(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr):
25 Years Ago — Oct. 16, 2000
The City of Wayland’s first-ever stoplight with a left-turn lane didn’t get installed first at the four corners downtown, but actually at the corner Reno Drive and West Superior.
Diane Miller wrote a letter to the editor expressing dismay at motorists’ behavior at school crosswalks, endangering local children going to and from school.
Rebecca Kleinbrink penned a letter suggesting the Globe was just as guilty as anyone running anonymous editorial comments.
Marilynn Fifelski, chairwoman of the local Red Cross blood drive, sent along her appreciation for efforts by Hopkins teachers in bumping up the numbers of donors in the last drive.
Allegan County Intermediate School District Superintendent Robert Brenner wrote a guest editorial insisting that vouchers are bad for public education. The Thornapple Kellogg Board of Education adopted a resolution opposing the state-wide proposal on the Nov. 7 ballot, maintaining it would siphon money from public schools and help private and religious institutions.
The Allegan County Drain Commission plans to reduce cropland and roadside flooding by cleaning the McConnell Drain, but Green Lake area residents oppose the project.
Gun Lake Community Church officials had a sewer line installed without oversight by the Gun Lake Area Sewer Authority, causing some area residents to object.
The City of Wayland Parks Committee is applying for a grant to build a paved city walk path from Dahlia Street to 133rd Avenue. The grant request earlier was turned down by the Michigan Department of Transportation.
A survey of Pine Street Elementary parents determined most are satisfied with new hours, 7:30 a.m. to to 2:15 p.m., so they will remain the same.
A recount of the August primary vote in Yankee Springs Township produced no changes in the final tally of two close local races, for supervisor and treasurer.
A McDonald’s request for installation of a huge 100-foot sign through a variance was denied by Watson Township.
The Hopkins football team’s quest for a seventh consecutive O-K Silver title undisputed received a blow from an upset by Kelloggsville, 33-27 in overtime. Unbeaten South Christian dealt Wayland a 49-28 defeat in O-K Gold Conference action.
The Hopkins girls’ basketball team captured its eighth straight victory by taking down Allendale and Allegan. The Lady Vikings now are 8-3.Martin’s six-game streak also came to an end.
Hopkins’ Richard Stein eclipsed the 17-minute barrier at the O-K Silver jamboree at Riverside Park, clocking in at 16:58.
50 Years Ago — Oct. 14, 1975
Robert Vandenberg and Cindy Nausieda were chosen king and queen of Martin’s homecoming and Jim Krick and Monica Trubiroha won the same honors at Wayland’s festivities.
A new contract agreement between the Wayland Board of Education and the teachers’ union was announced, ending six months of contentious negotiations. Board Secretary Dorothy DeWeerd led a board action to reprimand teachers for taking part in an illegal one-day strike Thursday, Sept. 25.
Mrs. Jean Sleeman, Mimi Moulenbelt and Laura VandenToorn have filed a legal complaint against Michigan Bell Telephone Co. for shortcomings in service.
Mrs. Arthur Miller of Hopkins was elected president of the Michigan State Federation of Women’s Clubs.
Mrs. James Tinsler wrote a letter to the editor expressing dismay that the Wayland High School marching band was not allowed to play “The Star Spangled Banner” before the football game between Hudsonville and Wayland.
Wayland Union Schools’ Bus Fleet Supervisor Barbara Yennelli wrote a letter noting the increasing lack of motorists stopping for school buses loading and unloading students.
WHS graduate Pamela McKee has received a special Seth Babcock Scholarship while a freshman at Delta College.
The Wayland Lions Club travelogue series will begin its season Thursday night with “Scottish Kilts and Castles.”
Earning master’s degrees at Western Michigan University over the summer were William Gehlen of Dorr, Wanetta Armintrout of Moline, Thomas Naugle of Shelbyville, Joan Weick of Hopkins, and Ron Merrill and Ken Ebersole of Martin.
