(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Sept. 7, 1998
A front page photo showed two turtle hunters, Don Fein and Roger Lenard, proudly displaying three huge snappers they harvested from a Wayland Township pond. They plan to use them in snapper soup.
The Wayland girls’ basketball team, smarting from an upset loss to the East Kentwood Falcons, bounced back with a dazzling victory over the Otsego ‘Dogs. Coach Zack Moushegian is nearing 400 career victories.
The Wayland Police Department is welcoming new new officers, Jeannette Van Wagoner and Reinaldo Ratamal.
The Gun Lake Area Sewer Authority (GLASA) is warning local resident Stewart London he needs to hook up now before it’s too late. Meanwhile, GLASA employees are objecting to denial of merit pay raises.
The Dorr Township Library is seeking an extra 0.65-mill tax levy over 10 years in a millage vote in the November general election.
Steeby and Baker Elementary schools are doing “the world’s easiest fund-raiser” with Box Tops Education coupon clipping.
Managing Editor Nila Aamoth, in her weekly Soapbox, explained that the Penasee Globe does not customarily publish all arrests and charges because too often they result in pleas to reduced charges.
Joe Selzer, a 1968 Wayland High School graduate, wrote a letter to the editor expressing disappointment with lack of interest in class reunions.
Kimberly Gillhespy, 19, of Wayland received the state 4-H award for showing goats. She now is a freshman at Michigan State University.
A portion of 5th Street from 133rd Avenue was mistakenly paved without shoulders. The Allegan County Road Commission has accepted responsibility.
Martin Township Supervisor Terry Sturgis placed 330 gypsy moth “biotool” kits around the area to combat the infestation of the pests.
Jonathan Strickland, 4, Bowens Mills Road, died after being struck by a golf ball hit by his father at an area driving range.
The Globe was inundated by a plethora of letters to the editor defending the character of Fire Chief Bill Fifelski, who was reported the week before as having been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Big Lake residents Mark Derschermeir and Jerry Servis are asking the Watson Township Board to make the local ordinance on wakes more enforceable.
Joe Iciek was elected president and John Rough vice president of the Gun Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Fifth runner Jamie Blain put on a clutch performance at the end to enable the Wayland girls’ cross-country team to win the Wayland Invitational.
Leslie Anderson was crowned Miss Martin the pageant. Anderson, 19 years old, is a sophomore at Baker School in Muskegon.
50 Years Ago — Sept. 4, 1973
A strike at newsprint mills and railroads has caused a shortage of newsprint, forcing the Wayland Globe and many other publications to cut back on the number of pages printed. Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey wrote to readers, “We urge all of our area correspondents and all others who give us local (news) items to continue to do so. We will print what we have paper for and hope the strike is over in a short time.”
Along with shortages in newsprint came the Arab Oil Embargo, which has caused long lines at gas stations and much higher prices.
Martin Public Schools has rented the office of Dr. Janis Pone for use as a business and superintendent’s office.
A very welcome automatic dishwashing machine is being installed at Hopkins school, causing Hopkins correspondent Mrs. William Sleeman to comment, “No more dishpan hands or slaving over a hot sink.”
Ms. Sleeman also announced that she baked an elderberry pie.
The Wayland chapter of the Jaycees and Miller-Baehre Ford are co-sponsoring the local “Punt, Pass & Kick” contest this fall.
The Globe was forced to pare the size of this week’s edition from the usual 28 to 32 pages to just 16.
Marvin Gaye took over the No. 1 slot among the nation’s top tunes with the suggestive “Let’s Get It On.”
75 Years Ago — Sept. 10, 1948
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher noted the installation of a two-unit traffic light at the intersection of U.S.-131 and Superior Street, which he said he hopes it will cut down on congestion at that location.
Edings won the local summer softball league second half derby and will meet the Vets, first half champs, in a sort of local softball world series.
Daily newspapers have been making a lot of comments about the dusty roads in Barry County, particularly in the Gun Lake-Yankee Springs areas.
Wayland Grange members were asked to respond to roll call by passing along “The earliest outstanding experience I remember from my school days.”
Bert Linsley, who lived at a Hopkins Township farm for 60 years, died there Monday night. He was 69.
A rainstorm dampened the opening of the Cowbell Carnival, forcing many events to be moved to the high school gym. Featured ahead will be the DeMolay Band of Grand Rapids and “The Smartest Horse in Michigan.” The amateur talent contest was among the indoor events.
Hopkins correspondent Lena Martin wrote that two new enterprises prove the community is making progress after quiet years in the wake of the explosion of 1919. They are a four-lane bowling alley and a movie theater that can seat as many as 470 people.
Mrs. Oliver Francisco and daughter Mrs. James Tinsler both have traveled north to escape the effects of hay fever. Mrs. Tinsler later would be employed as a typist at the Wayland Globe.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Judy Canova in “Singin’ in the Corn.”
• Jean Willes in “Winners Circle.”
• Joe Brown, Richard Lyon and Noreen Nash in “The Tender Years.”
• Jennifer Jones, Gregory Peck and Joseph Cotton in “Duel in the Sun.”
100 Years Ago — Sept. 7, 1923
Wayland High School graduate Cleo Fox, who for the past three years has been traveling with the Dunbar American Bell Ringers, will give a concert over radio station KDKA in Pittsburgh at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9. He will perform a trombone solo during the hour-long program.
The Anti-Can’t Club will meet Friday, Sept. 14, at the Village Park to discuss plans for fall activities.
The first of a series of new types of Ford automobiles will arrive at Yeakey Ford in Wayland. The biggest change will be a higher radiator.
Leona Baker Smith, a 1917 graduate of Wayland High School and wife of Ezekiel Smith, died at the tender age of 24. She was one of eight children in her family.
Miss Ferna Wilcox is the new agent at the interurban station at Moline, succeeding Miss Bertha Fox.
The annual exodus of local young people who teach school began this week. Jeanette Bouwman returned to Allegan, Metta Ross returned to Holland, Annabelle Norton to Gun Lake and Joe Ring to Benton Harbor.
F. D. Cutler is having a “Complete Farms Dispersal Sale” Sept. 18 just two miles south of Wayland. He said he was selling 65 head of registered Holstein cattle after the dairy barn fire.
Keith Bowerman played with the 32nd Regiment Band and C.R. Yeakey performed with the Masonic Band in Grand Rapids.
Wayland Schools Supt. Glenn Pettis has reported a lot of congestion at the beginning of the academic year, with 115 students enrolled at the high school. Some of the students are being forced to sit three to a seat.
Detective Roscoe Rider, formerly of Moline, arrested three men in the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area for being pick-pockets.