(Taken from the archives of the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — March 8, 1995
Hopkins Public Schools will seek a millage that will determine whether a new high school is built or the district will go one split sessions or purchase portable classrooms. The school board is split on the two options.
The 1990 census declared Dorr Township to have a population of 5,453, but a mid-decade estimate pegs it as 6,271, about a 15 percent gain.
The Martin Village Neighborhood Watch proposal has been abandoned because of a lack of public interest.
Tony L. Funk, 23, of Hopkins, was killed when the car he was riding in left the road, struck a culvert, went airborne and rolled over. Funk, an employee with New Life Transport, was thrown from the vehicle.
Robert Beck and Gary Kerber are candidates for village president as the March 13 election approaches in Hopkins.
Groundbreaking is soon to get under way for the Yankee Springs Meadows mobile home park.
Wayland Little Caesar’s, McDonald’s, Burger King, Enza’s Pizza and Carman’s Pharmacy were recognized as smoke-free facilities by county health officials.
Scott Sullivan wrote a feature about Dale Whittredge donating a kidney to his sister, Melody, who has diabetes and resulting serious issues with her eyesight.
Mike Iwaniw broke Keith Nickels’ school record in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 58.92 seconds.
Wayland High School alum Anne Iciek led Hillsdale College in scoring with just under 20 points a game and she was named to the second unit of the all-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team.
The Martin volleyball team concluded its season with a 10-6 record with a loss in the district tournament to Saugatuck. Tracey Smith was named to the all-Southwestern Athletic Conference team.
The Wayland High School volleyball team captured the Class B district championship with victories over Allegan and Otsego. Jessica McEwen the way for coach Dennis Anguilm’s Lady Wildcats.
Frank Alfieri scored 31 points to pace Fennville to victory over Hopkins in the Class C districts. The Vikings, after starting out 9-2, finished at 13-8.
Daryl Prins had a big week for Wayland, but the basketball team lost two close games, to Forest Hills Central and Caledonia, to close out the regular season.
The Hopkins volleyball team concluded its first winning season in a decade with a 17-10-5 record.
50 Years Ago — March 4, 1970
Still a lot of red tape ahead — The Michigan Water Resources Commission will review the City of Wayland’s grant application to fund a sanitary sewer system. The application then will eb examined by the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration.
Cleo Todd is running unopposed for president in the Hopkins Village election, but there will be a race for clerk between Ed Church and Mrs. Lester Wilson.
Susan Kay Beaver has been chosen winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship award for Hopkins High School.
Trooper Melvin Koenes has returned to the Wayland State Police post after serving a year at Pontiac.
Earl Lambert, owner of the Golden Hills Kennels in Dorr, died at University Hospital in Ann Arbor. He was 59.
Mrs. Paul Scheiber of Martin has taken an active role with the Grand Rapids chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation after the death of her son.
Serving as students teachers from this area are Ms. Allen Dangremond, Camilla Smith, Mark Gordon Ross, Sharon VanderWeide and Robert Junglas and Mike Lautenschleger.
The Wayland City Council continues to undergo a lot of public pressure to adopt a local snowmobiling ordinance.
A special City Council meeting at noon Friday has been announced to introduce the new city manager, succeeding Blaine Bacon.
Barry Brower, in his weekly “Vietnam Diary” column, wrote about the dogs, Susie, King and Snoopy, serving at the support command where he is located.
Mrs. Barbara Lohroff penned a letter to the editor urging passage of a local ordinance to curb burning of rubbish within the city limits.
The Globe published a full page advertisement congratulating the high school basketball and wrestling teams for winning the last Expressway Conference championships. T he basketball team finished at 14-3 and enters district play while Wildcat wrestlers Ron Straub and Brent Irwin qualified for the state finals at Okemos High School.
James Gilder of Hopkins and Kermit Pike of Martin will join a tour of dairy and poultry farms in California.
A 4-H Share the Fun Talent Show will be held at 8 p.m. March 20 at the Moline School gym.
Simon & Garfunkel registered their third No. 1 song, “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
75 Years Ago — March 9, 1945
Former local druggist Harry D. Allgeo died in Chicago March 5. Born in Bradley in 1870 and owner of a drug store here for 20 years, he was 75.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher noted the local village election included only one ticket on the ballot. Nonetheless, he urged, “Better go vote and show your citizenship.”
Mosher, who also was village president, noted Wayland sported a budget balance of $6,391 at the close of the fiscal year.
It was noted that well workers were scrambling to drive rural wells down deeper to fund the water table for area farmers to serve their barns and houses.
Pvt. Robert E. Geib of Martin was killed in action Feb. 10 in Germany. He has a brother, Anthony, who is serving with the signal corps in the Pacific Theatre.
The Auxiliary will entertain members of the local American Legion for its 27th anniversary dinner with special guest Harold Hawkins, who has served in the military for both world wars.
An open house is planned for 7:30 to 10 p.m. March 15 for the homemaking classes at the high school. Joining in the festivities will be dairy class members.
It was officially confirmed that Pfc. Rodney Cole was killed in action Jan. 3 in Luxembourg. He was wounded three days after the D-Day invasion and spent a lengthy time recovering in a hospital in England. He rejoined service members for the Holland invasion in mid-December.
The organization of the Dorr Recreation Club was completed at the local community hall, with William Greis was elected president of the group.
George Cozzens sent a letter to the Globe from Germany, where he has been serving with the Third U.S. Army.
Harold Doxey was promoted to sergeant while serving with the Seventh Army in France. He wrote about some atrocities “over there.”
Public notices were published about caucuses for Leighton and Wayland townships Saturday, March 10.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Jeanne Crain and Frank Lattimore in “In the Meantime, Darling.”
- Gene Autrey and Smiley Burnette in “Git Along Little Doggie.”
- Ronald Coleman and Marlene Dietrich in “Kismet.”
- Van Johnson and Spencer Tracy in “Thirty Seconds over Tokyo.”
100 Years Ago — March 5, 1920
The ninth grade English class at the high school is studying Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice.”
The annual Allegan County Field Day has been scheduled for May 28.
The home economics class is manufacturing garments and assembling samples for sewing books.
Local Grange Master John C. Ketcham will be guest speaker for a special program at the Christian Church March 12.
A school orchestra for grades 7 through 12 is being organized at Wayland.
Wayland High School seniors have chosen shell pink and moss green for the class colors, sweet peas and Lilly of the Valley for class flower and the class motto will be “Not evening, but dawn.” Roy Jones is class president, Ora Peterson treasurer and Bernice Watts vice president.
Village Caucuses to nominate Republican candidates for the April 5 election will be held March 13.
Mrs. Nina Morehouse and Lillian Buskirk gave a presentation to members of the Ladies Library Club about how moving pictures are made.
Robbins School has been closed lately because of a spate of illnesses.
James Milham, a longtime member of the Masonic Lodge in Bradley, died at his home in Martin. He was 53.
Vivian Chapman has been ill at home with Scarletina.
The Hope Rebekah Lodge No. 12 published a resolution of condolence for Bessie Nichols, for whom “the Angel of Death entered our lodge.”
The Aletha Class of the Christian Church celebrated its 10th anniversary, with attendance by 80 members and guests.
The East Wayland Community Club meeting was canceled because too many members are ill.
Roy Farnsworth has purchased the milk hauling route of Phil Jones, who proudly insists he was the first to deliver to the Helvetia Condensary.
Glenn Milliard, formerly of Wayland, was injured in a street car collision in Grand Rapids after its air brake failed.
Leon Schuh, Harry Milham and Charles Ritz earned their coveted encampment degrees at the Muskegon convention of the International Order of Odd Fellows.