Editor

Heat cuts Martin school to half day again Thursday

The oppressive heat wave again has claimed Martin Public Schools as a victim. School officials today announced Martin will have only a half day of classes Thursday, Aug. 26, just…

Editor August 25, 2021

Community Notices

Heat, Covid, politics present school opening challenges

As if local school districts Martin, Wayland and Hopkins did not have enough challenges while opening for the school year, now comes oppressive heat that has closed some schools in…

Editor August 25, 2021

Columns

Continued Covid leaves me and family ‘languishing’

by Denise Dykstra This week I attended our school’s school board meeting. They had some decisions that were being made and I wanted to hear what was going to happen.…

Editor August 24, 2021

Articles

Wayland schools studying newfangled teaching tool

The Wayland Union school district is examining an online application that promises students better access to virtual instruction. Wayland High School math teachers Linda Anderson Bensyl and Amy Nelson demonstrated…

Editor August 24, 2021

Sports

Wildcats 2nd in both races at Wayland Invitational

The Grand Rapids Track Club Peregrines won both the boys’ and girls’ divisions of the season-opening Wayland Invitational cross-country meet Monday. GRTC had just 24 team points in the boys’…

Editor August 24, 2021

Obituaries

Memorial service Sept. 25 for Hopkins’ Lee Swainston

Lee Swainston, patriarch of the longtime Hopkins family, died Friday, Aug. 20. He was 72. A 1967 graduate of Byron Center High School, he was a Hopkins area dairy farmer…

Editor August 23, 2021

Obituaries

Celebration of life Monday for Debbie VanOflen, 66

Deborah “Debbie” Mae VanOflen, age 66, died Saturday, Aug. 21. While she couldn’t communicate in the traditional way because of her cerebral palsy, her smile, her expressions, and her eyes…

Editor August 23, 2021

Obituaries

Service pending for Varano Electric owner Tom Varano

Thomas J. Varano, II, 51 of Dorr, died Saturday, Aug. 21, at Metro Health Hospital Born Oct.16, 1969,kj in Kalamazoo, he was the son of Geraldine “Jerri” Sinkler and the…

Editor August 23, 2021

Sports

Wildcats get off to fast start in tennis with 8-0 victory

The Wayland High School boys' tennis team came out the gate fast for the start of the 2021 season by blanking Otsego in their home opener Monday night. Coach Ben Adams…

Editor August 23, 2021

Articles

Wayland schools’ parents protest K-6 mask order

Wayland Union Schools opened for a half day Monday, and despite the Allegan County Health Department’s order for all K-6 students to be masked up because of Covid, there were…

Editor August 23, 2021