25 Years Ago — Jan. 19, 1994
A garage fire killed Clayton W. Brown, 83, next to his home on 133rd Avenue, Fire Chief Hugh DeWeerd said Brown was in his workshop in the garage, which included a wood stove.
An Alberta Clipper weather system was hovering over West Michigan. Temperatures plummeted to as low as 22 degrees below zero and wind chills were estimated at -50. The cold also wreaked havoc on roads in Allegan and Barry counties, and salt was deemed inadequate for eliminating ice.
Jim Jansma of Nederveld & Associates was granted one of three rezoning requests for residential development on East Superior Street near Sib Rumery.
Teen-agers Jodi and Vicki Hendricksma were recovering at Metro Hospital in Grand Rapids from injuries sustained in a two-car traffic accident in Dorr Township.
Editor Nila Aamoth wrote an editorial about increasing intrusiveness of the government with surveillance. She insisted after a recent Supreme Court ruling, just about the only public place that assures privacy is a department store dressing room.
David Babbitt was re-elected chairman of the Allegan County Board of Commissioners and Jon Campbell was elected vice chairman.
Virginia Holbrook announced her retirement as Allegan County’s deputy clerk after serving 13 years.
Two local bridges, one on 133rd Avenue in Hopkins Township and another on 114th Avenue in Martin Township, have been included in Michigan’s critical bridge list and are eligible for about $250,000 in state funding.
Local historian James Levandoski is working on producing a video of the story of the Dixie Ballroom just north of Bradley along 10th Street. The last dance at the Dixie was said to be held Oct. 25, 1964, with music by Johnny Stillwell and the String Alongs.
Freshman Tim Kisner scored a career high 28 points and Fred Clemenshaw and Rich Dame both added 13 to lead Hopkins to a 78-70 win over Freedom Baptist. The Vikings stunned defending state runner-up West Michigan Christian 69-67, as Kisner scored 20 points and came up with nine steals.
Ken Stewart pumped in 26 points and Matt Barghan had 20 as Wayland raced past Bellevue 88-69 to improve its season record at 4-4.
Gobles held Richie Guerrant to just seven points in a 61-41 win over Martin. The Clippers defeated Fennville 91-86 as Ben Knight and Chris Rantz netted 23 points apiece. Frank Alfieri dropped in 39 for Fennville.
Wayland’s Mike Merren qualified in diving for regionals. The Wildcats are 3-2 overall in dual meets.
Mike Lapekes was named the Wayland High School recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship award.
Martin wrestling standouts Josh Conley (135 pounds) and Buzz Hunderman (130) both are still undefeated for the season.
Wayland school officials have decided to offer the extended school year program again this summer.
50 Years Ago — Jan. 15, 1969
A recount of the November general election ballot issue on Daylight Savings Time has begun in Allegan County. The recount is occurring in all but three of Michigan’s 83 counties after it was narrowly defeated. Mrs. Robert Nicolai, Mary Ellen Mynatt and Dora Weaver and City Manager Blaine Bacon are participating.
Floyd’s Service Station in Dorr was damaged when a motorist lost control of his car and struck gas pumps.
Emil Dommert, a longtime Pet Milk shipping clerk, died at Pipp Hospital in Plainwell. He was 89.
Mrs. Wayne Ritz was the author of this week’s installment of the “Our Teachers Speak” column. She encouraged young people to become involved in the profession.
Allegan County District Judge Elizabeth Ramsey, who was elected in November to replace the old justice of the peace system, has appointed Earl Lanning to be local magistrate to handle driving cases.
The Wayland Board of Education approved the administrative policy “no extreme style” for student clothing and hairstyle. The board also is grappling with building issues for a middle school west of town, but nothing can be started until at least 1971.
Salaries for each of the 21 members of the new Allegan County Board of Commissioners have been set at $2,500 annually.
Services for Mrs. Carol Ann (Denniston) Hamilton, and her daughter Judith, and a memorial service for son Robert have scheduled at the Gorden Guneral Residence in Allegan. Mr. Hamilton’s body and that of her daughter were found on an island on the Columbia River near Portland, Ore., but Robert’s body was not found. Husband and father Richard Hamilton is being held on murder charges. Carol Ann was a 1960 graduate of Martin High School and worked as a postal clerk.
Wayland Police Chief Forrest Reichenbach, City Manager Blain Bacon and Martin Chief David Holley all played important roles in the capture of two armed robbers who held up a liquor store on South Division.
