(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Jan. 18, 1995
St. Therese School fifth-grader David Riley won the local geography bee competition and has qualified for the state contest.
Robert Eyeman of Hopkins Township, in a special segment of “Readers’ Corner,” described in detail a traffic crash involving his family van on 128th Avenue west of Hopkins. He noted seat belts do indeed save lives and he thanked passersby who stopped to help.
The Hopkins Village Council turned down a proposal by Hopkins Schools to use the community hall as a classroom, maintaining it is inadequate and it would interfere with customary public use of the facility.
Barabra Kaarlie has resigned her post as executive director of the Allegan County Alliance to start up her own consulting business.
Pat Staley wrote a feature about dog licenses, focusing on why they are deemed necessary — a matter of protecting public health and safety and law and order.
Water and sewer and sidewalk projects in the City of Wayland are being delayed because of the unfinished condition of resurfacing and repaving South Main Street.
Martin Village officials are discussing extension of water service to Marshall Plastics Film, to be paid for by a grant written by Barbara Kaarlie.
Wayland Police Chief Dan Miller advised all citizens to call 911 when there are emergency needs. He was responding to a complaint from a resident on North Forrest Street who said response was slow to a burglary in process. The perp did not get away, however.
Bill Howland, a 1987 Wayland High School graduate, has been named acting police chief for the Village of Hopkins, succeeding Ed Wedge, who resigned.
A special committee studying facilities has concluded its work and is recommending Hopkins Schools expansion.
Richie Guerrant netted 33 points to help Martin defeat Lawton in hoops after a difficult lesson learning loss to Gobles.
The Wayland varsity basketball team now is 1-7 overall after a loss at Sparta.
Sophomores Ben Brenner and Tim Kisner engineered a come-from-behind 62-55 victory for Hopkins over defending state champion Grand Rapids Covenant Christian.
Martin’s Angie Goodrich continues to amaze the local prep wrestling world by registering her third pin this season.
Flutist Kelly Jo Walma and tenor David Stout, Wayland High School students, are members of the State Honors Band and Choir in concert in Ann Arbor.
World War II veteran Frank Taylor of Payne Lake died at Blodgett Hospital. A life-long Wayland area resident, he was 70.
50 Years Ago — Jan. 14, 1970
A special education program will be added to the Wayland Union Schools curriculum for the 1970-71 academic year.
Lyle Berry has resigned his position as athletic director at Wayland and is applying for the head varsity football coaching position left open by the resignation of Eugene Knobloch. Other applicants include Spriggs TeRoller and Richard Akers and someone from outside the local system.
Detective Robert Golm, Trooper Joe Keena and and Cpl. Marvin Anderson were recognized for their service at the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police by Commander Harold Ernst.
Lance Cpl. Maslowski, a 1967 Wayland High School graduate, was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service in the Vietnam War.
Clem Rewa of Dorr, a 20-year veteran of the Allegan County Board of Supervisors, has been chosen chairman of that body for the coming year.
Retired First Lt. James DeVoss was special guest at the Rotary Club luncheon. He related the story about his plane being shot down over Southeast Asia and his subsequent rescue. He said the incident proved to him that the U.S. government values human life.
Fire destroyed the farm home of Robert Biggs, whose artificial arm was among the contents lost. The blaze destroyed the dwelling, located on 141st Avenue.
The Rev. Robert Luby will bring two color films, “The Heavens Declare” and “The Withered Reed,” to be shown at the Dorr Baptist Church service at Dorr Township Hall.
Evangelist Jere Brubaker, from the Youth for Christ program, will be a guest at the Wayland Calvary Church this Sunday.
The First Baptist Church will have a dedication ceremony Sunday when Pastor Richard Dix welcomes guest preacher Joseph Bower of Quincy, Ill.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Charlyomn Heston and Jessica Walter in “Number One.”
The Wayland High School wrestling team easily won the championship in the Grand Rapids East Christian tournament, as five of its grapplers won first-place trophies — Ken Merren (98), Brent Irwin (107), Ron Straub (115), Brian Martin (130) and Steve McBride (145). The Wildcats also won dual meets against Delton, Middleville and Gull Lake.
