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your homegrown newspaper February 18, 2026
Vol. 22, No. 24
Significant updates underway at Ronan community center By Joyce Lobeck for the Valley Journal
'Water Keepers' pg. 5
Fossil Study pg. 6
State finishers pg. 16
RONAN — When the community center in Ronan reopens this spring, it will have undergone a large renovation project to better meet the needs of the many groups that depend on it as a venue for their events. “My phone is constantly ringing,” said Fairgrounds Manager Sjaan Vincent, “People wondering when it will reopen.” The answer, she said hopefully, is March 25. “We have some big events coming up that need the space.” Contractors have been working hard through the winter on the improvements since the center closed on Nov. 10. “It would have been nice to start sooner,” Vincent said, “but we had some important events in the fall.” When the center’s doors reopen, the facility will be ready to meet the community’s needs for the next 50 or 60 years, she said. The project includes improvements to the water and sewer systems, significant updates
SUMMER GODDARD / VALLEY JOURNAL PHOTO
Ronan Fairgrounds Manager Sjaan Vincent stands under a new covered patio addition to the community center in Ronan that leads to renovated bathrooms and more upgrades to a widely utilized and beloved Mission Valley community facility.
to the aging electrical system to increase capacity, improvements to the plumbing system, a complete renovation of the kitchen and an expanded and upgraded outdoor gathering area. The enlarged and modernized restrooms with
designated areas for indoor and outdoor events will allow more flexible use of the facility as more events are being scheduled at the community center and fairgrounds. A huge new generator was even installed. Funds were also raised w w w.va l le yj our na l.net
for improvements to the horticulture building so it can serve as a year-round space for meetings and youth activities. The community came together in the late 1960s to develop the center on the site of the Lake County Fairgrounds as
a place to gather. Since then, the facility has been used constantly, serving as the hub for activities in Ronan and the surrounding communities from small family reunions and group meetings to see page 2