25 Years Ago — Jan. 4, 1967

Randy Marklevitz was appointed to a trustee’s seat on the Wayland Township Board, succeeding Larry Knowlton, who died.

A shortage of ambulance personnel was to be the main topic of conversation for an upcoming meeting of the Dorr Township Board. Wayland City Councilman Mike DeWeerd also told his colleagues that Wayland Area Emergency Medical Services may have to consider structural changes if it is to survive as an advanced service in the wake of the resignation of Manager Bob Farrell.

The Players Nightclub was to be closed for two weeks after being found guilty of twice serving alcohol to intoxicated patrons. The establishment had run-ins with the Liquor Control Commission when it was known as the Apple Core Lounge.

Mary Lee Hayes, a 1968 graduate of Wayland High School and former editor of the high school newspaper, penned a feature story about her near-fatal adventure on a river raft ride at Keystone Canyon, Valdez, Alaska, which also was featured in an episode of television’s “Rescue 911.”
Coach Scott Hall said he was refusing to panic though his Hopkins varsity basketball team was still winless after a 61-57 overtime loss to Grand Rapids Baptist, despite the one-two scoring punch of Kelly Reynolds and Zack Wilson.

Heather DeSmit and Theresa Hazen paced Martin to a straight set victory over Hopkins in volleyball, 15-5, 15-5.

Lloyd Foster (125 pounds) and heavyweight Al Moran both were individual champions and the Martin wrestling team won the Climax-Scotts Invitational by a very small margin.

The Wayland boys’ varsity basketball team dressed only nine players and lost its fifth straight, 69-45, to Kenowa Hills. Will Moore had 13 points for the depleted ranks of the Wildcats.

Area voters were reminded to declare their preferences for a March 17 Michigan Presidential Primary election.

The terms of incumbent Mayor Linden Anderson and City Council members Marie Hall, David Miller and Mike DeWeerd were expiring in this spring’s spring election.

Diane Spencer, formerly of Wayland, pleased guilty to a forgery charge, but she still faces a homicide charge in connection with the death of her son, Aaron. She also was accused of two homicides while a mother of two in Pennsylvania.

Wayland police are investigating the break-ins at three local insurance establishments, LaValley’s, Reno’s and Akers State Farm.

50 Years Ago — Jan. 4, 1967

The Globe published on its front page a sizable number of thank you letters from servicemen to the Wayland Clovers 4-H Club members who sent them Christmas packages. The letters were written by Bob VandenBerg, Paul Burkhardt, John Greenfield, Carl Boysen, Richard L. Leep, Earl Irwin, Jerry Ouding and Gary Truax. The 4-H Clovers’ leader was Mrs. Donald Whittredge.

The Globe listed a variety of accounts of New Year’s Eve parties held at private residences around town, referring to them as “gay get-togethers” in an era when the word “gay” meant “cheerful.”

The selection of Wayland’s first-ever city manager, Blaine E. Bacon, was announced by Mayor Phillip Reno. bacon, a graduate of Allegan High School, previously had been employed by the Allegan County Road Commission and he was an engineer and manager for the City of Otsego.

The Wayland VFW Post No. 7581 has donated a truckload of toys to the VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids.

Among those attending the Boys’ Brigade convention at Grace College, Winona Lake, Ind., were Steve Parks and Jim Parker, both Wayland High School students and members of the Wayland Calvary Church.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre was “Namu, the Killer Whale,” starring Robert Lansing, Lee Merriwether, John Anderson and Richard Erdman.

The Wayland Grange will have its meetings at members’ home for the remainder of the winter. The meeting Jan. 6 will be held at the home of Oscar Douglas.

The Ruth Circle of the Wayland United Methodist Church will meet at 9:30 a.m. Wenesday, March 11, at the church.

“A phone call was all it took for Mrs. Claude Orr to accept an invitation to watch the Rose Bowl Parade on color television New Year’s Day at the home of Phillip Neidlinger of Kalamazoo.

75 Years Ago — Jan. 9, 1942

The wedding of Virginia Mason and Arnold Wilde at the bride’s home on East Superior Street was reported, withg the Rev. C.G. Ellinger performing the ceremony.

The Moline Sweet Cream plant closed its doors as a result of the differential between prices for whole milk and cream.

Harry Amborski and Haven Tarnutzer had a bizarre experience hunting near Barlow Lake where they discovered the remains of a human leg. They notified the Barry County Sheriff and it was determined the appendage, belonging to a woman, had been severed by a saw just above the knee.

The first fire of 1942 was reported at the Bradley school, which was unoccupied of late because of the opening the previous fall of the new Wayland consolidated school.

The Rev. H.H. Harris was elected president of the first Wayland Ministerial Union.

Adult education classes in metal work, chemistry for the farm and home, typing and dairy have begun at the new school weeknights.

The recent passing of Frank Bush was noted with interest because of his prowess as a first baseman for the Bradley Indians baseball team. His wife tragically was killed in an auto accident while planning for his funeral.

Supt. R.J. Steeby is leading the Wayland school district’s efforts to serve as a waste paper collection center to help the effort for national defense.

The Wayland Theatre has just installed new projection equipment to bring out minute detail of Technicolor.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• W. C. Fields in “Never Give a Sucker and Even Break.”
• Bela Lugosi and the East End Kids in “Spooks Run Wild.”
• Walter Brennan, Walter Huston, Anne Baxter and Dana Andrews in “Swamp Water.”
• Ray Middleton and Jane Wyatt in “Hurricane Smith.”
• William Tracy and James Gleason in “Tanks a Million.”

100 Years Ago — Jan. 5, 1917

The railroad film serial, “The Girl and the Game” shown weekly at Frank’s Opera House, ended last week and will be succeeded by another serial movie, “Liberty.” Marie Walcamp will star as Liberty Horton, an American girl growing up in Mexico.

The Village Common Council adopted a peddling ordinance. Published this week, it read, “No person shall engage in or carry on the business of pawnbroking, peddling or hawking on the streets or that of auctioneering or selling at auction any goods or services, chattle, wares or merchandise in the Village of Wayland without first having obtained a license.”

Mark H. Beall and Arthur Deul spearheaded an ice rescue on Gun lake and had to use a saw to cut around the victims before they could be extricated.

Word has been received of the death of Frank Gere, formerly of Wayland and an active member of the local International Order of Odd Fellows. He left Wayland in 1914 when his wife suffered a stroke.

Mrs. Grace Chamberlain has gone to Lansing, where she has taken a position of stenographer for the State Legislature at the Capital Building.

Rollo Mosher is recovering from his recent illness, but it will be some time before he will be ready to resume his duties in the Globe office.

Dan Clingensmith of Orangeville Township was found dead in his bed at his residence. It was determined he had died of heart failure.