(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Aug. 30, 1999
A reported kidnapping attempt in was foiled in Wayland when two boys, ages 7 and 5, said a man in a pickup truck threw a net over them after they exited a school bus near Mill Street and West Elm.
An Allegan County-wide conference was held in Holland, as efforts to keep local schools safe have been launched. Dr. Foster Cline was keynote speaker for the “Building Bridges” program on child and teen violence in the schools.
The Yankee Springs Township Planning Commission has been asked to rezone a large tract of land for development of as many as 400 modular homes.
Yankee Springs recreation area homes are up for sale, but not on state-owned land.
Work on the bridge over the U.S.-131 expressway on 135th Avenue continues with some intermittent closures. Michigan Department of Transportation officials estimate the project will be completed in the spring of 2000.
Jamie George, 17, who battled leukemia nearly all of his short life, died at Wayland High School Aug. 24. He had plenty of impact on fellow students and school officials, as he was the subject of many fund-raisers.
Kris Schumaker of Holland has asked the Monterey Township Planning Commission for a special use permit to begin construction of an 18-hole golf course near Diamond Springs at 36th Street and 136th Avenue.
Lt. Gary Newell, commander of the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police, has announced he is a candidate for 87th District State Representative, covering mostly Barry County. He indicated he is running to make certain public safety laws protect ordinary citizens.
Dan Kelsey of Martin, Kevin Cronin of Hopkins and Carmen (Scheel) Kucinich, formerly of Wayland, have major roles in the upcoming theatrical production of “Rumors” at the Griswold Auditorium in Allegan.
The Hopkins High School golf team debuted with a dual match victory over O-K Silver Conference rival Wyoming Lee.
Behind strong performances of Nicki Merchant, Angel Merren, Jessica Thompson, Hillary Beuschel, Nicole Nyenhuis Andrea Moma and Lisa Levendosky, the Wayland High School girls’ tennis team won its own invitational.
Freshman Robby Young of Wayland finished ninth in his first varsity cross-country meet, the Allegan County meet. Hopkins’ Luke Williams was second and Brooke Brenner also was runner-up.
Longtime Sand Hill Elementary teacher Dawn Kraft died in Kalamazoo at the age of 74.
50 Years Ago — Aug. 27, 1974
The brand new Wayland High School finally opened its doors to students, faculty, staff and the community, but persistent problems with bus transportation were the main subject of the Wayland Board of Education meeting the same week.
Linden Anderson, Shirley McClees and Ron Jaskiewicz have been elected to new open seats on the Wayland Community Fair Board. They will succeed Frances Beuschel, Jean Modreske and Henry Blauuw. Re-elected were Linden Steeby and Bob Jackson.
Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey wrote in an editorial: “We have heard much in the past about filling the needs for quality education. The Wayland school system, with its new facility, is on the high road.”
Mrs. Robert VandenToorn of Hopkins was selected to to attend College Week for Women at Michigan State University and she sent the Globe her account of the activities.
Mrs. Noel Summers is the new president of the Ladies Library Club, which will meet at the Methodist Church for its first session of the new season.
Don Lapham was chosen president of the Wayland Board of Education and John Grafford vice president.
Junior high teacher Rick Morse has been hired as coach of the Wayland High School baseball team, succeeding interim coach Richard Akers.
Wayland Junior High instructor Ken Kolk won the first place trophy in the eighth annual Stony Lake Sailboat Races near Shelby.
The Wayland Rocket Football program has joined the new Allegan Area Rocket Football League, joining Allegan, Robles, Martin, Dorr, Otsego and Plainwell.
Mike Schloegel, son of former Wayland State Trooper George Schloegel of Flint, was a key member of a team that won the Connie Mack World Series at Farmington, N.M. He previously played in the Wayland Little League and Babe Ruth League before his family moved to Flint.
Capt. Roger VanVolkinburg and Kelvin Lapham figure to be the top two runners this fall for the Wayland High School cross-country team.
Wayland High School freshman Jess Clyma earned a second-place trophy in the Junior Golf Tournament at the Broadmoor County Club, Caledonia. He carded a 36-hole score of 170.
