(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — May 1, 2000
The culvert at the bridge on 138th Avenue in LeightonTownship has collapsed.
A summer program has been launched to promote gun safety for children in Barry County.
A Hopkins woman has been scammed on a roof repair scheme and now she warns others. Personnel from the Hopkins branch of United Bank, particularly Diane Kerber, saved the day for the woman.
Michigan Attorney General Jennifer Granholm gave a presentation in Hastings recently on the necessity of all state public business being done in the open.
Road construction on 142nd Avenue in Leighton Township has begun. The work covers the main artery from 10th Street east to Kalamazoo Avenue.
The Wayland High School girls’ soccer team, for too long regarded as a doormat, chalked up a couple of league victories over Kenowa Hills and Cedar Springs.
Editor Nila Aamoth penned a Soapbox this week about the giant monster in the midst of Wayland, Dorr and Martin townships — the toxic dumps, which need cleanup attention.
Citizen Carl Swartz wrote a letter to the editor insisting that Democratic and Republican politicians’ schemes to save Social Security probably will not work.
Former Wayland State Police Commander Steve DeBoer has announced he will run for a second term as Barry County Sheriff. He was appointed to the post in 1995 when his predecessor, David Wood, resigned in 1995.
Gary Newell, current commander of the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police, has announced his retirement and intention to run for the state representative’s post in Lansing from the 87th District.
Wayland Union Schools Superintendent Robert Brenner has been selected as the new superintendent of the Allegan County Intermediate School District, succeeding the retiring James Pavelka.
Girl Scouts from Troop #186, Wayland, were photographed picking up a heap off trash along roadsides of East Superior Street.
Distance ace Luke Williams leads the Hopkins varsity track team this spring, being one of the top performers in the 1600- and 3200-meter races.
Unbeaten Hudsonville continued its mastery over Wayland’s softball team with a 2-1 verdict, but philosophical coach Cheri Ritz claimed, “The way to become the best is to play the best.”
Heather Houseman pitched Hopkins to victory over Kelloggsville, as coach Mick Francis’ group now is 5-1 overall.
Lifetime Wayland resident Harry Wykoski died at age 81. He was an active member of the St. Therese Parish, Wayland Area Emergency Services, the fire department, and Knights of Columbus in Hilliards.
50 Years Ago — April 29, 1975
The Wayland Board of Education approved Dorr’s request to be part of the Wayland Community Education/Recreation program headed up by David VanEerden. Board members also agreed to fund the purchase of blazers for the middle school band.
A dedication ceremony and open house is planned for Sunday, 4, for the Allegan County Development Center, which will serve mentally and physically handicapped citizens with training.
Wayland State Bank’s bonding company has presented the bank with $89,000 in reimbursement for assistant chief teller Mildred Pease’s emblezlement discovered April 3. It was determined she had taken money illegally since 1963.
Members of the Hopkins Community Action team are evaluating responses from a public survey on what residents would like to see. A public meeting will be held May 5 to discuss what they learned.
Mrs. Daniel Miller wrote a letter defending her husband, a city police officer, for driving his nephew to school.
Wayland High School graduate Tom Latondress wrote his final installment of a series he has been writing about the penalization and legalization of marijuana in society.
Mr. and Mrs. James Tinsler penned a letter to the editor praising the efforts and skills of Director Steve Working and the Wayland High School band.
The annual Wayland Band Boosters’ Variety Show will be held May 1, 2 and 3 at the middle school gym. Featured will be a gospel quartet, Con Mauchmar and Mrs. Robert Marutz in “Junior and Granny” act, and foreign exchange students.
Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Baugh are getting ready to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at the Wayland Calvary Church.
A local genealogy club is being formed by Steering Committee members Joe Kuhtic, Donna Benedict, Lois Milburn and Helen Herb.
Mrs. Laurel Fisher and Mrs. Dennis Reno are co-chairing the annual Spring Style Show at the United Church of Wayland.
Wayland captured its first O-K Blue Conference dual meet track victory since 1973 with a 78-45 triumph over Middleville Thornapple Kellogg. Senior Russ McCarren scored 16 and a half points individually and Co-Capt. Lee Kelly shined in the 880, 440 and mile relay.
Dennis Norman pitched a shutout for Hopkins over Saugatuck, but otherwise the Vikings have been in a bit of a slump.
