(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — March 29, 1995
Allegan County Undersheriff Larry Ladenburger has reached the milestone of donating blood for the 80th time.
Patricia Kelsey of Hopkins penned a letter to the editor opposing Nila Aamoth’s Soapbox contentions from the week before regarding sex education. She insisted that local school officials choose educational materials and curriculum that are “good for families and children.”
A chart that was published with a story about the Hopkins Township budget showed that 41.2 percent of local revenue came from property taxes and 39.7% from state revenue sharing. All other sources were below 10 percent.
Jerry Horan will resign his post as Hopkins Junior High and Senior principal at the end of the academic year. Though in the position for only two years, he has 26 years of experience in education. The school board voted 7-0 to accept his resignation without comment.
Jake Schut in ag sales and service and Anne Hanley in agriscience recognition, both placed first in the state FFA competition, representing Hopkins.
Josh Kingsbury, only 3 years old, was given special heroic mention by local authorities for knowing to call 911 when his mother, Kim, fainted and collapsed in the bathroom.
The Hopkins High School boys’ and girls’ track teams were resurrected after a 22-year hiatus under the guidance of coach Tom MacArthur. The team, with 24 girls and 20 boys, will open its season at Wayland.
The Parkside Park II team of Mike Hudson, Mark Doxey, Bill Merchant and Steve Knowlton won the Wayland Community Recreation program’s three-on-three basketball league championship.
Martin High School Athletic Director Ron Merrill has finally decided to conclude his career after serving the school and community since 1967. He was AD during that special 1987-88 academic year when Martin won state titles in football and wrestling and was runner-up in girls’ basketball.
Hopkins Township Supervisor Kevin Cronin received a state honor for his work in foster parenting.
50 Years Ago — March 25, 1970
Walt Wenzel and Arnold Wilde of the Wayland Chamber of Commerce were photographed handing a check for $50 for Police Chief Forrest Reichenbach to help pay for the Fraternal Order of Police’s annual Easter Egg Hunt.
Congressman Ed Hutchinson announced he will seek re-election to his seat in the August Republican primary. His Fourth District includes Allegan, Branch, Berrien, Cass, Hillsdale, Van Buren and St. Joseph counties.
Pfc. David Taylor of Hopkins has been awarded the Bronze Star for heroic actions as a rifleman in Vietnam, aiding his comrades in battle. He also has won an Air Medal Certificate and a Purple Heart.
The two-month state aid payment figures for Wayland total $130,610, for Martin $64,110 and for Hopkins $81,030. Wayland also is getting a Title I payment of $3,359.
Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey, in his editorial, lambasted the U.S. postal service strike in New York, insisting the mail must go through. He wrote, “The strike, revolt is what it is, must be stopped now or be written into the history books as a giant step toward chaos and anarchy.”
Mrs. Waldo Ellinger gave a presentation to members of the Hopkins Ladies Library Club about record reading books, the forerunner of audio books.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “The Learning Tree.”
The Rev. Neil Horn and the Wayland Calvary Church have signed on to a letter-writing effort on behalf of three astronauts who read from the Bible while circling the Moon in December 1968. They were criticized and sued afterward by atheist Madeline Murray O’Hair.
Allegan County deputy William Koterwski was guest speaker for the Wayland Lions Club. He gave members a presentation about the growing problem of narcotics, particularly among teens.
Martin bowed out of the Class D district basketball tournament in the quarterfinal round, losing to Camden Frontier, 69-58. Leading scorers for coach Herb Johnson’s group were Dave Mills with 18 points, Bob Zumbrink 13, Bob Larsen 12 and Jim Wells nine. The team won the school’s first-ever regional title the week before.
Wayland High School’s Ron Straub placed first in a freestyle wrestling tournament at Muskegon Community College and Jerry Merren placed fifth.
Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” continued as the No. 1 song in the land.
75 Years Ago — March 30, 1945
Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Streeter have sold their Gun Lake resort business to Ellis and Keith Daniels. Calvin and Willis Streeter opened Streeter’s Resort in 1880 and erected a dance hall, hotel and other recreational facilities. It was home to many celebrations, including the Farmers Picnic and Fourth of July. Business seemed to decline in the years that followed the emergence of the automobile.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote, “Those old days are gone now, but the good times that were had will linger long in the minds of so many fortunate enough to have enjoyed them.”
The WLS Radio National Barn Dance will make a return appearance in Wayland Friday and Saturday nights at the Wayland Theatre. Featured will be Pat Buttram, the Hoosier Hots Shots, Lulubelle & Scotty and the Dinning Sisters.
Michigan State Highway officials this summer plan to pave almost 2.4 miles north and south of Wayland along U.S.-131. Grand Rapids Asphalt Co. won the contract.
John Dolegowski of Dorr has been awarded the Bronze Star for his efforts in the liberation of Leyte Island near the Philippines.
The Wayland High School Orchestra has been awarded a first division rating in the music festival at Western Michigan University.
Miss Maxine Takens will render organ and vocal selections at the special Good Friday service at Moline Congregational Church.
Alvin Van Duine, 21, of Dorr, was killed in a traffic crash on M-37 about a mile south of Middleville. He was a passenger in a vehicle that overturned on the road and he died of a skull fracture.
Staff Sgt. Lavern Bazzett of Leighton is home on leave after serving for 30 months in the Air Corps over France, Yugoslavia and Italy.
Cora Tanner Reed, who was a stage actress since he was 14 years old, died at age 84 at Clark Memorial Home in Grand Rapids. She had lived on South Main Street in Wayland for 10 years.
Serial gunner Sgt. Richard Chapple is now a prisoner of war in Germany. He had been reported missing in action Feb. 9.
Capt. Max Reno is hospitalized in Mission, Kansas, with a very serious mastoid infection.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre (Besides the National Barn Dance):
- Charles Starette and Lloyd Bridges in “Saddle Leather Law.”
- John Wayne, Ella Raines and Gabby Hayes in “Tall in the Saddle.”
- Gail Russell and Charlie Ruggles in “Our Hearts Were Young and Gay.”
100 Years Ago — March 26, 1920
Plans were being made for the auto show and bargain day. One show this year will feature passenger vehicles and the other will highlight trucks and tractors.
The Northeast Hopkins Community Club had its first meeting, with 50 in attendance, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Ring. Speakers were Mark Beal and Homer Brown of the Travis Implement Co. Fred Hilbert is president of the club.
The Wayland Ladies Library Club paid $26.50 for repairs to the old school piano. It was noted that proceeds from the club’s presentation of “Antia’s Trial amounted to $59.48.
Grover Barnhart is in charge of of remodeling Frank’s Opera House, the name of which will be changed to the Regent Theatre.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. John Short of Moline presented the couple with $50 worth of gold in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary.
A large display advertisement appeared in the Globe on behalf of Leonard Wood, candidate for U.S. President, touting his concern for America’s farmers.
Guert V. Fales has been rehired as superintendent of Newaygo schools, with an annual raise of $500. Also rehired were Louise Calkins and Lenore Steeby.
George Ryno and Charles Towne have purchased the cement block business of Fred Wallace and the real estate on the site of the old creamery.
Michigan State Highway surveyors were in town recently to lay out plans for a concrete highway to pass through the village, with 20 feet separating the curbs.
Fred Baker has been elected president of the Wayland Farm Bureau cooperative. The group is leasing the warehouse on the G, R & I rail tracks with an option to purchase.
The Christian Church Sunday night will have a six-reel film, “Passing of the Third Floor Back.”
George Tischy of Colorado Springs will join the Yeakey Auto Garage as a new employee.