(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — April 26, 1999
Firefighter Larry Areux has been selected as chief of the Hopkins Area Fire Department.
The Wayland Board of Education has given approval to Pine Street Elementary’s request for starting one hour earlier, at 7:55 a.m. Meanwhile, students and staff are taking part in a special TV blackout program for the last week of April.
Tim Gibson has been hired as new Wayland High School head varsity football coach, succeeding Larry Ward. He had coached the junior varsity to 6-3 and 8-1 records.
Wayland City Police are reporting they suspect an 18-year-old student from Wayland Township printed out some counterfeit $5 bills from a computer.
Barry and Allegan County will get more than $75,000 in federal emergency management (FEMA) funds to help pay for cleanup and snow removal costs from the Jan. 2 winter storm.
Dorr Township Clerk Dick Dutkiewicz penned a letter stating that roads are the largest and most essential expense in township budgets, but counties don’t have enough money to adequately fund them.
Mary Jones, Allegan County Solid Waste and Recycling coordinator, wrote a letter praising volunteers who cleaned up trash and household debris near the Allegan State Game Area April 10.
Jean Gallup wrote a feature story with photo about 6-year-old Heather DeWitt, who was suffering from a rare and terminal illness.
The Wayland High School Choir, directed by Jan Laman, has earned the highest possible ratings at the state solo and ensemble festival at Grand Valley State University.
Fifth-graders in Deb Devin’s class at Sycamore Elementary have created their own imaginary country and have insisted on levying no taxes on its people.
The Wayland softball team is 9-0. The Globe published a huge photo of standout pitcher Kara Potter, who is 3-0 and is batting .519.
A group of local volunteers is rallying around an effort to build a new track for the revived Hopkins High School track and field program.
Wildcat distance runner Dan Rookus and women’s team member Sarah Baker were multiple event winners, but Wayland lost to Cedar Springs by close scores in the rain.
Martha Bell and Susan Musgrave are the new owners of the Circle Inn Resturant at Gun Lake.
50 Years Ago — April 23, 1974
Wayland State Bank has been awarded the 4-H Silver Clover citation for its longtime continuous support.
The Wayland High School National Honor Society inducted 26 new members in a ceremony. There were three seniors and four juniors included, while all others were sophomores.
State Rep. James Farnsworth has announced he will seek re-election. He has been a legislator in Lansing since 1962.
A 35-year-old Plainwell man was arrested for home invasion in Wayland, but police still seek the perpetrators of a break-in at Steeby Elementary.
The Allegan County Taxpayers Committee is appealing a visiting judge’s decision in favor of the Allegan County Board of Commissioners, which is having a county services building built at Dumont Lake.
Two Cobb Lake youths, ages 10 and 9, were killed in a traffic crash April 15 near Ft. Wayne, Ind.
George DiPaola and Richard Luyk are planning to open an antique store in Wayland. The two businessmen own a similar operation in Belmont, Calif., just south of San Francisco.
The City of Wayland is promoting a trash pickup day this coming Saturday. Hopkins will have its Spruce Up Days observance the weekend of May 4.
The Hopkins Organization of Parents and Educators (HOPE) will sponsor an art fair at the high school cafeteria from noon to 5 p.m. April 27. Ribbons will be awarded in several categories.
Wayland fishing enthusiast Bill Biesbrock is spearheading an effort by the DNR to restock brown trout in the Rabbit River.
The Leighton Farm Bureau issued a statement that the public depends too much on government and adopted a resolution opposing a rule that township clerks must be certified.
Bruce Moulenbelt of Hopkins won in several categories of shooting competition at the South Kent Gun Club. He and his wife, Mimi, were honored at a club banquet.
Wayland High School graduate Craig Suhusky will play a clarinet solo on the WOTV Elimination Contest.
Vicki Pintarelli of Wayland won the softball throw at a Special Olympics competition at Grand Valley State College.
Mrs. Walter Sebright has been elected president of the Allegan County Retired Teachers Association.
Paul Heckert was this year’s winner of the coveted Japinga Award for athletic and academic excellence. He took part in football, basketball and tennis.
Dan Isenhoff broke the Hopkins school record in the two-mile run with a time of 10:24.3.
Wayland defeated Kelloggsville 7-4 to hike its O-K Blue Conference baseball record to 2-0, 5-1 overall. Tom Damveld starred in pitching and Jon Johnson hit a clutch homer.
Wayland opened its softball season with a come from behind victory over Hopkins, 11-9. Ruth Ann Malone was the coach for Wayland.
MFSB featuring the Three Degrees had the No. 1 song in the land with “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia).”
75 Years Ago — April 29, 1949
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher penned a card of thanks to the Wayland Fire Department for its quick response to a fire at his farm home.
Lifetime resident Fred Clack died at age 67 at University Hospital in Ann Arbor. He had suffered a stroke during his operation.
Scouts for Troop No. 97 entertained members of the Wayland Rotary Club.
Voters in Wayland will be asked to approve a tax levy to build an addition to the school building in a special election May 10.
Mrs. Mattie Towne, 70, died at Maple Lawn Home in Bradley. She had been a resident of Wayland for 39 years.
Ray Voss of the Grand Rapids Herald will be featured speaker at the April meeting of the Wayland Rod & Gun Club.
Bill Mauchmar was the winning pitcher in Wayland High School’s 17-2 victory over the Martin Onion Kings.
Richard Hines was chosen commander of the Wayland VFW.
Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Watson have opened a snack bar at the former Andringa Appliance Store downtown.
Lt. Jack Bursey will be guest speaker for Ladies Night of the Wayland Rotary Club. He has returned from the trip to Antarctica with Admiral Byrd.
The Wayland Memorial Day Band will begin practicing for the holiday event May 3 at the high school gym.
Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Willis have returned from a two-week tour of the South, including New Orleans, Mississippi and stops at Spanish forts and bridges.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
• Gloria Jean and David Street in “I Surrender Dear.”
• Tim Holt and Jack Holt in “The Arizona.”
• Robert Taylor, Ava Gardner and Charles Laughton in “The Bribe.”
• Loretta Young, Robert Cummings and Wendell Corey in “The Accused.”
100 Years Ago — April 25, 1924
Citizens of the Wayland area are being asked to step up to take part in a community cleanup week effort May 12-17.
Members of the Allegan County Rebekahs met with Wayland’s group.
Christopher Wynn, born in 1839 in Ontario, Canada, died April 6 at age 85. He had lived at several places, including South Dakota, before settling down in Wayland Township at the home of his son.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Alice Brady in “Anna Ascends.” A Mack Sennett comedy. Jack London’s “Call of the Wild.”
The Woodmen will have a box social and auction tonight.
Laban Barnhart is getting things in shape to start a meat market and grocery in Middleville.
Glen Fales has been elected president of the state Horseshoers Convention in Grand Rapids.
Mrs. J.M. Baker fell down stairs at the Wayland State Bank basement and was rendered unconscious with a cut on her head. She has been reported to be recuperating at home.
Dr. Ira Slater says he will be able to save the hands of Charles Burghardt, who had his hand caught in a buzz saw accident near the Gardner School, jeopardizing three fingers and the thumb.
The Arbor Day celebration this year will be handled by high school seniors and Boy Scouts.