25 Years Ago — Aug. 29, 1990
A report issued by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources apparently is at odds with information published in tourist brochures about Gun Lake. The brochures say Gun Lake includes more than 90 miles of shoreline, but the DNR report insists it’s 17.8 miles and another 1.4 miles of island shoreline. In its fish survey, the DNR also reported the highest temperature in the lake at 73 degrees and the lowest at 49 near the bottom.
Four “Drug-free Zone” signs for both the Moline and Dorr elementaries have been purchased by the Wayland Board of Education for the entrances in front of the two schools.
Linda Hutchings wrote a feature story about the Fontana music program held twice weekly at the Shelbyville Art Emporium. Fontana, founded by Neill Sanders, was celebrating its 10th year and Hutchings insisted it “has gained a formidable reputation in the arts community.”
Sue Betterly of Hopkins, in a letter to the editor, was very critical of the proposed Michigan Model health curriculum program, saying, “Abstinence will be taught, but so will all other birth control methods. Abortion is now considered a form of birth control. Is this something you want your child taught?”
The Martin football team this fall will be competing for the time as a Class C school. The Clippers, fresh from a 7-2 campaign, were preparing for their next season, under coach Pete Zeinstra. Ed Lark was starting his second year at Wayland after a 1-8 campaign and veteran Rex Weaver was getting the Hopkins squad ready after going 4-5 in 1989.
Robert Brown, former energy technician for the East Allegan Soil Conservation District, has been hired as full-time agriculture instructor and FFA advisor for Hopkins High School.
A huge advertisement in the Globe declared “It’s never too late to graduate.” The ad, sponsored by the Wayland Community Education Department, touted classes offered free of charge weekday mornings, afternoons and evenings with baby-sitting services provided.
50 Years Ago — Aug. 25, 1965
Individual photos of Cowbell Queen contestants Darlene Truax, Vicki Chlebana, Susan Longstreet, Arlene Marquard, Linda Taylor, Pat Stoddard and Norma French were published in the front page in advance of the three-day Cowbell Carnival. Other contestants’ photos had been published the week before.
New teachers hired at Wayland High school included Lyle Berry, physical education and varsity football and basketball coach; Vincent DeJone, English, social studies and journalism; Eugene Knobloch, social studies, physical education and assistant varsity football coach; Pat McKee, girls’ physical education and guidance; Gerald Nelson, English; Alice Rowe, home economics; Suzi Stuch, business education; Ted Currie, power mechanics and social studies; and Carolyn Rizor, librarian. Faculty additions at the junior high are Dale Collins, seventh grade English; and Mrs. Carolyn Berry, eighth grade math.
The Allegan County District No. 18 school was scheduled to open Sept. 7, with teachers Mrs. Earl Miller, Mrs. Leyton, Mrs. Vinton Shafer, Mrs. Joseph Rybiski and Mrs. Alvin Schwartz.
Melissa McBride was chosen Miss Martin Harvest Queen and Marilyn Zuinstra was first runner-up in the pageant Aug. 19.
Daniel Postema, 20, of Gramd Rapids, was drowned at Gun Lake after swimming with his 14-year-old cousin near a float about 100 feet from shore.
Former editor and publisher Rollo G. Mosher’s weekly column this week featured a story about Dr. A.C. Andrews, a retired Grand Army of the Republic veteran and former dentist, who organized the first Wayland Cadets group, which included a band and lots of drills.
Champions of the annual Globe tennis tournament were Bill Conwell, Bill Carpenter, Robert, Ayers, Jack Nicolai, Mike and Mark Crum and Vicky Mauchmar. Tournament director was Spriggs TeRoller.
Eight-year Cody Niemchick, son of Mr. and Mrs. Billy Niemchick, was photographed with a 23-inch, four-pound walleye pike he had caught at East Gun Lake.
