Ark Valley News - Out of the office

Out of the office
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: December 10, 2015

Wedding of the decade a VCHS affair

I was kind of bummed.

The priest who officiated Chris Edwards' wedding Nov. 28 said he lived in the same K-State dormitory at the same time Chris did a few years ago, but he declined to share any stories about Valley Center's native son.

It was a nice ceremony and all, but a few snippets about Chris' days (and nights) at K-State, especially as told by a priest, could have made it much more entertaining.

The priest said that the problem he has telling Chris Edwards stories is that Chris could tell stories about the priest. So, he kept them to himself.

Chris, who graduated from Valley Center High School and was a special education teacher and assistant basketball coach here until last year, married VCHS science teacher Kyrie McKee.

Chris is now working in the Maize school district and is an assistant coach in the Maize High School girls' basketball program.

He said it was bittersweet for him when Maize swept all three games (freshman, JV and varsity) in Valley Center's opener last week. Our sympathies.

Chris and Kyrie's wedding had several VCHS connections. In fact Chris and Kyrie first met while working together at the school.

Science teacher Chad Baalman was a groomsman. Social studies teacher Kaitlin Woellhof was maid of honor. A handful of VCHS students were guestbook and gift table attendants. (Chad's wife, Holly, was a bridesmaid. She teaches first grade at West.)

Everywhere you looked in the audience, there was either a VCHS graduate or a current teacher (or both, in some cases).

Some called it the Valley Center wedding of the decade. A few stories from the priest would have made it the wedding of the century.

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Speaking of decades and weddings, my wife and I were married two decades and four years ago this month.

I'm trying to plan a nice anniversary date for our 24th, but I'm really getting nervous about the 25th. That's a big one and I don't want to disappoint Lisa.

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Speaking of disappointment, it looks like I'm going to be missing my kids' Christmas band concerts.

My daughter's concert was Dec. 8, and I was at a special school board-city council meeting at the District Office.

My son's concert will be Dec. 14, and I'll be returning to the District Office for a regular school board meeting.

I don't like missing those things, but it can't be helped, I suppose.

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It's a good thing we have a great alarm system at home because our poor dog is no help.

I walked into the house during lunch the other day, making about the same amount of noise I usually make, and there was Shorty, lying in the middle of the living room, catching a ray of noon-day sun, asleep and oblivious to everything.

He didn't wake up until I was stepping over him.

He's an old dog — about 12, we guess — so he has earned his retirement.

Chris Strunk is publisher of The Ark Valley News. Reach him at 755-0821, news@arkvalleynews.com or on Facebook.