25 Years Ago — July 4, 1990
Jim Orlowski, who had coached va
rsity basketball at Grand Rapids West Catholic, was named varsity basketball coach for Wayland. Orlowski, who had a 25-39 record at West Catholic, also will teach elementary physical education at Baker School.
Former Miss Wayland Heather Zuidema was crowned Miss Dorr at the annual pageant the previous Saturday night. She is a sophomore at Ferris State University.
Pamela Hennip, responding to a letter to the editor the previous week from Barbara Chachulski or Dorr, defended use of the Michigan Model in teaching health and sex education in Hopkins schools.
Gun Lake has been added to the growing number of recycling sites established by RiBC (Recycling in Barry County).
The Wayland Board of Education elected Rick Cain president, succeeding Dorothy DeWeerd, who remains as vice president. Diane Smith is secretary and Lee Pankratz treasurer.
The Penasee Peddler, a 60-foot double deck flat bottom boat will be available on Gun Lake for trips before the annual July 4 fireworks display.
Wayland Township Board members are considering a $25 per year surchage for recycling services starting Jan. 1, 1991.
Mark Applegate of Dorr has won two scholarships, one for $1,500 from the Grand Rapids Men’s Bowling Association and a $500 scholarship from the Young America Bowling Association. He carries a 205 average in the Grand Rapids bowling leagues.
Seventh-grader Erin Marsh has been selected to attend the University of Michigan Science Camp after placing third in the Grand Valley State University Science Olympics.
Kyle Angulim, Lucas Blanco and Sebastian Blanco were winners in the singles tennis tournament sponsored by Wayland Community Education.
Michael Stearns of Wayland has been named financial audit manager for the First Michigan Bank Corp. He formerly had been with United Bank.
50 Years Ago — June 30, 1965
Frank Langley was elected president and the Wayland Board of Education adopted the largest budget in the district’s history, at $556,650.
Wayland High School senior Russell Tobolic was awarded a scholarship to attend Tri-State University in Angola, Ind., next fall.
James A. Krause of Hopkins has been named life insurance supervisor for the Michigan Life Insurance Corp. of Royal Oak. He had been manager of the Hopkins branch of the Wayland State Bank.
Hopkins, Moline and Dorr all were planning Fourth of July celebrations that would include food, fun and fireworks.
Ray Starback of Pullman has been elected president of the Allegan County Historical Society.
Fire destroyed the home of Leighton Township Supervisor Wayne Steeby, who noted his roof had been blown off by a tornado in April. It was determined that faulty electrical wiring was the cause.
A teen street dance is being planned for Friday evening at 8 p.m. at the Pearl Street Gym.
The film “The Truth About Spring” was showing at the Wayland Theatre, starring Hayley Mills, John Mills and James MacArthur.
A letter to the editor from “A Band Member Who Marched” explained that the high school band did not join the annual Decoration Day parade because it was on a Sunday, because members weren’t asked until three days before the event and they had to perform that Sunday evening for Baccalaureate. The letter writer claimed the band is “taken for granted and imposed upon.”
Rollo Mosher, in his column “Turned Up Here and There,” said the late Bill Norman, former Detroit Tigers manager, insisted Phil Regan should have a lengthy career in the Major Leagues because of his dedication and attitude. Regan was struggling this season with the Tigers after winning 15 games in 1963.
Taking over the No. slot this week in music was the Four Tops and “I Can’t Help Myself” (Sugar Pie, Honey Bun).
75 Years Ago —June 28, 1940
Although I (Rollo G. Mosher) am a faithful Republican, I sometimes wish that the New Dealers would go back into office once more at the November election. I just want to see how they will wiggle out of the mess we are in right now. We have had seven years of money squandering and yet our own country is absolutely defenseless as far as preparedness for invasion is concerned.
Blue gills are ripe at Gun Lake…Varied reports of the opening of the fishing season are beginning to come in. A few good catches were made but the adverse weather gave many a good alibi. However a few days of good, warm weather will start the fishing itch once more.
Rent a Johnson Wax Polisher at J.L. Gurney’s food department store.
Thanks to the poets, the story of the rides of Paul Revere and Gen. Phil Sheridan are an imperishable part of American tradition. But, so far, no bard has sung of the heroic ride of Ceasar Rodney.
Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin had drafted the Declaration of Independence and the final vote on it was set for the morning of July 4. It is not difficult to imagine the anxiety as the hour for the congress to assemble drew near. Would Rodney arrive in time to support…in casting Delaware’s vote for independence?
For years Rodney had suffered with a cancer on his face. So it took courage.
The Shattuck Store offered a $2.50 prize for the best ideas presented in a young person’s essay about what can be done to improve Wayland. Winner Leon Anway’s suggestions included not playing on the library lawn to spoil the grass, keeping tin cans and rubbish out of yards, punishing boys and girls who write on public buildings, breaking glass near roads to jeopardize horses’ hooves, planting more trees for shade and a halt to throwing rubbish into alleys.
Erastus Conklin, 82, who came to Michigan almost by himself after the death of his parents when he was a boy, died at his home. He came to Wayland with his wife, Elva, 18 years ago.
D.D. Gillies proprietor of the Streeter’s Resort, Gun Lake, will be host for a Fourth of July celebration, including the Grass Creek Band, ballgames between Middleville and Caledonia and fireworks in the evening.
Dr. and Mrs. Slater motored to Battle Creek to place their little daughter Ethel in the Battle Creek Sanitarium.
George H. Henika of Bellingham, Wash., was back in town to see old fishing buddies. The former owner of a furniture business and undertaking business in the village noted that at one time the fishing in Gun Lake was so good you catch as much as you pleased.
James R. Wylie, died at his home in Martin. He had been prominent in the banking business in Petoskey and Grand Rapids in bygone days.
