25 Years Ago — Aug. 4, 1993
The Monterey Township Board, in a special meeting, voted to reject the tentative contract for a new inter-local fire department for it, Watson and Hopkins townships. The biggest stumbling block, as usual, was financial, as Monterey offered to pay $3,000 per year, but Hopkins Township Supervisor Kevin Cronin insisted on $7,500.
Wayland Township, in the wake of legal problems with the Apple Core Lounge is mulling an ordinance to handle dancing, sale of pornographic material, topless bars and massage parlors.
The City of Wayland voted 3-2 to approve a pay raise for City Treasurer Karen Doyle from $22,800 to $26,000 a year. Mayor Linden Anderson and council members Bob Golm and Mary Reno were in support. Dave Miller and Paul Kaczanowski said they opposed because they didn’t think the treasurer should make as much as the assistant city manager.
Congressman Paul Henry, who represented Wayland, Dorr and Leighton for many years in Washington, died of a brain tumor July 31 at his Grand Rapids Township home. Pat Staley wrote a Soapbox tribute to him for his intelligence and character.
Amy DeKok penned a letter to the editor opposing plans to tear down the Moline Library and moving facilities to Dorr.
Dave Long was appointed successor to the retired John Noordyk as superintendent of Wayland City Department of Public Works.
Allegan County Circuit Judge Harry Beach dismissed a suit by Apple Core Lounge owner Al Baker against Wayland Township. The entertainment venue likely will be shuttered soon.
The Wayland Hotel and B & K Discount are leading a local effort to collect items to help the victims of flooding of the Mississippi River in the Midwest.
Sgt. Ken Daniel and Trooper Matt Whitman are the newest additions to the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police.
Dorothy DeWeerd finally decided to retire as a member of the Wayland Board of Education. She had served since 1968 when she was appointed to succeed the resigned Clara Durfee. She was president of the board for eight years.
The Summerfest golf tournament raised about $700 for the Wayland High School golf team and attracted 43 foursomes. The quartet of Mike Getty, Justin Calkins, Kevin Bush and Rob Kaminski was first in the men’s division; Pat and Dick Hudson, Mary McLaughlin and Cindy Rizzo won the mixed division, and Shirley Pankratz, Mary Jane Merren, Betty Sue Schumaker and Marsha Morse took the top spot in the women’s division.
50 Years Ago — July 31, 1968
The contests for the newly reorganized Allegan County Board of Supervisors, now the Allegan County Board of Commissioners, are expected to drive up numbers at the polls for the Aug. 6 primary election. The races include State Rep. James Farnsworth being challenged by Ron Layton; Robert Schra challenging Robert Whitcomb for county sheriff; Ralph Sytsma, Charles Fisher and David Morren vying for the GOP 8th District County Commission seat; Oscar Zimmerman and Cleon Duryea doing battle in the 10th District, and Earl Lanning and John Gurney running for the seat from the City of Wayland.
Mrs. Ruby Smith’s weekly historical column in honor of the centennial focused on the three oldest churches, the United Methodist, the Congregational and the Church of Christ. The Methodists were first in a little red schoolhouse in 1846. The Congregational Church was established in 1884 and parishoners razed the old building to make way for another on West Superior St. in 1896. The Church of Christ organized in 1877 under Pastor Charles Severance and 17 charter members.
The Michigan Nurses Association members and Pipp Hospital officials have agreed to a two-year contract.
Wayland High School graduate John Dickinson, son of Dr. and Mrs. C.A. Dickinson, has been awarded a Distinguished Alumni Scholarship from Wayne State University Medical School.
Mrs. JC (Lorna) Clyma is organizing a centennial choir to perform during the special Wayland celebration Aug. 18-24.
Martha Blain, a 1967 graduate of Wayland High School, has been elected class secretary for the second straight year at the Butterworth Hospital School of Nursing.
Congressman Ed Hutchinson has introduced a bill to excuse any service member from serving in combat if he, a sister or brother has been killed in the line of duty in the Vietnam Conflict.
Mrs. Cora Skinner, a lifelong resident of Monterey Township since her birth here in 1883, died at Allegan General Hospital.
Fishing enthusiast and inventor Jim VanDuine tried out his Strofoam floating fishing device with two companions in a boat, Jeff Hampel and Jim Grtaham. They caputed two dogfish and 50 bluegills and sunfish.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Elvis Presley and Nancy Sinatra in “Speedway.”
Mr. and Mrs. Dave Whittredge and children Melody and Gary joined their foreign exchange student, Druko Suhara of Brazil, in Lansing for a 4-H International Farm Youth Exchange picnic.
