(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)

25 Years Ago — Feb. 22, 1995

Former Wayland Board of Education member Diane Smith penned a letter to the editor criticizing the handling of the report of underage drinking that eventually led to the resignation of varsity football coach Ed Lark. She blamed lax attitudes on teens using alcohol at parties and mixing with adults.

Teresa Coffman offered a different taker in her letter, suggesting that Lark was the sacrificial lamb in this report of misconduct.

The Globe published several related articles — one asking if school districts actually have jurisdiction over student-athletes off campus., another featuring Martin and Hopkins athletes who agreed that it’s easy to find a party with alcohol.

T.J. Restau, a young assistant coach under Lark was interviewed, and he said it’s likely that coaches players may get too close.

The body of drowning victim Joan Hulst finally was located after she fell through the ice after fishing and snowmobiling Feb. 7.

Martin Village officials came to the conclusion that it may not be advisable to start a Neighborhood Watch program in the wake of poor attendance at a public meeting and apparent public apathy.

Anita Modreske and Allen Brewer were appointed to seats on the Wayland City Planning Commission.

The Dorr Township Board is considering a tax abatement request from Wonderland Tire, which has purchased land with plans to erect a plant for retreading truck tires.

Red tape may delay a $1.325 million road paving project for 134^th and 135^th avenues. Under the plan, Monterey Township would pay a local match of $87,500.

Robert Beck and Gary Kerber have been nominated for village president of Hopkins after the GOP village caucuses.

The Globe published a follow-up story on the shooting death of Dennis Roxbury of Hopkins, who was killed by Michigan State Police troopers during a standoff. The police were cleared and it was determined that Roxbury brandished a shotgun during the incident in 1991.

The Wayland varsity basketball team ended a 12-game losing streak by besting Otsego and Sparta. The Wildcats are 3-14 in coach Mike Hudson’s second season. Leading the way were Jason Harrington, Jason Burgess, Daryl Prins and sophomore Walter Smith.

The Hopkins volleyball team suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of cellar-dwelling Kelloggsville and now enters the O-K Silver Conference tournament in third place.

Allendale defeated Hopkins to secure first place in the O-K Silver basketball derby and hike its overall record to 15-1.

Martin’s Angie Goodrich, dubbed the “Stud Woman,” finished her first varsity wrestling season with 13 victories.

Martin finished third in the Southwest Athletic Conference dual match standings before the league tournament.

50 Years Ago — Feb. 18, 1970

Hugh DeWeerd and Arnold Wilde chose not seek re-election to the Wayland City Council, but six candidates will vie for three open seats. They include incumbent Walt Gurney, Max Barnes, Edmund Henderson, Willard Benedict, David Low and Ted Green.

Hopkins Village will have a contest between Mrs. Lester Wilson and Ed Church for clerk. Mrs. Ronald Jones isn’t seeking another term.

Mrs. James Hazen, Irwin Morris, Richard Kerber, Don Knudsen and Jerry Hazen are five candidates seeking three trustees’ seats on the Hopkins Village Council.

The Wayland school district’s request for a 4.11-mill tax levy was passed resoundingly, 706 to 332.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “Ring of Bright Water.”

Louise Sykes, Paul Calkins, Yvonne Whittoff and Robert Grafford earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages for the first semester at Wayland High School.

The Hopkins Board of Education has decided to seek a five-mill renewal and one additional mill to build a bus garage. The special election will be April 12.

Miss Anna B. Walter, a cashier at the Hopkins bank for 40 years, died at St. Mary’s Hospital. She was 85.

Mrs. Grace Munger of Shelbyville observed her 90^th birthday by reciting a poem she wrote while she was in high school more than 70 years previous.

Grace Carpenter, Marcia Carpenter, Ruth Fenton, Virginia Holbrook, Jan Kessenich, Linda Stora and Joyce Vandenberg won an adult volleyball tournament at South Christian High School.

It was a big week in athletics for Wayland High School, which won the last Expressway Conference basketball and only Expressway Conference Tournament in wrestling. The league will disband at the end of this school year.

The wrestling team, under first-year coach Rick Tokarchick, scored 113 points in the mat tourney. Individual champions were Ken Merren (98 pounds), Ron Straub (115), Jerry Merren (123), Brian Martin (130), Steve McBride (145) and John DeWeerd (153).

