(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago— Jan. 5, 1998
The collector of a tire pile in Watson Township will “benefit indirectly” in cleanup of scrap by Allegan County. Gordon Lyons has been granted a supervisory role in the cleanup.
The Wayland High School varsity wrestling team set a record for most victories in a season by scoring a boatload of triumphs at the Wayland Invitational and the Wildcats still have more than a half season yet to go. Their dual meet record now is 16-2. Martin’s Rick Mena (125) is 19-0 this season after going 45-2 the previous year.
Jan Rabideau completed the Honolulu Marathon, walking for more than eight hours, to raise money for fighting leukemia.
Michigan State Police from the Wayland post are handling an accident involving an off-duty Middleville village police officer, Dennis Lajcek.
Editor Nila Aamoth, in her Soapbox column, discussed the possibility of troubles ahead caused by the Y2K millennium bug.
WOOD-TV reporter Heather Heron was a special guest of the Gun Lake Women’s Club at their meeting and she told members about her trip to Thailand to promote the “Operation Smile” project.
Karen Krulac penned a letter to the editor opposing the noise and added traffic of a gravel mine in Wayland Township.
Ed and Rita Huver of Dorr penned a letter objecting comments made by Allegan County Drain Commissioner Lynn Fleming about the issue of their drains.
A new state law mandates more road time and preparation for teen-agers seeking drivers’ licenses.
Natalie Pawloski, 17, of Hopkins, was seriously injured in a traffic crash on 135th Avenue east of 16th Street.
50 Years Ago — Jan. 2, 1973
Walter J. Foreman, 49, a Penn Central Railroad worker, was killed when he was crushed between a suspended freight car and a rail north of 142nd Avenue near Moline. State Police said he was in a prone position when a car slipped from suspension and struck him.
The State of Michigan Muncipal Finance Commission has approved revenue bonds to fund the City of Wayland water project. The bonds are for $325,000, which will be used to defray part of the costs of acquiring and construction additions to a distribution system.
Maynard Guy, a member of the Hopkins High School band, has been selected for membership in the American Musical Ambassadors, which will go on tour of several European countries next summer.
Dr. Dale W. Kuiper of Wayland has been elected to a seat on the Allegan County Board of Health, succeeding Lawrence LaGatutta. The third installment of his column about drugs appeared in that edition.
Dan Miller has been hired as the fourth member of the Wayland City Police Force, according to Police Chief Scott Norman.
Miss Ann Ryno was home on furlough after serving as an instructor for the American Bible Institute in Palmer, Alaska.
Mrs. Harry Were was to present a book review of “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” to members of the Ladies Library.
David Young wrote a year-end review of the sports developments and stories from 1972. He declared Kathy Worfel as Athlete of the Year for breaking the barriers prohibiting females from competing in boys’ sports, in this case, tennis.
Young also wrote a “Sports Notes” column praising the teamwork of Hopkins as opposed to Wayland’s dependence on just one player, Bob Lehocky, to handle scoring chores. The Vikings’ tight victory at Wayland prompted the commentary.
Mike Smith scored 24 points and brother Rick had 13 as Hopkins edged Fennville 68-66 in overtime.
75 Years Ago — Jan. 9, 1948
The sleet and rain froze the village fire siren temporarily, but the device thawed out before any trouble was experienced.
The Parent-Teachers Association this week is having a special meeting to discuss the need for an addition to the school building to accommodate added enrollment of pupils.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher opined that lawmakers in Washington really can’t do much for people stung by post-war inflation “except to pass legislation protecting the gullible from predators.”
The first meeting of the Wayland chapter of the Humane Society will be Monday evening, Jan. 19, at the home of Mrs. Amos Mauchmar.
Longtime Pet Milk employee Gerald Baker died at the home of his daughter at Gun Lake. He was 54.
The Wayland High School Music Department has announced a concert by the orchestra Sunday afternoon at the auditorium.
Mosher said he returned from Pasadena, Calif., where he and friends took in University of Michigan’s Rose Bowl game against University of Southern California. He was with Russell Rugaber, Frederic Hilbert and Naman Frank, who made the journey via train.
Captains of the local American Legion’s membership drive starting this month are Jack Gurney and Ivan Smith.
Barbara’s Beauty Shop is offering $2 perm special all month on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The Barkenall basketball tournament will be held at the Burton Gym. The location was secured because more than 100 fans were turned away last year. Teams were Hopkins, Martin, Wayland, Byron Center, Kelloggsville and Caledonia.
A “review of pet peeves” was scheduled to be discussed by members of the Wayland Grange.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Jean Rogers and Larry Blake in “Backlash.”
• James Warren and Debra Alden in “Code of the West.”
• Lucille Ball, Edward Everett Horton and Francot Tone in “Her Husband’s Affair.”
• Henry Fonda, Barbara Bel Geddes and Vincent Price in “The Long Night.”
100 Years Ago — Jan. 5, 1923
The Globe changed its appearance in layout, and Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher explained it was an attempt to follow the wishes of readers. The format changes also appeared for the Caledonia Sun and Middleville News.
Mosher wrote, “Just as soon as arrangements can be made with the post offices, we expect to change the headings of the Middleville and Caledonia papers and each town will have a paper separately.”
The next meeting of the Southeast Wayland Community Club Jan. 10 at the home of F.D. Cutler.
A “Farmer’s School,” through the Barry County Agricultural agent and Michigan Agricultural College will be held in Middleville Jan. 19, Jan. 26 in Freeport, Jan. 23 at Carlton Center, Jan. 24 at the Glass Creek Grange Hall and at the courthouse in Hastings Jan. 26.
Mrs. Eliza Miller, who came to Wayland from Pennsylvania in 1870 at the age of 10, died at the home of her sone in Kalamazoo.
Mrs. Dorian Russel of Grand Rapids, state president of the Federation of Women’s Clubs, was guest speaker at the Ladies Library Club meeting on “Women of the Past, Present and Future.”
Baby Norma Ilene Bisel, only just shy of a year and a half old, died Dec. 30 in Grand Rapids.
Dr. I.L Slater has arranged to have two prominent medical professionals through the State Board of Health present lectures to the student body at Wayland High School Jan. 10.
The Gun Lake Girls are challenging Wayland boys to a skating contest.
Ventriloquist and magician Edgar Bergen will be in Caledonia Jan. 10.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Douglas Fairbanks in “When the Cloud Rolls By” and Frank Mayo in “Out of the Silent North.”
Twenty-eight members of the Hope Rebekah Lodge in Wayland went to Moline to witness initiation of candidates in the mysteries of the Rebekah degree.
Teachers and students of the Bradley School were disappointed upon returning from holiday vacation and not able to move into the new school because it hasn’t been finished.
