(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr):
25 Years Ago — Oct. 30, 2000
Plans have been announced for a makeover for the mini-park at the corner of Superior and Main Streets in downtown Wayland.
The Globe was inundated by letters to the editor that covered more than page 3 of this edition.
David T. Young wrote one letter praising band director Michelle Stephenson, who was battling breast cancer, but also praised the backup efforts of Steve Working and Chuck Baughman. He said he appreciated the WHS band performing classical music at football game halftime festivities.
Many of the letters focused on issue of school vouchers, a state-wide ballot proposal championed by the DeVos and VanAndel families. Chiming in were George Stamos, superintendent of Hopkins Schools, Diane Smith, former Wayland Board of Education member, Rusty and Dick Dutkiewicz of Dorr and Laura Buchanan of Wayland.
About 30 local teen and youngsters are pressuring city officials to construct a skate park in town.
Jonathan Cutler, 39, died in a fall from his tree stand while hunting. His body was located by tracking dogs.
A hunter east of Wayland on 135th Avenue reported finding the remains of an adult male, who was determined to have been dead for six months.
A multi-purpose building ribbon cutting was held at Gun Lake Community Church, which now is a three-building complex.
Republican Blaine Koops will face Democrat Dennis Ross in the general election for Allegan County Sheriff. Michael Buck and Kevin Cronin of Hopkins will vie for probate judge, succeeding George Greig.
Democrat Rick Dutkiewicz is challenging incumbent Republican Patricia Birkholz for a two-year term in the Michigan State Legislature.
Democrat Marty Jo Fleser is challenging Republican Don Black for a county commissioner’s seat.
Doug Culver, Goble Messer, Mark Krulac and Ken Kolk are running for Wayland Township Trustee. Randy Marklevitz will be the new Township Supervisor.
Leighton Township Trustees Brian Martin and Monte Listopad are being challenged by independents Gay Meekhof and David Musser. Supervisor Dar VanderArk is seeking another term, being opposed by Spencer Moore.
The Hopkins High School football team is preparing for a post-season playoff contest against undefeated Maple Valley.
Hopkins harrier Richard Stein emerged as O-K Silver Conference individual champion.
The Wayland girls’ basketball team earned revenge against Wyoming Park and Belding, turning the tables on both after losing to them earlier this season. Jessie Merchant led offensive efforts in both games.
Hopkins held off a late Martin rally to win a close girls’ basketball game, with Janine Gilder and Amanda Chan leading the way.
Longtime Salem Township carpenter Edgar Strickfaden, a World War II veteran, died at age 80.
50 Years Ago — Oct. 28, 1975
The Wayland Board of Education was warned about possible cutbacks in state aid. The school district has been operating with an annual budget of slightly more than $3.4 million.
City Manager Carl Fockler told the Wayland City Council Wayland will receive a federal grant of $15,856 to help establish a community ambulance service, which will service the city, Wayland Township and the townships of Dorr, Hopkins and Leighton.
The Lansing Public School District has purchased a 158-acre site east of Wayland to establish what will become the Ebersole Environmental Center.
Members of the Citizens Resource Committee were told there has been an increase in number of students brining ammunition to school. Lt. William Monroe said the likely reason is that hunting season is approaching.
The Wayland Fire Department put out quickly a couple of grass fires within the city, one near Pet Incorporated and another between Sycamore Street and Hanlon Court.
Robert Schra of Hamilton has announced his candidacy for Allegan County Sheriff.
The “Trunk ‘O Tales Players” will visit Dorr Elementary to present the play “The King of Ice Cream Mountain.”
Hopkins defeated archival Allendale 22-12 in a Saturday afternoon contest to annex its fourth straight A-O Conference title. Featured offensively for the Vikings was the aerial duo of quarterback Ron Schafer and Mel Arnsman.
Sports writer David T. Young predicted Hopkins will finish its season with a 7-1-1 overall record with a victory over Calvin Christian, which is playing its first year of football.
Wayland was the victim of a 35-0 shellacking at the hands of O-K Blue Conference rival Comstock Park.
A men’s basketball recreation league is organizing under the auspices of the Wayland Community Education and Recreation program.
Despite Faith Hekkila’s 25 points, the Hopkins girls’ basketball team defeated Middleville 68-40 and Gobles 42-32. Jenny Niemczyk and Sue Maher paved the Vikings, which now is 7-2.
Hopkins Happenings correspondent Rosemary Hitt included the tale of the Little Red Hen in her column.
