(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Nov. 3, 1997
Both the Hopkins and Wayland girls’ basketball teams are unbeaten in the O-K Silver and O-K Gold conferences, respectively. Coach Zack Moushegian’s Wildcats are 12-0. Coach Mark Austin’s Vikings are 8-0.
Allegan County is attempting to come up with a plan for cleanup of a tire pile in Watson Township. The owner of the property is acting as a consultant.
A developer is getting closer to realizing his dream to build an industrial complex over the objections of neighboring residents in Watson Township.
Allegan County Road Commission employees Don Berens and Ron Jones placed first in the Midwest Regional Snowplow Roadeo in Wyoming and will compete in the nationals in Colorado next fall.
Brandon Elementary in Martin is welcoming the Science with Toys classes offered by the Allegan County Area Math & Science Education Center.
An early snowstorm paralyzed local traffic and caused power outages all over West Michigan.
The Wayland Township Planning Commission continues to wrestle with a proposal from Rex Pomranka, who wants to haul gravel from house.
Marilyn Hess of Dorr wrote a letter to the editor supporting Pine Street Principal David Britten’s decision to have a Halloween party without costumes. She maintained Halloween has long been associated with devil worship.
Steve Van Duine has been hired as coordinator for Barry and Allegan Counties’ programs to fight the gypsy moths.
The Wayland football team is 1-7 overall, with five of its losses by a touchdown or less.
Though Hopkins pasted Carlton Airport 35-14, but has no realistic chance of masking the post-season playoffs with a 6-2 record.
Martin fell to 2-6 overall with a 55-7 loss to Lawrence.
Wayland senior “Racin” Jason Moore qualified for the state cross-country meet by winning the regional meet. Hopkins girls qualified as a team in only the third season competing.
Priscilla Lindgren, former teacher at St. Therese Elementary and longtime supporter of the community and Wayland schools, died at age 80.
50 Years Ago — Oct. 31, 1972
Helen Jane Helmey wrote another installment of the column “Know the People and Issues before November 7 Election.”
Mark “Pete” Arnsman was shown in a front page photo with Homecoming Queen Penny Slusser as king of the festivities. He earned it by starring in the Vikings’ 25-6 victory that Friday night over Allendale to earn the O-A Conference championship.
The Globe published a front-page picture of a house being bulldozed at the corner of Forrest and East Maple Streets. The house was occupied in 1867 by the Norton Briggs family and most recently the Welsh family.
Bonds totaling $1.595 million have been approved for constructing two elementary schools in the Hopkins district.
Congressman Guy VanderJagt was to be guest speaker at the Allegan County Republican Women’s Club Thursday, Nov. 2.
Delbert Farnsworth, Kalamazoo elementary school librarian, will present “The Sights ands Sounds of Ireland” to the Ladies Library Club.
Martin quarterback Dan McGuire was involved in three touchdown as the Clippers posted a 34-0 shutout victory over Gobles. They await a visit from Hopkins next Friday night.
Sports writer David T. Young penned a column noting that the Wayland football team has led at the half of every game this season but one, yet only owns a 2-4-1 overall record. The Wildcats also have outscored their opponents cumulatively 104 to 83.
Trooper Howard Lee of the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police was shown with a massive chinook he caught on the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids.
The Wayland High School cross-country finished fourth in the O-K Blue Conference. Senior Bob Frost turned in a school record with a 17:15 clocking for the three-mile race.
Longtime Allegan County Road Commission employee Frank Butcher died at Allegan General Hospital. He was 82.
Charles W. Stankey, former director of the now defunct Sproat School, died at his home in Wayland. He was 79.
St. Ann’s Circle at St. Therese Church wrote a letter to the editor opposing Proposal B, which would legalize abortion for up to 20 weeks.
The Wayland Grange will meet Friday night, Nov. 3, and have discussions about the five proposals on the November general election ballot.
The Hopkins Board of Education went on record as opposing Proposal C in the general election, which would ban property tax as a means of financing public schools.
Johnny Nash catapulted to the No. 1 slot among the nation’s top 40 tunes with “I Can See Clearly Now.”
75 Years Ago — Nov. 7, 1947
A Community Coffee at Buzz and Bill’s kicked off the annual Community Chest campaign. Workers include Henry Lutostanski, Lloyd Jones, Julius Andringa, Frederick Hilbert, Phillip Reno, Barney Nicolai, Lawrence Van Esselt, Hazen Towne, Dick Hines, Harold Koster abd Charles Andringa.
The State Attorney General, Eugene Black, said cap guns now are legal by a 1947 state law, but only those approved by the commissioner of state police.
The late Sgt. Leonard Kotrba was accorded full honors in his military funeral at his home town. He was 24 years old when he was killed in December 1945 in Hawaii. He was the first deceased World War II veteran to be buried in Wayland.
The Ladies Library Club, led by Dora Weaver and Besse Iliff, chairs, are putting together an art exhibit at the Hudson Sales Room featuring works by WHS students.
Wayland Grangers were encouraged to answer roll call at their next meeting by telling where they were when World War I ended.
Walter Gillett, teacher-coach at Wayland High School, led a panel discussion on future political leaders and “Sportsmanship at Home” for the Ladies Library Club. Accompanying him were students William Mauchmar, Marian Larson, Jane VanWeeldon, Mildred Cutler, Donald Noah and Irene Perry.
Wayland High School football team ended its season with a 3-3-1 record.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Sharyn Moffett and Jacqueline White in “Banjo.”
• Allan Lane as Red Ryder and Bobby Blake in “Stagecoach to Denver.”
• William Elliott, Vera Ralston and Gabby Hayes in “Wyoming.”
• Brian Donleavy, Robert Walker and Audrey Totter in “The Beginning of the End.”
100 Years Ago — Nov. 3, 1922
Members of the Home Economics Club at the high school are exhibiting their work at the Sias Store downtown.
Mrs. Rankin was the Ladies Library Club’s delegate to the State Federation was Mrs. Rankin.
There were only three cases of tardiness among 96 students in October at the Wayland grammar school.
The Regent Theatre downtown will have a family night, featuring Ralph Connor’s “The Sky Pilot.” Entire families were to be admitted for the price of 50 cents. Also showing was Priscilla Dean in “Conflict.”
The Blossom School of East Shelbyville collected $19 at a Halloween Party for purchase of a new Victrola.
Frank N. Green of the department of public safety came to town to ring the fire alarm at the school, clearing the premises in just over one minute.
The A.D. Hughes Co. of the village has been sold to L.S. Greenwood & Co. of Milwaukee to continue the mill business.
Currance Ann Chambers, who was born in Wayland in 1842 and daughter of local pioneer Nelson Chambers, died at age 82. She was married three times and has one son, H.N. Barrell.
Eva Brown Chaney, 69, who was involved with Christian Crusade work before coming to Wayland, died at the home of her nephew.
