(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Oct. 6, 1997
Dawn Losinger of Leighton Township played a major role in the apprehension of two burglars after a high-speed chase and using a cell phone to call 911.
Hopkins High School sophomore Jennifer DeVrou, a clarinetist, will join an international band on a European tour.
Jan Rabideau, of Wayland, plans to walk a marathon 26.2 miles to help raise funds for finding a cure for leukemia.
A Dorr man, Charles McNabb, is meeting new challenges as a house husband after a career as a while collar worker, most recently as a manager at the Amway Grand Motel.
The Wayland and Hopkins girls’ basketball teams remain atop the standings in their respective conferences. The Wildcats moved into first place by beating perennial powerhouse South Christian. The Vikings were 4-0 in the Silver, led by Melanie Heslinga, Alissa Johnson and Stacie Stachowicz.
Penasee Globe staff writer Scott Sullivan won a first place Michigan Press Association award for feature stories and Jean Gallup earned a second for breaking news.
Traffic counts in the Big Lake area has helped determined the need for road paving on 120th Avenue from 13th to 15th streets.
The Hopkins varsity football team suffered its first O-K Silver Conference loss since the league was formed in 1994. The Vikings lost to undefeated Kelloggsville 26-21.
Wayland’s golf team shot a torrid 152, with Jason Cooper a 35, Zeke Fletcher 37, Nata Adamczyk 39 and Aaron Predum 41.
Hank Reurink, owner and operator of the Reurink Construction Co. of Hopkins died at his home at age 43.
Fred Timmer, 81, of Wayland died. He was a prominent builder who constructed the Dorr Chapel of Cook-Kubiak funeral home.
50 Years Ago — Oct. 3, 1972
Mr. and Mrs. Otto Banas are suing city engineers Williams & Works and K & R Construction for not property restoring their property to its former condition after digging it up for sewer connection. They are seeking $20,000, costs for shrubbery and trees and attorney fees.
Otsego native Dale Fales has been hired as the newest member of the Wayland City Police Dept.
Sandy Pines is planning a three-Saturday Octoberfest Oct. 7, 14 and 28 west of Dorr.
The local Friends of the Library will present a “learning festival” for children and parents at the lower level room at the Henika Library Oct. 6 and 7 and Oct. 13 and 14.
The Wayland Lions Club is raising money to pay for a shelter and playground equipment at the City Park.
The City Council granted approval to the Snowmobile Association to stage a public exhibition promoting their activities.
Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey, in his Editorial Comment, opined, “No way can any voter wait to make decisions until he or she is in the voting booth and expect to vote intelligently. Voters are urged to give thoughtful consideration to the candidates and to the meits of all the proposals well in advance of pulling the lever or marking the ballot.”
Hopkins FFAers Bruce Hitt and Marc Brott were pictured giving an iron shot to a baby pig to prevent anemia.
Local history buff James Levandoski was scheduled to make a presentation to the Wayland Grange.
Hopkins FFA reporter Maynard Guy will march as a member of the FFA band in Kansas City for the livestock parade.
Recent fortunes for the Wayland varsity golf team were dimmed by four losses in six matches, bringing its record to 8-6. In one victory, Evan Siefert and Rick Vestal both carded a 39 over nine holes.
Joe Panyrek handed out three prizes to top golfers in his tournament at Yankee Springs. Top golfer was Paul Gombos.
Steve Adamczyk earned the Hopkins school record for nine holes by carding a 39 in the Vikings’ win over Allendale.
Pete Arnsman scored one rushing touchdown and one on a pass from QB John Roon in an 18-0 Hopkins victory over Climax-Scotts.
Led by Bob Frost, Russ McCarren and Joe Carpenter, the Wayland cross-country team scored their first league dual meet victory, 26-29 over Middleville.
Wayland’s varsity football team suffered five turnovers and lost 20-16 to Kelloggsville.
The Hopkins High School chapter of Future Homemakers of America honored Miss Pat VanLane, who accompanied the girls to the state fair in Detroit.
