(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr:
25 Years Ago — March 5, 2001
Firefighters from four area departments poured 10,000 gallons of water on a Gun Lake home that burned so fiercely it melted siding on a neighboring house.
Editor Nila Aamoth penned her Soapbox on local government and the rage of citizens who feel like they’re not being heard. “Those suffering from board meeting rage would do well to remember why democracy works: reason debate and compromise.”
Members of the recycling class at Sycamore Elementary send the Globe letters to the editor focusing on what they are doing to promote a cleaner environment.
Wayland High School graduate Darren Green has completed State Police Academy and now is assigned to the Jackson post of the Michigan State Police.
Restaurateur Joe Russo has told the Dorr Township Board he wants to bring a family-oriented Italian eatery to the community and is seeking a liquor license in the Hillcrest Mall on 142nd Avenue. Local officials are reluctant to approve because of issues relating to water and septic services.
Developers Dan Timmers and Dave Maas have purchased three parcels in Wayland Township along the U.S.-131 expressway and are seeking rezoning from the Planning Commission. They were denied. One local farmer said he’s heard Wayland City plans to annex land along the freeway all the way to Bradley. There also are rumors that the Gun Lake Band of Potawatomis plans to turn the old Ampro Seed site into a casino.
Hunter’s Glen, the newest manufactured home development in Leighton Township, is offering a special rent price of $199 per month for four years.
Jean Gallup wrote a feature story about school crossing guards and the valuable service they provide to children pedestrians.
The Wayland High School basketball team claimed two victories to tune up for the post-season tournament. The Wildcats own a 14-5 season record, the only winning mark in the approaching district.
Former Hopkins High School hoops standout Alissa Johnston was a starting guard at Kalamazoo College as a sophomore and averaged 9.2 points per game.
Scott Whipp nailed four three-point field goals to lead Hopkins past Covenant Christian. The Vikings will play their district at Wyoming Lee, taking a 12-7 overall record into the tourney.
Dustin Brown scored 18 points and teammates Matt Knight and Steve McGuire each had 14 to pace Martin’s upset win over Fennville. The Clippers will join the district tourney at Climax-Scotts with an overall record of 5-14.
Travis Brenner broke Ricky Mena’s Martin school record for wrestling career victories with 210.
Jessie Merchant had 23 serving aces, 59 kills and 37 assists as the Wayland volleyball team was eliminated in the semifinal round by Battle Creek Pennfield.
James F. Brinkert, longtime Hopkins barber, school maintenance supervisor and Hopkins Township Clerk died at the Allegan County Medical Care Facility. He was 86 years old.
50 Years Ago — March 2, 1976
Hopkins and Wayland school district voters will decide on millage proposals in elections March 8. Wayland is seeking renewal of 6.8 mills, Hopkins is asking for renewal of eight mills and two additional mills. There also will be village elections in Martin and Hopkins.
Gus Appelt, vice president of Wayland State Bank, is retiring after spending 51 years in the banking business. He had been at Wayand since 1963.
A woman who said she was kidnapped by two men in Charlevoix, escaped from the car in which was riding at the stop light in Wayland. She fled to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Albert DeHaan, who called state police.
Wayland will be the host site for the Michigan High School Band and Orchestra Association festival, with 16 bands performing Saturday, March 6.
Don Francisco Jr. of Leighton Township won two awards for his art metal entry at the Mid-Michigan Art Exhibition in Midland.
Steeby Elementary staff are gearing up for the annual Family Winter Carnival from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 6.
Twenty-five area firefighters graduated from a special 22-week course in fire training. Dorr, Salem and Hopkins firemen were among the 25 firemen.
The Wayland boys’ basketball team finished with a 3-17 overall record and the O-K Blue Conference champion wrestling team was 13-3 in dual meets.
Mrs. Dave Smith and Mrs. Paul Johnson are co-chairs of the United Methodist Church Syle Show April 5.
Darlene Leonardson of Wayland and Florence DeYoung of Moline have returned from a week of singing and touring with the Metropolitan Choir of Praise in Washington D.C., New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Martin pulled off an upset of Saugatuck with a come-from-behind triumph for only its third win of the season. Vince Peckens scored 21 points.
