(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Jan. 27, 1993
More than half of Michigan homeowners can expect property tax increases in 1993, 14.4% in Allegan County and 15% in Barry County. Watson Township is getting socked with the highest hike at 30.3 percent.
The Globe had a front page feature story about Michigan State Trooper Lane Booms of the Wayland post and his K-9 companion, Kahn, a German shepherd born in Czechoslavakia that will be expected to track down criminals, missing persons and illegal drugs.
The VanPolen and Arnold families wrote a letter to the editor thanking reporter Pat Staley for her stories about their efforts to have the city recognize their pot-bellied pigs as legitimate pets.
Amanda Sikkema wrote a guest “Soap Box” piece praising the military for considering allowing gays and lesbians to serve, insisting it’s a human rights issue.
The Wayland Township Board has decided to reduce the number of Planning Commission members from seven to six, rescinding a previous action of reducing to five. Don Milburn and Dave Rantz were reappointed to the commission.
Three downtown Wayland businesses, Wayland Carpet & Linoleum, Wayland Cleaners and Pizza Rach were victims of vandals who smashed windows.
The Allegan County United Way is reporting a 13% increase in collections this year over last, reaching $407,000.
Shirley Damveld, wife of Dorr Standard owner Bernie Damveld and matriarch of a family known for owning two local gas stations, died at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids. She was 62.
Helen Alflen, deputy city manager, deputy treasurer and deputy city clerk over the past 25 years in Wayland, decided to retire to travel and spend more time with her family. She commented, “Times have changed. The small town atmosphere and operations are gone. We’re progressing.”
Sgt. Harry Smith is retiring at the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police after 15 years.
Anna Spray of Wayland was named Area 12 Special Olympics coach of the year.
Dennis Brenner, a 1967 graduate of Hopkins High School, was chosen boys’ track coach of the year after leading Litchfield to a 9-0 dual meet record, conference and regional championships and runner-up accolades in the Class D state meet.
Wildcat grapplers Jon Northrup, Steve Merren and Steve Kelch were temporarily missing from the lineup, leading to a double defeat at the hands of Comstock Park and Hesperia.
Martin split in two basketball games p-layed onj consecutive nights, edging Decatur but losing to Saugatuck. Chip Nightingale netted 17 points, Chris Rantz 16 and Sean Talsma 11 in the victory, as the Clippers now stand at 5-4 overall.
50 Years Ago — Jan. 24, 1968
Gary Byker of Hudsonville won the extremely crowded special primary election for the Republican Party. Wayland’s Fred Hilbert was second. Byker will face Democrat Chester Harmsel of Holland in the special election Feb. 19 to succeed the late Harold Volkema.
The special election on a 14-mill, one-year proposal for Wayland schools is approaching Jan. 19. Officials say the one-year increase is needed to meet the new teachers’ payroll schedule and other added costs.
Janine Hampel, a 1967 graduate of Wayland High School and daughter of George and Evelyn Hampel, is one of the queen candidates at Grand Valley State College for its Winter Homecoming festivities.
Kessler’s Undies and Woolies is welcoming new sales manager Benjamin Kleiman, who succeeds Joe Burns, who’s taking a semi-retirement and moving back to his native Nebraska.
Walt Wenzel, owner of the local hardware store, was chosen president of the Wayland Chamber of Commerce.
Victor Flser has been selected chairman of the board of directors for Moline State Bank and Joe Haveman remains as president.
Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Phil Regan, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers and a 1955 graduate of Wayland High School, will speak Sunday morning at Calvary Church of Wayland.
Cora Hoffmaster, widow of Claude Hoffmaster, president of the bank in Hopkins, died at the age of 93.
George Creen, director of civil defense for the Michigan State Police, was special guest presenter at the Allegan County Firemen’s Association dinner at the Wayland Grange Hall.
Kalamazoo Christian humbled the Wayland varsity basketball team, which made only 16 percent of its shots and was outrebounded 53-31.
Martin lost 82-56 to Lawton. Ron Kraai scored 16 points, John Anderson 15 and Steve Goodrich 14.
Hopkins captured its first hoops victory of the season in the Al-Van Conference. Terry Yonkers had 20 points and 18 rebounds. Don Walker added 25 points.
Lynn Freeman of Moline won four trophies at a baton twirling competition at Grandville. She is a drum majorette for the Wayland High School band.
