(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Jan. 31, 2000
The Globe published a front-page photo of Lisa Kamyszek and her daughter, Hannah working on one of those newfangled computers recently added to the Henika District Library.
A Shelbyville man, Kevin Eckert, 46, is being charged with making a bomb. Four hand grenades were found at his house.
The Allegan County Board of Commissioners is being tasked with appointing a successor to the late Kenneth Fein.
Ricard Kortemeier, 37, involved in a snowmobile accident, has been upgraded from critical to serious in the hospital.
All of M-179, also known as Chief Noonday Road, is scheduled for resurfacing this summer.
The Wayland Township Board plans to have a public forum Feb. 9 on priorities for fixups of roads.
Incidents of snowmobiles running into Gun Lake continue, just like every other winter.
Area school districts are still dealing with bomb threats from students.
Brenda Baker penned a letter to the editor asking for the criteria used for extending 142nd Avenue from Second Street to Patterson Avenue. She opined that priorities are some skewed.
The Wayland basketball team is 9-1 and in first place in the O-K Gold Conference after stopping defending champ South Christian. The ‘Cats are being led offensively by Jamie Brown, Josh Smith and Dave Myrick.
Steve Johnson scored a career-high 25 points and Jack Klunder 18, but the Hopkins hoops team lost to Covert and earlier in the week to Kelloggsville, falling to 3-7.
Martin finally scored a victory, defeating Bloomingdale, with 6-5 senior Randy VanAtter, pacing the attack.
Wayland won the Whitehall Invitational Volleyball Tournament and the Globe published a huge photo of senior star Nicki Merchant.
50 Years Ago — Jan. 21, 1975
Mrs. Jerrie L. Fiala of Wayland won a $100 award in the 1974 Kodak International Snapshot exhibit with her picture of a little boy trying on his father’s boots.
Allegan County Commissioners, led by Ellis Wykstra of Martin, voted down a proposed pay raise. Members receive $2,500 base pay, plus $40 per meeting attended.
The Wayland Board of Education approved a proposal to ask voters for a two and half mill increase in a special election March 3 to operate the swim pool and auditorium now under construction.
Sandra Wade will replace LaVonna Berry temporarily as math teacher at the high school. Mrs. Berry has been granted maternity leave.
George Mansell of Plainwell has been selected as new Cooperative Extension Director for Allegan County.
A new local group is being organized to improve special education services in the area. They had their first meeting at the home of Mrs. Gerrit VanHeck in Wayland.
The Wayland City Council adopted an ordinance granting a non-exclusive franchise to Tab Inc. of Kalamazoo to erect and maintain the first-ever cable television system in the city.
A-1 Disposal has announced it has acquired Laning Disposal Agency, despite the problem of a lack of a landfill site.
Hopkins FFA members John Watson, Dan Dreyer and Ralph Hansen earned a first-place trophy in a soil judging contest in the county.
The Wayland Lions Club heard a presentation by insurance agent James Smith about the state of the No Fault Insurance program.
Led by Ron Schafer, Hopkins halted a three-game losing streak by beating Gobles 58-50.
Wayland’s basketball team hit a bad patch with losses to Byron Center and Wyoming Lee. Cody Niemchick and Russ McCarren both scored 21 points in the loss to Lee.
Wayland wrestlers suffered their second league loss in a 31-30 upset at the hands of Middleville Thornapple Kellogg. They were missing three starters, Vic Lohroff, Bill Halloran and Jeff McBride.
Mrs. Lorna Clyma, Helen Jane Helmey, Mrs. Wayne Ritz, Mrs. Robert Marutz, Mrs. Robert Hendrixson, Mrs. Jerome LaValley and Mrs. Rolland West all attended the concert by pianist Roger Williams at WMU.
Two runaway girls from Wayland, ages 12 and 14, were apprehended by Michigan State Police, Wayland post. Three area young men were charged with assisting with their escape, possession and use of marijuana, and one was charged with statutory rape.
The Leighton Farm Bureau group adopted a resolution accusing local and national lawmakers of not doing enough on behalf of farmers.
