(Gleaned from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — April 7, 1993
Dorr Township Supervisor Don Kaczanowski is looking into the possibility of contract police services through the Allegan County Sheriff’s Department because of recent population increases. However, he indicated he’s like to have costs of a designated officer shared with a neighboring township.
Only 64 people showed up at the polls for the city’s annual spring election, 4% of the number of registered voters. Elected to City Council seats were newcomer David Miller and incumbents Mary Reno and Robert Golm.
Sebastian Blanco, a Wayland High School foreign exchange student in Germany, wrote a letter to the editor, noting the legal beer drinking age there is 16 and hard liquor consumption is approved starting at age 18. “Alcohol is not abused as much in Germany as in America,” he said. His mother, Christine, is still a German citizen.
Michelle Bellgraph, who identified herself as a bouncer at the Apple Core Lounge, insisted the establishment’s owner, Al Baker, discourages any use or sale of alcohol by underage clients. She said many teens are come to the lounge serve as designated drivers.
The Dorr Township Board voted to allow Ray Stafford to move his rental business onto a three-acre parcel in the Ranchero-Litchfield residential subdivisions.
Eleven officials from Monterey, Hopkins and Watson townships, the Village of Hopkins and the Hopkins Fire Department had a joint meeting and reported making progress on a joint agreement for funding the new fire barn.
Marc Allen Anderson, 20, died in a truck-train traffic crash on 142nd Avenue near 12 Street. His wife was Wayland High School graduate Heather Klinge.
Scott Sullivan wrote a feature story about 9-year-old Caleb Woodwyk of Dorr, who had been diagnosed with cancer recently and the school and community are rallying around him.
Pat Staley wrote an unusual feature story titled, “Gravel: The beauty of the business.”
Ritz Farm Markets won the coed volleyball championship and players Jackie Keizer, Amy Ortiz, Deb Merchant, Pam May and Dawn Doxey were pictured.
Jim Orlowski has resigned as Wayland High School varsity basketball coach, indicating he intends to re-evaluate his career in coaching after a 12-52 record in three years. He will remain as an elementary physical education teacher.
Wayland High School basketball star Ann Iciek, who average 18 points per game for the Western Lakers AAU team, plans to attend Hillsdale College.
Linda Blankenship was announced as Wayland Union schools’ teacher of the year for 1992-93. She teaches psychology and sociology at the high school and directs the PALS program.
50 Years Ago — April 3, 1968
Andrew Mlynarchek a native of Czechoslavakia, born there in 1886, died at Pennock Hospital. He had retired from the C & O Railroad.
Anita Tein was named valedictorian and Janice Newman salutatorian for the Martin High School Class of 1968.
The Wayland schools’ second attempt to pass a 14-mill increase for one year failed even more miserably at the polls, with only 193 yes votes and 1,270 on the negative side. The contract between the school board and Wayland Education Association mandated two millage elections before June.
William Doublestein, son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Doublestein, was elected to a three-year term on the board of directors for the Riverview Cooperative housing project in Kalamazoo. He is employed at First Federal Savings and Loan.
Ernest C. Martin, 27, died after a brief illness in Charlotte. The son of Wayland City Assessor Ernest C. Martin Sr., he had been manager of an A & P grocery store.
The Detroit Free Press warded certificates of merit to Wayland High School debaters Arthur C. Johnson, Roxie Greenawalt, John Bilski and Sandra Potter.
A three-year contract between the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America and Kessler’s was ratified, ending Waylands first-ever labor strike after five weeks. The employees won seven days of holiday pay, three weeks paid vacations, health insurance coverage and wage increases of between 33 and 90 cents per hour.
Rose Marie Feldwisch was re-elected city treasurer with 336 votes to 214 for challenger Herbert Klinesteker. Council incumbents Arnie Wilde, Hugh DeWeerd and Walt Gurney turned back challenges from Robert Marutz and Ben Ciboch.
George Decker finally received his Bronze Star for service in World War II. Noting his son, Jim, was serving in Vietnam, he urged all citizens to support the troops.
The Wayland City Council adopted a plan for special assessments for storm and ground water drainage systems in the northeast section of the city.
Ron Kidney earned his second varsity letter in basketball for Western Michigan University. He had been all-state player for Wayland in 1964.
All-Van Conference defending champion Hopkins defeated Holland 14-4 in its season opener. Allen Brower and Don Walker provided offesive punch and Dennis Jager hurled two sparking innings in relief.
Alan Hayes, a 1965 graduate of Wayland High School, has earned his second air medal while serving in Vietnam with the U.S. Navy.
