(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr:
25 Years Ago — March 12, 2001
The Wayland Area Ambulance Service has been granted its request to corporate restructuring, so the City of Wayland will no longer be the owner of the non-profit service.
Arlene Oetman has resigned as Leighton Township Treasurer and is being succeeded by Charlene Troost.
Editor Nila Aamoth penned a “Soapbox” entry that insisted that the issue of “quality of life” so often used by people who live in West Michigan is entirely in the eyes of the beholder.
The prospects of a casino established by the Gun Lake Tribe was the subject of Middleville Thornapple Kellogg middle schoolers letters sent to the editor. One suggested that people against the casino should simply not go there. Yet an adult in Leighton Township opined meanwhile that gambling contributes to the decay of society.
Todd Boorsma, one of the ringleaders of the anti-casino movement, sent a letter saying a survey in Dorr has showed 70 percent oppose. Boorsma told the Wayland Township Board that the casino plans may move to the south from Dorr to Hopkins and Wayland townships.
Wayland city officials say the mini-park at the corner of Main and Superior Streets downtown will get a facelift this coming spring.
Yankee Springs Township has formed a special commission established to examine water and fire services in the community.
Leighton Township officials are considering renovations for the Township Hall facility on Kalamazoo Avenue not far from Green Lake.
Ted Friedman, a veteran in the furniture business, has opened The Furniture Junction in Dorr.
Midge Pippel, interim superintendent for the Middleville Thornapple Kellogg school district, has been offered a contract to be promoted as new superintendent.
Wayland High School basketball team is getting ready to play Lake Odessa Lakewood for the district title. The Wildcats defeated Delton and Allegan to reach the final round.
The Wayland volleyball team concluded another O-K Gold Conference championship season, but lost in the district tournament to state-ranked Allegan.
The Hopkins volleyball team won twice, over Grand Rapids Baptist and Wyoming Lee, before losing to Fennville in the district final round.
Hopkins’ basketball team, behind double figures scoring of Scott Whip, Matt Hills, Jack Klunder and Sean Higgins, defeated Lee for the third time, this one in district semifinals.
United Bank President Arthur Johnson was honored by the Wayland Athletic Boosters for the bank’s support of local athletic programs.
Martin started its basketball season with an 0-8 record, but finished with an overall mark of 5-16.
50 Years Ago — March 9, 1976
The area welcomed two new village presidents after the spring elections, Robert Beck in Hopkins and Elwin Northrup in Martin. The Hopkins and Wayland school requests for millage renewals passed, but Hopkins’ separate proposal for a two-mill increase was denied in a 345 to 224 tally.
Adrian H. Scholten has been appointed assistant vice president of Wayland State Bank. His chief responsibilities will be in the loan department.
A quiet city election is anticipated next month because all incumbents filed, but no newcomers or challengers will be on the ballot.
Jane Calkins, David Genther, Carol Davis and Lynn Marutz were winners in the annual Elks Club Leadership/Scholarship contests.
No trial date has yet been set for Ray Roy Richards, 44, Wayland, who has been jailed for allegedly shooting and killing his wife after an argument.
Bill Baweja has been appointed manager of the Wayland Area Ambulance Service Corp. and City Manager Carl Fockler announced the State of Michigan has given verbal approval to operate the non-profit service.
The LaValley Agency and Reno Agency have been awarded insurance contracts with the City of Wayland.
Athletic Director Richard Akers and Middle School AD Gerald Omness will give a presentation on the possibility of providing transportation services to athletes after practice sessions.
The Hopkins 4-H Club and leaders attended the 4-H rodeo at Michigan State University in East Lansing.
Ken Stehouwer, formerly of Wayland, has been elected president of the Association of Hawaii Restaurant Employers. A 1956 graduate of Wayland High School, he and his family have lived in Honolulu now for 13 years.
State Rep. Ed Fredericks sent a letter to the editor asking for residents’ opinions on a proposal to lower penalties for first offense possession of marijuana.
Heidi Kurzman of Martin was the school’s winner this year of the Betty Crocker Family Leader of Tomorrow award.
The Hopkins, Wayland and Martin basketball teams went “one and done” in the post-season district tournaments to Middleville, Lakewood and Gobles, respectively.
Frank Rybiski of Wayland rolled a 700 bowling series at Airport Lanes. He had games of 245, 220 and 235.
The Wayland volleyball team lost in its O-K Blue Conference dual match showdown to Hudsonville, which is undefeated this year.
Winning trophies for the Hopkins FFA at the Ottagon Livestock Show were David Collier, Dawn Graczyk, John Thompson, Tal Hansen and Doug Steffens.
