(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago— March 30, 1998
Wayland elementary schools are taking part in cereal boxtop fund-raisers and have come up with a cumulative total of more than $300.
The Globe published an enterprise piece about the recent trend of local small farms disappearing from the landscape, all at the same time larger and corporate farms getting to be much more commonplace, according to Allegan County Extension Agent G. William Robb.
Felix Arocha is opposing Mayor David Miller in the upcoming city election in Wayland and six candidates will vie for three open seats on the City Council. They include incumbents Marie Hall and Dallas Strong and and challengers Dorothy DeWeerd, Jim Haley, Maurice Stahl and Paul Bowen.
State Rep. Patricia Birkholz has announced her support for a bill introduced by State Senator Bill VanRegenmorter that would make assisted suicide illegal.
Editor Nila Aamoth asked in her Soapbox whether a school bus will be necessary to bring students home from birthday parties or football or basketball games, noting the proliferation of “Grad Bash” parties over the last dozen years. She insisted she supports it, but if it becomes too commonplace it won’t be as effective as intended.
Cris Westphal penned a letter to the editor taking to task Wayland Township Supervisor Jose Blanco for seeking a pay raise, noting he knew what the job paid before he sought election to it.
Builder David Double has expressed interest in having his Hidden Ponds subdivision on 23 acres annexed into the Village of Martin.
Scott Sullivan did a pictoral essay on Gun Lake area gymnast Sasha Doran, age 12.
The Globe published several accounts and photos of local high school track teams getting ready for their 1998 seasons.
Editor Nila Aamoth wrote “An African Journal,” a feature piece about the trip to Africa ahd and husband Ron Carlson made and Carlson supplied photos.
Senior Jason Moore will attempt to eclipse his school record time of 9:41.9 this spring in the 3200 meters as he and his Wayland teammates get ready for the coming season. Luke Fischer also shows promise in the shot put.
The Penasee Globe has announced it is going on line with the Internet address of www.penasee.com.
50 Years Ago — March 27, 1973
Wayland High School students Bob Grafford, Conrad Mauchmar and Linda Smith earned top awards from the local chapter of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Robert D. Beaver of Hilliards is one of five Michigan State Police troopers who will join training for K-9 units for tracking with a German shepherd.
Max Barnes, Don Shafer and Robert Swartout are unopposed in the upcoming city election for council seats.
The Globe published a front page feature story about Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Hilbert returning from a visit to Mexico.
Mrs. Louis Japinga, Baker Elementary principal, will be narrator for the “Fashion Fair” April 3 at the high school cafeteria.
Coach Dick Schwartz is welcoming 12 returning lettermen to the Hopkins High School track team. Jon Jensen has a youthful squad in his first year as head track coach.
Wayland High School junior Kathy Worfel earned her second straight conference individual scoring title in basketball.
Pete Arnsman and Louie Stein head up coach Mark Austin’s Hopkins varsity baseball squad.
Hopkins FFA reporter Maynard Guy submitted a feature story with photos about the chapter’s recent projects.
Vicki Lawrence, better know as a TV comedienne, captured the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia.”
75 Years — April 2, 1948
Frank Bastian of Dorr received a Future Farmers of America degree at the FFA’s state convention in East Lansing. He is the first Wayland High School student to earn the honor.
Radio station WFUR will feature Wayland in its next “Our Home Tour” show at 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 9.
A free showing of the movie “No Hand Stripping” by Dr. W. E. Peterson of the University of Minnesota will be available to area dairymen April 6 at the Wayland High School auditorium. A lunch also will be served.
Marion Huff, Ruth Culver, Doris Morgenstern and Carol Oetman attended the Future Homemakers of America March 25 and 26 at Michigan State College.
Carol Ellinger, a Wayland High School graduate attending Western State Normal College, will be part of a recital, took part in a music recital March 21 at the college.
Tom Brenneman’s Breakfast radio broadcast from Hollywood featured mentioned the 95th birthday of Mrs. Lindy George.
Wayland will participate in the annual Cleanup Week April 4-10, as declared by Gov. Kim Sigler.
Wayland High School juniors will present their play, “You’ll Die Laughing, under the direction of James T. Ledden.
Hopkins and Martin Ladies Library Clubs had a joint meeting to honor our Canadian neighbors, with Mildred Smith and Florence Rugaber featured singing “Oh, Canada” and group singing of “Maple Leaf Forever.”
Allegan County Staff Nurse Blanche Garwood will lead discussions on “Infant Care and Child Development” starting April 5 at Wayland High School for adult education classes.
Charles M. Fenton, 68, of Hopkins died at his home after a long illness. He was a veteran of the Spanish-American War and an employee of the Pere Marquette Railroad.
Calvary Church in Wayland will be host for a missionary conference April 4-11, featuring guest speakers each evening.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Roy Rogers, Andy DeVine and Jane Frazee in “The Gay Ranchero.”
• Jeanne Crain, Dan Dailey and Oscar Levant in “You Were Meant for Me.”
• Robert Mitchum, Jane Greer, Kirk Douglas and Rhonda Fleming in “Out of the Past.”
100 Years Ago — March 30, 1923
Voters in Leighton, Wayland Hopkins townships Monday will be asked if they support Allegan County taking control of the John Robinson Hospital in Allegan.
M.W. Parker was elected president of the Alle-Bar Club and Charles Baughman elected vice president.
J.L Robinson won first prize at the Muskegon and East Shore Pultry and Rabbit Fanciers show with his Barred Rock Pullet.
The Doll House has just finished “building a commodious kitchen in the rear of their lunch counter.”
Dr. George Brower was taken seriously ill and taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, where he was expected to undergo an operation to remove his gall stones.
About 75 people were fed supper in the basement of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Wayland and $9.90 was raised for the Willing Workers group.
Pauline Mason and Shirley Carner sang duets “Pretty Little Cinderella” and “Little Brown Jug” at this month’s meeting of the Ladies Library Club. Florence Yeakey also played two piano solos.
Local firefighters acted quickly to extinguish a chimney fire at the home of Harry Milheim on West Superior Street.
The Bee Hive opened for business at a new location, at the first door north of Beall’s downtown.
By a vote of 89 to 56, a proposal to bond for Wayland school building additions and improvements were approved. The Globe said the verdict will mean more room in a congested school.
Lon Chaney, “The Man with a Thousand Faces,” will star in “The Trap” at the Regent Theatre downtown Saturday and Sunday.