Ark Valley News - Looking Back

Looking Back
Last Updated: June 01, 2017

50 years ago

Anthony Wayne Owen and John Woody Russel Jr., both of Valley Center, received their Bachelor of Science in education at Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia.

Miss Beverly Nattier, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marion Nattier of rural Valley Center, received a bachelor's degree during commencement exercises at Southwestern College.

45 years ago

Richard Lee Franz, son of Lawrence V. Franz of Valley Center, completed graduation requirements at Hutchinson Community Junior College. Franz was a business major.

Deborah G. Schweer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Schweer of Valley Center, received a merit scholarship award to attend Friends University.

40 years ago

Lonnie Sampson of Abilene School won a 10-speed bike by raising the most money in the Superkids event. Elementary students at West and Abilene competed in the contest, sponsored by the Valley Center Jaycees and Jaynes, to raise money for the Kansas Lung Association. Sampson raised $105.

Neil Guthrie, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Guthrie of Valley Center, received his master's degree from Wichita State. After a one-year internship, Guthrie planned to work as a school psychologist in a public school system.

35 years ago

Troy Derby and Paul Moore graduated recently from the Wichita Police Academy, marking the end of four months of intensive training.

Bill Haig, son of Marilyn and Doug Haig of Valley Center, was offered an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. A 1982 graduate of Valley Center High School, Haig would enter pilot training after four years at the school.

30 years ago

Four graduating Valley Center High School seniors were chosen to receive community Scholarships. They were Matt Eales, Kristy Parker, Kim McChristian and Staci Kennedy.

Gary Hughes, of Arick-Hughes & Son, stopped a city crew after it had chopped down 18 cedar trees along the north end of Veterans Park adjoining the business. Treva Wilson, one of the residents memorialized in the park, said the trees were planted in a triangular shape, with one for each person who served. John Berry, who also served during World War II, didn't recall any trees being planted after the memorial was created in 1946.

25 years ago

Amy Tucker of Newton, daughter of Jerry and Sharon Sisler of Valley Center, would teach kindergarten at Berean Academy in Elbing this fall. She was a 1998 graduate of Berean and a 1992 graduate of Calvary Bible College, Kansas City. Her brother, Jason Sisler, a senior at Berean, would be student council president in the upcoming school year.

Brian A. Bachelder, son of Bruce Bachelder of Valley Center, received his bachelor of arts in psychology during commencement exercises at Kansas University.

20 years ago

Jamie Jacob, son of Keith and Carol Jacob, graduated with a degree in mathematics from Southwest Baptist University. A 1993 graduate of Valley Center High School, Jacob was named to the trustees' list for the spring semester.

Stephany Pavey, daughter of Ed and Dana Pavey of Valley Center, was one of six recipients of a $1,000 Kansas Sheriff's Association Scholarship. A 1997 graduate of Valley Center High School, she planned to participate in the physician's assistant program at Wichita State University.

15 years ago

Chelsea Wilson, daughter of Mick and Kim Teschke, was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma international honor society at Wichita State University. Only those in the top 10 percent of undergraduate programs can join.

Donna Dunn won $25 in Chamber Cash for first place in Intrust Bank's contest to guess the amount of money in a jar. Cheryl Maris won second place and received $15 in Chamber Cash. Third place and $10 in Chamber Cash went to Gayle Breth.

10 years ago

K. Britney Jurgensen received the William M. Diedrich Award for outstanding student in speech pathology from the University of Kansas School of Allied Health.

Tom Gleason was a guest of honor at a retirement open house. He retired from teaching at Valley Center High School.

5 years ago

Valley Center's Matt Brunett competed in the GoRun River Run 10K in Wichita. He ran a personal record of 37:52, good for first place in the male 45-49 age group, 29th overall and 18th in the age-graded male masters.

The Park City council made a commitment to repair the more than 50-year-old Park City pool in Hap McLean Park. The city spent about $20,000 to fix a cracked pipe and to seal joints where the concrete wall met the concrete floor and the shallow end turns into the deep end.