25 Years Ago — Dec. 19, 1990
The Allegan County Sol
id Waste Recycling Committee met to discuss the legality of placing a surcharge proposal on the ballot for recycling. County Treasurer Fred Edgerton said the money cannot by law be included in property tax bills.
Chairman Dennis Reno and members of the Downtown Development Authority Haroldene Bruinsma, Mary Jane Merren, Burrell Stein, Ron Kast, Jon DeYoung, Bill Mauchmar, Monte Listopad, Karen Doyle and Linden Anderson are finalizing a plan to redesign the appearance of the downtown business district.
Kessler’s owners Tom and Donna White have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and there are reports the couple are in arrears for almost $119,000 for loans for the infant sleepwear manufacturer. Allegan County Promotional Alliance Director Robert VanDuren, who helped secure financial help, said, “They’re in horrible shape, to put it mildly.”
Joan Medendorp has announced she must resign her seat on the Wayland City Council because she is moving to a home in Yankee Springs Township.
All residences and commercial properties must very visibly have their address numbers displayed under a new ordinance adopted by the Leighton Township Board.
Diane Spencer, 23, formerly of Wayland, has been ordered to undergo forensic testing in Lansing after being charged in connection with suffocating death of her five-month-old son, Aaron, whom she claimed died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
Kerri VanPutten, 17, has been selected as winner of the annual Daughter of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizenship Award for Wayland High School.
The Gun Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is planning a dinner meeting to serve as a forum to explain the positives and negatives of Gun Lake becoming an incorporated village.
The Martin boys’ basketball team has sailed past its first two opponents, behind the solid scoring punch of 6-7 Dan Herp, guard Luke Keyzer and its other big man, Brian Klok.
The Wildcat swim team, behind strong performances by Sebastian Blanco, Todd Tarnutzer, Mike Selzer and Tim Sherman, drowned Otsego 107-78 in the season opening dual meet.
Heavyweight Justin Arms’ lightning fast four-second pin is not only a school record, but may be a state record. He recorded the feat in the Jenison Invitational, but Todd Meconis (125 pounds) was the only Wildcat to bring home a championship medal from the meet.
Dave Hendrickson and Eric VandenBerg both scored 20 points to pace the Wayland boys’ basketball team to a 68-53 win over Forest Hills Northern. It was the first victory for new coach Jim Orlowski.
50 Years Ago — Dec. 15, 1965
The Hopkins Board of Education, after receiving an inquiry from Dorr School Board member Stan Jansen, has learned it cannot accept tuition students from Dorr.
Robert Marquard, Dave Corner and John Winks all sustained injuries in a two-car traffic crash at the main intersection of downtown Wayland. Marquard’s car was pushed over the curb and into the Wayland State Bank building.
Robert Schrotenboer has been named Boy Scouts Council executive for a large area of Allegan County, including Wayland, Hopkins, Dorr, Burnips and Martin.
Robert Lehocky, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gus Lehocky, was taken to the Allegan Health Center to have his appendix removed.
Michigan State University football coach Duffy Daugherty, speaking at a Peninsular Club luncheon well attended by Wayland enthusiasts, quipped, “I proved to be a lousy recruiter when I told Don Japinga he was too small to play Big 10 football.” Japinga, now co-captain of the undefeated and Rose Bowl-bound Spartans, was a 1962 graduate of Wayland High School and a walk-on success.
City Charter Commission Revision Commission Chairman J.R. Rugaber promised publication of the entire proposed new home rule city charter in the Dec. 29 edition of the Globe for voters to read before the special election next month.
The Grand Rapids Press quoted Wayland Village President Phillip Reno in an article “It’s Amateur Night When the Council Meets.” It was believed Reno was talking about the upcoming special election on the issue of Wayland becoming a home-rule city.
Among those receiving collegiate degrees were Richard L. Akers of Hopkins and Ronald Whitcomb of Martin at Western Michigan University and Roger DeHaan at Michigan State University.
