(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Dec. 21, 1994
A front page feature story was published about Jodi Brummel of Dorr giving birth to a son aboard a WAES ambulance on the way to Butterworth Hospital. Bob Hess, Rob Griffith and Will Bard did the delivery honors. Ms. Brummel years later was elected Dorr Township Treasurer, serving until 2012.
Editor Nila Aamoth, in her Soapbox entry, confessed to suffering a mild case of holiday blues because of shopping demands and securing gifts by a specific date rather than based on something the recipient would want or need at the time.
The Salem Township Board has announced 146th Avenue will be resurfaced in 1995. Supervisor Bob Jones insisted the road has never before been resurfaced, though it’s been paved.
A debate continues in the Village of Hopkins over whether Mill Street is a public or private road.
Inadequate state financial support is being blamed for Wayland Union Schools dropping its extended school year program. The local class series received more than $384,000 in both of its first two years, but the state cut it back to just $185,000 in the 1994-95 fiscal year.
Dawn Pratt of Dorr was arrested by Allegan County Sheriff’s Deputy VanDuine on a charge of failure to pay for a dog license. She was taken to the Allegan County Jail in handcuffs and was booked and had a mug shot taken before being sent home. She was $45 in arrears. Undersheriff Larry Ladenburger said she was detained on a warrant and had failed to respond to two notices. Her employer, Dick Dutkiewicz of Dick’s Market was outraged that she was treated like a common criminal, even though she offered to pay the fine before being taken to Allegan.
Karen Schwartz led the Hopkins volleyball team to the championship at the Fennville Invitational, breaking the Lady Vikings’ long tourney drought.
The Hopkins varsity basketball team is off to a 3-0 start, with sophomore sensation Tim Kisner leading the scoring in the victories. One conquest was of Martin and Richie Guerrant.
Jerry Funk of Hopkins, in only his first season taking up wrestling, pinned three opponents in the Kelloggsville Invitational and teammate Glenn Winters went 4-0 in the competition. Wayland’s Tom Jenkins went undefeated in four matches at the Zeeland Invitational.
The Beveridge Brothers will be the guest band for the New Year’s Eve Party planned at the Wayland Hotel, from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
50 Years Ago — Dec. 17, 1969
Mrs. Wallace Wakeman, wide of the president of Wayland Board of Education, died at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids. She was 46. A native of Australia, she was a naturalized citizen and was an active member of the Ladies Library Club, Allegan County Republican Party, Wayland Schools’ PTA, Stockdale Guild and Congregational Church.
Earning perfect 4.0 grade point averages for Wayland senior and junior high were eighth-graders Paul Heckert, Alan Steines, Ja-Lane Zasadil, seventh-grader Darlene Lohroff and juniors Tom Marks, Lory Predum and Louise Sykes.
The students responsible for the prank of painting graffiti on the city’s water tower will share costs of having it painted over — $525.
Earning first division ratings at the band festival at West Ottawa High School were Debbie Horn, Alan Steines, Greg Suhusky, Ruth Arndt, Janice Thomas and pianist Jane Tinsler.
Worls War II veteran Walter Gamble died at Butterworth Hospital. A 24-year employee at Steelcase, he was 46, and died of cancer.
A Michigan State Police helicopter will be used during the holiday season in an extra effort to catch drunken driving on major highways.
Mrs. Carl Fockler of Gun Lake presented “The Christmas Cherub” to members of the Wayland Extension Group.
Wayland Calvary Church will present the Christmas cantata “The Night the Angels Sang,” with Mrs. Alan Baugh directing and music accompaniment by Mrs. Lewis Nakken and Mrs. Norman Bredeweg.
Now showing Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Wayland Theatre: Alan Arkin and Rita Moreno in “Popi.” Cost is 90 cents for adults and 50 cents for children under 11.
The Wayland varsity basketball team hiked its season record to 3-0 with a 75-52 victory over Maple Valley. Guard Boyd Heckert scored 20 points, Mark Schipper and Don Klein both had 12, Mike Latondress 11 and Jim Ritsema 9. Randy Hummel scored 29 for Maple Valley.
Ronald Wycoff of Dorr, a 1966 graduate of Wayland High School, was promoted to specialist as a cannoneer with the 182nd Airborne Division in Vietnam.
Sgt. Raymond Wagner Jr. of Martin is serving as a rifleman with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam.
Ken Kelsey is heading up the Hopkins FFA beef project, overseeing and raising a Hereford and a Angus steer.
Peter, Paul & Mary claimed their first No. 1 hit song since “Puff the Magic Dragon” with “Leaving on a Jet Plane.”
75 Years Ago — Dec. 22, 1944
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher apologized by overlooking the musical trio of Donna Jean Blue (violin), Mrs. Richard Overmire (cello) and Miss Kellogg (piano) and their performances in the recent Rotary Ladies Night at the Red Brick Tavern.
Staff Sgt. Wayne Aubil has been awarded the Bronze Star while serving in England assistant crew chief at the Eighth Air Force Fighter Station.
Pfc. Parl Layton of Hopkins is back home on 21-day furlough after 31 months toiling in the New Guinea jungles in the Pacific Theatre.
Leighton Township pioneer farmer Fred Schad, 81, died at the Wayland home of his daughter. Mrs. Russell Hunsberger.
Pfc. Herman Stoffel wrote a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Stoffel of Wayland, about his participation in the invasion of Leyte in the Philippines. Noting there still are enemies on the island, “It’s just like hunting rabbits, only you get Japs instead.”
Mrs. Merle Sebright received notice from the War Department that her son, Merton Moored, was killed during the Leyte invasion.
Two minor fires summoned local firefighters to Doris Beauty Shop in Wayland and the farm east of town of John Skyrzinski.
Mrs. Harry Dommert was elected president of the Peg-A-Ways group at the home of Robert Nicolai during the business meeting that brought out 38 members.
A report in the Dec. 15 issue of the Globe that said Mrs. Georgia McDonald had purchased a tavern in Dorr was incorrect.
Wayland High School vocational agriculture instructor Mr. Huston has outlines a plan to offer adult educations classes for 10 weeks on dairying. Mr. Bassett will continue to teach new farm machinery classes. All classes are for men only, but women may attend if they get special permission.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Joe E. Brown in Polo Joe.”
- Anne Stein and Kent Smith in “Three Russian Girls.”
- Eleanor Powell, Dennis O’Keefe and W. C. Fields in “Sensations of 1945. Also featuring the music of the Woody Herman Orchestra and Cab Calloway.
- Monty Woolley, June Haver and Dick Haymes in “Irish Eyes Are Smiling.”