25 Years Ago — Feb. 24, 1993

Globe staff writer Pat Staley penned a front page feature story about abundance and quality of child care providers in the Wayland area.

The Dorr Township Planning Commission granted tentative approval for a preliminary plan for an industrial park just to the east of U.S.-131, bordered on the north by 108^th Street. Developers of the project were Jay and Arnie Morren.

Marie Tucker, executive director of the Wings of Hope organization of Allegan County, wrote a letter to the editor telling citizens that hospice is a better alternative than that suggested by Dr. Jack Kevorkian for end of life decisions.

Bryce Miller of Gun Lake wrote a letter exhorting state legislators to do their jobs and pass some kind of tax reform, not tax relief, to better handle Michigan’s crisis in funding public education.

Joe Miller has reported he has been able to collect $13,000, better than half the goal, for completing his project to build a demonstration fire safety house for educating young people.

Martha Engle of Dowling has been appointed postmaster for the service at Shelbyville, coming from Covert.

Trayton Lull has decided to retire after 32 years as proprietor of Hopkins Hardware. He is selling to fellow Hopkins High School graduate, Greg Betcher, 36.

The first-ever Dorr Parks Advisory Board will include as members Norm Fifelski, Debbie Funk, Stan Cron, Connie Bridges, Steve Grantham and John Boersma. The group, a forerunner to the Parks and Recreation Commission, was to meet quarterly.

Robert John “Barney Nicolai, 79, died at Danville, Ky. He had been owner of a car dealership and the Nicolai Gulf gas station. He was perhaps best known for his weekly Globe ad that showed his picture and announced, “Barney Says:”

Lawrence took the SAC volleyball championship with a straight set victory over Martin, despite heroic efforts by Dana Shoemaker and Teresa Hazen. The Clippers, now 13-4 overall, will try to rebound in the league tournament.

Sean Talsma scored 19 points and freshman Richie Guerrant had 14 points and 16 rebounds as Martin’s basketball team ended Fennville’s unbeaten league streak, 59-51.

The Martin wrestling team, behind heavyweight Al Moran’s pin in the last match of the evening, edged Galesburg-Augusta 34-33 in the team district tournament.

Justin Arms, Todd Meconis and Tim Kopp all advanced to the individual Class B wrestling tournament for Wayland.

The Wildcat basketball team had trouble finding the basket, scoring only 48 and 45 points during the week in two losses. Token double figures scorers were Robert Moore and Jon Ainsworth. Their overall record now is 5-13.

Because Covert used an ineligible player, Hopkins was awarded a forfeit, bringing is season hoops record to 2-14. The Vikings lost 52-46 to Martin and lost to defending state champion West Michigan Christian.

50 Years Ago — Feb. 21, 1968

Mrs. Ruby Smith, author of two books about the history of Wayland and environs, will write a weekly column about the community’s 100 years of existence.

Hopkins High School senior Keith Newell has been announced as a finalist for the prestigious National Merit Scholarship award.

Cleo Todd was re-elected village president at the annual Hopkins caucus, which was sparsely attended.

A trumpet trio of Don Clack, Mike Palmer and instructor Steve Working was to be the highlight of the Wayland High School band’s mid-winter concert.

Hopkins Board of Education and St. Mary’s and Visitation Parochial Schools appear to be near an agreement on transportation for Catholic school students on public school buses.

The Hopkins Board of Education has accepted a resolution to have the Oakview School District be annexed into the Hopkins district.

A new plan to have the Archer-Hampel Funeral Home be the focal point for local ambulance service has been approved by the City Council and four surrounding townships.

The Globe reported “for only the second time in recollection,” Wayland City voters chose a Democrat, Chester Harmsen, over Republican Gary Byker in a special election for state senator to succeed the late Harold Volkema. Byker, who was elected district-wide, edged former Senator Fred Hilbert in the primary, prompting Wayland Board of Education member Wallace Wakeman to urge local voters to back Harmsen because Byker was heavily supported by two churches who wanted to use public tax dollars for private, religious education. Harmsen defeated Byker 187-135 in the city and 58 to 51 in Wayland Township.

Phil Regan’s wife, the former Carol Jurrians of Dorr, revealed that she wrote the last chapter of his book, which was introduced during a special Phil Regan Day in Grand Rapids. Regan, a 1955 graduate of Wayland High School, earned fame as a 15-game winner pitching for the Detroit Tigers and as Fireman of the Year for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966.

