25 Years Ago — June 2, 1993

The sale of the former Kessler’s building at 809 S. Main St. to Technical Systems Inc. (TSI) has been finalized, and Allegan County has received $43,500. Should TSI sell the building in its first year, it will have to forfeit $437,000 to the county. The company employs 170 people at its plant in Grand Rapids.

“Root Scootin’ Boogie” is the theme for the 40^th edition of the Martin queen pageant, which has nine contestants, Lisa Whitaker, Christine Leep, Marcie Snook, Melissa Hunderman, Angela Guritz, Joyce Stewart, Anne Martin, Angie Pavlak and Angela Speel.

Judy Kolk penned a letter to the editor praising the Wayland schools’ Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program and Michigan State Police Trooper Karla Christianson.

Diane Smith wrote a letter commending the long and productive career of Wayland Board of Education member Dorothy DeWeerd, who is retiring after 22 years.

Two letter writers, Barbara Chachulski and Caroline McClung, recommended a “no” vote on recalling Hopkins Board of Education member Christine Schwartz. Chachulski is Schwartz’s mother.

Linden Steeby of Leighton Township pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return, reduced from the original charge of embezzling hot tubs from Quality Pool Supply in Wayland.

Kelly Laker and daughter Missy, both of Wayland, graduated from separate colleges, Kelly from Grand Valley State University in psychology and Missy in math from Michigan State University.

Four Wayland baseball players, Chris Vlietstra, Robert Moore, Mike Lilly and Mike Wilson, were named to the all-O-K Gold Conference team. The Wildcats completed their regular season with a 24-4 overall record and were getting ready to play Hamilton in a pre-district contest.

Jenny Merrill tossed a one-hitter at Saugatuck and Martin’s softball team finished the regular season with an 11-10 overall record.

More than 100 Wayland High School students were recognized at the Wayland High School Honors Banquet for those who completed the academic year with a grade point average of at least 3.5. Dr. Donna Martin, a 1983 graduate of Wayland High School with a doctorate in neuroscience, was guest speaker.

Twins Melissa and Marcia Kaczanowski were recognized for their tireless efforts on behalf of the National Honor Spociety at Wayland High School.

James Funke was named Wayland Adult Education Student of the Year. He is employed at D & M Metal in Comstock Park.

50 Years Ago — May 29, 1968

A front page feature story and photo gave a sendoff to Wayland High School foreign exchange students Rieks Jansen of the Netherlands and Margita Fredrickson of Sweden.

Doyle Disbrow will teach a summer school class in new math and adults are welcome.

Martin High School graduated 42 seniors at commencement May 31.

The Wayland City Council adopted a budget with expenditures of more than $189,000 with a 10-mill operation levy.

Wally Wakeman, who is finishing his second term on the Wayland Board of Education, has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Allegan County Intermediate School District Board.

The new facility at the Allegan County Park at Gun Lake will be opened to the public during the Memorial Day weekend.

Wayland High School Principal JC Clyma told the Globe there is a significant need for local schools to offer service to special education service. “We are not serving our own students in need of special help,” he maintained.

A Citizens Committee for Better Schools has been organized to help promote the 6.8-mill tax increase in the upcoming annual school election.

Ray St. Clair was elected commander of the Wayland post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Mrs. Charles R. Wright was elected president of the VFW Auxiliary.

Albert Bond of New Zealand was a special guest at the local Rotary luncheon and he was given a tour of the Wayland Globe.

Navy Seaman Apprentice Dennis Blackman of Hopkins is working with supply forces in the five northernmost provinces of Vietnam.

The Hopkins High School journalism class was awarded first place among 250 programs in a contest run by WKZO.

Robert Ayers won the Class B regional championship in No. 1 singles. He has lost only one match all season, to the No. 1 singles at Galesburg-Augusta.

Fourteen Wayland High School girls took part in a track meet at Allegan. Winning first places were Jane Sheldon in the 50-yard dash, Alyce Hanson the 75 and 100, the shuttle hurdle relay teams of Connie Sipkema, JoAnn Sabin, Jo Anne Perry and Mary Lou Worfel in the 300 and Roxie Greenawalt, Reggie Hines, Hanson and Sheldon in the 200.

