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Out of the office
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: October 25, 2018

Valley Center loses longtime vet

Valley Center lost its longtime veterinarian.

Dr. Murray Dean, who owned and operated Valley Center Veterinary Clinic for nearly 35 years, died Oct. 15 after a long battle with cancer.

Dean, who retired and sold his practice in 2013 after he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, had just turned 70.

Dr. Sam Elder bought Valley Center Veterinary Clinic from Dean in 2013.

Dean told The News then that he didn't want to retire that way.

"The decision was made for me entirely, because of the cancer that was diagnosed and the therapy that I am going to have to go through, both chemotherapy and probably at least a couple of surgeries," Dean said. "It's not a good situation and probably a guarded prognosis. The chemo is just slowing me down. I wanted to get out of here and concentrate on my own health. We were just fortunate that Sam came along to step in and take over."

Dean, a Wichita native, graduated from Wichita State University before going to veterinary school at Kansas State University.

Dean worked at a busy five-doctor practice near St. Louis for two years before returning to Kansas to purchase the Valley Center clinic at 122 W. Main from Dr. John Johnson on July 5, 1978.

Dean said the connections he made with customers over the years made it difficult for him to leave the practice.

"We've made an awful lot of good friends," he said. "I'm going to miss everybody. But I'll still be around town hopefully for a while and I'll see a lot of local people at the stores and around. I'll see them at Leeker's, if nothing else."

Dr. Dean will be missed.

†††

Well, I came to work Oct. 24.

That means I didn't win the Mega Millions.

I bought a ticket the night of the drawing, just in case. I knew I wouldn't win.

I also bought a ticket last week, right before the Oct. 19 drawing when the jackpot was estimated to reach over $1 billion. No one won.

They were the first Lottery tickets I have purchased in years, probably since the last big jackpot.

I felt kind of dumb ordering them from the cashier at Kwik Shop.

"Two Powerballs, please," I asked.

"You want Powerball?" she replied.

"Yes. Quick pick," I announced, like I knew what I was talking about.

"OK," she responded.

She pushed a button on the machine and two tickets spewed from the printer. She must've seen the confusion on my face because she asked again if I wanted Powerball. Just to be sure.

"The one with the big jackpot," I said.

"Oh, the Mega Millions," she said. "Do you want the Powerball, too?"

"Sure."

I didn't know they were two separate games.

She printed a Mega Millions and I parted with $6 I knew I'd never get back. Bad investment?

I don't know. It's something to talk about, I suppose.

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




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