The basketball team, coached by Jon Walcott, defeated Maple Valley 77-50, as senior John Baar held Randy Hummel, the league’s leading scorer, to just four points. Again, the ‘Cats were blessed with many scoring in double figures, including Don Klein 15, Mark Schipper and Boyd Heckert 13 apiece and Dan Hall 12.

Sly and the Family Stone took over the No. slot among the nation’s tunes with “Thank You Fer Lettin Me Be Mice Elf Again.”

75 Years Ago — Feb. 22, 1945

Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Baugh attended the Little Symphony performance at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre. Daughter Jean is a member of the ensemble.

Fr. Adalbert Radowski was the celebrant in the memorial service for Sgt. Leonard Kotrba at the Sts. Cyril & Methodius Church, Gun Lake. Sgt. Kotrba was killed by an explosion in Hawaii while on duty in the war.

A memorial service was planned for Pfc. Andrew VanderWeide at the Congregational Church. He had been killed in action in December in Luxembourg and buried in a military service in Belgium.

Charles Towne was nominated for village president of Wayland in the caucus, along with Phil Reno for clerk, Elizabeth Clark treasurer and Russell Rugaber, Clayton Blue and Clarence Calkins for trustees.

Pvt. Gordon Cole has been released from the hospital in France after being wounded in battle in December in Germany.

Mr. and Mrs. Harold Capple received word that their son, Sgt. Dick Chapple, has been listed as missing in action. He is a 1943 Wayland High School graduate and had been serving as an aerial gunner with the Flying Fortress in Europe.

Carl Gigowski of Hilliards has been promoted to first lieutenant.

The Hilliards weekly Globe correspondent: “The briefness of this column will have to be laid to the continue cold weather and perhaps the Lenten season, which usually puts a crimp in local activities.”
A photo advertisement from Wayland Pet Milk showed two dairymen soldiers visiting at the home of a small town mayor in Italy.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• Wiliiam “Hoppalong Cassidy” Boyd, Andy Clyde and Victor Jory in “Colt Comrades.”
• Donald Berry and Ruth Terry in “My Buddy.”
• Gene Tierney, Dana Andrews and Clifton Webb in “Laura.”
• Roy Rogers, Ruth Terry and Lloyd Corrigan in “Lake Placid Serenade.”
• Lt. Robert Taylor narrating the documentary “The Fighting Lady.”

100 Years Ago — Feb. 20, 1920

L.C. Cribbs, guest speaker from the U.S. Bureau of Markets, told area farmers at organizational meetings that the purpose of unionizing farmers is to form “non-profit, non-capital cooperative stock plans.” Meetings were held in Wayland Moline and Hopkins.

Mark Beall was nominated for village president at the GOP caucus, George Wilson treasurer, L.D. Chapple clerk, and William Sowden, Charles McClintock and David F. Fox for trustee seats.

John Stockdale left for Toledo to pick up cars for local sales, but was delayed by a blizzard. He arrived back in town ahead of the cars, which were shipped by rail.

A funeral took place in the Shelbyville home of William Young, “a highly respected man, and though he had resided here but a few years, he had made many friends.”
The Northeast Hopkins District No. 5 school was closed because of the flu, which also sidelined Wayland Bakery owner L. H. Reynolds, idling that local business.

Area teachers have been asked to give 10-minute presentations each to Wayland Grange members on the issue of rural consolidation of schools.
Wayland schools had a Friday evening Community Meeting, at which Paul Wing, son of local minister and furniture store owner Fay C. Wing, gave a presentation on his experiences in France during the war. Supt. Floyd Boughner also made a speech on the advantages of having departments for the seventh and eighth grades.

However, school activities have slowed considerably because of inclement weather and influenza.

Mrs. Mills gave a presentation to members of the Ladies Library Club about rodents with “Little Folks That Gnaw.”

“Crooked Trails and Straight” will be the next serial film presented at Frank’s Opera House.

Lillian E. Barnes, only 21, died at Foote Hospital in Jackson, where she had undergone nurses’ training as one of the top students. “She had an ideal disposition and great strength of character for one so young.”