(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Nov. 23, 1994
The Allegan County Board of Commissioners voted 8-1 to lend the Alliance up to $10,000 as an advance to its annual allocation. The move enables the agency to pay its bills in the wake of being a victim of two large bogus grants.
Police officer Mark Rookus said, “When you work in the political realm without a union, you don’t have the protection” while proposing Wayland police to establish membership in a local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police. The move affects three officers.
The Hopkins Teen Center is awaiting $30,000 in grant money from the Steelcase Foundation to open at its Main Street location at the old Porter Hall.
The Hopkins Board of Education is looking for ways to expand athletic participation and sports offerings under new athletic director Jose Vera.
The Globe published a photo and feature story about Project HOPE and its director, Daelynn Post, who runs the program out of the Dorr Christian Reformed Church.
Wayland High School varsity football coach Ed Lark resigned abruptly for personal reasons after being suspended by the administration a week before. His teams went 5-4 over four consecutive seasons and 6-3 this past fall. Superintendent Bob Brenner said his departure was “in the best interests of the district, its students and constituents.”
Hopkins FFA chapter member Jason Thomas placed seventh in the national FFA contest for extemporaneous speaking. He is now a freshman at Michigan State University.
A Neighborhoof Watch program is being established for the Village of Martin and its surroundings. It includes a “”Keep in Touch” feature that tries to monitor disabled and elderly citizens during spells of inclement weather.
Portland St. Patrick spoiled the Martin girls’ basketball team’s unbeaten season in the regionals with a 49-41 verdict. It was the Clippers’ second best overall season at 23-1, just shy of the 1987 squad’s 27-1 mark and state finals appearance.
The Wayland girls’ basketball team won three games in the districts, including a 34-32 nail-biter over Middleville. The Wildcats finally lost to Ionia in the regionals, as super sophomore Angie Farmer scored 21 points. They ended at 15-9 overall.
A Together Everything Amounts to More (TEAM) group was pictured working on holiday gifts for the underprivileged. The students included Gina Garza, David Kouchnerkavich, Carrie McBride, Stephanie Turner, Michelle Langerak and Angela Robinson.
St. Stanislaus School children put together a special Seder feast to honor Jewish holiday traditions.
50 Years Ago — Nov. 19, 1969
The Globe published a list of some of the area hunters who reported success on opening day of the season, including Jim Lauer, Dick Peet, Laurel Fisher. Gene James, Ken McPeck, Frank Stankey and first-timers Mark Kuper, Don Peterman and Tom Bala.
Zagrida Davidson, 37, of Caledonia, a native of Latvia, was killed in a traffic accident on Kalamazoo Avenuie near 133rd Avenue when she lost control of her car on a slippery road.
Weldon Rumery of Allegan has been named first full-time manager of the Allegan County Fair. He said he plans to sell his insurance business to devote his full attention to the fair.
Hugh Breeneman, in his front page column, opined that one of seven families will raise a child with mental issues, a factor in the rising crime rate.
Wayland Junior High School held a Veteran’s Day program that included remarks by Fred Clack and Dottie Josey from the VFW and the viewing of a film, “24 Hours to Tyrantland.”
Grand Truck and Canadian National Railroad honored Alton H. Crofoot, formerly of Wayland, upon his retirement.
The graffiti “Julie, WHS, Linda and Jerry, Pam and Tom, Class of ’71,” was found on the water tower in Wayland and the City Council reported it would cost hundred of taxpayer dollars to have it removed.
Rickey L. Gardner of Wayland has been promoted to specialist-four while serving with the U.S. Army in Germany.
Wayland Board of Education President Wallace Wakeman wrote a letter to the editor explaining his personal opinions about the recent divide over the Vietnam War moratorium. He wrote, “I don’t agree with some of the statements made at the moratorium. I do believe the in rights of those who disagree to say so. If we cannot have honest dissent, we will have lost forever the very freedoms we fight for.”
Barry Brower, in his weekly “Vietnam Diary” column, wrote about the “Mama Sans” who clean the military rooms for $2.65 per month, going on strike for just one day and then returning to work.
