(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago— May 18, 1998
A public hearing is planned for Wednesday to gather Wayland Township residents’ opinions about funding projects to fix local roads.
Yankee Springs and Thornapple Township officials have agreed to a new contract for fire protection that will keep the price the same, but spread them out over longer periods of time.
The Wayland High School softball team now owns an overall record of 29-1 after claiming its 16th consecutive victories. Amanda Dzierzyc, Kara Potter and Amber Willison are top pitchers and Nicki Merchant, Jessie Merchant, Andrea Schloop, Candi Bala, Angel Merren, Casey Scully and Carrie Teunissen carry the offensive load.
Wildcat ace long distance runner Jason Moore has set a school record while winning the 1600-meter run in 4:25.5 and joining Jake Gless, Jessie Simmons and Jed Turcott in the 3200-meter relay in 8:16.9 at the O-K Gold Conference track meet.
Wayland City police officers now will be on the job for 24 hours a day after the addition of another officer. The force includes Chief Dan Miller, Jim Rollins, Mark Rookus and Gene Tobin,.
Mark Rookus, the Wayland city police officer who was suspended for overzealous law enforcement, has returned to duty.
Richard Beukema, a member of the Yankee Springs Township Planning Commission penned a letter to the editor defending that body against allegations they aren’t listening to constituents, insisting there is only so much such a commission can do by law.
Richard and Pat Drury wrote a letter maintaining that manufactured homeowners should have just as many rights as anybody else.
Deanna Ray has been hired as new principal at Steeby Elementary, succeeding Jodi Pratt, who has been chosen as the Wayland Union School District’s curriculum director.
Wayland Schools’ custodians won a pay increase of 3½ percent over three years with a new contract,
50 Years Ago — May 15, 1973
Allegan County Commissioner Dennis Nickels told the Wayland Chamber of Commerce that local involvement is critical in the county’s current land study.
Dennis DeHaan, a 1967 graduate of Wayland High School, earned his master’s degree and graduated magna cum laude at the University of Michigan’s Horace Rackham Graduate School.
A large number of candidates are seeking election to the Wayland, Hopkins and Martin Boards of Education. Of particular interest is Mrs. Paul (Marsha) Lapham challenging incumbent Robert Hendrixson.
Wayland has been paired with Rockford for Mayor Exchange Day, Martin with Sanford, but Hopkins decided against participating in the annual festivities.
City Police officer Eldon (Shorty) Milheim wrote a letter to the editor reminding local citizens Wayland is a relatively safe and quiet community because of the local police.
Wayland and Pomona Grange members will hear a presentation about “Early spring work was the hardest in old days.”
Cynthia Miller, a 1969 graduate of Wayland High School, has been named to be part of a Central Michigan University exchange program with France.
Wayland High School has announced its top seven academic students for the Class of 1973: Linda Smith, Bonnie Lynema, Bob Grafford, Kim Baugh, Eric Weber, Linda VanderVeen and Gary Wahl.
Northwood Institute freshman Maribeth Culver of Shelbyville has been named advertising director for radio station WJRN near Midland.
Paul Henderson won three events and Martin’s track team finished sixth in the Class D regional meet. Henderson placed in the open 440, high jump and joined Jerry Seekman, Dan McGuire and Dave Oetman in the mile relay quartet.
Sports writer David T. Young insisted the future for Wayland track was bright and praised the coaching philosophy of mentor Jon Jensen.
Wayland’s baseball team suffered two O-K Blue Conference defeats and prospects appeared dim for the Wildcats to take the league title.
Wayland’s softball team defeated Fennville and Jan Shoemaker picked up the win on the mound.
Hopkins finished its track season in the A-O Conference with a dual meet record of 1-4 and Martin was 0-5.
Hopkins’ Mike Pavlak blasted a 375-foot homer in a slugfest triumph over Saugatuck, as the Vikings, under coach Mark Austin, are trying to capture the league title.
Three new businesses have opened in Wayland, Jim’s Radio and TV with Jim Levandoski, Leader Feed Mill with R. V. Hurst, and David Hupp and Style House Hair Fashions.
Effie Mae Chamberlain, 7, of Dorr, was killed when she was struck by a car on 142nd Avenue.
75 Years Ago — May 21, 1948
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his weekly column, said he was glad a patch job was done for the infamous Indian Hill, which he called “one of the steepest grades on any of the more traveled routes around here, and cars must be moving right along in order to negotiate the hill.”
Charles F. Davidson, an 1887 graduate of Wayland High School, died May 11. He was 76. He once was employed at the Allegan Gazette and attended the Republican Party convention that nominated Theodore Roosevelt for president in 1904.
State Rep. Ed Huthinson has announced he will seek re-election.
A milk bucket brigade of “Knights of the Cowbells” will be featured in the first Cowbell Carnival Wednesday evening, June 2. The program also will have a “Mr. Whozit” contest.
Dr. John Cowan of the Michigan Health Dept. will be guest speaker at the Wayland High School adult class Monday night on “Ex Education of the Child.”
Correspondent Margaret Theresa Jenkins implored readers to see the film “The Iron Curtain” at the Wayland Theatre this week, which “reveals how the communists carry out their underhanded program or terror and conquest.”
Billy C. Niemchick has completed his studies at Ferris Institute and now is enrolled in the watch and clock repair program. He is employed by a firm in Grand Rapids.
Leighton Township will have a special election June 9 to decide the fate of a millage proposal to fund purchase fire equipment in cooperation with Dorr Township.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Russell Hayden, Jennifer Holt and Sydney Greenstreet in “Trail of the Mounties.”
• Dane Clark and Martha Vickers in “That Way with Women.”
• Spencer Tracy and Lana Turner in “Cass Timberlane.”
• Ray Milland, Charles Laughton and Maureen O’Sullivan in “The Big Clock.”
100 Years Ago — May 18, 1923
Walter S. Bennett, who served as a cavalryman under General William Tecumseh Sherman in the Civil War, died at his home in Wayland. He was 78
Mrs. E.L. Calkins of Ypsilanti gave an excellent presentation on temperance to the Mission Society in Moline.
It was reported at East Moline School, “This is an exciting week for the eighth-graders who are anxious for Thursday and Friday to arrive when the event will put them on the other side of adult life.”
Deputy Sheriff D. A. Stockdale went to Dorr to recover a stolen Ford vehicle purchased by John Snyder.
Herschel Bryson, nephew of Dr. J.E. Bryson, pitched the Kelly Ice Creams to a 6-3 win over the Allegan Independents.
Melvin Baker, 8, was struck and injured by a Chevrolet couple driven by Ray Hines of Bradley. He was treated by Dr. Bryson.
Fifth and sixth grade students at the Wayland Grammar School were thrilled to observe a large moth emerge from its cocoon.
The Wayland girls’ basketball team defeated Plainwell 41-14.
A Jewitt touring car left the road and went into a ditch near Bradley, but none of its occupants from Grand Rapids were seriously injured.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: George M. Cohen’s “A Prince There Was.” Also showing are “Paid Back” and the Century comedy “Ten Seconds.”