(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — June 2, 1997
Allegan County Sheriff Dave Haverdink inadvertently injured his brother, Dale, while target shooting when a bullet ricocheted and struck him.
Allegan County could lose its authority over its roads under new plans for Build Michigan II unveiled by Gov. John Engler.
Wayland High School alumni defeated the current girls’ softball team in the annual game. Cheri Ritz pitched for the alums.
Township Supervisors Don Kaczanowski of Dorr, Bob Jones of Salem and Dar VanderArk of Leighton combined efforts on a “Soapbox” guest editorial defending their use of local tax dollars to contract with the sheriff’s department for a deputy for police coverage.
Letter writer Kay Herp advised local voters not to take vengeance out on a school board member in the upcoming election.
Hopkins schools principals Jose Vera and Suzanne Richards will leave the district at the end of the school year after being denied requests for residency requirement waivers. Vera was athletic director and assistant principal and Richards was at the middle school.
Jon Carroll, Steve Alflen, Perry Slagter are three candidates for one four-year seat on the Wayland Board of Education. Lynne Fahrne and Larry Martin Sr. will challenge incumbents Darwin Evers and Joanne Knight for two seats on the Martin board. Incumbent Evonna Beard will be challenged by Anita Kerber for a seat in Hopkins.
Dale Cummiford is seeking a special use permit from the Wayland Township Zoning Board of Appeals to move his Truck City business from Wyoming to the west side of U.S.-131. The biggest obstacle is assembly and fabrication activities in the current commercial district.
Hopkins High School agriscience students are studying raising Tilapia fish in controlled environments, such as a 1,000-square-foot fish tank in the new high school.
Area school officials say they will struggle with new requirements for ten more school days in the academic year by 2006.
Wayland High School Class of 1997 members Lance Lake and Robyn Wallington received U.S. Marines Scholastic Excellence awards and Wallington earned the Guido Binda Scholarship. Both now are associated with Wayland High School in another capacity.
50 Years Ago — June 6, 1972
For the Wayland High School Class of 1972 graduation, President Peter Calkins extended greetings, Linda Shoemaker and Mike Johnston read the class history, A.J. Presum recited the class poem and Maribeth Culver sang the class song. “We have followed. Now we lead” was the motto.
Mrs. Gene Weber was named Wayland City Clerk and plans were made for a special occasion June 15 to honor the city’s first mayor and former Village President Phillip Reno.
The General Motors Corp. honored Wayland City Councilman Max Barnes for his community service.
L.J. Washchuk, president of the Wayland Education Association, wrote a letter to the editor supporting the upcoming bond issue asking for 0.28 mill for addition of a swimming pool and auditorium to the high school.
Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey added his support to the proposal as well, opining, “It’s a small price to pay for the advantages we will receive.”
Moline will begin its centennial celebration next Sunday with a church service and Monday with the crowning of the queen.
Former Wayland resident Deborah Drake won a Pet Inc. scholarship. She is the daughter of James Drake, longtime Pet employee.
Wayland High School graduate Bob Ayers had a 13-6 individual record and 12-3 in doubles for Ferris State College and helped the Bulldogs qualify for the NCAA post-season tournament.
Mrs. Huse Johnson and Mrs. Arthur Miller were elected president and vice president, respectively, of the Ladies Library Club.
The Staple Singers took over the No. 1 spot among the nation’s top tunes with “I’ll Take You There.”
75 Years Ago — June 6, 1947
Wayland Village Street Commissioner Birney Belka has ordered the drinking fountains turned on, a sure sign that spring and summer have arrived.
A hearing on removal of two passenger trains from Wayland will be held in Kalamazoo June 12. Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher said loss of the two Penn RR trains will inconvenience only local commercial shippers.
A brick foundation has been laid for the new offices of Dr. C. A. Dickinson on Superior Street downtown.
Earl Hildreth of Grand Rapids, an 1897 WHS graduate, was special guest at the 41st annual reunion at the high school cafeteria. Mrs. Clemma Hicks, an 1878 grad, responded by letter. A total of 101 alumni attended.
Gordon M. Ross, 35, who taught in the Wayland school system for two years, died in an ambulance en route to the hospital after teaching mechanical drawing classes that day at Battle Creek High School.
Mrs. Clara Gustafson, 79, a native of Sweden and Wayland resident for the past 40 years, died after an illness of five years.
Unseasonably cold weather forced the annual Memorial Day ceremonies to be held inside the high school instead of Elmwood Cemetery. The Rev. Ralph Dean of the Methodist Church, a lieutenant colonel and chaplain in the military, was the speaker.
Dr. Willis Dunbar from the Fetzer Broadcasting System of Kalamazoo was the commencement speaker for the Hopkins High School Class of 1947.
An estimated 125 alumni attended the Hopkins High School reunion May 28, exactly 50 years after the first reunion took place in 1897. Former teacher Mrs. Maud Calkins was honored.
The summer softball league season got under way last week and the Dorr squad debuted in its new yellow suits and looked impressive in an opener victory over Calvary Church. Defending champion Leighton defeated Hilliards.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Allan Lane as Red Ryder and Bobby Blake in “Vigilantes of Boom Town.”
• Sharon Moffett and Regis Toomey in “Child of Divorce.”
• Robert Montgomery and Audrey Trotter in “Lady in the Lake.”
• Walt Disney’s “Song of the South,” the stories of Uncle Remus.
100 Years Ago — June 2, 1922
The Rev. William Forbes Emery of the Epworth Church, Grand Rapids, was guest speaker at the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs memorial service at tne Methodist Episcopal Church.
The first radio set in Wayland to receive programs sent by powerful broadcasting stations in larger cities has been installed at the Globe office. Concerts, lectures and news dispatches were included in the first day of programming. Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher promised to install an amplifier as well.
Mrs. Floyd Boughner, wife of the superintendent, read the Governor’s Memorial Day proclamation and highlighted the railroads-sponsored safety programs from June 30 to Sept. 30.
Postmaster Rollo G. Mosher published the names on nine dead letters in the local post office.
A “very informing and forceful” address was presented by Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce President Lee Bearse to the Corning Community Club.
Walter Cozzens had the misfortune of falling from one of the trees in the Village Park and broke his arm. (Trying impersonate Tarzan).
Guert V. Fales of Newaygo will be engaged as outh End Current Supt. Floy Boughner will attend classes in Ann Arbor.
Charles R. Yeakey will join the Shriners Band in a four-week train trip to SanFrancisco.
Former Wayland High School boy Bert Bowman, now attending Kalamazoo College, took second place in the high jump at the state track meet in Ann Arbor, clearing 5-11.
Wayland Independents baseball team defeated the Grand Rapids South End outfit, but lost in nine innings to Leighton.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown:
• Louis Glaum and Matt Moore in “Love Madness.”
• Anita Stewart in “Harriett and the Piper.”
• Elmo Lincoln and Louise Loraine in “The Adventures of Tarzan.”
At 7:30 Tuesday evening, six cars stood in front of the store in Hopkinsburg. “Soon we will need parking rules.”