Allegan attorney John Watts has been elected new chairman of the Allegan County Republican Party, succeeding Ellis Wykstra, who resigned.
Three Rivers Savings & Loan has applied to the City of Wayland to establish a branch office.
75 Years Ago — Nov. 3, 1950
LaVerne Lettinga of Moline and Charles Fisher of Wayland have won Bankers’ Scholarships to enroll in a Michigan State College short course in agriculture. Both are members of the local 4-H Club.
The Community Chest organization will sponsor a “Dawn to Dusk” campaign Thursday to benefit Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Volunteers of America, Salvation Army, Starr Commonwealth and the Michigan Health and Welfare Society. Louis Japinga is chairman of the campaign committee.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher reported in his weekly Observations that Wayland’s Halloween was quiet, but young thugs in Caledonia nearly tore the town apart.
The Wayland High School band uniform drive reported the goal was reached.
The Northeast District of Home Extension will have its annual fall rally starting Nov. 14, including East Bradley, Party Line, Wayland, South Wayland, Moline, Dorr and Leighton clubs.
Forty members of local 4-H clubs have completed the 4-H Tractor Maintenance project, led by LaVerne Lettinga of Moline and Frank Bastian of Wayland.
The Wayland High School German Band played several selections for the Ladies Literary club and Prosecuting Attorney Chester Ray gave a presentation about the history of political parties in the United States.
The Hopkins High School junior class is presenting the play “When Hearts Were Young.”
Mrs. Louis Japinga entertained members of there Two-by-Four Bridge Club.
The Rev. Robert Geiger of the Martin Methodist Episcopal Church has entered the service as a chaplain in Pennsylvania.
The Globe published a full-page advertisement endorsing Republicans for a variety of offices, including Clare Hoffman for Congress (“He has never failed you… a fighter for the American way of life”) Harry Kelly for governor, Prosecutor Dwight Cheever, Edward Hutchinson for state senator and Ben Lohman for state representative.
The ladies of the Congregational church will have a joint meeting of the Peg-aways and Anti-Can’ts.
Wayland Schools Supt. Rudolph Steeby supplied the pulpit in the absence of the Rev. L.E. Chamberlain at the Leighton Church Sunday.
Lions District Gov. Roy Plant was special guest at the meeting of the new Hopkins Lions Club.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Vaughn Monroe, Ella Raines and Walter Brennan in “Singing Guns.”
- Eleanor Parker, Patricia Neal and Ruth Roman in “Three Secrets.”
- Robert Taylor, Marshall Thompson and Paula Raymond in “Devil’s Doorway.”
- 100 Years Ago — Oct. 30, 1925
The Wayland football team, which suffered from a slow start at the start of the season, captured a 12-0 victory Saturday over the Grand Rapids Central reserves. The next game will be against Galesburg. Grandville will come to Wayland Nov. 6 for the season finale.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Anita Stewart “Baree, Son of Kazan.” Fred Thompson in “Thundering Hoofs.” Additional comedy: “The Pacemakers.”
The Wayland High School debate team is preparing for the upcoming season.
Miss Avelyn Allen was elected vice president of the Mancelona Business Women’s Association. She spent much of her girlhood days in Wayland before moving north.
Arthur Wyman of Moline had the misfortune of losing control of his car that went into a ditch near Byron Center, killing his passenger and cousin, William Wyman.
A letter from Cecil Kibby indicated that the temperature in Yuma, Ariz., reached 120 degrees.
A fall storm kept the attendance low of a farmers club meeting in southeast Wayland.
Mr. Aspinwall of the Ant-Can’t Club plans to have a Halloween social at the Congregational Church.
Lloyd Doxey sprained his ankle badly in a football game at Martin High School.
Isabell Everse, principal at Wayland High School, this past week was confined to her home with illness.
Miss Alice Brower, former Wayland teacher, entertained seniors and teachers with a party at her home in Hamilton. A potluck supper was enjoyed.
The Rap[ids Transportation Co. has started a bus line from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids. The vehicles have a red top and and white and blue sides.
Byron Burton Ring died at his Leighton Township home at age 56. “He was a kind husband, a loving father and a good neighbor.”The Forrest Lewis Post of the American Legion entertained about 25 members of the Allegan post, who braved a snowstorm to join in festivities, which included billiards, cards and visiting.
The son of James Hybels of Kalamazoo was injured in an accident about a mile south of the village. He was treated by Dr. Ira Slater, with assistance from Dr. Bryson. The father is president of the Celery Growers Association.
