25 Years Ago — Feb. 3, 1993
Though the Moline sewer project has experienced many problems, Leighton Township Supervisor Dar VanderArk announced that it is nearly complete. He added, “If someone asked me now about another sewer system, I’d tell them to go jump in a lake.”
The Dorr Township Board has approved the DDA’s plans for tax increment financing for extension of 142nd Avenue about a mile and a quarter west from 16th Street.
A mystery remains about the identity of a motorist who struck and injured teen-ager Kevin Brand on South Main Street near Rudy’s Restaurant. Local authorities say they have no leads.
Wayland Board of Education member Diane Smith wrote a tongue-in-cheek letter about seeing on Channel 8 a doctor recommend deep breathing and thinking positive thoughts to handle stress. She noted the much-maligned Michigan Model teaches the same advice.
Wayland Township building inspections are playing catch-up by Professional Code Inspections in the wake of the severance of a contract with Michigan Township Services.
Ampet, Inc., a division of Amcorn of Bradley, has launched a 100% recyclable cat litter product called Bio-Flush.
Lt. Steve DeBoer, commander of the Michigan State Police post in Wayland, has been bypassed in the selection of an emergency 911 Board for Allegan County because the county 911 director is his wife, Julie.
Wayland High School graduate Ray Spencer has been chosen U.S. Army Recruiter of the Month for the Great Lakes Region.
Scott Sullivan wrote a feature story about Ruth Washburn of Wayland, leader of the local “Great Decisions” series.
The Wayland High School theater arts class will present “The Octette Bridge Club” at the Wayland High School auditorium.
Wayland lost a 39-33 dual meet decision to Forest Hills Northern that included a controversial forfeit decision made by the referee. Later in the evening, Jason Stanton, originally slated to wrestle at 162, recorded the slowest pin in school history, just seven seconds before the final buzzer.
Led by the stellar play of Kelly Germain, Danielle Buys and Jenny Merrill, Martin took over first place in the Southwest Athletic Conference volleyball standings with a straight-set triumph over Fennville.
The Clippers’ basketball team moved into second in the SAC with two victories sparked by freshman Richie Guerrant, Chris Rantz and Mike Smith.
The Hopkins basketball team dropped three straight games the previous week to fall to 1-9 over for the campaign.
Despite string individual performances by Todd Tarnutzer, Bjorn Olson, Jeff Browand, Mike Selzer and Nick Mandaville, the Wildcat swim team lost a Rainbow Conference showdown with Forest Hills Northern.
50 Years Ago — Jan. 31, 1967
Wayland Union School’s proposal for a 14-mill increase for one year to cover a new salary schedule for teachers was defeated by a landslide, 1,184 to 248. The turnout at the polls was believed to be a record.
Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey commented, “It is our opinion that people are not opposed to school taxes, but the stumbling block in this election was the large amount being asked.”
Helmey also opined that negotiating the return of American sailors in North Korea after the Pueblo incident was like Chamberlain doing appeasement with Hitler in 1938 and the decision to stop the bombing of North Vietnam was foolish.
Yet Wayland School Board President Wally Wakeman, in a letter to the editor, made the astonishing announcement he would support Democrat Chester Harmsen in the general election to succeed the late Senator Harold Volkema. Wakeman, a life-long Republican who backed former Sen. Fred Hilbert of Wayland, said two religious groups took advantage of the crowded GOP field to hijack the primary and jeopardize the separation of church and state with the victory by Gary Byker of Hudsonville.
Former Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher complained that absentee ballots were handled poorly in Florida so that he and about 20 others couldn’t get their ballots to Michigan in time to support Hilbert.
Congressman Guy VanderJagt (R-Luther) was to be guest speaker at the Lincoln Day Dinner Feb. 17 in Allegan.
Eighth-graders Linda Shoemaker and Joe Permoda were the only St. Therese students to earn all-As.
Harold Dekker of Wayland received a belated Bronze Star award for his service during World War II in Germany.
Wayland High School graduate Dr. Thomas Hudson has opened his practice in Kalamazoo near the Borgess Medical Center.
Earning all-As for the marking period at Hopkins High School and Middle School were Sherri Nakken, Karen McEwen, Linda Morris, Robin FromanKathy Wamhoff and JoAnne Merbs.
Tear gas accidentally was released at the Wayland State Bank, routing President Arthur H. Johnson and his son, Arthur C. Fire crews arrived shortly after to clear the air “with only a few tears shed.”
