(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago— Dec. 22, 1997
To make certain that student numbers are reasonably even, Hopkins school officials are drawing boundary line changes between Hopkins Elementary and Sycamore Elementary.
Wayland city officials are giving greater consideration to green space for potential residential developments.
Hopkins varsity football coach Rex Weaver has been selected for membership in the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame.
The Westshore firm from Zeeland has been given the green light to begin operations of a gravel mining operation in Wayland Township.
Wayland High School junior Erin Battjes has qualified to sing with the state honors choir at the University of Michigan early next year.
Wayland Township Supervisor Jose Blanco has been reprimanded for withholding mail. The Township Board adopted a resolution forbidding the practice.
Editor Nila Aamoth, in her Soapbox column about Christmas gifts, opined, “Personally, I feel sorry for anyone who is pleased only by those things they ask for. Some of the finest gifts are unexpected and out of the realm of our own imaginations.”
State Rep. Patricia Birkholtz penned a column reflecting on her first year serving in Lansing.
Letter writer Lisa Harnish took Editor Nila Aamoth to task for not being present at a meeting about which she wrote an editorial. Aamoth responded that her opinion actually was about the process of gravel mining.
Members of the Dorr Township Library Board put together a survey of voters about why they rejected the millage for a new library, but came away with directives “about as clear as mud.”
Martin Village officials are looking for people willing to take on the president’s job because Robert Brandon is being term limited.
Shona Austin is coordinating a “no-sell” fund-raiser to reduce or eliminate students going door to door selling goodies during the academic year.
Wayland lost its first O-K Gold Conference basketball game of the season, 54-51, to Hudsonville Unity Christian.
Hopkins escaped a serious upset bid by a small and scrappy Martin outfit, 42-36.
Tom Sevigny of Wayland won top rookie race car honors at Kalamazoo Speedway at age 38.
The first-year Hopkins wrestling team placed fifth in a 10-team invitational to open its season.
The Wayland wrestling team has won 10 of its first 12 dual meets and won the Allegan County tournament at Plainwell.
50 Years Ago— Dec. 19, 1972
Ellis Wykstra of Martin was elected new chairman of the Allegan County Republican Party, succeeding Mrs. James Olssen of Otsego.
Local physician Dr. Dale Kuiper has agreed to write a weekly column about the drug problem.
A special election will be held early next year for Leighton Township voters to decide whether the proposed annexation of a portion of the township should be permitted. City of Wayland residents will not be allowed to vote.
The Wayland City Council is resubmitting bids for the water improvement.
Michael Johnston wrote a letter to the editor suggesting the Wayland City Council adopt an ordinance permitting 18- to 21-year-olds to run for local offices.
Linda Whitcomb of Moline is participating in a Grand Valley State College music seminar.
The Wayland basketball team suffered a tough 49-48 loss to Middleville, severely injuring hopes for a winning season. The Wildcats, who were led by Bob Lehocky’s 21 points, now are 1-4.
Three Wayland High School graduates, Luann Nakken, Cindy Dewey and Janet Aubil, graduated from the Elkhart Institute of Technology.
A very tall and experienced Covenant Christian defeated Martin 68-63, leaving the Clippers with a 2-2 record.
Inclement weather and poor road conditions postponed both of Hopkins’ basketball games for the week.
75 Years Ago — Dec. 26, 1947
Russ Rugaber, Frederic Hilbert, Rollo Mosher and Naman Frank are taikng a train from Ann Arbor to Los Angeles and later taking in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Leonard Hooker of Leighton Township presented Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher with a two-cent stamp that had been out of circulation for six decades.
The Kroger Company is distributing about $16,000 worth of Christmas cash gifts in the West Michigan area.
The Dixie Pavilion was planning a New Year’s Gala dance and celebration with host Doc Munstee, comedian.
The Wayland High School gym will be available for independent basketball teams to use in January and February.
Catherine Sias died at her home on West Superior, but she spent most of her life on a farm a mile north of Wayland. She was 84.
Wayland took possession of first place in the Barkenall League basketball standings with a 34-23 victory over Hopkins. Hank Ritsema copped individual scoring honors.
Raymond Greene scored 17 points and Jim Hazen 14 as Hopkins defeated Caledonia 38-21.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake in “Blondie’s Holiday.”
• Charles Starrett and Smiley Burnett in “The Stranger from Ponco City.”
• John Hodiak, George Murphy and Frances Gifford in “The Arnelo Affair.”
• Rex Harrison, Richard Hayden and Maureen O’Hara in “The Foxes of Harrow.”
100 Years Ago — Dec. 22, 1922
John M. Baker was elected president and Irwin Hendrixson of the Northeast Hopkins Club.
Wayland High School graduate Margaret Beall has been named editor of the Western Normal College students’ section in the Western Herald.
The father of Mrs. Clint Jones, Edward Shinkman, a native of Bohemia, died in Chicago. He was 86.
The Carner Tire & Battery Shop was advertising alcohol and chains for tires in winter travel.
The Helping Aid Society held a potluck dinner at the home of Mrs. Fremont Hooker, East Wayland.
Miss Bernice Watts has returned to teach in Moline after sustaining injuries in a traffic accident a few weeks ago.
Wayland’s municipal Christmas tree will be lit at the Village Park, with seasonal carols being sung.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Mary Pickford in “Pollyanna,” Hoot Gibson in “Step on It.”
Guert Fales gave a presentation on the history of schools and present state legislation to members of the Ladies Library Club. Margaret Hanlon provided piano music and Tillie Kurdelski gave a reading.
Mrs. H.W. Parker is undergoing treatment at the Reeds Lake Sanitarium after suffering a stroke.
A defective stove pipe caused a small fire at the law office of John Stockdale.
A play, “The Gathering of the Nuts,” was presented at the Wayland High School Christmas Fair, along with a dinner.
The Wayland Roller Rink was opened to the public this past weekend. Music was furnished by the Wayland Cornet Band.
The Wayland Colony was to pass Christmas Day at Kilgore’s for merry making and eats, including oysters, baked and steamed, fried and raw.