25 Years Ago — Feb. 13, 1991
A barn fire at the Ralp
h Lettinga farm in Leighton Township sent about 50 to 60 cows into the road, where one of them was struck by a car, but all survived. Lettinga said it will cost him about $100,000 to rebuild the barn that was destroyed.
The Wayland City Council agreed to pony up $3,000 for its share of the costs of bringing the ArtPrize portable gallery to town for the Summerfest, but the Wayland Board of Education tabled the request made by Dennis Reno of the Chamber of Commerce. Reno said the plan is for the school district, the city and local businesses to chip in $3,000 apiece.
Tanya Jandernoa, serving in Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia, wrote a letter to the editor noting, “The view on women’s rights is about the way it was in the U.S. in the early 1900s. The female soldiers, I think, will make an impact on this culture.”
Dawn Gibson of Hopkins wrote in a letter that she believes the key reason behind Hopkins’ lack of success in basketball is poor coaching and lack of commitment at the junior high level.
Howard DeYoung of Dorr, former owner of the Radio Shack, was sentenced by Circuit Judge George Corsiglia to spend a year in jail and five years probation for videotaping teen employees having sex in the back of his store.
Lisa Becker has recently purchased the Grooming Den business for pets in the Gun Lake area.
Dave Winkel, manager of the Terra fertilizer, seed and chemical business of Martin, was named the Allegan County Dairy Herd Improvement Association’s Agribusinessman of the Year.
Betty Jones has been named new postmaster at Moline, succeeding the retired Peggy Blok.
The Wayland boys’ basketball team made an astonishing 27 of 34 free throw attempts in a 63-60 nonleague victory over Lakewood, but then lost to O-K Gold rival Caledonia, 75-62.
Coach Herb Johnson’s Martin boys’ varsity basketball team was ranked No. 10 in the Michigan Associated Press Class D poll. The Clippers, led by twin towers Brian Klok and Dan herb and point guard Luke Keyzer, were closing in on another Southwestern Athletic Conference title.
Wayland junior varsity volleyball coach Vicki Schwartz claimed her 200th career victory in just 10 years.
Martin had four district wrestling champions qualifying for the Class D state finals in Lance Hildebrand (112 pounds), Lloyd Foster (119), Bill Lautenschleger (130) and Tim Dimock (189).
Jeff Weber scored 20 points and gathered 12 rebounds, Kelly Reynolds added 16 points and Hopkins defeated Kelloggsvilole 63-54. The Vikings beat Belding 57-48, as Weber dropped in 22 points.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 9, 1966
Wayland High School graduate Robert Jackson, now a freshman at Western Michigan University, and WHS senior Darlene Truax were named as winners of the 4-H Key awards for outstanding work.
Wayland High School graduate Richard Hudson was selected as outstanding young man of the year by the Hastings Junior Chamber of Commerce at a banquet at the Hastings Hotel. Hudson was lauded for his work as chairman of the local Community Fund drive and as vice chair of the Barry County chapter of the American Cancer Society.
Junior varsity center Rick Middleton will be out for the rest of the Wayland basketball season after breaking his arm over the weekend.
School districts affected by the state K-12 law will have votes on consolidation plans in a May 9 election. The new law insists that all public school districts include kindergarten through 12th grades.
Wayland Board of Education member Wallace Wakeman proposed the local school district levy only three and a half of the four mills authorized by a 1964 ballot issue, but the entire board turned it down 5-2.
Leonard A. Hooker, 93, a third generation member of a family that had owned a farm in Leighton Township since 1849, died at his home. He had helped organize telephone service for the township and was a charter member of the Leighton Community Grange.
Dr. C.A. Dickinson called out members of the Wayland Rotary for their reluctance to play in a charity basketball game. He recalled the recent exploits of Bob Hendrixson, Byron Blue, Joe LaValley, Sam Dykstra, Carl Bergstrom, Gene Weber, Dave Low, Allen Dandremond, Emil Morlock and Bill Herb on the hardcourt.
Rollo Mosher, in his “Observations Here and There,” column recalled when downtown Wayland merchants hired a night watchman to check on doors every night for 25 to 30 cents per week.
Wayland High School graduate Ronald Schad won the American Spirit Award while stationed at Ft. Knox, Ky.