The Wayland High School golf team went 1-4-1 in its first season, with top performers George Towne and Walt Blue.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “The Young Americans.”

Mrs. Ruby Smith, in her history column for Wayland’s centennial year, noted local veterans of the War of 1812 as Silas Hamilton, Steve Hartwell, Erastus Carner, and Elias Chapple.

75 Years Ago — June 4, 1943

Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher received a pleasant letter from Stanley Nagurski saying, “Though his (Mosher’s) is perhaps a thankless job, he is spreading a bit of cheer all over the world. I’ll bet it would be surprising to know some of the countries and places the Wayland Globe reaches.”

Lightning stuck a tall spruce tree in the village and scattered debris all over the yard of Henry Lutostanski. Fortunately, damage was minimal.

The Rev. Robert Geiger, former pastor at the Wayland United Methodist Church, wrote a letter from Texas where he is training to become a chaplain in the war effort.

The Wayland High School alumni banquet will be held June 4 at the high school cafeteria. Merland Pepper will be toastmaster and the guest speaker will be Dr. Hugh Kennedy, a Wayland grad. The Class of 1923 will be honored and those attending are urged to being their own sandwiches and a dish to pass. Music will be provided by the string ensemble, Richard Jager will sing a solo and Hazel VanBrussel will perform on the cello.

Capt. Charles Osborn, husband of Mildred Wing, formerly of Wayland, is a Japanese prisoner of war. He also is the son –in law of the Rev. Fay C. Wing, local undertaker and furniture salesman.

Recent high winds have wreaked havoc with onion and carrot growers in the Gun River Valley.

Faculty members Walter Gillette and Margaret Stanton accompanied the Wayland seniors on their annual senior trip by boat to Chicago.

Sib Rumery’s term on the Wayland Board of Education is expiring for the annual school election, according to a notice published by Board Secretary Harry Elenbaas.

The Hopkins High School alumni reunion welcomed 108 former students. Carl Schwiekert was toastmaster and he noted that 46 students and grads are serving in the military overseas. Albert Deal presented a speech.

Now showing at Wayland Theatre:

• Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette in “Ride, Tenderfoot, Ride.”
• Bert Gordon and Margaret Lindsay in “Let’s Have Fun.”
• Randolph Scott, Glenn Ford, Claire Trevor, Evelyn Keyes and Edgar Buchanan in “The Desperadoes.”
• Teresa Wright and Joseph Cotton in “Shadow of a Doubt.”

100 Years Ago — May 31, 1918

The Red Cross fund campaign in Wayland Township has collected $1,564, about 152% of the goal. “Wayland Township has just cause for pride in her patriotism,” wrote Editor-Publisher George Mosher. Largest contributor, with $200, was the Helvetia Milk Condensary.

President D. B. Waldo of Western Normal School, presented a war address to Wayland High School students at commencement. The Wayland High School Glee Club, Mrs. L.B. Mason and Mrs. Elizabeth Clark provided the music.

Among the graduates, but not present because he was serving in the military overseas, was Harold Calkins, who was given a special empty seat well decorated.

It appears Wayland schools will have many personnel changes next fall. Supt. F.N. Drake has accepted a post at Vandalia, science teacher Mrs. Plough is going to Lawton, Principal Florence Tressler and Mrs. Florence Yeakey will not return as well.

“The captain of next year’s baseball team wishes to ask all candidates to read all the available ‘dope’ about baseball possible.”

Miss Mabel Stivers is operating the Citizens’ Telephone office this week in town.

Miss Olive Frank has opened a dress making parlor in the hotel building.

Former Wayland boy Ray Somers, who developed scarlet fever while serving in France, now has some down with a mild case of tuberculosis.

Adelbert Chapman has been appointed to a vacant village trustee’s post, succeeding William Bohn. Village President John B. Stockdale has been appointed water commissioner.

The Wayland Village Council agreed to have electric lights installed over Hanlon Court, Pearl, Sycamore, Church and Walnut streets.

Mrs. L. Buskirk and Henika Library Director Fannie Hoyt were special guests at the school this week.

George Mosher opined at the close of the 1917-18 academic year, “We realize that the press and the schools are the two great social and educational institutions in the community, and that cooperation and teamwork on the part of these two have much to do with shaping public opinion.”