Leighton Township announced it will spend its most recent federal revenue sharing check of $11,422 on roads. Dorr Township will divide $11,699 on public transportation, recreation and voting machines.
Fourteen new Wayland High School and Wayland Middle School teachers were introduced in two photos by the Globe.
Sgt. James E. Mayo is the newest member of the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police.
75 Years Ago — Sept. 2, 1949
Edmond L. Cance has been selected as new area manager of Consumers Power Co., with offices in Allegan, Otsego, Plainwell and Wayland.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher said he counted more than 70 roadside signs between Wayland and Bradley along U.S.-131.
The annual Wayland Cowbell Carnival will be held over four days. Merle Rairigh and Walt Gurney are co-chairs. Featured entertainment will the Range Drifters, Beulah Heitz and her puppets and Jack Cook and the Cowbell Carnival Revue.
Wayland Union Schools will open Wednesday, Sept. 7, two days after Labor Day. Hopkins Township School will start the same day.
The American Legion softball team lost to the Leighton Eagles 4-3 in the first of a local three-game championship series.
The local VFW post won the Class C district title and is eligible now to compete for the state championship in Lansing.
Former Gov. Kim Sigler and his daughter were guests at the Dawn Patrol in Muskegon, which also attracted a number of local plane enthusiasts.
Albert Deal has moved to Martin from Hopkins after a successful coaching career here. He is Martin’s new superintendent.
Friday, Sept. 2, was supposed to be the opening day of the season at the Ideal Roller Rink, “One of the largest and best equipped roller rinks in Michigan” one mile south of Plainwell.
The Wayland Theatre is offering free movies for school children with special matinee performances of cartoons at 2 p.m. Saturday. The local Ben Franklin store is in on the promotion.
Thirty-seven Selkirk Lake residents have obtained a temporary injunction against Charles Walker from drawing water out of the lake. They claim it ruins the fishing and lowers lake levels. Walker maintains the water is needed to maintain his pickle crops.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Randolph Scott and Louise Allbritton in “The Doolins of Oklahoma.”
- Mark Stevens, Coleen Gray and Rory Calhoun in “Sand.”
- Dorothy labour, Dan Duryea and Sterling Hayden in “Manhandled.”
100 Years Ago — Aug. 29, 1924
The 72nd annual Barry County Day and Night Fair starts Sept. 2. Kryl’s Band and 10 other acts will be featured.
There is a myth that Allegan County is losing several thousand dollars a year because auto licenses are being purchased by Allegan County residents at other branch offices. However, the Globe insisted the county gets its share of the license money, $55,000.
Wayland Schools open Tuesday, Sept. 2, the day after Labor Day. Supt. is G.W. Pettis and principal is Lila McFall. Elizabeth Clark is president of the Board of Education. The tuition for the high school is $60, $12 for grades seven and eight and $8 for lower grades for the school year.
Moses R. Ward, who came to Wayland Township from Toronto in 1860, died Aug. 21. He was 67.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Dustin Farm in “The Man Who Won.” The comedy “Splitting Hairs.” Max Linder in “Seven Years Bad Luck.”
A pseudo news interview advertisement was published on the front page for Fourth District Congress candidate John C. Ketchum.
At the Bradley school, “The school board has had the weeds cut down on the school grounds, which is a decided improvement over other years when the scholars have had to wear them down.”
Ralph Oliver has the honor of being the first in Bradley to have his house wired for electricity.
The West Leighton Community Club will have its annual picnic at Louck’s Landing Friday, Aug. 29, Green Lake.
The primary election will be held in Wayland Township Tuesday, Sept. 9.
Mrs. Harold Steeby of Wayland has been engaged to teach at the Hooker School for the academic year.
Frank Chamberlain of Wayland is seeking re-election to the register of deeds position, Allegan County.
The Wayland band boys have moved the bandstand from the village park to vacant lots belonging to G.B. Chambers, which has been wired for electric lights, giving the boys an excellent place to play.
Chet Calkins had the misfortune of his car being stolen at Reeds Lake. He had no insurance and thus far has not received word whether the vehicle has been recovered.
Arch Edwards had a clean sweep of top awards at the Allegan County Fair with his Rhode Island Reds.
