25 Years Ago — Nov. 17, 1993

Gary DeKoekkoek has resigned his post as building inspector at Martin Township because of time constraints. He had served for almost five years.

Yankee Springs Township terminated its long-standing practice of not renting out the township hall for Halloween and Christmas parties, but smoking and motorcycles will be prohibited.

The City of Wayland is in the midst of a 15-year, $1 million water project that includes a 400,000-gallon water tank.

William Monroe wrote a letter to the editor supporting a recently introduced bill insisting English be the official language in the United States.

The Village of Martin has purchased $500 worth of used Christmas ornaments for use in next month’s holiday season celebrations.

Hopkins Board of Education Trustee Christine Schwartz has lodged a complaint about the school district’s flyers sent home with children promoting books. She said three of books for sale are steeped in horror, “Halloween,” “The Thief of Always” and “Dark 30.”

Marilyn Hess wrote a feature about Dodd Industries and owner Dave Stebleton, who have managed to weather and thrive in the recent economic downturn with growing the “Metal working job shop.”

Pat Staley wrote a feature about Rose Redding, a Wayland Township woman whose watercolors are being shown at art exhibits all over West Michigan.

A really busy Sunday was experienced by public safety officers in Wayland because of a drunk driving arrest, retail fraud (shoplifting), a car theft, larceny in a vehicle. Wayland Chief Dan Miller and State Trooper Lane Booms and his K-9 companion Kahn were kept busy.

Karen O’Patik of Rudy’s Restaurant will prepare a community Thanksgiving dinner, sponsored by the Wayland chapter of the Jaycees. Cost will be a donation, and proceeds will go to holiday toy charities.

The Hopkins varsity football team lost to undefeated Hartford, 26-0, in the second round of the post-season Class CC playoffs. Ron Gibson had nine tackles and Fred Clemenshaw eight for the Vikings, who ended the campaign with a 9-2 record.

Wayland lost a heart-breaking marathon five-overtime girls’ hoops contest to Coppersville, 59-57. The Broncos, led by Julie Kosten’s 35 points, now have won the O-K Gold Conference title. Anna Rybicki had 24 points for the Wildcats and Jessie McEwen and Chris Holben chipped in nine apiece.

The Martin girls’ basketball squad claimed its seventh SAC crown in the last eight years with a 37-35 victory over Lawrence. Sophomore Kristin Fraaza netted 17 poinys, Tracey Smith had 10 and Amy Reed had 13 rebounds.

50 Years Ago — Nov. 13, 1968

Arend D. Lubbers has been announced as the new president of Grand Valley State College, succeeding James Zumberge, the school’s first-ever president.

Postmaster Kenneth Potter of Shelbyville wrote a letter praising the efforts of substitute letter carrier Georgia Kraai, who suspected something was wrong at the home of Walter Gillette. The retired farmer shortly afterward was found on the floor of the bathroom of his home and he was rushed to Pipp Hospital in Plainwell, where he later died.

Earning perfect 4.0 grade point averages fr the third marking period at Wayland schools were junior Joan Lautensleger, sophomores Tom Marks and Louise Sykes, eighth-graders Bonnie Lynema and Richard Terpstra and seventh-grader Alan Steines.

Hopkins High School graduate Barbara Kipfmiller, daughter of a former pastor at St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s churches, has been admitted into a professional music sorority at the University of Michigan.

The Wayland school bell, used to announce Wildcat football touchdowns, was missing and later found at the Hopkins football field. It was returned after the game between the two schools.

Wayland Junior High School Principal Robert Marutz told members of the school board the state is looking at making driver’s training classroom training year-round instead of just over the summer.

Student teachers from Western Michigan University this fall include Carol Wenzel of Wayland, Pauline Fifelski, Bill Heyboer and Kay Ann Smith of Dorr, and Jerry Brinkert and David Simpson of Hopkins.

Wayland Board of Education Trustee Don Lapham has just returned from visits to other school districts to learn how they are handling portable classrooms caused by overcrowding conditions.

