25 Years Ago — Feb. 19, 1992
Martin Township officials
have decided to get tougher with the Deditch Appraisal Co. of Niles in completion of the appraisal of the entire township more than two years after it was hired.
The bridge on 136th Avenue west of 22nd Street along the Dorr and Hopkins Township border has been identified by the Michigan Department of Transportation for replacement at a cost of about $300,000 for the 1992 season.
Watson Township residents Pam Brown and Beth Wykstra are leading the charge against a proposed rails to trails project that would traverse south from Dorr Township and proceed through Hopkins and Monterey Townships, eventually to Kalamazoo County. They have collected 321 signatures of farmers and rural residents opposing the plans.
Wayland High School vocational preparation instructor Laura Sage has won a $400 grant from the Michigan Department of Education for nutrition and personal hygiene for special education students.
A petition bearing 167 signatures was presented to the Martin Township Board by Ruby Mulder of the Lakeview Estates mobile home park, asking to have 8th Street paved.
Pat Staley wrote a feature story about Wayland resident Irene Scheerhorn, who is staying active and taking up needlepoint despite battling Parkinson’s Disease.
Leighton Township has opened its recycling drop-off site at the township hall on Kalamazoo Avenue near Green Lake.
Percy and Dorothy Ross of Gun Lake celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. Percy managed a four-table pool room in Waykand that sold 10-cent hamburgers and 10-cent “Near Beer” until the Great Depression hit after 1929.
The Martin basketball team’s overall season record slipped to 4-11 after a 65-48 loss to Gobles, despite 15 points from Sean Talsma.
Kelly Reynolds, Zack Wilson and Jesse Beck led the charge for Hopkins in a sweep of two Baptist opponents, lifting the Vikings’ season record to 6-8.
Wayland was saddled with an overall season record of 0-15 after a loss to Kenowa Hills. One of the few bright spots was sophomore Matt Barghan, who had 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The Wayland wrestling team finished second in the O-K Gold Conference tournament and Kris Shyne (171 pounds) and Bob Sikkema (189) were league champions. Todd Meconis (145) barely missed a conference championship in overtime on a disputed call of a takedown.
The Wayland High School volleyball team stayed reasonably close behind the league leaders with a victory over Coopersville. Shannon VanPutten, Janelle Tietsma, Wendy Niemchick and Kristi Niewenhuis led the Lady Wildcats’ attack.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 15, 1967
Miss Connie Hayward and Fred Comer were hired to teach English and social studies, respectively, to start the second semester at Wayland High School. The move was made to comply with standards set by the Bureau of School Services.
David Blok of Moline, Robert Swartout of Wayland and Ed Holthof of Martin all have been selected as delegates from Allegan County to the Michigan Democratic Party Convention in Grand Rapids.
Wayland High School graduate Ruth Ann Tanner graduated from nursing school at Grand Rapids Junior College and will start working Feb. 20 at Blodgett Hospital.
Seven candidates have filed for the election of three Wayland City Council members in the April 3 election. They are Ben Ciboch, Marshall Towne, Donald Shafer, Bill Conwell, David Low, William Hooker and Charles Stoddard.
Action Ambulance Co. now is operating in Wayland, the firm’s third station in Allegan County. The pther two are in Allegan and Otsego.
Six students earned all-As for the first three marking period at Hopkins schools. They were seniors Russell Hanson, Carol Jager, Daniel Knuth and Mary Simpson, sophomore Linda Reynolds and eighth-grader Timothy Nakken.
The Wayland Board of Education is considering remodeling projects for Baker Elementary and the high school at a cost of about $25,000.
Wayland High School Girls Athletic Association President Kathy Smith has announced that Sue Worfel has been named sports manager, succeeding Dorothy Panyrek, who resigned. Candi Hayes has been selected as student coach of the basketball team.
Wyoming Park thrashed Wayland’s basketball team 84-43, dropping the Wildcats’ overall season record to 2-9. Mel Spencer scored 14 points and Rick Blok 11.
Fred MacMurray was starring in “Follow Me, Boys” at the Wayland Theatre.
The Hopkins chapter of the Future Farmers of America brought home three first places in district competition at Hamilton High School. The district champions included Russ Hanson in public speaking; the Ag Forum Team of Fred Krumm, Dan Lenhart, Dennis Fein, Doug Mann and Larry Thomas, and the Demonstration team of Ivan Knapp, Russ Coffey and Ron Miller.