Marcellus scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to break open a tight gridiron battle with Hopkins, 36-16. Wayland dropped a 14-6 decision to Hudsonville in its homecoming game. Martin also lost at its homecoming, 16-8 to Lawton.
Sports writer David T. Young bemoaned the fact he has missed on more game predictions already this year than all of last year.
Wayland’s cross-country team finished third in the third annual Allegan Country meet. Top Wildcat runner Kelvin Lapham was eighth individually at 16:34.
Deb Ritz and Glory Lubbers were regional tennis champions and coach Sharon Nelson’s Wildcat netters won the O-K Blue Conference and regional titles.
Larry Wilson carded a 79 in the 18-hole regional tournament at Montague.
Jenny Niemczyk scored 16 points and Sue Maher 15 as the Hopkins girls’ basketball team blew Saugatuck off the court 79-23.
Jane Calkins was the winner of the Wayland High School Bicentennial Seniors contest.
Fire consumed about 75 percent of the Jones Old Memory Shop at the corner of 14th Street and 142nd Avenue in Dorr Township.
75 Years Ago — Oct. 20, 1950
Republicans of Eastern Allegan County will gather next Monday at the high school auditorium for a rally on behalf of Michigan Attorney General candidate Frank G. Millard.
Margaret Towne has been elected worthy matron of the local chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.
Robert Crofoot was elected master of the Leighton Grange.
The Leighton Center Extension will meet at Grange Hall, where Arthur Thede will speak to members about wills.
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Japinga and son Don were dinner guests of friends in Bellevue, where Louis was scheduled be a referee for a football game between Bellevue and Dimondale.
Dr. A.L. Larson, W.F. Matteson and his son, Winifred, recently went on a fishing trip to Ontario, Canada.
Henika Library Director Mrs. Henry Peterson and Mrs. James Kinney attended the Allegan County Library Association meeting and luncheon at the Red Brick Tavern in Plainwell.
Walter Gillette, Jack Warner, Helen Jankovich, Phillip Reno and Mr. and Mrs. A.F. Snook attended the Conference for Self Help at the Griswold Auditorium in Allegan.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Dorothy Patrick and Robert Rockwell in “Federal Agent at Large.”
- Monte Hale and Claudia Barrett in “The Old Frontier.”
- Fred Astaire, Vera Allen and Red Skelton in “Three Little Words.”
- Tyrone Power, Cecile Aubry and Orson Wells in “The Black Rose.”
100 Years Ago — Oct. 16, 1925
H.J. Stringham celebrated his 94th birthday in a family reunion featuring a birthday cake.
The Wayland football team will be host to a strong Plainwell football team at 2:30 p.m. Friday. The lads lost their second game of the season last week by a 20-0 count to Zeeland.
Supt. Vedder says he plans to organize a boys’ debate club when football season ends and register with the Michigan Debating League.
Allegan was the first county in Michigan to establish a dairy-alfalfa campaign, first launched in 1921.
George Billings, star of the film about Abraham Lincoln, is native of Woodland in Barry County. The movie will be shown this week at the Regent Theatre downtown. The other film this week at the Regent will be William Desmond in “The Measure of Man.”
Charles A. Shafer, 61, is visiting at the home of his brother, A.A. Shafer, two and a half miles east of Wayland. Though he is blind, he is serving his second term as a state senator in Ohio.
The Globe published a full-page advertisement with the featured headline “Do Unto Others,” a plea for citizens to pay their bills promptly.
Dr. Ira Slater is remodeling the Doll House to turn the building into an osteopathic doctor’s practice.
Mrs. DeWitt McNabb is organizing a Young Matrons Bridge Club, with nine charter members.
Snell Brothers of Hopkins Township has harvested 4,000 bushels of onions, a number matched by Ernest Miner of Watson Township.
Flossie Hazen of Bradley, a recent graduate of Boyle Beauty School, has taken over operation of the Hollywood Marcel Shoppe.
