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

25 Years Ago — Sept. 27, 1999

Wayland, Yankee Springs, Orangeville and Martin Townships have agreed to support financially the recycling receptacle at Weick’s Foodtown on 124th Avenue.

A Burnips man, Michael John Freund, 24, died in a  traffic crash just south of M-222 after a collision with a vehicle driven by a Shelbyville man.

A Wayland bridge will be closed next Monday to accommodate work on 135th Avenue that is nearly complete.

The Wayland, Hopkins and Martin high school varsity girls’ basketball teams have been on a roll lately. The Wildcats, led by Jessica Merchant, are 6-1, as are the Martin Clippers.

Hopkins was host to a historic cross-country meet, its first on its home course at the Wise Farm.

Editor Nila Aamoth wrote in her Soapbox that the Yankee Springs Township Board could solve the longtime battle over fire protection with Thornapple Township Emergency Services by simply setting aside the necessary money from the general fund and transferring it to a fire protection fund in its budget.

Some company CEOs and Hopkins teacher Cindy Conley wrote letters to the editor in support of the millage request in a special election Sept. 28 from the Allegan County Intermediate School District.

Deputy Kevin Hahn, who serves Leighton, Dorr and Salem Townships, successfully underwent heart surgery at Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids. His temporary replacement will be Deputy Jessica Becksvort.

Richard Beukema of Wayland penned a letter opposing recent government regulations on tobacco and firearms, calling them “ill conceived felel-good legislation.”

The Allegan County Road Commission has acknowledged that the reconstruction of 142nd Avenue in Leighton Township is not moving along as fast as expected.

Anita Kerber of Allegan wrote a letter to the editor critical of recent efforts by state officers to implement a school voucher system, insisting it will hurt public education, which is committed to serving everyone.

Pat Staley wrote a feature story about the new criminalistics classes offered at Wayland High School under the direction off Brian Bollone and serving 129 students.

The Hopkins football team continued its winning ways by defeating Allendale, but Wayland lost to Cedar Springs and Martin was blanked by Gobles.

Wayland won its own tennis invitational, with Mara Siva, Hillary Beuschel, Nicole Nyenhuis, Angel Merren, Jessica Thompson, Andrea Moma, Lisa Levandosky, Tara Calhoun, Emily Zerndt, Ashley VanDuine, Sara John, Terra Halloween and Rachel Burley capturing top honors.

Clinton VanDuine, who started the State Farm Insurance Agency in Wayland and was a 31-year employee at General Motors died at age 86.

50 Years Ago — Sept. 24, 1974

Nine young ladies are vying for the Miss Wayland title. They are Susan Predum, Renee Dewey, Robin Shoemaker, Patricia DeMaad, Sandi Snyder, Pamela McKee, Helen Gonzales, Sharleen Vermont, and Vicki Goorhouse.

Two local youths suffered injuries in a car-motorcycle accident on Gregorville Road. Kevin Cheyne and John Koster received treatment at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids.

Wayland head varsity football coach Gerald Omness has been named athletic director for the junior high.

Wayland City Manager Raymond France has resigned to return to Owosso to assume the positions of assessor and director of housing.

Earl Miller, acting chairman of the Emergency Medical Council, wrote a letter to the editor calling attention to the need to purchase a $3,000 communication unit for the local ambulance.

The Wayland Board of Education has approved a cost of 20 cents per day per child for reduced price lunches.

QB Ron Schafer tossed three touchdown passes as Hopkins routed Fennville 36-6.

Wyoming Lee put up a surprisingly strong defensive struggle with Wayland, but Jim Longstreet and Cody Niemchick led the ‘Cats to a 14-6 victory.

Martin’s offense, led by Dan Snyder, awakened from its slumber, but the Clippers lost 35-28 at Allendale.

Ace harrier Dan Isenhoff was sidelined by injuries and the Hopkins cross-country team lost two meets.

Wayland Community Education and Recreation is sponsoring a men’s basketball league with an organizational meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, at the junior high.

Wayland Community Education Director David VanEerden has reported about 100 students are enrolled this fall in adult education classes.

Barry White climbed to the top of the nation’s musical charts with “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe.”

75 Years Ago — Sept. 30, 1949

Mrs. Jennie Selkirk, a lifelong resident of this area, died at the Hodges Home in Bradley. She was 86.

The Wayland High School football team posted a 20-0 victory over Middleville. Jack Warner scored on a short run with the extra point booted by Bill Reurink. Warner also caught a 39-yard pass from QB Dick Hudson to set up another TD, a one-yard plunge by Fred Schwartz. Warner also scored from seven yards out.

Wayland Rotary was treated to a presentation by Harold Pinckney of Allegan who was a prisoner of war on Wake Island during World War II.

Nicolai Service is in first place in the bowling standings and Wayland Clothing is second.

The Village of Wayland is taking bids for curb and gutter construction on sidewalks.

The A & P grocery chain published a huge advertisement about anti-trust lawyers in Washington attempting to put A & P out of business because it regularly undersells others with lower prices.

The Allegan County Democratic Club will have a meeting at the Miner School in Watson Township.

Evelyn Moore, Nancy Dean, Bernadine Oldebekken, John Buskirk, Jack Warner and Bud Schu entertained members of the Shelbyville United Methodist Church with an special musical concert.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• Wild Bill Elliott, Andy Devine and Forrest Tucker in “The Last Bandit.”
• Howard Duff, Yvonne DeCarlo and Dorothy Hart in “Calamity Janes and Sam Bass.”
• Maureen O’Hara, Melvyn Douglas and Gloria Grahame in “A Woman’s Secret.”

100 Years Ago — Sept. 26, 1924

Moline blacksmith Fred VanDerScheer, 45, was killed in a freak accident when a fallen tree about two miles north of Dorr struck his car and flying windshield glass pierced his throat, eventually suffocating him. He had been traveling the countryside, selling farm machinery.

Former local Methodist Episcopal Church Pastor A.A. Buege returned to Wayland after a conference of the denomination was held in Jackson.

The Wayland High School football team was shut out by Rockford 18-0 and then played an exhibition contest against the reserves of Grand Rapids Central.

“Just as we are going to press, we learned that Mrs. G.B. Chambers had passed away at the home on East Superior from an illness of several weeks, most of which time she had been confined to her bed.”

John Gurney was elected commander of the American Legion and Naman Frank vice commander.

Now showing at the Regency Theatre downtown: Douglas MacLean in “The Hottentot,” featuring a plethora of horse races. Bert Lyell in “The Meanest Man in the World.”
In an editorial titled, “The Law Is the Law,” Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher yet again took on Wisconsin Senator Robert M. LaFollete, a progressive Republican. He insisted, “All taxes must come from the people. There is no other source, whether they pay directly or indirectly. The people pay the bills.”

Walter Tolhurst and son Maurice filled in a sand table with gravel at the Kinner School.

John Doar of Moline lost about 85 chickens to thieves and Mr. Tewksbury’s coop was victim of the larceny of about 45 birds.

Mr. And Mrs. A.K. Dey escaped a serious accident when their car overturned in the dense fog on the marsh east of Shelbyville after attending a meeting of the Order of the Eastern Star.

June Dean, only 4 years old, said she wasn’t feeling well and her parents sat up with her over night. She died at 6:30 the next morning. She apparently went to sleep and never awakened.