The first-ever bargaining committees have been announced for Wayland Union schools. The board will be represented by President Frank Langley, Superintendent Carl Bergstrom and members Jerome LaValley and G.A. VandeVoord. Teachers will be represented by Viola Carroll, Carolyn Rizor, Joseph Iciek and Mrs. Frank Velcheck.
The Wayland boys’ basketball squad, led by Walter Messer’s 25 points, 12 from Gordon Hudson and 10 from Rick Baughman, earned its first victory of the season, 69-47 over Maple Valley.
Marlon Brando was starring in “Mutiny on the Bounty” at the Wayland Theatre.
The Byrds’ “Turn, Turn, Turn!” spent its second straight week atop the nation’s music charts.
75 Years Ago — Dec. 20, 1940
Wayland’s “Cow Town” slogan with the cowbell as the symbol, which is the brain child of Naman E. Frank, is going over great, even after the summer activities that came to a close Labor Day.
So that folks would not forget that Wayland is still the cow-town of Michigan, Naman conceived the idea of dolling up some cow bells, affixing a Christmas shopping tag with the idea of sending them out in lieu of Christmas cards.
These bells were mailed all over the United States, many of them going to prominent persons, so before the curtain rung down on 1940 Wayland will have received much favorable publicity and will establish its name as the “Cow Town of Michigan.”
A few days ago, a Hopkins fisherman fell through the ice on one of the lakes near Hopkins and it was only by the fact that help was near that he was able to clamber out on the ice. Better wait a few days until the ice gets strong enough to be really safe. Some of these spring-fed lakes are very treacherous when others may be safe enough.
While prominent isolationists “viewed with alarm” each successive step, it was evident that the United States was becoming daily a more vital factor in the various phases of World War II.
President Roosevelt’s assurance to King George of Greece that material aid will come from the country, and immediately, was couched in terms that showed the nation ready to succor any and all peoples suffering from aggression.
No leading low-price car matches the ’41 Ford’s bigness! The Ford has biggest bodies, longest interiors, the greatest total seating width, the most front seat headroom, the most front seat legroom, the most rear seat knee room, the widest front and rear doors, the biggest windshield and windows. Get the biggest car your money can buy.
We believe that the day of the game and fish hog is surely passing. There was a time when some so-called sports would bring back huge quantities of game and fish and have their pictures and boast to their friends, but now most are more conservation minded and are content to go more for the enjoyment of the sport.
100 Years Ago — Dec. 17, 1915
“This coming Christmas in Wayland, the same old customs will be observed, and Santa Claus and the Christmas tree will make the little ones happy.” Meanwhile, the Congregational Church will present a holiday cantata, “Santa Claus and the Fairy Godmother,” and the Methodist Church Sunday School will offer Christmas exercises.
William Gryszak will has sold his meat market in Dorr to Lyman Ehle Jr.
Aaron Jones died at his home northeast of Dorr after only a few days’ illness. The funeral was at his home with the Rev. Gordon officiating.
The Congregational Church held an oyster supper and “post office” fund-raiser, which netted $27.
The Bradley Improvement League heard a presentation by Mrs. Beckwith on “America’s Only Title,” referring to President Wilson’s wife. Zola Culver also gave an account on “Social Life in Washington D.C.”
The Bradley Thimble Club welcomed a new member, Miss Kate Sager.
Mike Brophy of Martin came to town to consult with a physician and learned “he was possessed by nothing worse than the shingles.”
Miss Simpkins is coaching the class play, “College Town” at Wayland High School. It was noted that a banquet is served at each rehearsal.
The Ladies Library Club has disclosed that there are many methods of raising extra dollars for a new piano, including washing, cleaning, sewing and trapping.
Wayland Tent No. 545 of the Maccabees KOTM have elected L.F. Wallbrecht as commander.
Mrs. C.E. Ball and Mrs. Newton Crowell presented recitations in a program held at the International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) Hall to celebrate the anniversary of August Gustafson.