(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now historical library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Dec. 9, 1996
Democrat Jose Blanco was declared the winner of the tight election for Wayland Township Supervisor over Republican Randy Marklevitz after a recount. The Wayland City Council is researching the possibility crafting an ordinance dealing with public nudity.
The Wayland Township Board is encouraging Dale Cummiford to seek a tax abatement before expanding his trucking business.
Thad Beard has been selected as Wayland’s assistant city manager to Barbara VanDuren.
Wayland police officer Bobbie Jo Ritchie has been directed to move from her hometown of Delton to the city in order to continue her job as a full-time employee.
Globe Editor Nila Aamoth wrote in this week’s Soapbox, “Whenver government officials start bantering around words like ‘decency’ or ‘immoral’ or even ‘appropriate,’ brisk discussions start making the rounds in the newroom. She opposes the city’s intent for an ordinance banning obscenity or nudity because neither are easily defined.
Craig Fahl and David Dumond penned letters to the editor questioning the safety and economic wisdom of privating school bus services.
Parent Bernie Funk urged all other parents to find out what the private transportstion services bidding for the service are all about.
Andy Davis, 19, of Martin, and Jason Weber, 18, of Wayland, have been credited with saving the life of a 36-year-old Caledonia woman whose truck was struck by a train and wound up nearly drowning in the river under an embankment at 142nd Avenue in Leighton Township.
The Wayland City Council fielded complaints from local citizens that snowmobilers have been driving their vehicle on their lawns, showing disrespect for their properties.
Former Wayland businessman Bill Kessler, died of a heart attack in Wyoming, MI. He was the former owner of Kessler’s Undies & Woolies and the Farmhouse Restaurant.
Lucinda Baker, 45, of Bellevue, a 1969 graduate of Wayland High School, died. She had been a financial analyst for the Michigan Department of Social Service and had undergone a kidney transplant in 1991.
Marie C. Griffin, 59, of Martin, died. She had been longtime volunteer for the Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and 4-H programs.
50 Years Ago — Dec.8, 1971
Mr. and Mrs. Royal Boulter of Martin have been chosen Allegan County Farm Family of the Year by the Farmers Home Administration.
Four-year-old Patrick Shaun Zalis of Wayland died of accidental injuries at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids.
The Wayland Rotary and Lions Clubs had a joint Christmas party and the Middle Villa. Richard Overmire and Russ Rugaber oversaw the event.
The State of Michigan has enacted the presumptive intoxication level from 0.15% to 0.10% in connection with drunken driving.
The Wayland City Council learned the actual cost of the new sanitary system will be almost $24,000 less than first believed.
Ground breaking ceremonies were held for the new 19-acre subdivision at Royal Downs Platy with developers David Darl Anderson, his son, Jim and Harold Rantz.
Army Specialist Four Brent Hale of Shelbyville received a commendation medal for his service in Vietnam. He was a cannoneer with the 1st Batallion, 321st Artillery, 101st Airbone Division.
Frank Morris, a World War I veteran and lifelong resident of Wayland Township, died at Pipp Hospital in Plainwell. He was 80.
Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey maintained that shopping local over the upcoming holiday season is a good way to keep money in the local community.
Roger Holmes, 32, formerly of Wayland, was injured in a traffic crash while driving a truck for Tri-City Construction.
Members of the Wayland Mothers Club were to be shown plans for the new high school at their next meeting.
Cindy Weber, a Wayland High School alum, was slated to be a soloist in the Western Michigan University Choir’s Christmas concert.
Mrs. Kenneth Ritz’s art class won the consolation proze in an advertising writing contest.
A Wayland High School girls’ basketball program with an eight-game schedule planned. The games will be held at the “girls’ gym.”
The Wayland boys’ basketball team dropped its season-opening contest to powerful Wyoming Lee 84-48 and then lost 89-61 to Otsego.
75 Years Ago — Dec. 13, 1946
Editor-Publoisher Rollo G. Mosher reported that despite a 65.7% increase in hourly wages since 1939, the weekly earnings are down 2.9%. The high cost of living was blamed.
Mrs. Halden Hudson will show colored slides for the next meeting of the Legion Auxiliary.
William Manning has arrived in Wayland from Germany after serving overseas for three years. Robert Wisniewski also is home on terminal leave.
Mrs. Florence Alflen has been elected president of the St. Therese Altar Society.
Fred Greenawalt was selected worthy master of the local Mason Lodge.
George Powers, 18, of Wayland, was injured when a trailer attached to a truck he was driving was struck by a car on Division just south of the Kent County line. He is recuperating at St. Mary’s Hospital.
A new restaurant, Circle 24 Grill, is replacing the old “Wee Bite” lunch room of Miss Gloria Jeffry just north of the village on Division. New owners are H. Fahlsing and D. Fawley, the former associated with the Walker’s Café in Plainwell.
John King, who lived for 30 years on a farm southwest of Wayland, died at age 80. He was born in 1863 in England.
Mr. and Mrs. John Rawlinson have arrived safely in Liberia. Where they now make their home. Mr. Rawlinson is employed by Firestone Rubber Co.
Dick McBride paced Hopkins’ basketball team to a 24-12 victory over Saugatuck and the Blue Devils pasted Kelloggsville 70-20. The Wayland team defeated Byron Center.
Wayland High School graduate Donna Jean Blue will be among the Western College singer in the 11th annual presentation of Handel’s Messiah.
The Wayland Theatre is closed from now until Christmas Night.
100 Years Ago — Dec. 9, 1921
Wayland school students were happy to see Miss Pitcher, who is now teaching at Ludington.
Wayland students have received their apportionment of Red Cross seals to combat tuberculosis.
The university inspector visited Wayland School and said he was impressed with the spirit of the students and abilities of the faculty, but was critical of the lighting inside the building.
The F.D. Travis Co. is applying for receivership in an efforts to protect stockholders and creditors. Farmers are owning the firm more than $50,000.
A gospel team from the Grand Rapids YMCA and Plainfield Methodist Church will visit the local Methodist church Sunday evening for a concert.
The Corning Methodist Church suffered a great loss with the death of Ruth Thaler of the Young People’s Bible Class and Mary Beck, a longtime church member.
Wallace Reid is starring in the comedy “Double Speed” at the Regent Theatre Sunday. Buck Jones is starring in “The One Man Trail” Saturday.
The Wayland community Saturday will mark “egg day,” but prices will not be announced ahead of time because of the fluctuating market. But local merchants promise to beat any other price reported in West Michigan.
Miss Gladys Johnson’s classroom has been closed on account of an outbreak of scarlet fever.
Mrs. Andrew Brog entertained about 50 guests for Thanksgiving, coming from Leighton, Cloverdale, Grand Rapids and Middleville.
All mothers are cordially invited to attend the program “A Square Deal for the Child” at the next meeting of the Ladies Library Club.
John Baker has been chosen president of the Wayland Cow Testers Association, the first organization of its kind since the alfalfa and milk campaigns.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Adelbert Huttleston was burglarized while the couple was at a hospital in Grand Rapids, where she has been recovering from an operation.
Ohio Corners School students used combs, mouth organs and a horn to perform “Old Black Joe,” “Yankee Doodle” and “Old John Brown” at a school social program.
