25 Years Ago — May 1, 1991
Bickering over right of way
issues has canceled the improvement project for 133rd Avenue on the north side of Wayland Township, according to Allegan County Road Commission Engineer-Manager Fred Neils.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has warned that a number of docile raccoons probably has been infected with distemper in “epidemic proportions” and should be avoided and reported.
About 260 competitors showed up for the national orienteering championships at Yankee Springs State Park. The male and female senior winners were Lance Taylor Skidmore College of Massachusetts and Karen Stenfeld of Bates College of Maine.
The Kalamazoo Bicycle Club will sponsor a mountain bike race on Mother’s Day May 12 at Yankee Springs State Park.
The Wayland Township Planning Commission has approved medium density residential zoning for a development on 40 acres proposed by John Rookus just south of the Wayland City limits on 10th Street.
Diane Smith was selected as Citizen of the Year by the Wayland Lions Club for her service on the school board and community-spirited activities.
Paw Prints Editor Shelly Salisbury was presented with Michigan Interscholastic Press Association award for her feature story on mainstreaming at the high school. She, advisor Jeff Salisbury and about 20 students attended the state convention at Michigan State University.
Weick’s Food Town had an open house after remodeling and building an addition to its Gun Lake grocery store.
The Wayland High School varsity softball team was in the middle of a hitting slump and now fashioned a 6-6 overall record. Heather Staley and Jenny Fearnow both suffered hard-luck pitching losses during the week.
Julie Hall drilled a homer and a triple and drove in five runs in a big Hopkins victory that left the Vikings softball team with a 5-0 record in the River Valley Conference.
Tom Blanchard belted a grand slam homer to lift Martin to a 9-8 victory over Gobles. The Clippers now are 4-7 overall for the season.
The Martin girls’ and boys’ track teams, led by by stellar performances from Brian Klok, Luke Keyzer and sprinter Cassie Messer, won a couple of SAC dual meets over Lawrence and Bloomingdale.
Greg Obetts threw a no-hitter at Otsego, but walked eight batters in an 8-0 triumph. The Wildcats, also in a hitting slump, are now 5-9 for the season.
Wayland hurdling star Shanda Kedde broke her collar bone and will be out for the season, but the Lady Wildcats took two important dual meets from Caledonia and South Christian.
50 Years Ago — April 27, 1966
Wayland Calvary Church on South Main Street is planning a celebration for the opening of its expansion and remodeling. The church first opened in 1946, according to the Rev. Neil Horn. Former pastor the Rev. Bryan Jones will be guest speaker and the founding pastor, John Miles, will be on hand, along with the Choralaires.
The Allegan Intermediate School District’s plan for reorganizing K-12 schools will be voted on in a special election May 9. Under the plan, mandated by the state, the rural schools Moline, Sproat, Dorr, Jones, Hooker and Corning will be absorbed by Wayland. Hopkins will take in nine districts — Sycamore, Fairview, Monterey Center, Pickle Street, Oakview, Dallas, Sandhill, Plainview and Burnips and Martin will take in Watson No. 4.
The Hopkins Board of Education, with Ray Timmer diseenting, formally voted to endorse the plan for redistricting.
Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Towne, Mr. and Mrs. Vern Alflen and Mr. and Mrs. Joe LaValley all plan to take in foreign exchange students during the 1966-67 academic year.
Charter Revision Commission Chairman Russell Rugaber has announced a change in the charter proposal that was rejected by voters last January. He noted the assessor’s and treasurer’s posts would remain as elected, but the clerk’s post would be appointed.
Mrs. Jay (Diane) Smith rolled a 688 series to take second place in the Greater Grand Rapids Bowling Tournament. She and Mrs. George Hampel combined efforts to finish 10th in the doubles competition.
The Wayland High School track defeated Maple Valley 59-50, as Jim Kotrba won both hurdles and the long jump. The mile relay team of Don Milburn, Jim Chesebro, Rick Baughman and Lou Scobey won the meet’s last event to clinch the victory.
The hot hitting of Roger Merren and the pitching of Gordon Hudson carried the Wayland baseball team to victory over Middleville, 5-3. Merren now is hitting .455 and Hudson is 2-0 on the mound.
The movie at the Wayland Theatre this week was “Mara of the Wilderness.”
The Rascals captured the No. 1 spot on the music charts with “Good Lovin’.”
75 Years Ago — May 2, 1941
Gene Pavloski has open and men’s and youth shop in back of the Wayland Hotel building on West Superior. A Wayland High School graduate, Pavloski has promised a complete line of men’s clothing and shoes.
Charlie Chaplain’s film “The Great Dictator” was coming to the Wayland Theatre. Co-starring was Jack Oakie. Other offerings were to be Barbara Stanwyk and Henry Fonda in “The Lady Eve” and Dennis O’Keefe and Florence Rice in “Mr. District Attorney.”
Mrs. May Sweetland, 68, a local realtor for more than 40 years, was killed when she crossed the road about a mile and a half south the village and was struck by a car driven by Ralph TerBeek, 19, of Moline. Witnesses said she stepped out into the road without seeing the approaching car.
A newly formed traffic and safety committee is trying to come up with solutions to growing problems with downtown traffic near the Wayland intersection.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Gurney were involved in a traffic crash near Marne and as a result his new Pontiac was severely damaged.
The Rebekahs and Odd Fellows were planning a Maytime festival at the Bradley Hall. Cost was 25 cents for admission.
Mrs. Charles Chapman of the Wayland Ladies Library Club was the winner of the $5 adult prize for the spelling bee competition.
Wayland-Kellogg grade school Principal Justin McCaslin was “drafted” as president of the Brotherhood. The Rev. H.H. Harris was chosen vice president.
The Wayland baseball team is riding a four-game winning streak and leading the Barkenall Conference.
The Wayland High School senior class plans to take an educational boat trip from Holland to Chicago.
100 Years Ago — April 28, 1916
We apologize most sincerely. The usually reliable Then & Now archives did not include the Globe edition from this week 100 years ago. Watch for the return next week.
PHOTO: This was Dick’s Standard gas station on North Main Street in the early 1960s.
