(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now historical library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Jan. 29, 2001
Children’s librarian Vicki Koochnerkavich was pictured on the Globe’s front page reading to three preschoolers at Henika Library.
Kay Deckhouse, in a letter to the editor, suggested that Allegan County elect members of the Road Commission rather than be appointed.
Gun Lake Winterfest has moved its date from the last week in January to the first week of February to avoid potential conflict with Super Bowl Sunday.
Local officials with Great Lakes Energy assured that it’s highly unlikely that the serious electrical problems endured in California will occur in Michigan.
Rick Snyder of Leighton Township wrote a letter to the editor suggesting approval of a new mobile home park along Division Avenue actually benefits sewer and water authorities rather than taxpayers. He insisted most citizens were opposed to the project.
Cornerstone University President Rex Rogers was a special guest at a meeting about prospects for a casino in Dorr, suggesting gambling preys on human weaknesses. He was author of the book, “Seducing America: Is Gambling a Good Bet?” Gun Lake Tribe spokesman Ken Brock offered a different perspective and accused casino opponents of “modern day prohibitionism.”
A negotiated agreement has been made between Village of Martin officials and representatives of the Little Gem mobile home park. This means residents of the park won’t be threatened with water shutdowns.
Longtime Wayland teacher Claude Smith was the first to be elected to the Wayland Schools Hall of Fame. He was recognized for the honor at a Wayland High School basketball game.
Richard Carlson, Lavern Willett and David Mata are being welcomed as newest troopers at the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police.
The Wayland High School basketball team is making a serious run for the O-K Gold Conference championship. The Wildcats, coached by Mike Hudson and led by sharpshooting from Jamie Brown and Nate Culver, await a showdown with perennial hoops powerhouse South Christian.
Hopkins also is in the hunt for league top honors with a 4-1 record in the Silver and 6-3 overall.
Martin, led by Matt Knight and Dustin Brown, finally captured its first hoops win of the season with a 63-57 verdict over Decatur.
The Clippers wrestling team, however, is enjoying huge success with a 24-2 overall dual meet record.
The Wayland volleyball team suffered its first dual match loss in the O-K Gold in quite a spell by falling to South Christian.
50 Years Ago — Jan. 27, 1976
Dr. Rudolph Ellinger, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Ellinger of Hopkins, has been named quality assurance director for Kraft Foods. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and doctorate at Michigan State University.
Representatives from the City of Wayland and the townships of Wayland, Leighton, Hopkins and Dorr will meet Jan. 29 to discuss the cooperative proposal to fund the newly created Wayland Ambulance Service.
William Ruff has been appointed to a seat on the board of directors at Wayland State Bank. He formerly was a vice president at Old Kent Banking Grand Rapids.
Hopkins Village officials are meeting with representatives of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to make plans for planting shrubs in the village.
The Hopkins School District will ask local voters to approve a renewal of eight mills and two additional mills in a special election.
Eugene Greer, principal at Steeby Elementary School, published a column insisting that Wayland fourth and seventh grade students had positive results in the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test results.
Barbara Robbins, assistant community education and recreation director, is working on a middle school enrichment program.
Luanne Lewis is doing her practice teaching in the English Department in the middle school under the tutelage of Ken Pearson.
The Wayland boys’ varsity basketball team stunned Wyoming Lee by edging the Rebels 60-59, for its first victory this season in the O-K Blue Conference and its second win overall.
Poor shooting doomed Martin boys, who absorbed their eighth consecutive defeat. Robert Vandenberg’s services were limited by foul trouble and he scored only 10 points.
David Young penned a column anticipating the big dual match showdown between perennial wrestling power Comstock Park and Wayland. The Wildcats have already taken over first place in the O-K Blue Conference standings. Bill Halloran tied the school record for the fastest pin, in 12 seconds.
The Wayland Recreation Men’s Basketball League continues action every week and eight teams compete. The Double Dribblers are undefeated at 6-0 thus far.
