(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago— May 25, 1998
Members of the Wayland Township Board have agreed to seek a millage for roads, but how much remains a question. Supervisor Jose Blanco suggested the amount should be at least three mills.
The City of Wayland will seek an Allegan County Department of Public Works bond for sewer system improvements.
The Wayland High softball team won the O-K Gold Conference championship and has won its last 20 games in a row. Freshmen Jessie Merchant and Amber Willison played major roles in Wayland capturing its second straight O-K Gold Conference title.
Vandals spray painted Wayland High School and local police are investigating.
Former Wayland Globe co-owner Helen Jane Helmey was honored by the Allegan County Republican Women for her lifetime of contributions to the GOP. State Rep. Patty Birkholz presented her withg a framed tribute.
Leighton Township residents are asking Allegan County Circuit Court to overturn a decision by the County Drain Commission’s plans to clean and dredge the Green Lake stream.
Tom McInerney of the Wayland Hockey Club wrote a letter to the editor thanking the Wayland Board of Education for its endorsement of the group.
Nicole Ranea Indgjer, 17, a senior at Hopkins High School, was killed in a single-vehicle traffic crash returning from practice for graduation.
Natalie Knight of Martin and Angel Robbins of Wayland were two of the four area high school seniors who received scholarships from the Gun Lake Women’s General Federation Club.
Charges were dismissed against three area men who were arrested in connection with a fracas at the former Rosita’s Restaurant in downtown Wayland.
Three Hopkins students, Ashley Theunnissen, April King and Danielle Werkema, won recognition in the Calvin College Regional Student Art Show.
Justin Mead, Ricky Mena and Becky Justice qualified for the Class D state meet in track.
Hopkins owns a 12-9 overall record in baseball and looks forward to the Division 3 district tournament at Kelloggsville.
Hopkins finished third in the Division 3 regional track meet, with Amanda Winters, Maria Nixon, Fran Sage and Julie Baweja hooking up to win the 1600-meter title in school record time of 4:18.1.
Wayland senior Jason Moore broke his own school record in the 1600 in 4:25.3 to win regionals in that event and won the 3200 in 9:54.7.
Former Wayland barber George Foley died in Ontario, Canada. He was 91.
Stevie Wonder took over the top spot among the nation’s tunes with “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.”
50 Years Ago — May 22, 1973
Moline State Bank President Joe Haveman, a prominent businessman in the community for many years and former president of the Moline Christian Board of Education, died. He was 73.
The Hopkins Board of Education has decided to ask voters for a 5.91-mill increase, with 4.0 mills a renewal, in the June 11 annual school election.
The Young Married Group of the United Church of Wayland will have a ham picnic on Memorial Day from noon to 3 p.m.
John Baker was installed as commander of the Wayland post of the Veterans of Foreign War and Mrs. Al Brundage was elected president of the Auxiliary.
The Wayland Police Department and local chapter of the Jaycees are sponsoring a special Bicycle Safety Day at the city parking lot behind the fire station.
The Wayland High School baseball dropped its district tournament opener 5-1 to Eaton Rapids. Losing pitcher Gib Goodwin pitched four perfect innings until the wheels came off in the fifth.
Wayland’s track team placed fifth in the O-K Blue Conference meet. Sophomore Lee Kelly took second in the mile run with a time of 4:50.9 and the 400-yard relay team was third with Waynand Thomas, Terry Acheson, Brian McBride and Dave Genther.
Hopkins was third in the A-O Conference track meet. Rick Smith, Neal Stevenson and Mike Krcatovich were league champions in the high jump, 220 and mile run, respectively.
Martin was fifth in the meet, with the only first turned in by the mile relay, including Dave Oetman, Jerry Seekman, Doug Pierce and Dan McGuire. Clipper ace Paul Henderson was injured and was unable to compete.
Scott Miller was elected president of the Hopkins FFA, succeeding Ted Howard.
Wayland High School graduate Jim Hendrixson fashioned a record of 8-4 as a member of the Grand Valley State College tennis team.
Wayland High School biology teacher Gerald Nelson was guest speaker for the Michigan Association of Biology Teachers meeting at Hastings.
Victor Hostetler of Leighton Township sustained injuries when his tractor flipped over in a ravine at his farm near 9th Street.