The Buckinghams and “Kind of a Drag” broke the Monkees’ seven-week streak at No. 1 with “I’m a Believer.”
75 Years Ago — Feb. 20, 1942
“Next in order will be annual township caucuses and village election,” wrote Rollo Mosher in his weekly column. “Politics has taken a back seat to the war and its associated subjects.”
Renominated for village offices at the caucuses were President Rollo Mosher, Clerk Leo Noah, Treasurer Elizabeth Clark, Assessor George Ryno and Trustees John Gurney, Fred Greenawalt and Emil Dietiker.
The annual Father and Son Banquet at the Wayland High School is set for Feb. 23, with the ladies of the Parent-Teacher Association serving a Virginia ham dinner.
Roger Fowler and son Jack reeled in a pickeral that weighed 19½ pounds and measured 40½ inches while ice fishing on Green Lake.
The much-delayed and long-rdered fire hose finally arrived for the new Wayland Township fire truck, owing to the persistence of Township Supervisor Harold Fox. A huge reason for the trouble was the increasing need for rubber for the war effort.
The Rev. Roland Cross of Grand Rapids was guest speaker for a travelogue presentation to Rotary on China after his mission trip there.
The Rev. and Mrs. J.D. Shorney finally had their belongings moved out of their old residence at the Yeakey House on South Main to Shelton Park, Ohio, where he has established his pastorate since the beginning of the year.
The Wayland High School basketball team will conclude its season with contests against Hudsonville and Kelloggsville. The state tournament will begin next month in Kalamazoo.
The Wayland chapter of the Future Farmers cut two cords of wood and donated one to a local needy family as part of its community service project.
Fredrick Hilbert was a musical guest at the Father-Son Banquet at the Leighton Evangelical Church, with Mrs. Hilbert providing piano accompaniment.
The Wayland Ladies Library Club will celebrate its 49th anniversary with President Martha Japinga Feb. 24.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Shirley Temple, Herbert Marshall and Laraine Dayb in “Kathleen.”
- Jack Oakie, George Murphy, Linda Darnell, Walter Brennan and Milton Berle in “Rise and Shine.”
- Hedy Lamarr, Robert Young and Ruth Hussey in H.M. Pulham, Esq.”
100 Years Ago — Feb. 16, 1917
Editor-Publisher George Mosher wrote: “The village political pot is again beginning to boil and the present indications are that there will be two tickets in the field again this year… Present indications are that both caucuses will be well attended, as village affairs have been chief topic of conversation during the past week.” Local candidates included Guert Fales for treasurer and D.S. Douglas, William Button, Albert Briggs, George Wheaton and Fred Wallace for highway commissioner.
Juniors and faculty “were entertained by a jolly Valentine party” at the farm home of Arvis Huttleson.
Wayland High School freshmen took advantage of good sleighing conditions and to the tune of many bells rode to the home of Bernice Ketts of Moline and they stuck together with a good old-fashioned taffy pull.
Mrs. Josie Blossom and son Fred were called to Detroit because of the death of son and brother Bert, who formerly lived on a farm in Martin Township.
Erastus Jordan, who served in the Civil War for three years, died in New York,. where he moved to in November. His daughter, Mrs. W. H. Lewis reported word of his passing.
Consumers Power General Manager C.W. Tippy said his company will not bring lines to Wayland until prices for necessary materials come down to normal. A plant would give current to Martin, Shelbyville, Hopkins, Wayland and Bradley. He said normal cost for materials would be $40,000, but current costs are $65,000.
“LOST: A $10 bill in Wayland State Bank Feb. 15. Finder please return to the bank.
Mrs. Charity Edwards died at her Dorr area home. The funeral was held at the Hilliards Congregational Church. She is survived by a son and an aged mother, Grandma Pullen, 89 years old.
Walter Beile has purchased a blacksmith shop at Burnips Corners and is living and working there.
“Folks vied with one another as to who could tell the biggest tale about Old Man Winter. ‘Twenty-four below’ was the best heard.” It was later reported “The frozen material is not conducive to the flow of milk.”
PHOTO: Shelbyville school.