(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — April 10, 2000
Incumbents prevailed in the annual city elections. Winners were Mayor David Miller and Marie Hall, Mike Griffith and Maurice Stahl for City Council.
A gaming company lost in court in its efforts to stop the Gun Lake Tribe of Potawatomis in their preliminary efforts to establish federal; recognition and perhaps eventually build a casino in Wayland Township. Sungold Entertainment Corp. was told to cease its lawsuit because tribes enjoy sovereign immunity.
Construction has resumed on a private water system in Moline.
Building permits are continuing to increase in the City of Wayland. Seventy-one permits were issued in 1999, as opposed to 1990 with 32.
Editor Nila Aamoth wrote a Soapbox column asking if young teen-agers should work, saying they already do with paper routes and babysitting. She said it can be important for youngsters to learn how to work before they have to work.
Betty Kreikaard of Dorr wrote a letter to the editor praising the efforts and work of local emergency medical technicians.
The Dorr Township Board voted against closing 16th Street because of illegal dumping of trash.
Laurie Brown, 5, earned praise in helping to save her diabetic mother, Elizabeth, who suffered a diabetic crisis, by properly dialing 911.
General Federation of Women’s Club, Gun Lake, members Fran Leonard and Marjory Richards earned special state GFWC awards for community service.
A team from Wayland Middle School won third place in the Science Olympiad at Kellogg Commuity College.
Cameron Johnson, a sophomore at Wayland High School, has been awarded a $500 scholarship to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp from GFWC-Gun Lake.
Nate Culver, Shane Totten, Steve Ballard, Jeff Smith, Grant Weber, David Johnson, Mike Rasnake and John Rough lead the Wayland tennis team into its season.
Senior Jenny Havens is a key returning veteran on the Wildcat girls golf team.
Wayland High School’s first-year dance class put on a show featuring 22 students and received rave reviews.
Tim Burke of Wayland is among the cast members of the Allegan Community Players presentation of “The Nerd.”
Everett Mutschler, longtime Wayland businessman, died while vacationing in Hawaii. He was 82.
Justin Vollink, who lived nearly a lifetime at his home on South Main Street, died at the age of 86.
Wayland High School students Katie Rose, Brian Young, Kari Blain and Justine Richardson earned awards at the National Leadership Conference of Business Professionals of America.
50 Years Ago — April 8, 1975
Wayland State Bank President Arthur H. Johnson regretfully acknowledged that an embezzlement charge has been made against longtime assistant cashier Mildred Pease., who has confessed to taking about $80,000. The bank’s loss is covered by insurance.
Louise Fenner and Dar Rantz have been announced as valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the Martin High School Class of 1975.
Donald Shafer, Max Barnes and Chet Brevitz were re-elected to their seats on the City Council. Dr. John White and Norma Hudson were returned to their Henika Library Board seats.
Wayland High School junior Tammy Whip was named the winner of the local Bicentennial Logo Contest.
The newly formed Hopkins Community Action Team members have begun work on a community survey of Hopkins citizens’ wants and needs.
Tom Latrondress, a graduate of Wayland High School and Oakland University, wrote a second special column about fear mongering and marijuana.
Bob LaTourette added his voice to objections to the format for Wayland High School reunions, calling for the celebrations to be streamlined to save time.
Mrs. Judy Lapham penned a letter praising the classes and students Wayland Middle School.
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Dorr is observing its 75th anniversary, with a fellowship dinner at Dorr Elementary School and “Day of Praise.” The church is welcoming former officials to take part in the activities.
The Wayland Community Recreation program is sponsoring a summer slow-pitch league for women.
Sports Editor David T. Young wrote a column re-stating his position that it’s great girls’ sports is making advances, but now they’re under pressure to win, just like the guys.
Robert Wykoski was photographed with a three-pound 20-inch brown trout he caught out of the Rabbit River west of Hilliards.
Wayland High School tennis coach Tom Tarnutzer is welcoming lettermen Lee Grasinski, Kim Suhusky and Lynn Martutz in a rebuilding year. The new match format will be expanded to four singles and three doubles contests.
A surprising early spring snowstorm dumped about 10 inches of white stuff on local roads and in some cases created icy conditions.
Dorr Township Clerk Dick Dutkiewicz reported the annual meeting was lively, as a good number of citizens turned out to talk about creating a fund to buy a new fire truck.
Dean Shoemaker, 16, a Wayland High School student, was seriously injured in a traffic crash north of Wayland. His motorcycle struck a manure spreader being pulled by a tractor.
