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

25 Years Ago — March 8, 1999

Selkirk and Geneva Lake residents are encouraged to check out new property lines after mapping has been completed.

Plans to dynamite the Watson Township tire pile have been scuttled because of the possibility of buried gas tanks below.

Twenty cows a barn and milkhouse were lost to a fire at the Vern Lettinga farm on Patterson Road along the Barry-Allegan County line.

Sidewalks are being proposed for Patterson Road at Gun Lake.

The Hopkins High School volleyball team shared the O-K Silver Conference championship it won outright the year before.

City of Wayland water has been determined to be clean and the City Council is pledging to keep things that way. The wellhead protection program is under way for the city.

Editor Nila Aamoth published an editorial chiding the Wayland Township Board for its squabbles and inability to effectively deal with a troublesome volunteer.

Dwain Reynolds II wrote a letter to the editor insisting the government is compelling citizens to obey rather than serve them.

A fire demolished a home of South Main Street in Wayland, but with the alerting of a 6-year-old all family members escaped without harm. However, the family dog perished in the blaze.

Wayland Township Supervisor Jose Blanco continues to campaign for increasing his salary to be the same as the clerk and treasurer, $12,000 a year.

Wayland’s mayor now will earn $44 per meeting and $375 per year in salary, according to City Manager Barb VanDuren.

A debate is arising about the starting time for Pine Street Elementary, changing from 8:55 a.m. to 7:40, the same as the high school and junior high.

Barry County Sheriff Steve DeBoer helped raise $20,000 for the animal shelter with a public relations stay in the doghouse.

The fast-improving Wayland boys’ basketball team have sixth-ranked South Christian all it wanted before losing in overtime. Josh Smith and Jamie Brown drove the Sailors to the basket.

Stacy Hildebrand served 22 points for Martin, which finished fourth in the SAC volleyball tournament.

Jessy Simmons of Wayland, Tom Marcoux of Hopkins, Rick Mena, Travis Brenner and Josh Hildebrand of Martin qualified for the individual state wrestling championships. Mena and Brenner were regional champions.

Clare William Ashley, 87, of Monterey Township, died at his home. He had been a member of the Michigan Farmers Hall of Fame, Mukle Pulling Association and Allegan Draft Horse and Mule Association.

50 Years Ago — March 5, 1974

Hopkins Village will decide on a liquor by the glass proposal and Martin Village will decide on a proposal to revise its charter and eliminate the village caucus system of choosing local officers. The elections will be Monday, March 11.

Martin scored a big district tournament 60-57 victory over Gobles in the opening round, with Dan Snyder swishing key clutch free throws.

Mrs. Ellert Hendriksma and Mrs. Donald Jackson will be co-librarians for the new Moline Library at the town hall with an entrance on Chappell Street.

Wayland Police Chief Harold Ernst has warned area residents about recent rare coin thefts.

Fire destroyed a mobile home at the Indian Hills Trailer Park east of Bradley. The trailer was owned by Chester Neal and Don Kendall.

Michigan Bell President D.K. Easlick, in an opinion piece wanted that increasing competition in the communications industry will result in poorer service and higher prices.

Carol Wilson of Bradley wrote a letter to the editor praising the conduct of the Wayland eighth and ninth grade bands, directed by John Dunsmore, when they took part in the Michigan High School Band and Orchestra Festival in Ionia.

Wayland Union Schools Supt. James Thomas wrote a column expressing appreciation to voters for their support and said he, teachers, students and staff are looking forward to going back to regular house at the new high school next fall.

Mimi Moulenbelt, president of the Hopkins Organization of Parents and Educators (HOPE), coordinated a special “This Is Your Life” program for first grade teacher Dorothy Morton.

Wayland VFW and Auxiliary is donating fluorescent tapes for children to wear on their coats in the dark while going to Steeby, Baker and St. Therese Schools.

The Wayland Golden Agers Club will elect officers at a potluck at the VFW post on South Main Street.

Wayland center Alan Lettinga will be out for the rest of the basketball season because of kidney disease. Meanwhile, his Wildcat teammates suffered a surprising 94-74 defeat at Byron Center. They had averaged giving up only 55 points a game and ended the season with a record of 14-5, 10-4 in the O-K Blue Conference.

