(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr:
25 Years Ago — Jan. 15, 2001
Again, prospects for a casino under the Gun Lake Tribe of Potawatomis, dominated the issues presented by letter writers. One woman said she attended a Three Dog Night concert at the Soaring Eagle Resort at Mt. Pleasant and had a terrific time.
Barbara Schwartz Sprik continued to advocate for local history and genealogy in another letter.
Leslie Kulikauskas wrote a letter lamenting lack of places to smoke, yet at the same time approval has been given for citizens to carry a concealed weapon.
A Plainwell woman and a Delton man in their mid-20s were arrested at the Gun Lake Motel by the Southwest Enforcement Team for drug violations.
The infant son of a 15-year-old Caledonia woman in a car-train accident died in an area hospital after being delivered by Cesarean section. Criminal charges may be filed against the drive of the car.
Ampro Industries in Bradley has announced it will close its doors, negatively impacting 55 employees. The business will close sometime in June. Founded by the Hilbert family, Ampro Seeds had been Wayland Township’s largest employer at one time.
A 120-foot pylon sign for Big Boy Restaurant is being installed in the commercial plaza on West Superior near the U.S.-131 expressway.
The Monterey Township Planning Commission has granted a special use permit to Scott and Luanne Sulzener for a gravel mining operation.
The Hopkins Village Planning Commission approved a rezoning request from Gary Kerber, who wants to have a church and apartment residences on a 26-acre parcel south and east of Hopkins High School.
Jon Campbell was re-elected chairman of the Allegan County Board of Commissioners.
Leighton Township Board members followed colleagues from Dorr Township in granting the purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus for their fire department personnel.
Martin Village officials voted to increase monthly sewer rates by $2.
Led by Amber Willison and all-stater Jessie Merchant, the Wayland volleyball team successfully began its defense of the O-K Gold Conference title and finished second to Grand Rapids Catholic Central in its invitational tournament.
The Hopkins volleyball team, coached by Terri Merren, put a scare into league leader Kent City and defeated Wyoming Lee. Lauren TerAvest and Katie Pickette led the Lady Vikings in scoring.
Wayland’s varsity basketball team defeated Belding 61-44 in a game marked by a two-point penalty when a Belding player attempted a dunk in warmups.
50 Years Ago — Jan. 13, 1976
The Michigan State Highways and Transportation Department has notified City Manager Carl Fockler Wayland has been designated as an official Bicentennial City.
Local attorney Edward Reed Barton has been elected a vice president of world-wide Jaycees International.
Dr. C.C. Warner of Wayland, who practiced medicine for more than 50 years, submitted “A Christmas Poem” to the Wayland Globe. He wrote it about 30 years ago.
David Wolowicz, now in the Navy and a Wayland High School graduate, sent a letter praising Wildcat wrestling coach Rick Tokarchick as “a helluva coach.”
Mrs. Halden Hudson was elected president of the Women’s Fellowship at the United Church of Wayland.
The Dorr Township Library Board authorized the purchase of two films to be shown to children on the subject of America’s Bicentennial celebrations.
Rhonda Adrion, Shelly Hanshue, Ron Osentoski, Ken Alflen, Alan Stover and Don Martin were named the winners of Wayland Middle School’s door decoration contest over the Christmas holiday.
Recovered stolen goods will be featured in the Allegan County Sheriff Department’s public auction at the Allegan County Fairgrounds Dec. 30.
Scoring points in the Wayland girls’ swim team’s scrimmage victory over Wyoming Park were Jeannine Genther, Velma Malloy, Laura Williamson, Vicki Biesbrock, Mary Dangremond, Colleen Shoemaker, Debbie Nienhold, Andrea Amborski, Ann Getzen, Mary Ernst, Karen Kool, Sandi Skelton and Mary Brenner.
Wayland was guilty of 27 turnovers and Hopkins took advantage in a 80-73 hoops contest between neighborhood rivals. Phil Arndt scored 29 points for the Vikings.
