(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)

25 Years Ago — Oct. 19, 1994

Yankee Springs Township voters will consider four ballot proposals on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, three for fire protection and emergency services and one for roads.

The Martin Township Board has decided to recommend Michigan Liquor License Commission approval of a beer and wine license for Martin Motor Speedway through Carousel Services.

The United Bank Gun Lake branch was robbed of an undisclosed amount of cash by two unknown individuals. Working on the case is Det. Frank Baker of the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department.

Michigan State Police at the Wayland post are looking for a suspect who was said to have blown a stop sign driving a pickup truck in a hit-and-run crash at Norris and Bowens Mills roads.

Editor Nila Aamoth, noting a rash of requests for public bodies to take innocuous stands on general issues, wrote in her Soapbox, “If a member of a city council, township board or county commission wants to declare whether he or she likes the Girl Scouts, hates pornography, believes in prayer in classrooms or even applauds veterans selling poppies, let them do so as individuals.”

Ed Wobma of Hopkins penned a letter opposing a beer and wine license for the Martin Motor Speedway.

Kathleen Aleman, bilingual teacher in the Hopkins school system, said there are 54 migrant students in the district, most of whom are Hispanic and speak Spanish and attend classes only during the first two months and the last two months of the academic year because of their parents’ seasonal employment.

The former Arnsman Equipment building in downtown Hopkins is being occupied by a car repair business. Proprietors are Robert Dunn, Tim DeYoung Jr. and Matt Moredic.

Hopkins defeated Comstock Park 36-6, limiting the Panthers to minus six yards rushing. Jerry Funk had nine tackles and Shannon Bird two sacks. QB Tim Hibma rushed for 113 yards and Grant Kern scored two touchdowns.

Martin is 0-7 and hoping to pick up its first victory against winless Bloomingdale next Friday.

Wayland has lost three in a row, the latest a 32-2 decision against Northview, plagued by seven turnovers. Ryan Nuvill picked up 100 yards.

Lawrence almost upset the Martin girls’ basketball team in a 45-44 verdict. Michelle Mazei scored 13 points and Holly Keyzer 11. The Clippers are 13-0 overall.

Angie Burmania netted 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but Wayland lost to Caledonia 55-40.

Katie Kloska scored 19 points and Jessica Gilder 14 as Hopkins blasted the Kelloggsville girls 68-30.

50 Years Ago — Oct. 15, 1969

Seventeen members of the Wayland school faculty have asked the Board of Education for permission to set aside time for a teach-in Wednesday against the war in Vietnam. The board authorized use of free periods and the boys’ gym as long as student participation is voluntary and there is no interference with instructional time.

Roxie Greenawalt has been hired as an advisor for Wayland High School cheerleaders.

A “Festival of Faith” is being planned for Oct. 26. The Christian Reformed, Congregational, Sts. Cyril & Methodius, St. Therese and United Methodist churches are sponsoring the event jointly.

Green Lake Calvary Church officials broke ground on a new addition during Sunday School.

Herm VanBelkum of Dorr and his horse “Bankroll” earned the $2,500 first prize for reserve champion halter in Michigan.

Raymond Fox, formerly of Moline, has been elected president of the International Order of Odd Fellows in Michigan. He is a 1922 graduate of Wayland High School.

Consumers Power has been granted permission from the Michigan Public Service Commission to raise fees for natural gas.

Barry Brower, in his latest installment of Vietnam Diary, said, “Truly, Saigon is unbelievable. I could sit and watch this town for the rest of my life.”

The Rev. Fr. Bill Kobza, the Rev. James Smith and Pastor George VanderWeit continued their weekly feud with Editor-Publisher Irv Helmey, “You missed the point… in your editorial of Oct. 1. That phrase, “I’ll obey my country whether it’s right or wrong is immoral, yet so many continue to use it.”

Steve Walma of Moline is serving in the Navy aboard the USS Jamestown in Vietnam.
Sgt. Augustine Arreola spent four months at Walter Reed Hospital after being wounded in Vietnam.

Cindy Weber, winner of the talent contest in the Miss Wayland pageant, said the Fifth Dimension’s “Up, Up and Away” to members of the Ladies Library Club.