Junior Steve Pencola came up with a clutch game-winning double in Wayland’s win overt Caledonia. Southpaw Jim Longstreet threw a shutout.
The Wayland softball team opened its season with a 16-10 victory over Allegan. Deb Ritz had the big hit, a homer with mates aboard.
Gail Niemchick was the winner of Wayland High School’s “Superstar” athletic contest 60 points.
All six newly elected Hopkins FFA members, including new President Jeff Lenhart, attended a regional camp at Cassopolis.
Carol Davis of Wayland High School won a $50 U.S. Savings Bond for her project for the Tuberculosis Health and Emphysema Society contest.
Former Wayland resident Richard Stanley has been named director of professional development for the American Society for Personnel Administration.
Tony Orlando & Dawn took over the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You).”
75 Years Ago — May 5, 1950
Members of the high school homemaking class prepared dinner for members of the Wayland Board of Education. The menu of ham, fruit juice twice baked potatoes, asparagus, pineapple-banana salad, parker house rolls, pie a la mode and coffee, was served Russian style.
The Wayland Village Council decided to continue the local tax rate at 10 mills overall. May 8-13 was designated as Clean-up Week.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher report in his weekly “Observations” column: “The less said about our observance of the trout opener, the better.” The fish were not biting because of then frigid temperatures.
Former Moline boy Henry Van DerSheer arrived in town by driving all the way from Alaska in a jeep he fixed up himself.
Mrs. Arthur Thede and Mrs. Harrison Jackson, were appointed co-leaders of the Leighton Center. The ladies are working together diligently on new dresses to be on Achievement Day and at Annuals in Allegan.
The Wayland Village Dump on the south edge of town will be open every day the week of May 8-13 to handle materials discarded during the Clean-up Week observance.
Misses Pauline Mason and Ruth Reno visited Washington D,.C., where they took in a television show at which they were chosen from the audience to take part in the program.
The Ladies Library Club will hear a book review on “The Assyrian Yankee” by Effie Greenawalt’s sister, Mrs. J. Wallace Tillman of LaGrange, Ind.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Phil Brito and Vera Vague in “Square Dance Kitty.”
- Gene Autrey in “The Cowboy and the Indians.”
- Claudette Colbert, Patrick Knowles and Florence Desmond in “Three Came Home.”
- Bing Crosby, Sessue Hayakawa, Margaret Hamilton, Coleen Gray, Charles Bickford and Frances Gifford in “Riding High.”
100 Years Ago — May 1, 1925
The Odd Fellows and Rebekahs celebrated their organizations’ 106th anniversary, with the Wayland High School Orchestra and Miss Leggett and Herschel Trepod performing at the piano. The Rev. George H. Young of Kalamazoo spoke about “The Principles of Friendship, Love and Truth.”
A special election will be held in Allegan May 14 whether to decide to adopt Eastern Standard Time. All factories and most businesses have gone to the faster time.
Sheriff Ben Lugten has announced that a motorcyclist, Nathaniel Jackson, will be hired to provide road patrol at $1 a day plus meals for the rider until July 1.
Mrs. D. J. Dunwell has been elected president of the Ladies Library Club. Mrs. L.P. Reno was elected vice president.
“Byron Center and vicinity has been passing through the worst epidemic of contagious diseases experienced for some time. There are numerous cases of measles, several of scarlet fever and one case of smallpox.”
Now showing at the Regent Theatre downtown: Mary Pickford in “Little Lord Fauntleroy.” Richard Talmage, the Stunt King, in “Let’s Go.” Additional comedy, “The Go-Gethers.”
An electrical storm struck the Gun Lake area home of Stephen Pratt and it burned to the ground.
Hiram Hilliard was arrested on a charge of perjury while attempting to get a marriage license to wed 15-year-old Florence Wuis. He was rumored to have been married three times before with six children.
Mrs. H. Washburn is quarantined in the home of her daughter in Grand Rapids for scarlet fever.
Sylvester Thornburg, formerly of Wayland, was sentenced to life in prison in Cass County for first degree murder. However, he was placed in an asylum in Ionia County after turning himself in at Jackson Prison.
The Anti-Can’t Club has changed its meetings to afternoons for the spring and summer.
