25 Years Ago — March 21, 1990
Wayland s
chool teachers were docked a day’s pay for taking part in a one-day protest by not showing up to an in-service workshop. Teachers were protesting what they believed to be a lack of support for English teacher Denise Klinge, who was victimized by harassing telephone calls and disrespectful behavior from high school wrestler Ken Klump. Klump was given a six-day suspension, but was allowed to wrestle in the state tournament, where he finished fourth at 171 pounds.
Superintendent Bob Brenner, in a letter to the editor, defended the school board’s decision to dock the 110 teachers a day’s pay, insisting teachers “blatently ignored” terms of their employment contract agreement by being no-shows.
Carl Boysen, co-owner and operator of Boysen’s Market in Martin with his father, Alvin, died at age 49.
The Apple Core Lounge was granted a one-year liquor license by the Wayland Township Board with a chance for renewal in the wake of alleged problems of serving minors and people too intoxicated to drive. The township issued newly established guidelines.
Local businessmen Dennis Reno, Bruce Sexton and Pete Howard plan to have a 6,000-square-foot professional services building constructed at the old site where the Farm House Restaurant burned down, just off South Main Street next to the Henika Library.
A petition drive on behalf of transferring 130 properties from the Hamilton to the Hopkins school district failed because too many signatures were determined to be invalid. Burnips residents made the request in hopes Hopkins would reopen the Burnips Elementary School Hamilton had just closed.
Phosphate has been added to city water to help eliminate its rusty look.
Miedema Garage, a longtime fixture at the corner of 144th Avenue and Division in Moline, was razed after brothers Louis and Ralph started the business in the 1930s.
Earning Division 1 ratings at the district solo and ensemble festival were Wayland students Dave Fearnow, baritone horn; Rob Sullivan, tuba; Jodi Holcomb, clarinet, and Kelly Walma, flute.
Wayland’s Eric Vandenberg, who averaged 18 points per game for the Wayland varsity basketball team, was selected to the O-K Gold all-conference team.
Wildcat volleyball team member Jenny Ritz was named to first team Class B all-state squad and Hope Bonga was named to the third team.
Martin defeated Gobles, 74-57, in a makeup basketball game to claim its third straight Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. Dan Herp scored 33 points and collected 15 rebounds to finish his career as the school record holder in both categories. The Clippers, coached by Herb Johnson, finished the season with a 19-4 overall record, 13-1 in the SAC.
50 Years Ago — March 17, 2015
The Allegan County Board of Supervisors finally voted 20-18 to allow the Village of Wayland to have a special election May 18 on the question of expanding boundaries and establishing a home rule city. The election also would determine nine members of a charter commission, if the ayes carry the day.
Globe Publisher Irvin P. Helmey, in a front page editorial, opined, “Passage of the proposal for incorporation will be a victory for community betterment… Make no mistake about it, voting along party lines will have no place in the coming election. The election should bring an overwhelming victory for home rule.”
Elizabeth Pueschel was announced as valedictorian and Pauline Fifelski salutatorian for the Hopkins High School Class of 1965.
Sam Dykstra of Kalamazoo has taken over operations of Andringa Applicance. Julius Andringa has stepped aside after handling the business in downtown Wayland for 20 years.
Modern math classes for adults will be offered from 7 to 9 p.m. on six successive Tuesdays from March 23 through April 27.
Robert Bell, owner of the Dog ‘N Suds Restaurant on South Main Street, asked the village for more police support to handle the “fraction of 1 percent of young beer drinking loudmouths who spoil good fund for everyone.”
Don Lapham was awarded the contract to bring village waster service to the new laundramat across the railroad tracks on West Superior Street. The village had forged a written agreement with owner Mac Corson.
The Wayland Theatre was showing Cary Grant in “Father Goose.”
It was announced that Miss Karen Arndt is engaged to marry Gary Henningson in June. Both are from Bradley.
Mrs. Herman Lodenstein of Hopkins went on a four-day legislative tour of Washington D.C. as a delegate from the Allegan County Chapter of the Michigan Farm Bureau.
The Beatles enjoyed their second straight week in the No. 1 slot for tunes in the nation with “Eight Days a Week.”
75 Years Ago — March 15, 1940
Martha Kreiser, 39, of Hopkins, died at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids from burns she suffered in a house fire last November. Her home caught fire when she attempted to start a warming blaze inside the home.
Only 69 voters showed up at the polls for the Wayland Village election. Rollo Mosher was selected village president. In his written speech on the front page, he said, “We will enter into our new duties with fears in our hearts and shaking in our boots, knowing we cannot please everyone.”
Also in the village election, George Ryno stepped down as president to become assessor. Fred Greenawalt replaced Harold Hawkins on a seat on the Village Council.
A number of local businessmen gathered at the Doll House restaurant for lunch an a chance to examine plans for a new school, “which will be erected through the generosity of the Kellogg Foundation.”
Dr. Clarence VanRipen of the speech department of WSTC in Kalamazoo, gave the Wayland PTA a presentation on “Speech Correction.” He was accompanied by five students with speech defects. The program was held at the high school auditorium.
Longtime Dorr Township Clerk Fred Weaver resigned his post to become postmaster for the community. He is being succeeded by Raymond Hilaski.
In the upcoming elections, listed as unopposed as Republican Leighton Township candidates were Supervisor Jake Haveman, Clerk Lydia Frey, Treasurer Harry Nevins, and Highway Commissioner Will Hupp.
Wayland Township Republicans nominated without opposition were Supervisor Harold Fox, Clerk Fred Hilbert, Treasurer Charles Towne and Highway Commissioner Clifford Pike.