John Barr rush for 201 yards on 31 carries and led Wayland to a 28-0 victory over Hopkins in the season finale for both schools. Jim Ritsema scored on a one-yard plunge, Tim Permoda scored on an interception return and Ritsema hit Randy Rairigh with a 45-yard scoring pass. Hopkins finished with a record of 3-6 and Wayland was 2-5-1.

The Wayland junior varsity finished with a 6-2 record. Jim Hendrixson had 913 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns. Joe Koperski added 795 yards and nine TDs.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway in “The Thomas Crown Affair.”

Fireman Apprentice Don Beukema is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS John Kennedy heading for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

75 Years Ago — Nov. 19, 1943

Permits have been issued for the drilling of oil on the Martin Baker property in Moline.

Longtime Standard Oil agent Dean Green died at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids after undergoing serious stomach surgery. Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote a tribute to him in his weekly “Observations Here and There” column.

World Community Day was held at the Wayland United Methodist Church with the message of “The Price of an Enduring Peace.”

Emergency fuel orders, particularly for coal, are being handled Tuesday and Friday afternoons weekly by the Allegan Defense Council.

Don Christensen, Avonne Wells, Bob Schwartz, Jo Willis, Bill McElwee, Ron Hines, Margery Sebright, Bob Arbanas, Evelyn Nowak, Maxine Troy, Mary Anne Krulac, Norma Herrington and Violet Jankovich were the stars of the upcoming Wayland High School senior play, “All Thru the Night.”

Pvt. Harold Doxey wrote a letter home, published in the Globe, from Camp Van Dorn, Miss.

The Young Men’s Group of the Hilliards Parish of St. Stanislaus are planning a dance social and pre-Thanksgiving party Nov. 21 at the hall.

Rollo G. Mosher, in a letter he wrote to local servicemen, announced that Russell Baker has been promoted to captain while serving in Oregon. Russell Hilbert, serving in the South Pacific, also has been promoted from lieutenant to captain.

Horace Bennett, former speech and English teacher at Wayland High School, has completed his Naval basic training and has been assigned to Idaho.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• Gene Autry and Smiley Burnette in “Maxicali Rose.”
• Alan Curtis, C. Aubrey Smith and Barry Fitzgerald in “Two Tickets to London.”
• Cary Grant and Lorraine Day in “Mr. Lucky.”
• Judy Canova, Dennis Day and Ruth Donnelly in “Sleepy Lagoon.”
• Frank Morgan, Richard Carlson and Jean Rogers in “A Stranger in Town.”

100 Years Ago — Nov. 15, 1918

“The war is ended. The last gun has been fired over there…”

“We are all overjoyed to know the war, with all its slaughter and devastation, has ended, and that we have not sacrificed in vain.”

The United War Work campaign is organizing Victory Boys and Girls fund-raising drives.

A Community Peace Thanksgiving series of services is planned for Sunday, Nov. 17. The Christian Church will feature a victory sermon by the Rev. Fay C. Wing. The Methodist Episcopal Church will have Dr. Wishart from Grand Rapids talk about “The Peace Problem,” including the Wayland High School choir. In the evening, the Congregational Church will welcome the Rev. J.M. Jensen and the church choir.

C.R. Yeakey has been chosen new trustee on the Village Council to succeed the resigned C.G. Mabey.

Editor-Publisher George Mosher reported the church people appreciate the opening of the local houses of worship last Sunday after a hiatus because of the influenza epidemic.

Fred Burleson has rented the basement floor of the Grange building recently occupied by Clarence Ryno and he intends to further his junk business.

The Wayland chapter of the Order of Eastern Star issued a resolution of respect for deceased member Hattie Fales, who died Oct. 27.

The Wayland Bell Telephone service has been declared to have a first-class exchange with new improvements and new Local Manager Mrs. Frank Jennings.

A box social is being planned at the Odd Fellows Hall in Moline. Featured will be a drawing for a quilt of the American flag with 48 stars, fashioned by Libbie Pratt.

The Allegan and Wayland high school football teams will play Saturday, Nov. 23, for the Allegan County championship at Ryno Park in Wayland.

The picric acid plant, which has employed a number of Wayland area citizens, has announced it will lay off 1,200 workers. “The declaration of peace in the world is said to have something to do with the further development of the plant.”