25 Years Ago — March 4, 1992

Hopkins Public Schools officials will try once more to pass a 5.6-mill bond issue for $10.195 million for a new high school and additions to Sycamore Elementary. Student population growth is driving the request, as the numbers district-wide went from 1,095 to 1,81 in the past two years. The last bond request lost by just 75 votes.

Wayland DDA Chairman Dennis Reno has announced that the Streetscape project will begin this month. Consumers Power will start the project by digging trenches to bury electrical services.

Patricia Merritt. who lives on Maple Street, appeared before the City Council to protest cutting down so many trees in the project.

Two suspects are being sought in connection with a break-in at St. Therese School. A video cassette recorder was reported stolen.

Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan will make a campaign stop in at the Holiday Inn in Holland. Allegan County Republican Paty Chairman John Watts said all candidates were invited and Buchanan was the one who took the local GOP up on the offer. The presidential primary in Michigan will be held March 17.

A 16-year-old Wayland High School student was suspended and turned over to juvenile authorities after he showed up at school with a sawed-off shotgun he said he wanted to use on behalf of a friend. Two 17-year-olds were arrested and charged with assault and battery on freshmen.

A new water well will be installed in August in the City of Wayland after the Michigan Department of Public health determined local demand has exceeded capacity.

Bob Sikkema (189 pounds) and Scott Kelch (140) have earned berths in the state Class B wrestling tournament fort Wayland. Sikkema is 34-5-1 on the season and Kelch is 41-4. George Hatten was the only Martin wrestler among eight at the Class C-D regionals to qualify for state.

The Wayland basketball team is 0-19 and prospects appear dim for the Wildcats to win their regular season finale and district tournament opener against Hastings.

Hopkins has rebounded from a horrible start on the season and now has evened its season record at 9-9. Coach Scott Hall’s Vikings will play Kelloggsville in the Class C districts. Martin is 5-14 and will take on Schoolcraft in its district opener.

Wayland’s volleyball team is seeking its third straight Class B district tournament championship.

The Wayland chapter of the Jaycees, led by President Mary Spray, is celebrating its first anniversary.

50 Years Ago — March 1, 1967

The Hopkins FFA won two regional championships with the Ag Forum team with Fred Krumm, Dan Lenhart, Doug Mann, Larry Thomas and Dennis Fein, and the Demonstration team of Ivan Knapp, Russell Coffey and Ron Miller. They will compete at the state contest later this month.

Henika Public Library won a $9,000 federal grant to supplement to local fund-raising efforts to fund a new addition at the historica facility.

The Wayland basketball team’s season ended with a 2-13 record overall after a 68-35 loss to Allegan at the district tournament at Otsego. Mel Spencer led the team on scoring for the season with 10.9 points per game, followed by Lee Pankratz and 9.6 and Rick Blok at 9.5.

A program on dairy cattle feeding with urea as a source of protein will be held March 8 at the ag room of Hopkins High School.

Representatives of the Burnips school district appeared before the Hopkins Board of Education to discuss Hopkins’ goals and plans for the future. Burnips voters will decide on the ballot whether or not to agree to annexation by Hamilton.

Hopkins plans to ask school district voters to approve a four-mill request over five years in a special election in May.

Troopers Gene Seibel and Mack Struble have been assigned to the Wayland post of Michigan State Police.

Mrs. Carl Krick was treated for shock at Borgess Hospital after a fire at the home of her son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. William Phillips. The fire started by an explosion of the water heater.

Wayland and Clare will take part together in the annual Mayor Exchange Day during Michigan Week in May.

Union Lenten services will be held at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Fred Dunbar of the Church of Christ presenting the message.

The Dorr Township Fire Department has received a new fire truck, which was paid for by a one-mill levy over two years.

Mrs. Henry Jager, a handwriting expert from Kalamazoo, was to be guest speaker at a special meeting of the Ladies Library Club at Wayland High School.

John R. Hilbert, son of former State Senator Fred Hilbert of Wayland, was pictured as an aide to State Senator Harold Volkema. Hilbert was to receive his degree from Michigan State University and his wife is the former Joyce Lindgren of Wayland.

Naval Apprentice Seaman Barry Belka, a 1966 graduate of Wayland High School, earned an Honor Man certificate at the Great Lakes (Ill.) training center.

