25 Years Ago — Feb. 26, 1994
It appears that a judge rather than Dorr Township will decide on a rezoning request be developer Louis Bartz to build an apartment complex behind the Dairy Ranch on the north side of 142nd Avenue.
Pennock Hospital has bought the site on 124th Avenue of a mini-mall with intentions to establish a local family practice under Dr. James Spindler. Unfortunately, this means three mall tenants, Water’s Edge Floral & Gift Shop, Cut ‘N Cabin Hair Salon and Farm Bureau Insurance will have to vacate the premises within 30 days.
Local historian Jim Levandoski wrote a letter asking readers for information and photos of the old Aire Cushion Factory that burned down on West Superior Street.
Gerry and Darlene Olsen penned a letter to the Globe objecting to Scott Sullivan’s “Fun House” feature, which they maintained was dangerously close to pornography.
Dan Roosien of Moline Christian won the regional spelling bee sponsored by the Allegan County Intermediate School District and Cory Rutgers of Wayland Junior High was first runner-up.
Voters in the Village of Hopkins will decide in their next local election on a one-mill proposal to fund a local police department.
Mike Merren and Christine Holben were chosen Duke and Duchess of the Wayland High School Snowcoming.
Martin sophomore Ben Knight canned an amazing nine of ten three-point field goal attempts in a win over Decatur. Fellow soph Richie Guerrant had 18 points and Ken Humbarger 11. Guerrant nailed 30 points in a win over Lawrence and the Clippers improved to 12-5 overall.
Hopkins’ Jeff Fifelski qualified for the Class C state wrestling tournament by taking third in regionals at 171 pounds.
Todd Tarnutzer added the 100-yard freestyle to his school record accomplishments and he, Randy Mandaville, Mike Selzer and Jeff Browand set the standard in the 200-meter free relay.
The Wayland varsity basketball team now has improved to 10-8 overall after winning a defensive struggle over Middleville. Jon Ainsworth scored 11 points for the ‘Cats.
Martin heavyweight Al Moran qualified for the state wrestling tourney by finishing third in regionals and improved to 38-6 on the season.
Tim Kopp (130) improved to 16-3 by taking fourth in the Class regionals and qualifying for state.
Sophomore Jessica McEwen and Anna Rybicki sparked the Lady Wildcats to a third-place finish in the O-K Gold Conference volleyball tournament.
Michigan voters will go to the polls March 15 for a special election on Proposal A to reform the way schools are funded with a sales tax increase from four to six cents on the dollar.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 26, 1969
High school math teacher Claude Smith has been chosen president of the Wayland Education Association, the teachers’ union. Lyle Berry was elected vice president, Eugene Washchuck secretary and Mrs. Iman Fox treasurer.
The Wayland Board of Education made a quick decision on the purchase of mobile classrooms in order to avoid a price increase.
A public forum on Parochiaid, or public funding for private religious schools, has been scheduled for March 7 at St. Stanislaus School in Dorr. Speakers include State Rep. James Farnsworth, State Senator Gary Byker and Ivan Zylstra, legislative coordinator for the National Union of Christian Schools.
Junior Kathleen Willard and sophomore Tom Marks were the only two students at Wayland High School to earn perfect 4.0 grade point averages for the fourth marking period.
Ed Hitt and Richard Weick have indicated they will seek re-election to Hopkins Village Council seats, but Lester Wilson will step down. New candidates include Eugene Bennett, Don Knudson, Clarence Paffhouse and William Weick.
Superintendent James Thomas told the Wayland Board of Education the appointment of a new athletic director will be announced next month, succeeding new junior high Principal Robert Marutz.
Doris Coats has been appointed new Salem Township treasurer to succeed the late Albert C. Smith.
For the annual Mayor Exchange Day in May, Wayland will pair with Walkerville, Hopkins with Baldwin and Martin with Northville.
A burglary at Wenzel Hardware in downtown Wayland resulted in the theft of 10 guns.
Wayland junior and senior high students earning first division ratings at the music festival competition were Nick VanderVeen, Paul Bastian, Russ Aubil, Dean Guidebeck, Gary Doublestein, Jeanette Heydenberk, Ruth Ostema, Carol Chrisman and Linda Whitcomb.
Biology teacher Gerald Nelson wrote in the latest “Our Teachers Speak” column about the need for objective sex education without undue influence of Christian dogma. He maintained religion is not used for instruction in math, government, home economics and other subjects.
Mrs. G.A. VanderVord was set to give a presentation on art to the Ladies Library Club.
