25 Years Ago — Feb. 17, 1993
A petition to recall Hopkins Board of Education member Christine Schwartz has been filed for a clarity hearing in Allegan with County Probate Judge George Greig, Treasurer Patricia Birkholz and Clerk-Register of Deeds Joyce Watts. Karon Knobloch, who wrote the wording for the petition has complained that Schwartz seems to be an advocate of private religious education rather than public schools. Schwartz has served on the board for only eight months and obviously has ruffled more than a few feathers.
The Watson and Monterey Township boards are reluctant to pay rent on the new Hopkins Fire Barn in the village as part of a fire district arrangement.
The Martin Board of Education had a 3-3 tie in a vote on whether to continue to use a literature volume that includes scary supernatural material, such as the witches’ scene in Macbeth and some work by Edgar Alan Poe.
The Hopkins Fire Department has decided to increase charges for fire runs from $150 to $250 per incident. Hopkins Township Supervisor Kevin Cronin said the new rates are consistent with those of other departments in the county.
Leighton Township Board members were sharply critical of the Allegan County Recycling surcharge program and Director Mary Jones. Hopkins Township already has suspended its participation temporarily.
Rick Harmsen was nominated without opposition in the annual Hopkins Village Caucus, reported to be the only village election process still use in all of Michigan. Geraldine Collier was nominated again for clerk, but she faces competition from Dallas Kerber and Gloria Meendering. Sandra Morris will be the only candidate for village clerk, as is Judy Weick for assessor.
The Globe published a photo of Kevin Goodwin, Marisa Parker, Chris VanHouten and Jessica Godzinski hoisting the state runner-up trophy for Class B in forensics. Coach is Denise Kling-Swanson.
The Martin volleyball team, coached by Kelli Morris, is in a three-way dogfight for the Southwest Athletic Conference title with Lawrence and Fennville. The Clippers have been getting some heady play from Jenny Merrill, Kelly Germaine and Teresa Hazen.
Josh Conley, Matt Salady, Rick Jones and Andy Alexander claimed league championships in their weight divisions as the Clippers captured the league wrestling crown as a team.
The Martin basketball team now is 9-5 after splitting two contests, getting solid offensive performances by Sean Talsma and Chip Nightingale.
Cedar Springs scoring machoine Nick Wolfe pumped in 25 points to pace his team to an 86-66 victory over Wayland, now 5-11 overall. Owen Reigler had 16 points and Jon Ainsworth 12 for the Wildcats.
Justin Arms won the O-K Gold title in his weight class and Todd Meconis and Tim Kopp were runners-up as Wayland was fourth in the league in the league wrestling tournament.
Grand Rapids Baptist and Freedom Baptist defeated Hopkins to sink the Vikings to a 1-13 overall season record in hoops.
Wayland High School athletes and fans for the third consecutive year earned an MHSAA award for sportsmanship.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 14, 1968
The special election Feb. 19 to choose the successor to the late 23rd District State Senator Harold Volkema will pit Republican Gary Byker against Democrat Chester Harmsen. Byker outpolled former Senator Fred Hilbert in a crowded primary field in January.
The Hopkins Village Caucus will be held Feb. 19 and it is expected that Vern Weick will be nominated for another term as president.
Tony Guerriro of Grand Rapids has purchased the Wayland Theatre from Cecil Kincaid, who has owned it for the past five years. The new owner has two other movie houses.
The Wayland Chamber of Commerce is working on a Washington’s Birthday dance, plans for the centennial celebration in August, a queen pageant in April and working with local Boy Scouts on a Fourth of July parade.
Five people have filed for trustee seats on the Wayland City Council. Incumbents Arnold Wilde, Hugh DeWeerd and Walt Gurney will be challenged in April by Robert Marutz and Benjamin Ciboch. Treasurer Rose Marie Feldwich will be challenged by Herbert Klinesteker. Mayor Phil Reno and Assessor Ernie Martin will be unopposed.
The Wayland Board of Education has decided to try again at the polls to persuade the electorate to approve a 14-mill levy for one year in the April 1 special election.
Wayland Board of Education member Wally Wakeman asked his colleagues to go on record as opposing all efforts to publicly fund private and religious education. They did on a split vote.
The Allegan County chapter of the Young Republicans heard a presentation by Senate nominee Gary Byker. Ellis Wykstra of Martin is president of the group.
Grand Rapids Mayor Chris Sonneveldt has declared Feb. 25 Phil Regan Day and he will be in town to promote his book being published by Zondervan. In the off season Regan, a Wayland High School graduate and Mahjor League pitcher, sells sporting equipment for Holwerda-Snoap.
