(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr:
25 Years Ago — April 23, 2001
Sandra Carruthers sent a letter to the editor from Scotland praising the work of the postal service in Shelbyville.
Glen Fontaine of Wayland penned a letter opposing a casino, bemoaning the sinful nature of modern industrialized society, in which making money seems more important than preserving lives.
Robert Dwyer of Hastings wrote a letter insisting that government has abandoned the people by permitting utilities to operate just like business monopolies.
David E. Albaugh, in a letter, was critical of the Gun Lake Chamber of Commerce supporting a casino, suggesting that a majority of local residents oppose it.
Allegan County Drain Commissioner Lynn Fleming formally apologized to residents of Pearl Street in Shelbyville for cost overruns in a drain project. Resident John Hodges said of Fleming, “What he did may have been within the law, but it was wrong.”
Henika District Library has purchased an Ellison machine to improve the specialty cuts for colored paper. Director Lynn Mandaville, who applied for the grant for partial funding, was pictured with the unit.
Henika Library officials are studying the feasibility of contructing an addition for the facility.
A 35-year-old Shelbyville man is in jail after finally being arrested in a 100 mph chase that covered two counties, Allegan and Barry.
Dr. Lynn Harvey, professor at Michigan State University, showed up at a joint meeting of the Yankee Springs and Thornapple Township boards to show officials how they can combine fire services for the two and Irving Irving Township.
The site for the new Dorr Township Library has been determined to be on 1.01 acres on 18th Street southwest of Sunset Drive. The library bought the land from Planning Commission Chairman Bob Wagner and June Hunter.
Bill Chowning has been hired as the new special education director for Wayland Union Schools, succeeding the resigned Penny Axe, who left to take a job elsewhere.
Backers of plans for a casino in this area plan to ask the Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce for support in the wake of that being accomplished by the Gun Lake Chamber.
Wayland Board of Education President Jon Carroll will be challenged by John Huszarik in the annual school election in June.
Anthony Michael Moore, 17, has been extradited from Montana after he was arrested there on charges related to a high-speed chase in Allegan County.
Rite Aid, Bentley’s Party Store, Wayland Hotel and Harding’s Market all were cited by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission for selling alcohol to underage minors.
Caroline Hodge has been chosen president of the Hopkins chapter of the FFA and Jeremy Simpson vice president.
Martin sprinters Steve McGuire, Mike Cade, David Pavlak and Adam Flynn set a Southwest Athletic Conference record in the 800-meter relay, recording a time of 1:40.4.
Junior Justin Stuive racked up 15 points by winning the 100- and 200-meter races and both hurdles as Wayland’s boys’ track teams doubled the number of dual meet victories from the previous year.
Amber Willison captured her third pitching victory of the young season with a one-hitter and the Wayland softball team started strong in their quest for a fifth consecutive O-K Gold championship.
Mrs. Virginia Trudeau, past president of the Aquinas College League and horse raising afficionado, died at age 78.
50 Years Ago — April 20, 1976
Wayland Postmaster Richard L. Finkbeiner has announced the U.S. Postal Service has canceled plans for building a new facility in Wayland. The building, located on East Superior Street next to the Wayland Globe, may have to be remodeled.
Bill Herb, wife Joy, Susan Herb Bedford and Mrs. Lester Herb were pictured with an old jalopy observing the 50th anniversary of Herb Chevrolet.
Consumers Power reminds local residents that power will be shut off from 4 to 6 a.m.Thursday so repairs can be made to the substation.
The Wayland Fire Department was unable to save a home at 131st and 4th Street, owned by Larry Morris.
Wayland City Manager Carl Fockler and Schools Supt. James Thomas were pictured with County Treasurer Fred Edgerton presenting them with a check from the delinquent tax fund.
Seth Oliver of Monroe, Mich., wrote a letter asking citizens for a picture of the old Wayland depot before it became a brick structure.
Wayland Community Education Director David VanEerden and assistant Director Barbara Robbins penned a letter expressing pride with the community choir’s recent concert performance.
Plainwell attorney Fred Anderson has indicated there will be the first-ever presentation of the Liberty Bell award for Law Day May 1.
The Hopkins Organization of Parents and Educators (HOPE) is sponsoring a style show April 29 at the Hopkins High School cafeteria.
Chris Bertram of Wayland will take part in a bikeathon in Grand Rapids to raise funds for the American Diabetes Association.
The Hopkins VFW Auxiliary took first in the 8th District bowling tournament. Bowlers were Capt. Jayne Austin, Phyllis Morris, Hildred Dekker, Blanche Young and Lucille Koenig.
The Wayland High School wind ensemble will perform in a spring concert at the high school auditorium April 25.
The Globe launched a series of photographs taken by former Library Director Fannie Hoyt, Fred Hilbert Sr. and Ivan Smith. The first picture was of the old Pet Milk building.
The Wildcat 440-yard relay team of Randy Overmire, Augie Stoken, Mark Wolowicz and Andy Warner is close to breaking the school record with a time of 47.1 seconds.
