(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Nov. 23, 1998
The “Young Americans” visit at Wayland High School left quite an impression, as two students, Jessie McEwen and Jennifer Miedema, successfully auditioned
to sign up to join the group and are California-bound.
Martin School has gone on line and is sharing some computer smarts.
Allegan County has launched a map project that is putting it on the cutting edge of digital technology.
Michelle Steffes was photographed with daughters Elizabeth and Carolyn and ingredients for cherry pie in anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Hopkins High School students in Robert Wiersma’s economics and government classes put their thoughts and opinions on paper and sent them to the Globe’s “Readers Write” section.
Dorr Township Library Director Suanne Wierenga penned a letter to the editor acknowledging the defeat of a millage request, but she lamented the hostile attacks from some in the public.
Moline Christian School, which reported a current enrollment of 206 students and the expectation of increasing the population to 260 next year, is begun its expansion project.
Wayland City police officer Mike Brown was involved in a traffic accident on east Superior Street near Steeby while attempting to catch a speeding motorist.
Michigan State Police Trooper Ray Hoffman from the Wayland post has been announced as a nominee for Gerstacker Award for trooper of the year.
The new Leighton Township Library facility on 12th Street welcomed visitors at an open house. The project was approved by a two-mill tax levy and cost just shy of $528,000.
Paul Hilaski, 80, died of natural causes while deer hunting on the family property in Hopkins Township.
A revival of the Gun Lake Winterfest is planned for Jan. 29, 30 and 31.
The Globe published a feature story about Pat Edgerton of Martin, a volunteer with Wings of Hope Hospice.
The City of Wayland has lowered the cost of residential recycling from $25 to $15 a year because of a surplus in the recycling fund.
In a showdown between two unbeatens, Hopkins bested Olivet 33-13 to claim its third regional football championship in four years.
Middleville Thornapple Kellogg threatened to score an upset over Wayland girls’ basketball team, but the Wildcats used a late surge to win 56-54. Freshman Jessie Merchant and her sister, Nicki, provided the heroics in overcoming a 54-47 deficit with just 1:40 showing on the clock.
Stacey and Ashley Hildebrand teamed up to lead Martin to two district basketball tourney wins and set up a difficult task vs. a 19-2 Saugatuck squad.
The 6-foot-7 Feenstra sisters proved to be too much for Hopkins, as GR Baptist beat Hopkins, which finished the girls’ basketball season with a 14-7 overall record.
Danielle and Melissa Quisenberry of Middleville both shined in their age groups at the annual Turkey Trot. Robby Young, an eighth-grader at Wayland, was first in the 13 and under division with a time of 19:42.
Former local businessman Merle Lohrberg died at age 82.
50 Years Ago — Nov. 20, 1973
Wayland High School biology instructor Gerald Nelson has been named to the advisory committee of the National Association of Biology Teachers. Nelson also submitted a lengthy letter to the editor about his experiences at the NABT convention.
Registered nurses Cheri Torkko and Joy Herb invited the public to a life saving demonstration Dec. 5 at the Wayland VFW post on South Main Street. The event is sponsored by the Wayland chapter of the Jaycees.
Judy Hines, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Hines of Wayland, was grand champion winner in the West Michigan Dolly Derby, sponsored by the Girl Scouts.
Randy Mauchmar, Dave Wolowicz and Jon Johnson all were named to the first unit of the all-O-K Blue Conference football squad.
Winning all-league for the Southwest Athletic Conference were Martin’s Dave Oetman, Jerry Seekman, Roger Commisaris, Dan Snyder and Duane Knight.
Eleven Hopkins gridders were named to the A-O Conference star squad. They were Louis Stein, Phil Arndt, Mike Smith, Rick Smith, Dennis Kiser, Ron Schafer, John Roon, Scott Pavlak, Scott Miller and Steve Pawlowski.
Martin has been chosen as host school for the girls’ basketball district tournament.
Kathy Worfel scored 29 points and 26 in two Wildcat girls’ victories over Hopkins and Caledonia. Wayland has a chance to tie for second place in the league if it can beat Comstock Park.
