(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr:
25 Years Ago — May 7, 2001
The Globe published a photo of Leighton Township Administrative Assistant Ronda DeHaan during construction to make room for more offices.
Three, four-wheel all-terrain vehicles were stolen at Edema Motors on 124th Avenue, Gun Lake. State Police said the ATVs were sitting outside the office at the front of the property.
The battles over prospects to bring a casino to this area continued, as a U.S. District judge in Grand Rapids ruled that the Gun Lake Band of Potawatomis must have taken a parcel of land into a trust before using the land for a gaming operation.
Mary Reno of Wayland, Nancy Fifelski of Hopkins and Julie Spencer of Martin have been chosen as three of the directors for the Allegan County Community Foundation.
The Allegan chapter of the American Red Cross and Project Hope are helping the family of Dan and Kathy Bartrum, who lost their rental home in Dorr Township to a fire.
A vendor who stopped in briefly at the Eagle’s Nest on East Superior reported the theft of his Ford Windstar at that location.
The Barry-Eaton District Health department is applying for a $100,000 grant to conduct testing of the water at Gun Lake beaches.
Owners of the Super Bowl restaurant and bowling lanes are applying for a liquor license and dance permit, but the request has been tabled by Dorr Township officials.
The Ampro Seeds business in Bradley has been sold, but the identity of the buyer remains a mystery. The seller confirmed that under the terms of the sale, the name of the purchaser won’t be disclosed.
Residents of the Green Lake community are banding together against vandals as a number of reports have been submitted to Allegan County deputies.
Wayland’s Jerry Czarnecki, who is in a wheelchair because of multiple sclerosis, has been selected volunteer of the year by Allegan General Hospital.
Hopkins boys have taken over first place in the O-K Silver track standings after a couple of easy dual meet victories. The Vikings are 4-0 thus far in league duals.
Wayland boys are 4-3 in O-K Gold Conference dual track meet standings and the league meet is approaching.
Nate Culver is Wayland’s only senior on the tennis team and he’s playing at No. 1 singles.
Wayland’s 57-game winning streak in O-K Gold Conference softball came to an end against Wyoming Park ace pitcher Jenny Vasquez, who hurled a one-hitter at the ’Cats. Their record now is 14-1 in the Gold.
Bette Fockler, wife of former Wayland City Manager Carl Fockler, died. She was a longtime community activist, including stints as a writer and dramatist and membership in the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. She was 74.
Albert Lynema, a retiree from General Motors and a World War II veteran, died. He was 88.
50 Years Ago — May 4, 1976
Hopkins resident Leland Buck, a Realtor and former manager of the L.L. Buck produce business, has announced he will be a candidate for the Eighth District seat on the Allegan County Board of Commissioners in the wake of the announcement by Dennis Nickels that he is resigning. Buck is former president of the Village of Hopkins.
Mike DeWeerd, son of Hugh and Dorothy DeWeerd of Wayland, has earned his degree in dental surgery from the University of Michigan. His grandfather, Dr. Arthur Larsen, has practiced dentistry in Wayland for many years.
Karen Counterman, a 17-year-old senior at Martin High School, has been selected as Miss Martin at the annual pageant Friday night at the school gym.
Ardis Spicer was sentenced to five years probation after being charged with embezzling $45,600 from the Dorr branch of Wayland State Bank.
Monterey Township has joined the Wayland Area Emergency Services coverage area by coming on board at the corporation.
Sixteen youths entered the Boy Scouts Pinewood Derby at the Martin High School Cafetorium.
Marge Hodgson of Hopkins penned a letter to the editor noting she did not write some of the published material about the drop in state equalized valuation causing budget cutbacks by the schools.
Earl G. Miller wrote a letter suggesting more citizens get involved with CPR classes to save more lives.
Geri Nickels of Martin has been accepted into the science training program at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
Cathy Doezema and Cathy Marshall, both of Martin, have been accepted by Central Michigan University to participate in a biological field study program this summer on Beaver Island in northern Michigan.
Winners in the 4-H spring achievement style review were Julie Winger, Melinda Battjes, Janet Sprik, Beth Fennema, Joy Klunder and Kathy Koster.
The Wayland Bicentennial Commission has announced that a variety program will be presented at a show wagon at the Wayland High School football field July 6. Included will be belly dancers, banjo players and other attractions.
Austin Bowman of Martin will be guest speaker at the next meeting of the Wayland Grange. He was among those who attended the farm seminar ion Washington D.C.
Wayland High School graduate Sheryl Lee is teaching special education in West Germany.
Gerd Wellman, a former foreign exchange student in Wayland in 1962, will make a return visit here at the Greenawalt home May 7-9.
Coach Rick Morse’s Wayland baseball team is 4-0 in the O-K Blue Conference and 9-0 overall, led by the pitching of Denny Patterson, Jim Longstreet and Doug Beek.
