COVER PHOTO: 1962-63 Wayland Girls Basketball Team: (Front, from left)  M. Selzer, G. Hoffman, E. Russell, C. Johnson, B. Calkins  and S. Welch, (back)  R. Brooks, S. Snyder, M. Moomey, C. Washburn, V. Shoemaker, L. Belka, D. Cook, S. Ryman and coach, Mrs. Lindgren.

Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)

25 Years Ago — Nov. 2, 1998

It was reported that Michigan’s gasoline tax generates $800,000 for Allegan County’s roads. The Allegan County Board of Commissioners has mailed questionnaires to township officials to get some input on how each municipality would like to see that money spent. 

Wayland Township Treasurer Nancy Stoddard publicly complained that Township Supervisor Jose Blanco has exhibited threatening and gestures toward her.

An astonishing 13 members of the Wayland High School choir under the direction of Jan Laman have been selected to the Regional Honors Choir.

The Hopkins varsity football team has won the O-K Silver Conference championship and has kept its post-season playoff hope alive. The Vikings edged previously unbeaten Holton 13-12 in a non-league showdown. Holton’s coach was Tom Cutler, later to become Wayland High School Principal.

Peggy Blok of Moline penned a letter to the editor explaining why she is opposed to the Dorr Library millage request.

Registered nurse C. Lee Pavlak wrote a letter opposing Proposal B, a state-wide proposition to permit assisted suicide.

Dorr Township Library Suanne Wierenga submitted a letter to the editor supporting the 0.65-mill levy to support library operations.

Yankee Springs Township officials have agreed reluctantly to the status quo in sharing costs for the Thornapple Township Fire Department services.

Four young boys have pleaded guilty to beating up Martin gas and convenience store clerk Bonnie Carpenter and stealing cigarettes and beer. All of the suspects were between 17 and 19 years of age and from Holland.

Hopkins head football coach Rex Weaver has been named a Coach of the Year by the Detroit Free Press.

Wayland girls’ basketball team defeated Forest Hills Northern and Belding to improve to 13-3 overall and set up an O-K Gold Conference showdown with archrival South Christian. The Lady Wildcats were led by the Merchant sisters, Nicki and Jessie, and Kara Potter.

Hopkins girls lifted their season record to 11-5 with a win over Kelloggsville, but now must face the Grand Rapids Baptist 6-7 Twin Towers Feenstra sisters, unbeaten this season.

Hopkins, led by Brooke Brenner, will have to share the O-K Silver cross-country crown with Kelloggsville.

50 Years Ago — Oct. 30, 1973

The Hopkins Board of Education announced the district for the first time sports a budget or more than a million dollars. The board also reported it has abandoned the property of the former Ohio Corners School, allowing it to revert to the previous owner, as provided by the lease signed in 1908. The school building had not been used for the past 10 years.

The Globe published a feature story about Maria Rodriguez, a Hopkins High School foreign exchange student from Peru who is staying with the Harnish family.

Nickels Pharmacy has undergone a huge renovation on West Superior Street and it will have a grand opening featuring sales Oct. 31 and Nov. 1-3. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Nickels and family are owners and employees of the local drug store. Ed and son Dennis are pharmacists.

District Gov. George Kinney will visit the Hopkins Lions Club at its Nov. 6 meeting at the Hopkins United Methodist Church, according to local club President Stanley Finkbeiner.

Lt. William Monroe of the Michigan State Police will present a special program on crime prevention to the Wayland Lions Club.

Hopkins scored a 25-14 upset over undefeated league rival Allendale to lay claim to the A-O Conference championship. The Globe included a photo of the Vikings’ defensive line, featuring Rick and Mike Smith, Art Debres and Dennis Kiser.

Dan Isenhoff became the first Hopkins cross-country runner to qualify for the state meet by crossing the finish line in 17:12 at the Class C regionals.

Wayland’s Kelvin Lapham turned in a 5K time of 16:59 to finish 13^th in the O-K Blue Conference meet.

Wayland suffered a shocking 34-14 defeat at the hands of Comstock Park, which won the O-K Blue Conference football crown. It was only the second defeat of the season for the Wildcats.

The Hopkins FFA received a national chapter award at the national convention in Kansas City, Mo. Lee Dreyer, Jim Caywood, Phil Lenhart and advisor Roy Miller accepted the honor.

