Ark Valley News - Looking Back

Looking Back
Last Updated: February 09, 2017

50 years ago

Airman Martin K. Pierce, son of Mr. and Mrs. Victor B. Pierce, Wichita, was assigned to Dow Air Force Base Bangor, Maine, to train as an air policeman with the Strategic Air Command. He was a 1965 graduate of Valley Center High School and attended Butler County Junior College, El Dorado.

Les Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. N.C. Robertson of Valley Center, became co-sports editor on the State College Leader, student newspaper, during the spring semester. Anderson was a 1966 graduate of Valley Center High School and was studying journalism.

45 years ago

Students from Valley Center who planned to attend Wichita State University Music Talent Day and scholarship auditions included: Peggy McHugh, Greg Waggoner, Janet Woods, Homer Robbins and Kim Porter.

The Valley Center High School music department was busy getting ready for the musical "The Sound of Music" to be held at the high school auditorium. It was a struggle to get all the costumes and sets ready for the production headed by Dean Dellinger and rehearsals were well underway.

40 years ago

Rusty Westerfield, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Westerfield of Valley center, was announced to be the evangelist for the First Christian Church's spring revival planned for April. Song evangelists were to be Scott and Sandy Springer.

A new alarm system would be installed at the Valley Center High School after being approved by the USD 262 Board of Education. The plan was to try the alarm system at this school on a trial basis. If it worked, the board would consider using it in all four schools. The need for this security arose after several incidents of vandalism occurred at the four Valley Center schools.

35 years ago

Valley Center school kids were out of school for three days this week after heavy snowfall amounts. Sub-zero temperatures kept some people indoors and more snow was forecast for the coming weekend.

Former Valley Center resident Susan Costner, daughter of Charlene Rexroat of Derby and Gene Costner of Wichita, was among 19 contestants competing in the Miss Wichita pageant at Pleasant Valley Junior High in Wichita.

30 years ago

Lori Kravets was interning with State Sen. Bogina in Topeka as an Emporia State University cooperative education student.

West Elementary spelling bee winners were Luke Naylor and Becky Hoag. Abilene winners were Donnie Sailing and Jeff Herron.

25 years ago

Melissa Lehr, a Valley Center High School junior, had a pen and ink drawing exhibited with the Scholastic Art Awards at the Wichita Art Museum.

Lloyd Gilmore and Ron Colbert of the Valley center Veterans Committee erected a sign showing the proposed site of a veteran's memorial in Veterans Park.

20 years ago

Sarah Kallenbach of Valley Center won the title of Designer of the Year in the yearbook division at the fall National College Media convention in Orlando, Fla.

Valley Center High School senior Brandon Clark signed a letter of intent to attend Kansas State University and play football.

15 years ago

Tim Millspaugh was promoted to fire division chief, fire prevention, for Sedgwick County Fire District No. 1.

A Valley Center police officer broke his arm during a scuffle with a female suspect at the Public Safety Building.

10 years ago

The Kansas Department of Transportation announced that the bridge near 45th Street and Hydraulic that passes over the Chisholm Creek Tributary was set for a full replacement. Work was set to start between June and August.

Valley Center High School winter homecoming royalty candidates were Kit Spears, Timothy Koehn, Lydia Travis, Laron Nordsteadt, Drew Johnson and Kelsey Porter.

5 years ago

Valley Center High School winter homecoming royalty included: Sarah McCormick, Lindsey Luna, Bailey Mae Pritchard, Austin Taylor, Alex Charles and Kirby McCallum.

Four Valley Center High School art students took part in the 2012 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Tegan Turner received an honorable mention award on her clay project "Hours of my Life." Sarah Wolfe received an honorable mention on her watercolor painting "Falcon Flight." Casey Shotwell received an honorable mention on her drawing "Long Live Redwood." And Allison Sandlin received honorable mention on her painting.