(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Feb. 28, 2000
The Globe’s front page photo was of five Wayland Middle School youths sporting T-shirts identifying alcohol, pot, heroin, cocaine and LSD as major public enemies of the welfare of young people. The youths were Kate Moore, Nick Wysocki, Shawn Moma, Brian Flores and Alicia Bilotti.
Voters in Dorr Township approved millage renewals for roads and fire equipment in a special election.
The Wayland Township Board once again turned down Supervisor Jose Blanco’s request for boosting his pay to match that of the treasurer and clerk.
A triple restaurant is in the works for a site near the strip mall on West Superior. Planned tenants are Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, all in one building.
A mini-gas war has erupted in Wayland, with regular unleaded selling for as low as $1.29 per gallon.
The Wayland volleyball team has earned the O-K Gold Conference championship and now has its sights set on the state tournament.
Martin’s sensational wrestling season has come to an end. The Clippers (35-5) lost to Union City in the post-season team tournament, but 12 wrestlers still are qualified for the individual state tourney.
Allegan County went for George W. Bush by a slight margin over John McCain in the presidential primary election.
The Wayland Union School District has dealt with five phony bomb threats during this school year.
Leighton Township Supervisor Dar VanderArk wrote a letter to the editor in response to public criticism from Mrs. Rybicki the week before.
Work is progressing on the new transportation building along Wildcat Drive.
Wayland’s wrestling team was sending seven team members, Joe Borgic, D.J. Sutherland, Jeff DeMann, Neal Frying, Jose Vldana and Jason Montes to the Division 2 state tournament.
The Hopkins volleyball team, coached by Terrie Merren, tied the school record for most wins in a season, 23, and is preparing to defend its district title.
Richard Hildebrand, a 1941 Martin High School graduate who ran the chains at Clipper football games and served his country in World War II at Normandy Beach, died at his home. He was 77.
Dennis DeGlopper, 41, died at Metropolitan Hospital. He had been a recipient of a kidney transplant.
Max Tooker, longtime commander of the local American Legion and veteran of the Coast Guard, died at Railside Living Center. He was 78.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 25, 1975
The Wayland Board of Education has agreed to set the millage levy request at two and a half mills for a special election March 3. They say the money is needed to operate the swimming and theater programs at the auditorium.
Democrat John Funk and Republican Robert Immink will face off in a special election March 4 to succeed the late Kenneth Rynbrandt in the Fifth District of the County Board pf Commissioners, which includes Salem, Heath, Overisel and Valley Townships.
John Grafford resigned his seat on the Wayland Board of Education, citing the press of business and lack of time. His term expires in 1976.
Robert Swartout and Margaret (Peg) Dangremond have been named co-chairs of the Wayland celebration of the Bicentennial. They were appointed by Mayor Marshall Towne.
Members of the Interlochen Arts Academy have agreed to play in a music workshop at the Hopkins High School gymnasium March 6. Mrs. Robert Golm, president of the Hopkins Organization of Parents and Educators, made the announcement.
Melanie Haywood wrote a letter challenging a local police officer’s assertion that 60% of youths take drugs, insisting adults abuse them regularly as well.
Mrs. Barbara Chachulski penned a letter insisting the percentages of youths using pot have been overblown. She contended that the vast majority of heroin and cocaine addicts started out on marijuana.
The Hopkins FFA team of Ralph Hansen, Doug Steffens and John Watson won the championship in the regional demonstration contest.
Wayland Community Fair Vice President Robert Jackson has announced that the celebration and expo will be held at the new high school cafeteria.
Raymond Selkirk, longtime owner and operator of Selkirk Lake Mobile Park and teacher at State Technical Institute and Rehabilitation Center, died of a lingering illness at Pipp Hospital. He was 74.
Mrs. Etta Ayers, part owner of Ayers Mobile Home Park, died at the Allegan County Medical Facility. She was 78.
Mrs. Rexanne Francis has been selected to be teacher in the new developmental kindergarten program at Wayland.
Wayland, which has lost its last eight games in a row, will play Lowell at the Class B District Basketball Tournament at Caledonia. The Wildcats are 5-15 for the season. Rod Mauchmar has consistently scored in double figures of late.
John Kaur was the only Wildcat wrestler to qualify for the regional meet, at 185 pounds.
Laurie Smith led the scoring in Wayland’s volleyball victory over Martin. The Wildcats are 2-1 in their first season.
The Eagles grabbed the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “The Best of My Love.”
75 Years Ago — March 3, 1950
The mercury plunged to five below zero, but it climbed to above freezing later in the day and contributed to a small electrical storm of thunder, lighting and rain.
Dick Sprague scored a basketball with five seconds remaining to lift Wayland to a 33-29 season-ending victory over Middleville. The team had a season-ending party at the home of coach Walt Gillett.
Wayland, as well as other communities, is suffering economically because of a strike by coal miners forcing supplies to be rationed.
Jim Hays, one of the best known dairy specialists in Michigan, will conduct a meeting at Wayland High School Wednesday evening, March 8.
E. Joe McElwee has announced plans to open an electric shop at the corner of Pine and South Main Street.
Edwin St. John, vocational agricultural instructor at Wayland High School, has been chosen president of the of the County Agricultural Council.
A special article appeared in the Globe outlining the accomplishments of the Wayland Chamber of Commerce in 1949.
Buttercup Dairy has announced that milk prices will be reduced by one cent per quart.
Mrs. James Ledden is director of the new Wayland Methodist Church Junior Choir, which was started up last fall.
Mrs. John Herrick is recovering from a fall on the ice, in which she suffered a fractured hip. She is a patient at St. Mary’s Hospital, where she underwent an operation.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Ray Bolger, Anne Shirley, Dennis Day, Joan Davis in “Make Mine Laughs.”
- Robert Sterling, Gloria Grahame and Claude Jarman Jr. in “Roughshod.”
- George Brent, Lynn Bari and Rusty Tambylyn in “the Kid from Cleveland.”
- Gregory Peck, Hugh Marlowe and Gary Mitchell in “Twelve O’Clock High.”
100 Years Ago — Feb. 27, 1925
About 65 people attended the Ladies Library Club’s 32nd anniversary, having started the local organization in 1893. Charles B. Leakey showed a couple of films after the dinner.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: William S. Hart in “Wild Bill Hickok.” Next week: Gloria Swanson in “The Humming Bird.”
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher has announced he will publish a series of editorials, “What Can We Do for Wayland.” This week he called readers’ attention to laws governing rubbish and waste and suggested citizens should do all they can to make the village clean and attractive.
The Herb Brothers have sold their meat market to Mr. Nichols of Grand Rapids.
There was a large attendance and interesting discussions at the latest meeting of the Alle-Bar Community Club.
The West Leighton Community Club will have its next meeting at the District No. 10 school house Feb. 27.
Wayland now has its third billiard hall, this one owned by Ola Palmer, moving from South Main to the Burlington building on Superior. Jerome Zalser has purchased equipment and fixtures and has had them installed and ready to do business at the site vacated by Mr. Palmer.
The Yeakey Auto Co. will sponsor a Tractor Day for area farmers all day March 3. It will include representatives from the Ford Motor Co.
Leo Sherrer, who has been operating the GRI tracks in the village, was taken ill with stomach trouble and was transported to Ann Arbor. He served with the Royal Canadian Machine Gun Corps overseas during World War I.
William W. Hooker has taken possession of half of the hardware business run by his father. It now will be known as W.R. Hooker & Son.
Cozzens’ Market is suggesting in an advertisement during Lent consuming fresh fruits, salt fish, canned sea food and fresh vegetables.