The lineups for donkey basketball at Wayland High School: Rotary — Robert Hendrixson, Sam Dykstra, Emil Morlock, Joe LaValley, Allen Dangremond, David Low, Marshall Towne and Ty Finkbeiner. WHS Faculty — Gene Washchuk, Wendell Bastian, Fred Comer, Jerry Nelson, Joe Iciek, Darryl Fleser, Ken Kolk and Bob Kerley.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Oscar winner “In the Heat of the Night,” starring Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier.
John Fred & His Playboy Band remained on top of the music charts with their one-hit wonder “Judy in Disguise.”
75 Years Ago — Jan. 29, 1943
Rollo G. Mosher, editor-publisher, reported he had just returned from the annual meeting of the Michigan Press Association, where just about everybody was talking about the war effort, but very few were discussing the plight of farmers with shortage of manpower.
The Globe published a front-page photo and story about Richard L. “Ty” Finkbeiner, who earned his silver wings after graduating from Harlinger Army Gunnery School and was promoted to sergeant.
Also published was a picture of Lt. “Bud” Malmstone, who now is serving with the Air Force in New Guinea in the “Bully Beef Bombers” outfit.
Junior Betty Snell, a Wayland High School graduate, has been elected to the Campus Judiciary Board at Michigan State College.
Rationing coupons will go into effect for Wayland businesses Jan. 27, according to an announcement by Wayland State Bank.
The state fire marshal’s office will begin conducting fire hazard inspections monthly, according to Fire Chief C.D. Averill.
- F. Gentemen of Wayland was elected secretary-treasurer of the Southwest Michigan Parish Jersey Show Association.
Rollo Mosher predicted Michigan Gov. Harry Kelly will veto the State Legislature’s recently passed time change bill, saying, “I’m between Perdition and the deep blue sea.”
Frank Krulac, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nick Krulac of Wayland, announced he has “gotten his Jap and tell the Doc I got one for him too” in the jungles of New Guinea. “Doc” was veterinarian O. VanBrussel of Wayland and the soldier insisted he was avenging the combat deaths of local boys Robert Kovar and Joe Ambrose.
The three Friday night basketball games on tap were the alumni vs. the WHS girls’ basketball team, the Wayland and Hopkins reserves and then the two schools’ varsity quintets.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Jimmy Lydon, Charles Smith and Rita Quigley in “Henry Alrich, Editor.”
- Faye Emerson and Van Johnson in “Murder in the Big House.”
- Fred MacMurray, Paulette Goddard and Susan Hayward in “The Forest Ranger.”
- Brian Donlevy, Robert Preston and McDonald Carey in “Wake Island.”
100 Years Ago — Jan. 25, 1918
Forrest D. Lewis, a native of Leighton Township and son of James O. Lewis of Wayland Township, died of an undisclosed illness at Ft. Thomas, Newport, Ky., on Jan. 20. It was noted, “Less than a month in the service of his country.”
The Helvetia Milk Co. is resuming handling milk orders with renewed use of the railroad after a temporary shutdown caused by inclement weather.
Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Sooy have received word that their son. Lt. Glenn Sooy, has arrived safely in France to report for duty with the Allied forces.
Francis Hooker, who is serving in the U.S. Navy, wrote a letter to the Globe from Waukegan, Ill., where, “People sure do treat sailors fine down in this part of the country.”
The D. W. Shattuck Store is reporting its merchandise is not affected by any embargoes caused by the war, so it has a full line of products for sale.
Wayland native Ray L. Heazlit, was reported to have died in Wichita, Kansas. “During his youth and early manhood, he was closely identified with the business and social life in Wayland.” Word was that he died of an attack of acute indigestion.
Deyo Fox, manual training teacher at Hudson High School south of Jackson, is in town visiting relatives after his school closed for lack of fuel. Schools in Bradley and Shelbyville have been shuttered for two weeks for the same reason. However, the Wayland Board of Education has announced Wayland school will reopen Jan. 29.
Wayland High School senior Harold Calkins and Lee Davis of Dorr have announced their intentions to join the air corps for the war overseas.
A large number of small one-line ads throughout the newspaper announced that “Charlie Chaplain is coming to Frank’s Opera House.”
On the front page appeared this notice: “Keep up the food sullpy for our European allies… We’re already sending them as much food as we can with the concentrated nutrition value in the least shipping space. These foods are wheat, beef, pork, dairy products and sugar… Our solution is to eat less of these foods (domestically) and more of other foods.”
