(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — March 16, 1994
A batch of cookies prepared by ill employees is being blamed for the flu-like symptoms suffered recently by children and parents visiting the Ebersole Environmental Center in Wayland Township.
Martin area dairy farmers Bruce and Renee Aukema are clashing with Consumers Power officials over their charges of stray electric voltage causing their family members and livestock to suffer from mysterious ailments.
Martin Township and Village officials have decided to contract zoning enforcement services with Professional Code Inspections despite objections from the State Construction Code Commission.
Sue DeWitt penned a letter to the editor praising the Globe for publishing a weekly column by Dr. James Dobson, sponsored by Allegan County Chiropractic Clinic. Dobson the following week advised a parent who wrote in not to allow children to listen to rock music.
Dawn Buist of Hopkins wrote letter in frustration over the local school board fussing over issues that don’t matter, but ignoring issues that do. “When will these people stop spending so much time chasing imaginary evils and requesting we stop having Halloween parties and Santa for Christmas and focus instead on the real needs of our children?” Mrs. Buist later herself became a school board member.
Rick Harmsen was re-elected president of Hopkins Village and voters approved a one-mill, five-year levy for police protection. Ironically, Martin Village at the same time decided to drop its local police coverage and laid off its last officer, Cora Goff.
Harriet Miller-Brown has been hired as new director of the Emergency 911 service, replacing interim director Bob Larr.
Wayland High School passed the “sniff test” administered by Allegan County Sheriff’s Deputy Bud Randall and his canine companion Fino.
Michigan First Lady Michelle Engler was guest speaker for the Allegan County GOP Lincoln Day Dinner.
Hopkins and Wayland basketball teams pulled off huge upsets to win district basketball titles. First-year coach Mike Hudson’s Wildcats captured their first district championship in 32 years by stunning an 18-4 Allegan squad. Matt Barghan came up big with 28 points and 10 rebounds. Hopkins overcame the absence of starters Rich Dame and Fred Clemenshaw by upending a 19-1 Gobles outfit. But Martin lost in the district finals to Covert.
The Wayland Board of Education voted 7-0 against a proposal to expand the O-K Gold Conference to nine teams with the addition of Belding and Hudsonville Unity Christian, the latter which did not have a for a football program.
Hopkins FFA student Jason Thomas captured first place in the state contest for extemporaneous speaking in East Lansing. Fellow Viking Anne Hanley was good enough on the violin to earn a spot on an ensemble later in the state conference.
50 Years Ago — March 12, 1969
The Globe published a special front page feature “Why Not Sewers?” with a question and answer approach to the millage question to be decided next month in a city election. Barry Belka, superintendent of grounds for St. Therese School, was one of those interviewed.
Another “Q & A” feature focused on the Hopkins school district’s April 15 election asking for a bond to build a new elementary school because of overcrowding at current facilities.
The Wayland Board of Education and President Wallace Wakeman are seriously grappling with building issues. Options include a new high school, a new middle school and developing a building site sinking fund.
William Weick was the newcomer elected to the Hopkins Village Council, but only 79 ballots were cast. Martin’s vote featured only 63.
David Low was chosen chairman of the the first Wayland City Planning Commission and Richard Worfel was picked as vice chairman.
The Wayland Board of Education is submitting an application for admittance into the O-K Conference and rumor has it that fellow Expressway League members Caledonia, Middleville and Hamilton have done the same.
Wayland’s basketball season came to an end in a 53-41 loss to Delton the districts. Don Klein scored 19 points and grabbed 22 rebounds, and Jim Ritsema added 11 points. The ‘Cats finished with a record of 8-8.
Hopkins scored 99 points to beat Bloomingdale in the Class C district opener, but lost to Hamilton in the the finals. The Vikings, who scored a whopping 32 points in the first quarter against Bloomingdale, were led by Don Krause with 25 points, Dave Veltkamp with 18, Rog Lambert 13 and John Wilson 11. They were runners-up in the Al-Van Conference.
Charlie Frost, in his weekly “Surveying the Sports Scene” column, predicted for the upcoming baseball season, “The Mets won’t challenge this year, but will be dangerous by 1971.”
