(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Dec. 7, 1998
Dorr Elementary School has won a state-wide Blue Ribbon award as one of the best top 14 in Michigan and will compete nationally. Principal Jack Wallington praised parental involvement, as well as that of administrators, staff and the community as a big reason for the honor.
The Gun Lake community this year is planning many activities to publicly celebrate Christmas with the Festival of Lights, according to Chamber of Commerce President Joe Iciek.
A Moline landmark property, the Moline Hall, now is up for bids after its closure as the Moline Library. A new Dorr Township Library building on 18th Street is succeeding it.
Rural residents in Allegan and Barry Counties may qualify for United States Department of Agriculture grants.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has agreed to share enforcement of snowmobile regulations.
The volunteer group Pathways for Our Children, is entering phase four of its project adding sidewalks on the north side of 142nd Avenue in Dorr.
Amber Battjes, Jacob Hoffman, James Huey, Heather Lewis, Jennifer Miedema and Maria Short were among the 700 choir students who sang at halftime of the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day game for the 25th anniversary of the United Way.
The Globe published a photo of the installation of a new Wayland City Hall sign being erected over the former United Bank building at the fours corners downtown.
Ricky Mena, state champion at 125 pounds, leads the Martin wrestling team with an optimistic spirit for a big season. Travis Brenner, Levi Conley and Eric Falkenburg also bring talent and experience to coach Pete Boyd’s squad.
Hopkins will have a tough act to follow in volleyball, in which it won its first O-K Silver title in 1997-98 under coach Terri Merren. Fran Sage, Morgan Bright and Sabrina Bird lead the way.
Juniors Kara Potter and Nicki Merchant are the key returnees for Wayland’s usually very competitive outfit, under coach Denie Anguilm.
Coach Mike Hudson may face a tough task with his Wioldcat basketball team in which the tallest player is only 6-3.
Martin also has the lack of height problem for coach Joe Orr.
Shaun Shealy is the only returning starter for Hopkins, which was 10-11 a year ago.
Longtime community activist Avis Hooker died at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was 76.
Wayne Larsen and Greg Allen were being hailed as heroes for their roles in a recent accident involving Wayland High School students.
50 Years Ago — Dec. 4, 1973
The Wayland City Council has decided to put the question of electing or appointing the city treasurer and assessor. It will be decided by voters in a proposed charter amendment in the April annual election.
William Smith made certain his family’s Centennial Farm designation by the Michigan Division of History by purchasing father Clayton Smith’s farm northeast of Wayland. Clayton Smith is president of the local Grange chapter.
Mrs. Viola Carroll and 35 of her French students are raising funds to help pay for their nine-day trip to France this spring. They currently are putting on a bazaar.
Peter Laning Disposal Service has asked the City of Wayland for permission to cut back trash pickup from twice to once per week because of fuel shortages.
Planning Commission Chairman David Low indicated new Police Chief Harold Ernst has resigned his post on that commission.
Elmer White reported in his “Michigan Mirror” column that Michigan is one of the few states to make illegal the inclusion of lips, snouts and udders as ingredients in hot dogs.
Sports writer David Young, in his “Sports Notes” column, expressed his disappointment in O-K Blue coaches who overlooked Wildcats Jon Johnson, Paul Heckert, Cody Niemchick and Dave Koperski in the selection of the all-league team.
The Allegan County District Nurses Association will have a special meeting to discuss problems of alcoholism.
Brian McBride and Dave Fifelski led Wayland to an impressive 51-11 season opeing dual meet victory over Calvin Christian.
The Wayland basketball team put a scare into O-K Blue Conference favorite Caledonia for a half before finally bowing. A team shooting performance of 29% doomed the ‘Cats.
Hopkins opened its season with an easy 75-53 win over Mattawan. Rick Smith has 21 points and 13 rebounds and Kelly McEwen dished out eight assists.
Wayland girls’ basketball season ended with a district tourney loss to South Haven. Martin finished at 16-2 with an upset loss to Covenant Christian. Cindy Nicolai had nine points for the Clippers.