Neil Sedaka captured the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “Laughter in the Rain.”
75 Years Ago — Feb. 10, 1950
Bud Malmstone was elected president of the Wayland Chamber of Commerce for the next year.
Jack Warner and Dick Hudson both scored 11 points and Bill Mauchmar dominated the boards, as Wayland pulled out a 43-41 contest with Otsego. Jack Christensen scored 11 points the fourth quarter and finished with 15 points.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher urged local citizens to take part in the village caucuses at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18. He wrote in his weekly column, “If you are interested in who will look after village affairs for the next year or two, come to the caucus and express your opinion.”
The Boy Scouts Roundtable will include a potluck dinner at the Wayland High School cafeteria. All Committeemen and den mothers are encouraged to attend as well.
Earl Cole has taken over as manager of the J.A. Anderson Motor Sales dealership of New Salem. Mr. Anderson is retiring.
Carol Oetman, 16, has been chosen the winner of the Allegan County Cherry Pie Baking Contest.
Past National District Commander Raymond J. Kelly will be guest speaker for the district meeting at Wayland High School in March. About 300 Legionares are expected to attend.
The Party Line Extension group voted to decline the opportunity to obtain instruction on dress making.
About 30 veterans are expected to meet in Dorr next Monday to help organize a new American Legion post.
Alta Ordway was found on the floor at her home after she had fallen. She was taken to the hospital.
The Leighton Grange will be host Feb. 17 for an All-Games Party, with proceeds to go to the Polio Benefit Fund.
Bert’s Texaco Service on North Main advertised, “We check your oil, battery, tires and wipe your windshield clean as a whistle, all at no extra charge, of course.”
Arthur Steward, music teacher at the school, performed two Irish solos on his trumpet with Mrs. Virginia Parrish accompanying him on the piano for the Ladies Library Club.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Barbara Fuller and Ray McDonald in “Flame of Youth.”
- Allan “Rocky Lane and his stallion Blackjack in “The Wyoming Bandit.”
- Milton Berle, Ruth Roman, Bert Lahr and Virginia Mayo in “Always Leaving Them Laughing.”
- John Wayne, John Agar and Adele Mara in “Sands of Iwo Jima.”
100 Years Ago — Feb. 6, 1925
Mrs, Genevieve Snook gave a book review, “The Three Wishes of Jamie McRuin,” for members of the Ladies Library Club. “Mrs. Snook’s reviews have always been good, but each time we hear her, she is getting better and better.”
Wayland High School students Tom and Leo Halloran were praised by the Globe for their performances in the boxing extravaganza in Wayland and in Grand Rapids. Tom advanced as far as the finals in the tourney.
The Wayland Village Caucus will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, at the Village Hall. The Wayland Township Caucus and selection of GOP delegates to the county convention will be Feb. 7.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Edward Horton, Ernest Torrence and Lois Wilson in “Ruggles of Red Gap.”Thomas Meighan in “Woman Proof.”
One of Mrs. Goldie Stockdale’s students has erected on a wall a set of rules for the care of books.
The Michigan Legislature has passed a two-cent gasoline tax that will go into effect Feb. 1.
Several girls from the high school will present a discussion on “Uniform dress in the high school” to members of the Wayland Grange Feb. 14.
Monterey Township farmer Michael Bohn, 74, dropped dead on Locust Street in Allegan while simply talking with friends. Cause of death was determined to be apoplexy.
Hot chili con carne will be served at the Ladies Auxiliary card party tonight.
Arch Edwards took his prize Rhode Island Reds to the poultry show at Kendalville, Ind., and brought back two ribbons.
Luella Pratt, 9, of Leighton Township, died in Eaton Rapids of diphtheria.
The Ladies Library Club welcomed patrols from local Boy Scouts at their meeting.
Ed Jenkins will undergo an operation at Butterworth Hospital on his arm, which was broken three months ago.
Several residents on South Main have joined a bucket brigade because of the freezing of water pipes under the cement road.
A new pump has arrived and been installed in the town hall. The pump is the plunger style.
