(Taken from the archives of the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Sept. 14, 1994
Despite calls by area residents to close the Gun Lake Park boat launch in the wake of a tragic accident nearby July 4, officials rules it should remain open with more safety regulations.
A Wyoming man who was reported to be off his medications broke into a Wayland house and made himself comfortable by using the pool, fixing a sandwich, taking the car for a spin.
Nila Aamoth said in her Soapbox, “Persons of authority shouldn’t expect to profit from their positions. The manager of an eating establishment once shared that law officers are routinely given free meals… To offer what amounts to a bribe, no matter how small, is one thing, to accept it is quite another.”
Mark and Sandy Holtsclaw, Paul and Lucy Kaczanowski, Karen Paradiso, Kay Cummerford and Bob Gillenwater all wrote letters to the editor in support of the proposed Wayland Schools’ bond millage for technology upgrades.
Terry Sturgis was appointed Martin Township Supervisor, succeeding the resigned Bert Schipper. He will finish the four-year term and will be eligible for election in the 1996 primary.
Wayland Junior High Principal Jon Jensen has reported the new team teaching concept has been overwhelmingly positively received by faculty of the first two weeks of the academic year.
The West Michigan Christian Encampment and Anchor Point camp properties have been investigated by Hopkins Township Assessor Phyllis DeGlopper, who told the Township Board both are complying with the IRS on rules for non-profits to retain non-taxable status. “If you want to spend ten, fifteen, twenty thousand dollars, I’ll pursue it,” but the board declined.
Strikers John Banner and Brian Paul both scored two goals to lead Wayland to its first-ever boys’ varsity soccer victory, 4-1 over Kenowa Hills.
Martin lost a foggy 26-10 football game at Gobles, but Hopkins has pummeled its first two O-K Silver Conference opponents by a combined 98-6 score.
Fullback Steve Sevigny raced to a 75-yard touchdown and Wayland turned a 9-8 deficit into a 29-9 victory over Cedar Springs. Jim Veltman tossed two TD passes.
The varsity girls’ tennis team under coach Cheri Ritz now sports a 3-0-1 overall dual match record.
The Martin girls’ basketball team, coached by veteran Robert VanDenBerg, is off to a 5-0 start for the season. Ringleaders are Tracey Smith, Kristin Fraaza and freshman Millie Kruzel.
Sophomore Angie Farmer scored 21 points, but the Lady Wildcats lost in hoops to Grand Rapids West Catholic, 64-50.
Jack Hooker and Scott Tenglin are the newest troopers at the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police.
Dorothy Arbanas, former owner of the Wayland Dry Goods business, died. She was 88.
50 Years Ago — Sept. 10, 1969
Miss Wayland Lynne Freeman was first runner-up to Miss Saugatuck Nancy Meusma in the annual Allegan County Harvest Queen pageant. She will ride in the parade at the county fair, which will get a special visit from Gov. William Milliken.
Editor-Publisher Irv Helmey, in his “Helmey at the Helm,” editorial, wrote, “As you meander down the midway, consider the fact that the efforts of only a handful of people (members of the Fair Board) scattered around the county are responsible for this fun-filled family outing.”
Hopkins Public Schools are reporting an increase in enrollment of 50 students, bringing the total now to about 1,200. Among the new members of the faculty this fall is Librarian Peg Arnsman.
The Wayland Board of Education has scheduled Oct. 27 as the date of a special bond election to build a new high school for $2.19 million.
The official student county for Wayland Union Schools is expected to be around 2,100.
Wayland will join a number of other West Michigan high schools in performing at Band Day Saturday when Western Michigan plays Central Michigan in football.
Pfc. Barry Brower, a 1963 graduate of Wayland High School, is serving in Vietnam as a communications specialist interviewing soldiers at Logistical Command near Long Binh.
Jocelyn Sager was selected president and Cheryl Baugh vice president of the Wayland chapter of the Girls Athletic Association.
Radar specialist Sgt. Kenneth Engel, a 1966 Wayland High School graduate, was given an Army Commendation Medal while serving in the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam.
Andringa Lumber mentioned it will be mentioned in an advertisement in the Sept. 23 edition of Look magazine.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Clint Eastwood in “Coogan’s Bluff.”
