(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr):
25 Years Ago — Oct. 23, 2000
Editor Nila Aamoth wrote a Soapbox piece challenging the wisdom of the statement “Whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.”
Several letter writers submitted missives that supported the upcoming millage for Thornapple Manor in Hastings on behalf of the elderly in Barry and Allegan counties.
George Fennema, principal of East Martin Christian School, wrote a special comment in support of vouchers for education, in contrast to the previous week’s submission from Allegan County Intermediate School District Robert Brenner of Gun Lake. Wayland Supt. Tom Tarnutzer chimed in by saying he believes vouchers divide us.
The Reno family and Wayland city officials held a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of Reno Drive, at its intersection with West Superior, which since has become the busiest corner in the city.
The Wayland City Council changed the zoning on the southwestern portion of the city to light industrial to help spur economic growth.
Terry Rosenberg of Caledonia penned a letter to the editor objecting to the way the Leighton Township Board accepted bids for an old used fire pumper.
Hopkins High School teacher Robert Wiersma encourages students to register to vote by awarding them extra credit in his social studies classes.
Mark Holman of Hopkins wrote a letter urging local schools to hire more crossing guards in the interests of student safety.
Martin Board of Education Trustee Dave Zuidema has come up with a vintage 1927 edition of Martin Schools’ “The School Crier” a local house of a recently deceased woman was cleaned out.
The Gun Lake Tribe has scheduled a public meeting on the possibility of establishing a casino in Wayland Township near the U.S.-131 expressway.
Cheri Ritz was selected as Wayland Union School’s new athletic director, succeeding Kevin Wiltshire. She has been the softball and tennis coach at WHS.
Jack Klunder scored two touchdowns late in the game to power Hopkins to a 39-33 win over Comstock Park. The Vikings are just one victory away from a post-season playoff berth. Wayland edged Sparta 28-27. Martin lost to Fennville 36-12.
Janine Gilder scored 11 points but was the only Lady Viking to finish in double figures, as Hopkins’ nine-game girls’ basketball win streak came to an end against Wyoming Lee.
Sara Harthorn and Kelli DeSmit led Martin to a table turning win over Marcellus with 10 and nine points, respectively.
Mike Rynearson has been named head varsity basketball coach at Hopkins, succeeding Mike Bell.
The Wayland girls’basketball team lost to Cedar Springs 41-39, and its overall record fell to 8-5.
Ryan Mauchmar was Wayland’s top runner in the annual Foxes and Hounds cross-country competition at Kalamazoo Hackett.
Richard Stein ran the 5K course in 16:50 to take individual medalist honors for Hopkins in an O-K Silver Conference jamboree.
Rhoda Irvine, a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, died in Grand Rapids at age 80. Both of her daughters are Wayland High School graduates.
Mae Anna Decker, former president of the local VFW Ladies Auxiliary, died at age 84.
Cindy Lowman has been named president of the newly formed United Bank Mortgage Corp.
Janet Brown has opened the Wise Women’s Herbs business in Hopkins.
50 Years Ago — Oct. 21, 1975
Ernest Martin, longtime city assessor, has announced he is resigning his post effective Dec. 31, because of health issues.
The Wayland City Council agreed to set the mayor’s wages at $300 per year and an additional $15 per meeting. Mayor Pro Tem will receive $200 annually and $10 per meeting. Council members will be paid $100 per year and $10 per meeting.
The Wayland High School marching band unveiled the new Bicentennial flag at halftime of the Wayland-Hamilton football game.
The Dorr Township Lions Club has signed up its first members, according to Temporary President Edward Pawloski. The group is being sponsored by the Wayland Lions Club.
The Martin High School marching band earned “superior” Division 1 ratings at the District #10 marching festival at Hastings.
A Saturday night fire heavily damaged the kitchen in the Carriage Stop Restaurant in Martin. Fire Chief Keith Rambadt said the blaze was started by French fryers in the kitchen.
A voluntary intramural swimming program has been launched at the middle school by coach Bill Fritz.
United Methodist Church and St. Therese Church youths plan to trick or treat for UNICEF during this year’s Halloween observance.
