(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago— June 1, 1998
Two businesses have purchased property within the Wayland city limits and plan to move into the local industrial district.
Dorr Township officials have indicated they are interested in acquiring park land, but not on Bysterveld park property for a county park.
Annual school elections are scheduled for Tuesday, June 8, for Wayland, Hopkins and Martin districts.
The Globe published a feature story about State Rep. Patty Birkholz commenting on her first two years in Lansing. She’s up for re-election in November of this year. She said her greatest accomplishment was spearheading a law to make it easier for school districts to buy buses in the wake of implementation of Proposal A.
Dale Walcott, 27, was listed in fair condition at Spectrum Butterworth after suffering injuries in a traffic accident on Patterson Road. He was thrown from the truck he was driving after he left the road.
The Wayland High School baseball team, which finished second in the O-K Gold Conference standings, defeated Delton in the first round of the district tournament. Sophomore Bobby Rowe picked up the win on the mound.
Jason Moore captured three Allegan County track meet championships, in the 1600 and 3200 runs, and by hooking up with Jake Gless, Jesse Simmons and Jed Turcott in the 3200 relay. Jim Hudson won the shot put, Sarah Baker won the 800 and Fran Sage of Hopkins took the 400. Vikings Ed Perez, Justin Ranson, Ryan Jones and Tim McArthur placed first in the 1600-meter relay.
Ray Antel, wife, Jennifer, Steve Harcourt and Middleville’s Tammy Benjamin led the start of the Wayland Road Runners’ second summer season.
Helen Gambee and Linda Koch, both members of the Henika Ladies Library Club, appeared in a photo of them planting petunias in downtown Wayland.
Former Wayland Board of Education President Don Lapham, also owner of Lapham Excavating, died at age 71.
The longtime Sunoco gas station operated by Floyd Fifelski was razed in Dorr to make way for a new Total station in the downtown.
50 Years Ago — May 29, 1973
Longtime Wayland High School cook Harold “Butch” Hinckley, Barbara Chachulski and Terri Comrie were among the 21 adult education graduates who were honored at commencement exercises.
Incumbent Marian Geib and newcomers Dale Buskirk, Bruce Owen, Donald Sebright, Thomas Shook and Jacob VandenBerg were candidates for school board in Martin’s election June 11 and a request will be on the ballot for a renewal of 15 mills.
Vernon and William Weick have purchased the Brooks Grocery gas station and food store business at Gun Lake.
Mimi Moulenbelt penned a letter to the editor reporting that Michigan Bell officials met with her, Gloria Jean Sleeman and Sandy VandenToorn about their complaints against the telephone service, but “It soon became clear that the purpose of the meeting was to explain to us why Michigan Bell couldn’t possibly do anything for us.”
Lorna Clyma, wife of Wayland High School Principal JC Clyma, wrote a letter to the editor praising the efforts and hard work of the members of the Board of Edfucation.
The Wayland VFW Auxiliary’s mother-daughter banquet attracted 56 women May 21. Mrs. Richard Hines gave a presentation on “What Is a Girl.”
Students in Jennifer Charbonneau will take part in an art exhibit June 1 and 2 at the old bakery building downtown.
William J. Bedford, son of Mr. and Mrs. Doug Bedford of Wayland, was one of 18 recipients of awards at the State Youth Arts festival.
Gib Goodwin fired a three-hit shutout at Byron Center and Wayland’s baseball team learned it earned a share of the O-K Blue Conference championship with Kelloggsville. The Wildcats finished the season with a 13-4 overall record.Sandra Cook shot a 95
Sports writer David T. Young published the results of the Globe’s first ever (and only) hypothetical track meet, in which best performances of each athlete was compared among Wayland, Hopkins and Martin squads. Hopkins won it 62.5 points, Wayland had 56 and 2/3 and Martin 37.5.
The Wayland High School tennis team finished second in the Class B regional and Alan Kupres was individual regional champion.
Mike Smith of Hopkins threw a no-hitter at Gobles, but was on the losing side of a 1-0 verdict.
Sandra Cook shot a 95 to win the 18-hole Joe’s Grocery Classic golf tournament at the Yankee Springs Golf Course.
Sophomore Russ McCarren won the Wayland High School decathlon competition, Dave McBride was second and Dale Peters third.
David Blok of Moline was chosen chairman of the Allegan County Democratic Party’s delegation to the Michigan Democratic Party Convention in Detroit.
Longtime local resident John Tobolic died just one day before his 87th birthday.
Otto Homrich of Dorr died at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. He was 71.
Leon Glascott, one of the founders of the Hopkins Fire Department and former chief, died at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo at age 64.
The Edgar Winter Band took over the spot among the nation’s tunes with the instrumental “Frankenstein.”
75 Years Ago — June 4, 1948
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher heaped praise on the Wayland Fire Department for sprinkling the parkways near the hangars at the new airport just noerth of town.
R.J. Perry of Wayland won a medal for artistic excellence at the Kendall School of Art and Design’s first graduation.
Longtime Hopkins resident Frank Lamphere died at Allegan General Hospital. He was 85.
“Uncle Bob” Shannon will be the guest for the Calvary Church’s summer vacation Bible School starting June 7.
Michigan Gov. Kim Sigler was a special guest at the dedication ceremonies for the new Wayland airport, arriving at the facility in his own private plane.
An estimated 3,000 people attended the opening Wednesday night entertainment event in downtown Wayland, the first in a weekly series of programs culminating the Cowbell Carnival. Mrs. Catherine Milheim correctly guessed the identity of “Mr. Whozit” as Paul Johnson.
Gene Weber will perform a piano number “Warsaw Concerto” in a studio concert in Grand Rapids. He also entertained a group of people at a local dinner.
Steve Lapekas is the pitcher and J. Fleser the catcher when the Gun Lake baseball club takes on Grand Rapids Sunday.
The Congregational Church Anti-Can’t Club members will serve a chicken dinner June 11. Cost is $1 for adults and 50 cents for children.
James Masterson, who ran a livery business in Hopkins years ago, died in Kalamazoo. He was 72.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Richard Arlen and Jean Rogers in “Speed to Spare.”
• Monte Hale and Adrian Booth in “Under Colorado Skies.”
• June Haver, Walter Brennan and Natalie Wood in “Scudda-Hoo! Scudda-Hay.”
• Dana Andrews and Gene Tierney in “The Iron Curtain.”
100 Years Ago — June 1, 1923
The Weber School and four adjoining schools had a picnic at Green Lake last Tuesday with attendees and guests enjoying food, games and boating.
The Corning Community Club had a potluck supper that included special guest speakers from two Grand Rapids Episcopal Methodist churches.
“Fire broke out at the home of Mr. Roberts Saturday, which caused a lot of excitement and a lot of hard work to get it under control.”
Dr. D.J. Dunwell has purchased the dental practice of the late Dr. George Brower and is expected to build a home on North Main Street.
Mrs. Leonore Stillwell died at the home of her son east of Bradley. She was 71.
The reunion for Truax School, District No. 5, will be held June 16 at the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Byron Ring in Leighton. It will be a potluck picnic.
Frank Rogers of Bradley, billed as a “veteran of ’61,” stepped it out in the Decoration Day parade, doing well to keep up with the youngins.
A new feature for the Memorial Day parade this year in Wayland was implementation of three volleys and the blowing of “Taps” over the grave of the last known deceased former soldier. The Wayland band performed under Mr. Bickert, a veteran of the war in Europe.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: William S. Hart in “White Oak” and Gladys Walton in “Top ‘O the Morning.”
