The Lion's Roar Podcast

Marten Spena

When Marten Spena graduated from William Jewell College in 1979, he wasn’t 100% sure what his next step would be. But as the summer drew to a close, he  made the last-minute decision that he would indeed become a music teacher -- if he could find a job. He did -- in Longton at Elk Valley Schools -- and was immediately embraced by the staff, students and community in a way that, he believes, really changed his life. After three years at Elk Valley, he felt God was leading him into full-time ministry -- and that’s what he’s done ever since, serving at churches in North Carolina, Florida and Oklahoma with his wife Ronda - who he married in 1986.

Harmon Bliss

Harmon Bliss grew up in the Busby community and actually started high school at West Elk. But when he was a sophomore, his parents Francis and Gwen Bliss purchased the Silver Bell Motel in Longton -- just as Elk Valley HS was putting in place a Vocational Agriculture program and Future Farmers of America Chapter.

 

Harmon was elected President of that first-ever FFA chapter at Elk Valley, and that laid the groundwork for what has been a 40+ year in ag education. He's also a member of the Kansas State Fair Board and served as President while the organization dealt with the COVID pandemic in 2020. His wife Diana (Gray) Bliss is also a graduate of Elk Valley HS.

Larry Gossen

Larry Gossen grew up in Cherryvale -- just east of Elk County -- and after graduating from Kansas State University in 1977 his very first job was at Elk Valley High School. In this episode of the Lion's Roar Podcast, Larry talks about the incredible support he received from people like Rodney Oliver, Joe Tindle, Jim Nichols and Francis Bliss as he created from scratch the Vo-Ag and Future Farmers of America programs at Elk Valley. He also discusses the great contributions made by Harmon Bliss and Mark Huntington, who led the very first FFA officer team at Elk Valley.

June Kramer

When June Kramer arrived at Elk Valley HS in 1972, she never could have envisioned that she would be embarking on a 50 year career at the school as a home economics teacher and librarian. She retired in 2022, and in this episode of the Lion's Roar Podcast, she talks about her amazing journey at Elk Valley. 

Kim & Cindy Moore

On the latest episode of The Lions Roar Podcast, we visit with Kim & Cindy Moore. Kim was a 1967 graduate of Longton High School, and Cindy was a teacher at the elementary school from 1972-1976. 

Dale Fleming

Dale Fleming -- along with his wife Cathy -- were part of the staff at Elk Valley from 1981-84. They were involved in just about every way possible at Elk Valley, and they were also actively involved in the Longton United Methodist Church. 

Lions Roar: Bobbi Jo (Kaminska) Mills

On this episode, Bobbi Jo (Kaminska) Mills joins host Eric Jontra for a fun discussion of the annual Alumni Banquet. Bobbi reprises her "stand up routine" from the 2022 Alumni Banquet -- and no one is safe from her good-natured ribbing!

Big Changes for the Alumni Banquet / featuring Mark Mustoe

The Longton/Elk Valley Alumni Association Board has decided to make a BIG change to the annual Alumni Banquet -- and on this episode Mark Mustoe joins Eric Jontra to discuss it all. 

The Lion's Roar featuring Roscoe Jontra

Podcast featuring teachers, administrators and coaches from Longton and/or Elk Valley High School. Episode 1 features Roscoe Jontra, who was a graduate of Longton High School and then spent much of his career teaching/coaching at both Longton HS and Elk Valley HS.