(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now historical library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Feb. 17, 1997
Richard M. Weaver of Allegan, a Wayland alternative high school student has been charged with making the recent bomb threats and may face a prison term.
A group of parents insist that sex education taught in the Wayland Union school district should be abstinence only. Parent Debbie Rose said children “lose their innocence with all this… they lose their modesty.”
Hopkins Village officials are preparing for the state’s only caucus to nominate local officials. Caucuses over the years are being replaced by primary elections. Incumbents are President Gary Kerber, Sandra Morris, Gloria Meendering and Judy Weick.
Allegan General Hospital is withdrawing from the county’s home health care system and is exploring an independent approach.
Wayland firefighters are launching a fund-raising campaign to buy a thermal imagining device.
This week’s “Soapbox” was penned by Public Policy Associates Project Manager, who promoted making voting an easier task, even saying positive things about mail-in voting.
Ruth Ann Evilsizor wrote a letter to the editor taking Wayland schools to task for faulty evacuation in a fire drill, maintaining that the safety of the children should be the highest priority.
Yankee Springs Township Supervisor George London said local officials are looking into establishing a fire substation agreement with Thornapple Township Emergency Services.
John Grivins, owner of the U.S.131 Dragway, has begun talks with Martin Township officials about upgrading the 12th Street entrance to his business.
Wayland Township Supervisor Jose Blanco is spearheading plans for a futuring forum Feb. 19 at the Wayland Township Hall to get area officials together to discuss things that can be done to improve relations and infrastructure. Among the speakers will be Wayland Mayor Dave Miller, City Manager Barb VanDuren,funeral director Larry Kubiak and Globe Editor Nila Aamoth.
A sewer problem that closed Martin schools was identified as a PVC pipe obstructing sewage flow.
Martin’s basketball team is improving and loaded with sophomores, such as Steve Harthorn, Jess Brown, Jed Noble and Matt Barnes.
The Hopkins volleyball team lost its second straight O-K Silver Conference dual match after a 6-0 start.
The Wayland volleyball team, led by senior Angie Farmer and freshman Nikki Merchant, took a big step forward to repeating as O-K Gold champs with a victory over South Christian.
Hopkins basketball improved to 13-1 and 12 Vikings scored in a 74-51 romp over Kelloggsville.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 16, 1972
Allegan County Commissioner Ellis Wykstra presented the Dorr Township Board and Parks and Recreation Commission with a check for $8,000 to improve recreation programs, funded by the Department of Natural Resources.
Kathy Wamhoff was chosen the winner of the annual Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) annual Good Citizenship award at Hopkins High School.
The Wayland Board of Education has been letting bids for construction of the new high school on East Superior Street.
The school board agreed to the teachers’ union’s request for retroactive pay lost during the wage and price freeze mandated by the Nixon Administration last fall.
Neil Ellinger of Gun Lake has been sworn in as deputy registrar for Wayland Township in a campaign to register 18-year-olds to vote in the 1972 general election.
Former State Senator Fred Hilbert of Wayland has been appointed by Gov. William Milliken to the State Board of Tax Appeals.
Phillip Harmsen, 19, of Burnips, was killed in an automobile crash on 142nd Avenue in Dorr Township.
World War I veteran Grover Clawson, 79, died at his home. He was a lifetime farmer.
Mrs. Anna Ciboch of Wayland, a longtime member of the local Legion Auxiliary and World War I VFW Auxiliary in Allegan, died of cancer at Blodgett Hospital. She was 70.
Two local men, Marshall Towne and Walter Gurney, have plans to run for the mayor’s seat vacated by the retiring Phillip Reno.
Dr. Robert C. Andringa, a Wayland High School graduate, wrote his second installment of a weekly column outlining his experiences behind the Iron Curtain in the Soviet Union.
Bob and Ella Schwander asked in a letter to the editor from Florida for a picture of a snowstorm in Michigan because some of their friends have never seen snow before.
Wayland Girl Scouts Katherine Dangremond, Janice Sager and Ann Dangremond were taking part in the World Frienship ceremony at Otsego, dressed as scouts from Switzerland, Denmark and Belgium.
Pat Chesbro was chosen as Wayland High School’s Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow and will be entered in the state competition.
Tim Baush canned two free throws with seven second remaining to seal Wayland’s varsity basketball victory, 72-70, over Comstock Park. Gib Goodwin led the attack with 18 points, Jim Hendrixson had 14, Mike Trubiroha 12 and Baugh and Pat Wilde 10 apiece.
