(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — May 24, 1999
Michigan State Police at the Wayland post are showing off their new video cameras they use in their vehicles.
Students at Martin High School have earned awards for their woodworking skills, under teacher Tom Harthorn.
Dorr area teenager Tyler Merren, who is visually impaired, is becoming something of a rock star for his skills in the sport of goalball.
The Dorr Township Board has adopted its first-ever agricultural district, covering a minimum of three acres.
The Wayland and Hopkins softball teams have clinched O-K Gold and O-K Silver Conference championships.
A Wayland High School student has been charged in connection with making phony bomb threats in two instances and a suspect in a third instance has been identified.
The Globe published a photo of a car crushed by a tree that fell during high winds and stormy weather on a Monday afternoon.
A “man (or woman) on the street” interview feature asked people if it should be more difficult to buy guns in the wake of the Columbine shooting tragedy in Colorado.
James Pitsch, co-chair of the Knights of Columbus Tootsie Roll drive, defended the use of the four corners in downtown Dorr for soliciting for charitable causes.
Hopkins High School Principal Steve Anderson and Assistant Principal James Smith sent a letter praising local public safety personnel for their recent handling of a bomb threat.
Officials in the City of Wayland are revisiting a proposal to levy one mill for the Henika Library.
Wayland Middle School students have been working on setting up a nature trail on a 1.6-acre location behind Dorr Elementary.
Wayland senior Jessy Simmons was pictured as anchor of the Wildcat 1600-meter relay team that broke the O-K Gold Conference record at 3:28.2. He was joined by Mike Jandernoa, Ken Marquard and Jed Turcott.
Hopkins’ Fran Sage emerged as O-K Silver Conference champion in the long jump, 400 meters, the 100 and 200. The Vikings finished second in the league meet. Julie Baweja broke the school record in the 1600, but had to settle for second place.
The Wayland baseball team grabbed its eighth straight victory and pitcher Brandon Bieber has been on a hot streak, now 6-1 with a 1.56 earned run average.
Reinder Hoeksema, longtime owner of Hoeksema Hardware in downtown Dorr, died. He was 87.
Ronald Kok, owner of Kok Builders and Plumbing, died at age 58.
50 Years Ago — May 21, 1974
George Corsiglia has been chosen Circuit Judge for the 57th Judicial District in Allegan.
Mrs. Frank Bastian and Mrs. Hugh DeWeerd, both incumbents, are the only candidates on the June ballot for Wayland Board of Education.
Wayland had its Mayor Exchange Day with Saline, which sent its officials here. Councilman Max Barnes presented Mayor Hubert Beach with the key to the city.
Henry Tuinstra of Moline has been named a new member of the board for Moline State Bank.
Dr. Lloyd Fales, supervisor for plant planning for the Michigan Board of Education, was guest speaker for the annual Academic Honors Banquet at Wayland High School. He was valedictorian of Wayland High School’s Class of 1937.
Hopkins Board of Education members are planning to have an open meeting to discuss the possibility of putting a proposal for three additional mills on a future election ballot.
Mrs. Gene Bruinsma wrote a letter to the editor urging caution on banning books such as “Go Ask Alice,” overlooking its beneficial message against using drugs.
Tarsilla Heibel of Hopkins has just returned from a summer seminar at Indiana State University, studying anthropology.
The Hopkins Christian Reformed Church had a farewell service for the Rev. Stanley Finkbeiner of Hopkins United Methodist.
WHS senior Paul Heckert finished second at No. 1 singles in the Class B regional tennis tournament.
Coach Mark Austin’s Hopkins baseball team finally had its win streak halted, but the Vikings are league champions and 14-3 overall. Louis Stein rocketed a three-run homer in the 9-6 loss to Fennville.
Pitcher Cheri Ritz tossed a three-hitter at Hopkins and the softball team ended its first season with an overall record of 5-3.
Dan Isenhoff broke his own Hopkins school record in the two-mile run at 10:07 at the A-O Conference track meet. Other league champs were John Roon, pole vault; Rick Smith, shot put; Bernie Smith, 880-yard run, and Neal Stevenson in the 220. Roon, Bernie Smith and Isenhoff have earned the right to compete in the Class C state meet.
