(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — June 29, 1994
Wayland City Manager Harmon (Pete) Stull, Hopkins Township Supervisor Kevin Cronin and Dorr Township Supervisor Don Kaczanowski are among local officials praising the Michigan Legislature’s new law to handle such nuisance local issues as barking dogs, excessive noise and junk cars like traffic or parking tickets.
The Hopkins High School chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) captured honorable mention accolades in a national contest, thereby earning $500.
State Police at area posts are seeking public help in gathering information about the murder of Randol Jon Sjoerdsma of Grand Rapids in 1993. His body was found in the Thornapple River in Caledonia Township. He had been known to frequent the Green lake and Wayland areas.
Elise Stephens, director of the Fourth of July parade in Dorr, wrote a letter to the editor insisting that no volunteers are turned away. She also noted that this year’s holiday celebration will observe the 125th year of the township.
Arson is suspected by local authorities as the cause of a pole barn fire on 140th Avenue in Leighton Township.
The Kalamazoo Coalition for SAFE Kids is warning families in West Michigan against shooting off their own fireworks and urges them instead to attend safe displays done by professionals.
Robert Geerlings, 39, Wayland’s new postmaster, is a former officer with the Zeeland Police Department.
Two motorcyclists were arrested for fleeding and eluding State Police Troopers Regina Diaz and Greg Drobny on 122nd Avenue in Martin Township.
The Yankee Springs Recreation Area is observing the 75th year in existence of Michigan state parks.
Scott Sullivan wrote a feature story about Gun Lake Massage Therapy at the chiropractic clinic, noting, “Massage, an ancient art, survives its stigma as a front for prostitution.”
50 Years Ago — June 25, 1969
Kathy Worfel, 12-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Worfel of Wayland, won the Grand Rapids youth tennis tournament and qualified for the state tourney. She won her first round match, but then lost to the No. 1 seed, a girl from Hamtramck.
Blain Bacon, Wayland’s first-ever city manager, has accepted the post of city manager at Lowell. Bacon, who also was city clerk, was hired in the spring of 1967.
Dennis Dickinson, son of Peg Dickinson and the late Dr. C.A. Dickinson, has earned the American Society of Medical technologists award while receiving his bachelor’s degree at Michigan State University.
Mrs. Kenneth DeWeerd was chosen president of the Allegan County Association for Retarded Children.
The Wayland Board of Education and Wayland Education Association have come to terms on a master employment contract. Starting teachers now will receive an annual salary of $6,800 and the highest pay will be $9,790. Those with master’s degrees will get $7,400 to start and a cap of $10,680. Jerome LaValley and Fred Comer were chairs of their negotiating committees.
Among the announcement of college graduates, Mick Mutschler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Mutschler, earned as associate’s degree in electronic engineering at Sam’s Technical Institute, Indianapolis.
Seniors Joanne Grzesak, Chris Harnish and Lois Sykes, juniors Tom Latondress, Joan Lautenschleger, Linda Whitcomb and Kathleen Willard, sophomores Louis Sykes and Tom Marks, and freshman Linda Shoemaker earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages for the last marking period of the 1968-69 academic year at Wayland High School.
Michael Duane DeMann, 10-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin DeMann, died atBronson Hospital in Kalamazoo after a brief illness.
About 150 Wayland-area people attended the Miss Michigan pageant in Muskegon to cheer on Wayland’s Roxie Greenawalt. Pamela Eldred of Detroit was chosen the winner of the competition.
The Rev. Fred Dunbar of the Wayland Church of Christ has announced his retirement after serving the church for nine years.
Blain Bacon was elected president of the Wayland Lions Club, despite the news later that he soon would leave Wayland for Lowell. Winfield Adams was elected vice president.
Carmen Blanco, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Blanco of Shelbyville, is practice teaching in the Godwin Heights school district.
Gerald Nelson, in the “Our Teachers Speak” column, stated his disagreement with plans to build a new high school, insisting elementary schools are more critical for the future.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Tony Curtis, Henry Fonda and George Kennedy in “The Boston Strangler.”
