About Us

VOICE of the Valley NewspaperYour Community News Source Since 1969!

VOICE of the Valley has been serving the areas of Maple Valley, Black Diamond, Ravensdale, Hobart and more since 1969. We pride ourselves on being Maple Valley’s only news source that puts community first for the last 50 years.

We advocate for 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.

The paper is delivered to areas in Maple Valley, Black Diamond, Ravensdale, Hobart and Covington.

The History of the VOICE

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 school teachers 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 alive 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 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.

Sadly 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.

Along with her family she also has other employees who she considers family who have been working for her for many years.  Sherrie Acker is the Circulation Manager since 1988 and Kathleen Kear is the main reporter and has been since 2000.

VOICE of the Valley Staff

 

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Donna Hayes
Owner/Editor/Publisher
Donna has been with the paper since 1987 working along side of Bill Ziegner (Founder) and Sandy Hipple. Donna can be contacted at donna@voiceofthevalley.com
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Traci Hipple
Office Manager/Advertising Associate

Traci has been with the paper since 2010. She is the Office Manager and Advertising Associate for the paper. She is always ready help you with all your advertising needs. Traci can be contacted at advertising@voiceofthevall.wpengine.com or traci@voiceofthevalley.com
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Kathleen Kear
Reporter

Kathleen is a freelance reporter who writes for the VOICE. She has been doing this since March of 2000. If you have a story that you want to share with the VOICE just contact Kathleen at Kathleen@voiceofthevalley.com

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Sherrie Acker
Circulation Manager

Sherrie has been with the VOICE since January 1988. She loves to put smiley faces on the labels of anyone she knows so they get a smile along with the paper.
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Amanda Hayes
Digital Communications Specialist
Amanda has been with the paper since February 2008. She manages all digital content including our website, social media accounts, email marketing and digital advertising. She can be reached at amanda@voiceofthevalley.com.
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Steve Hayes
Tech Support

Steve has been working for the VOICE since 2008. He helps with the tech support to keep the paper up to date.

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Paper Subscribers (Hard copy of Newspaper)

1st Class Mail

3 month subscription – (13 issues) = $26.00
6 month subscription – (26 issues) = $52.00
9 month subscription – (39 issues)= $78.00
Full Year Subscription – (52 issues) = $100.00
Donations are always welcome!

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.

You can follow us on twitter @voicenewsmv or on facebook at facebook.com/voiceofthevalley.com