(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Feb. 21, 2000
No fewer than 10 police agencies interrupted a drug party in Wayland. At least two arrests were made in connection with a complaint of assault.
A farmers’ co-op corn-to-ethanol plan is under study.
Mark DeYoung of Dorr has been appointed to a vacant seat on the Allegan County Board of Commissioners. He succeeds the late Ken Fein.
Dorr Township voters will decide the fate of fire and road ballot proposals in a special election.
The Village of Hopkins held its caucus to nominate candidates in the primary election for local officials.
The Hopkins basketball team evened its season record at 8-8.
Tracey Rybiski penned a letter taking Leighton Township Supervisor Dar VanderArk to task for saying a person’s name may be more important than performance in appointing local officials.
Chad Griffin wrote a letter to the editor insisting all bomb threats for schools should be taken seriously.
Allegan County Deputy Kevin Hahn has undergone heart surgery and will be succeeded in covering Dorr and Leighton Townships by Ken DeVries.
David Miller’s two-year term as mayor is up this year, as are the City Council seats of Dallas Strong, Maurice Stahl and Marie Hall.
The Allegan County Intermediate School District will have another special election, asking voters to approve a 2.3-mill tax levy for special education and technology education services.
The Globe published a nostalgic photo of the football “West End Alley Cats,” Jack Henderson, Marshall Towne, Charles Towne and Hazen Towne and Robert Reidlinger.
The Wayland basketball squad was surprised by Forest Hills Northern 56-52, but then bounced back to claim an overall record of 12-3 and 9-2 in the O-K Gold Conference.
The Wayland wrestling team was fourth in the conference meet and D.J. Sutherland was league champion at 103 pounds.
Travis Brenner won the 125-pound division title in the SAC for Martin and hiked his record to 44-0 for the season. Defending state champion Rick Mena was 45-0 after winning at 145.
Though Wayland lost a dual meet to Forest Hills Northern, the Wildcat volleyballers own a record of 43-8-4.
Ruth Brouard, a 1931 Wayland High School graduate and longtime dietitian and World War II veteran, died at age 86.
Pat Staley wrote a feature story about 36-year-old Anita Modreski, who continues to work at United Bank and serve as a public official for the City of Wayland despite her diagnosis of adult onset cystic fibrosis.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 18, 1975
Three Wayland City Council incumbents, Max Barnes, Chet Brevitz and Don Shafer, will be joined on the April city election ballot by Robert Swartout and Dennis Reno.
The 51-member Wayland Community Choir, under the direction of Helen Gambee, will present the cantata “The Atonement,” on Palm Sunday, March 23,
Three members of the Wayland Township Board and three from the Wayland City Council have agreed to an arrangement in which the city’s fire department will provide protection to the township while city residents may use Elmwood Cemetery.
Wayland City Manager Carl Fockler has announced he is in talks to secure a new ambulance with a federal grant that will absorb 70 percent of the $15,000 cost.
Hopkins Board of Education members Leo Smith, William Maher, Ray Sebright, Burrell Stein, Cleon Duryea and Ron Bockheim plan to attend the National Convention of School Boards gathering in Miami Beach for training.
Mary Morgenstern penned a letter to the editor defending the actions of police officers in busting students for possession and use of marijuana.
Hopkins head football coach Jim Newell wrote a letter attempting to explain where all the money from attendance at football games goes.
Gail Nelson of the Wayland School Service League urged citizens to attend an upcoming meeting discussing the March 3 school millage election.
Sixth- and seventh-graders at Wayland Junior High received their diphtheria-tetanus vaccinations Feb. 11.
The Hopkins FFA is working with 4-H agents in monitoring a sow and her piglets on the farm of GlenKlompenburg.
Joyce Watts of Allegan was elected to the State Central Committee of the Republican Party for the Ninth Congressional District.
Mrs. Evie Jackson, who was born in Corning in 1878, died in Ocala, Fla. She had suffered a broken hip Jan. 11.
The Wayland Middle School band will present a concert at the junior high boys’ gym on Pearl Street, under the direction of John Dunsmore.
Craig Suhusky, principal clarinetist for the Wayland High School Wind Ensemble, will be featured soloist for the mid-winter concert at the high school gym.
The Hopkins basketball team defeated Fennville 80-72 in overtime to claim the championship trophy for the A-O Conference trophy. Tom Pawloski scored 18 points, Bernie Smith added 17, Ron Shafer 14 and Steve Adamczyk 12.
Wayland lost 73-67 to Comstock Park in a basketball battle for the basement in the O-K Blue Conference standings. The Wildcats now are 3-10 in league play. Russ McCarren had 21 points and Cody Niemchick 17.
