25 Years Ago — May 29, 1991
Ralph Sytsma, 72, chairman of the Allegan County Board of Commissioners, died of cancer. A member of the board for 23 years, he owned a 100-acre farm in Leighton Township.
Voters in the Hopkins school district will face a 6-6-mill request for $9.8 million over 30 years to fund a massive building project that will include building a new high school and elementary. Also planned are renovations and improvements for Sycamore Elementary in Dorr.
Richard Snyder wrote a letter to the editor opposing the custom of firefighters spraying parade watchers.
The Hopkins Student Council was given another state award for the second straight year. Advisor is Nancy Manchip and members include Billie Jo Rabideau, Kalene Larr, Susie Hennip, Katie Roys, Annette Palmer, Jennifer Wrobleski, Amy Pavelka, John Schut, Sarah Brower and Michelle Bellgraph.
Teacher Ruth Raad has reported that 32 people have graduated from the adult education program in Wayland. High school teacher Jeff Salisbury will give their commencement address. Two pairs of siblings include Robin and Kelly Kratz and Sue Sipkema and Dan Pease.
A district softball tournament looks this Saturday in Fennville, where No. 10 Hopkins with an 18-1 overall record faces No. 2 Bangor.
The Martin softball season ended with a loss to Lawrence and a 9-14 record. But the Clippers’ baseball team upset the SAC champion Tigers 7-5 and will take a 9-13 record into the districts.
Danielle Hiar and Michelle Cisco were named to the all-league softball team for the O-K Gold Conference.
The Hopkins baseball team’s season was ended by Kelloggsville abruptly in the pre-district round.
The Wayland High School girls’ track team won the O-K Gold Conference crown despite having only two relay (800 and 1600 meters) teams and high jumper Julie Ainsworth winning titles. Ainsworth cleared a school record 5-2.
Southpaw Paul Omness fired a three-hitter as Wayland’s baseball team beat Allegan 11-3 and moved on to districts.
50 Years Ago — May 25, 1966
Clifton N. Wicks, manager of the Martin branch of the First National bank of Kalamazoo, died at Bronson Hospital. Born in Watson Township, he graduated from Martin High School and joined the Martin State Bank in 1921, rising through the ranks over the years. He served the community as a member of the Martin Board of Education and Allegan Intermediate School District Board for a combined 43 years.
Senior Ruth Klein was presented with a special award of excellence for superior vocal presentation from the Michigan School Vocal Association. Bette Hunderman, meanwhile, was given the Betty Crocker Homemaker Award and Gordon Hudson won the Louis Japinga Award for athletic excellence.
Congressman Edward Hutchinson of Fennvile was the scheduled speaker for the annual Memorial Day ceremony at Elmwood Cemetery May 30. Senior Bill Conwell was scheduled to recite the Gettysburg Address.
The 60th annual Wayland High School Alumni Reunion was planned for Saturday evening at the high school cafeteria.
Michigan State Trooper Robert Golm has been promoted to detective and reassigned from Warren to the Wayland post. A native of Detroit, he joined the state police in 1954 and he brings his wife and four children to live in Hopkins.
Hopkins dignitaries Mr. and Mrs. Cleo Todd and Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Weick will travel to Fairgrove for the annual Mayor Exchange Week.
Sophomore Robert Ayers at first singles and doubles seniors Bill Conwell and Terry Parks won their first two matches in districts, but were eliminated in the quarterfinal round of the post-season tennis tournament.
Victor Fleser of Moline has been selected to a serve on a Citizens Advisory Council for the Michigan Deer Herd Control project.
Jim Kotrba personally scored 19¼ points in the Expressway League meet to power Wayland to a second-place finish. He took firsts in both high and low hurdles and the long jump and he anchored the 880 relay team, following Jay Schaeffer, Tom Miller and Bob Krup. Don Milburn won the 880 Jim Chesebro the 440.
Rosalind Russell was starring in “The Trouble with Angels” at the Wayland Theatre.
The No. 1 song in the USA this week was Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman.”
75 Years Ago — May 30, 1941
The State Legislature has announced plans to fund the assignment of state police posts to eight communities, including Wayland, which is regarded as a favorable location because it is halfway between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.
Mrs. Fred Yerrington, 65, who had lived in Wayland for the past 35 years, died at home after a two-year illness.
A three-person committee made up of Russell Rugaber, Clayton Blue and Clarence Calkins had a special meeting with male high school students with cars in an effort to cut down on reckless driving and traffic problems in the downtown area when school lets out and during lunch periods.
James M. Norton, born in Wayland Township in 1864, died at his home near Bradley.
James Miles and Ward Arbanas have been selected by the local American Legion to attend Wolverine Boys State in East Lansing.
Decoration Day ceremonies are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, May 30, at Elmwood Cemetery. Included will be the Drum and Bugle Corps, American Legion, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Thomas O. Martin.
Wilbert Clack of Wayland was one of five safety patrol students selected to attend a special Automobile Club of Michigan program honoring them in Washington D.C.
Wayland third-graders enjoyed a special “Arab Day” celebration that included milk, nut bread and dates for lunch and they took their sheets and scarfs to school to dress up for the occasion.
Madeline Carroll and Fred MacMurray were starring in one of the most racist films ever made, “Virginia.” Also showing at the Wayland Theatre were James Stewart, Hedy Lamaar, Judy Garland and Lana Trurner in “Ziegfield Girl,” Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in “The Flying Deuces” and Ned Sparks and Majorie Weaver in “For Beauty’s Sake.”
100 Years Ago — May 26, 1916
Wayland High School commencement will feature the largest graduating class ever with 28 seniors taking the walk. The class motto is “Be Square,” class colors are blue and gold and the class flower is the pink tea rose. The ceremony will be held outdoors on the grounds because there is no building in Wayland large enough to handle the students, teachers, officials, parents, families and friends who plan to attend.
Class of 1916 President Donald M. Holmes will give an address, as will valedictorian Genevieve Allen.
A fire caused about $500 worth of damage to the North Main home of John W. P. Allen. Local officials said they were hampered in the efforts because of a steel roof.
The Ladies Double Quartet were planning to sing “We’re Tenting Tonight,” When the Roll Is Called up Yonder,” “America” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” during the Decoration Day ceremony at Elmwood Cemetery.
Eight young ladies making a special hike from their college in Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids made a brief stop in Moline for rest and lunch.
The Alpha Society of the Gun lake MP Church have purchased a new Huntington piano just in time for an upcoming convention.
Frank L. Barnhart has announced the opening of Streeter’s Resort at Gun Lake for the summer season. The celebration will include boat, foot, horse and launch races and ballgames, plus food and dancing in the evening.
Alfred Thompson will give a presentation on his recent missionary trip to Sudan, in what promoters called “work among the natives in darkest Africa.”
The 10th annual Waykand High School Alumni Association banquet is set for Friday evening with the message, “All old graduates should attend and keep this association alive.”
Delvina L. Cross, a native of western New York who later came to Wayland, died at her home. She married Stiles O. Watkins in 1867 and they had seven children, four of whom who live with 25 miles of Wayland.
A two-reel film, “A Concrete Romance,” will be shown at Frank’s Opera House.
PHOTO: The Panyreks opened the landmark Joe’s Grocery this week 70 years ago at the corner of Patterson Avenue and Chief Noonday Road.