The Wayland boys’ varsity basketball team lost 85-67 to Maple Valley, a team the Wildcats had beaten by 22 points earlier in the season. Gary TerBeek scored 17 points and Gordon Hudson 13.
Hopkins junior varsity basketball coach Ron VenHuizen scored an astonishing 35 points to lead the Viking faculty to victory over Wayland teachers.
“The Hallelujah Trail” was showing at the Wayland Theatre, starring Burt Lancaster and Lee Remick.
Petula Clark’s “My Love” topped the nation’s music charts for the second straight week.
75 Years Ago — Feb. 14, 1991
A small apartment fire caused by a discarded cigarette, destroyed a dresser in downtown Wayland. The fire was discovered early by landlord Fred Bennett.
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation gifted the Wayland Board of Education with $50,000 to help with costs of building a new consolidated school building.
Preaps Dry Goods has announced it will move to a new location inn the Ward Building formerly occupied by the Frank Auto Supply business.
“Gone with the Wind,” the 1939 blockbuster movie, finally made its way to the Wayland Theatre. Also showing during the week were Johnny Dow and Barbara Allen in “Melody and Moonlight,” Don Ameche and Alan Curtis in “Four Sons,” Alice Fay, Betty Grable, Jack Oakie and John Payne in “Tin Pan Alley” and Cesar Romero in “Romance of the Rio Grande.”
Rollo Mosher, in his column, was less than optimistic in predicting the future, saying businessmen were “wondering what is coming next, (after) 40-hour work weeks, minimum wage, social security and income tax reports.”
“After slipping and sliding, and wading in the water all over the side walk east of the school house, while on my way up to the dairy extension meeting Wednesday evening, I came to the conclusion that it the village decides to install another street light, one located in the middle of the block near the auditorium would not come amiss.”
The domestic labor situation became steadily worse during the weeks that the lend-lease bill was “on the tapis” in Washington.
Perhaps the Allis-Chalmers strike was the most serious, affecting as it did not only that single industry, but as Allis-Chalmers was making parts, it meant a serious holdup all along the line, particularly in planes and tanks.
But the most striking labor development of the week was the statement issued by Henry Ford through one of his industrial lieutenants. Ford authorized this man to say in his name that the Ford enterprises would never yield to the government demand that defense products be manufactured under union labor conditions.
The African campaign of the British forces against the troops of Mussolini continued to be a victorious one, despite the fact that it was reported that the Nazi air force had given considerable aid to the fascist legions.
A most unwelcome visitor by the name of measles is being entertained at the Charles Kuhavs.
The man who is described as a “hard drinker” usually takes it very easy.
A little vinegar put into soapy water when washing aluminum ware helps to keep it bright.
100 Years Ago — Feb. 11, 1916
George Otwell, assistant superintendent of public instruction, visited the Wayland school and said it had outgrown the building and an addition of two classrooms, two recitation rooms with full basement were sorely needed.
“Several of our young people went to Grand Rapids to attend a meeting of the Grand Rapids Christian Endeavor Union.”
Clyde Truax is recovering from a recent attack of the jaundice.
Because repairs to the furnace at the Henika Public Library were not yet completed, the Ladies Library Club met at the home of Mrs. Arthur Duel. Miss Ivo Sigler presented two informative papers on young people in Russia and industries in that country.
A Valentine’s Social will be presented by members of the Anti-Can’t Club at the Congregational Church, featuring a 25-cent supper.
Phillip Henderson, who was injured the previous week in an accident at the local flour mill, was recovering, according to his physician, Dr. Ira Slater.
County Road Commissioner Lewis McLoud will travel to Ann Arbor to attend a short course presentation on road building.
Because the Absent Voters Act requires that caucuses be held at least 20 days before an election so all ballots can be printed in time, voters in the village can expect election and caucus notices soon.
Agent Earl F. Winters of the interurban station in Wayland, has been promoted to general manager of the Michigan Railway Station in Kalamazoo. Frank Mornet will succeed him at the Wayland post.
“C.B. Brown is no better yet, but is not confined to his bed. His doctor believes he will improve when warmer weather comes.”
Ellis Sigler has repainted the interior of his grocery store on West Superior Street and has made other improvements.