Ark Valley News - Looking Back

Looking Back
Last Updated: January 08, 2015

50 years ago

"The response has been terrific," commented Ray Hollander, Valley Center, as he referred to replies which he has received from an article printed in the December 1964 issue of Flying magazine which explains the function of the National Handicapped Pilots Association, in addition to giving Valley Center some fine recognition.

Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Rogg, Valley Center, announced the birth of a 6-pound, 13-ounce son, Kirk Lewis, Jan. 6 at Wesley Hospital, Wichita. They have another son, Kyle, 27 months old. Kyle visited his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Schaeffer, in Topeka while his mother was in the hospital.

45 years ago

Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Triplitt, Valley Center, announced the engagement of their daughter, Cheryl Lynn, to Charles Geoffrey Adams. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Adams, Arkansas City. The bride-elect is attending Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C. Her fiancé is the youth minister of First Bible Baptist Church in Wichita. The wedding will be Aug. 14 in First Bible Baptist Church.

Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Wiley announced the birth of a son born Jan. 2 at Wesley Medical Center. He has two sisters, Shannon, 5, and Erin, 4. Mr. and Mrs. Hal Wright are maternal grandparents.

40 years ago

Mr. and Mrs. Daryl Miller announce the birth of a daughter, Jessica Lynn, Jan. 10, 1975, at Bethel Hospital in Newton. She weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces. They have a son, Jarrod. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Duane Sanders and Mr. and Mrs. Orville Miller, all of rural Valley Center.

Dale and Debbie Coffman, Valley Center, are the proud parents of a son, Kristopher James, born Dec. 24, 1974, at Wesley Hospital. Kristopher weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Jim Coffman, Valley Center, and Mr. and Mrs. Gene Weathers, Park City.

35 years ago

The 911 emergency assistance system went into effect in both Wichita and Sedgwick County. Although the system is designed to simplify matters for both the caller and those who receive the calls, it may not be quite so simple for the small towns in the county, like Valley Center. By dialing 911, anyone in the county (Valley Center residents included) can be connected with the police, fire, ambulance or sheriff departments.

Mr. and Mrs. Jim Drake returned recently from a Christmas vacation with their daughter, Mary Drake, at Long Beach, Calif.

30 years ago

Frank Rowley Jr. has filed for re-election to the USD 262 Board of Education. Rowley, one of four board members whose terms expire in June, is the only candidate to file for re-election. Board President Bob Alford has announced he will not seek re-election. Kent Courtney said earlier he is undecided on another term and Derrell Schooler, who is replacing Jim Holt after Holt moved away to attend law school, has said he planned to run to complete the two years on Holt's unexpired term.

Paul Seiler recently attended the annual meeting of the Kansas Division of Associated Milk Producers. He is the director for District X of the Kansas Division.

25 years ago

The developers of the proposed 300-home Lusk addition north of Fifth Street got an earful about the preliminary sketch of the 100-plus-acre site from the city's planners. Commission members heard Roger Weast, representing William E. Lusk Jr., reply to questions and suggestions concerning drainage, size of the lots, width of streets and the area around a proposed elementary school submitted by Mike Schomaker, the city's engineer.

Paul and Danielle Smith announced the birth of their son, Ian Robert, Dec. 26, 1989. He weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces and joined a sister, Jordan, 2 1/2. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Smith, Valley Center, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Nordman, Augusta. Great-grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. E.D. Kessner, Augusta, and Dee Wilkinson, Valley Center.

20 years ago

The search for a new superintendent for the Valley Center Schools was narrowed to eight from the original list of 25 candidates. The screening committee met to select finalists to be interviewed by four committees the week of Feb. 3. The school board will hold a special meeting at the Central Office to discuss the finalists. The interviewing committees will meet together for an orientation Jan. 31. They will be briefed by Dr. Pat Stevens, executive director of the South Central Kansas Education Service Center.

Navy seaman apprentice William R. Perry, son of Dennis W. and Connie P. Perry of Wichita, recently graduated from basic enlisted submarine course at the Naval Submarine School in Groton, Conn. A 1994 graduate of Valley Center High School, he joined the Navy in June 1994.

15 years ago

Following a 10-minute closed session to discuss personnel, the Valley Center city council voted unanimously to hire Michael Pisciotte as its city administrator. Pisciotte, who will begin work March 6, replaced Bob Finkbiner, who was scheduled to retire Jan. 28. Pisciotte obtained his master's degree in public administration from WSU and will be paid $50,000 a year. He is scheduled to receive a $1,000 raise after six months. Finkbiner, who joined the council in the closed session, received $55,000 a year.

Willard and Joyce Brooks of Valley Center celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family dinner at Black Canyon and a show at Cabaret Old Town Theatre, Wichita. Their children hosted the events. Willard Brooks and Joyce Mamigonian were married Dec. 26, 1949, in Wichita. He was an elementary principal with USD 259 for 36 years, retiring in 1988. She has been a realtor with Coldwell Banker Dinning-Beard for 23 years. They have a son and four daughters, Robert Brooks, Brenda Hess, Lynnette Dorsett, all of Wichita, Janine Briscoe of Grand Junction, Colo., Cherlyn Jordon of Emporia, and 11 grandchildren.

10 years ago

Six months after hearing complaints from parents of gifted students about the gifted program in Valley Center, the school board received recommendations from a task force appointed to study the issue. Some members of the task force spoke during a meeting of the USD 262 Board of Education. Their recommendations included additional staff, better space utilization and improved communication regarding the gifted program.

Navy seaman apprentice Megan L. Bower, daughter of Christine A. and David F. Bower of Wichita, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at recruit training command, Great Lakes, Ill. She is a 2003 graduate of Valley Center High School.

5 years ago

The Valley Center school board joined a growing group of school districts in their pursuit of adequate funding for public education. The board voted 5-2 to spend an additional $2,500 to $3,000 a year to support litigation against the State of Kansas. The vote during its Jan. 11 meeting came a month after the board agreed to spend about $5,000 a year to join Schools For Fair Funding as a non-litigating member.

Jaime Anderson of Paola and Iain McHugh of Wichita were married Dec. 12, 2009, at Danforth Chapel on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence. Judge Harold Flaigle officiated the service. The bride is the daughter of Douglas and Sandra Anderson of Paola. The groom is the son of Kaelene and Tyone Artz of Valley Center, and Simon and Susan McHugh of Wichita. Jaime is a paramedic student and is employed at the YMCA. Iain is a high school science teacher for USD 259. The couple honeymooned in England and live in Wichita.