Martin improved to 2-1 on the football season with a 28-0 shutout over Saugatuck, featuring standout defensive performances by Dave Oetman and Dave Kent and offensive efforts of QB Dan McGuire.
75 Years Ago — Oct. 10, 1947
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher noted the Globe was beginning its 64th year as a weekly newspaper, with the first issue being Sept . 25, 1884. “A country newspaper office has enjoyed the coming of modern conveniences, along with all villages and towns and even the farms. Electricity was a big boon to small town printing offices, as it has for the farmer, the housewife and the merchant.” The paper in bygone days was powered by gasoline engine.
A tool shed and garage at the Vincent Horvath home in southeast Wayland were destroyed by fire that local officials believe was caused by faulty wiring in an automobile.
The Wayland football team was shut out 26-0 by “a superior Caledonia football team.” The next game will be at home Friday against Galesburg, when the players’ fathers will sit on the team bench on the sidelines.
The W Club for Wayland High School is collecting pictures of all former athletic teams in hopes of displaying them.
The annual Autumn Frolic at Scheiern School will be Friday evening, Oct. 17, put together by the Mothers Club. Featured will be cake walks, fish ponds and door prizes.
Bette VanWeelden, a 1943 Wayland High School graduate, made her radio debut as a senior at the Columbia Dramatic School in Chicago, on WHFB in Benton Harbor.
The Grange Economics Club plans to have a bake sale and bazaar Oct. 18.
A 2-year-old girl who was bitten by a local dog was taken to Crispe Hospital for 13 stitches and a tetanus shot as a precaution.
Mrs. Hannah Barber, who came to Dorr Township in 1893, died at her home. She was a member of the Grange, Methodist Church and the Dorr Stitch and Chat Club. She was 79.
The parish house at Leighton Evangelical United Brethren Church will be dedicated Sunday, Oct. 12.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Monte Hale and Adrian Booth in “Along the Oregon Trail.”
• Adele Mara and Bill Kennedy in “Web of Danger.”
• Van Johnson, Dean Stickwell and Janet Leigh in “The Romance of Rosy Ridge.”
• Robert Young, Jane Greer and Susan Hayward in “They Won’t Believe Me.”
100 Years Ago — Oct. 6, 1922
Wayland High School won a baseball game against Freeport, 21 to 7 and will play Middleville Friday afternoon.
The WHS freshman class ranks swelled to 48 once again with the arrival of Mildred Buege of Freeport after Anna Suchovsky left for Chicago.
The Wayland girls’ basketball team edged Martin 17-16 in a practice game. The ladies next will play Hopkins.
About 60 children with the Home Talent Play will perform “The Marriage of the Midgets” at the Regent Theatre Friday evening, Oct. 13.
The Northeast Hopkins Community Club sponsored an old-fashioned spelling bee, with Ina Crabb emerging as the winner.
Nettie Baker was elected first vice president of the Ladies Library Club to fill a vacancy left by the death of Mrs. Mills.
The Yeakey Auto Co. will have a tractor demonstration Wednesday, Oct. 11, southeast of Shelbyville, showing trees from eight to 15 feet high being plowed under by a Fordson.
“Work is progressing quite rapidly on the new school house (in Bradley).”
Fenner Brothers had one window at the Martin Fair arranged to represent “Ye Old Time Home.”
The village has just constructed a new catch basin connected with the county drain on South Main.
The Globe has installed a new electric heater for its Intertype.
Wayland High School graduates who have enrolled at Western Normal include Hilda Ring, Lucille Franz, Alvalyn Allen, Mildred Hitchcock, Ermabelle Tooker, Russell Hilbert, Raymond Rider, Roy Ring and Wayne and Floyd Thomas.
Kelly’s Frozen Sweets gave Wayland a battle on the baseball diamond, but the local lads prevailed 10-9.
The ladies of the Farmers Club gave the new flour from the Moline mill a tryout and determined it was all right. They also heard remarks from Mr. Gregg, the new Allegan County Agent.