Mike Fein won in Greenhand Speech, Maynard Guy Public Speaking, and the Deonstration Team of Tom Miller, Brad Kern and Scott Miller were top Hopkins FFA winners at the district leadership contests.
Al Green, with “Let’s Stay Together,” took over the No. 1 slot for the nation’s tunes, ending Don McLean’s streak with “American Pie.”
75 Years Ago — Feb. 21, 1947
Circuit Judge Raymond Smith of Holland, Louis Oosterhouse of Grand Haven and Irving Andrews of Allegan are the three finalist candidates for Ottawa-Allegan County Circuit Judge in the April election.
The Wayland High School boys’ basketball team has won its last four contests, over Martin, Middleville, Otsego and Hopkins, and now owns an overall record of 11-4. Top players are Roy Johnson, Jim Koster, Henry Ritsema, Bob Jager and John Bruinsma. They scored an upset 37-28 win overt a Hopkins squad that had won 15 in a row.
In the independent league, Don Christensen’s squad leads the standings.
Despite the stormy weather, a good-sized crowd witnessed the initiation of a mother and her two daughters into the local Order of Eastern Star, Hazel, Ruth and Gail Everhart.
George Ryno was selected as candidate for village president at the Wayland Village Caucus. Harry Elenbaas was nominated for clerk, Elizabeth Clark treasurer and Charles Clark assessor.
Mrs. Elizabeth Clark was feted by the Ladies Library Clun at the annual banquet for being a member for 50 years. Guest presenters Nina Babcock and Grace Hamilton of Cedar Springs offered the program, “Anyone Can Run a Newspaper.” Miss Donna Jean Blue of Western Michigan University presented a violin recital.
Robert W. Geerdes, staff announcer at the Chicago radio sation WMBI, was scheduled to be featured guest at Martin Reformed Church’s “Singspirational.” Performers will include the Men’s Quartet from First Reformed Church of Kalamazoo and the Girls’ Sextette from Wayland Calvary Church.
The Hopkins Angels girls’ basketball team defeated the Wayland Kittens 32 to 11, despite the absence of star guard Barbara Chappell, who was out with the chicken pox. The ladies will play a showdown against Martin, which has only one loss all season, to undefeated Hopkins.
Sixteen members of the East Bradley Extension group enjoyed a valentine exchange and a presentation from County Extension Agent Miss Mary Bullis.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Penny Singleton and Larry Simms I “Blondie Knows Best.”
• Tom Neal and Helen Chapman in “My Dog Shep.”
• Frank Morgan and Keenan Wynn in “The Cockeyed Miracle.”
• Gary Cooper, Lilli Palmer and Robert Alda in “Cloak and Dagger.”
100 Years Ago — Feb. 17, 1922
With the completion of the high-tension power line from Wayland to Consumers Power’s substation at Monteith, the minimum electric service charge here has been reduced from $1.25 to $1 per month. Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher said, “an event we have longed for and waited for many years.”
The Wayand boys’ basketball team lost 36-30 to Plainwell, due partly to the superior facilities the winners practice in every day.
Intermediate school room pupils enjoyed a Valentines party, popping corn, eating candy and distributing Valentines in between lessons.
Lillian Buskirk gave a presentation to the Ladies Library Club on “From Broom to Vacuum Cleaner,” focusing on early devices and customs in days of old.
The Forrest Lewis Post of the American Legion members are considering establishment of a Ladies’ Auxiliary.
Mrs. H.E. Tanner is filling in as substitute teacher for Miss Haines, who is ill.
Roscoe Rider will leave Monday for the southern part of the state, where he will be a detective for the P.M. Railway.
Frank Cozzens has purchased the corner market and grocery downtown from Laban Barnhart.
Fay C. Wing, a Wayland businessman and Church of Christ pastor for 18 years, has sold half of his furniture and undertaking business to S.H. Metcalf Co. of Grand Rapids. Wing has accepted the pastorate at a church in the Jackson area. His business here is being turned over to son Paul.
Congressman John C. Ketchum spoke at the Corning Community Center about the “farm bloc” in Washington.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: William Russell in “Bare Knuckles” and Ethel Clayton in “Lady in Love.”
S.H. Paul and wife celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. He came to Dorr 70 years ago and started a sawmill before being in the employ of Nelson Chambers.
Love reading this column every week! I look for my family and today found a neat section on my husband Lonns’ Grandmother Hazel Everhart and Aunts Gail and Ruth!