John Kaur and Jim Krick won first places in the O-K Blue Conference wrestling tournament, but Comstock Park breezed to the team title. The Wildcats finished fourth.
Wayland defeated Hopkins in its first-ever volleyball dual match, taking the best of five contests.
Mrs. Kathy Duimstra rolled a record 603 series, breaking the record for three games at the Airport Lanes.
AWB took over the top spot among the nation’s tunes with “
Pick up the Pieces.”
75 Years Ago — Feb. 24, 1950
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher reported in his “Observations” column that his friend and pal Tippy “quietly finished this life early Sunday morning as we watched him, leaving the Moshers a very subdued and saddened family.”
The Rev. Adelbert Radowski presented a account of the of the dedication ceremonies at the St. Stanislaus School in Hilliard.
The Ladies Library Club held its 57th anniversary banquet at the high school music room with 96 guests and members. Donna Jean Blue performed two selections for violin.
Will Carpenter had the honor of becoming a father and grandfather on the same day, Feb. 13. His wife gave birth to a baby girl and his daughter, Virginia, had a boy.
A fire destroyed a large barn, grainery and hen house at the William Maher farm southeast of Hopkins across the street from the Sacred Heart Church.
Feb. 28 is the last day to pay for 1949 taxes and purchase a dog license, according to Simon Fox, Wayland Township Treasurer.
The Hospital Guild met in the Hopkins area home of Mrs. Gerald Nash. After the potluck dinner, members hemmed 27 towels and made 11 aprons.
Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Weber have returned from a nine-day visit at Mexico City, even taking in a bullfight.
The correspondent for Green Lake Breezes reported: “Telephones out, roads icy too, Green Lake News will be mighty few.”
Mrs. Helen Buskirk will give an illustrated lecture “Common Birds” at the PTA meeting at Martin High School.
The World Day of Prayer at East Martin Christian Reformed Church and Martin, Shelbyville and Orangeville churches will include a potluck meal and special joint service. The program will be “Women and Race Relations.”
An old fashioned box social, sponsored by the PTA, will be held at the Martin school house. Grade school children will present the program.
Mrs. Alfred Snook gave a book review on “The Three Wishes of Jamie McRuin” by Charles O’Neal in Allegan for the history class at the Griswold Auditorium.
Mr. Perry made a presentation to the adult homemaking class about the history of painting.
The Maronots (Married or Not) group of the Wayland Congregational Church will meet at 10 a.m. Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Chapple.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- William Powell, Mark Stevens and Betsy Drake in “Dancing in the Dark.”
- Stephen Dunne, Lois Maxwell and Joe Sawyer in “Kazan.”
- Gene Autry and Nan Leslie in “Rim of the Canyon.”
- Tyrone Power, Orson Welles and Wanda Hendrix in “Prince of Foxes.”
100 Years Ago — Feb. 20, 1925
Wayland Supt. Pettis, football captain Lewis Baker and debate team leader Hubert Warner attended the annual business meeting of the Allegan County Athletic Asociation Feb. 14 in Allegan. All schools except Fennville were present.
Nominated at the Wayland Village Caucus were A.E. Weaver for president, William Hooker for clerk and Louis P. Reno for treasurer.
The Wayland High School debate team, with Glenn McCaslin, Henry Amborski, and Hubert Wagner won a unanimous decision over Hopkins at the Regent Theatre.
Interurban flyers will be able to ride immediately at the Wayland depot when trains come through, thanks to efforts by Charles B. Yeakey.
The American Legion will have a stage drama, “Down in Dixie” at the Regent Theatre downtown next month, featuring Mr. and Mrs. Jack Champion of Chicago.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Ernest Torrance, Mary Astor and Noah Berry in “The Fighting Coward.” Next week, “William S. Hart in “Wild Bill Hickok.”
Mrs. Wilcox sang two solos, accompanied by Mrs. King on the accordion, and the members of the Northeast Hopkins Community Club closed their most recent meeting by singing “Old Black Joe.”
James Hartwell, who came to Leighton Township at age 4 in 1854, died in Otsego at age 74.
The Ladies Library Club will be entertained by “Club Husbands” next month at the American Legion Hall. All unmarried members will be entitled to an escort.
Another boxing show will be presented Feb. 26 at Wayland High School under the direction of the Knights of Mystic Pit. Boxers from Grand Rapids also will be invited to participate.
Former Wayland boy Harry Pickett was stricken with apoplexy in Otsego and later confined to the hospital in Allegan. His condition now is improving.
Wayland has a new landlord at the Dixie Hotel. Charles Kelly of Big Rap[ids is taking possession this week. He bought the hotel from August Hardy.
