1976: Spring Valley’s Own ‘Shotgun’ Tom Kelly Wins Presigious Billboard Magazine Award

According to the Spring Valley Bulletin, here's what was happening in the Spring Valley area, this week in 1976:

– The Spring Valley Bulletin played along with the Christmas theme, posting several stories as if they were in Israel. With datelines and location stamps from places like Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem, there were several attention grabbing headlines, including: "Long-Awaited Messiah Born in Lowly Manger," "Herod in Dread, Seeks to Delude Sages from East," "Magi Followed Star to Find Son of Mary," and "Shopkeeper Has Doubts About Jesus."

– Spring Valley native "Shotgun" Tom Kelly was awarded "Air Personality of the Year" by Billboard Magazine. He's seen in this picture with Miss Spring Valley for 1976, Erin McLaughlin, who's hidden by his beard. Kelly was chosen for the honor, beating out deejays from more than 40 radio stations across the country with at least 1 million listeners.  He also won a local television Emmy for his show "Words-a-Poppin'" awarded by the National Academy of Arts & Sciences.

– Dozens of nervous patrons watched and waited as two armed men in hooded masks robbed the Bank of America at Jamacha Boulevard and Sweetwater Road in Spring Valley.  The two men jumped the counters, and emptied the cash draw, getting away with about $7,600. At the time of printing, they remained at large.

– It's a matter if when, not if, that the Spring Valley Community Center will be built, after the project was recently greenlit by  the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. A $150,000 grant from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors will help aid in the construction. The center will be built on six acres next to Spring Valley Park, and some programs that are now housed in the two local high schools, will be transferred to the center.