Ark Valley News - Looking Back

Looking Back
Last Updated: May 18, 2017

50 years ago

Jan Schroeder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arlo Schroeder of Valley Center, prepared to leave for a month-long visit with relatives in Denmark. She did not speak Danish, but most children in the country learned English as well.

Mrs. W.W. Swafford of rural Valley Center was the winner of $200 given by Valley Center merchants during the Thursday night promotion.

45 years ago

Terry Kalp, a spring graduate of WSU and part-time employee at the Valley Center Index, had accepted a new job with the newspaper in Ulysses.

Tom Hunsinger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Hunsinger of Valley Center, was one of three acting students to receive the Patrons Scholarship for theatre students during the KSTC Department of Speech Honors Convocation.

40 years ago

Jan Beckham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Beckham, would compete against the top college women in the country at the national AIAW track meet at UCLA. Beckham earned her berth to the national meet at the Kansas Relays with a 2:16.0 in the 800 meter. She would also compete in the Shocker mile relay team running the third leg.

Valley Center seniors Steve Geubelle and Brad Schroeder qualified for the Class 3A state championship track and field meet to be held at Wichita State University.

35 years ago

Jay Plush, son of Jerry and Carlene Plush, graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor's degree in biology. Plush worked as a chemist at Wilko Paint and planned to continue his work on a master's degree.

Taina Mullen, daughter of Al and Lavona Hobson of Valley Center, along with her husband Mike Mullen, graduated from Kansas Wesleyan College. Mullen was presented the Student Hall of Fame award at the commencement. The award was based on her college attitude, participation in extra activities and contribution to the city of Salina.

30 years ago

David Bridgewater took first place in the over-18 color category of the Valley Center Photography Contest. Darla Banman was second and Lee Johnson third.

World War II B-29 Superfortress bomber veterans gathered at the Ramada Hotel at Broadview Place in Wichita. Col. Roger Woliver of Austin, Texas, was the coordinator of the reunion. Vernon Sullivan, chairman of the reunion, was elected as treasurer for the coming year.

25 years ago

James J. Holt II, son of James and Karen Holt of Valley Center, was initiated into the Phi Beta Kappa national scholastic honor society at Kansas University. He was a senior in the college of liberal arts and sciences.

Josh White of Valley Center was getting ready to travel for the summer with the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps of Casper, Wyo. A highlight of the tour was two days in Washington, D.C., a tour of the city and playing for President George Bush.

20 years ago

Jeremy Gilson of Valley Center won $6,100 by playing the 107.3 KKRD Secret Sound Game. He was the correct caller and guessed the mystery sound clip of curling, a sport played on ice similar to shuffleboard. Gilson was a full-time student at WSU majoring in business and real estate.

Randy Herbel of Valley Center graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita. His proposed residency was in family practice at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, Wichita.

15 years ago

Ed H. Pavey of Valley Center, director of the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center near Hutchinson, received the Clarence M. Kelley meritorious service award. KLETC was a unit of the University of Kansas Continuing Education.

Christina Strunk, daughter of Tom and Trudy Strunk of Valley Center, was awarded a Tau Beta Pi Bernard scholarship. She received a $2,000 cash award for her senior year of industrial engineering study at Kansas State University.

10 years ago

Karen Slater, daughter of Keith and Cheryl Slater of Valley Center, received an Arlene Williams Scholarship. She was a student at Pittsburg State University.

Richard Irby retired after 31 years of teaching in USD 262 Valley Center schools. A reception was held at the Community Building for friends, former students and family.

5 years ago

Madalyn Phillips, granddaughter of David and Sandra McConnaughhay of Kechi, earned first-place honors at the Missouri Valley AAU Gymnastics meet in Hays. Phillips, a 7-year-old from Wichita, placed first in the vault, floor exercise and balance beam. She was second on the uneven bars and won first place all around. Teams from all over the state competed at the meet.

Dr. Michael Campbell of Valley Center graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita with a medical doctor degree. He planned to complete his residency training in family medicine at KU School of Medicine-Wichita.