(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Feb. 8, 1999
The Globe had a front page photo of Denise Poirier of Wayland showing off the red, pink, coral, yellow, white, peach, lavender and bi-color roses she and her husband grew in anticipation of Valentines Day.
The Wayland wrestling team has hopes of copping the O-K Gold Conference championships. The Wildcats have lost only one dual meet this season.
Allegan County has secured the state’s largest environment grant for the tire cleanup project in Watson Township. The amount was $864,000.
A reader penned a letter to the editor questioning a photo of children visiting the Ebersole Center wearing animal fur pelts, indicating a barbaric practice from days of yore.
The continuing war between Wayland Township Supervisor Jose Blanco and Clerk Bev Taylor has festered enough to result in the locking of the door to the township hall, blocking Blanco’s entry because of worries he stole mail, which he denied.
Allegan County Sheriff’s Lt. Rick Cain is insisting the county has a serious drug problem. His unit, he said, has found 381 marijuana plants, 128 grams of cocaine, 12 grams of crack and 17 grams of methamphetamine.
A difference of opinion about use of motorboats on Big Lake has surfaced. Some folks said at a Watson Township Board meeting that they’d like a curfew to cover the period from 6:30 p.m. to 10 a.m.
Willis and Ardis Doezema wrote a letter praising neighbors helping to return stray cows after their barn collapsed from the weight of snow.
More than 100 hearty souls showed up to take the plunge in the annual Gun Lake Winterfest celebration, which was hailed as a success after threats of it shutting down this year.
Hopkins Public Schools officials proudly announced they saved almost $2 million by taking a reduced interest rate for the local bond project.
Monterey Township Supervisor Chris Reinart announced the township has joined the Hopkins Area Fire Board.
Hopkins ended a five-game losing streak on the hardcourt by getting past neighborhood rival Martin 56-52. Kevin Glupker, better known for his exploits on the gridiron, scored 18 points for the Vikings and Jesse Brown had 12 points for the Clippers.
The Wayland High basketball squad, which got off to a horrible start in December, now has won four of its last five contests. Sharpshooting guard Jamie Brown drilled 20 points for the ‘Cats in a victory over Caledonia.
Another fast improving team is Hopkins volleyball, which now is 8-11-2 after going 0-7-1 without star hitter Sabrina Bird.
The Wayland volleyball squad is vying for the top spot in the O-K Gold Conference with Forest Hills Northern. Top performers are the Merchant sisters, Nicki and Jessie, Kara Potter and Kelli Schumaker.
The Martin wrestling team is 20-6 overall for the season. Josh Hildebrand is 32-1, Rick Mena 30-1, Levi Conley 3-1 and Travis Brenner 31-1 own the gaudiest individual records.
Jack Schut, 21, a graduate of Hopkins High School, died in Lansing. He had been a member of the Farm House Frat and was active in the family hitch wagon business.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 5, 1974
The Wayland Jaycees presented Trooper Vance Hoskins and Detective Sgt. Robert Golm with special community service awards.
The Wayland School Service League is sponsoring a special meeting at Baker Elementary to inform citizens about the upcoming school millage request for moving in to the new high school.
Included on the ballot in the special election for Hopkins Village will be a proposal to approve the sale of liquor by the glass.
Wayland City Police are seeking approval to buy a speed monitoring radar unit at a cost of $1,500. Patrolmen Elden Milheim and Dan Miller also received pay raises to $8,921 and $8,534, respectivey.
Mrs. JC Clyma, wife of the high school principal, suffered a leg injury in a snowmobile accident and was taken to Grand Rapids Osteopathic Hospital.
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Ward have sold their mobile home park east of town to Northbrook Associates of Rochester, Mich. The Wards have owned the park since opening it in 1957 with 10 units. It now has 77 trailers.
Jean Sleeman wrote a feature recipe story about Mrs. Esther Kerber, head cook at Hopkins schools.
The Hopkins Organization of Parents and Educators will met at the Hopkins Township Hall Thursday. Ann Mulder from Grand Rapids who will speak on “Women in Transition.”
Hopkins pulled out an 80-77 overtime victory over Allendale. Mike and Rick Smith both pumped in 21 points and Kelly McEwen had 14.
Wayland’s basketball team moved into sole possession of second place in the O-K Blue Conference by pulling out a 63-58 triumph over Kelloggsville. Alan Lettinga had 17 points. The ‘Cats now are 10-4 overall.