Spc.-4 Frank Dozema Jr. of Shelbyville, was reported to have been killed in action Jan. 31 in Vietnam. A graduate of Kalamazoo Christian High School, he was engaged to Linda Penny of Kalamazoo.

James H. Gallagher, former owner of the Twin Shores Resort for 20 years, died at his home in Lake Como. Fla.

Wayland St. Therese seventh-grader Conrad Mauchmar was named to the all-star team of the Delton Junior High Basketball tournament. He scored 21 points against Delton and 11 against Battle Creek Springfield.

The Wildcat varsity basketball team lost two, two-point games during the week, one to Galesburg-Augusta and the other to Maple Valley. Rick Middleton, Lee Pankratz and Randy Rairigh scored in double figures in both setbacks.

Terry Yonkers scored 27 points and gathered 18 rebounds in a 56-54 Hopkins victory over Covert.

John Anderson dropped in 25 points for Martin in the Clippers’ 67-63 win over Hopkins.

Paul Muriat’s “Love Is Blue” topped the nation’s music charts for the third straight week.

75 Years Ago — Feb. 26, 1943

Ivan D. Smith won two awards in the National Rotary magazine’s photo contest, taking second place and an honorable mention.

Mrs. Clifford Cooper was persuaded to give spear fishing a try and landed a 40-inch pike and three others.

The Wayland Rotary Club has agreed to take responsibility for soliciting businesses and organizations on behald of the American Red Cross War Fund Drive.

The Wayland High School junior play, “professor, How Could You?” will feature teen thespians Dick Hooker, Margery Sebright, Bettie VanWeelden, Bob Schwartz, Bill McElwee, Joy Willis and Esther Kimble. Director is Horace Bennett.

The 160-acre Parmalee-Mason farm, with more than 60 livestock, has been sold to Harry Pickett of Allegan.

The Rev. Robert Geiger of the Wayland Methodist Church has been commissioned as a first lieutenant and will leave in March to become an Army chaplain.

A report in an area daily newspaper says millions of teen-agers do not know anything about the Ten Commandments. “But ask them how many divorces lately in the movie world, you’ll get up to the minute news.”

Bob Perry, Bob Merren, Nels Jensen and Stanley Iciek will represent the Wayland chapter of the FFA at Michigan State College this year.

The Barkenall League basketball tournament at Wayland High School. The teams will be host Wayland, Caledonia, Kelloggsville, Martin, Hopkins and Byron Center.

The Books for Soldiers campaign is under way locally.

Pvt. Ward Welch sent a letter about Army life from his encampment in Louisiana.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• The Weavers Brothers and Elviry in “Mountain Rhythm.”
• James Ellison, Heather Angel and John Howard in “The Undying Monster.”
• Tyron Power and Maureen O’Hara in “The Black Swan.”
• Brian Donlevy, Veronica Lake and Alan Ladd in “The Glass Key.”

100 Years Ago — Feb. 22, 1918

Elected to village offices and running unopposed were President David Stockdale, Clerk Leander Chapple, Treasurer George Wilson, Assessor Frank Chamberlain and Trustees Edward Fitch, Mark Beall and Charles McClintock.

Dick Heydenberk sent a letter to the Globe saying he still sees a sunny side of war and he is all right in France.

Mr. and Mrs. S.H. Paul celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary.

A Colonial Party at the Yeakey House Feb. 22 was to include musical selections by the Wayland High School Glee Club, Natalie Tarnutzer, Lillian Leggett, Margaret Beall, Averill Yerick, Midlred Wing, Elsa Wheeler and Dale Rankin.

Green wood is being used to heat the Wayland school building because of the recent shortage of coal.

Seventeen boys attended the most recent YMCA gathering at Wayland High School.

Mrs. Hattie Walbrecht, charter member, presented a history of the Ladies Literary Club on the group’s 25^th anniversary celebration at the home of Dr. and Mrs. E.O. Hanlon.

Leo Pawlowski is recovering at John Robinson Hospital In Allegan after suffering injuries when a tree he was cutting down fell on him.

The Progressive Farmers’ group will have its next meeting Feb. 27 at the home of Oscar Douglas.

L.D. Chapple traveled to Grand Rapids to pay a visit to Henry Lane at the Soldiers Home.

Three local farmers have decided to quit agriculture and sell, some because of a labor shortage with the conduct of the war overseas. They include J.D. Tarnutzer south of Wayland, Byron Farnum in Hilliards and Samuel Wolcott of Shelbyville.

Ray Welsh was selling his livestock as a result of his recent decision to quit farming.