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Were and Mrs. Halden Hooker were pictured celebrating an authentic Welsh Tea.
Wayland tackle Tim Timmerman was named to the last All-Expressway League team and Steve McBride earned second team accolades at guard.
Chicago Cubs pitcher Phil Regan, a 1955 Wayland High School graduate, was scheduled to talk about his faith in Jesus Christ at a Sunday School program at Wayland Calvary Church.
Informal volleyball sessions for men are being held at the Wayland High School girls’ gym Tuesday evenings.
The Beatles took over the No. slot across the nation with the two-sided hit, “Come Together/Something.”
75 Years Ago — Nov. 24, 1944
Ken Smith is advising all parents in the area to keep their children away from playing the gravel pit east of town. He said it has steep banks that can be unpredictable for cave-ins.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher and his pals, Harold Weaver, Milo Gray and Charles gathered again for a two-day stay in Brethren and were forced to attend a Grange chicken dinner. Mosher said the community was buzzing angrily about a young lad who was assaulted and his deer and gun were taken away by persons unknown.
The farm machinery and repair course taught by shop instructor Mr. Bassett was to begin Nov. 27 at Wayland High School. Those attending were encouraged to bring along non-working parts.
Fred Yeakey, formerly of Wayland, was elected chief executor and treasurer for the Boston Store in Grand Rapids.
Josephine Delp has pledged the Theta Sigma Phi sorority at Michigan State University. The group is an honorary for women’s journalism students.
Matthew Finkbeiner a longtime Leighton Township farmer, died at his home. A native of Germany, he was 79.
William Niemcyyk, 17, of Wayland, was injured in a hunting accident in the Upper Peninsula near Munising. Because of a shortage of doctors, he was driven to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, where Wayland physician Dr. C.A. Dickinson operated on him for more than two hours. He was listed in critical condition.
Mrs. Mary Baughman, a longtime clerk at the local Kroger store, has been promoted to manager because of the departure of John Nulty, who will take over the store in Allegan.
Sgt. Halden Hudson’s letter to J. R. Rugaber was published. Hudson said Pet Milk was being served daily at his station in Lyte in the South Pacific.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Betty Rhodes and Johnnie Johnson in “You Can’t Ration Love.”
- Tom Conway and Audrey Lang in “ A Night of Adventure.”
- Charles Laughton, Robert Young and Margaret O’Brien in “The Casterville Ghost.”
- Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman and Joseph Cotton in “Gaslight.”
100 Years Ago — Nov. 21, 1919
The Allegan County Farm Bureau reported that 178 out of 209 farmers canvassed signed up for memberships. A Grange Fair was held in Martin with extension agents J.W. Nicholson and Miss Woodworth presenting information.
The recital and talk by Katherine Page and Isabelle White-Gibbens was said to be “a success in every way and because of the splendid patronage of the people, the piano fund (for Wayland schools) received a neat little addition.”
Mrs. O.S. Cross of Allegan gave a presentation on “Thrift” to members of the Ladies Library Club. She was talking about money, but also other things “so we may be able to enjoy some of the pleasures of life outside of our households.”
Report from Moline: “Circumstances prevented our State Bank from beginning business last Saturday, but our hopes are high.”
There will be a Thnksgiving service at the Bradley MP Church, with the Rev. H.L. Houle giving the message and community singing.
A two-reel movie, “The Boston Tea Party,” and Rev. Fay Wing’s sermon on “America’s Need for a Non-sectarian Church,” will highlight the Sunday evening service at the Christian Church.
The F.D Travis company is reported to be making rapid progress in the farm implement business at the former C.A. Ryno property in Wayland.
Claude Wallbrecht is back in town after being employed in a British mining syndicate in Honduras for the last two years.
The residence of Frank Hitchcock on Maple Street was damaged by fire.
Mrs. John VanArsdale is attending the national convention of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union is St. Louis, Mo.
Alexander Lagrange died at his home at age 86. He had been a longtime member of the Christian Church and International Order of Odd Fellows.
