(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now historical library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Oct. 28, 1996
A mobile home fire at Brenner Mobile Home Park in Hopkins Township left and Kristy Meadows and her four children homeless.
Martin High School students believe they have some answers to Watson Township’s longtime wish to have a local park, and they’re doing environmental studies at the site of a proposed park on 20th Street north M-222.
The City of Wayland has selected Kevin Green to be assistant city manager.
Richard Zimmerman, a retired commander of the Hastings post of the Michigan State police, was killed in an automobile accident.
The Clipper Chess Club has been launched Martin High School.
The Michigan Bar Association has endorsed Proposal B, which would require candidates for judgeships to have least five years of legal experience.
Harold Willard, longtime official with the American Legion, is endorsing Proposal C, which would ban lawmakers from raiding the Veterans’ Trust Fund.
Letter writer Helen Allen challenged the wisdom of raising 2.5 mills for reconstructing and paving Fifth Street in Wayland Township.
Kevin Cronin of Hopkins wrote a letter defending proposed cuts to the Allegan County Alliance program.
Perhaps the most watched local election contest in this area is between Jose Blanco and Randy Marklevitz for Waylands Township Supervisor. Wayland’s Terry Delp is running against Republican Patty Birkholz for state representative.
The Hopkins girls’ varsity cross-country team captured the O-K Silver Conference.
Hopkins scored its seventh victory without a loss in football and it was the 100th career triumph for coach Rex Weaver.
Coach Mark Austin’s Hopkins girls’ basketball team now is tied for first place in the O-K Silver Conference standings with Allendale and is 13-2 overall. The Lady Vikings had a huge victory over Lee, as Melanie Heslinga scored 19 points and Alissa Johnson 13.
Martin girls finally absorbed their first loss, against Decatur, and are now 13-1 on the hoops season.
The coaching father-daughter tandem of Zack and Jennifer Moushegian guided Wayland girls to a 54-45 victory over Hudsonville Unity.
Longtime East Martin Christian dairy farmer Frank Dozema of Shelbyville died. He was 92.
Joseph Permoda, World War II veteran and patriarch of a well-known local family and member of St. Therese Church died at age 75.
50 Years Ago — Oct. 27, 1996
The Hopkins Board of Education unanimously approved a school lunch program that included free and reduced price meals.
Allegan County Sheriff Robert Whitcomb is warning area teens that those caught committing acts of vandalism during Halloween will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
Mrs. Charles Anderson, the former Bonnie DeHaan of Wayland, was interviewed for a story about a trip she and her husband took to the Netherlands, calling it “fairly high priced and intolerably overcrowded.”
Vane Burgone, 74, was killed in a traffic crash near the corner of Division and 100th Street.
City Manager John Hefner has reported the city dump, which will be closed soon, is still open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to accept dirt, stones, rocks and other solid inert materials.
Director Mrs. Viola Carroll, student director Mike Wilde and the WHS senior class is preparing for the play, “The Hangup and Generation Gap.”
The Allegan County Nurses Association will have a meeting with area ministers to watch a film the topic of dying with attention being paid to a book written by Elizabeth Kubler Ross.
A Halloween carnival will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 30, including a parade in the village and a show featuring Ivan Fales and the Driftwoods and the Trick or Treats from Oz.
Writer Jon Gambee called Wayland senior Jim Hendrixson the finest punter in the O-K Blue Conference after the Wildcats’ 14-6 loss to Comstock Park.
Gambee, in the very first “Sport Notes” column, praised cross country and its emphasis on everybody finishing the race.
Hopkins was shut out 13-0 by Climax-Scotts on a very wet football field.
75 Years Ago — Nov. 1, 1946
The Republican Party’s Caravan of Candidates will pay a visit to Wayland at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote in his “Observations” column about his support for the state-wide ballot proposal on behalf of local airport facilities funding.
Lynn E. Miles, 51, died at Allegan Health Center after suffering a long time battle with nephritis.
Byron Andrews, 60, a retired railway mail clerk, died at his home in Shelbyville.
A Gun Lake Resort Owners meeting was held at the Hastings Hotel to discuss ways to better promote their facilities. Hastings Banner Editor George Youngs was one of the guest speakers.
State-wide Proposal 2 seeks approval of a three-cent sales tax, with half going to local school districts and the other half to local municipalities, according to population. Rollo G. Mosher wrote, “Now let’s look at the school angle, the MEA is backing the proposal.”
Dick Wakeman has sold his Cities Service Distributing Agency to Ed Strong of Sunfield and will begin teaching and coaching duties at Battle Creek Lakeview.
Carol Ellinger of Hopkins has been selected to be a member of the Western Michigan College Choir. She also is a member of 16-voice varsity choir at the college.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Francis Lederer, Gail Patrick, Ann Rutherford in “The Madonna’s Secret.”
- Sunset Carson and Linda Stirling in “Here Comes the Cherokee Flash.”
- William Elliott, Constance Moore in “In Old Sacramento.”
- Van Johnson, Esther Williams, Lucille Ball, Keenan Wynn in “Easy to Wed.”
100 Years Ago — Oct. 28, 1921
Mrs. Clara Baker conducted a geography lesson for members of the Ladies Library Club and noted few are able to correctly identify state boundaries, but were “not slow in defining the merits of snow apples which she frequently passed.”
Martin girls came to Wayland High School Monday evening to engage in a practice basketball game.
The new recitation seat has arrived at Wayland School for the Intermediate Room.
The “Willing Workers” Sunday School class at the Methodist Church met at the country home of Melvin These west of Wayland. The 30 who attended enjoyed a weenie roast.
Charles Ward and William Plant are in Eckerman in the Upper Peninsula, preparing to hunt and trap deer.
Mr. E. Centelli believes prospects are bright for booming Gun Lake economy and has purchased property near Streeter’s Resort at Murphy’s Point, with plans to build about 50cottages, a golf course, bowling alley and ballroom.
The Farm Bureau’s “Milk and Alfalfa” campaign in Allegan County is off to a good start. Meeting at the Regent downtown, the home of F.D. Hilbert in Hopkins and in Moline were packed.
The cement road between Moline and Wayland is now complete. “This new highway is surely a beautiful stretch of road such as would delightthe most particular of motorists.” Of particular interest is replacement of a swamp where many motorist have been stuck over previous years.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre: Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn,” Eileen Percy in “The Land of Jazz” and “Sunshine Comedy.”