Ark Valley News - Looking Back

Looking Back
Last Updated: August 28, 2015

50 years ago

The Valley Players entered a float, portraying the song title, "Hello, Dolly," in the Fall Festival parade. The float took first-place honors. The queen candidate, Mrs. Bernice Lehman, rode in a convertible in front of the float; therefore she became the Fall Festival queen. Driving the car was Dean Dillinger, who was instrumental in the planning and construction of the float with the aid of his wife Judy Dillinger.

A foursome group called the Fugitives provided entertainment in two locations at the Fall Festival. First they appeared at the Hootenanny at the bank parking lot. Afterwards they located in front of Jones Café and drew quite an audience of listeners and young dancers. Ricky Brucker played the drums while Jerry Dudley, Clinton Farmer and Keith Russell were on guitars.

45 years ago

Pfc. Robert N. Turner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. McClure, Valley Center, completed a 22-week fixed station technical controller course at the U.S. Army Signal Center and School, Fort Monmouth, N.J.

Orie Beard was honored by the presentation of a plaque for his more than 35 years as businessman on Main Street in Valley Center. As Mrs. Beard looked on, Bob Tormey made the presentation in behalf of the Chamber of Commerce at a dinner at Jones Café. As mayor of Valley Center for several terms and long service on the City Council, along with the many and varied services rendered as civic duty, he had a record to be proud of.

40 years ago

Diane Madison of Valley Center was the winner of the Chamber of Commerce's logo contest. Mrs. Madison received the $50 first prize for her two entries at the chamber's noon luncheon at the Community Building. Both of her entries were chosen according to Keith Anderson, chairman of the chamber's promotional committee which handled the contest. Other submitting entries in the logo contest were Jeff Hull and Carl Russell, both of Valley Center, and Cynthia Stringer of Park City.

Garland Edwards, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Edwards of Valley Center, won the singles and doubles title in the Wichita City Closed Tennis Tournament. The tournament covered the Wichita metropolitan area. Edwards was entered in the 14 and under division. He won the singles final and then teamed up with David Goodman of Wichita for the doubles title.

35 years ago

Shauna Renee Hess of Valley Center was awarded a merit scholarship by the Wesley School of Nursing in Wichita. The scholarship was awarded to outstanding students on the basis of their academic accomplishments, their leadership qualities and involvement in community activities. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford L. Hess, of Valley Center.

Darren Stults and Tony Schock, 1980 graduates of Valley Center High School, were awarded athletic scholarships at Friends University. Stults received a football scholarship and Schock a football and tennis scholarship.

30 years ago

Sometimes we were so close to something that we took it for granted. Take Tom and Lois Terning's annual Steam and Gas Engine Show, held each Labor Day weekend just west of town. It was an occasion where the past and future met. Steam-powered threshers, tractors and fire engines were displayed. Radio controlled model airplanes were also exhibited. Other attractions included a saw mill in operation, an operating grist mill and steam train, and horse-drawn stagecoach races.

The Owl's Nest ceramic shop opened at 8520 N. Broadway and was the culmination of two of Lucille Bitner's loves — ceramics and owls. Her husband Roger Bitner named it because she loved owls. The shop sold ceramic green ware and paints. Bitner also gave ceramic lessons in the shop for $1 a lesson.

25 years ago

A Valley Center man helped refine an engine for a water jet ski that set a national speed record at 55.1 miles an hour this summer. Brian Johnson, a 1978 graduate of Valley Center High School, worked with Ross Reed, co-owner of Kawasaki Connection in Wichita, to revamp the ski engine during the winter. The pair surpassed the old record of 52.5 mph, which was set the prior summer.

After spending the prior season as an assistant coach at Canton-Galva High School, Andy Fewin was named the head football coach at Valley Center High School. Fewin was head coach at Canton-Galva for four years and then moved to assistant when the district consolidated with Goessel.

20 years ago

Brian's Body Shop, a Valley Center business that began in 1986, opened a new location in the 7400 block of North Meridian. Owner Brian Kupfersmith, a 1982 Valley Center graduate, cited the need for more room and better access than the dirt roads gave after snow or rain at the old location.

American Legion Post No. 73 received donations to purchase flags for the Avenue of Flags on Meridian. The flags are displayed on each national holiday. Contributors included Progressive Women's Club, PRIDE, Dr. Robert Daniels, Gene and Bess Roberts, Timothy and Carol Sophy, Mike Becker, Leroy Brown, Dr. Dan Kelley, Betty's Country Kitchen, Tom Bartel, Dave Rose, Eldon Fike, Gail Dunn, Dale Clemence, the Arts Commission, Valley Drug, Friendship Club, John Beckstrom, Evelyn Werries, Dr. Tom Troilo, and Verne and Karen Baker.

15 years ago

Casey Walkup was named Outstanding Local Player at the 2000 National Baseball Congress World Series. Walkup, a 1996 graduate of Valley Center High School, hit .357, including five doubles and a triple, for the Athletes in Action, which took fourth place in the tournament. He also scored seven runs and had three RBIs.

Valley Center High School cheerleaders were among nearly 600 from Kansas attending a UCA cheer camp at Emporia State University. The JV/freshman squad won a first place trophy in the JV division. Freshman cheerleaders included Carrie Campbell, Kayla Bryant, Louisa Lipke, Stephanie Stos, Brandi Clifton, Dana Thompson, Kristina Parsons and Gretchen Welk.

10 years ago

The Valley Center Football field would not be resodded this year. The school board turned down a Booster Club proposal to replace the Bermuda that was sprigged on the field that summer. The dirt work, irrigation repairs and the sod would have cost an estimated $35,000. Bryan Naccarato, representing the boosters, parents and players, presented the proposal. Board member Dennis Phelps later moved to replace the grass, but it died for lack of a second.

Dan Alefs pitched his dream business proposal to the Park City Council this month. He gained approval from the council for industrial revenue funds to build a motorcycle dealership located at I-135 and 53rd North in Park City. Alefs owned a Harley Davidson dealership on West Kellogg in Wichita. He would close that location once this new location was ready to open. He employed 17 people at the dealership.

5 years ago

The family musical group, known as The Stagehands, was to perform at the farmers market near Main and Ash in downtown Valley Center. The group was composed of mother Michelle Yoder (harmonica, brass, sometimes clarinet), sons Chris Yoder (guitar), Adam Yoder (fiddle and mandolin), and Isaac Yoder (fiddle), as well as family friend Bruce Johnson (resonator guitar). The Stagehands played bluegrass, gospel, jazz and classic country music.

Three Valley Center High School athletes recently received awards as VYPE Preseason Players of the Year. Senior Joe Fisher won for track; Ashlyn Driskill, a junior, won for volleyball; and Morgan Wedekind, a sophomore, won for cross country. They each won against nominees from other schools throughout VYPE's south central Kansas coverage area.