25 Years Ago — Sept. 26, 1990
A criminal sexual conduct court cas
e against former Wayland teacher Mike Chesebro may be reinstated because the Court of Appeals has ruled that the statute of limitations of six years actually as not expired because the alleged victim has until age 21.
The Gun Lake Sewer Authority is being asked by the Yankee Springs Township Board to take over management of the Gun Lake area water system as well.
The Allegan County United Way awarded the Wayland Community Education and Recreation program a $5,000 grant for enrichment of its programs offered.
Michigan State Police officers are looking for man who robbed the Gun Lake branch of United Bank. A sketch of man was provided and he was described as between 25 and 30 years old.
The Wayland Township Board granted Kim Steffes a special use permit for a dog training facility on 131st Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Streets,
Linda Hutchings of Dorr, a Hope College graduate, has joined the Penasee Globe staff as a writer and will focus on Dorr Township.
Jenny Wilson was selected Homecoming Queen and Troy Tarnutzer King and Wayland’s varsity football team made it a pleasant event with a victory over Caledonia.
Despite 21 points from Julie Ainsworth, the Wildcat girls’ basketball team was upset 59-54 by Forest Hills Northern. Nicole Maynard added 11 points and Laura Barghan led in rebounding.
Hopkins’ early season winning strak on the gridiron was halted by another unbeaten, White Pigeon, 35-6,
The Martin girls’ varsity basketball team, led by Missy Kruzel’s 18 points and Vonda Evers’ 13 points and 14 rebounds, defeated Lawrence 45-31.
In a showdown between two undefeated teams that hadn’t even been scored on, Gobles defeated Martin 24-6.
Wayland High School seniors Dave Burt and Jon Sadler both earned commendations from the National Merit Scholarship program for their cumulative grade point averages and test scores.
50 Years Ago — Sept. 22, 1965
Wayland Union schools were reporting their largest enrollment ever with 1,475 students, 541 in the high school, causing officials make adjustments by hiring more teachers.
Alan Hayes, a 1965 Wayland High School graduate and school record holder in the mile run, led the recruit brigade at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. He plans to attend Aviation Electronic Technician School in Memphis, Tenn.
Chairman Russ Rugaber presented another update on the work of the recently elected nine-member Charter Commission tasked with developing rules of a home rule city.
William L. Kessler Jr., owner of Kessler’s Undies and Woolies, was presented with a special plaque from the Michigan Municipal League for his company’s community service in expanding the plant and building new warehouses.
Mrs. Harry Raad, 22, of Dorr, died at Blodgett Hospital after complications from injuries she received in a car-train accident Aug. 25. She left a husband and two young daughters.
Rollo Mosher, in his weekly “Observations Here and There” column, noted it was this week in 1884 that his father, George, established the Wayland Globe. George and Rollo and Irvin P. Helmey had been the newspaper’s only publishers in its history.
Mrs. Naman Frank attended a special lecture presentation by Denes Agay, a Hungarian composer and author, at a program in Grand Rapids.
Hopkins and Martin schools also were reporting huge enrollments for the 1965-66 academic year. Hopkins had 768 students and Martin, with 477, had to move to split sessions, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 12:30 to 5 p.m. New teachers included Ron Merrill in eighth grade and Dar Evers, ninth and tenth grade English.
Plainwell took advantage of a couple of Wayland mistakes to claim a 19-6 victory in the football season opener, the debut of new head coach Lyle Berry.
Hopkins edged South Christian 13-12 in the first-ever football game for the latter school. Greg Brown and Bill Pavlak both scored short yardage touchdowns and Jim Newell carried the ball over the goal line for the PAT that was the difference.
A “gals’ volleyball team” has begun to meet Monday nights at the Wayland High School girls’ gym.
Girl Scouts from Allegan County for the first time ever in the 113-year history of the Allegan County Fair, had an exhibit on the fairgrounds.
50 Years Ago — Sept. 27, 1940
Just what is the best system of handling fire alarm calls since the automatic dial telephone system was installed in Wayland has not been solved, according to late reports. There was a time when, if one discovered it was necessary to send in a call for the fire department, they could call central and she would turn in the alarm and then as soon as the fire department boys arrived would tell them where the fire was.
Now it is necessary for the person who turns in the alarm to call the fire department number and then they must wait on
the line until someone answers. It is very important that they stay on the line because to hang up before the alarm is answered will cut off the call and then the department does not know who sent in the alarm, or where the fire is.
There seems to be an epidemic of thievery running rampant in Wayland during the past two weeks. There have been one car stolen and two burglaries within the space of five days.
The theft of the car is believed to have been solved by officers, but the solutions of the two break-ins still is a deep mystery to the officers as far as solving the crime is concerned.
Congress passed and sent to the President the Burke-Wadsworth military conscription bill, which provides that all male citizens between the ages of 21 and 36 will be required to register for possible service with the armed forces. Two days later the President signed the bill into law.
Wendell Wilkie invaded the natal town of the powerful Kelly-Nash political machine, Chicago.
Said Wilkie: “If you elect me president, no American boys will ever be sent to the shambles of the European trenches.”
100 Years Ago — Sept. 24, 1915
“Lukins Lions are real comedians, as is their trainer, a German, Jacob Glassm who speaks broken English… One of the troupe’s stunts is to have a marriage ceremony inside the cage with the lions.” The Allegan County Fair Association offers $25 to each couple who agrees to have their vows exchanged inside the cage with their feline friends.
County Fair officials are offering services of parking all motor vehicles when they arrive at the fairgrounds in order to avoid confusion with carriages.
Mr. Miller had a valuable 2-year-old colt killed when struck by an interurban car after the animal got loose in the fields.
The high school football team has been going through strenuous practices in preparation for a game against Otsego High School this week.
“Too much rain in this vicinity has caused potatoes to rot in the ground.”
Frank Niemczyk and Anna Urbanick were married in the Catholic church in Hilliards and the reception was held later that evening in the bride’s home nearby.
Seven members of the Bradley Thimble Club and a visitor had a delightful tour of John Ball Park in Grand Rapids and a picnic afterward. Club members voted unanimously to make the John Ball visit an annual event.
Roy Hines of Bradley received first premium for his Afredale dog “Mac Duff” he showed at the Michigan State Fair.
Wayland High School’s enrollment reached 100 shortly after the academic year commenced, and even more pupils are expected.
Wayland High School also is organizing a basketball team this fall.
Postmaster John C. Yeakey has removed post office equipment from the Schuh Furniture Co., where it had been for the last four months. It has been moved to the new post office building across the street.