David Young announced he has devised a 100-question music trivia quiz covering 1957 to 1969 and has administered it to football coach Gerald Omness and teacher Ken Knurr.
The United Church of Wayland, Wayland United Methodist Church and Wayland Christian Reformed Church are sponsoring a clothing drive to help cope with the winter season.
Norris Shuh, 86, who lives on South Main Street in Wayland, has received a Michigan Centennial Family Certificate for settling in Michigan for at least 100 years.
George Wagner, a retired farmer and veteran of World War I, died at Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital. He was 78.
Paul Simon took over the top spot among the nation’s tunes after a lengthy hiatus with “Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover.”
75 Years Ago — Feb. 2, 1951
Allie C. Frue, who ran the Hopkinsburg store for many years, fell and broke his hip after moving to his home in Grand Rapids.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote in his weekly column, “When springs rolls around again, Wayland will be faced with its perennial ‘where to park’ problem.” He added there has been talk of finding off street parking, but he suggested the best strategy is a two-hour parking limit.
Robert Cozzens, son of Frank and Amy Cozzens, died of a heart attack in Bay City. A 1935 Wayland High School graduate, he was only 33. He was employed by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.
Charles Willson, a lifelong Leighton Township resident, died at his home. He was 65.
Mrs. Mazy Ward, who lived in Wayland with her daughter, Mrs. Claud Smith, for many years, died in Ann Arbor. She was 83.
Harold Hawkins of Wayland is working with the Grand Rapids unit of the Seabees Reserves. He receives training at the Great Lakes Training Station.
Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Bassett are progressing nicely in their new house on Frank Court, the first house to be erected in the newly opened Wayland Heights addition. The house was assembled in Seney, Mich.
The choir members of the Congregational Church entertained their husbands with a progressive dinner with 31 in attendance.
Mrs. Ivan Vandenberg of Hopkins was stricken while out of doors seeking fresh air and suffered injuries from a fall. She was pronounced dead at Allegan General Hospital.
The Rev. Jerold Pell resigned as pastor of the Moline Congregational church following the annual meeting of the congregation.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Joe Kirkwood and James Gleason in “Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle.”
- Roddy McDowell in “Big Timber.”
- Red Skelton, Arlene Dahl and Ann Miller in “Watch the Birdie.”
- Clifton Webb, Joan Bennett, Robert Cummings and Edmund Gwenn in “For Heaven’s Sake.”
100 Years Ago — Jan. 29, 1926
The F.D. Pratt Barber Shop escaped serious damage from a fire started by an oil heater that had been left burning while the proprietor went out for dinner.
The Woodman Lodge Club will sponsor another boxing show at in the hall. The ladies will be admitted free of charge.
Mr. and Mrs. Martin Looyengoed are taking possession of the apartment above the furniture store they have just purchased.
A fish hatchery enterprise is being planned for the Gun River, along with preservation of Gun Lake by dredging.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: J. Farrell MacDonald, Gertrude Astor and H.B. Walthall in “Kentucky Pride.” Also showing is the comedy “The Battling Orioles” for a special Family Night.
The Ladies Library Club will meet with Mrs. Octavia Bragg and discussion will take up the issue of “Heredity vs. Environment.”
A fine quality of ice is being harvested at Hill’s Lake three miles east of the village. Some citizens already are filling their ice houses.
Georgia Gere, who came to settle in Hopkins Township in 1862 at age 10, died at age 74. She most recently had lived with her daughter, Mrs. Ira Slater, in Wayland.
Betty Stockdale, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Stockdale has been seriously ill with double pneumonia.
Warren Hurley went to his farm in Watson to ship his four head of new milch cows that were reactors of TB and to clean his barn.
Jerry Sargent suffered a fall on ice and snow and tore ligaments, which remain very painful.
William Carpenter and Henry McLoud have cut down the big poplar tree just west of the town hall. It was one of the oldest landmarks, but its continued presence is unsafe near the street.