The Wayland softball team, under the tutelage of Sharon Nelson, is undefeated thus far this season at 6-0. Leading the Wildcats are Cheri Ritz, Andrea Amborski, Kim Wiersma and Jerry Heth.
Martin girls’ track team is 4-0, highlighted by a number of record-setting performances.
Andy Warner recorded firsts in the 100-yard dash, the 220 and the long jump, but the Wildcat boys’ track team lost 67-65 to Middleville Thornapple Kellogg.
‘The Blast & Cast Club will have a rifle shoot at the Hidden Lake range east of Bradley.
Pinewood Derby winners in Hopkins were Boy Scouts Dennis Homeric, Mike Kiosk, Jody Simpson and Don Arnsman.
Jaime Boss was valedictorian and Cindy Nicolai salutatorian for the Martin High School Class of 1976.
Mrs. Hattie Aubil, a native of Leighton Township, died at Kent Community Hospital. She was 85.
Harold Mort, who operated a radio and television sales and service shop in Hopkins, died at his home. He was 66.
Mrs. Richard Jennings was killed in a crash of an all-terrain vehicle near her home outside of Hopkins. She was 20 years old. She was a passenger in the ATV.
John Sebastian took advantage of the popular TV show “Welcome Back, Kotter” and went to No. 1.
75 Years Ago — May 11, 1951
The Rumery Agency, one of the oldest insurance firms in Allegan County, has opened a branch office in Allegan.
Mrs. Elma Wiggins, 82, died of a stroke at the Clark Memorial Home. She was born in Kent County and lived in Wayland for many years.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher noted Wayland’s population growth reported in the 1950 census was considerable and predicted more people in the future will choose to live in small towns rather than in cities.
The Ruby and Rosa Lunch room has opened on North Main Street after Mrs. Ruby Schwander sold it to Mrs. Ray Elgin and Mrs. Irene Nichols.
Miss Leila Jackson of Wayland has been tapped for membership in the prestigious Mortarboard national organization through Albion College.
Charles Kuhtic Jr. and his orchestra will perform at the Mother’s Day dance Saturday at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Hall.
Eighth grade graduation exercises will be held at the Dorr Township Hall May 16 with guest speaker the Rev. Ralph Dean. Seven local students will receive diplomas.
Betsy Anderson of Green Lake is in St. Mary’s Hospital suffering from a broken arm as a result of a skating accident.
Pvt. Alan Baugh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Baugh of Wayland, is a medic at Camp McKoy in Wisconsin.
Mrs. William Bartlett from Alcoholics Anonymous of Grand Rapids, was guest speaker at the United Methodist Church in Wayland.
Robert Genteman has left town for Pocahontas, Ill., where he will take over the Chevrolet dealership.
Members of the Wayland Extension Club met at the home of Mrs. Halden Hudson and Mrs. Elmond Strong demonstrated proper techniques for sanding furniture.
A fire at the Peter Mulder farm in Martin badly damaged his house, also known as the Kimball farm.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Wayne Morris and Lola Albright in “Sierra Passage”
- Roy Rogers and Trigger in “North of the Great Divide.”
- Fred Astaire, Jane Powell and Peter Lawford in “Royal Wedding.”
- Rod Cameron, Adrian Booth and Chill Wills in “Oh, Susanna.”
100 Years Ago — May 7, 1926
The Wayland community enjoyed a successful Better Homes Week, sponsored by the Ladies Library Club and chairwoman Mrs. Harold Delp. “Splendid” sermons were presented at a variety of churches April 25.
Delegates and members of the Rebekah lodges in Allegan and Barry counties met in Wayland for their first district meeting at the Woodmen Hall.
M.H. Beall published a letter of thanks to the community for many years of supporting his business, but promised his successor, Mr. Frank Malmstone, will do a fine job with the general store. Beall and his wife are moving to Kalamazoo.
Frank Baugh and son Clayton have purchased the Stockdale Building and plan to move into the downtown location for their shoe sales and repairs store.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Jay Hunt and Madge Bellamy in “Lightnin’” and Fred Thompson in “Riding the Wind.”
School at Corning has been closed on account of the illness of the teacher, Raymond Rider.
The Wayland Congregational Church is bidding residents to “honor your mother by attending church.”
Mrs. Sillily, who was well known at Hooker School, died at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids. Some of her old neighbors and friends attended her funeral in Grand Rapids.
A play will be presented by the Green Lake Ladies Embroidery Club at the IOOF Hall Wednesday evening.
Robert Merrill Shooks, age 5, died at Butterworthb Hospital in Grand Rapids of complications from measles, which became tonsilitis, then double pneumonia.
Mrs. William Mills and daughter Harriet Sawyer, have returned from Detroit, where Harriet had been in quarantine for five weeks for scarlet fever.
