Ark Valley News - Looking Back

Looking Back
Last Updated: October 18, 2018

55 years ago

Gov. John Anderson proclaimed Valley Center as a city of the second class. City Clerk Earl E. Stauffer said this would keep the Valley Center school district intact since the unification of school districts would not apply to second-class cities. This would not allow part of the district to be added to or supplement an adjoining district.

Sixty-three eighth-grade social science students from Park School attended the Cinerama show, "Winning of the West," at the Uptown Theater in Wichita. The group was sponsored by Mrs. Core and social science teachers Mr. Bonar and Mr. Graber. The movie was considered appropriate for the students studying American history.

45 years ago

Marine Pvt. James F. Brackhahn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald F. Brackhahn of Valley Center, graduated from basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego.

Mayor J.K. Arnold presented service awards to George Baxter, city clerk, and A.L. Pitts, police chief. Baxter had served 10 years with the city, and Pitts had served 10 out of 12 years in service.

40 years ago

Monica Means, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Means of rural Valley Center, a junior majoring in finance at Wichita State University, received a $1,000 scholarship from the Young Bank Officers of Kansas. She was a 1976 graduate of Valley Center High School.

Art Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dale Allen of Valley Center, was a member of the Kansas State University varsity men's glee club that performed a joint concert with the University of Nebraska Glee Club. Allen was a 1976 graduate of Valley Center High School.

35 years ago

Jim Rogers, son of Ted and Freda Rogers of Valley Center, was selected as the first finalist in a San Antonio organ playing competition. First prize for the competition was $1,750. Rogers was a fifth-semester organ major at Baylor University and was the organist for Columbus Avenue Baptist Church in Waco, Texas.

30 years ago

Warrant Officer Michael Schwind, son of Pauline Schwind, was assigned to Spinelli Barracks, Mannheim, West Germany, for a three-year tour. The 1978 Valley Center High School graduate had been stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., for 9 1/2 years. He also was assigned to various troops with the 17th Cavalry Squadron, 82nd Airborne Division.

Cpl. Jeffery Schwind, son of Pauline Schwind, was attending drill sergeant school with the Army Reserve in Salina. He was up for promotion to E-5 sergeant this month. Schwind was a 1985 Valley Center High School graduate.

25 years ago

Linda Chesnut was selected Xi Zeta Rho's sweetheart candidate. She would represent the chapter at the Beta Sigma Phi charity ball.

Brett Niemann, son of Darrell and Wilma Niemann of Valley Center, pledged the Delta Chi fraternity at Kansas State University. Niemann was a freshman.

20 years ago

Valley Center residents Carrie Banick, Tom Koehn and Doni Boyer were members of the Butler County Community College concert band. Boyer also was a member of the jazz ensemble, jazz and commercial styles groups, and Dixieland personnel.

Jill Petrie of Valley Center received a $1,000 scholarship from the United Methodist Foundation. She was a senior majoring in elementary education at Southwestern College in Winfield.

15 years ago

A Valley Center school bus was swept off the road by moving water on 109th North near Interurban after more than four inches of rain fell. Howard Moon, director of operations for USD 262, said the driver was on her way to pick up a student in the area. The driver was stranded for about one hour but kept in communication with school district employees on a two-way radio. No one was injured and the bus was towed the next day.

Former longtime Valley Center resident Floyd Roeder celebrated his 100th birthday. Roeder lived in Valley Center from 1944 to 1988. He was residing with his son Marlin in Stark City, Mo.

10 years ago

Former Valley Center resident Lillian Valentine celebrated her 100th birthday. She lived in Valley Center from 1954 to 1999 before moving to Beatrice, Neb., to be closer to her sons.

Leeker's Family Foods celebrated its 50th anniversary in the month of October. The grocery stores, both in Valley Center and Park City, were founded by John Leeker and were surviving heavy competition from other larger chains.

5 years ago

A new business called Paw Prints Pet Supplies, owned by Dianna Richards, was getting ready to open in the 100 block of North Ash. The store would offer premium pet food and pet supplies and gifts.

Miles Balthazor and Breanna Sayers were named as Valley Center High School homecoming king and queen. Other candidates were Katie Bauguess, Georgi Gilchrist, Caleb Fink, and Caleb Kaiser.