The Wayland Men’s Recreation Basketball League includes eight teams, including Wayland Merchants, Double Dribblers, Wildcats, Wayland Faculty, Vorick Ford, Hot Dogs, Blanco’s Furniture and Moline.
Cowbell Seeds President Ken Hilbert presented Omar Messer with the company’s first-ever HMS Trophy for special achievements and extra efforts.
Barry Manilow scored the No. 1 song in the land with “I Write the Songs.”
75 Years Ago — Jan. 19, 1951
The Wayland High School basketball team was the consolation winner in the Barkenall League tournament. The Wildcats finished third by defeating Middleville. Jim Christensen tallied 29 points, a dozen in the fourth period. Caledonia was the overall winner.
The East Allegan Soil Conservation District will have its annual meeting Jan. 29 at the Griswold Auditorium in Allegan. The topic will be “Soil Structure.”
A new super service station is being planned at the corner of North Main and Maple Streets. It will be under the lease of the Standard Oil Co. and operated by R.J. Nicolai.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his weekly “Observations” column waxed eloquent about ice fishing on Houghton Lake and the huge number of anglers participating.
Haven Tarnutzer has announced that Airport Bowling Lanes is offering afternoon bowling Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 5 p.m.
The opening meeting of the 1951 Dorr Extension Club will be in the basement of Dorr School Jan. 21.
Frank Chachorski wrote in the Hilliards News that the newly-designated 135th Avenue earlier had been called Hilliards Highway, Dewey Boulevard, West Wayland Road and Seventeen Mile Road.
Mary Lou Vandenberg, daughter of Mr. And Mrs. John Vandenberg is a student nurse at Cook County Psychiatric Hospital in Chicago.
G.L. Brown and Kenneth Clack both are confined to their beds at home with the measles.
The Wayland Fire Department was summoned to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Woodward of Bradley to extinguish a fire believed to be cause by faulty wiring.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Lon McCallister, Lois Butler and Billie Burke in “The Boy from Indiana.”
- William Boyd and Andy Clyde in “The Devil’s Playground.”
- Ann Sheridan and Victor Mature in “Stella.”
- William Elliott, Walter Brennan and Marie Windsor in “The Showdown.”
100 Years Ago — Jan. 15, 1926
Charles Middleton suffered painful injuries while oiling a traction engine and his clothing was caught in the revolving clutch. His brother, George, stopped the engine as soon as possible.
The high school chorus from Wayland has announced the program for the entertainment program planned for the Regent Theatre downtown Friday night.
The Woodman will have another dance Saturday, Jan. 16. Music will be furnished by an orchestra from Kalamazoo.
Jerry Sargent has reported a freak of nature with the blooming of a red cherry tree at his home. He said anyone in doubt can come to his house and see for themselves.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: House Peters in “The Tornado.” Fred Thompson in “North of Nevada.”
The debate between Wayland and Zeeland high school teams has been postponed until Monday, Jan. 18.
An operetta, “The Isle of Chance,” is being planned for the high school choir this spring.
Charles Ward, a native off New York, born in 1857, died Jan. 6, at his farm in Wayland, where he had lived since 1920. Two of his children died in infancy, but he leaves a widow and a son.
Henika Library Director Fanny Hoyt reported that the spider is “Nature’s Dumbest Genius” and suggested patrons read all about it in the latest edition of Popular Science.
Mrs. L.P. Reno will give a presentation Jan. 17 to the Ladies Library Club on “Woman and Her Progress.” E.H. Dickey, district manager of Bell Telephone, also will present “Evolution of the Telephone.”
Byron Farnham of Leighton recently underwent goiter surgery in a Kalamazoo hospital and was able to come home much improved, but took a turn for the worse and was returned to the hospital.
A parent-teachers organization was launched in Martin with Mrs. Elsie Burt as president.
The sugar beet population in this vicinity increased by 18 percent over 1924, but the sugar content has decreased.
The men of all Wayland churches will have a banquet Friday evening at the Methodist Episcopal Church, in an attempt to organize a men’s club more permanently.
Charles Allen had three fingers fractured in an auto accident and Tuesday was taken to Butterworthb Hospital where his little finger had to be amputated.