The Ladies Library Club planned a special dinner at the Masonic Lodge to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
Jim Hendrixson scored 20 points, but the Wayland eighth-graders lost to Hamilton. Junior varsity center Don Klein dropped in 23, but it also wasn’t enough to top the Hawkeyes. The varsity got the worst of it, though, with a 56-37 shellacking, with Rick Middleton scoring nine points.
Wayland’s first-year wrestling squad lost 37-15 to Caledonia. Tim Permoda, Brent Irwin and Ron Straub all won by decisions and heavyweight Mike Nardin scored a pin.
John Anderson netted 17 points and Jim Keyzer 13, as Martin almost upset undefeated Bloomingdale, falling short 57-54.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “Gentle Giant,” with Dennis Weaver, Vera Miles and Ralph Meeker.
The Lemon Pipers took over the No. 1 slot on the music charts with their one-hit wonder, “Green Tambourine.”
75 Years Ago — Feb. 5, 1943
Miss Berry Van Weelden, niece of Wayland Elementary Principal Martha Japinga, had members of the Wayland Rotary Club spellbound by her storytelling of a muder-mystery last week.
Harold Fox and Fenton Sebright teamed up their culinary talents to prepare a tasty meal for American Legion dinner of fried ham, eggs, baked potatoes and baked beans. “Just how a sailor gob and an Army buck could team up for such a fine meal is more than I can figure out,” remarked Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher.
Mrs. Jane Grantham, a native of England, died at the age of 75 at her home just south of Moline.
Frank Tichvon is home on 15-day furlough from building a highway in Alaska.
Harvey L. Zeerip has announced that $27.15 has been raised in Wayland’s annual March of Dimes campaign.
Bill McElwee, chairman of the Wayland High School penny carnival, has indicated the event was pulled off successfully last week.
The Wayland Village Caucus will be held at Village Hall downtown and the Allegan County GOP convention will be at the Griswold in Allegan Feb. 19.
Tech Sgt. Bill McLaughlin of Watson is on 15-day furlough from military service, as is Roger Austin of Bradley.
Marshall Towne, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Towne of Wayland, has been promoted to head chef on a Naval ship serving somewhere in the Atlantic.
Pfc. Valentine Baweja has been released from the hospital in the Pacific after suffering a bout of appendicitis.
Letters from servicemen serving overseas were published from Eldon Milheim, Eugene Robinson and Bruno Pischel.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Burgess Meredith and Claire Trevor in “Street of Chance.”
- Richard Arlen and Arline Judge in “Wildcat.”
- Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland in “The Major and the Minor.”
- Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball in “The Big Street.”
100 Years Ago — Feb. 1, 1918
Special dairy meetings have been held recently in Hopkinsburg, Moline and Chicora. Guest speaker Prof. F.C. Kraege of Wisconsin has handled the sessions.
Allegan County Register of Deeds Sid L. Conrad, a native of Leighton Township and Wayland High School graduate, died of cancer in his home in Allegan. He was 58.
The A.B. Knowlton Co. of Grand Rapids has purchased 1,000 cords of wood at an area near Green Lake and the GRI Railway firm is hauling the product north on gondola cars.
- E. Ward has recovered sufficiently from smallpox to return to his barber shop. His father insisted there is no danger of contagion.
The Overton Condensary has been forced to shut down for several days because of a lack of fuel.
A letter writer identified as Mrs. Lincoln in Orlando, Fla., reported seeing an actual chain gang working along the road near Wekina Springs. “I had never seen prisoners in their striped uniforms before. They were mostly Negroes.”
Interurban cars are expected soon to commence running ain after the worst blizzard in memory. Indications are that workers from the Michigan Railway Co. are working feverishly to shovel snow drifts from the tracks.
The Bradley and Wayland Granges will have a joint meeting for double installation of officers, under the watchful eyes of state delegates Mr. and Mrs. Carlton Ingham of Hopkins, who couldn’t be at the ceremony in January because of the inclement weather.
Wayland High School was so proud of new military enlistee Harold Calkins it issued a statement: “Harold is a good reason Kaiser Bill should worry, for if he plays the war game as well as he plays football, he is a valuable man for Uncle Sam.”
The junior play at Wayland High School will be something a little different — a musical comedy, starring Cleo Fox and Mildred Wing. Mrs. C.L Yeakey is handling the music.
Miss Ollie Looker was the winner of the spelling contest for sixth- and seventh-graders.