The Wayland Township Board has adopted an ordinance to regulate parking and storage of certain motor vehicles, house trailers “or parts thereof.”
Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Richardson and Mrs. Lillian Richardson all caught their limit of king and silver salmon in a fishing trip off the coast of the state of Washington.
Miss Chirpy, a mare owned by Norine Ford at the Circle Double F farm in Wayland, was named state champion appaloosa at the State Fair in Lansing and has earned the right to compete in the national contest in Nebraska.
75 Years Ago — Sept. 15, 1944
Frederick Hilbert provided Editor-Publisher Rolle G. Mosher the appropriate transportation to Lansing so they both could attend an address by 1944 GOP presidential candidate Thomas E. Dewey of New York. His remarks were “strictly off the record,” Mosher indicated, “so we cannot print a digest of what he said… I was impressed with his youth, vigor and apparently good health.”
Benjamin T. Suchovsky, 23, has been awarded the Good Conduct Medal while serving at San Antonio Air Field.
Roger Kibby wrote home from New Guinea: “Boy, you could laugh yourself silly if you could hear the Jap propaganda we heard on the radio.” He said a Japanese woman called Tokyo Rose was telling American soldiers they might take Guinea, but they were losing in California and Texas.
A special Junior Garden Club meeting will be held at the home of Mrs. Harry Elenbaas to start the new year.
Mrs. Art These of Leighton Township won 31 first-place medals and 12 seconds in flower and plant entries at the Allegan County Fair.
Lt. John Rugaber has been promoted at Patterson Field, Ohio, where he works as chief in the drafting and blueprint section.
Walter Gurney was elected president and Hugh DeWeerd vice president for the Wayland High School Class of 1945. Other class officers in the high school included Wanda McElwee, Roger Douglas, Irene Perry and Betty Christensen. The number of students in grades K-12 is 585.
The Wayland High School football season will open at Caledonia Sept. 15.
Pfc. Jay D. Smith has been promoted to corporal as a turret gunner for the Army Air Corps.
Allegan County Home Extension Agent Mary E. Bullis is arranging a sewing machine clinic for county women.
Mrs. Charles Iler, a lifetime Hopkins resident, died at age 76. She had been a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Women’s Christian Temperance Union, the Grange and “anything for the good of the people.”
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Harold Peary in “Gildersleeve’s Ghost.”
- Robert Livingston, Ruth Terry and Henry Hull in “Goodnight, Sweetheart.”
- Lionel Barrymore, Van Johnson and Marilyn Maxwell in “Three Men in White.”
- Dorothy Lamour, Fred MacMurray and Betty Hutton in “And the Angels Sing.”
100 Years Ago — Sept. 12, 1919
Half a business block in the Village of Middleville was wiped out by a fire Tuesday morning, It was believed to have started in the apartment of Mrs. Florence Smith over a vulcanizing shop.
Wayland School opened their doors Sept. 1 with student enrollment at 140 in the grades and 90 at the high school. “Some of our 1919 graduates have been unable to resist the call and have been back to visit.”
Roy Jones is starting a busy academic and athletic year. He has been named captain of the football team and was elected senior class president. Bernice Watts was chosen vice president.
Miss Caroline Montgomery spent her summer vacation studying reconstruction problems at the University of Michigan and hopes to use her added knowledge for sociology classes.
Shelbyville School has started the academic year with Miss Ruth Wheeler teaching grammar grades and Miss Myrtle Chamberlain primary grades.
In the absence of Rev. Jensen, who has been off to Methodist Episcopal Convention in Flint, Prof. Floyd Boughner will present a report on the State Sunday School Convention.
Deyo Fox will resume his duties as manual training instructor in Jackson.
George S. Carner and family have just returned from a trip to Conde, S.D. They sold their Chevrolet that made the journey. George says, “The automobile is the only way to travel in comfort and see the country.”
Liewyn Anway and brother Leon stopped in to visit Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, who said Liewyn was one of only two local boys he saw while serving in France.
George Pullen, a Dorr coal dealer, was found dead in his office. It was believed he died of apoplexy.
Mary Pickford was the star attraction for the next film to be shown this week at Frank’s Opera House.
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