William Peterson of East Lansing, husband of Wayland High School graduate Kathy Parrish, will be guest speaker this Sunday the Wayland Congregational Church.
The Rev. H. Max Good will be guest speaker the Calvary Church with the topic, “Crushing of freedom in Czechoslavakia” in the wake of the Soviet invasion the year before.
Mrs. Alfred E. Snook married Harry Ware in Wales.
Henry Mancini’s “Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet” took over the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes.
75 Years Ago — June 30, 1944
The weather has been hot lately, with the thermometer reaching the century mark. At the same time, the start of fishing season also has helped send local people to the lakes for relief.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his “Observations” column wrote, “Throngs of local folks viewed the two-man Jap submarine on display at the four corners downtown for an hour. It was captured at Pearl Harbor.”
Mr. and Mrs. Claud Smith were relieved to finally receive a cablegram from son Guy in England, who is serving with the Navy Signal Corps.
Cpl. Lloyd Fales wrote a letter to his mother, Hattie, telling her he’s alive and well after the historic D-Day invasion of June 6. Meanwhile, Mrs. William Hooker received word that her son survived the invasion with the Field Artillery.
Mack Short and Levant Neuton will take over operations at Lutostanski’s Meat market July 3. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Lutostanski wrote a card of thanks for the community’s support of the business over the past six years.
Miss Dorothy Pawloski has completed her freshman year of studies at Western Normal College and is spending a week of rest and relation before heading back to Kalamazoo for the summer term.
HELP WANTED: Boy to be an usher at the Wayland Theatre.
Mr. and Mars. Thane Malmstone have announced that Julius Andringa has taken over management of Malmstone Dry Goods.
Rollo G. Mosher raved about the address given by Claire Booth Luce at the 1944 Republican National Convention, where Thomas E. Dewey was nominated.
Leonard Aspinwall, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Aspinwall of Wayland, has been transferred from New Guinea to New Hebrides working in aviation in the Pacific Theatre.
Wayland High School graduate Robert Reidlinger is a corporal stationed in England. After he returned from the war, he joined the Globe as a printer.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Rosemary Lane and Johnny Docone in “Trocadero.”
- William Boyd, “Hoppalong Cassidy,” in “Lumber Jack.”
- Kay Kyser, Marilyn Maxwell, Lena Horne and William Gargan in “Swing Fever.”
- Joel McRae, Maureen O’Hara, Linda Darnell and Anthony Quinn in “Buffalo Bill.”
100 Years Ago — June 27, 1919
The first annual Truax School Reunion, District No. 5, Hopkins, was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Ring. Fred Hilbert was chosen president and Mrs. Ernest Ring secretary and treasurer. A report card from 55 years ago was presented to James Truax. He and Tim Rose had attended the school more than 50 years ago.
All noxious weeds grown in Wayland Township must be removed and destroyed before July 1 by order of a legal notice published by Reuben Curie, commissioner of highways.
J.C. McBride of Dayton, Ohio, showed picture in his presentation, “German Atrocities in the War Zone,” and he showed slides of Africa at the Methodist Episcopal Church.
F.G. Newton is improving the appearance of the Henika Library with a fresh coat of paint.
Mrs. Esther Martin will teach seventh grade at St. Louis schools and Louise Calkins and Leona Steeby both will teach elementary schools in Newaygo.
The Rev. Edwin L. Ayer, former pastor at the Wayland Congregational Church, was in town for a week to renew old friendships.
C.A. Burger, who had been operating the new bakery, has sold the business to Reynolds and Smith.
The local chapter of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union met at the home of Mrs./ L.P. Reno and began making plans for a pageant sometime during the summer “to swell the Jubilee fund.”
Longtime Wayland resident Nenah Schuh, wife of local businessman William H, Schuh, died at her home.
The fifth annual Hunsberger family reunion welcomes about 45 guests at the home of Ivan Hunsberger.
Gladys Bryson is home visiting her parents, Dr. and Mrs. J.E. Bryson, after teaching for a year at Otsego schools.