Don Permoda, a 1965 WHS grad, is serving aboard the U.S.S. Chicago in the Gulk of Tonkin, Vietnam.
Pvt. First Class Michael Critchfield is serving as a rifleman in Vietnam.
Terry Hayes, a 1963 graduate of Wayland High School, has been honorable discharged after serving more than four and a half years in Germany.
Mike Ignatoski of Hopkins earned his second consecutive state championship in broilers at the FFA State Convention in East Lansing.
Otis Redding and “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” completed its fourth straight as No. 1 on the nation’s music charts.
75 Years Ago — April 9, 1943
Lt. Rev. R.G. “Bob” Geiger has been assigned as chaplain to the air base in Abilene, Texas. He signed up for the military earlier in the year after serving as pastor of the Wayland United Methodist Church.
Bernice Jansen’s presentation on Japan to Wayland Rotary was so well received that she has been invited to speak again at the Wayland High School auditorium. A missionary, she has traveled to China, India and Europe before she was spirited out of Japan when hostilities broke out in 1941.
Spring elections in area townships attracted very low turnouts. Elected without opposition were Republicans Harold Fox and Jake Haveman in Leighton, but Democrat Joseph Bartz had to defeat a Republican opponent in Dorr.
Rollo G. Mosher has been designated as one of a sozen “Gallants” charged with selling at least $1,000 worth of war bonds in April.
Everett Wilde, son of Mrs. Rose Wilde and brother of Myron Wilde, will take a plane trip to Brazil, where he will take part in a study of the Amazon River. He has been in charge of the greenhouse and horticulture at Cornell University.
Bud Malmstone, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Malmstone, has been awarded the distinguished flying cross for flying at least 50 successful troop support missions in New Guinea.
The village has announced it intends to step up enforcement of local ordinances forbidding dogs to run free, particularly with the start of flower and vegetable garden seasons.
The St. Therese and Sts. Cyril parishes have reported raising a record $141.25 for the Red Cross War Fund Drive. Rev. Fr. Albert Radawski reported both have been in mourning for Bishop Joseph Plagens of Grand Rapids, who ordered the establishment of the St. Therese parish in Wayland. Rev. Plagers died March 31.
Miss Dorothy Larsen, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Larsen, is recovering nicely at home after an operation for appendicitis Butterworth Hospital in Grand rapids.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Joan Bennett and Milton Berle in “Margin for Error.”
- Tim Holt and Frances Neal in “Come on Danger.”
- James Cagney, Jean Leslie, Walter Huston in “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
- Gloria Jean, Jane Frazee an Robert Page in “Get Hep to Love.”
- Charles Starrett in “Pardon My Gun.”
100 years Ago — April 5, 1918
Allegan County Agricultural Agent Alfred Bentall penned a front page essay urging farmers to use a new and effective treatment against oat smut.
Ellen C. (Dillenbeck) Avery, who with her husband James, “carved out a pioneer life in their wilderness in Hilliards,” starting in 1859, died at her daughter’s home in Bellingham, Wash, at the age of 77.
Juniors Leila Tooker, Glenn Calkins and Mildred Wing were the top students for March at Wayland school.
Miss Meta Ross of Bradley, has announced she is leaving her teaching post at Wayland High School to join the women’s suffrage movement “at a much increased salary.” A farewell party for her is planned at Yeakey Hall. She will be succeeded by Linda Bohr of Pentwater.
The Hopkins and Wayland High School baseball teams are scheduled to play this Friday afternoon after school.
Wayland had the largest delegation at the YMCA convention in Hopkins, where Editor George Mosher said the Wayland boys taught their Hopkins counterparts a lesson in basketball in a 14-7 verdict.
The Progressive Farmers Club met the home of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Gilbert. Members answered roll call by telling of their favorite poultry.
Democrats won spring elections in Dorr Township with Amos Thompson as supervisor, RJ Barris clerk and Thomas Iciek treasurer. Sam Blain was named highway commissioner.
Independents ruled in Leighton Township with Supervisor Charles Ellis, Treasurer Charles Mapes and Clerk Robert Smith.
A War Savings Society was organized at the library and it was agreed meetings would be held every first and third Monday of each month.
Lizzie Smith was elected president, Susie Bohn vice president, Nellie Crofoot secretary and Rosa Fox treasurer for the Alethian Class of the Christian Church.
Clara Nevins, Mrs. Mott and Miss Hill, all Martin High School teachers, joined the fun at the home of John Frank for a maple syrup party and weenie roast.
Faye C. Wing, local undertaker and furniture dealer, has purchased a handsome new hearse for his business.