(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Sept. 25, 1995
The continuing sting engineered by the Allegan County Youth Tobacco Reduction Coalition yielded 43 percent of businesses selling cigarettes illegally Aug. 14 and 15 and 28, with 15 violations found in the Wayland area.
Dorr Township Board members got an earful of complaints from residents about recent incidents of vandalism and larcenies.
Gina Garza of Wayland High School is a finalist for the Wendy’s Heisman Award for athletics and scholarship.
Forest Hills Northern handed coach Cheri Ritz’ girls’ tennis team its first loss of the season, 6-2.
Girls’ basketball has been a resounding success this fall. Wayland is 6-1 with balanced offense, rebounding and defense from Angie Farmer, Jessica McEwen, Margie Reurink, Heather Postma and Carly McCully. Marin is 7-1 and ranked No. 9 in the state with balanced efforts from Kristin Fraaza, Millie Kruzel, Bethany Hunderman and Jenny Hildebrand. Hopkins is off to its best start in years under new coach Mary Sheltrown with quality performances from Melanie Heslinga, Teresa Glupker and Cheri Belka.
Matt Meeuwsen carded a fine 38 for nine holes, but Wayland settled for third against Caledonia and Cedar Springs.
Scott Sullivan came up with a huge photo essay on Wayland High School cross-country, explaining the sport, the program and the lore of “Big Bertha” on the high school’s course.
The Globe this week published an advertising showcase on “getting ready for winter.”
Four Hopkins students, Teresa Dietz, Cindy Shelley, Gerah Richmond, Brooke Bolt and Toni Newell took part in student council seminars over the summer. Newell brought home an award.
50 Years ago — Sept. 23, 1970
Wayland High School graduate Lynn Freeman was selected Golden Girl to lead the Ferris State College marching band.
Hopkins Schools report a population increase of 13 students, now sporting 1,254. Teachers will get a starting annually salary of $7,200, with a maximum of $10,500. It was noted the school board is facing a huge jump in expenses because of the state supreme court’s insistence schools absorb costs for textbooks and materials instead of students.
The City of Wayland has announced local crews will begin picking up leaves at the curb with a vacuum. The fall “junk away” campaign hauling discarded furniture from the curb will be Sept. 28,29, 30 and Oct. 1.
Because of the lure of television stars Michael Landon from “Bonanza” and Ken Curtis (Festus) from “Gunsmoke,” the Allegan County Fair reported its third highest attendance ever.
Elmer Kugelard, longtime owner of a local trash pickup service and a captain on the volunteer fire department, died at age 64.
Spec.-4 Ronald Merren of Dorr received a citation for his service as an infantry clerk in Vietnam.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “Beneath the Planet of the Apes.”
The Wayland High School varsity football team came up with a 32-0 drubbing of Bloomingdale in coach Gerald Omness’ debut. Rich Worfel picked up 143 yards rushing and QB Mike Longstreet tossed a couple TD passes to Mark Schipper. A stout Wildcat defense limited the Cardinals to just 31 yards in total offense.
The MiddleVilla is welcoming members of the Stroh’s Brewery bowling team.
Wayland High School graduate Robert Parks will lead the gospel group The Evangelaires in concert Sunday evening at the Calvary Church.
Hopkins FFA member Dale Terry placed first in the beef showmanship category at the Allegan County Fair.
75 Years Ago — Sept. 28, 1945
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his weekly “Observations” column, called attention to the 61st anniversary of the Wayland Globe, started in 1884 by his father, George A., over what now (1945) is known as the Malmstone Building. He added, “With one possible exception, the Globe is the oldest business in Wayland.”
C.E. Powers, 27, of Wayland, was an eyewitness to the Japanese surrender to U.S. forces aboard the USS Missouri.
Lewis Hurley is still serving in the military about 20 miles from Tokyo and noted Japanese routinely salute American soldiers.
Miss Harriet Handlogten, a South American missionary, will be guest speaker Sunday at the United Methodist Church.
Four public schools in Hopkins Township are being sold by the Board of Education, including Page, Hilliards, Frohm and Hopkinsburg. Board Secretary C.B. Hoffmaster announced the letting of bids.
Staff Sgt. Joe Panyrek and wife visited Mrs. Jerry Carter of Bowling Green, Ohio. She is the widow of a good friend who was killed in action in January that year.
The roll call answer for the next meeting of the Ladies Library Club will be “Name a Noted Man.” Effie Greenawalt is president.
Capt. George Cozzens is training amphibious troops in Belgium, though the war has ended. Brother Robert is on his way home after serving overseas for three and a half years.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Ann Savage and Jack Haley in Scared Stiff.”
- Alan Lane and Peggy Stewart in “Stagecoach to Monterey.”
- Anne Baxter and Ralph Bellamy in Guest in the House.”
- George Sanders and Donna Reed in “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”
100 Years Ago — Sept. 24, 1920
Pioneer Wayland businessman J.L. Smith died at his home on Maple Street, He was 66. He opened his implement store in 1898 and move it next to the railroad depot in 1911. It evolved into Businessmen’s Lumber and then Smith Lumber & Coal, finally closing in 2005.
William Farnum stars in the hit movie “Les Miserables” at the Regent Theatre Sunday evening in downtown Wayland.
Fay C. Wing has announced there will be a street fair downtown and invites area farmers to bring in samples of their best corn.
Christian Church Pastor F.C. Wing is proposing the establishment of a community church to “serve the spiritual and social welfare of the people of Wayland.”
Thieves stole a Buick in Grand Rapids and drove it south to Ohio Corners where they went over an embankment and into a ditch. They abandoned the vehicle near the home of E. Cline and “no doubt are going yet.”
Morris Stokes of Leighton was struck by a pole at Gun Lake and suffered a fractured jaw and eye injury.
Thwe Hunt Stock Co. closed for the season on the road and will make winter headquarters in Wayland on the premises of of a barn owned by A. H. Clark.
The Ford Motor Co, is announced major cuts in prices for its post-ward vehicles, according to the local dealer, the Yeakey Auto Co. A touring car with a starter will cost $510 and a a runabout with a starter will be $465.
Harrison Kelly, who moved to Wayland in 1870, died at age 79, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles E. Selkirk.