Ark Valley News - Looking Back

Looking Back
Last Updated: August 13, 2015

50 years ago

State Traffic Safety awards were presented to the Valley Center Police Department at the regular monthly city council meeting for no traffic deaths for 1964, outstanding performance in the keeping of accident records, and a good program of public education. On hand for the occasion were Floyd Blanchard, Howard Stotts, Wayne Nantkes, A.L. Pitts, chief of police, Charles Schaefer state highway commission, Mayor O.R. Loewen, Gene Whittington, Capt. Bob Urbin, Sgt. Marlin Roeder, Walter M. Garner, and patrolman Ralph Moore.

The Chaotics, a local combo, played for the Saturday Evening Dance held at the Community Building in Valley Center in August of 1965. Cost was 50 cents per person. Making up the Chaotics were Bruce Powell, base and lead guitar; Drew Hamilton, rhythm guitar and vocalist; Randall Riley, drums; and Dale Mitchell, bass and lead guitar. This was the farewell performance for the group as Powell was moving to Marion and Mitchell was moving to Goodland.

45 years ago

Three junior high cheerleaders, Tami Garmon, Karen Lackey and Jill Nucholls, and their sponsor, Miss Chris Hudspeth, returned from the NCA Cheerleading Camp for five days held at the Rock Springs 4-H camp. There were 517 cheerleaders in attendance. Tami was unable to stay due to illness and returned home early. Karen and Jill entered three different rounds of competitions and came home with two blue ribbons and one red ribbon.

Mary Lois Allen of Valley Center was appointed Assistant to the President, National Security Affairs at Girls Nation 1970, held in Washington, D.C., July 25 to August 1, 1970. Mary is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dale K. Allen and a student at Valley Center High School. She was designated as one of two "Senators" to attend Girls Nation during the Kansas Girls State held recently under the auspices of the American Legion Auxiliary.

40 years ago

Jeanne Daniels, Stacy Miles and Debbie Stevens of Valley Center were selected as prep track and field athletes of the year in 1975. The trio was nominated that spring by their coach, Roger Maris. Sponsored by "Coach and Athlete" magazine, the awards were based on athletic ability, including statistics and overall performance, sportsmanship and personal leadership.

Gerald E. Zuck, a minister-evangelist from Eldon, Mo., began his pulpit ministry at the Valley Center Christian Church at 100 South Park. He was confirmed at the time by Robert O. Rich, chairman of the board of elders. The church had been without a minister for 11 weeks after the resignation of John B. Frakes.

35 years ago

Tormey Service was honored for its outstanding service in marketing petroleum products by Conoco, Inc. This was in recognition of its efforts in representing Conoco and distributing Conoco products in Valley Center and the surrounding area since 1969. The award was presented to Jiggs and Bob Tormey, owners of Tormey Service, by Roger J. Russell, division sales manager for Conoco.

Eighty-seven relatives and friends gathered Aug 3, 1980, at the community building for the Carey family reunion. Among those in attendance were Walter Carey, Valley Center, and 22 of his descendants. John Carey, Alma, and five of his descendants were there, representing four generations. Others attending were Willie Carey, of Madison, and five of his descendants; Alda Samuels, Valley Center, and eight of his descendants; Ethel Patterson of Benton and eight descendants; and Orville Carey of Valley Center. Six descendants of the late Sam Carey also attended.

30 years ago

OK Corral restaurant reopened its doors this week in 1985 after recovering from an earlier fire and A&J Drive-In had a new name and new owner. Mike Majors, brother of Loyd and Steve Majors, who owned Bionic Burgers in Wichita, bought A&J Drive-In and opened for business in August. The shop was named Mike's Little Bionic and had the same hamburgers and fries as the Bionic Burgers.

Winners in Betty's Kountry Kitchen grand-opening drawing were Paul White, five-inch AM/FM radio TV; Lance Ferguson, makeup kit; George Dunfee, 18-quart cooler; Gilbert Latta, Bob Alford, Thelma Bilby, Dennis Shaw and Joy Schnackenberg, $10 gift certificates; and Sue Beardsley, Tracy Triplet, Harold Brandt, Del James and Mildred Chamberlin, $5 gift certificates.

25 years ago

Mark Padding, Valley Center, graduated from the Future Astronaut Training program at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson. The five-day camp focuses on different aspects of astronaut training and space flight. Students trained in high-tech simulators such as the Stress, Link, manned maneuvering unit and the Falcon shuttle simulator.

Seven Valley Center girls attended a cross-country camp at Emporia. Attending were Kerry Locke, Anne Whitted, Ginger Gregory, Barbie Carroll, and Denise, Carol and Diane Long. The camp was directed by Mark Stambrough, cross country coach at Emporia State University.

20 years ago

Krystal Kelsay and Keila DeSanto of Valley Center took a step closer to their dreams of big-time modeling with appearances in the Miss Teen USA modeling show at Century II in Wichita.

The Valley Center Dream Team, a 7-8 year-old girls' softball team coached by Raleigh Lackey, was the noontime guest of KWCH-TV Channel 12. The Dreamers did their "all for one" cheer live on the outdoor weather set. The group visited the news studio and was given a tour by the 5 p.m. news producer, Ronda Schwab. After a fun lunch at Mickey D's the players met at Lacky's home to receive certificates and individual second-place trophies.

15 years ago

Erin Auman, a student at Valley Center High School, participated in the Kansas Masonic all-state high school marching band at Washburn University, Topeka. The band performed at the annual Shrine Bowl in Topeka. She was sponsored by Valley Center Lodge #364, AF&AM.

Two Valley Center youngsters placed in the Dribble, Pass and Shoot team competition sponsored by Major League Soccer Saturday in Kansas City. Lindsay Geddes placed second and Dylan Bryant third in their divisions. Geddes finished second in the 10-11 girls' division while Bryant was third in the 8-9 boys' division. Twelve team championships will be held with the top four competitors advancing to the national competition. Geddes and Bryant received Wizards uniforms, team bags, soccer balls and plaques. They were introduced at halftime of the Kansas City-Los Angeles game.

10 years ago

Wild West World Commercial Development and Wild West World Theme Park groundbreaking ceremonies were held at 77th North and I-135 this week in 2005.

Rich Weir of California, son of Richard and Linda Weir and grandson of Cletis Stewart, all of Valley Center, completed the San Francisco Marathon. His time was about 5 hours and 2 minutes.

5 years ago

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Kechi for Artisan Lane Shops. Richard and Cindy Wolf purchased the property in 2010. The first phase of the development was a 2,400-square-foot woodworking shop. The second phase was for another 2,000- to 2,500-square-foot building that would be leased to other artisans.

The Jr. Dribblers, a team of Valley Center players, placed third in the Mid-America Youth Basketball tournament in Towanda. The team went 3-3. The team consisted of Bailey Stedman, Edie Reese, Alora Klinkhammer, Rachel Binau, Camille Claussen, Katlynn Owens, Holly Mills, Jacque Toews and Julie Ledbetter. It was coached by JoAnn Owens.