(Taken from the archives at the Then & Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — April 27, 1994
The Wayland City Council granted preliminary plat approval for a residential development next to Royal Downs Plat, which will connect with Superior Street by extending Plum Street to the east. Included in plans are 16 single-family homes and a 34-unit condominium complex.
Standard and Poor Corporation has upgraded Allegan County from a rating of A-minus to A.
A day of mourning declared by President Bill Clinton for the funeral of former President Richard Nixon cause the Globe to be delivered one day later.
Plans are beginning to take shape for this year’s Dahlia Festival, slated for Saturday, May 7, at the Wayland City Park.
Scott Sullivan, commenting in the weekly “Soapbox,” said the fight after the Martin-Kelloggsville track meet was the result of male teen posturing and bravado. In its wake, lessons could be learned in using self-restraint.
Faith Geisel of Dorr parted company with popular opinion about the “Schindler’s List” controversy, insisting the best way for students not to pay attention to the serious message is to show the film in the classroom.
The Allegan County Alliance told the Dorr Township Board the Moline library issue might best be solved by securing state grants from the Michigan Dept. of Commerce. Dorr is wrestling with having two libraries within its borders, and Moline’s facility is aging.
The Dorr Township Planning Commission agreed to a request to rezone the old town dump parcel on 140th Avenue to make it more accommodating for a housing development. The request came from Pitsch Wrecking and John Zoulek.
A high bid of $1 million was made at auction for the sale of the former Orchard Hills Golf Cpurse.
Postmaster Jenny Brenner is leading the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Bradley post office.
The seventh annual Carp Festival in Hopkins was able to generate $845 for the Hopkins Community Recreation program.
Matt Barghahn broke the Wayland school record in the discus by tossing it 160 feet, two inches.
Shelly Werkema lifted her already gaudy batting average to .727 while leading Hopkins to three softball triumphs. Toni Newell threw a one-hitter.
Sophomore Jerry Funk upped his batting average to .458 by going on a hitting tear, in which he drove in 12 runs.
Doug Cutler pitched hitless ball for the Wayland baseball team during a doubleheader sweep of Otsego. Wayne Czarnecki clubbed a grand slam homer.
50 Years Ago — April 23, 1969
Eleven students, Debby Frank, Mary Brower, Joanne Grzesak, Don Pelka, Mary Braendle, Dave Smith, JoAnn Perry, Tom Lanning, Pat Krup, Tom Marks and Louise Sykes all were inducted into the Wayland High School National Honor Society at a ceremony overseen by chapter President Steve Parks.
Janey Kelsey was announced as valedictorian and DaleNoteboom salutatorian for the Martin High School Class of 1969.
After the 352-303 loss at the polls earlier in April, Hopkins citizens told the school board they would circulate petitions get the question back on the ballot in the annual school election. The bond issue is for building a new elementary school.
Dr. Pliney Keep and Dr. Franklin Cox have joined Pipp Community Hospital as joint pathologists.
Moline Christian students Judy Tjepkma and Ruth Wiersma won awards in oratory and dramatic reading, respectively, at a regional Christian school competition.
Entries in the Knights of Columbus oratory contest include Tom Bala, Tom Latondress, Cheryl Lee, Toni Cheyne, Patti Bender, Joan Lautenschleger, Clark Randolph, Bob Bell, Joanne Grzesak, Bob Marks, Steve Parks and Lesley Wakeman.
The City Council has placed on hold an offer to buy the city airport. The prospective purchaser is the District Air Service firm. The airport currently is leased to Earl Strohpaul.
The Revs. George VaderWelt of the Christian Reformed Church and James Smith of the Congregational Church approached the City Council about establishing a youth center downtown.
Tom Lanning placed second in declamation at the forensic regionals and has qualified for the state level.
Michigan State Police are reporting 1968 was the worst year ever in the state for traffic fatalities, more than 3,300.
