(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Nov. 10, 1997
Officer Kevin Hanh reports that he is finding his job as deputy patrolling Salem, Leighton and Dorr townships very rewarding.
Despite the rainy and muddy conditions at Michigan International Speedway east of Jackson, local cross-country runners put their best feet forward. Wildcat senior Jason Moore finished seventh in 16:41.
A Wayland city police officer has been accused of using excessive force in an incident under investigation.
Wayland’s football team threw a scare into Middleville Thornapple Kellogg, but the Trojans prevailed and prepare for the post-season playoffs.
The Wayland girls’ basketball team lost a heartbreaker at South Christian and still need a win to clinch the O-K Gold Conference title. Jessie Merchant scored 13 points and Casey Scully eight, but the ‘Cats suffered their first loss in the league, 54-53.
A $40,000 “challenge grant” has sparked efforts to raise funds for building a new track at Hopkins High School.
Blair G. Rice of Wayland wrote a letter to the editor charging Leighton Township Planning Commission Chairman Richard Baxter with a conflict of interest just before meeting to decide his request to construct a garage. Editor Nila Aamoth pointed out that it his duty to publish the notice of the meeting.
Wayland High School sophomore Amanda Hilliker of Dorr has been selected to join the American Musical Ambassadors Band.
Wayland city officials have rejected a request from Gardner Management Co., manager of the heritage Village Apartments, to absolve them of unpair property taxes from 1984, 1985 and 1986.
Jim Millbocker of Allegan has won approval from the Watson Township Board to haul sand to be used at the construction site at the new Hopkins High School.
Hopkins finished its football season with a 6-3 record after a controversial 13-10 loss to Constantine. Martin was 3-6 after beating Wyoming Lee 50-14.
50 Years Ago — Nov. 7, 1972
Besides Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew, the big winners in the general election were Republicans Bela Kennedy, James Farnsworth, Wayne Sackett, Guy VanderJagt, Commissioners Dennis Nickels, Anthony Wykstra and Ralph Sytsma.
District Gov. Robert Forrester was to be special guest at the next meeting of the Wayland Lions Club Nob. 134, according to local club President Harold Ernst.
The Wayland City Council is somewhat less than enthusiastic about the cost of hiring Williams & Works to do a master plan for $10,000.
T.J. Holman has joined the Wayland city police force as a patrolman. He is a recent graduate of Police Recruit Academy.
Ila Branch Cottrill, born in 1883 in West Virginia, died at her Hopkins home. She had been a member of the Hopkins Methodist Church for 30 years.
The State Boundary Commission has given its blessing to the City of Wayland annexing a portion of Leighton Township for the use of sanitary sewer lagoons.
Mike Avery, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Avery of Wayland, has begun his third tour of duty, which has included Vietnam, New Zealand and the Philippines.
The Wayland Mothers Club has put out a call for more volunteers for the elementary reading program in Wayland schools.
Wayland’s football team improved to 3-4-1 with a 29-0 victory over Byron Center. The Wildcats will close out the season with a non-league ballgame against Spring Lake.
Wayland High School 1972 graduate Jim Hendrixson is the punter on Grand Valley State College’s first-ever football team.
Hopkins was an upset victim of Martin, 12-6, but still won the A-O Conference title and now is 6-2 overall.
The Hopkins Mothers Club plsn to have a book fair at the high school Nov. 14.
75 Years Ago — Nov. 14, 1947
Pet Milk contributed $132 and Knitting Works $74.60 to the local Community Chest fund drive, which is nearing completion.
The Wayland Halloween parade attracted more than 200 youths, according to Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher in his weekly “Observations Here and There” column. “The young folks must have appreciated the efforts of the (Rotary) committee because very little damage was done and everything passed off peacefully.
The Wayland Village Council has decided to lease the Municipal Airport to Glenn Zumbrink and Vinton Shafer for a 10-year period.
A front page Globe story mentioned the many local men who planned to go north for the first week of deer camp.
Miss Myna Wightman of New York City, formerly of Wayland, died of a heart attack. Her body was brought back for funeral and burial.
Hopkins native Miss Edith Schafer, only 29, died in a Kalamazoo hospital. She was a Hopkins rersident for most of her life.
Mrs. Nora Fox, born on the Fox farm near Bradley, died in Alhambra, Calif. A longtime employee of Updyke Abstract in Allegan, she was 71.
Elizabeth Runkel, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Emil Runkel, formerly of Hopkins, was elected homecoming queen at Ludington High School.
The Anti-Can’t Club of the Congregational Church will have a chop suey dinner at the church Dec. 5.
The Wayland High School senior class will present the play “Don’t Darken My Door” next week Friday at 8:15 p.m. at the high school auditorium. The Players include Jim Foster, Virginia Fishbeck, Irene Perry, Florence Nussdorfer, Marian Larsen and Charles Schumaker.
Wayland, Allegan County, State of Michigan, has been reported to have a population of 1,005.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• George Montgomery and Nancy Guild in “The Brasher Doubloon.”
• Ted Donaldson and Stephen Dunne in “The Son of Rusty.”
• Peggy Cummings, Victor Mature and Ethel Barrymore in “Moss Rose.”
• Bing Crosby, Joan Caulfield, Barry Fitzgerald in “Welcome Stanger.”
100 Years Ago — Nov. 10, 1922
The children in the primary classroom have been drinking milk and growing strong.
Ivan Truax, a first-grader, has been absent this week because of a bruised lip he suffered in an automobile accident.
Mrs. Genevieve Hooker read a paper on “The Indian and His Condition” to members of the Ladies Library Club. She also read exerpts of an interview with Mr. Streeter on the early Indian history at Gun Lake.
Republicans won every race in Allegan County in the general election, with 383 ballots cast in Wayland Township. Statistics showed 175 straight-ticket Republicans and 45 straight Democratic.
Wayland State Bank was advertising 4% interest on time deposits.
Discussion subject at the Wayland Grange meeting Nov. 11 was to be, “Is it more wholesome to bake bread than to buy it?”
Now showing at the Regent Theatre in downtown Wayland: “Man to Man” with Harry Carey. Also showing is Norma Talmadge in “The Sign on the Door.”
Frank Hallan will speak to members of the Moline Congregational Church on “How Do I Know There Is a God?”
Oscar Douglas fell on a butcher knife and cut himself badly. Dr. Haas dressed the wound and Oscar is getting around on a crutch.
Helen Rose Cook, 19, died at the home of her parents in Moline. Born Dec. 11, 1902, she lived in Greenville and then moved with them to Moline.
Frank Chamberlain of Wayland was elected Allegan County Register of Deeds.
Mrs. H. Dooling of Bradley is at Allegan Hospital suffering from a thumb ailment. It is feared it will have to be amputated.
The L.S. Greenwood Co., now employs 14 people and hopes to increase that figure to 25 after moving into the former A. D. Hughes business.
The Globe published a feature “38 Years Ago” to relate several items about what happened in Wayland this month in 1884.