The Wayland varsity football team lost 20-8 to Caledonia to fall to 1-3 overall. Dave Keena scored on a 45-yard pass from Tom Latondress and he caught the two-point conversion pass from Mike Longstreet.

The Temptations ended the four-week streak by the Archies, taking over the No. 1 musical slot with “I Can’t Get Next to You.”

75 Years Ago — Oct. 20, 1944

The Wayland Honor Roll, intended to honor local servicemen deployed overseas and even stateside, will include about 600 names. There are hopes that it will be ready for Armistice Day Nov. 11, including a guest speaker for the ceremonies.

Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher reprinted an article from Business Week that asserted, “The salev state always starts out as the welfare state. It promises freedom from worry, from want, as many freedoms as you wish, except freedom from the state itself.”

The Globe published a photo of Lt. Jerrold Chrisman of Wayland being pinned with the Distinguished Flying Cross and Oak Leaf Cluster at a ceremony in New Guinea. Chrisman, before he signed on with the military, was a lineman with the O & A Electrical Co.

Cecille Averill was installed as worthy matron and her husband, Clifford, as worthy patron at the most recent meeting of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Wayland’s quota this year for the War Chest has been determined to be just over $1,925.

Pfc. Eugene Kotrba of Bradley is on furlough after spending 28 months in the Aleutian Islands off Alaska.

The next Wayland Rural Grange meeting will take up the question, “How many parents help in school work for their children? Howard Clack earlier this month was elected master.

Cpl. Robert VanDenBerg of Wayland has been fighting with the “Rainbow” Brigade in Italy, which recently earned a little rest after 291 consecutive days seeing combat.

Van’s Electric Shop has opened in the northern part of the hotel building on West Superior Street, succeeding Gamble’s. Proprietor is Lawrence Van Esselt.

Frederic Hilbert showed pictures for the program at the most recent meeting of the Rod & Gun Club, a potluck at the Wayland High School auditorium.

Lydia Elenbaas has resigned as counselor for the Junior Garden Club and will be succeeded temporarily by Fanny Hoyt.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• Judy Canova in “Louisiana Hayride.”
• Beulah Bondi and Percy Kilbride in “She’s a Soldier, Too.”
• Van Johnson, June Allyson, Jimmy Durante, Gracie Allen and Lena Horne in “Two Girls and a Sailor.”
• Gary Cooper and Lorraine Day in “The Story of Dr. Wassell.”

100 Years Ago — Oct. 17, 1919

Class fund-raising efforts at Wayland schools have paid off. A piano has been purchased/ “According to reports, all the corn was husked and all the dishes washed in the Wayland vicinity during this time.”

Because Miss Kingsley has been ill, the remaining faculty rearranged class times to teach at the grammar school.

“As Lela Ehle what happened in 1492.”

Mrs. Hitchcock paid her membership dues to become the 47^th member of the local Women’s Christian Temperance Union group. First Vice President Ella Russ ran the meeting in the absence of President Louis Hanlon.

Mr. Roy Smith was scheduled to lead a discussion about the League of Nations at the next meeting of the Wayland Grange.

Paul Peterson of Leighton had the misfortune of breaking his arm while attempting to crank start his automobile.

The Bradley Thimble Club met at the home of Mrs. Charles Pierce with five members in attendance.

The MP Ladies Aid Society of Bradley is planning a Halloween social with a cooperative dinner available for a free-will donation.

The Congregational Church will have a box social with proceeds going toward purchase of a new organ.

George Jeffers, a longtime farmer in Moline, died at home Oct. 13 after suffering illness for a lengthy time.

Richard Riggs has made a good start on raising Holsteins on his farm after his purchase of one animal at the F.D. Cutler sale at the Wayland village park last month.

Frohm School District No. 1 is inviting all to come to the Halloween box social Friday evening, Oct. 31. There will be a prize for the prettiest box.

G.A. Link, editor of the Cedar Springs Liberal, visited Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher.

Nearly 50 veterans of the Great War made appearances at the recent Soldiers and Sailors dinner and social. Speakers included Floyd Boughner, the Hon. J. Ford Stratton and former WHS band director Mr. Bickert.

A barn on the farm of George Brown northeast of Wayland was destroyed by fire. It was a total loss for its contents and grainary.