Many people think the VOICE of the Valley was the first paper in Maple Valley, when
actually there were two other papers. The MapleValley Messenger (Maple Valley was
spelled as one word in those days) was founded by Chester Gibbon from 1921 to 1923
in cooperation with the Cedar Grange. The Messenger’s slogan read, ‘Smallest in
size, but not in pep, punch and personality’.
In 1964, the Maple Valley Lions Club subsidized the Maple Valley NEWS, which lasted
about a year and supported many worthwhile community activities.
Then on August 21, 1969 William (Bill) and Ruby Ziegner put out their first edition
of the VOICE of the Valley. They both were schoolteachers for the Tahoma School
District. Bill and Ruby did the paper out of their home on the lower Dorre Don.
In their first issue they asked for community and merchant support to keep the paper
going. ‘Keeping the VOICE live and vibrant will demand the wholehearted support
of our merchants and readers’ was what Bill wrote in that issue.
Merchants were contacted for advertising to help support the paper and residents
were urged to put classified ads in the paper to keep the paper going as well. Subscriptions
were available for anyone wanting to support the paper and of course donations were
always welcome to help with the printing and mailing costs.
As the paper grew employees came and went along the way. In July 1982, Bill hired
Saundra (Sandy) Hipple as the bookkeeper because Ruby’s health was failing. Ruby
passed shortly afterwards and Bill began to show Sandy how to do the layout of the
paper. After Ruby passed Bill began traveling with a few of his friends on a very
regular basis. Sandy would take over and do the paper while he was gone. He was
so impressed with her dedication to the paper that they became partners in 1985.
They worked 7 days a week, including all holidays up until Sandy finally told him
that was not necessary any longer. Bill never allowed Sandy a day off, not even
Christmas until she became his partner. Then he would spend the holidays with Sandy
and her family.
Sandy then began to hire her family members throughout the years. Her three sons
Rob, Mike and Rick were all delivery drivers from time to time. Her husband, Bob
became the advertising manager in 1986 for a few years. She hired her daughter,
Donna Hayes, in November of 1987 in the circulation department working with Lisa
Miller, Sherrie Acker and Lucile Mattaeus. Donna quickly moved on to being the proofreader,
advertising manager and then the office manager. At times Donna filled in as the
delivery person as well when she was needed.
In 1992, Bill passed away and Sandy and Donna then became partners putting the paper
out every week. Sandy and Donna were not just mother and daughter, they were a team,
best friends, Donna was Sandy’s right hand and Sandy was Donna’s and they loved
working together. Sandy and Bob loved to travel and they would go everywhere whenever
they could. So in 2000, Sandy made Donna a partner in the company, which allowed
her more freedom to travel.
On February 14, 2005, then Mayor Laure Iddings named that day Bob and Sandy Hipple
day in Maple Valley for all their hard work and dedication to the community.
Later that year, Bob and Sandy were on vacation for six weeks when Donna single-handedly
moved the paper from the normal cut and paste way the paper had been done since
1969 to the Internet. For six weeks she worked 90 or more hours each week getting
the paper out and learned the ins and outs of how to do the Internet layout and
then taught it to Sandy when she returned.
On May 16, 2007, then Mayor Laure Iddings named that day as Donna Hayes day in Maple
Valley for all her dedication and devotion to the community.
In January of 2008, Sandy officially retired and turned the reigns over to Donna.
On June 19, 2008, Sandy passed away. Donna has kept the family tradition by hiring
her family members as her employees to keep the paper a ‘family owned paper’. Currently,
her sister in-law Traci works as the Office Manager, sister, Lori as the Advertising
Manager, son, Steve as the website designer, daughter in-law Amanda as the Ad Designer
for print and web ads.
Along with her family she also has other employees who she considers family who
have been working for her for many years. Marilyn is the Proofreader since 2005,
Roger Ballard (Marilyn Ballard's son) is the VOICE's delivery driver, Sherrie Acker
is the Circulation Manager since 1988 and Kathleen Kear is the main reporter and
has been since 2000. Her father, Bob, would do all the political editorials for
her until he passed on August 20, 2010.
The VOICE of the Valley is a community-oriented paper that puts community first.
We pride ourselves on shopping locally, keeping the community updated on events
and activities in the area as well as spotlighting community members who deserve
recognition for their service.
Currently the VOICE circulates up to 17,500 papers each week. The paper is a free
newspaper to the residents of Maple Valley, Black Diamond, Ravensdale, Hobart and
parts of Covington. The paper still relies on it merchants and residents advertising
in the paper to cover the printing and mailing costs. Subscriptions are available
for $50 per year and donations are always welcomed.
The VOICE offers Church Services, Medical/Dental Services, Display/Classified advertising
as well as inserts. We also offer Obituaries, Birth, Engagement and Wedding Announcements.
Just contact advertising@voiceofthevalley.com for more information.
The VOICE likes to get stories from its community members and they can be emailed
to news@voiceofthevalley.com
