(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Jan.17, 2000
An early morning ice storm caused many motorists to slide into ditches and into each other.
The Hopkins boys’ basketball team is on a roll after a shaky start to the season. They started 0-7, but have won twice since.
The Wayland basketball squad was awaiting a huge showdown match against perennial O-K Gold Conference rival South Christian. The Wildcats, led by Jamie Brown, were 6-1 overall.
A Martin area developer says he is anxious for the village to implement a public water system. The developers are Matt Davis or Wightman & Associates and John Caron of the Dover Farms manufactured homes business.
Watson Township plans to launch an Internet web site that includes local information and forms for residents to fill out. Township Clerk Catherine Pardee is spearheading the suggestion.
Area authorities are searching for the the Green Lake One Stop robber from an incident reported Jan. 12.. The suspect was described as in his 40s and clean shaven.
Letter writer Vivian Brinkert praised Hopkins Elementary teacher Kyle Russel and his students for remembering animal needs at the Christmas holiday.
Rusty Dutkiewicz wrote a letter asking why the fuss over public schools losing money to private schools in the proposed voucher program. She insisted that the public schools would be spared the cost of educating the private school student.
The annual Winterfest celebration will return Saturday, Jan. 29, all day from a.m. until dark. The long anticipated Polar Bear Dip will get under way at 3:15 p.m.
Yankee Springs Township Treasurer Bob Herold continues to suggest Orangeville and Yankee Springs could combine efforts to create a Gun Lake Area Fire Department.
The Martin boys’ varsity basketball team is off to an 0-6 start this season.
Wayland High School varsity swimming coach Bill Fritz is approaching his 200th career dual match victory.
The Wayland volleyball team finished second in its own tournament to Grand Rapids Catholic Central. The Wildcats are still in first place in the O-K Gold Conference.
Tyler Brenner (119lbs.), Travis Brenner (125), Levi Conley (130) and Rick Mena (135) all are undefeated for the Martin wrestling team thus far this season.
Trudy Brandt, wife of Lewis Brandt, former commander of the Wayland post of Michigan State Police, died Jan. 4, just shy of her 77th birthday.
50 Years Ago — Jan. 14, 1975
A winter wind storm was an uninvited gust in the Wayland area Friday night and Saturday morning. Superintendent of Public Works Dick Baxter said on the bright side the damage could have been a lot worse, but wasn’t. A tree fell on the home of the Walter Alflens and in the front yard of the Harry Weres.
Tarsilla Heibel was selected the winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award at Hopkins High School.
At the request of principals Robert Marutz and Gene Greer, the Wayland Union Schools have hired crossing guards at intersections around town.
Earl Aubil and Henry Gort have purchased Dave’s Variety Store from David Blok and they plan to create the Moline Grocery Store.
The Moline State Bank published a huge advertisement indicating it was paying 7 1/2 percent annual rate of interest on new investment certificates.
Allegan County Commissioner Dennis Nickels presented members of the Jaycees information about plans to establish a medical clinic.
A class in family communications is being launched at Wayland Middle School, focusing on better relations between parents and their children.
Russ McCarren and Jim Longstreet led the way for Wayland in an upset victory over league-leading Hamilton and over Comstock Park on the hardcourt.
The Wayland wrestling team lacked pins, but still was able to get past Caledonia 33-15. Freshman Bill Halloran scored an exciting come from behind pin at 4:55 at 105 pounds.
Both the Hopkins and Martin basketball teams suffered two defeats this week.
Members of the Wayland Grange will meet at the home of Della Douglas and answer roll call with “the best thing that happened to you in 1974.”
Norbert R. Switek of Hopkins, who owned and operated the Switek Funeral Home from 1951 to 1971, was Lions Club President and served on the Hopkins Village Council, died Jan. 9 at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids. He was 49.
Barry Manilow took over the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “Mandy.”
75 Years Ago — Jan. 20, 1950
Michigan Bell Telephone has announced a new local telephone service for Wayland, Dorr, Moline, Martin and Hopkins, in which residents in the three communities won’t have to pay extra charges to call one another.
