(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago— Jan. 12, 1998
Professional Code Inspections will take over building inspection chores after action by the Leighton Township Board.
Missy Bratsburg Winger of Dorr, a Wayland High School graduate, is taking her whirlwind skills to the U.S. Oympics as a speed skater.
The defending champion Wayland volleyball team survived a power outage to take its first league victory of the season. The Wildcats welcome back Kara Potter, who had been sidelined by an injury.
At least two Allegan County farmers may be involved in a state development rights program known as Public Act 116.
Henry Leep of Martin penned a letter to the editor defending Wayland city officer Mark Rookus against allegations he used excessive force while apprehending four teen-agers.
Pamela Koperski wrote a letter insisting adolescents are misbehaving badly at local sporting events.
Sara Scott of Martin asked why not all the high school basketball players are allowed to play in the games.
A zoning dispute involving the former Gun lake Snowmobile Club at 127th Avenue in Wayland Township now is moving to Allegan County Circuit Court.
Members of the Hopkins Board of Education in 1998 were Paula Sebright, Gary Hoffmaster, Boyd Navis, Dave Williams, Pat Higgins, Dawn Buist and Anita Kerber, honored for School Board Recognition Month.
The Wayland Township Board seems reluctant to buy a parcel of land adjacent to the township hall to develop a park.
Martin school officials have reported they received 33 applications for the superintendent’s post after the resignation of Iris Williams.
Hopkins basketball star Kurt Glupker suffered a foot injury in a charity scrimmage against Wayland. He will be missing from the lineup for six to eight weeks.
Wayland scored 13 medals in 14 weight classes, but finished runner-up to Hamilton at the Hudsonville Wrestling Invitational.
Wayland Board of Education member honored for their special recognition month were Jon Carroll, Pamela Rookus, Ken Olney, Mike Browand, Roxie Musczynski, Robert Wiersema II and Mike Kelly.
50 Years Ago — Jan. 9, 1973
Local pharmacist Dennis Nickels, also a member of the Allegan County Board of Commissioners, has been named to the associate board of directors at Allegan General Hospital.
The Wayland Board of Education decided to have a special election May 5 to seek a renewal of 4.11 mills for operating purposes.
District Supt. Dr. Robert C. Smith will be a special guest at the United Methodist Church mortgage burning for the educational and social wing of the church building.
Deborah Jean Kiser was awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship honor at Hopkins High School.
The two-year terms of Robert Swartout, Max Barnes and Donald Shafer are expiring this spring for the Wauyland City Council election.
Wayland City Manager Raymond France reported the city has received $10,768 in federal revenue sharing for the second half of 1972.
The Wayland Mothers’ Club is having a workshop devoted to constructing reading aids for elementary classrooms.
Sports writer David Young called Paul Popma “The ghost of Dale DeBruin” after Wyoming Lee’s 74-57 spanking of Wayland. Popma’s 26 points were reminiscent of DeBruin’s all-state exploits of years gone by.
Dennis Kiser had 20 points and Rick Smith 13, but a fourth-quarter rally fell short for Hopkins against Saugatuck.
Martin defeated Allendale 62-57 for its second league win. Tom Hildebrand had 16 points, Dan McGuire 14 and Steve McGuire 12.
Despite victories by Fred Clack, Ken DeWeerd, Ed Nickels and Dave Fifelski, the Wildcat wrestling team lost 37-19 to Delton.
Kathy Worfel scored 24 points and Nancy Wisniewski nine as Wayland girls bested Martin 45-28.
A Student Nurse award has been established in the memory of Susan Kay Waigand, who was killed in a traffic accident.
Carly Simon was enjoying her second straight week as No. 1 on the Hot 100 tunes in the nation with “You’re So Vain.”
75 Years Ago — Jan. 16, 1948
Two mail trains have been discontinued, so the local mail schedule has been changed.
Glenn Zumbrink, Charles Andringa and Sib Rumery have been elected new directors for the Wayland Chamber of Commerce, succeeding Frederic Hilbert, Jack Gurney and Arthur Johnson.
A military service for World War II veteran Pfc. James Miles was scheduled for Jan. 17 at the Archer Funeral Home. Miles, a 1942 Wayland High School graduate, died Feb. 9, 1945, in Germany.
The team captained by Ivan Smith defeated the squad led by Jack Gurney in the American Legion basketball tournament, 53-48.
Hopkins Township native Mrs. George Johnson died in Allegan after living in Monterey Township for most of her life. She was 57.
Sixty members of the East Bradley Extension Club enjoyed a Christmas dinner Jan. 10 at the American Legion Hall.
Arden Dean, C.J. Hanje, Frank Bastian and James Hoverhurst conducted a panel discussion on raising poultry at the Wayland High School adult agriculture class, with 46 in attendance. J.M Moore from the Michigan State Extension program will present a program on chick raising and the poultry outlook for 1948 at the high school Friday, Jan. 16.
The first public showing of the 1948 Ford trucks will take place Jan. 16 and 17 at an open house at J.A. Anderson Motor Sales.
Scores of area people attended the opening of the new dry cleaning business operated by Mr. and Fred Greenawalt on Pine Street.
Miss Virginia Benson will present a program on pressure saucepan cookery to the adult homemaking class at the high school.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, as promised, waxed eloquent on seeing the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena New Year’s Day.
Mr. and Mrs. George Whitcomb of Moline were in a traffic crash on their way home from Grand Rapids, but escaped injury.
Mrs. A.J. Mauchmar was elected president and Mrs. Rollo Mosher vice president of the new local chapter of the Humane Society.
The Pasko Machine Shop on West Superior Street has been sold and is now occupied by the A.D. Hughes Co.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Frances Langford, Ralph Edwards and Gene Krupa in “Beat the Band.”
• Tim Holt in Zane Grey’s “Under the Tonto Rim.”
• Red Skelton and Virginia O’Brien in “Merton of the Movies.”
• Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour and the Andrews Sisters in “Road to Rio.”
100 Years Ago — Jan. 12, 1923
Mrs. John C. Ketchum, wife of the congressman from this area, died of cancer. A native of Woodland, Barry County, her maiden name was Cora Rowlander.
Parliamentarian Dorothea Baker presented a drill on “how to amend a motion” for members of the Ladies Library Club.
Allegan County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a report that a 13-year-old boy went missing and left a note, “I am going to heaven or the great beyond.”
The Wayland Cow Testing Association met Dec. 28 at the Bradley home of Ernest Ring and issued its annual report.
The subject was milk testing at the most recent meeting Jan. 2 of the Dorr Farmers Club.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Norma Talmadge in “The Wonderful Thing” and Marie Prevost in “Her Night of Nights.”
Thank you for sharing this, David. I beat a kid 2-1 in the finals of that Hudsonville tourney who had pinned me three times back when we were freshmen. Broke my hand at practice the following Monday.
Wow… how impressive,