Ark Valley News - Looking Back

Looking Back
Last Updated: August 24, 2017

50 years ago

Lyle Blue of Topeka was named as the manager of the KwikShop in Valley Center. Blue was employed at KwikShop in Topeka since it opened and was associated with the grocery business for 14 years. He would be moving to Valley Center with his wife Illene.

Susan Fagan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Fagan of rural Benton, was awarded the Margaret Justin scholarship for the upcoming academic year at Kansas State University.

45 years ago

Tech Sgt. Alfred E. Claycamp, son of Mrs. William H. Claycamp of Valley Center, received a second U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal during his retirement ceremony at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.

Dr. Thad G. McLaughlin, a hydrologist formerly of Valley Center, was appointed director of the U.S. Geological Survey Central Region, headquartered in Denver. He received an A.B. degree in geology in 1935 from Wichita University and his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas in 1939. He was the brother of Lloyd McLaughlin and nephew of Bessie Boudette and Susie Ferrison, all of Valley Center.

40 years ago

Gerald Henderson became the principal at Valley Center High School. The 38-year-old Henderson had taught three years at Hugoton and two years at Leavenworth. He was a principal at Eudora, east of Lawrence, for three years before accepting the job here. Henderson and his wife, Patricia, had a 16-month-old son, John.

Nancy Witham Walker joined Valley Center schools as a new first-grade teacher at West Elementary. Walker had been teaching for five years. She and her husband, Bruce, had no children.

35 years ago

The Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus stopped in town for its annual animal walk to the Kansas Coliseum. Gunther Gebel-Williams led the collection of animals along 85th North where residents lined the streets to watch them.

The West Urban Royals, the Wichita baseball team that won the state title in the 9-10 boys' division, included two Valley Center area youngsters. Jason Adam, grandson of Dan and Melba Robertson, and Scott Nordstedt, son of Bob Nordstedt, were on the squad that beat the Valley Center Hornets for the title.

30 years ago

Citing a desire to return to the Wichita area, Tom Troilo took over the practice vacated by Dr. Bridges. A graduate of Bishop Carroll High School, Troilo received a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University before attending dental school at Creighton University. Troilo and his wife, Teri, lived in Wichita.

Frank Lesperance was one of two Kansans who attended a five-star basketball camp at Robert Morris College in Pennsylvania. The son of Barbara and Mike Lesperance, he would be a junior at Valley Center High School.

25 years ago

Thanks to Blondie Roark and Ron Prichard, morning coffee drinkers displaced by the fire that destroyed Betty's Kountry Kitchen would have at least one place to congregate. Roark opened Prichard's Burger Hut from 7 to 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday. It offered coffee, hot or iced tea, milk and donuts on a minimum donation basis.

Boy Scout Troop 494 returned from a 10-day trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimmaron, N.M. Troop leaders were Bob Barton and Keith Jacob. Troop members included Scott Jacob, Troy Leewight, Brian Meyer, Michael Capps and Billy Wilson.

20 years ago

Bob Daniels of Valley Center was chosen as one of 27 members of the National Agricultural Commission who evaluated the various problems facing small and limited resource farmers throughout the nation. The commission represented more than 20 states and reported directly to Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman.

Sarah Tweet, daughter of Larry and Kay Tweet of Valley Center, returned from a two-month missionary internship in El Salvador. She and her twin sister, Ruth Tweet, attended Central Bible College in Springfield, Mo.

15 years ago

Frank McNeny of rural Valley Center joined Allen, Gibbs and Houlik as the special projects manager in the Outsourcing Services Group.

Valley Center High School graduates Justin Truman, Ben Gray, Kyle Bleier and B.J. Saner played on the Wichita Sluggers Academy baseball team that won the National Baseball Congress 18-and-under World Series in Bartlesville, Okla.

10 years ago

State Sen. Carolyn McGinn was appointed by the Legislative Coordinating Council to serve on the Special Committee on Energy, Natural Resources and Environment, a summer-fall interim legislative study panel. The committee studied the energy efficiency of state and local government buildings, intensive groundwater use control areas, distribution and transportation of gasoline, biofuels and diesel.

Local disc jockey John "John Boy" Speer changed his career path after nearly 25 years from the local radio voice of country music to a sixth-grade English teacher at Valley Center Middle School. Speer was one of 31 new teachers in the Valley Center school district.

5 years ago

Dr. David Crum announced his retirement from his practice in both Valley Center and Augusta. His replacement would be Dr. Jace P. Giannetti, an Osborn native and University of Kansas alum, who would work with Dr. Todd in Augusta.

Eric Rook, a Clay Center native, became pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Valley Center following a 12-year career as an accountant. He earned a master's degree in divinity at Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo. and was ordained in 2010. Rook replaced Dennis Livingston, who became superintendent of the Hutchinson District of the Kansas West Conference.