Hopkins FFA members Pat Rakowski, Gary Hoffmaster, Arlyn Coffey, Phil Ruthruff, Tom Gratz, Phil Lenhart, Tim Marks and Paul Langlois attended the Chicago Livestock Show.
Emanuel Oster, longtime area farmer of Hopkins and a World War I veteran, died at Cunningham Nursing Home in Plainwell. He was 79.
75 Years Ago — Dec. 10, 1948
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher noted in his weekly column, “After a lapse of several years since before the war, the Wayland business section is again lighted for the holiday season with several strings of varied colored street lights.”
Martin native Mrs. Hattie Mae Burlington died at her home in Kalamazoo after suffering a broken hip and a blood clot.
Rural Grange No. 37, Wayland held its Diamond Jubilee at the hall. The group, under the leadership of the Lecturer and Master Elton Calkins, sang, “put on Your Old Gray Bonnet” and “Grandfather’s Clock.” May Smith presented “A History of the Wayland Grange.”
Kenneth Tolhurst suffered a collar bone injury in a traffic accident and was laid up in Pennock Hospital.
Kris Wilde, 4-year-old son of Arnold and Virginia Wilde, was hospitalized with brain fever and now is home recovering slowly.
Eding’s Garage defeated Martin on the road, 48-29. Moore had 13 points and Koster nine.
Bernath McBride of Hopkins was elected president of his class at Western Michigan College.
George Oestrich, former Army chaplain at occupied Japan, will be guest speaker at the Wayland Calvary Church Sunday evening.
Donald Sooy of the U.S. Navy and his wife joined the first Sooy family Christmas with all present in five years, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Sooy.
Loren Mauchmar has just this week had his cast removed from his broken leg in an incident on the softball field last summer.
John Van Heuketum came home from Butterworth Hospital after undergoing surgery for a spinal column injury.
Robert Milburn and family have returned from Chicago, where he attended classes for Refrigeration School.
The Rev. Robert Shannon, Rural Bible Mission worker, dropped in on Dorr area schools.
Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Hilbert joined a couple from Hastings in driving to Detroit to catch a professional football game between the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears.
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Blue spent a weekend in Detroit to attend a concert by the Scandinavian Symphony.
Harold Fox is in the hospital in Plainwell after suffering a heart attack.
The Jacob Eding Co. was trumpeting its Firestone Tire Clearance Sale as the largest in Wayland’s history.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Charles Starrett as the Durango Kid and Smiley Burnett in “West of Sonora.”
• Leif Erickson and Gale Sherwood in “Blond Savage.”
• Dick Powell, Jane Greer, Agnes Moorhead and Burl Ives in “Station West.”
• Betty Grable, Dan Dailey, Jack Oakie and June Havoc in “When My Baby Smiles at Me.”
100 Years Ago — Dec. 7, 1923
Library Director Fanny Hoyt reported the arrival of a challenging article in Nature Magazine asking if it is really worth it to sacrifice five million trees for Christmas.
The contract for the building of a new primary school has been let to Julius Johnson of Plainwell. His bid was $14,000, not including plumbing or heating. Johnson oversaw construction of Wayland State Bank several years before.
Rollo Mosher editorialized, “The Globe is of the opinion that the school district can well afford to purchase the vacant land lying just west of the school property where there is ample room to take care of any future growth needs…”
New seats have arrived at Wayland school to help alleviate space problems for assemblies.
Camp Fire Girls are making Christmas gifts for the Indian children.
Two motion picture attractions from Indian lore and songs by Chief Blads Fox and daughter will be presented at a Church of Christ community meeting Friday evening. The Girls Glee Club will perform a couple of songs as well.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Betty Compson in “The Bonded Woman.” “Love Loops the Loop.” Ethel Clayton in “Can a Woman Love Twicer.”
The Robins School at West Gun Lake was in session for only two days last week.
The church at Yankee Springs still is without a pastor. Promoters say, “Don’t stay at home and then wonder why we don’t have a minister, or fear our church will be moved.”
Miss Lillian Knapp and her pupils at Crittenden School put together a carpet rag social and program, raising $21.50 to buy school furnishings.
Ladies Library Club members and school teachers met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C.R. Yeakey. The club the following week heard an address by Dr. Lucy Elliott.