The Wayland High School physical education classes will put on an intramural wrestling tournament for the public. There are hopes to initiate the sport at the high school.

Peter Sellers and Victor Mature were starring in “After the Fox” at the Wayland Theatre.

The Rolling Stones hit No. 1 on the music charts this week with “Ruby Tuesday.”

75 Years Ago — March 6, 1942

The village election will be held March 9 with only one slate of officers on the ballot. “War is driving politics into the background,” explained Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher.

The time to plant clover seed is approaching and Fred Hilbert’s Cowbell Seeds seed cleaner is working longer hours.

Maple syrup and maple sugar are expected to be in high demand this spring as a result of wartime restrictions on sugar.

The financial report for the Village of Wayland shows the greatest expense is for streets. The amount paid for police protestion is $1,500 per year. The village absorbed nearly $500 in expenses purchasing two lots on North Main Street with an eye toward leasing them to the state for a Michigan State Police post in the near future.

Fifteen members of the Wayland Rotary Club joined Rotarians from Allegan, Battle Creek and Kalamazoo in a bus trip to Reed City to held that city start a Rotary startup there.

The W. K. Kellogg has developed a “soup powder” with more vitamins and minerals. It is taking an experiment to Wayland schools, serving the new product to half the students at lunch while the other half will be a control group.

The Wayland High School varsity basketball team, under the tutelage of coach Rex Allen, completed a 12-3 season highlighted by a victory over previously undefeated Hudsonville. Key team members were forward Andy Wisniewski, who scored nearly 200 points, and Loren Mauchmar, Donald Gurney and Art House. The team will join Augusta Kellogg, Battle Creek St. Phillip, Comstock and Plainwell at the post-season tourney at Kalamazoo College.

A new Estey organ was delivered to the Methodist Church and director of music Mrs. Harry Sutton.

The Wayland Agriculture Department has reported that the horse parasite control campaign was a success, involving about 150 head of horses.

Chief G. H. Gaddis of the Navy Recruiting Station will present four films and talk American sea power at a meeting of the Wayland PTA.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• Charlie Ruggles, Charlotte Greenwood and Lynn Bari in “The Perfect Snob.”
• Bill Elliott, Tex Ritter and Ruth Ford in “Roaring Frontiers.”
• Olsen and JohnsonMartha Raye and Jane Frazee in “Helzapoppin.”
• Claude Rains and Warren William in “The Wolf Man.”
• Brian Donlevy, Broderick Crawford and Maria Montez in “South of Tahiti.”

100 Years Ago — March 2, 1917

Earning all-As for all of February at Wayland High School were seniors Martha Hydenberk, Clayton Tarnutzer and Lwellyn Anway, sophomore Lilla Tookers and freshman Margaret Beall.

The field meet for Allegan County will held this year at Otsego. Wayland’s prospects appear to be good for basketball and baseball.

The high school agriculture class is working on seed germination, grafting and drainage experiments.

The Wayland Township competitions excluding high school students are being planned. Spelling contest will be coordinated Caroline Maust, there will be contests in ciphering, running and standing long jump, 60-yard dashes for boys and girls, community singing with Merle Johnson, garments, arts and crafts, handwriting, bread making, drawing, paper cutting, ag products. Achieving the most points will be rewarded with a township banner.

The annual convention of Wayland Township Sunday schools was held at the Methodist Episcopal Church. There were 25 in attendance in the forenoon and about 60 in the afternoon, with the ladies of the church serving dinner.

Ohio Corners Grangers initiated 15 new members and about 60 people were in attendance for the ceremony and a dinner.

A Washington’s Birthday chicken dinner was held at the West Gun Lake home of Mrs. R. Williamson. Members asserted their loyalty to President Woodrow Wilson.

A legal notice announced: “The Board of Registration of Wayland village will register the names of all women possessing qualifications of all male electors who make personal applications.”

Dirk Hoffman of Martin, in a legal advertisement, reported, “It has been reported that I have spoiled several of my best cows using a Hinman milker. Now I wish to inform the public that nothing of the kind has happened and that the report was stated without any foundation whatsoever.”

A Farmers Institute will be held in Martin and Hopkinsburg with Jason Woodman, speaker.

PHOTO: Some members of the Wayland High School Class of 1969 whoop it up on the second floor of what today is known as Pine Street Elementary.