(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Feb. 8, 1995
Anita Kerber wrote a letter to the editor insisting that the Hopkins Public Schools indeed have been in crisis because of overcrowding and needs for new buildings, made worse by local voters’ turning down millage requests.
Editor Nila Aamoth, in this week’s Soapbox, told readers the reason most recent editions of the Globe have been slim in size is that, “Advertisers who put their eggs into a Christmas basket are miserly in January… and, as everyone knows, it is the advertisers who bring you the newspaper each week.”
Longtime Dorr Township volunteer firefighter Edward Schmidt died after falling into Lake Monterey while ice fishing. His former colleagues on the department were the ones who tried heroically to rescue him. He was 74.
The Paws with a Cause agency for service dogs plans to set up headquarters at the Industrial Park on Division Avenue, according to Dorr Township Planning Commission Chairman Bob Wagner.
First Lt. Michael Olson, originally from Lowell, has taken over duties as commander of the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police, succeeding Stephen DeBoer, who stepped down to become Barry County Sheriff.
Ken Pardee, citing burdensome state regulations and work overload, has resigned as zoning enforcement administrator and building inspector for Watson Township.
Scott Sullivan wrote a feature story about Denise and Joe Poirer of Wayland, who set up a greenhouse just south of town as the only wholesale growers of roses in West Michigan.
The Gun Lake Sewer and Water Authority has agreed to look into doing a study on ways to eliminate odors from the wastewater facility on East Parker Drive.
Pat Staley penned a story on the progress of a remodeling project at Henika District Library. A state grant was secured by Director Lynn Mandaville and the work is supposed to reflect on buildings that appeared originally near the turn of the 20th century.
Setter Katie Lodenstein was given a lot of credit by her coach for leading Hopkins in its climb into a tie for first place in O-K Silver Conference volleyball. Karen Schwartz and 6-footer Emily Spray also were mentioned prominently.
The Wayland boys’ varsity basketball, only a year away from its district championship season, now is 1-12, despite a balanced offensive attack with Jason Harrington, 13 points, Walter Smith, 11, and Daryl Prins 10 in its most recent loss.
Hopkins fell to Freedom Baptist in a high-scoring ballgame to fall to 10-4. Tim Kisner scored 23 points and Jeff Reynolds nailed three threes.
Martin has won four of its last six basketball games and senior Richie Guerrant is approaching 1,000 points in his career. He netted 25 in the last game and Mark Garcia had 19.
Martin volleyball is 6-3 overall and 4-2 in the SAC. Tracey Smith and Holly Keyzer led the way for coach Kelli Morris’ ballclub.
Leigh Bileth, longtime square dance caller and Masonic official, died at his Green Lake home. He was 89.
Longtime Wayland school teacher and Hopkins Village librarian, died at age 93.
50 Years Ago — Feb. 4, 1970
Fires in Moline and southeast Wayland were reported in the past week. One was at the farm of Bill Reurink on 140th Avenue, where the Reurink Brothers business was located. The other fire was at the Gun Lake area residence of Bill Cline, but it was extinguished before firemen arrived.
A 28-acre site south of the Village of Hopkins has been identified for a $510,000 sewer system that will be made possible by an anti-pollution grant.
Mrs. Walter Alflen has been retained as corresponding secretary for the Wayland Chamber of Commerce, which is preparing for the annual dinner Feb. 16 at the VFW.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Dan Rowan and Dick Martin in “The Maltese Bippy.”
Wayland City Council is seeking help from the county for a $1.57 million sewer project after a new law to help with bonding.
The City Council continues to seek a new city manager to succeed Blaine Bacon, who left last August. Deputy Clerk Edith Weber is serving as the interim.
Dennis Cooper will show a film on Eastern Canada at the next Rotary travelogue Thursday evening at the girls’ gym.
Don Klein, the 6-8 Wildcat center, dropped in 25 points and grabbed 18 rebounds as Wayland remained atop the Expressway Conference with a 73-69 victory over Caledonia. The ‘Cat, now 10-1 overall, also got 17 points from Jim Ritsema, 14 from Mark Schipper and 12 from Boyd Heckert.
Brian Martin pinned his Caledonia opponent in just 16 seconds and Wayland’s wrestling team defeated Caledonia 36-13 to lift its dual meet record to 10-2-2.
