25 Years Ago — June 12, 1991
Neighbors of the Beechwood Hills Christian Encampment complained to the Hopkins Township Board about dumping of waste in the woods in back of the camp. A spokesman for the camp said there are plans in place to install and septic system.
Martin school district voters approved by a wide margin a millage request of 33.09 mills for operations, which includes an override of the Headlee Amendment. Barry Herbert was unopposed for the one school board seat.
Wayland voters also approved a millage renewal with Headlee override and incumbents Lynn Mandaville and Rick Cain were elected over challengers Diane Butler and Gary Marsh.
Hopkins school district voters rejected a 6.6-mill $9.8 million bond proposal by a vote of 777 to 571. Gary Hoffmaster and Boyd Navis were elected to school board seats.
A resurfacing project for U.S.-131 from Wayland to Martin has been postponed until 1992 by the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Wayland Township Supervisor Erwin Doublestein clarified information about recent road projects, indicating there never were any plans for pave 5th Street south of 124th Avenue, but 7th Street paving north of 135th Avenue would continue.
Wayand school officials are contemplating an addition to the administration building to handle space shortages at the junior high school.
Kevin Cronin was appointed supervisor for Wayland Township, succeeding Bill Punches, who is retiring and moving to Gun Lake.
Allegan County Road Commission employees picketed at the county building to protest lack of progress in negotiations on a new three-year contract.
The Rev. Rick DeBruyne, who helped start the Open Door Church in Dorr in 1985, has announced he will have to take on a ministry in California. Open Door started with 35 members meeting in Dorr Elementary School and now has its own building and more than 150 members.
Dave Chesney has been appointed athletic director at Wayland High School, succeeding the retiring Gerald Omness. He comes from Grand Rapids Catholic Central and West Catholic. Chesney said his first tasks will be to try to restore the boy’s tennis program at WHS and look into establishing a soccer program.
Karla Christiansen, retired trooper with the Michigan State Police, Wayland post, has agreed to take on duties as president of the Wayland High School Athletic Boosters Club. Christiansen also have been the officer running the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program for the schools. She succeeds Jackie Straub as president.
50 Years Ago — June 8, 1966
The annual school election will be held Monday, June 13, with incumbent Frank Langley joined on the ballot by Clara Durfee and David Whittredge.
Ford Henry has asked the Village Council for a permit to drill for oil in the southwest area of the village.
Mary J. Cheyne was granted a variance by the Zoning Board of Appeals to operate a beauty shop in a residential area of South Main Street.
The Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce and local scouting groups are speeaheading plans for an “Old-Fashioned Fourth of July” celebration in the community this summer. The festival include a Babe Ruth league all-star game, a parade, fireworks and a greased pig contest.
There will be a public meeting at Wayland High School Monday evening on proposed charter revision to enable the village to become a home-rule city. The original charter proposal was defeated by 18 votes in a special election in the fall of 1965.
The Moline Community Fair will take place June 15, featuring the Allgaeier Family of Kalamazoo for entertainment.
Former Michigan Gov. G. Mennen Williams plans to gstop brifly in Wayland on his way to Sturgis. He has been barnstorming the state in his efforts to run for U.S. Senate to succeed the late Patrick McNamara.
Mrs. Oscar Wilson, wife of the pastor of the local Congregational Church, has earned her bachelor of divinity degree at Andover Theological School of Boston.
Wayland High School teacher Mary Nyuli will handle arts and crafts and colleague Dave Van Eerden will be director for the Wayland summer recreation program.
Gary Clarke and Chris Noel were starring in “Wild, Wild Winter” at the Wayland Theatre.
Genevieve Shook, who gave the valedictory address as Genevieve Allen in 1916, was a special guest at the Wayland High School Alumni Association banquet. She and seven other members of the Class of 1916 were recognized.
Percy Sledge topped the U.S. music charts again with “When a Man Loves a Woman.”
75 years Ago — June 13, 1941
“Mrs. Harry Kimmel of Shelbyville died very suddenly Tuesday afternoon following a week’s illness at Crispe Hospital, Plainwell..”
Alice Mildred Stauffer, 16, of Caledonia, was killed a traffic crash about a mile and a half northeast of Wayland. She was a passenger in a car that struck a ditch after roller skating at Green Lake. Medical examiner C.A. Dickinson said the girl suffered a fatal skull fracture.
The Rev. Robert Geiger of Mendon, pastor of the Lawton Methodist Episcopal Church, has been assigned to the Wayland Methodist Church, succeeding the Rev. E. J. Snyder.
Wayland’s new metal street signs have arrived to replace the old wooden ones in the village.
Workmen have been busy strengthening the floor foundation at the Village Hall.
The Wayland Dahila Gardens have just completed planting more than 50 acres of flowers, about 28 acres alone at the Leighton Township farm.
Seventy men from Allegan County, the largest group to date, will leave for the Kalamazoo induction station for the U.S. Army June 18.
Elaine Zeerip of Wauland was the winner of an essay contest sponsored by the Allegan County Council of Religious Education.
Movies this week at the Wayland Theatre: George Murphy and Lucille Ball in “A Girl, A Guy and a Gob,” Alice Faye, Jack Oakie and Cesar Romero in “The Great American Broadcast” and Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette in “South of the Border.”
100 Years Ago — June 9, 1916
A total of 28 seniors graduated at Wayland High School commencement, which was held outdoors and included music by the Grand Rapids Orchestra. Presenting addresses were senior class President Donald Holmes, Valedictorian Genevieve Allen and Salutatorian Bernice Gardner.
Charles Hooker, longtime Leighton Township resident and Civil War veteran, died just after the close of this year’s Decoration Day ceremonies, May 31. His funeral was at the Congregational Church.
Mrs. Peter Taylor, 58, died at the Wayland home of her son after a long illness.
Dr. I.L Slater, village health officer, has ordered all local dog owners to restrain and control their animals.
Mrs. William Manning of Hopkins was judged insane in Allegan County Probate Court and has been taken to the Kalamazoo Asylum.
A.E. Weaver is completing the erection of a new cement slaughterhouse in the southwest corner of the village.
Jessica Fales was elected president, Florence Yeakey vice president, Esther Martin recording secretary and Rollo Mosher secretary of the Wayland High School Alumni Association.
The farm residence of Jeremy Sargent west of the village was consumed by fire. The property was being leased by Jacob Westmaas.
Sixteen members attended the annual Ladies Library Club county meeting in Plainwell. Mrs. Arthur Deuel of Wayland was named secretary-treasurer.
A barn on the farm of John Latourette was struck by lightning southwest of Wayland with heavy damage.