(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — June 16, 1993
Yankee Springs Township has announced it has a lot of road work planned for the summer and fall, including Payne Lake, Shaw Lake, Wildwood, Lynn Drive and Bass (135th Avenue in Barry County) roads.
Hopkins school district voters approved a 20.71-mill renewal and a Headlee Amendment override of 0.7 mill. But the big news was that Christine Schwartz survived a recall attempt by a vote of 688 to 508. She had been elected just a year before with a plurality of 226 votes. Incumbent Evonna Beard was re-elected to her board seat.
Wayland voters approved a 23.23-mill renewal and 0.9-mill Headlee override. Steve Alflen was elected to the only open seat.
Martin schools voters approved a 22-mill tax levy renewal and one added mill for maintenance and repairs.
The Hopkins Township Board tabled indefinitely a proposal to deal with flooding problems associated with Rabbit River flooding. Lack of public support was the chief reason.
James Smith, alternative education instructor for Hopkins schools, wrote a letter to the Globe insisting that the program has been a success, but noted it likely will be cut in the next academic year because local budget constraints.
Allegan County voters rejected a proposal to renewal 0.7 mill for special education services. Hopkins voted in the affirmative, but Wayland and Martin went the other way.
Cal Lamoreaux of Gun Lake continues to lead the charge for a 17-mile People Path around the recreation area. but it appears the idea isn’t getting much traction.
Pat Staley wrote a feature story about the first year of service for Allegan County Sheriff David Haverdink, whose tenure has been marked by economic challenges.
The Martin Township Zoning Board of Appeals affirmed the decision earlier by the Township Board to grant a special use permit to Raymond Brenner to begin a gravel mining operation. Neighbors Terry Sturgis and Ferris Moored vow to have the issue taken to voters in a referendum.
Christie Leep was crowed Miss Martin and Anne Martin was first runner-up.
Wayland completed its finest baseball season in a long time by losing 3-2 to Grand Rapids Northview in the regional semifinals. The Wildcats’ district championship was the first for a Wayland boys’ team in 22 years. They went 27-5. Chris Vlietstra and Mike Wilson tied for the individual home run record with eight in a season, Robert Moore swiped a school record 29 bases, scored 41 runs and had 43 hits.
The Wayland adult education program graduated 25 students, with one of the cap and gown crowd being Clara Nagel, 73.
50 Years Ago — June 12, 1968
A 6.8-mill increase proposal for Wayland schools went down narrowly, 571 to 542, and the board of education planned to meet quickly afterward to discuss coming back to the ballot again. Jerome LaValley and Laverne Lettinga were elected to four-year seats on the school board and Wallace Wakeman won the two-year seat to finish the unexpired term of Frank Langley.
Hopkins voters approved a five-mill increase 208 to 160 and Mrs. Elwood Schwartz and Jack Smith won the two open four-year board seats. Dale Williams and LaVern Young won seats for the Martin Board of Education.
Wayland native Morris Frank died at Pennock Hospital at the age of 73. He had been longtime owner and proprietor of the movie theater at Cedar Springs.
Mrs. William (Lulu) Teed, wide of the former Allegan County Drain Commissioner, died at her Monterey Township home. She was 80.
The Wayland Education Association Negotiating Committee has been announced with Fred Comer, Richard Miller, Daryl Fleser, Don VanPopering and Mrs. Louis Miedema.
Robert Schra, 30, of Holland, has announced he is a candidate for Allegan County Sheriff in the Republican primary election.
State Rep. James Farnsworth (R-Plainwell) announced his candidacy for re-election to another two-year term. Serving on the Social Security Committee, he is calling for reforms in welfare and Medicaid.
The Allegan County Board of Commissioners will replace the County Board of Supervisors, with 21 districts outlined. The City of Wayland and Leighton Township, Martin and Watson townships, and Hopkins and Monterey townships will have one representative apiece, but Dorr Township will have two.
Carl Woodward, past master of the Bradley Masonic Lodge, died at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was 69.
Roxie Greenawalt and Mike DeWeerd were announced as winners of the American Legion awards at Wayland High School.