The Wayland Board of Education has decided to hire Gus Lehocky as maintenance man and Wayne Chrisman as head custodian.
75 Years Ago — May 27, 1949
Col. Lester Dooer will be the main speaker Monday at the Memorial Day ceremony at Elmwood Cemetery.
Fire believed to have been caused by sparks from a kitchen stove destroyed the small home of Miss Janey Allgeo, 86, of Bradley. The victim had to be restrained from attempting to rescue her cat inside the burning home, where she had lived for 82 years. A committee of neighbors, led by Ted Jager and Fred Birchard, is raising funds to build her a new home.
The 43rd annual Wayland High School potluck reunion will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, June 3, at the high school cafeteria. Dorothy Peterson is president of the Alumni Association.
Robert Cooper from the FBI offices in Detroit was guest speaker at the annual Wayland High School Junior-Senior Banquet. The WHS graduation is expected to include 47 seniors. The senior class trip was to Niagara Falls, with Mr. and Mrs. James Ledden as advisors.
A ham supper at St. Stanislaus and a dance at Catholic Hall at Gun Lake both were scheduled for Saturday, May 28.
Mr. and Mrs. Halden Hazen were chaperones for 20 students in the Hopkins High School senior class trip to the Upper Peninsula. They took in Sault Ste. Marie and went into Canada.
Al Deal, who coached some of the strongest basketball teams in West Michigan, has left Hopkins as principal to take the superintendent’s post at Martin. He had been with Hopkins for 12 years, serving as principal for the past five.
Wayland clinched the BarKenAll League baseball title in the wake of football and basketball season titles, getting solid performances from Jim Henry, Bill Mauchmar, Gene Weber and Jack Warner. Weber’s .512 batting average led the team.
The Dorr Christian Reformed Church was showing colored travelogue films of Africa Wednesday evening at 8 p.m.
The South Wayland Extension Club held a paper party at Bradley Hall, being entertained by paper products demonstrations by Mrs. Dorothy South.
Mrs. Cleo Feltenbarger pleaded guilty to having unsanitary conditions at the Burnips Lunch and was fined $50 by the food inspector and Allegan County Health Department.
Educational moving pictures are being shown in downtown Moline free of charge, sponsored by the community club.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Barbara Hale, Bill Williams and Monte Hale in “The Clay Pigeon.”
• Double feature — “Prince of the Plains.”
• Rod Cameron, Iona Massey and Forrest Tucker in “The Plunderers.”
• Alan Ladd, Brenda Marshall and Robert Preston in “Whispering Smith.”
100 Years Ago — May 23, 1924
Fay C. Wing of Jackson, former local pastor, has been secured to give the address for the Memorial Day ceremony at Elmwood Cemetery.
Mrs. Charles Yeakey has announced the “Better Homes Week” observances in Wayland earlier this month were a smashing success.
Eighteen clubs were represented in the County Federation of Women’s Clubs session at the Congregational Church. State Vice President Mrs. Hunter of St. Johns was the guest speaker, presenting ideas on how to make clubs even better.
Mrs. Campbell Forrester of Lansing will present a guest lecture on tuberculosis at the Henika Library Tuesday evening, May 27.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: James Kirkwood and Lila Lee in “Ebb Tide.” Mary Pickford in “Thru the Back Door.”
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote an editorial encouraging the community of Wayland to looks its best for visitors over the Memorial Day holiday. “It behooves us to look our best, not especially as individuals, but as homeowners in the village… We want them to go away with the impression that Wayland certainly is the prettiest and cleanest little village they have seen.”
Miss Lena Laude, county nurse, will hold a clinic for pre-school children Wednesday at the home of Mrs. H.F. Buskirk.
Fred Yerrington brought home his big steam traction engine home near Dorr to operate as a saw mill to furnish power to a mill east of Bradley.
In the county spelling examinations held in all counties for fifth- and sixth-graders, Nan Crawford had a perfect score.
The boys of Robins School, Gun Lake, challenged the girls to a basketball game and lost 4-3 “and then the boys quit.”
A small amount of snow fell last Monday, May 19, in Wayland, and it was reported that Plainwell had two inches of snow.
Former Wayland resident Robert W. Ward has been named superintendent of schools at Otsego.