(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago— May 4, 1998
Many call Chief Noonday Road A-42 or M-179, but the State of Michigan will refer to it as a “Heritage Road.”
The Hopkins and Martin track teams met on the oval field for a non-league dual meet between the friendly neighborhood rivals. The Vikings prevailed in the girls’ and boys’ contests with superior depth.
Contract negotiations between Hopkins teachers and the school board seem to be stalled over a disagreement on how to determine educators’ pay.
Ace reporter Pat Staley penned a column for Soapbox that discussed the pitfalls of numbering addresses in Wayland, which sometimes do not make sense.
Elane Vandenberg, deputy supervisor at Wayland Township, said township residents should decide about growth, not developers, which makes it imperative to have a plan in place for a road millage.
Scott Jones of Yankee Springs Township is insisting township officials are enforcing the local trash ordinance unevenly, acknowledging that other municipalities are facing similar problems with trash and junk on private properties.
Judy Smiegel of Dorr graced the cover of the magazine “Walking,” which was highlighting women over 40 who practice healthy habits.
The Skills, Employment and Technology (SET) jobs program is getting positive reviews from teachers at Wayland High School.
Wayland High School star hurler Kara Potter returned from finger surgery to toss a no-hitter at Cedar Springs, but coach Cheri Ritz claimed the pitcher is not a 100 percent yet. Amanda Dzierzyk threw a one hitter in the nightcap and the Wildcats improved their record to 15-1.
Sports editor Scott Sullivan penned a feature story about his experience in running 26.2 miles at the Boston Marathon.
Sophomore Bobby Rowe threw his first shutout by blanking Cedar Springs and the Wildcat baseball team improved to 6-6- overall.
Jason Moore won the 1600, 3200 and anchored the winning 3200 relay, but the Wildcats came up short against O-K Gold Conference rival South Christian.
Alex Sebright wrote a letter to the editor extolling the virtues of living in a small tight-knit community such as Hopkins.
Rebecca Leigh Austin of Hopkins penned a letter complaining that a lot of hard work in applying for scholarships, but the rewards are few and even frustrating.
Rusty Dutkiewicz of Dorr wrote a letter to the editor contending condoms aren’t foolproof in stopping the spread of HIV and claimed, “No Sex – No Fear.”
50 Years Ago — May 1, 1973
Wayland High School varsity basketball coach Dave VanEerden resigned his position after serving for three years. He left with an overall record of 19-45. He did not provide a reason in his letter to the school board.
The Wayland Globe won the School Bell Award from the Michigan Education Association for its “outstanding contributions to community understanding or education.”
Mrs. Ford Brower resigned as director of nurses at the Allegan County Health Department.
The Wayland chapter of the Jaycees elected Robert Lindgren president and John Hilbert vice president.
Allan Halloran wrote a letter to the editor discussing the growing unease about the shortage of fuel.
A gas line break routed residents on Kay Drive in Dorr Township, but quick response by Consumers Power workers made the problem exist only briefly.
Wayland High School seniors Mary Predum, Henrietta Gonzales and Eric Weber were announced as winners of specialty scholarships.
Henika Library Director Mrs. Henry Peterson and Dorr Township Director represented this area at the Southwest District Library Roundtable in Otsego.
The Wayland varsity won a bizarre baseball contest against Allegan after a Tigers player unloaded a triple to take the lead, but failed to touch first base. The Wildcats therefore won 3-2. Wayland’s record now is 6-1. Con Mauchmar and Gib Goodwin are yielding and average of just over one earned run per day and leadoff hitter Dave Koperski is batting a lusty .476.
The Wayland varsity track team is 0-3 in dual meets thus far under new coach Jon Jensen.
Bouyed by the pitching of Louie Stein and Kelly McEwen, the Hopkins baseball team is 4-0 in the A-O League standings.
Martin got a solid performance on the mound from Wayne Mills in a 4-0 victory over Allendale.
Paul Heckert remained unbeaten in singles, but Alan Kupres suffered his first defeat, as the Wayland tennis team now is 3-5 in dual matches.
Despite strong individual performances by John Roon (11-10) in the pole vault and Rick Smith in the high jump (6-2), Hopkins’ track team is winless in three dual meets thus far this season.
