(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — March 9, 1994
The Wayland Township Board voted 4-1 to ask Erwin Doublestein Jr., son of the former township supervisor, to repaint and replaster the township hall building. Board members also agreed to co-sponsor a recycling container with Martin Township at the Weick’s Foodtown grocery on 124th Avenue.
The Watson Township Board decided to sell the almost 20-acre site at 115th Avenue and 12th Street to Al Henry for $20,600. The site formerly was used for the Martin-Watson Township landfill.
Mary Lou Schwartz wrote a letter expressing disappointment that Wayland schools officials did not take up an offer for a students’ field trip to see the film “Schindler’s List.” She and her husband offered to absorb the expenses. “In an era of instant gratification, we don’t seem to realize that the world around us is a reminder of how easily it (the Holocaust) can happen again.”
Editor Nila Aamoth, in the weekly “Soapbox” feature, endorsed Proposal A, the idea of replacing most property taxes with an increase in the sales tax, from four to six cents on the dollar, to fund public education in Michigan.
Allegan and Barry County Road Commission Managers Bill Nelson and Jack Kineman have agreed this spring “may qualify as some of the worst for those infamous potholes.”
A public forum was held on the issue of alcohol and drug abuse in Wayland High School and Junior High, suggesting the formation of a Wildcat Parent Network. Eighth-graders, meanwhile, took part in a televised Channel 8 town hall meeting hosted by Maury Povich on teen-age binge drinking.
The former Apple Core Lounge and Orchard Hills Golf Course will go up for auction if owners Baker-McDonald Corp. are unable to come up with a buyer.
The Wayland Union school district is preparing for its second extended school year session this summer.
Todd Tarnutzer broke his own school records in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races and the Wildcat swim team captured the championship for the O-K Rainbow Conference in swimming.
The Hopkins basketball pulled off an upset over Tri-Unity Christian, as freshman Tim Kisner netted 28 points and got excellent offensive support from Fred Clemenshaw, Tim Hibma and Rich Dame. Clemenshaw and Dame must serve a three-game suspension for taking part in a three-on-three basketball tournament in season, in violation of MHSAA rules.
Martin is ranked No. 1 among Class D teams in Southwest Michigan by the Kalamazoo Gazette. The Clippers won their last two regular season games and pasted Kalamazoo First Assembly in the opening round of the district tournament.
Wayland finished its regular season with a 66-65 win over Coopersville, bringing its season record to 11-9 in coach Mike Hudson’s first season. Ken Stewart pumped in 22 points.
Tina Phelps of Wayland helped the save the life of her sister, Grace Hall of Grand Rapids, in a bone marrow transplant procedure at the University of Chicago.
50 Years Ago — March 5, 1969
The Farmers Home Administration has announced it has denied a grant request from the City of Wayland to fund sewer and water facilities.
Hopkins voters will decide April 15 on a bond issue to build a new elementary school. A citizens’ committee meeting was called to go over the particulars of the proposal.
Several members of the Wayland Planning Commission have agreed to attend a land use forum March 27, featuring William Kimball, community resource development chairman at Michigan State University.
Allegan County Circuit Judge Chester Ray will give a presentation on “The Crime Situation in Our County” March 11 at the Griswold Auditorium in Allegan.
A fire believed to be started by defective electrical wiring demolished a house four miles east of Hopkins and routed Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Cox and their eight children. Owners Mr. and Mrs. James Gilder have rented a home in Hopkins for the family as a result and are spearheading efforts for donations of clothing and household items.
Hopkins schools reported 10 students who earned 4.0 grade point averages for the latest marking period. They were Bronson Haefner, Cindy Medemar, Johan Merbs, David Miner, Cindy McEwen, Linda Morris, Susan Bauman, Nancy Brenner, Chris Reinart and Linda Reynolds.
Michigan Press Association data indicates that newspaper circulation in Michigan is up 4.6% from 1967 to 1968. The state’s 278 weekly publications serve more than 1.36 million readers.
Mrs. Victor VanRavenswaay was scheduled to speak to the Women’s Missionary Society of Wayland Calvary Church about her upcoming trip to the northern regions of Alaska.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: James Garner and George Kennedy in “The Pink Jungle.”