Steve Adamczyk was named most valuable on the Hopkins golf team, which shared the league title with Fennville.
Ringo Starr scored another No. 1 record in the nation with “Photograph.”
75 Years Ago — Nov. 26, 1948
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher asked, “Is Wayland to have some street decorations this year? It is just about time that the wires were being strung up, and the lights in place if we are to have much of any yuletide spirit on Main Street this year.”
Mosher reported that hunters say the deer kill has been high this season, but the animals are scattering and pickings are getting mighty lean.
Louisa M. Strauss, a native of Canada, died at the home of her son in Martin. She was 78. She had lived in Wayland for the last 10 years.
Wilkie Bush of Martin nailed a buck with a single-barrel shotgun he bought for $5 in 1905.
The Rev. H. E. Wright of Rome, Ga., was to be guest speaker at evangelistic meetings Nov. 20-Dec. 5 at the Wayland Calvary Church, which also promises musicians from the Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music.
Edward Otto, manager of the local Kroger grocery, has announced it will become an entirely self-service store.
Members of the Wayland Grange will celebrate the group’s diamond jubilee and roll call will be answered by “When and Why I Joined the Grange.”
Correspondent Lena Martin wrote, “Hopkins is a town of well kept houses, of which we can be very proud, but glance at the streets and walks — eyesores. What does the village need? A traffic light on the corner of Main and Water streets.”
The Moline Congregational Church had as guests the Gospel Trumpeters, famous radio artists, and a director of the Bible School of Theology and Music.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Preston Foster in “Thunderhoof.”
• Lynne Roberts and Russ Hayden in “Sons of Adventure.”
• Cary Grant, Myrna Loy and Melvyn Douglas in “Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.”
• William Holden, Jeanne Crain and Edmund Gwenn in “Apartment for Peggy.”
The Wayland High School football team finished the season with a 5-1-1 overall record and was crowned champion of the Bar-Ken-All Conference with a 4-0 mark. Captain was Jim Hagman.
Frances Herrinton presented a program on “Bog Gardens” to members of the Wayland Garden Club.
Mrs. Darl Goodspeed was elected leader of the South Wayland Extension Club.
Members of the Forest Lewis chapter of the American Legion and Auxiliary are taking part in a holiday project, “Gifts for the Yank Who Gave.”
The Doll House has reopened on South Main Street by owner Robert Cozzens after being closed during the war years.
100 Years Ago — Nov. 23, 1923
R.J. McCaslin sang a solo, “If a Man Isn’t What He Is, Then He Ain’t What He Is” to members of the Ladies Library Club.
The Red and Blue Contest at Church of Christ has both sides running neck and neck. The Blues have emerged with a slight lead.
The Anti-Can’t Club will have its annual holiday bazaar in the middle of December.
J.B. Edmonson, University inspector of high schools, dropped in unexpectedly Tuesday to “cast an inquiring eye around… While he did not volunteer to divulge his notations, he seemed to meet the local school inadequacies upon sympathetic ground.” He recommended the employment of another teacher, but lack of room seemed to be the crying need.
The Wayland High School football team defeated the Zeeland Reserves 18-0. The team will lose only one player, Dale Rankin, to graduation.
The American Legion met and enjoyed cards, saurkraut and weenies.
Charles Towne was injured in a traffic crash, colliding with a car driven by Lester Kimball of Leighton. Towne missed a couple of days of work.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Bert Lytell and Betty Compson in “To Have and To Hold.” An all-star cast in “Has the World Gone Mad?” Also: the comedy “Clever Catch.”
The Robins School stove exploded, causing school to be dismissed for the day.
Lawrence Radkye, 3 years old, had the misfortune of losing two fingers in a cutting box.
Mary Jane Barbour Harrell, 80, of Leighton Township died at a home in Middleville. She was preceded in death by two husbands.
Gene Zaiser received a three-month-old alligator through the mail from Mrs. W. N. Schuh, who is now in Florida.
Arthur Green’s grocery store has been purchased by a Mr. and Mrs. Fink and daughter of Saginaw, who have just recently moved here.
John Wolford had the misfortune of having his pocketbook and more than $70 stolen while he was in Lansing.
