Ark Valley News - Looking Back

Looking Back
Last Updated: March 30, 2017

50 years ago

Dennis Dean Galyon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Merle Galyon of Valley Center, was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout and the God and Country Award at a Court of Honor for Boy Scout Troop No. 494. A freshman at Valley Center High School, he had been a member of Troop 494 for four years and a Cub Scout before that.

Three students from Valley Center High School participated in the Regional Science Air at Beechcrafters Activity Center in Wichita. The students were senior James I. Waldby and sophomores Gary Maxey and Fred Hobaugh.

45 years ago

Two Valley Center High School seniors were selected to participate in the official All-Kansas Lions Band at the International Convention in Mexico City, Mexico. The students were Peggy McHugh, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred McHugh, and Homer Robbins, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Robbins, Jr.

Winners of the spelling bee held at West and Abilene Elementary schools would go on to the Sedgwick County Spelling Bee. West School winners were Kevin Garren, first place, and Lora Moore, second place. At Abilene School, Mark Peavey was the first-place winner and runner-up was Jane Allen.

40 years ago

Jim Arnold, Dan Kalp, Ralph Spencer, Alvin Bastow, Don Paulin and Robert Muzzy were running for three positions on the USD 262 Board of Education.

Merle Galyon and Jeffery Hull were on the ballot for Valley Center City Council Ward 1. Bill Botts and Charles Lee Emler were on the ballot for Ward 2. Barbara Heltzel and Harold Warner Jr. were on the ballot for Ward 3.

35 years ago

The Valley Center High School musical "Carousel" was in the process of getting ready for an audience. Director Dean Dellinger said the play was a tearjerker about a carnival barker who dies but gets a second chance to help his family when the keeper of the pearly gates sends him back to the world.

Four Valley Center students qualified for the Super Soccer Skills finals. They were Nikki Epley, Carrie Quandt, Raquel Zimpfer and Maggie Anderson.

30 years ago

The Wichita Gamblers Barbershop Quartet won the Kansas Division contest of S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. at McPherson. Dillard Duerksen of Valley Center sang lead in the quartet. Taking second was the Pride of the Prairie Newton Barbershop Chorus, which included David Duerksen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dillard Duerksen.

A public reception honoring Treva Wilson was held for the Outstanding Woman of the Year for 1987. She was honored by Xi Gamma Omicron chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.

25 years ago

Kenneth Holsey, a Valley Center elementary student, served one day as page for Rep. Kenneth King in the Kansas House of Representatives.

Brett Thiessen, sixth-grader at Valley Center Junior High, placed fourth in problem solving at the state math contest in McPherson College. Sponsored by the Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics, 548 students competed in the state contest and more than 7,000 students participated in regionals.

20 years ago

Patrick W. Miller, son of Mary J. and Harvey W. Pickering of Valley Center, joined the Army Reserve under the delayed training program. A student at Valley Center High School he reported to Fort Leonard Wood in Waynesville, Mo., for basic training. By enlisting, he qualified for a $3,000 bonus.

Jennifer Houston, daughter of Wayne and Beverly Houston of Valley Center, was offered a dean's scholarship for the 1997-98 school year at Pittsburg State University. She planned to major in business.

15 years ago

Desiree Pierce, daughter of Randy and Carolyn Pierce of Valley Center, was awarded a vocal music scholarship covering books and tuition from Butler County Community college. She was a senior at Valley Center High School.

Lauren Ishman was in the spotlight as goalie for the Valley Center Hornets girls' soccer team. "She definitely had a baptism by fire, so to speak, and she handled it as well as anyone can," Hornet coach David Fonseca said of the first-year goalie. Valley Center won in sudden death overtime against Rose Hill.

10 years ago

Bel Aire police arrested two juveniles believed to be illegally racing vehicles in the 9200 block of East 34th North. Officers saw about 100 vehicles trying to leave the area at a high rate of speed, some cut through the lawns of area businesses, damaging the grass. Some people also fled on foot.

Veronica Mruk of Bel Aire was named to the dean's list for the fall 2006 semester at Trinity University, San Antonio. She was a senior.

5 years ago

Hap McLean Park in Park City was burglarized by "unknown persons forcing entry into several buildings at the park, stealing and destroying a large amount of property," a police report said. The total loss was estimated at $10,000.

Valley Center police officer Greg Jackson was on paid leave for two weeks after discharging a firearm at a suspect vehicle after it dragged him a short distance. Chief Mark Hephner said Jackson would undergo additional evaluation of his injuries, required for workman's compensation reasons, during his time off.