Louis Peets of Wayland was selected “Knight of the Year” by the local Knights of Columbus organization.
The Wayland Tree Tracers genealogy group will meet at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at the Henika Public Library meeting room.
Allendale and Hopkins will meet in a Saturday afternoon football showdown, with the A-O Conference championship the prize.
The Wayland girls’ junior varsity defeated Caledonia 31-9 to even its record at 4-4. First-year coach is Zack Moushegian.
The Wayland varsity football team’s losing skid reached four games with an 18-6 defeat at the hands of O-K Blue Conference rival Hamilton. Martin is 2-4 after edging Bloomingdale 10-8 in a cliffhanger.
Sports writer David T. Young expressed his disappointment with his 11-6 record in weekly pigskin predictions.
Hopkins girls, now 5-2 overall, lost a close one, 41-38 to Allendale on the hardcourt. Karen Caywood scored 10 points.
The Wayland cross-country team finished fifth in the O-K Blue Conference meet. Freshman Elvie Stein was 14th at 17:13.
The City and Country coin laundry business has opened at the corner of Main and Pine Streets, Mike Hanacek is the owner.
Todd Michael Ouderkirk, 10, a fifth-grader at Hopkins Elementary, was killed in a traffic accident on 142nd Avenue while riding his bike.
Wayland High School junior Brian Marcos constructed his own car using a 1962 Renault Daughine engine and front suspension.
Monique Souche, a foreign exchange student who stayed with the Jerome LaValley family, returned to Wayland for a visit in Wayland.
75 Years Ago — Oct. 27, 1950
The Wayland Rotary Club plans to give local kids a Halloween party in the village park.
John Dado, 76, died at his home in Wayland. He had moved into the village from his farm home in the Gun Lake area.
Village President Phillip Reno is president and Russ Rugaber vice president of the newly organized annual Community Chest campaign.
A farmer’s wife near Moline has angrily reported that hunters have mistakenly killed chickens and pigs on her property, mistaking them for pheasants.
A Grand Rapids orchestra will perform for a masquerade dance Saturday, Oct. 28, at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church. A Halloween masquerade dance also is planned for the same evening at Lakeview Tavern, as well as St. Stanislaus Church and Hall and the local Grange Hall.
The Dorr Mothers Club has invited area residents to a fall festival celebration at the Town Hall.
Chappell School teacher Marilyn Stigers and Corning School teacher Bernice Tompson both attended the State Teachers Convention in Grand Rapids. Many others did the same in a teachers’ work day, closing schools.
Marilyn Hooker won a trip to the Chicago International Show with her contest entry at the Wayland Community Fair.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- William Elliott and Adrian Booth in “The Savage Horde.”
- John Derek, Alan Hale and Diana Lynn in “Rogues of Sherwood Forest.”
- Randolph Scott, Gabby Hayes and Victor Jorey in “The Cariboo Trail.”
100 Years Ago — Oct. 23, 1925
Hopkins Township native Francis Tanner died Oct. 18. She was 66 and was described as a “quiet home loving woman” who was a member of the Disciples of Christ Church.
The football fortunes of Wayland High School turned around quickly with a 19-6 victory over Plainwell. The local boys hadn’t looked so good in losses to Zeeland and Otsego. Stanley Marchinek and Halden Hudson were given credit for playing well offensively, as Wayland developed a better passing attack. The team will play Galesburg Oct. 30. They also will have a game against Grand Rapids Central Reserves at Houseman Field.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Lillian Russell’s famous play, “Wildfire.” Laura Laplante in “The Butterfly.”
A Wayland school carnival is planned for sometime in early December.
The schools have contracted entertainment services of the Dennis Lyceum Bureau for two acts, one of which will be impressions.
The next meeting of the West Leighton Community Club will be Oct. 30 at the District #10 school house.
Leonard Spykerman is getting along as well as can expected after suffering burns in an explosion in Moline.
Lightning strikes killed 12 sheep at the Moline area farm of John Jeffers.
The Willing Workers will have a box social in the basement of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Wayland schools were subjected to three days of the first storm of the academic year Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