Sports writer David T. Young penned a column about Sharon Nelson’s softball team being a victim of its own success because younger girls aren’t trying out and don’t believe they can get much game action.
Senior John Kaur ended his wrestling career at the state wrestling tournament, where he suffered two losses and finished with a 28-8 record.
Tom Pawloski of Hopkins was named to the all-conference team and Phil Arndt made the second team.
The Hopkins chapter of the FFA has been busy with livestock projects with animals donated by Homer Skinner, Ray Wamhoff and Leo Hilaski.
Wayland High School athletes Perry Slagter, Cheri Ritz, Gail Niemchick and Daren Irwin were pictured in a display ad promoting passage of the millage renewal request.
Eighth-graders in Fran Beuschel’s English classes stopped into the Globe office to get a first-hand look at how newspapers are put together.
The Miracles took over the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “Love Machine.”
75 Years Ago — March 9, 1951
The Wayland FFA demonstration team of Herbert Moore, David Whittredge and Donald Peet won the regional FFA contest at Plainwell. They will move on to the state contest at Michigan State College in East Lansing.
Leila Jackson and Russell Hanlon Jr. will sing alto and tenor, respectively, at the Albion College Choral Society concert March 11.
The final meeting of the year and potluck for the adult homemaking and agricultural classes will be held at the high school cafeteria March 12.
The 32nd anniversary of the American Legion will be observed with a potluck dinner next Thursday evening. The Legion will furnish the meat, potatoes and rolls.
The Barlow Lake Improvement Association had its first meeting for the 1951 season. The group’s first task will be publishing a directory of residents.
Fred W. Brenner of Dorr, a farmer and fur buyer, died. He was 73.
Members of the Hopkins Ladies Library Club and “their boyfriends” attended a banquet at the high school cafeteria.
Mrs. Emma Gentz, formerly of Hopkins died. She was 82.
Otto Hazard says: Pass a stop light and may not have to pass one ever again.
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gillett entertained members of the Wayland basketball team for dinner and they all attended a game between Western Michigan and Cincinnati.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Double Feature: Favorite comic strips “Gasoline Alley” and “Pigmy Island” now are on the big screen.
- Mickey Rooney and William Demarest in “He’s a Cockeyed Wonder.”
- Richard Widmark in “Halls of Montezuma.”
100 Years Ago — March 5, 1926
Mrs. Libby Jones of Seattle sent a letter to the Globe on behalf of a former local resident, a Mrs. Garrett, who said despite the breathtaking view of the Olympic Mountains, she still likes Michigan best.
Arthur Beall, son of Joseph and Lucretia Beall, who came to Hopkins in 1900 and Wayland in 1905, establishing a general store here, died.He was 60 years old.
Now showing the Regent Theatre downtown: Matt Moore in “The First Year.”Richard Talmadge in “The Isle of Hope.” Admission is 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children.
The Wayland High School junior class and Miss G. Schnoz, director, were congratulated on the quality of the presentation of the junior play.
Grade school children presented a patriotic pageant “Musical Memories of America,” led by first grade teacher Miss Campbell.
The boys of the high school will have a boxing match at Woodman Hall March 12. It is a fund-raiser for spring athletics. Included will be pillow fights, boxing in barrels and many rounds in the ring.
Miss Isabel Everse presented a brief, but effective paper in the Bible topic, “Jesus on the Messianic Ideal” to members of the Ladies Library Club.
Harvey Wiggins of Green Lake had the misfortune of losing 20 pigs to drowning during the recent hard rain and thaw.
The Leighton Community Club had a successful dinner and all-day meeting with about 50 people in attendance. The Rev. Blewfield of Grand Rapids was guest speaker.
Library Director Fanny Hoyt reported that according to Dr. William Edward Nelson, biology survey chief, the worst animal enemy to mankind is the rat.
L.C. Robinson’s motor vehicle has been repaired in Shelbyville. It was the vehicle he was driving during an accident four weeks ago in which Gladwin Tracy was killed.
The Tractor Clinic and Farmer’s Day given at the Yeakey Auto Co. was well attended. Hot dog sandwiches and coffee were served. Moving pictures were shown of different phases of power farming.
Frank Bolek died at his home in Bradley after being struck by a falling tree. He got up and walked across the room after medical treatment, but then died of a heart attack.