“Fluffy the Lion” was showing at the Wayland Theatre, which also was welcoming a live appearance of The Casanovas for the upcoming Cowbell Carnival weekend.
Steve Clack, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Clack of Wayland a 1965 graduate of Wayland High School, enlisted for a four-year stint in the U.S. Air Force.
Herman’s Hermits captured the No. 1 spot in the first week of August with “I’m Henry VIII,” but the new dynamic duo of Sonny & Cher claimed the nation’s top musical slot the rest of August with “I Got You, Babe.”
75 Years Ago — Aug. 30, 1940
Four days of rain is just about enough for us to digest at one sitting… As it is, there are plenty of grain crops in the fields yet to be harvested that are sure to be seriously damaged if not ruined entirely. Farmers putting up their second cutting of alfalfa are also having their troubles.
Speaking of rain, we folks around Wayland do not have nearly as much to complain about as do the neighboring residents of Hopkins. Over there the creek has overflowed its banks to such an extent that most of the downtown section is virtually a lake with the water in some cases entirely surrounding the homes. We folks sitting high and dry on sandy soil still have a few things to be thankful for.
Britain lost the first of her colonial possessions in the current war to Italy as two divisions of Mussolini’s crack troops succeeded in driving out 1,200 Tommies from Berbera, capital of British Somaliland. For the British there was only one ray of light in their abandonment: as in the recent retreat at Dunkirk, the troops left the battlefield fighting a furious rear guard action, destroying everything that could not be saved and forcing Italy to pay as dear a price as possible for her victory.
The threshing season being over, the good housewives can roll down their sleeves until silo-filling time.
I elect myself a committee of one (unnamed Gun Lake reporter) to compliment the mayor of New York City after reading that he has put his foot down on filth in print. He has notified all news stands of that city to discontinue all magazines of the smutty objectionable type, and to top it off, he ordered the city’s garbage trucks to pick up said smut. Would that every mayor in every city would follow suit.
A thought for today — Too many people are talking about war instead of praying for peace.
The picturesque head gear of the Australian and New Zeeland soldiers is influencing much of the new milinery shown by London hat designers. These styles have high pinched crowns and wide brims. Some of the brims are simply flat and straight, while others turn up at one side and fasten under the chin with a military looking strap.
100 Years Ago — Aug. 27, 1915
The Improvement League of Bradley met with Mrs. Anna Oliver and the gathering included 14 members and 11 visitors. The ladies enjoyed sandwiches, pickles, coffee, salad, peaches and cream, and cake. “All returned to their homes feeling they had been royally entertained.”
The Michigan Railway Company has installed an electric signal system at the two interurban crossings at Moline.
Thomas Tobin has moved into the new house he built six months after his old one burned down in Leighton Township.
A sock social will be given by the CE Society at the Congregation Church Aug. 30.
Wayland Schools Supt. G.V. Fales, Roy Williamson, Ben Stockdale and Stanley Eggert attended a ballgame between the host Grand Rapids squad of the Central League and Washington of the American League, with the latter winning the contest.
The annual Farmers Picnic at Streeter’s Resort at Gun Lake featured the Middleville Cornet Band, Congressman E.L. Niles, Kent County farm expert J. Hackley Skinner. Also part of the festivities were baseball games and a balloon ascension.
D. F. Dilman, assistant engineer with the Michigan State Highway Department, inspected two new state roads constructed by the Allegan County Road Commission in Hopkins and Leighton townships and pronounced them “first class.” He rewarded Leighton $125 and Hopkins $208.
Adam Clark Pullen, a pioneer farmer in Dorr, died at his current home in Leroy, Mich. Pullen had started his farm near Dorr Center in 1863 and tilled the soil there for 40 years before moving to Leroy in 1912.
Preparations are under way for the 63rd annual Allegan County fair, billed as one of the oldest fairs in Michigan. This year’s celebration will include Monsieur Andre Houpert, who will perform a demonstration of actual aerial warfare now being seen in Europe.