John Wilson scored a school record 43 points while Hopkins pulled off an 80-79 upset of Covert. He also added four assists to set the season record in that stat at 74. Don Krause added 10 points and 13 rebounds and Dave Veltkamp had nine points.
Waykland finished second in the final Expressway League basketball standings with victories over Middleville and Hamilton. Center Don Klein had a double-double and was well supported by John Baar, Jerry LaValley and Jim Ritsema.
Bob Weick caught a 20-pound pickerel on the last day of the season near Hopkins.
75 Years Ago — March 10, 1944
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher was plainly delighted to report receiving a box of Florida oranges from old friend Byron Sweetland. Meanwhile, Ivan Smith was equally delighted to be the recipient of a grass skirt from the Pacific Islands from Pvt. Stanley Nagurski.
The Players Guild of Middleville High School is scheduled to perform a one-act play, “The Neighbor,” for members of the Leighton Community Grange.
The local Odd Fellows and Rebekahs are leading the charge for starting a Red Cross unit to coordinate blood drives and they invite all adults in the community to a forum at the Wayland High School auditorium.
Frances Herrinton was elected president of the Congregational Church’s Ant-Can’t Club and Ethel Carpenter was chosen first vice president.
The local chapter of the Red Cross, at an appreciation cake and tea, reported that 80 volunteer workers this past year made surgical dressings.
Sharon Moore, five-month-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Moore Jr., died at Crispe Hospital in Plainwell after an illness of seven days.
Charles M. Shook, a Leighton Township resident and farmer since 1867, died at age 89. He was a longtime owner of a store in Moline.
Lt. Jerrold Chrisman of Wayland was awarded a medal for meritorious service on flight missions in the Pacific.
The Wayland High School speech class is sponsoring a Forensics Festival, which will include students Don Christensen, Dick Hooker, Ethel Christensen, Bill York, Harold Phillip, Wanda McElwee, Margerie Afman, Gail Everhart, Betty VanWeelden, Norma Herrington, Marjery Sebright, Avonna Welty, Robert Arbanas and Bill McElwee.
Allegan County housewives are being urged to conserve and collect tin cans for the war effort.
Pvt. Julius Bazzett has been assigned as a gunner for a B-25 bomber squadron in the Mediterranean Sea.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette in “Tumbling Tumbleweeds.”
- Frank Albertson and Ruth Terry in “Mystery Broadcast.”
- Pat O’Brien, Ruth Warrick and Robert Ryan in “The Iron Major.”
- John Garfield and Maureen O’Hara in “The Fallen Sparrow.”
100 Years Ago — March 7, 1919
The Wayland Dollar Day celebration is expected March 15 and the annual auto show will be March 13, 14 and 15.
Baby Welfare Day will be observed at the Henika Library March 13, featuring demonstrations and exhibits. Topics will include lectures on diet, sleep, recreation and clothing. Allegan County Demonstration Agent Miss Woolworth will coordinate events, along with members of the high school home economics class.
The ladies of the Anti-Can’t Club plan to serve hot lunches at the Pekins Building during Dollar Day.
The Republican Caucus will be held March 15 at the Village Hall for the purpose of nominating candidates for office in the April election.
Miss Margaret Bilz of Spring Lake gave a forceful presentation to the Ladies Library Club on construction work and urged all women to register to vote against the beer and wine amendment to the Volstead Act.
James and Mamie Halloran performed an Indian dance at the weekly school assembly. Other programs were put together by Lillian and Edythe Leggett with a piano duet, Margaret Hanlon with a piano solo, Alta and Lawrence Boughner singing “The Buzz of the Bees,” a reading of “The Service Flag” by Myrtle Wallace, Cleo Fox on the trombone and a song, “Little Ginger Bread Man,” by Pauline Mason, Shirley Carner and Little Miss Hoff.
Mrs. Arthur Deuel spoke to the audience about the need for a new piano for the assembly series.
Prof. Earnest Burnham of Western Normal College was to be guest speaker for a community gathering at the school March 17.
R.C. Reed of Howell, secretary of the Michigan Milk Producers Association, will speak at Frank’s Opera House March 20 about prospects for organizing a local MMPA.
The Christian Church’s weekly films this Sunday night were to feature sports and travel in Central Africa.