Howard Thomas scored five quick points in the first two minutes of a basketball game against Middleville, but the Trojans came back to take a 65-53 verdict. Gary Van Elst had 20 points for TK. Thomas, Lee Pankratz and Jerry LaValley each had 11 points for the Wildcats.
Mrs. Pat McKee’s girls’ phys ed classes have been blowing at Airport Lanes for the past eight weeks. High individual game was turned in by Carol Daniels at 191 and by Connie Sipkema with a 185. Daniels also had best series at 487 and Debbie Franks a 438.
Martin upset Saugatuck82-75, with John Anderson scoring 18 points and Ron Kraai 16.
Hopkins picked up its third cage victory of the season by turning g back Gobles 50-46, with Don Walker scoring 18 points and Bill Simpson 12.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Dick Van Dyk in “Fitzwilly.”
Paul Muriat and his orchesta repeated its No. 1 finish among the nation’s top tunes with “Love Is Blue.”
75 Years Ago — Feb. 19, 1943
Otto Finkbeiner and his painting machine have been busy lately brightening up the interior of American Legion hall and Harold Koster’s AG Store.
Some 20 Wayland Rotarians joined sponsor Allegan in establishing the Rotary in Otsego.
Member of the Wayland High School home economics III class are promoting a pamphlet that helps residents with food rationing programs necessitated by the war effort.
Jack Gurney and Zeke Smith are in charge of the next American Legion dinner meeting.
George Ryno was nominated for president, succeeding Rollo G. Mosher, at the Village Caucus. Ryno has been village president for 10 of the last 15 years. Other nominees were J.R. Rugaber, Clayton Blue and Clarence Calkins as trustees and Charles Clark as assessor.
The Wayland Ladies Library Club celebrated the group’s 50th anniversary and honored Fanny Hoyt as a charter member from 1893.Mildred Smith, C.D. Ellinger, Merle Andringa and G.D. Fales sand “Songs of Yesteryear” in appropriate costumes. Harry Elenbaas presented a speech about how husbands viewed the club through the years. Martha Japinga was toastmaster.
Congressman Clare Hoffman spoke to members of the Wayland Rotary on “Washinton Trends,” warning club members that some federal officials seem to want to remake the world after the war is won.
William Manning, 76, a longtime resident of Hopkins, died at his home.
Ruth Chrisman has joined the Women’s Army Corps and Helen Hilbert has joined the WAVES.
A film, “Farming for Victory,” was to be shown at Wayland High School auditorium with H. Kome, local Sinclair agent, present to talk about the recent labor shortage in agriculture.
Then Wayland High School chapter of the FFA is promoting treatments for Horse Bot.
The Wayland High School freshman class is leading in the contest for raising War Savings Stamps and Bonds with $768 collected.
Cpl. Ed Kaminski has reported for duty in North Africa after completed instruction in tank battalion.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Judy Canova and Allen Jones in “True to the Army.”
- J. Carroll Naish and John Shepperd in “Dr. Renault’s Secret.”
- Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth in “You Were Never Lovelier.”
- Loretta Young and Brian Ahern in “A Night to Remember.”
100 Years Ago — Feb. 15, 1918
Mr. John Plough of Kalamazoo is the new science teacher at Wayland school.
The high school’s modern history class had a debate on the question of prohibiting arranged royal marriages between countries because they too often lead to wars.
Lloyd Cutler and Custer Sherwood had a boxing match, but the latter had to drop out after the third round because he was exhausted.
The Interurban is back to running on schedule after being delayed so often by the blizzard from last month. Conditions now permit students from Bradley and Moline to attend school in Wayland.
The Michigan Railway Co. reported a loss of $77,000 in business because of the inclement weather.
The commander of the late Forrest Lewis of Wayland, who died last month in a hospital in France, said Lewis was a good soldier who was well liked by his fellow soldiers.
Leighton Township native Roscoe Smith died at his home at age 42.
A novel system of teaching rapid calculations is being introduced at Wayland school for fifth- through eighth-graders.
Pearl White and “Lonesome Luke” will be shown Wednesday evening at Frank’s Opera House.
There will be a Washington’s Birthday dance in Yeoman Hall, Bradley, with music provided by the Halloran Orchestra.
The farm of Jennie Ryno was burned to the ground while she was attending Sunday church services.
Mrs. Augustus Sooy has accepted a position as matron at the Michigan State Normal College in Kalamazoo.
Plainwell merchants have started charging two cents for deliveries under 50 cents and five cents for over 50.
Village Clerk L.P. Chapple, in a voter registration legal notice for the upcoming village election, “Women who possess the qualifications of male voters may be registered and may vote upon any question involving direct expenditures of public money or issue of bonds.”