Ogre James Quackenbush, a Spanish teacher at Kelloggsville High School, showed up to the Wildcats’ game at Kelloggsville and fruitlessly rooted for the Rockets.
The Wayland wrestling team is tied for second place in the O-K Blue Conference.
Dan Snyder led Martin to its third straight basketball triumph and in the Southwest Athletic Conference the Clippers are 2-5.
The Soil & Health Builders Club will meet at Bradley Hall Sunday afternoon to listen to a presentation on nutrition.
Thieves for a second time invaded Jim’s Radio & TV in downtown Wayland and made off with about $50 in merchandise.
In all of 1973, the first year of the “zero draft,” Selective Service reported that nearly 82,000 men were registered with the military.
75 Years Ago — Feb. 11, 1949
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his weekly “Observations” column, sang high praises for the Michigan State Police, who helped him and Jack Gurney avoid taking a smelt fishing trip to Boyne City because of approaching inclement weather.
The Sports Reign program will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday and the Wayland High School gym. Special music will be provided by a brass quartet from Grand Rapids.
Herman C. Juhl, a 49-year veteran brakeman for the Penn Central
Railroad, died at his home southeast of Wayland. He was 71.
Nearly 65 local business men enjoyed a turkey dinner at the Legion Hall and elected Charles Andringa president and Blesch Malmstone vice president.
Rollo Mosher once again opined in his column, “Everyone knows that raw sewage is a source of disease. For years we have been dumping it in the ground… Just how long can we go on without an epidemic of disease?”
Frank D. Cutler, local farmer on the east side of Wayland, will talk about the early days of Grand Rapids, before cars came to town, in a speech to the Wayland Rotary.
Dorothy Chrisman sang two solos, “I Love You Truly” and “Thanks Be to God,” to members of the Ladies Library Club.
The Adult Homemaking Class met for a lesson on work simplification and watched a film, “Take Time to Make Time.” Pictures of how to do dishes best and fastest were shown.
The United Methodist Church will have a Father and Son Banquet Feb. 16, with guest speaker Rev. George Moers of Muskegon Central Church.
O.J. Weisner of Holland Laboratories will discuss poultry diseases at the adult agriculture class Monday evening, Feb. 14.
The Wayland Grange members will discuss the issue “Is farm production going to be controlled by prices farmers can get or by orders from Washington?” at their meeting Feb. 18.
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Meyers have sold the Middleville Sun to Paul, Constance and Allys Roe, a brother and sister partnership, children of R.E. Rose, who once published the Plainwell Enterprise.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Sonny Tufts, Barbara Britton and Gabby Hayes in “The Untamed Breed.”
• Robert Mitchum, Barbara Bel Geddes and Walter Brennan in “Blood on the Moon.”
• Lana Turner, Gene Kelly and June Allyson in in “The Three Musketeers.”
100 Years Ago — Feb. 8, 1924
The Ladies Library Club celebrated the group’s 31st anniversary with musical selections and a book review by Mrs. Clark on “The Leopard’s Spots,” by Thomas A. Dixon, who defended the KKK’s actions to “to hold in check the crime perpetuated by the Negro, and lastly restoration of the government to white people.”
The next community meeting will be Monday, Feb. 11, featuring a recitations by elementary children and a performance by the Boys’ Glee Club and fellowship.
The remains of Carl Walters, who recently died in Chicago, were brought for interment in Dorr Cemetery. The funeral was held at the Dorr Lutheran Church.
Charles, Andrews, for many years a section foreman, died in Dorr at age 68 and his remains were taken to Hilliards for burial in the Catholic Church cemetery.
The Community Club in Leighton Township welcomed 80 attendees at the school house in District No. 10. Roy Smith was elected president.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: “Radio Mania,” the comedic story of a man who communicated with Martians via radio. Fannie Ward in “The Hardest Way.”
Wing & Metcalf is having a huge furniture sale downtown.
S.B. Smith returned from Detroit, where he was told he is now free of the dread disease of cancer by the great specialist Prof. Henry Randolph Varney.
“The population of West Gun Lake now is 21.”
East Wayland is reporting a scarcity of news, with local farmers occupied by cutting wood and shoveling roads.
Two full weeks of revival meetings are planned at the First Church of the Nazarene, Bradley Grange Hall, with the Rev. John J. Hunt of Delaware County, Pa., and Margaret Caterlin, song soloist from Jackson, Mich.