Wayland High School graduate Don Borgic came up with an important pin for Ferris State in its dual meet victory over Grand Valley.
Harold Schumaker of Dorr, rifleman with the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam, has been promoted to specialist-4.
Auden T. Saldivar of Shelbyville has been assigned as a rifleman for the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam.
Barry Brower, in his weekly “Vietnam Diary” column, thanked kind deeds from Wayland area people over the holidays, including the Claude Smiths, the Fred Hilberts, Julius Andringas, Dorothy Boggs, Clara Durfee and Alice Zeerip, Ty Finkbeiners, Bill Hookers, Chet Brevitzes, and m embers of the Elenbaas Guild.
Members of the Wayland Grange will meet at the home of Milo Farnsworth with the discussion topic of “What is Money? In Which God Do We trust.”
75 Years Ago — Feb. 9, 1945
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote in his “Observations” column: General McArthur has kept his promise to the Phillippines after he left three years ago — ‘I’ll Be Back.’”
Mosher also observed, “The old town ain’t what it used to be before the brownout now in effect (since Feb. 1) over most of the country. The rules permit a work light, but ban use of all advertising lights.”
Jack Zarimba, public relations rep from the Office of Price Administration, told Rotary members the reason for the unpopular price controls was to prevent inflation and assure equitable distribution of available merchandise.
John Kitchell, a recluse who has lived near Bradley for the past several years, was found dead on the floor at his house. The attending physician said Kitchell had been dead for two to three days.
Calvin Streeter speared a record 46-pound, 53-inch muskie in Gun Lake.
Navy signalman Guy Smith dined in the same room with movie stars Myrna Loy, Jack Benny, Carol Landis, John Boles, Elsa Maxwell and Victor Moore at an Underwood & Underwood Ad Agency gala in New York City.
Sgt. Albert DeVries , 23, of Moline, was killed in action on Samar Island during the Admiralty Islands invasion.
Pfc. Donald Boydston of Bradley was wounded in action for the third time in the war while fighting in Luxembourg.
Sgt. Joseph Panyrek of Gun Lake is in a hospital in France recovering from a leg injury suffered in battle.
A cake walk is scheduled at Sts. Cyril & Methodius, Gun Lake Sunday evening.
St. Therese Church will have an All Game Card and Bunco party.
The Wayland boys’ basketball team defeated Hopkins 55-30 and the girls’ squad tied the Blue Devils 28-28. The district tournament will be March 1-3 in Allegan.
The Wayland High School Music Department is planning the annual operetta April 26.
The Wayland Pussies tied the Byron Center Oriolettes 17-17. Irene Nakken scored 14 points for Wayland.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Jimmy Cagney and Margaret Linsay in “Frisco Kid.”
- Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in “The Big Noise.”
- Anne Baxter and John Hodiak in “Sunday Dinner for a Soldier.”
- Dorothy Lamour and Eddie Bracken in “Rainbow Island.”
100 Years Ago — Feb. 6, 1920
Vera King, Class of 1919, visited Wayland School while on break from classes from Parsons Business College.
The Rev. William Malcolm Young spoke to students at the grammar school and Wayland High School about “The Mountaineers.”
Naman Frank has offered the schools a portion of the proceeds from the film “Fox” Tuesday evening at the Opera House Tuesday evening.
Longtime Dorr resident William Sproat has died in Grand Rapids after a lingering illness.
Members of the Farm Bureau organization plan to meet at Frank’s Opera House Wednesday, Feb. 11, to discuss forming a cooperative covering Wayland, Hopkins, Leighton and Dorr townships.
“The Wit and Humor of Today” was the topic for the Ladies Library Club meeting in Wayland. Miss Paget was to present “The Trend of Modern Fiction and Its Dangerous Tendencies.”
Mrs. Charles Frank was to present “Your Best Thoughts on Community Schools” at the Wayland Grange meeting Feb. 7.
The Globe once again included many stories and opinion pieces about the humanitarian crisis in Turkey involving the Armenians.
The Allegan County chapter of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union has been tasked with coming up with $1,490 to contribute to the WCTU Jubilee Drive and Endowment Fund.
Ninth grade algebra people are attempting to standardize tests, with satisfactory results.