Covenant Christian edged Hopkins 87-86. Rick Smith had 22 points and Kelly McEwen and Mike Smith 18 apiece.

Athletic Director Richard Akers has been named interim varsity baseball coach after the sudden departure of Jon Carroll.

Francis Nawrocki won the Ogres’ Buddy Bomar Award by rolling a 547 series in the annual bowling tournament.

Corky Doxey defended his Ogre foosball tourney championship, warding off a challenge by “Father Ray” Materson.

Joy Multer and Jan Shoemaker earned praise from coach Pat Rowley for their servings skills in a volleyball split with Hopkins.

The Hopkins FFA demonstration team, with Jeff Lenhart, Jim Caywood and John Watson, won first place gold in the regional tournament at Stevensville Lakeshore High School.

The Wayland Junior High band earned a Division One rating at the district festival at Ionia.

75 Years Ago — March 11, 1949

Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher reported that many box elder trees are being cut down to rid the village of box elder bugs on East Superior Street.

An estimated crowd of 140 scouts attended a Boy Scouts Court of Honor at the Wayland High School cafeteria.

Dr. and Mrs. Robert Kromer have returned from a three-weeks vacation that included the Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

J. Arthur Culp, 79, died at his Leighton Township home. He had lived in the township for the past 59 years.

Kennth Philip of the Wayland FFA chapter took first place honors in public speaking in the districts at Martin. Charles Fisher, Roger Morris and David Peet finished second in the demonstration category with their presentation on fire prevention.

The local adult agriculture class was preparing to take a field trip to the Kellogg Experimental Farm at Hickory Corners with instructor Edwin St. John.

The Congregational, Methodist and Church of Christ churches are having pre-Easter devotional services every Wednesday evening until the holiday arrives.

The Women’s Social Club of Martin observed its golden anniversary with a luncheon at the Doll House in Wayland. The program focused on “The Gay Nineties” and members attended the movie “The Return of October” at the Wayland Theatre.

Correspondent Mrs. Gay Hayes praised the prompt response of the Dorr Fire Department to prevent a fire from getting worse at her home.

First Lt. Basil Commans of Hopkins has been relieved of his assignment in Athens and will return to the zone of the interior. He hataken part in the Berlin Air Lift in 1948.

The Agriculture and Home Economics Club had 50 people in attendance and members enjoyed violin duets by Lenora Sikes and Mildred Konecny and the award-winning speech by Kenneth Philip on “Farmer Cooperatives.”
Two priests from the Catholic Information Center in Grand Rapids, Paul Maolney and John Rizlus, will conduct a series of six programs at St. Therese Catholic Church in Wayland. The program titles include “Religion: So Stuffy,” “Commandments: No Fun” and “Church: Don’t Need It.”

Members of the Party Line Extension Club met and the home of Mrs. James Levandoski and it was reported that a recent bake sale raised $27 for contributions to the Polio Fund.

The Wayland chapter of the Humane Society met at the home of its president, Mrs. A.J. Mauchmar. It was reported that two lost dogs were returned to their owners and five strays were sent to the animal shelter in Plainwell.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• “The Secret Land,” a documentary.

• Cameron Mitchell and Virginia Grey in “Leather Gloves.”

• Tyrone Power, Gene Tierney and Reginald Gardiner in “That Wonderful Urge.”

• Cary Grant, Franchot Tone and Diana Lynn in “Every Girl Should Be Married.”

100 Years Ago — March 7, 1924

The Boy Scouts will have their supper March 13 at the Legion Hall. Their meeting earlier in the month had to be rescheduled because of a boxing show.

Topics for the next Grange meeting will be on Henry Ford, Muscle Shoals and Uncle Sam. Roll call will answered with “Irish jokes.”

Mrs. Hazel Braddock presented a piano solo, “The Waters of Minnetonka” and Girl Scouts sang in costume campfire songs at the latest meeting of the Ladies Library Club.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Gloria Swanson in “The Impossible Mrs. Bellew.” “Westbound Limited.” Coming soon, Harold Lloyd and “The Telephone Girl.”

Weaver’s Market now is under new management, with George S. Douglas, proprietor.