25 Years Ago — Feb. 14, 1990
The Wayland Board of Education was embroiled in controversy over reinstatement of a student-athlete who was suspended for five days and charged with making harassing and threatening phone calls to a teacher. Teachers boycotted an in-service day, insisting the board was not adequately supporting a high school teacher who was the victim of the calls from the student and family members. The student-athlete was facing arraignment and teachers said he should have been expelled.
Plans to bring Channel One to high school classrooms were met with a lot of skepticism. Leighton Township Supervisor Dar VanderArk told the school board students would be captive of marketing and advertising for 12 minutes a day, cutting down on instructional time. The equipment for the satellite program was being offered free to the school district.
Justin Luther Berg was the first ever chosen Student of the Month at Wayland Junior High School.
Hopkins seniors Greg Andres, Tim Brenner, Robin Hansen, Cindy McClung and Brian Zomberg were recognized for getting all-As for the first semester. At Martin, achieving the same were seniors Heidi Keyzer, Roxanne Pillars and Lynn Roberts.
Johnny Haralson, Matt Miller, Corey Berens and Jared Medema were winners of the Pinewood Derby races for Cub Scout Pack 3096.
The Hopkins varsity boys’ basketball team edged Belding 47-44 without the services of center Jeff Weber, the team’s top scorer and rebounder, who was serving a suspension for missing school. Tim Brenner stepped up with 16 points and 13 rebounds.
Wayland improved to 3-8 with a 58-57 victory over Caledonia. Keith Foote tallied the winning basket, Eric VandenBerg had 20 points and Rick Merren 10.
Martin’s boys’ basketball team improved to 9-1 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and 13-2 overall with a couple of victories during the week, over Lawton and Grand Rapids Covenant Christian. Dan Herp scored 28 and 21 points.
Tom Salingue, Lloyd Foster, Tim Dimock, Alex Greene and Wade Keyzer all qualified for the Class C regional wrestling tournament for Martin.
Williams and Works Engineers have announced that construction on the new water system for Yankee Springs Township should begin in May. The work is being funded by a $703,250 grant from the Michigan Environmental Response Act.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 20, 1965
The Allegan County Board of Supervisors voted 18-17 against establishing the date of a special election for the Village of Wayland to expand its boundaries and become a home rule city.
Chairwoman Mrs. Ed Nickels announced that the local Red Cross blood drive collected 99 pints, just one pint shy of Wayland’s quota.
The charter for the Wayland chapter of the Wayland Explorers scouting program has been renewed, thanks largely to the efforts of Iman Fox.
Elwyn Culver, 17, will have to be placed in a back brace for several months after he suffered an injury while tumbling in gym class at Wayland High School.
Village caucuses are approaching, and the terms of councilmen Byron Blue, Hugh DeWeerd and Marshall Towne are expiring. Blue will not seek re-election, DeWeerd will, but Towne has said he’s not sure yet. Village President Phil Reno, Clerk Max Vipond, Treasurer Mrs. Gene Weber and Assessor Ernest Martin all have agreed to seek another term.
Western Michigan University Professor James Riley will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the Wayland PTA in a presentation about new math.
Downtown Wayland businesses are expanding. Nickel’s Drugs is moving into a new building on the first block of West Superior Street, site of the former Andringa Appliance and Hobby Shop. Julius Andringa is moving his business to the north side of West Superior and Richard Palmer is moving to the former Brooks Hardware building. The Ben Franklin store in the first block of South Main is expanding.
The Wayland varsity basketball team earned its second victory of the season with a 67-60 decision over Kenowa Hills. Scott Hilbert scored 18 points, Lee Pepper 15, Gordon Hudson 14 and Terry Parks and Rick Baughman 10 apiece, as the ‘Cats made 23 of 29 free throws.
Jim Begg scored 25 points, but Martin lost to league leading Covert 79-54 and saw its season record slip to 3-8.
Bill Nicolai scored a career-high 31 points and Jim Gilder added 15, but Hopkins lost 69-61 to Bloomingdale.
Wayland High School graduate Phil Regan, a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, is player-coach of an all-star basketball team that will visit Wayland for a special Saturday night ballgame. His players include WHS coach Jim Lynett and former Wildcats Harry Hudson and Charlie Stankey. As a warmup to the game, the Girls Athletic Association from Wayland will take on the GAA from Hopkins in a hoops contest starting at 6:30.
Showing at the Wayland Theatre this week is “Send Me No Flowers,” starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day.
The top song in the nation this week once again was “You’ve Lost that Loving Feeling” by the Righteous Brothers.
75 Years Ago — Feb. 9, 1940
Gas took a full cent drop last Tuesday. It now sells for 14 cents straight at most stations.
About a dozen local fans have been having the time of their lives at the Golden Gloves meet in Grand Rapids this week. Some survived the first bouts but were finally eliminated. Two Indian lads, Joe Sprague and Ben Jackson, made the best showing.
The Ford garage is installing a new neon sign and moving the old one.
Business at the hotel has been somewhat disrupted this week while workmen have been laying a new tile floor in the lobby and tap room.
Clayton Baugh has rearranged the interior of his store, putting his shoe repair equipment in the front part so as to have more room in the rear for harness repairing. Last Monday afternoon members of the School Board made a trip to Battle Creek and delivered the petitions that have been in circulation for the past couple of weeks asking the Kellogg Foundation to assist the local district financially to erect a new township unit agricultural school.
100 Years Ago — Feb. 12, 1915
Miss Nina Adams has been appointed Postmistress at Dorr.
The entertainment given by Prof. John Sturgis last Friday evening was well attended. The proceeds were applied on the school piano.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Young have exchanged their small farm, one mile south and two miles east of Dorr, for a confectionery store on Michigan Street, Grand Rapids, and will take possession soon. Mr. Young sold his personal property at an auction last Tuesday.
The condition of the roads make it very dangerous to carry your watch in your hip pocket for the last few days.
Floyd Ingraham of Hopkins has opened a new barbershop in the South Main Street billiard hall.