Ed Matusak still has the highest score in Dave Young’s 100-point music trivia contest with 86 points. Steve Yankee is second with 55. Young commented, “Beyond the top five, I would prefer to not embarrass anyone by reporting further scores.”
The Globe ran a special feature story about coach Rick Tokarchick and his O-K Blue Conference championship wrestling team. Featured was a photo with the coach posing with a less than serious demeanor, also with the trophy and another picture of him as a Niles High School wrestler.
Jane Harnish, Cheryl Banas and Renee Hansen were the winners of the Bicentennial Spelling Bee for students at St. Stanislaus and St. Therese Catholic schools.
Daniel Ballew, instructor, will present a program on transcendental meditation at Wayland High School March 15.
Elmer Smith of rural Dorr died at his home. He was 96 years old.
Milton J. Ross, a 1925 graduate of Wayland High School, died at his home in Galesburg.
The Four Seasons captured the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with December 1963 (Oh, What a Night!)”
75 Years Ago — March 16, 1951
Esther Bisbee of Moline was killed after falling from the top step of stairs in the basement of her farm home. A lifelong resident of Dorr and Moline, she was 85, the oldest living student from the Sproat School.
Robert Genteman has resigned as field man for Pet Milk to move to Illinois and join his father-in-law’s business. Frank Langley will take his place at Pet.
Editor-Publisher Rollo Mosher said he stopped in at Hartford, Mich., and noticed parking meters downtown. He learned that revenue from the meters paid for a nice parking lot behind a restaurant.
The village elections this year were yawners, as only incumbents appeared on the ballots. Harold Fox remains as supervisor at Wayland Township. Democrat Clem Rewa was renominated with no opposition in Dorr.
Julia Wait, who came to Wayland in 1896 when she was married, died of a lengthy illness at the Allegan County Infirmary Hospital. She was 77.
The combined choirs of the Church of Christ, Congregational and United Methodist churches will present a cantata, “The Glory of the Garden,” Sunday evening. Soloists are Virginia Smith, Ether Kirby ands Gene Weber.
Walter Gillett, Louis Japinga, Julius Andringa, Edwin St. John and Osborn Brown attended the state high school basketball tournament finals in Grand Rapids.
John Moore, who had lived in Wayland for the past 15 years, died at his home after a two-month illness. He was 53.
Chester Calkins, a lifelong resident of his farm home north of Wayland, died after an illness of 17 months. He was 71.
The Bradley chapter of the Order of Eastern Star observed its 50th anniversary and honored four charter members, Mrs. Josephine Dean, Mrs. Blanche Curie Walstrum, Mrs. Maude Tall and Mrs. Amelia Mason. Mrs. Ruth Fox headed up an anniversary pageant.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry McBride entertained the Even Dozen Euchre Club in Hopkins. They later retired to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Schwartz to watch midget wrestling on television.
About 50 Hopkins Lions Club members were shown pictures and slides of the Kellogg Experimental Station.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Frankie Lane in “When You’re Smiling.”
- “The Texan Meets Calamity Jane.”
- The science fiction drama “Destination Moon.”
- John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in “Rio Grande.”
100 Years Ago — March 12, 1926
Mrs. Lawrence Richardson is recovering from an attack of pleurisy.
Miss Fanny Hoyt, Henika Library director, quite unexpectedly entertained a party of friends with a birthday dinner.
The Wayland band, assisted by the high school band, and Miss Pauline Smith, will give a concert at the Regency Theatre March 23.
Mrs. F. C. Wing, wife of the former local pastor and furniture store owner, died of cancer of the uterus, which she endured in great pain for four years.
A lively Republican caucus is expected at the Wayland Village hall Saturday.
State Home Demonstration Director Mrs. Louise Campbell will give a lecture to members of the Ladies Library Club March 18.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Viola Dana and Raymond Griffith in “Forty Winks.” Jaqueline Logan in “If Marriage Fails.”
Lifelong Hopkins resident Mrs. Martin Gaylor died at her home after a long illness. She was 67.
The Rev. C.A. Watkins of Lansing, an evangelist, will be guest speaker at the Church of Christ every night during the week at 7:30 starting Sunday.
Wayland High School students are engaged in vocational education with magazine sales. Proceeds will go to extra-curricular activities.
Mr.Gillespie and Mrs. Leon Mason gave a violin and piano recital for members of the Ladies Library Club.
The combination of sickness and bad roads has caused high rates of absenteeism at Wayland School during the past month.
The Five Hundred Club met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Dommert. Husbands and wives were entertained with dinner at the Doll House in downtown Wayland.
Mrs. Rose Monosmith was somewhat injured in a traffic crash near Plainwell on her way to Detroit. The roads were icy and her car, driven by Glenn Jarvis of Detroit, slid into a ditch.