The Wayland High School forensics team of Alice Fifelski, Sharleen Vermaat, Bob Grafford, Anita Alflen, Wayne Thomas and Lenore Burchardt captured six of the possible 14 positions in a competition at Saugatuck.
Fire destroyed the home of the Gerritt VanHeck family on 126th Avenue. Mrs. Stella Vanheck said only a shell of the front of the house remained.
75 Years Ago — May 7, 1948
Frederic Hilbert, Naman Frank, Julius Andringa and Jack Gurney left Michigan in the middle of the opening of trout fishing season to try their luck in Tennesee and came home with a nice mess of bluegill.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher had just returned from his annual trout expedition to Baldwin and noted about 16 fires in the Newaygo-Baldwin area.
A Mother’s Day dance is being planned at Gun Lake Church Hall Saturday evening, 8, with Steve Kaczanowski and his Orchestra performing.
Retired lifelong Monterey Township farmer George L. Patterson died at the home of his daughter.
Mrs. Lena Goodspeed, a longtime teacher at schools in Allegan County, died at Crispe Memorial Hospital in Plainwell. She was 76.
Plumbers working for the Village of Wayland were tasked with the tedious job of locating a water main break. They finally located the trouble under pavement on South Main Street. Rollo G. Mosher commented that the village would do well to get a pneumatic hammer for such work.
Baccalaureate services will be Sunday, May 23 and graduation will be May 27 for Hopkins High School seniors. Harland Steele of the Hopkins Community Church will deliver the sermon. The annual Seniors’ Trip will be through northern Michigan.
The Hopkins baseball team claimed its first victory of the season with a 3-1 verdict over Martin.
A davenport caught fire of Mr. and Mrs. Roach in Moline. Damage was confined to the couch, but that was because a passerby noticed the trouble while the home was unoccupied.
Mrs.Edward Hudson, a teacher at Sycamore Elementary, has been honored with an award fort her work in traffic safety education.
Mr. and Mrs. Herman Houseman have just returned from a trip to Hannibal, Mo., to visit the boyhood home of Mark Twain.
Roller skating is offered every evening except Monday at Barlow Lake Gardens.
Piano pupils of Mrs. Virginia Parrish will perform in recital Monday, May, 19, the Wayland Congregational Church.
The Wayland High School music department will present the operate “Up in the Air” May 6 and 7 at the high school auditorium.
Russ Carlisle and his orchestra will perform for a dance at the Dixie Ballroom south of town May 26.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Boris Karloff and ralph Byrd in “Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome.”
• Monte Hale and Adrian Booth in “California Firebrand.”
• Robert Taylor and Audrey Tuttle in “High Wall.”
• Henry Fonda and Delores DelRio in “The Fugitive.”
100 Years Ago — May 4, 1923
Mr. Ross, proprietor of the Rose Summer Resort at Gun Lake, is circulating petitions to residents who agree with ridding the lake of carp.
Fire destroyed the farm and barn of Charles E. Gates about a mile south of Wayland. Mr. Gates is a rural letter carrier for Wayland Township.
The funeral for Dr. George Brower, 40, who had been a dentist in town since 1908. He had been married to Hazel Yeakey, who is among the survivors.
Paul Wing of Wayland is recovering from an operation his tonsils. He had surgery in Kalamazoo.
About 30 freshmen students, accompanied by Miss McKinstry, went to Bradley and then hiked to the Indian Village to enjoy a weenie roast then write an essay about early pioneer life.
Otsego defeated the Wayland baseball team 8-6. Dean, a freshman pitcher, struck out seven and walked three in suffering the lost on the mound.
Dr. I.L. Slater took Luella, 20, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George T. Allen, to Allegan hospital for an appendectomy.
The large barn on the VanPatten farm was burned to the ground. The barn, silo and tool shed were in complete ruins. Seven cows were unable to escape and burned to death.
“We have been informed that we will have a grocery wagon on a truck at our vicinity (Yankee Springs)… Just what we’ve been looking for — a grocery store at your door every day except Saturday… It has not showed up yet, but we are looking for it.”
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: “Milton Sills and Lois Wilson in “Miss Lulu Bett.” On Wednesday: “The Jilt” and “International News.”