Wayland and Hamilton share first place in the last basketball season of the Expressway Conference. The Wildcats had balanced scoring in a victory over Middleville as Don Klein has 15 points, Mark Schipper 11 and Boyd Heckert and Tom Latondress 10 apiece.
Barry Brower’s latest installment of “Vietnam Diary” was stunningly reflective about the mission of the conflict. “So Ho Chi Minh has accomplished with minimal resources what Hitler, Kaiser Wilhelm and King George had failed to do — hold the American Eagle at bay.”
Still No. 1 on the nation’s musical charts: “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” by B.J. Thomas.
75 Years Ago — Jan. 19, 1945
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote, “While snow conditions in the village could be improved upon, it is the floks living in the country that have the real kick coming against the weatherman. Take a drive in almost any direction, and snow drifts six and eight feet in height are common.”
Second Lt. Roman Niemczyk has been a prisoner of war in Europe since Aug. 17, 1943. He wrote a hopeful letter to his parents, optimistic his ordeal would be over soon.
Three other local soldiers Felix Gulch, Merrill Barrett and Merrill Anthony, have recently been listed as missing in action.
Sgt. Gerald Ham of Moline is on 30-day furlough after serving in North Africa, Holland and France, picking up a Bronze Star and Silver Star for his efforts.
Ensign Heydenberk has completed coursework in communications at Harvard and expects the U.S. Navy soon to ship him overseas.
Cranley Sebright of Monterey is home on indefinite furlough after being rescued at sea. He and a buddy shared a shared a lifeboat for two days after their vessel was struck by a torpedo.
Monterey Township farmer Albert Hartman committed suicide by slashing his wrists and his body was found at his farm. He had been in ill health recently and had lost his wife to a traffic accident a couple years before.
Marshall Towne has returned to Wayland after getting a medical discharge from the U.S. Navy. He had served in Sicily and Italy.
Coxswain Martin Dewey is home on 11-day furlough after serving for 17 months in the South Pacific, taking part in 19 battles for the U.S. Navy.
Vernice Benson brought six pupils to the Ladies Library Club meeting to makes presentations about the arts. The students were William Mauchmar, Harold Westly, Rita Reider, Frederick Schwartz, Roger Morris and Neysa Gurney.
Albert DeVries is serving in the Phillippines and has been promoted to sergeant.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Dick Powell, Linda Darnell and Jack Oakie in “It Happened Tomorrow.”
- William “Hoppalong Cassidy” Boyd, Andy Clyde and Jimmy Rogers in “Forty Thieves.”
- Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson in “Double Indemnity.”
- Danny Kaye and Dinah Shore in “Up in Arms.”
100 Years Ago — Jan. 16, 2020
Ella Russ presented a paper on the geography of Michigan, Ella Chapman gave a presentation Indians in Michigan and May Smith handled the topic “Michigan in Competition with the World” for the latest Ladies Library Club meeting.
Mrs. Homer Brown sang “a very quaint Negro lullaby” at a community meeting at Wayland School.
Dr. McCraken, a chemistry professor at Western Michigan University, gave a speech about how parents’ better discipline at home translates into better discipline in the schools. He added that a shortage of teachers must be dealth with by more attractive wages.
Performing recitals for the grammar school grades were Thelma Smith, Averil Yerrick, James Halloran, Harold Jerrow and Hazel Hilton.
The farm and house of Orville Hendershott was destroyed by fire. Mr. Hendershott, an invalid, had to be carried from inside the home.
Longtime Wayland area resident Eugene Towne died after suffering a heart attack in a Chicago hotel room. His son, Charles, had to drive to Chicago to pick up his body.
Dr. E.O. Hanlon had to remove the smallest finger of Melvin Farnham, a Consumers Power employee who was the victim of an accident.
The Wayland Township Board adopted a resolution establishing a second voting precinct west of the old Plank Road.
Irene Dell, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Dell, died at home of influenza. “The little sufferer had been in ill health for some time.”
Dr. Ira L. Slater will have charge of a new emergency room and ambulance at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids.
For sale in Moline: Two hot water incubators. Each holds 230 eggs.”
Much of the news in this edition outlines activities in the U.S. to help Armenians with their cruel treatment at the hands of Turkey.