Raymons Paul Young, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Young of Hopkins, is serving in Vietnam in missile electronics maintenance.
Robert K. Milburn, owner and operator of Milburn Refrigeration Sales and Service, died of leukemia at Butterworth Hospital. He was 59.
Fred Hilbert Sr. and Norris Schuh, two longtime Wayland residents, identified themselves as member of the Wayland Taxpayers League, which paid for an advertisement urging a “no” vote on the sanitary sewer proposition.
The Caledonia Honors Choir, directed by Caledonia High School music teacher Paul Storm, performed at the Berean Bible Church in Moline Sunday evening.
Ferris State College football coach Bob Leach was to be guest speaker at the Waykand High School all-sports banquet.
75 Years Ago — April 28, 1944
Miss Hunt from Michigan State College and Cecelia Schroeder, high school homemaking teacher, demonstrated canning techniques for pineapples, asparagus, rhubarb and sauerkraut.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his weekly column, as as village president, wrote that he was getting “sick and tired” about complaints of violations of the local dog ordinance. “Property owners have a right to be rid of the nuisance of rampaging dogs, and the village is going to do its best to relieve the situation.”
Johanna Kinney was elected president of the Ladies Library Club and Effie Greenawalt was chosen first vice president. The group was treated to a violin recital by Donna Jean Blue.
Donovan Martin wrote a letter from overseas, saying he and his comrades the day before escaped harm during an air raid.
Joseph Kuhtic has been promoted to seaman first class while serving in the U.S. Navy in the Mediterranean. He was lauded for taking heroic actions during enemy bombing and torpedo attacks just off the coast of Libya in North Africa.
Eugene H. Dean, 84, who lived in Jamestown for more than 80 years, died at the home of his son. He had worked as a well driver and was a longtime justice of the peace.
Mrs. Marian Sebright, a former nurse at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, taught 10 lessons on caring for the sick at home. She was brought in to lead a course offered by the Community Health Service.
Ensign Ellis Tooker has been hospitalized in Jacksonville, Fla,, with complications from pneumonia.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- William “Hoppalong Cassidy” Boyd, Andy Clyde and Jimmy Rogers in “Riders of the Deadline.”
- Jane Withers and Jimmy Lyden in “My Best Gal.”
- Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland in “Girl Crazy.”
- Red Skelton, Ann Rutherford, Jean Rogers and Rags Ragland in “Whistling in Brooklyn.”
100 Years Ago — April 25, 1919
John Kotrba penned a letter from Villiers LaBois, France, noting, “We were cheered up yesterday again as General Pershing said we would be leaving for home at an early date… We expect to leave this town about next Tuesday.”
Emily Jane Mathewson, one of the few remaining charter members of the Corning Church, and a resident of Leighton Township for 50 years, died at age 77.
Francis Cella, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cell Bennett of Hopkins, died at her home. She lived only six months and 11 days.
The Bradley Methodist Church service was canceled because of the flu and Bradley Congregational reported only four in attendance for the same reason.
A national news piece carried the headline, “Reign of Anarchy Marks the Rule of the Bolsheviki in Russia.”
The Sunday evening Christian Church service was to feature the films “The Bible Story of Esther” and “Interesting Things in Pond Life.”
Wayland Cement Products has resumed production in the old creamery building on Mill Street.
The remains of Walter Mattison, who was murdered last Friday in Kalamazoo, were brought here via the Interurban and then taken to Middleville for burial.
C.A. Burger of Grand Rapids has leased the store in what is known as the Perkins Building with the intenion of opening “a first class bakery.”
Orlie Thornberg of 85th Division has arrived at Camp Custer in Battle Creek after his honorable discharge from military service.
Mrs. Viola D. Roman, popular Chautaqua lecturer, will be guest speaker at the Women’s Christian Temperance Union convention at the Christian Church April 30.
Mrs. Alice May, 27, died after a brief illness at her Leighton Township home. She leaves a husband and four young children.