The Wayland Girls’ Athletic Association (GAA) was joined by Gobles, Hamilton, Otsego, Plainwell, Martin, Lawrence and Allegan for a volleyball tournament, with a potluck supper and fellowship afterward.
The Rev. James Sherman of Greenville was to be guest speaker March 19 for the annual Lenten Service at the Congregational Church.
Tommy Roe took over the No. 1 slot among the nation’s popular songs with “Dizzy.”
75 Years Ago — March 17, 1944
Only 43 voters cast ballots in the village election, as the ticket included only one party.
Power was cut off for four hours by a severe sleet storm. Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher noted that those who has electrical stoves had to make-do with cold suppers and there were many kerosene lamps observed in use. Perhaps the heaviest damage occurred at Dahlia Gardens, with 20 employees escaping an electrical fire.
Donald Button, 6-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Button, died at Hurley Hospital in Flint. His service was in Clio, but he was buried in Elmwood Cemetery.
The Wayland Fire Department is sponsoring a night of war documentary films at the high school auditorium March 22. The lineup includes “Desert Victory,” chronicling Gen. Monty Montgomery’s campaign to Tripoli; “I Was a Fireman,” about the Luftwaffe’s air raid in London, and “Shock Troops.”
Margery Sebright and Richard Hooker were named co-valedictorians of the Wayland High School Class of 1944. Mosher commented, “Not only are these honor students All-As in their school activities, they are A-1 in the Wayland community.”
Miss Helen Crofoot earned her nurse’s cap at graduation ceremonies at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.
Among the servicemen recently home on furloughs were Pvt. Bill Schuh, Capt. Rollin Smith, Lt. Richard Overmire and Pvt. Chales Warner.
Plainwell Canning placed an advertisement crowing, “You Grow ‘Em, We Can ‘Em,” noting the company sends a lot of canned food to servicemen overseas.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
Roy Rogers and Ruth Terry in “Hands Across the Border.”- Wally Brown and Alan Carney in “Adventures of a Rookie.”
- Wallace Beery, Faye Bainter, Reginald Owen, Marilyn Maxwell and William Lundigan in “Salute to the Marines.”
- Richard Arlen and Jean Parker in “Minesweeper.”
- A documentary film on Stalingrad, “The City That Stopped Hitler.”
Roy Rogers and Ruth Terry in “Hands Across the Border.”100 Years Ago — March 14, 1919
Rollo G. Mosher wrote home from France about seeing five big Caterpillar tractors getting stuck in the mud and a huge boxing and wrestling show.
The auto show was taking place this weekend at the Yeakey garage on South Main Street. Vehicles on display include Nash, Maxwell Touring Car, Rambler, Buick and Studebaker.
A huge cattle sale for Dr. William Schaad was conducted at Green Lake and 36 animals brought in $10,225. Arthur Deuel, cashier at Wayland State Bank, said the large crowd of people was impressed by the professionalism of auctioneer N.C. Thomas.
A letter from France told George W. Brower about the death of his brother in conflict in late 1918.
The Wayland High School varsity basketball team defeated an Otsego team described as “whose teamwork was poor.” However, the local boys were defeated by Allegan 22-18, with a turning point of when Osmun, Allegan’s star forward, was inserted into the lineup in the second half after he “had been out on account of parental objections.” It was reported that about 50 townspeople, or “rooters,” traveled with the team to Allegan via the Interurban.
About 40 pupils and some parents from Shelbyville school rode by sleigh to the Bradley home of their teacher, Mrs. Bert Culver. She had just been married as the former Theresa Fox and the kinds gave her a kitchen shower.
“Col. William Hayward, commander of the Negro troops, is one of the most popular commanders in the Army. He and his troops covered themselves with glory by bravery” in many battles overseas.
A mock election March 22 at the Bradley Grange Hall is intended to instruct women on how to use the ballot. Meanwhile, Mrs. E.J. Steeby, a teacher at Wayland High School, was the first to vote in the village election in Wayland earlier this month.
The Wayland schools’ janitor has been busy building a rack for rubbers, which have been disappearing alarmingly and mysteriously of late, along with pencils, hats, pocket books, books and papers.
