(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago— April 13, 1998
Authorities believe a distraught husband set fire to his house in Dorr and killed himself after a fight with his wife. The body of Carl Scharf was discovered inside the house by firefighters with a gun wound to his head.
Yankee Springs business owners have shut off their flashing lights as traffic hazards along Chief Noonday Road, but are asking for equal treatment.
City of Wayland officials are questioning use and safety of a 21-acre dump site behind Wayland High School after local firefighters rescued a golden retriever at the site, which has existed for 30 years on the south side of town.
Leighton Township Fire Chief Paul Baker and two of his department members, Deputy Chief Duane Woltjer and Capt. Dave Cunnigan, are having conflicts, prompting township officials are stepping in to try to resolve it. Baker was placed on leave for up to a year, saying, “This is not the kind of fire I wanted to put out.”
Allegan County Medical Director David Tattan has been fired by the Board of Commissioners.
Yankee Springs wants equity in Thornapple Township Emergency Services (TTES) and may begin to look for other protection options.
Wayland Township went ahead with a project to pave Fifth Street between 133rd and 135th Avenue over the objections of former Trustee Randy Marklevitz, who maintained the project’s specifications for road shoulders would create a hardship for local horseback riders.
The Dorr Township Board has adopted an ordinance prohibiting horseback riding and snowmobiling on the community’s sidewalks downtown.
Because of adoption of the next fiscal year budget, the Dorr Township Supervisor will be paid $16,200, clerk $16,000 and treasurer $19,08.
A movement to establish a Wayland Moose Lodge has been launched, with proponents saying 83 of the 704 Otsego lodge members are from Wayland.
David Miller was elected mayor and Dallas Strong, Marie Hall and Maurice Stahl were chosen for the City Council for the City of Wayland.
University of Michigan football co-captain Eric Mayes will join a drug prevention fair at the Allegan County Fairgrounds.
Hopkins High School varsity baseball coach Mark Austin earned his 400th career victory when his Vikings swept a doubleheader against Martin.
Amanda Dzierzyc tossed a one-hitter and newcomer Amber Willson hurled four scoreless frames as Wayland’s softball team swept a doubleheader against Otsego.
Muriel Smith, a retired school teacher at Shiawassee and Clinton counties, died at age 100.
50 Years Ago — April 10, 1973
A special election Monday, April 16, will decide the fate of a proposal by the City of Wayland to annex a portion of Leighton Township to accommodate sewer lagoons.
Local officials were pictured on the front page of the Globe for the closing of the sale of loan funds of $348,000 from the Farmers’ Home Administration for extended water and sewer system.
Voters in the Village of Martin decided to approve the election of a charter commission in a special election June 4.
Mrs. Elbert Simpson, chairwoman of the Hopkins blood drive, reported that 106 pints were obtained in the most recent collection, a record.
Henika Library Director Dorothy Peterson penned a column thanking many local residents and constituents for their gifts in honor or memory of loved ones.
Helen Jane Helmey, wife of Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey, wrote a column about how pleasurable the April 3 “Fashion Fair” was at the WHS projection room, including music, entertainment and refreshments.
The Envoys from Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music were scheduled to be guests at a 7:30 p.m. service at the Wayland Calvary Church.
Warren and Linda Sue Gerritsen earned honorable mention accolades in the 1973 Michigan Betty Crocker Homemaker of the Year contest.
Sixth-grader Darryl Brinks was the winner of the first-ever chess tournament at Dorr Elementary School.
Wayland blanked Plainwell 2-0 on the diamond, as senior Gib Goodwin fired a one-hitter, striking out 15 batters. Russ Aubil drove in the game’s only two runs with a double.
Wayne Thomas won the 100-yard dash and Alan Lettinga the high hurdles, but the Wildcats lost the track dual meet to Allegan. Bill Mauchmar tied for first in the high jump.
Craig Suhusky of Wayland, Mike Krcatovich of Hopkins and Arnis Davidson and Joy Johnston of Martin were selected to join a Michigan High School Band and Orchestra Association all-star outfit.
The Rev. James Smith of the United Church of Wayland has decided to accept the call to become minister at the Trinity Congregational Church in Walker, after serving here for five years.
Longtime Hopkins fruit farmer Carl Schweikert, a veteran of World War I, died at age 79.
75 Years Ago — April 16, 1948
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher opined that the Michigan Department of Transportation should do something about improving the condition of (old) U.S.-131 between Grand Rapids and Wayland, suggesting the road should be widened to three lanes.
There has been talk about establishing a temporary dog pound because of the high numbers of the canines have been running loose in the village, particularly in warmer weather.
The village dump will be open all week as Wayland residents will take part in the annual Cleanup Days. The dump during other weeks is open only on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Glenn Zumbrink piloted his Cessna from Phoenix, Ariz., to Wayland after driving west to make the purchase.
Rites were held for Cpl. Mitchell Laker Friday morning. He had been killed in action o0n Iwo Jima in Japan on March 17, 1945. He was a 1939 graduate of Wayland High School.
Wayland merchants plan to stage a series of 12 Wednesday evening summer entertainment programs. The Knights of the Cow Bell, who will promote the Cowbell Carnival, which started in 1934 and was interrupted by the war in 1942.
The Wayland Chamber of Commerce will put together a “Dawn Patrol” for planes from all over the state May 30 to dedicate the airport. Included on the guest list is Gov. Kim Sigler.
Donald Noah, 17, a senior at Wayland High School, has been accepted into the U.S. Navy’s scholarship program.
William Madden, 70, a foreman for the composing room at the Middleville Sun weekly newspaper, died in Middleville.
Hopkins Library Director Dorothy Jean Baske said the library has received the book “Michigan on Canvas.”
Shirley McKinnon has been named valedictorian of the Hopkins High School Class of 1948. Salutatorian is Jackie Broker.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Richard Denning, Buster Crabbe and Sheila Ryan in “Caged Fury.”
• Gerald Mohr and Nancy Saunders in “The Lone Wolf in London.”
• Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake in “Saigon, the Paris of the Orient.”
• Eddie Cantor and Joan Davis in “If You Knew Susie.”
100 Years Ago — April 13, 1923
The East Allegan Cow Testing Association continues to be regarded as one of the nest in what it does. Tester Earl King has changed a number of rations and the results have increased production.
Wayland Methodist Episcopal Church has announced there will be an all-day event at Corning April 19 with a potluck dinner and the presence of representatives from extension.
Helen Burkhart has been announced as valedictorian and Margaret Hanlon was salutatorian for the Wayland High School Class of 1923.
Bernice Norris Boniface died at the age of 27 at Pine Lake of gangrene pneumonia. “Bernice was of a cheerful disposition, making the loss of life sad.”
The Wayland girls’ basketball team is preparing for a game in Kalamazoo next Saturday afternoon against Martin.
Wilma Hooker earned first prize and Thaddeus Matuche second in the agriculture class farm drawing contests at Wayland schools.
Sylena Page Mason, 63, died at her home in Wayland. She had lived for a long time in Hopkins Township on a farm with her husband.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre: William S. Hart in “Traveling On.”
Edward DeGroot of Grand Rapids will present a free lecture at the Regent on “Satan’s Empire Falling, Millions Now Living Will Never Die.”
Henry Kamps of Moline was taken to a hospital in Grand Rapids for an operation to remove an abscess on his forehead believed to be caused by the flu.
Orange Fales’ team of horses became frightened by a truck loaded with furniture, running away and leaving Mr. Fales with bruised ribs in a fall, injured along with his wife.
The Ladies Aid Society gave a radio program Friday evening in the Moline Congregational Church.