Wayland High School senior Gary Niemchick was injured while felling a tree at his Cobb Lake home. He suffered a skull fracture and several facial lacerations.
Ben Ciboch, former justice of the peace for the Village of Wayland, died at Springbrook Nursing Home at Grand Rapids.
75 Years Ago — May 28, 1948
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher reported: “The Wayland Municipal Airport is raidly nearing completion and Glenn Zumbrink, one of the manager, informs the Globe that with the exception of smoothing out of a few rough spots in the runways, the place is just about ready to go.”
The Chamber of Commerce has announced that Wednesday evening celebrations will culminate with the Cowbell Carnival in the last week of August. A brand new bandstand will be erected on West Superior between the Hilbert Feed Store and Village Hall.
Tony Zoppa’s Orchestra will perform at 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Sts. Cyril & Methodius for a dance.
The Herb Auto Sales was the victim of a burglary, in which car seats, a motor block, accessories and tires were taken.
The Rev. Frank Bachelor will be Sunday morning speaker for the United Memorial Service at the high school auditorium.
Gov. Kim Sigler will be guest speaker at the airport dedication, following the Dawn Patrol, and about 200 smnall planes are expected to be on hand. The American Legion will serve breakfast.
Harry Klomparens, a well known and respected citizen of Hopkins, suffered a heart attack while watching a parade in Holland. He was 63.
Harry Elenbaas has indicated he will be a candidate for re-election to the Wayland Board of Education July 12, but President Clifford Pike will not. Harold Dietiker has been appointed to fill out the term of the resigned Howard Clack.
Some residents were concerned about a fire in the Keeney woods, but it was learned it was a campfire put together by two Boy Scouts.
Members of the Class of 1928 will be special guests of honor at the Wayland High School Reunion in the music room of the high school. Toastmaster will be Halden Hudson and among the featured guests will be 1928 valedictorian Irene Perry, a short play, “the Fatal Quest,” and music teacher Mildred Leachman Smith.
The annual Wayland Golf Tournament will be 72 holes for all competitors at Indian Hills.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• William Halop and Ann E. Todd in “Dangerous Years.”
• Allan Lane as Red Ryder, Bobby Blake in “Oregon Trail Scouts.”
• Jeanette McDonald, Jose Iturbi and Jane Powell in “Three Daring Daughters.”
• Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and John Garfield in “Gentleman’s Agreement.”
100 Years Ago — May 25, 1923
The Wayland High School girls’ basketball team, led by Hazel Bouwman’s 16 points and Myrtle Brocker’s 12, defeated Martin 28-12 to capture the Allegan County championship.
May Reno was elected worthy matron of the local chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.
The Standard Bearers Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church entertained their mothers with a special bandquet. Miss Quinton addressed the group and told of her experiences working with natives in Africa.
A Mr. Addy spoke to members of the Northeast Hopkins Community Club about the importance of starting a boys’ and girls’ calf club.
A certain little girl made this remark when we had our (recent) snow storm, “Mamma we had a pretty short summer, didn’t we?”
Cleo Fox expects to leave soon to join the Chautauqua engagement in South Carolina.
Charles Yeakey, who plays in the Patrol Band, will leave for Washington and the Eastern Seabord.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: “Just Plain Folks,” by the Georgetown PTA, with 12 members. Saturday and Sunday will be “Enchantment” with Marian Davies focusing on the rebelliousness of young women these days. The Kalamazoo College Quartette will perform next week.
The Junior-Senior Reception this year included the Senior Maize and Blue and the Junior Maroonad White decorations in the halls.
The Henika Library will be closed during the afternoon of Decoration Day, but reopen in the evening.
Spanish-American War veterans, Civil War veterans and World War veterans are asked to report for the parade and ceremonies in uniforms May 30 for Memorial Day. The procession will conclude at the cemetery, with Rev. Buerge speaking and the Wayland band performing.
Representatives from the Oscar Briggs Legion post of Allegan will present a check for $437 to the Wayland Legion for its welfare work among disabled veterans of Wayland Township.
Seventh- and eighth-graders from Bradley came to Wayland school to take examinations.
Wayland Village Clerk George H. Schuh will accept bid proposals for extending the four-inch water main 1050 feet in the Village of Wayland until June 4.