Elton John took over the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “Philadelphia Freedom.”
75 Years Ago — April 14, 1950
Marvel McNally, a native and lifelong resident of Wayland, died of peritonitis at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. A Wayland High School graduate, he was 52. His obituary claimed he was “rather timid and shy, but a marvelous Christian gentleman.”
Former Wayland girl Donna Jean Blue, now Donna Palmer is enjoying a six-week tour of Scandinavia. She and her husband, Richard, play in the string section of the touring orchestra.
Charles A. Frank, who lived in the Wayland area for 78 years and on the same farm for 51 years, died. He had been confined to his home for his last four years.
The Party Extension Club plans to hold a weiner roast July 14 at Murphy’s Point, Gun Lake.
“Hi Neighbor” columnist Margaret Jenkins is recovering with her husband at a home in Grand Rapids.
A public dance, sponsored by the Young Peoples’ Sodality, will be held at the Hilliards Parish Hall.
The Hopkins Fire Department was summoned to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Powers, but was unable to save the building from a fire. In some way, the fire started on the back porch.
The Leighton Grange will listen to a presentation on “How to Make a Cotton Dress” and ladies will model them at Achievement Day in Allegan in May.
Roller skating will start up April 15 at Barlow Lake Gardens. Skating will be available every evening except Mondays.
The Ladies Library Club had a spring revue of Easter fashions, chaired by Mrs. Harold Weaver. Mrs. Louis Japinga was narrator and Mrs. Isla Peffley played appropriate music.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Robert Rockwell and Barbra Fuller in “Unmasked.”
- Allan “Rocky” Lane, Roy Bancroft and Blackjack in “Power River Rustler.”
- Dan Dailey and Corinne Calvet in “When Willie Comes Marching Home.”
- John Payne, Gail Russell and Lon Chaney in “Captain China.”
100 Years Ago — April 10, 1925
New and higher postal rates will take effect April 15, according to Postmaster Rollo G. Mosher. Postcards and most letters now will require two-cent stamps.
The home of Dr. A.S. Nelson was consumed by fire that started in the chimney and sparks caught in the shingles on Sunday, March 29. About half of the furniture was salvaged. Mr. Nelson and E. R. Smith narrowly avoided falling off the roof while trying to stop the fire from spreading.
Raymond Dunhill gave a presentation to the Ladies Library Club on Alexander Hamilton’s efforts on behalf of the U.S. Constitution.
Dr. I.L. Slater announced the annual cleanup week will be May 1-8, noting the necessity of clearing filth, debris, ashes and rubbish for the health of the community.
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: “Zane Grey’s Call of the Canyon,” with Lois Wilson and Richard Dix. Thomas Meighan in “The Confidence Man.”
J.L. Smith apparently has ordered enough agriculture implements for the entire county rather than for just Wayland, so large is their stock.
The three-act drama “Breezy Point,” under the auspices of the Women of the Moose, will be presented at the Opera House April 11.
The Wayland Cadet Band came out on the streets for the first time this year to demonstrate their skills. Mr. Roy Somers is the instructor. “They are struggling hard to give Wayland a first-class band and a good encouragement would be to occasionally drop a dollar into their treasury.”
Mrs. Libbie Pratt has reported some freak eggs being laid by her hens of late, including large sizes and one with three yolks.
Lorin W. Pierce, born in 1951 in New York State, died March 31 of heart attack. He had come to Wayland in 1872.
Mrs. Wait has 36 Rhode Island Red pullets that laid 723 eggs in March. “A pretty good record. Who can beat it?”
There is a possibility that Barry County will prohibit fishing on its lakes until June 16, shortening the cottage season.
The Yeakey Auto Co. turned away about 200 from its free entertainment and motion picture show last Friday. Karl Schultz , originator of the one string violin, was the headlining act. Yeakey himself showed the film “My Old Home Town,” featuring local citizens, which pleased everyone.
Miss Hazel Peterson has been offered a job with the Commerce Dept. in Washington D.C, but has decided to remain with Battle Creek Sanitarium Laboratories.
Glenn M. Sooy is recovering in Los Angeles from an automobile crash in which he suffered a skull fracture.
Mrs. E. W. Kibby has assumed duties as new postmistress at the Bradley post office.
Joe Barty Has been chosen supervisor at Dorr Township, Fred Weaver clerk and Will Gryczak treasurer.
