(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Dec. 28, 1998
It being the week between the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, the Penasee Globe devoted its pages essentially to feature stories about life in this area.
Editor Nila Aamoth, in her weekly Soapbox, noted the technological changes happening in the newspaper business and wrote to readers, “We think of ourselves as ‘your newspaper.’ In 1999, we pledge to continue working toward that goal.”
The area’s first snow of the season brought with it traffic crashes. A pileup shut down the U.S.-131 expressway between the Shelbyville and Bradley exits. No one suffered serious injuries. The crash, caused by icy road conditions, involved two semis, a police car and small Volkswagen.
Three Holland teens who beat up a Martin convenience store clerk were sentenced to prison terms, the longest 35 years and the shortest five years.
Great Lakes Energy will opened its new facility on 133rd Avenue on the south side of Wayland sometime in March.
Quality Farm & Fleet plans to open a 40,000-square-foot facility on the west side of the strip mall next to the U.S.-131 expressway. Developer Al VaderLaan also has plans for a bank, fast-food chains and other commercial businesses.
Daniel G. Kelsey wrote a feature story about the emergency room at Allegan General Hospital.
Pat Staley wrote a feature about the growing concerns about child care services, focusing on Kami Black’s business in Wayland Township. She also wrote about the KID CARE program school-based service.
Veteran wrestling coach Rick Tokarchick took in stride a stalling call that propelled his team to a 39-37 dual meet win over Forest Hills Northern. Senior Jessy Simmons improved his record for the season to 13-0 with a pin.
Martin cagers are off to a slow start at 0-4, the latest defeat a 77-47 decision vs. Gobles.
Tim Kiefer scored 15 points, but Hopkins lost to O-K Silver defending champion Comstock Park, 76-50.
White Division favorite Wyoming Park bested Wayland in the hardcourt 76-47.
The Wildcat volleyball team checked in first at the Wyoming Park Invitational, beating the host school, Godwin, Calvin Christian and Otsego in pool play and then Jenison and perennial rival South Christian in the championship round.
Sophomore Jessie Merchant, sister Nicki Merchant, Kara Potter and Sara Baker led the way.
Scott Sullivan wrote an unusual feature about local funeral home director Larry Kubiak.
50 Years Ago — Dec. 25, 1973
Mrs. M.M. Restall, a British guest of Mr. and Mr. Terry Selvig of Dorr, was interviewed over the holiday season and she discussed the differences in the way England celebrated Christmas and what’s become tradition in the United States. She mentioned that English families have a Christmas dinner and tune in for a radio address from Queen Elizabeth. She also noted the trend of self-service businesses in America.
Wayland High School seniors, under the direction of teachers Viola Carroll and Linden Anderson, are going door to door over the holiday season asking citizens for opinions about future development in the community. Team captains are Mark Predum, Jim Smith, Marcia Klein and Brenda Troy.
Hopkins Township has decided to have a planning commission formed with nine members.
A petition allowing a local vote on the sale and consumption of liquor will be presented to the Hopkins Village Council.
A band under the direction of John Dunsmore entertained members of the Wayland Chamber of Commerce for their annual Christmas party at the Farm House Restaurant.
Hopkins had a big week in basketball, defeating neighborhood rival Wayland 70-52 and defending Class D state champion Covenant Christian 70-46. Kelly McEwen and Mike Smith earned individual high-point honors.
Wayland’s three-meet winning streak on the mat was halted by Godwin Heights, 34-27, despite pins by Dan Merren, Darren Irwin and Rex Truax.
The Wayland and Hopkins fire departments were summoned to handle a fire at an apartment in downtown Hopkins above Gene’s Tavern. Fire Chief Richard Weick said the blaze was started by a gas wall heater in the bathroom.
Two Wayland High School graduates, Thomas Marks and John DeWeerd, were named to the dean’s list at Michigan Technological University in Houghton.
Jim Croce scored his second No. 1 hit of the year with “Time in a Bottle.”
75 Years — Dec. 31, 1948
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote, “Our pet peeve this week is the driver who will pull into a gas station and leave his car parked alongside the pumps, and then go inside to visit, meanwhile blocking out other customers and perhaps sending them to another station.”
A cold spell caused ice to thicken over the weekend and prompt local anglers to test their luck on the ice at Doan’s Lake just north of Bradley.
There have been reports of a sighting of a bear and two cubs southeast of the village on the old Omar Fales place. A rumor that Melvin Edwards shot the bear turned out to be false when it was learned Edwards bagged his bear in the Upper Peninsula.
Mrs. Lennah Backus, Michigan State College specialist in parent education and child development, will be guest speaker at the Jan. 4 Ladies Library Club meeting.
Warren Wisniewski, 62, died of a heart attack while pushing a stalled automobile.
Miss Betty Joy Hofstra, 21, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hofstra of Wayland, was killed instantly while walking with a friend in Cutlerville and was struck by a passing motorist. She had been a student at the Christian Psychopathic hospital. Her pedestrian friend, Janet Beukema, was listed in critical condition.
Thirteen people, members of two large families, were rendered homeless by a fire at their farm west of Middleville. The six small children of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wallace were unwrapping presents Christmas morning when smoke was discovered coming from the basement.
Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Milheim took a bus trip to Tulsa, Okla., where he will study to be radio technician at the Spartan School.
The Wayland Adult Homemaking Class series will start up Monday at 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 3, at the high school homemaking room. Guest speaker will be Ethelene Willems, kitchen planning consultant for the Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. of Grand Rapids. The topic for the second meeting in the series will be “Time and Energy Saving Meals.”
A New Year’s Dance is planned at the Dixie Ballroom just south of town, with Rex Smith and His Orchestra. Cost for admittance is $1.50.
Farmers in the Wayland area are being invited to Monday night agriculture classes at Wayland High School, taught by Edwin St. John.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• William Bishop and Virginia Patton in “Black Eagle.”
• Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake in “Blondie in the Dough.”
• Red Skelton and Brian Donlevy in “A Southern Yankee.”
• George Brent, Jane Powell and Frances Gifford in “Luxury Liner.”
100 Years Ago — Dec. 28, 1923
Harold Hawkins was married to Ermabelle Tooker in a quiet Christmas Eve service in the village. The newlyweds will make their home with the bride’s sister, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Reinhart, on North Main Street.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Glenn Hunter in “Second Fiddle.” George O’Haro as Gale Galen, the prizefighter, in “Fighting Blood.” Helen Jerome Eddy in “When Love Comes.”
The Globe was chock full of accounts of families gathering for Christmas dinners and festivities.
District No. 10 school in Leighton Township closed Friday for the holiday vacation and was host for a chicken dinner with 60 in attendance.
“The schools in this vicinity closed last Friday for the Christmas vacation. All had Christmas trees and exercises appropriate for the season.
The Woodmen will give their first dance in their new hall, formerly Yeakey’s, on New Year’s Eve instead instead of New Year’s Night, as announced earlier.
The local chapter of the Rebekahs will have installation of officers and potluck supper Jan. 14, according to Etta Smith, grand secretary.
A holiday gathering at the home of Mr. and Mrs. D.G Clack welcomed their children, all for the first time together in 18 years.