(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Dec. 13, 1999
Wayland AssistantCity Manager Thad Beard has announced he is leaving to take a new position. He will be the new city manager at Otsego.
Landowners in the Green Lake area of Leighton Township are disputing the extension of the McConnell Drain.
Gun Lake (Gun Ho) residents have won their battle for new regulations restricting boat speeds to no wake along a narrow channel.
An extension of 142nd Avenue to the west is being proposed for Dorr Township.
Three new troopers have joined the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police. They are Michael Criger, Christopher Haywood and Trina Sims.
Editor Nila Aamoth suggested readers and local citizens use the newspaper’s 800 phone number to save a little money if they are calling from out of town.
The demolition of property at 203 S. Main St. was completed by the City of Wayland, which plans to use the site as a parking lot. The building once was owned by former Publisher and Editor Rollo G. Mosher until Irv and Helen Jane Helmey moved it to 133 E. Superior in 1957.
Letter writer Cal Lamoreaux of Gun Lake was critical of the establishment of what he called the brightest light he’s ever seen on the the U.S.-131 expressway just south of the Shelbyville exit.
The Allegan County Conservation District has earned a $57,300 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for cleanup operations on the Rabbit River.
Wayland Union Schools and the City of Wayland have announced plans for a sports complex along 16 acres near Wildcat Drive, running north of 135th Avenue.
The battle between Supervisor Jose Blanco and the Wayland Township Board continues, this time over how many people should serve on the Township Planning Commission.
The Yankee Springs Snowmobile Association has been formed to try to save snowmobile trails in the area.
The Martin wrestling team is off to a fast start with a 10-1 dual meet record. Ringleader is two-time state champion Rick Mana, now grappling at 135 pounds.
D.J Sutherland and Jeff DeMann both have undefeated records as Wayland’s wrestling team is off to a surprising 5-1 start.
Kevin Glupker of Hopkins was named all-state in football, as was Josh Smith of Wayland at wide receiver. Kara Potter of Wayland was all-state honorable mention in basketball.
50 Years Ago — Dec. 10, 1974
The new Wayland High School gym will be dedicated in a Friday night basketball game Friday against Caledonia. Members of the 1955 Class C state runner-up Wildcat basketball team, including Phil Regan. will be special guests for the ceremony. Harry Hudson and Ernie Strong won’t be able to be present, however, because they coach varsity basketball elsewhere.
John Salski, 26, a 1966 graduate of Wayland High School, was murdered at his apartment in Detroit during the Thanksgiving holiday break. He was a junior high science teacher and key member of a community group championing a skating rink, which now is named after him. The culprit has never been caught.
The Sandy Creek nursing center will have a grand opening Dec. 14 and 15. Administrator is Mrs. George Hampel, wife of the owner of the local funeral home.
Wayland veterinarian Dr. Kenneth DeWeerd, a member of the Allegan County Red Cross, said the agency will shifting some of its focus to emergency relief services.
Earning perfect 4.0 grade point averages for the second marking period at Wayland High School were James Bechtel, Charlotte Calkins, Jeanne Chesebro, Eileen Halloran, Karin Kleinbrink, Craig Suhusky, Scott Zasadil, Tom Smith, Kim Suhusky, Mark Chesebro, Lesley Irvine, Annette Kaczanowski and Carol Pelka.
Parents and students are urged to check with WOOD and WKZO radio stations to learn whether school has been called off because of inclement weather. Officials ask they not call the school.
The Lollipop Players from the Circle Theater of Grand Rapids presented a special play, “The Invention” to children at Dorr Elementary School.
Wayland High School graduate Patricia Kurt will perform in a piano recital at Nazareth College, Kalamazoo.
Richard Wiley, director of choral music at the junior high, will lead the Christmas concert at the “girls’ gym.” Included will be the high school varsity choir, high school chorus and two ensembles.
The Wayland High School bands, under the direction of Steve Working, will present their holiday concert at the high school gym. One selection will be Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride.”
The Christmas concert for choirs and bands at Martin will be led by Ann Miller and Fred Bogdan, repectively.
The Campfire Girls held their first-ever father-daughter banquet at Dorr Elementary.
Mrs. Elwood Schwartz eclipsed Mrs. Ted Steffens’ strike streak record of five by posting seven in a row at Plainwell Lanes.
Jim Bechtel scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and center Russ McCarren went 7-for-7 from the field as Wayland’s basketball team posted a 71-51 victory over Wyoming Lee.
Randy Martin netted 24 points in Hopkins’ 58-48 victory at Byron Center.
