Ark Valley News - Looking Back

Looking Back
Last Updated: December 14, 2017

50 years ago

Airman 1st Class Earnest W. Jones, son of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Wills of Valley Center, and his wife, the former Gloria Tabiadon of Battle Creek, Mich., were honored during a ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. They were the first husband-and-wife team to individually receive the U.S. Air Force Commendation Medal during a single ceremony.

Harold Brandt of Valley Center won $500 in the Merchants Thursday Night Promotion. Clifford Burdine, chairman of the retail committee of the Chamber of Commerce, said that the Merchants Thursday Night Promotion would be discontinued until further notice.

45 years ago

Dennis W. Prothero, husband of the former Linda J. Bright of Valley Center, graduated from the Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla., and was commissioned as an ensign by Capt. R.E. Loux, commanding officer of the Naval Aviation Schools Command. Prothero would begin intensive ground and in-flight training to become either a naval aviator or flight officer.

The Minerd-Repp outboard racing team of Park City finished the season with three state championships. The team included Kelley Miners Jr. of Valley Center, Loran Repp of Park City and Pat Minerd of Valley Center.

40 years ago

The Valley Center girls basketball team, coached by Donita Davenport, defeated top-ranked Chaparral in overtime, 62-60. Leading the Hornets were guard-forward Jeanne Daniels, guards Sandy Evans and Lori House, center DeeAnna Naylor and forwards Stephanie Higgs and Tiana Hobson. “We're getting good bench support from Karen Geubelle and Nancy Anderson," Davenport said.

Ward Stauffer, son of Mrs. Virginia Stauffer formerly of Valley Center, was initiated into the National Honor Society. He was a senior at Wichita East High School.

35 years ago

Pvt. Mitchell Williams, son of Darroll and Sidney Williams of Valley Center, arrived for duty in Schweinfurt, West Germany. An indirect-fire infantryman with the 3rd Infantry Division, Williams was previously assigned to Fort Benning, Ga. He graduated from Valley Center High School in 1982.

Jeffrey Brazell of Valley Center graduated with a bachelor of science in business administration from Oklahoma Christian College in Oklahoma City.

30 years ago

Navy Seaman Brent A. House, son of Barbara Byerly, recently returned from a five-month deployment to the Mediterranean aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Preble. Port calls were made in Morocco, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Romania, Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Cape Verde.

The Valley Center High School girls basketball team won the Maize tournament with a 62-53 victory over Andale. Guards Sheli Nordstedt and Kristen Ruth were named honorary first-team all-tournament selections. Coach Brad King was not disappointed when told their next game had been canceled due to snow.

25 years ago

Valley Center police officer Ken Hinton graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center in Hutchinson.

Michelle Bishop, daughter of Larry and Flora Bishop of Valley Center, was accepted at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. A graduate of Valley Center High School, Bishop left for six months in Genoa, Italy, where she would teach English to an Italian family.

20 years ago

Sarah Kallenbach of Valley Center won second place in yearbook design, cover and unity package for her work on the 1996 Royal Purple's “Common Core." A senior in journalism at Kansas State University, she was editor-in-chief of the Royal Purple, the school yearbook.

Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan K. Shultz, son of Rita M. Schultz of Valley Center, was deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian oceans with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. He joined the Marine Corps after graduating from Valley Center High School in 1994.

15 years ago

The Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research at Kansas State University awarded Timothy VanWye of Valley Center a competitive cancer research award. He was a sophomore majoring in microbiology at K-State.

Deanna Henderson, daughter of Darrell and Dianne Henderson of Valley Center, was promoted to cadet airman first class in the Civil Air Patrol (CAP). She was a senior homeschooler and a member of the Emerald City Squadron CAP, based at McConnell Force Base.

10 years ago

Cory D. Schrater of Valley Center joined Midland National Bank as vice president of the Newton-based bank, as announced by Ron Lang, bank president. Schrater obtained a bachelor of science in business management from Kansas State University and a master's of business administration from Wichita State University.

Valley Center Christian Church, led by pastor Chuck Terrill, dedicated its new home at East Fifth and Seneca in Valley Center. The church's former home had been downtown at Main and Park.

5 years ago

Four Valley Center High School students put together a science experiment that would be conducted in space. The project would be sent to NASA to be launched into space and conducted on the International Space Station. The students who developed the experiment were junior Garrett Chandler and sophomores Wesley Crow, Cole Klinkhammer, Logan Burks and Sam Sheahan.

Mike Porter was re-elected president of the Valley Center Chamber of Commerce. Amy Stamm was chosen first vice president, Carol Van Leeuwen second vice president and Jennifer VanWyk treasurer.