A George C. Wallace for President meeting was planned for the American Legion Hall in Wayland Aug. 2.
Fireman Apprentice Dan Beukema of Shelbyville has reported for duty aboard the U.S. Navy ship the John F. Kennedy.
The Rev. Fr. Adelbert Radowski is spending a three-week vacation in Kenya visiting an old friend from seminary days.
Hugh Maskela again had the No. 1 song, “Grazin’ in the Grass.”
75 Years Ago — Aug. 6, 1943
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher said Pet Milk is distributing a pamphlet through Russ Rugaber and L.L. Hunt, declaring, “The agricultural situation becomes more complicated every day. Washington does not appea to have a clear understanding of the food problem. Orders, regulations are continually being changed, making it difficult to forecast the future.”
Wayland Village has purchased two new grills for residents’ use at the City Park.
The National War Chest has been organized and Earl DeLano of Allegan is president of the Allegan County chapter. Eight representatives from Wayland attended the initial meeting the past Friday.
Roll call for men attending the most recent Wayland Grand meeting was answered to “What I have for dinner when my wife is away.” Mrs. Clack gave a presentation on “The History of Our Grange.”
Lt. Bud Malmstone of Wayland has received his second Distinguished Flying Cross of the Oak Leaf Cluster for his aerial efforts in New Guinea.
Cpl. Hilbert Dannenberg, former manager of the Wayland Gambles store, is to be married to Lois A. Willis of thic village.
Sgt. Richard L. Finkbeiner will remain with the Army Air Force Flexible Gunnery School in Ft. Myers, Fla., as an instructor after graduating as valedictorian.
Inductees from Allegan County numbered 38 this month. Among the 10 Allegan County students attending summer school at Michigan State College are Ted F. Jackson and Helen Zeerip of Wayland and Donald E. E. and Frederick W. Siefert of Dorr.
The Wayland Farm Union members met at the home of F.D. Cutler with a guest, David Leep, state secretary. Members and guests were treated to homemade ice cream and “Farm Union Cake” supplied Mr. Cole’s Bakery.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Roy Rogers in “King of the Cowboys.”
- Lee J. Cobb, Annabella and John Sutton in “Tonight We Raid Calais.”
- Roddy McDowell, Preston Foster and Rita Johnson in “My Friend Flicka.”
- George Sanders, Gail Patrick and Lynn Roberts in “Quint Please: Murder!”
- Joan Davis in “He’s My Guy.”
100 Years Ago — Aug. 2, 1918
Mrs. F.A. Burlington and Mrs. W. H. Schuh were treated to an aerial demonstration by battle planes equipped with Buick Liberty motors in Flint. Norris Schuh was one of the final testers for Buick.
Bayard Davis of Lawton outlines his positions in a front page article as a State Senate candidate. A farmer, he said he “stands for women’s suffrage and ratification of the Dry Amendment.”
The Nelson-Woodworth reunion was held in advance of Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln Woodworth leaving soon for Webster, South Dakota. President of the group is Charles Nelson and Mina Deuel was elected secretary.
Summer Indian Camp at Sprague’s Grove southeast of Bradley is planned, with Presiding Elder J.R.T. Lathrop joining for one of the days.
Commander Truman H. Newberry placed an ad for his candidacy for U.S. Senate. He quoted Theodore Roosevelt from the former president’s speech July 17 in Saratoga, insisting he shared many of the qualities Teddy promoted.
Clarence Calkins, stationed at the U.S. Navy Rifle Range, in Annapolis, married Mattie Heydenberk, a Wayland High School and Western Normal graduate who has been teaching at Ganges for the past four years.
D.S. Douglas traveled to see his eye specialist in Grand Rapids, who told him there is no way of improving his eyesight.
“TAKE NOTICE: Young women between the ages of 19 and 35, do you desire to become trained nurses and serve Uncle Sam? For more information call Mrs. H.N. Baker or Fannie Hoyt.”
Everybody is invited to join the Community Sing at 8:30 Saturday night downtown at the bank corner.
An old-fashioned dance is planned for Yeakey’s Hall Wednesday evening, with proceeds to go to the Red Cross. Sponsor is the Mothers Club.
The Bradley Grange’s annual picnic included many members of the Wayland Martin organizations. There wer several recitations, including “one in real Negro dialect by Miss McVean.”
C.E. Stall of Des Moines, Iowa, will speak at Yeoman Hall, Bradley, about the welfare of the country and insurance.