Hopkins High School graduated 78 seniors and the Rev. Richard Dix of the Wayland Baptist Church spoke at Baccalaureate. Karen McEwen presented the valedictory address and Keith Newell gave the salutatory address.
Dr. C.A. Dickinson has announced he is retiring from his medical practice in Wayland. He had been medical examiner and coroner for Allegan County since 1935.
Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey editorialized that the school district doesn’t have any other options but to seek approval again for the millage request, maintaining, “Wayland needs a good educational system and a good relationship with between its schools and community… To accomplish this, the taxpayers have to give a little.”
Simon & Garfunkel repeated the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes for the week with “Mrs. Robinson.”
75 Years Ago — June 19, 1943
Pfc. James Foster of Bradley, a full-blooded Pottawatomi, has been designated as a German prisoner of war in North Africa. He joined the service in 1941.
Rollin Smith of Wayland has been promoted from first lieutenant to captain at Camp Davis in North Carolina.
Merle Hurley of Hopkins has received a presidential citation for his actions aborad an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theatre.
Jacob Pattok, 86, who was an employee of the New York Central Railroad from 1887 to 1927 and later farmed his property in Hilliards, died in Grand rapids.
The First Aid Class Picnic was held held at the Rod & Gun Club, with members presenting a special gift to Mrs. Mrs. Heydenberk for her services as instructor.
A Gun Lake Homecoming is being planned at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church, but the customary chicken dinner has been changed to a more modest offering of chicken sandwiches because of the war effort.
The annual Hooker School Reunion is planned for June 19 on the school grounds and the Catholic Ladies Society plans a dinner the following week.
Mitch “Mike” Laker of Wayland penned a letter to the Globe from overseas.
Lt. John Rugaber was in the village visiting friends and relatives while on leave from Ft. Knox. Ky.
The Wayland Methodict Church welcomed 103 attendees for a special chicken dinner for high school juniors and seniors and their families.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- The Dead End Kids in “Mug Town.”
- Richard Travis and Virginia Christianson in “Truck Busters.”
- Paul Muni, Anna Lee, Lillian Gish and Sir Cedrick Hardwicke in “Commandos Strike at Dawn.”
- Guy Kibbe in “Cinderella Swings It.”
- Gene Autry in “South of the Border.”
100 years Ago — June 14, 1918
All motorists are instructed to avoid parking their vehicles within 25 feet of any fire hydrant in the village. And because the water supply is limited, it is important that water be conserved for fire, residential and sprinklers, the last of which are restricted to use between 5:30 and 7 p.m. daily. All consumers are to pay a $5 fee in advance for the year.
Soldiers’ letters from France from Corporal E. G. Wilson and Pvt. Clyde Gillispie were published on the front page of the Globe.
The Shelbyville Aid Society met at the home of Mrs. J. L. Erwin, where mite boxes were opened to reveal $12, which immediately was earmarked for the Red Cross.
The names of 16 young men in Wayland Township called to military duty were published, including Naman Frank, Harold Delp, James C. Tolhurst and Clarence Pullen.
Howard Tobin was given a farewell party attended by about 50 friends and family. He will leave for military service training camp later this week.
Patriotic “Children’s Day” services were held Sunday the Congregational and Methodist churches in the village. One featured the showing of the film “Children of America.”
The Rev. Faye C. Wing, also the local undertaker, was in Dorr to officiate at the funeral of the well-respected longtime resident Mrs. Arndt.
Wayland Township Supervisor Frank Chamberlain has announced his candidacy for Allegan County Register of Deeds in the Aug. 27 GOP primary.
Many local citizens traveled to Three Rivers to attend the funeral of former Bradley pastor, the Rev. J.W. Gibson.
“France in Arms,” a documentary outling how the French prepared for the war overseas, was to be shown June 22 at Frank’s Opera House. “This is one of the most wonderful films ever produced.”
Rural letter carrier Ashley Herrinton, who began duties in the Wayland area in 1903, has resigned and will be succeeded on his route by Charles Barnes.
H.A. Washburn of Moline attended the Holstein-Frerian National Convention in Milwaukee. Washburn is owner and proprietor of the Lawnside Dairy Farm.