The Wayland wrestling team finished the regular season with a 12-5-1 record and Brent Irwin, Mike Nardin and Brian Martin qualified for the regional tournament.
John Baar scored a career-high 15 points and Tom Latondress and Jim Ritsema added 14 each, but the Wildcat basketball team lost to Otsego and Calvin Christian.
Kathy Lapekes, JoAnn Perry, Mary Lou Worfel, Jocellin Sager and Mary Hooker represented Wayland at the Girls Athletic Association Leadership Day at Western Michigan University.
Sly & the Family Stone continued to top the music charts with “Everyday People.”
75 Years Ago — March 3, 1944
Gerald Damoth and his crew of carpenters are preparing the Ward building on West Superior Street for a beer garden business.
Cpl. Donald Culver was supposed to be in town on a seven-day furlough from the 74th Engineering light platoon, but he suddenly was ordered back to Ft. Lewis, Wash., for duty.
Lt. Robert Geiger, former pastor of the Wayland United Methodist Church, has been promoted to captain as chaplain at Army Air Field in Abilene, Texas.
William Thielecke, one of the most popular speakers from the bureau at Michigan State College, will talk to the Wayland PTA and Grange about “Australia in Wartime.”
Leon Millheim, brother of Mrs. Mack Short, died at age 52, a couple of months after undergoing surgery.
First Lt. Donald Hendrixson of Wayland has completed 50 bombing missions in Italy and North Africa.
John W. Rugaber of Wayland has received his silver star and was promoted to first lieutenant whil serving overseas.
Mr. and Mrs. August Kotrba were thrilled to receive $25 in silver as a gift from their son, Eugene, serving in the military in the Aleutian Islands. The occasion was their 25th wedding anniversary.
Stephen Kamyczek has been promoted to 5-Tech from corporal. Rollo G. Mosher quipped. “He’s a farm boy, but he likes the Army life very much.”
The local Order of the Eastern Star is sponsoring a St. Patrick’s Day All-Games Party March 17 at the Masonic Lodge with 25 cents admission.
A display advertisement on the back page: “50 Mean and Women Urgently Needed” for skilled and unskilled war work, making universal joints, military trucks, tanks and farm equipment. — Blood Brothers, Allegan
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Joe E. Brown, June Havoc, Dale Evans in “Casanova in Burlesque.”
- Tom Conway, Harriet Hilliard in “The Falcon Strikes back.”
- John Wayne, Martha Scott, Gabby Hayes in “In Old Oklahoma.”
- Eddie Dew and Smiley Burnette in “Raiders of Summit Pass.”
- Freances Dee and Tom Conway in “I Walked with a Zombie.”
100 Years Ago — Feb. 28, 1919
“Mrs. Elizabeth Clark is substitute teaching at the high school while Miss Bahr is in Mason County looking after her political fences.”
Howard Clack, Matt Dooy and Floyd Carpenter assisted in the assembly play “The Brotherhood of Veterans presented by boys in Mrs. Steeby’s class.
The “Little Shaking Quakers” from Miss Smith’s room, featuring Edwin Brog as Brother Hezakiah, performed in song.
Former Michigan Senator Mr. Hughes, presented a program to high school students on uniform textbooks. His daughter talked about Indiana schools, where absenteeism is not permitted unless there is a compelling excuse.
Allegan County Demonstration Agent Miss Woodworth and Miss Hutty of the Domestic Science Department are scheduled to speak to high school girls next week.
Prof. C. Hoejke of Kalamazoo Normal spoke Feb. 17 to Ladies Literary Club members about the need to promote community spirit. He insisted that every community needs a swimming pool, an ice skating rink and playgrounds to promote physical fitness. He said schools of the past will not properly function tomorrow and he advocated higher pay for teachers.
The second annual auto show and Dollar Day is being planned for March 13-15 by the Wayland Automobile Dealers.
Miss Ola Garter is the new principal at Bradley School, succeeding Mr. Burns, resigned.
The Yeoman Dance in Bradley counted 90 attendees who paid and a total crowd of about 300.
H.E. Ross & Son will operate an up-to-date garage in their blacksmith shop.
Arrangements are being made for a cheese factory in downtown Bradley.
“Somebody must be watching Percy Ross very closely. Maybe they need watching themselves.”
Editor-Publisher George Mosher, while thanking Mr. L. Ewing for his help, said, “We try to exist from week to week alone. As son as the junior member of the Globe (Rollo G.) returns from France, we will surely do better and improve the paper in many ways.”