Wayland had a hugely successful opening wrestling match with a 60-6 party over Calvin Christian. Particularly outstanding were freshmen Paul Beuschel and Jeff McBride.
Tom Zuiderveen of Forest Hills Central, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Joe McElwee, was selected to the Class B all-state football team as middle linebacker and a wide receiver.
The Wayland City Council and Board of Education have reached agreement on administering a community education and recreation program.
Mrs. Art Standish, 32, sustained head injuries and face lacerations in a traffic crash at the Park and Cherry streets intersection.
Mrs. Fred Leakey, wife of former board of directors member of Wayland State Bank, died in Grand Rapids at age 89.
Carl Douglas captured the No. 1 slot among the nation’s top tunes with “Kung Fu Fighting.”
75 Years Ago — Dec. 16, 1949
The former Globe building now will be the site of a new industry in town, Kessler’s Undies & Woolies, which will manufacture underwear garments for infants and small children. As the facility opened its doors it claimed to have at least 35 employees.
Members of the Wayland Rotary Club had long discussions about economic prospects ahead in 1950 and agreed more needs to done on behalf of farmers.
The Wayland basketball team captured its first victory of the season, 61-30 over Martin in a Bar-Ken-All Conference matchup. Jim Christensen led the Wildcats with 16 points and Jack Warner had 13. Carl Dehn had 10 points for Martin.
Mr. and Mrs. John Meyer have sold the Dixie Ballroom on Division south of town near Doan’s Lake. New owners are Mr. And Mrs. Edward Christensen.
The combined choirs of the Methodist and Congregational churches and the Church of Christ will present a Christmas cantata, “Chimes of the Holy Night.” Director will be Miss Leona Sykes and accompanist will be Virginia Parrish.
James Troy, a lifetime Leighton Township farmer, died at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was 88.
There have been many complaints made in the village about female dogs running amok around town and owners are asked to get them under control to avoid trouble.
Richard Brewer has come to live on Hanlon Court and he will be a new salesman for Van’s Gas & Electric.
Mrs. Lillian St. John, a member of the Wayland Rebekah Lodge and Bradley Order of the Eastern Star, died after suffering a stroke Thanksgiving night
Pirl Truax is recovering at home after a fall on the ice while walking home from work at Pet Milk.
Congressman Clare Hoffman of Allegan has filed a lawsuit against fellow Congressman John Lewinsky of Kalamazoo for making “slanderous” remarks about him at a recent union meeting, as reported in the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Stephen Dunne and Lois Maxwell in “The Crime Doctor’s Diary.”
- Allan “Rocky” Lane in “Death Valley Gunfighters.”
- Donald O’Connor, Gloria DeHaven and Charles Coburn in “Yes Sir, That’s My Baby.”
- Gregory Peck, Ann Todd and Charles Laughton in “The Paradine Case.”
100 Years Ago — Dec. 12, 1924
George R. Wilson was elected worshipful master of the Wayland chapter of the Masons.
Wayland High School senior class members gathered at the Methodist for a mock trial of Martin Levandoski for killing a mouse in his locker after a football game Nov. 15. Alan Ryno was judge and Glenn McCaslin and Myron Wilde were prosecutors. Hubert Warner and Henry Amborski were defense attorneys. The accused was convicted of “mouseslaughrer.”
The Allegan County Road Commission has purchased a new tractor with a rotary plow in an effort to better handle snow on trunk roads this winter.
Wayland High School boxers and others invited from surrounding communities will have a huge night of action Wednesday at the new Woodman Hall.
A 4-year-old boy from Gun Marsh survived a kidnapping attempt brought about by the theft of the Boyson family’s Ford. The drama ended with the car striking a tree and the lad only suffered broken teeth.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: J. Warren Kerrigan in “The Man from Brodney’s.” Alice Calhoun and David Torrance in “The Man Next Door.”
The Anti-Can’t Club of the Congregational Church will have its annual bazaar at the Conrad Building Dec. 14.
Library Director Fanny Hoyt, in the weekly Library Notes column, wrote, “No doubt you you have noticed at times clever designs by Norman Rockwell, like the one on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. It is very expressive and beautiful.”
The next meeting of the Leighton Community Club will be held Dec. 16. It will be an all-day affair with a potluck dinner.
Moline farmer James Hover was bound over to federal grand jury examination on a charge of selling illegal intoxicating liquor he concealed in tall grass.
Mr. And Mrs. Fred Hilbert have moved from their farm home to the Hoyt House on South Main Street in Wayland, formerly occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Claude Smith.
Ladies Library Club members are encouraged to bring a small gift to their next meeting. The gifts, as usual, will be given to Indian children.