Members of the Wayland Grange have agreed to meet only once a month rather than twice over the winter months.

Members of the Leighton Farm Bureau will have a discussion about a proposal to initiate unemployment insurance for farmers.

Mrs. Edward Hudson, Wayland High School valedictorian in 1923 and a graduate from Kalamazoo Teachers College who taught school for 33 years, retiring in 1970, died at age 70 at St. Mary’s Hospital. She was the mother of Richard, Thomas and Harry Hudson and Marie Hall.

75 Years Ago — Nov. 4, 1948

Martin Township Supervisor Grant Hendrick, 65, died of a heart attack while serving on the election board. He had succeeded Daniel Laraway as supervisor in 1933.

Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher expressed his displeasure with the election, writing, “President Truman carried on an almost one-man campaign and upset dopes of the various polls and political commentators.”

Harry Frank, son of Mrs. Lena Frank of Wayland, died suddenly in Sioux Falls, S.D., after suffering a stroke. He was closely associated with the local telephone company. He was 53.

Kim Sigler of Hastings, Michigan’s governor since 1946, lost his bid for re-election to Democrat G. Mennen Williams, but Republican Thomas E. Dewey carried Michigan by a slim margin and all Republicans running in Allegan County won. Dewey carried the county 9,781 to 4,165.

Miss Martha D. Miller, 82, a resident of Dorr for the last 25 years, died at the Maplelawn Home in Bradley.

Thomas Tandarich, a native of Yugoslavia, died at his farm home east of Wayland, He was 77.

Local businessman Robert Cozzens has announced he will lease the Doll House after a remodeling of the building on South Main.

Leighton Township reported a record vote turnout and the fire truck question won 377 to 142. The new vehicle will be located in Moline.

Rudy Ellinger of Hopkins was one of 34 elected to council at Michigan State College.

Sproat School is having interior remodeling done for the comfort and convenience of students and teachers. It was put to use with a Halloween Party last Friday with cake and ice cream.

The Busy Builders of the Church of Christ will have a bake and candy sale at Brooks Hardware Saturday, Nov.6.

Authorities believe Charles Iler, 76, suffered a fatal heart attack while trying to land a bullhead on his boat while fishing Baker Lake. The live bullhead was discovered on the end of his fishing line in the lake next to the boat. Iler had been a rural mail carrier for 30 years and had lived in Hopkins for the past 50 years.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• William Elliott and John Carroll in “Old Los Angeles.”

• George Nokes and Brenda Joyce in “Shaggy.”

• Roy Rogers, Dennis Day and the Andrews Sisters in “Melody Time.”

100 Years Ago — Nov. 2, 1923

“Three of Wayland’s most esteemed and respected citizens,” Mrs. Francis Hooker, Mrs. W.B. Hooker and Mrs. Harry D. Allegeo, were killed when their car was struck by the north-bound flyer on the Michigan Railway interurban at Maple Street in Wayland. The crossing has been noted as dangerous, as Mrs. Richard Thompson had been killed at that location on May 13, 1922. The three women were on their way to a party at the home of Mrs. Warren Rankin.

Halloween passed quietly in the village and area. “No property was disturbed or destroyed, but young folks seemed to have a very enjoyable time with their jack-o-lanterns and ghost costumes.”

Miss Irene Scheidt entertained the Ladies Library Club and Irene Yeakey recited “Injun Summer” by J.F. McCutcheon.

“It is to be regretted that there were only six who attended the parent-teacher meeting at Bradley School.

A dance is planned at Yeakey’s Hall Wednesday, Nov. 7, with Bush’s Orchestra providing the music from 8:30 to 12:30.

Nathan Goldstein, youngest violinist in the Western Michigan Union, gave “a very enjoyable concert” at the Baldwin piano store Saturday evening.

Miss Dundas, the county demonstration agent, will present a program on “The Fireless Cooker” at the home of William Brog in Leighton Township.

The young son of William Leuthe suffered a leg injury when he was thrown from a buggy as it was being struck by a car driven by George Renaud of Bradley. The buggy did not carry a light, it was reported.

The Ward hunting party going to Eckerman in the Upper Peninsula to stalk deer and birds includes Charles H. Ward, Harold Smith, George Douglas and Ralph Button.

Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Cullen Landis and Joseph Dowling in “Dollar Devils.” “Mary of the Movies.” The two-reel comedy, “Entertaining the Boss.”