Wayland’s baseball team is off to a good start at 4-0. Pat McMullen is the ‘Cats leading hitter thus far.
Vern Lettinga of Wayland has been honored by Michigan State University as an Outstanding Alumnus of the university’s Institute of Agricultural Technology.
Gene Bennett, owner of Gene’s Tavern in Hopkins, is sponsoring a beard growing contest as part of the community’s observance of the nation’s bicentennial.
The overall top winner in the Southwestern Michigan Regional Science Fair was Wayland High School freshman Lesley Irvine. Others mentioned were Linda Tyler and Carol Davis.
A thunder and lightning storm blew out the Consumers Power sub station on Sycamore Street. Repairs will be made from 4 to 6 a.m. April 22.
75 Years Ago — April 27, 1951
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher lamented the death of his first school teacher, Netta Stokoe, in his weekly “Observations Here and There” column. Mrs. Stokoe, age 87, a lifelong Wayland area resident, died at Crispe Hospital in Plainwell.
Mosher said he, Jack Gurney, Naman Frank, Harold Hawkins, Ivan Smith and Fred Hilbert were getting ready to travel north to the Upper Peninsula for the opening of trout fishing season.
The annual three-day Cowbell Carnival will be sponsored again this summer by the downtown merchants.
The Dorr home of Russell DeVries was badly burned, routing him and eight other family members. Fire Chief Floyd Fifelski said he suspected the cause was defective electrical wiring.
The Wayland PTA’s annual mother-daughter banquet will be held May 7 at the school cafeteria. Martha Japinga and Merle Andringa plan to present a musical skit.
The Wayland High School choir will present an operetta, “Ask the Professor” May 3 and 4 at the high school auditorium.
Irene Pawloski was elected president of the VFW Auxiliary and Florence Merrien vice president.
The Southern Deanery Catholic Council will have its annual election and quarterly meeting at the Sts. Cyril & Methodists Church, Gun Lake, April 29.
Ruth Ann Tanner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Tanner of Wayland, was awarded second place in the Davis Studios baby personality contest, which boasted of 350 photo entries.
Bishop Joseph Rancans of Latvia will administer the sacrament of confirmation at St. Therese Church in Wayland and Sts. Syril & Methodist at Gun Lake.
Mrs. Fern Doyle, the former Fern Pepper of Moline, was featured in a story about her farm operation raising huge numbers of chicken broilers.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- McDonald Carey, Wendell Corey and Ward Bond in “The Great Missouri Raid.”
- Joan Fontaine and Joseph Cotton in “September Affair.”
- Gene Tierney and John Lund in “the Mating Season.”
100 Years Ago — April 23, 1926
An anonymous letter to the editor was published despite a policy against such a practice. The writer noted too many people are dumping their rubbish on the side of public roads and suggested such unwanted materials be negotiated with farmers who may have swamps or other suitable sites.
The Wayland High School baseball team defeated Martin 9-5 and will play Hopkins next.
The Ladies Library Club is sponsoring a “Better Homes Week,” with the express purpose of eliminating waste in housekeeping. The week will include sermons in churches, afternoon demonstrations, landscaping and gardening programs at the homes of Mrs. Dunwell and Fannie Hoyt, and the observation of Health Day at the Congregational church. A baking contest also is planned.
Several families of Bradley Indians have been invited to the Regent Theatre downtown to attend the showing of the film, “The Iron Horse.”
The young people of the Methodist Episcopal Church took over the service at Corning, presenting talks and songs.
The Women’s VFW Auxiliary will have a public card party at the Legion rooms over the Wayland State Bank April 22.
The Allegan County Sunday School Association will have its annual rally at the Wayland Methodist Episcopal Church April 25. Each school in the district is expected to participate.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre: “The Iron Horse.” Elaine Hammerstein and Lou Tellegan in “Parisian Nights.” Another in the comedy series, “The Adventures of Mazie.”
The Rebekahs and Odd Fellows are planning a joint meeting Monday evening, April 26, “an open meeting with a good speaker.”
Mrs. Anna Short, regarded as a local expert on birds, gave a brief talk on the work of the Audobon Society to the Ladies Library Club.
Michigan Bell Telephone placed an advertisement declaring that Wayland customers can call Detroit for 50 cents after 8:30 in the evening.
Wood shingles were thought to be the cause of a fire Tuesday morning on the roof of a home owned by S. F. Yeakey. Damage was light.
Charles Ball sold his furniture stock to an Allegan dealer and the last of his goods have been moved.
The West Michigan Holstein Breeders will have their annual picnic at Streeter’s Resort Gun Lake.
Wayland Bakery is installing a new and much larger oven because of the increase of business. The new unit has a capacity of 220 loaves.
Miss Lucille Crocker is entering the June Bridge contest being put on by Young & Chaffee Furniture Co. of Grand Rapids.
Mrs. Sylvia Reynolds has returned from Petosky and reports the snow in that vicinity still is three feet deep.
George Williams, champion old-time fiddler, will be special guest at an old-time dance at Woodman Hall.
