(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — March 10, 1997
The Wayland Board of Education has resolved to keep the current transportation services as is. The privatization issue has been dropped, for now.
The Watson Township Board is getting a earful about flooded byways in the township.
Wayland captured its third consecutive district volleyball championship and Hopkins stepped into new territory by getting a district title as well, the Lady Vikings’ first ever. Elaine DuBridge had four solo blocks for the Wildcats in the finals.
Melinda Koning of Dorr penned a letter to the editor insisting, “Sex is another area that requires a commitment to self-control, not a ‘how-to-manual and a belief that we somehow expect them to fail.”
Fire destroyed a garage and its contents at the Wayland Township home of Randy Holmes.
Candy Adrianson wrote a letter blasting the Watson Township Board for thinking of paving the township hall parking lot while roads need serious attention.
Sebright Products has been granted a tax abatement, by the Wayland Township Board, but Truck City will have to wait for a public hearing on its request.
Pay for members of the nine-member Wayland City Planning Commission will increase from $30 to $35 per meeting.
Cheri Lutz has been appointed city clerk by City Manager Barbara VanDuren.
Martin Schools teacher Terry DeWeerd submitted ideas for a recreation park in Watson Township on a parcel on M-222 across from 20th Street. The Township Board may have a public hearing.
Jane Esenwein has been named new director of the Allegan County United Way, succeeding Jeff McElwee.
The Wayland boys’ basketball team recorded victories in the district tournament over Middleville and Charlotte. The Wildcats (15-7) will face Hastings in the finals.
Lucas Blanco set a new school record in the breaststroke as Wayland finished second in the O-K Rainbow Conference swim standings.
Martin’s basketball team finished the regular season with a 1-20 overall record, losing to dfending state champ Tri-Unity Christian.
The Hopkins basketball team earned its first O-K Silver basketball title, but was upended by Kalamazoo Christian in the district opener. The Vikings went 18-3.
Annetta Jansen of Dorr, who established a food pantry and clothing exchange and chosen as Dorr Citizen of the Year, died at age 72.
50 Years Ago — March 8, 1972
Wayland insurance man Dennis Reno, son of Mayor Phil Reno, suffered severe leg injury in a traffic accident just south of the Wayland exit.
Walter Gurney and Marshall Towne will vie for the mayor’s position and William Schuh, Willard Benedict, Mrs. Dale Hall, William Hooker, Arthur Shade and Ted Green will compete for three seats on the Wayland City Council in the spring election next month.
The number of Allegan County Commissioners will be reduced from 21 to 12 after the November general election.
Vern H. Pike, former owner of Wolverine Feed Co. before selling it to son, Kermit, died of a heart attack. He was 78.
Wayland will exchange mayors with Jonesville March 22 at the start of Michigan Week in Mayor Exchange Day.
Henry Japinga, father of Louis Japinga of Wayland grandfather of football star Don Japinga, died in a nursing home in Holland. He was 92.
Mary Ellen Mynatt of the Paul Johnson Agency has received her real estate license.
The eighth and ninth grade bands for Wayland earned Division 1 ratings at the solo and ensemble festival at Calvin Christian.
The Wayland School Mothers Club heard a presentation by State Police Detective Kenneth Taylor of Paw Paw on the rising drug problems.
The Wayland Band Boosters plan to put together another Variety Show with Mrs. Paul Browand as mistress of ceremonies.
The Wayland basketball team lost 84-62 in the district tournament to a Middleville team it had defeated twice during the regular season. Tim Baugh scored 14 points, Mike Trubiroha 13 and Pat Wilde 10. Jim Hendrixson led the team in scoring for the season with 14.2 points per game.
Martin won the Class D district basketball tournament title with a 67-60 victory over Climax-Scotts, as Dan Kelsey netted 20 points.
Dave McBride and Steve Freeman both qualified for the Class B regional wrestling tournament.
75 Years Ago — March 14, 1947
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher insists in his column that two signs of spring, appearances of does and flocks of geese overhead, have come to the area.
Mrs. May Printup gave a presentation on “Vegetable Seeds” to members of the Wayland Garden Club. Mrs. Lois Smith then talked about the “Miracle of Seeds.” Mrs. Rilla calkins followed up with “Seed Products.”
Wayland High School’s basketball team finished the season with an 11-5 overall record and Roy Johnson was the team’s leading scorer with 190 points and Bog Jager collected 164. The Wildcats lost to Paw Paw in the district tournament finals.
The Wayland High School “W” club is collecting records and pictures of all athletic teams to put in a scrap book.
Frank Malmstone has accepted chairmanship of the 1947 Red Cross blood drive for the Village of Wayland and Wayland Township.
Mrs. Jessie Clack, who lived in Wayland for 80 years and was a member of the Methodist Church and the Grange died at age 81.
Ground has been broken for a new bungalow home for Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Johnson on Hanlon Court. It is the fourth home to be built on the street in a little more than a year.
Retired Dorr farmer Albert Smith died at the Christian Rest Home in Grand Rapids. He was 86.
The Congregational Church of Moline has voted to sever connections with the Federal Council of Churches of Christ because “many of its leaders deny the inspiration of the Bible, the virgin birth of Christ and the physical resurrection and return of our Saviour.”
The final meeting this season of the adult agriculture class at the high school will focus on some of the newest farm pesticides such as DDT and 2-4-D.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Wally Brown and Ann Carney in Genius at Work.”
• Jean Parker and Russell Hayden in “Rolling Home.”
• Sidney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre in “The Verdict.”
• Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson and Janis Page in “The Time, The Place and the Girl.”
100 Years Ago — March 10, 1922
The students in the freshman English class at the high school is studying newspapers and each has taken up titles for their publications — The Bugle, Sun, Harrow, Booster, News, Circle and Star. They write editorials and a column called “Funnibone Ticklers.”
The primary room students are making books to illustrate the making of maple syrup.
Mrs. Beth Mosher gave a presentation to the Ladies Library Club about “The Paper Industry,” noting the primitive process involved papyrus from trees along the Nile in Africa.
A bountiful supper served about 100 people at a Rural Grange dinner on North Main, which included visitors from Carlisle Grange.
The Gregorville Church near Bradley has installed a new gaslight plant and it makes a wonderful improvement.
The Missionary Circle of the Congregational Church in Bradley will serve a St. Patrick’s supper Saturday evening, March 18.
Paul Wing has moved into the living rooms above the furniture store downtown, which he has taken over from his father, Fay C. Wing, who has left town.
An “Olde Tyme St. Patrick’s Day Dance, sponsored by the Wayland chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, will be held Friday evening at Yeakey’s Hall.
Hopkins Township has gone one better than Wayland in number of candidates for treasurer, six to five. The election will be held Monday.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Douglas McLean and Doris May in “Let’s Be Fashionable” and Johnny Walker and Edna Murphy in “Live Wires.”