(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Dec. 2, 1992
Cheryl Ann Jones, 25, of Hickory Corners, was arrested on an open murder charge in connection with the death of her mother, Mary Jean, 53, who was found dead in the trunk of Jones’ car.
Jackie Straub, dispatcher for the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police, community activist with the Lions Club, Athletic Boosters, EMT with the Wayland Area Ambulance Service and Summerfest chair, will be grand marshal for the annual Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas parade Dec. 5.
Scott Sullivan of Muskegon has joined the staff at the Penasee Globe as writer and sports reporter, succeeding Paul Jackson, who was arrested for growing marijuana on his property. Todd Tubergen had been filling in as sports writer in the interim.
Faith Stauffer-Geisel wrote a scathing letter to the editor, criticizing the Wayland school system’s designating drug-free zones as “arrogant” and calling the history classes at the high school “Propaganda 101.”
Tracy Iciek wrote a letter correcting the Globe’s assertion a week before that the Hopkins girsl’ basketball team won its first district title since 1975. Iciek was a member of the Lady Viking teams that won district crowns for straight years, from 1975 to 1978.
Agnes Patterson was grand marshal of Martin’s Christmas parade, riding in her classic 1968 Buick LeSabre. A charter member of the Martin Reformed Church, she had taught choir for the schools and was author of the “Martin Musings” column for many years for the Globe.
Cool climate blamed on the eruption of Mount Pinatubo over the summer was given as the biggest reason for a decline in visits at the Yankee Springs State Park in 1992.
Dorr Township decided to terminate the beer tent as one of its offerings for the Fourth of July celebration, even though a lawsuit contending a minor had been served was dismissed.
Dr. Charles Alfaraz, M.D., has joined the staff at the Wayland Medical Clinic on South Main Street. He will practice family medicine, including pediatrics.
An undefeated Hart team (23-0) ended the Cinderella Hopkins girls’ basketball season with a 9-15 overall record in the Class C regional semifinals. The Lady Vikings fell 51-28.
Members of the Wayland chapter of the Jaycees served 56 people a community Thanksgiving dinner at Rudy’s Restaurant on South Main Street in Wayland.
50 Years Ago — Nov. 29, 1967
The Wayland City Council took up significant discussions about the local sanitary sewer plan in the wake of last month’s stinging defeat in a special election to install such a system.
Curt Sebright was picture on the front page with coach Lyle Berry after receiving word he had been selected to the Expressway League all-star team and the WOOD-TV all-area team. Other all-conference selections from Wayland included Lee Pankratz, Ray Spender, Rick Middleton, Arlyn Patterson, Mike DeWeerd, John Bilski and George Towne.
A letter from a writer only identified as “W.” outlined everything to be thankful for over the holiday, insisting, “America will live up to the words of the Pledge of Allegiance” and prevail against communism. “I have many blessings to count this day and I thank God for the blessing of being born in America.”
The Wayland Board of Education has scheduled Jan. 29 as the date for a special millage election, but hasn’t yet decided on how much to ask for. The current levy is 13.09 total mills.
Julian Growmer will present “Hawaiian Paradise” at the next Wayland Rotary Club-sponsored travelogue at the “girls’ gym” Thursday evening, Dec. 7.
The newly-remodeled city offices will be open to public inspection at an open house Saturday, Dec. 2.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Marklevitz of Hillards will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary.
Community citizens and officials are being invited to a special meeting Tuesday evening, Dec. 5, to discuss plans for celebrating Wayland’s centennial this summer.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t.”
Members of the Wayland Grange were treated to a presentation by Blanche Bowen on her visit to the wax museum in Washington D.C.
Tickets to the Firemen’s Ball Saturday evening, Dec. 2, are no longer are available, as they have sold out.
The Monkees hit No. 1 on the music charts nationally for the last time in their brief career with “Daydream Believer.”
75 Years Ago — Dec. 4, 1942
A passenger vehicle and pickup truck crash just outside the double garage on East Superior owned by Mrs. Frank Yerick resulted in a two-vehicle fire. The Wayland Fire Department extinguished the blaze quiclky enough to save a nearby chicken coop and its inhabitants.
Stanley Burkhardt, longtime area farmer and milk hauler, died after a two-week illness. he was 74.
Lt. George Cozzens is home on furlough from military service for a brief visit with his mother, Mrs. F.S. Cozzens.
Most local service stations reported record-breaking sales for two days just before implementation of gas rationing for the war effort.
Twenty-three members of the Wayland Garden Club met at the home of Fannie Hoyt, the local librarian.
Frank Konecny reported in a letter to the Globe that he had earned expert rifleman accolades during training with the Marines in California. He is a 1940 graduate of Wayland High School.
Harry Kaminski, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Kaminski, wrote a letter summarizing his visit to the Holy Land in Jerusalem. He is stationed with the U.S. Army in Egypt.
Mabel Cooper Andryshak, 49, died at her Hopkins-area home. She had been a nurse at one time for Pontiac Hospital.
Miss Leona Ellen Wrablseki has completed her enrollment program with the WAACS in Kalamazoo and awaiting assignment, either in Des Moines, Iowa, or in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The Hopkins Ladies Library Club has announced there will be no community Christmas tree lighting because of an effort to conserve electricity for the war effort.
Wayland and Hopkins will begin the basketball season Friday, Dec. 4, on the Blue Devils’ floor.
A new course in farm machinery repair will be taught by Herbert Calkins at Wayland High School.
Wayland schools officials publicly thanked a dozen local citizens for helping to keep the school open for three days during the start of the gas rationing program.
The Wayland Ladies Library Club’s annual Christmas party will feature presentation of holiday presents to 40 to 50 Indian children.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Humphrey Bogart and Irene Manning in “The Big Shot.”
- Ricardo Cortez and Rochelle Hudson in “Rubber Racketeers.”
- Humphrey Bogart, Mart Astor and Sidney Greenstreet in “Across the Pacific.”
- Anna Neagle and Robert Newton in “Wings and the Woman
100 Years Ago — Nov. 30, 1917
Letters from two servicemen, Dick Heydenberk in France and Ray Peet in Washington D.C., were published on the front page of the Globe.
Mary Hess, 85, died at her Hopkins area farm. She had come to Michigan from Ithaca, N.Y., when she was 5 years old. A charter member of the Dorr Congregational Church, she taught elementary school in the area.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hooker, regarded as pioneers in Leighton Township, were observing their 60th wedding anniversary. He is 84 years old and she is 76.
A.E. Weaver was elected worshipful master of the James Fenton Masonic Lodge No. 224.
The Wayland Congregational Church held a formal reopening at its house of worship on East Superior Street.
A telegram was received announcing the death of Erastus N. Bates in Lynn Haven, Fla. His remains will be brought here for burial.
A box social at the Shelbyville school raised more than $25 for the Army YMCA.
Mrs. Goldie Stockdale now is teaching at the elementary level at Wayland school because Mrs. G.B. Schuh has left for Flint with her husband.
The Helvetia Milk Co. gifted 49 employees with turkeys for the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Wayland High School junior class held a party at the Yeoman Hall in Bradley.
Recesses at the intermediate school have been suspended during the recent spate of stormy winter weather. Instead, the children are given five-minute rest periods with the windows open “and a rapid calisthenics drill is enjoyed.”
Only two grammar school pupils were absent during the entire month of November.
WHS senior Genevieve Shoger and freshman Dorothy Santas tied for top academic honors at Wayland school for November.
Dave, Thank you for posting the picture of the Congregational Church on West Superior St. in Wayland. My family grew up in this church and some of us married there. Wonderful memories.