City of Imperial awards outstanding citizens

On March 18th, the City of Imperial held its 8th Annual Outstanding Citizen Awards. The winners were Billie Hayes and Jaret Peterson.
Billie Hayes has been a resident of Imperial for all of her life. She started working at the Imperial Manor in 1983. That same year, she took an EMT class and started volunteering for the EMS in Imperial. She has been a certified CPR instructor for 36 years and has been an EMT instructor for 30 years. Her daughter, Sabrina, took over her teaching duties when she retired.
Billie has been a fixture in Imperial for decades. Those that know her, know that she would do just about anything for just about anyone. When reading through her nominations for the Outstanding Citizen Award, it is clear that she is well loved. There are frequent mentions of her ‘huge heart’ and caring and giving personality. Billie herself says, “I just always tried to do what I could, where I could, to help people out.” She says that she was shocked to win the award.
Jaret Peterson is a senior at Chase County High School. He is active in football and wrestling–among other school activities. Recently, Jaret won the 2024 215 lb. State Championship in Class C wrestling. He also placed 4th at the High School National Wrestling held in Virginia Beach, VA and earned All-American honors.
Two words often used to describe Jaret are humble and hardworking. One of his nominations stated that, “Jaret is humble and never acts like he is more important than any other person.” He is often seen helping out other students and will go above and beyond in both the classroom and in the gym.
Though he is no longer a sitting member of the City Council, Chad Yaw has continued to champion these awards. He said that he got the idea when his nephew mentioned that he was excited to try and earn an Outstanding Citizen Award in his own hometown. Yaw was floored to see a teenager excited to help his community. Yaw gives most of the credit to the City Administrator at the time, Jo Leyland. He said that he mentioned the idea and she made it happen. Yaw says that he has enjoyed getting to read the nominations and hand out these awards each year. He says, “Almost every comment that people have about the nominees are selfless acts for the betterment of other people or the community as a whole.” These awards, Yaw emphasizes, are a “small repayment for the positive, helpful and selfless things that the citizens of Imperial do without hesitation.”