Don Klein, a 6-7 center, dropped in 20 points, but Wayland lost 65-55 to Galeburg-Augusta. Tom Latondress added 14 points.
Ken Merren (95) and Ron Straub (112) both won their weight division competitions in the East Christian wrestling tournament. Wayland took third place.
Hopkins is preparing to play against the No. 1 Class D team in the state, Covert, which boasts of a high octane offense of 96.7 points per game.
Tom Rybiski won the $50 top prize in the snowmobile races at the Allegan County fairgrounds, but he suffered an injury.
Paul Wing, son of longtime Wayland pastor Fay C. Wing, died in Madison, Wisc. He was 69.
Rollo G. Mosher resumed writing his “Observations Here and There” column after a hiatus of several months.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?’”starring Doris Day, Terry Thomas and Robert Morse.
75 Years Ago — Jan. 21, 1944
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher told readers he was getting ready to go to the annual meeting of the Michigan Press Association in Lansing. He said his aim was “to talk shop with other members of the craft.”
Wayland High School graduate Capt. Bud Malmstone, 25, was co-pilot of a major successful military operation in New Guinea. Rollo Mosher wrote, “Do not be surprised if we hear that Bud is wearling the Golden Oak Leaf of a major before long.”
Chet Brevitz wrote home from his assignment in Italy, telling his sister that when he is allowed to take a break, “I just relax and enjoy doing nothing.”
Jack Smith was promoted from sergeant first class to carpenter’s first mate in Rhode Island. He had served previously in Iceland.
Sgt. Ray Jankovich of Bradley, earned his expert’s badge for marksmanship as a member of the 38th Infantry Regiment.
Pfc. Walter Bellgraph was home for the holidays in Hopkins after being deployed in North Africa and Sicily. He is one of four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Bellgraph serving in the military. The other three are Paul, Joseph and Raymond.
Mr. and Mrs. P.D. Truax have five sons in the service, Harley, Ivan, Alvin, Lyle and Harold.
Albert DeHaan has arrived home from St. Mary’s Hospital, where he had been recovering for four weeks from injuries he suffered in an icy traffic crash.
Pomona Grange in Monterey Township welcomed a program of minstrel singing by members of the Grace Church of Allegan. Judge Irving Tucker was in charge of the program.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre
- Humphrey Bogart, Eddie Cantor, Bette Davis, Errol Flynn, Olivia de Haviland, Ann Sheridan and an all-star cast in “Thank Your Lucky Stars.”
- George Montgomery, Kent Taylor and Annabella in “Bomber’s Moon.”
- Frank Albertson, Lorna Gray and Irene Ryan in “O My Darling Clementine.”
- Bette Davis, Paul Lukas and Geraldine Fitzgerald in
“Watch on the Rhine.”
100 Years Ago — Jan. 17, 1919
The Globe published a poem, “No Second Jonah,” by 13-year-old Leonard Clemens of Shelbyville. George Mosher noted, “Yes, my boy. You have the makings of another Mark Twain. So send us more to use.”
Earl Curie sent a letter from his travels in Georgia, reporting temperatures there had dipped to 25 degrees. He added, “Living is high here. It costs $1 for a meal at a lunch counter.”
The Pitric Acid plant division of men will have an American flag 24 feet long presented by Dr. I.L. Slater to Wayland High School in a ceremony at the Christian Church. Included will be music by Cleo Fox, L. Mason, Mildred Wing, Ruth Calkins, and a flag drill and song performed by pupils in Mrs. Martin’s room.
The final number of the lecture series, sponsored by the senior class, will be held Jan. 21. Admission is 35 cents.
Wayland Township Clerk L.D. Chapple has announced the dog taxes are due soon.
The Wayland High School home economics class is sponsoring a drive for a hot lunch program particularly geared to country students, “to serve something warm for dinner at cost.” Class members are having a candy sale to help pay for the program.
Kenneth Briggs, who has been mustered out of military service with the 137th field artillery in France, was in Wayland to visit his aunt and his grandfather, W.W. Briggs.
The Stockdale confectionary store now has begun selling Sunday editions of Michigan’s largest daily newspaper, the Detroit Free Press.
The landmark home of Mark Corning just east of town was consumed by fire. Mr. Corning now lives in Muskegon.
The topic of discussion for the most recent Wayland Grange meeting was the question of government control of the railroads.
The Women’s Bible Class of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Bradley will have a special program to discuss “The Responsibility of Women Voters.”
Alethia Holleran, dressed as a Red Cross Cross nurse, sang “O Frenchy, Frenchy” to members of the Ladies Library Club.