Dr. Frank B. Bachelor, pastor of the Wayland Congregational church, married Miss Fay Marshall of Bloomfield, Ind., at the home of her sister. Dr. Bachelor also is business manager emeritus of Kalamazoo College.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher reported in his weekly column there is talk about having two separate village caucuses.
William C. Reno, 59, brother of L.P. Reno, died at Sturgis Memorial Hospital. He had lived for many years in Wayland.
Burette Mauchmar suffered cuts to his head in a local traffic crash on North Main Street. The car driven by Arthur Chesbro was destroyed in the accident.
Mrs. Suzie Miles, wife of pastor Lester D. Miles of the Hopkins Methodist Church, died at her home. She was 71.
The annual Wayland Chamber of Commerce dinner will be held at the Legion Hall. Charlie Andringa is president and Jack Cook secretary.
Webster Schad, brother of Mrs. Russell Hunsberger of Wayland, was found dead of a heart attack at his home. He was 58.
Wayland State Bank re-elected as officers of the Board of Directors Mack Short president, Fred Leakey vice president and Arthur H. Johnson vice president and cashier.
Trinity Lutheran Church will have an installation service for new pastor, the Rev. Carl Trosien. The ceremony will take place at the Congregational church.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Vera Allen and Ann Miller in “On the Town.”
- Edmund Gwen, Donald Crisp and Geraldine Owen in “Challenge to Lassie.”
- Roy Rogers and Dale Evans and Riders of the Purple Sage in “The Golden Stallion.”
- June Vincent, William Frawley and Alan Mowbray in “the Lone Wolf His Lady.”
- Longtime “Hi Neighbor!” columnist Margaret Therese Jenkins has been laid up with a lung infection and her output of news is limited.
Two 4-H clubs, for boys and for girls, have been organized at Dorr School by Mrs. Leon Purdurgiel.
A number of East Wayland farmers attended the Family Party Saturday, arranged by International Harvester agent Merle Rairigh at the Wayland High School auditorium.
Mr. Guy Dean and Mr. Miller were in a traffic crash near Dorr on the way to Grand Haven when a car on a side road pulled out in front of them. Damage to their car was extensive.
Agriculture teacher Edwin St. John has announced that adult ag classes at Wayland High School will commence again, starting Jan. 28.
Classes in adult clothing construction are scheduled to begin Jan. 24 at the homemaking room at the high school.
100 Years Ago — Jan. 16, 1925
Peter Marks, a Native American originally from Michigan, now living on a reservation near Old Mission, is visiting son Alfred Marks in Bradley. Peter Marks told lots or stories. He is 104 years old.
Former Wayland resident Dot Robinson died in Kingman, Ariz., where she and her husband, Clyde Garrett, were visiting their their only son. She died after a fall and four weeks of care at a hospital.
Referred to as “our most confirmed bird lover,” Henika Library Director Fanny Hoyt, presented a program to the Ladies Library Club about Stone Mountain, “the eighth wonder of the world.”
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: “Hollywood,” featuring 20 real stars. Produced by James Cruse, the man who made “The Covered Wagon.”
Miss Munger, a teacher at District No. 4, has been on then sick list and Mrs. Hawkins has been filling in.
A special program is planned at the Congregational Church at 11 a.m. this Sunday in honor of Temperance Sunday.
Commissioner Blaine of Hopkins Township, came over to Bradley with three graders, nine teams and a small army of men to plow out the almost impassable road between the town line and M-13 at Bradley.
S.A. Ward, the watermelon king of Wayland, now lives two miles south of the Dixie, and is manufacturing radio outfits. His latest model looks like it was manufactured at a large facility.
Dr. James Sooy, formerly of Wayland, died at his home in Glendale, Calif., of a heart attack. He was a Wayland High School graduate.
William Carpenter is confined to his home with eye inflammation. His place at the Douglas Meat Market is being taken by John Jordan.
Effective Monday, Jan. 19, hours at the Wayland State Bank will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. “These hours conform to the other banks in the county.”
The Wayland Fire Dept. responded to a call of a small fire at the residence of F.A. Baxter on the east side of the Village Park. Damage was estimated at $10.
