

Less than a full year into his tenure with Ashland, Jamie and school district staff were recognized in the Kansas House of Representatives May 12 for their response to the tragic fires that swept through Clark County in March.

Ashland High School was shut down for six days and became the emergency shelter and gathering location for volunteers.

The "Starbuck Fire," as it has become known, destroyed the homes of 16 Ashland students.

Ashland High School housed more than 100 firefighters on the busiest night. Staff served 600 meals each day and stocked the cafeteria with snacks and food for first-responders.

Ashland staff collected and organized donations.

Jamie was said to have done whatever needed to be done. He spent days and nights at the school, making sure the needs of the volunteers and community were being met.

In a letter to the Ashland community, Jamie wrote:

"It is our responsibility and duty to be good stewards of our schools and to act in a manner that supports our communities' needs and beliefs. I believe that Midwestern, rural and agriculture communities embody all that is right with society. It was truly our pleasure and honor to help and serve. I hope we made you proud to be an Ashland Bluejay."

It sounds like Jamie is fitting in quite well.

†††

Speaking of fitting, apparently the baby-graduate photo slideshow that has become a staple of Valley Center High School graduation ceremonies wouldn't fit into the time allotted this year's exercises.

The slideshow, which had a twist this year, was shown before the May 14 ceremony began. It featured side-by-side photos of the graduate and a short video of the graduate saying where he or she is going to college.

Maize High School's graduation ceremony followed Valley Center's at Koch Arena, so Valley Center had to adhere to its time limit.

It's too bad. I've been to the past 12 Valley Center High School graduation ceremonies, and I always thought the slideshow was a highlight of the event. It was always fun to hear the graduates' and audience's reaction to the baby photos. A lot of laughter and oohing and ahhing.

This year's ceremony went off without a hitch, other than a little technical difficulty with the sound here and there. I got worried at one point because I sat down next to a bunch of cords and plugs and for a second I thought I might have bumped one to cause an issue.

I'm sure I didn't. I hope I didn't.

Chris Strunk is publisher of The Ark Valley News. Reach him at 755-0821 or news@arkvalleynews.com, or find him on Facebook.




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