(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — March 15, 1995
In a letter to the editor defending “resigned” varsity football coach Ed Lark, Wayland High School seniors Stacy McCarty and Kerry Schumaker asked school officials and the community, “Have all of you gossip eaters had enough?”
Nancy Smith wrote a letter critical of how Wayland Middle School officials have been handling behavior problems by “at-risk” students.
The Wayland Township Board is crafting a plan for purchasing a strip adjacent to the Allegan County Park at Gun Lake on 124th Avenue.Village of Hopkins officials received complaints from local residents about teen-agers taking over the village park downtown and behaving with disrespect.
Wayland High School student Jesse Simmons organized a special program on discrimination at the middle school, featuring a discussion on Jane Elliott’s eye-color experiment in her classroom on 1968. Junior High Principal Jon Jensen declared. “If there is hope, it is with the young people.”
Gary Kerber was elected Hopkins Village President in a runoff between him and Bob Beck. Sandra Morris was elected clerk and Judy Weick assessor.
The Martin Township Board was told by local residents there is a serious need for dust control on 118th Avenue.
Tamara Sevigny was awarded her job back as a custodian for Wayland schools after she filed a grievance. She had been fired for twice falsifying her time cards.
The Wayland High School volleyball team’s season was ended in the regionals by Stevensville Lakeshore. The team finished with a district title and an overall season record of 37-12-6.
Larry Ward, who was head varsity coach at Grand Rapids Catholic Central for four years and was defensive coordinator, has been hired as head varsity football coach for Wayland, succeeding Ed Lark.
Martin’s Josh Conley lost a heart-breaking state finals match in overtime to finish as runner-up at 134 pounds in the Class D tournament. He had a 45-4 overall record.
Martin ended its 6-18 basketball season with a loss to Wyoming Lee.
Wayland’s basketball season came to end in a district loss to Hastings and finished with a 3-18 overall record.
50 Years Ago — March 11, 1970
John Hefner Jr., 26, has been chosen city manager, succeeding Blaine Bacon. He had been assistant finance director at Oak Park, Ill. His salary of $12,000 per year was throught to be too high by council members Marshall Towne and Arnold Wilde, who voted against his appointment.
Wayland Union Schools will have a ballot proposal to assume the debt of the former Dorr School, along with the regular school board election in June.
Rick Tokarchick, who just completed a successful first year as Wayland wrestling coach, has been selected as the Wildcats’ first-ever cross-country coach beginning with the fall of 1970.
The Allegan County Intermediate School District Board has agreed to purchase microfilm for permanent records of schools.
Ed Church defeated Mrs. Lester Wilson in the Hopkins Village election for clerk.
The Wayland High School band, under the direction of Steven Working, earned a first division rating at the district festival. It was the first “I” Wayland had earned in 14 years.
Allegan County Sheriff Robert Whitcomb has announced the formation of a special narcotics unit that includes four deputies.
William Watkins, former manager of the Hopkins Creamery and former president of the Hopkins Board of Education, died at the Grand Valley Nursing Center. He was 85.
Sam Vinton, Jr., who spent nearly all of his life in the Congo and has been a long-time missionary, was to be guest speaker at the missionary conference at Berean Bible Church in Moline.
A huge Dorr Township zoning ordinance, covering almost four broadsheet newspaper pages, was published in this week’s edition of the Globe.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: Walt Disney’s “101 Dalmations.”
Wayland High School junior Brent Irwin finished sixth in the state Class B wrestling tournament at 107 lbs.
The Wayland varsity basketball team beat Otsego in the first round of districts, but lost 60-58 to Allegan in the finals. 6-8 center Don Klein had a big tournament with 27 points vs. Otsego and 21 points and 19 rebounds against Allegan. The victory over Otsego was the Wildcats’ first in district play in six years.
Martin won the district basketball championship by beating Schoolcraft, 70-44. Dave Miller had 15 points, Bob Zumbrink had 13 and Don Knight 11. The Clippers played at Western Michigan University’s fieldhouse.
Hopkins edged Hamilton in its district opener, but lost in the finals.
Mark Austin is directing the Hopkins High School junior play, “No Boys Allowed.” Student directors are Jean Rewa and Doug Fleser.
75 Years Ago — March 16, 1945
The Wayland Village election again was a quiet affair, with only 55 showing up at the polls. The slate of candidates included all Republicans running unopposed.
The Infantile Paralysis campaign was rated a huge success countywide, raising more than $3,000. Local chairman was Phil Reno.
Cpl. Mitchell Laker of Wayland and brother-in-law Peter Wallis both are serving with the Marines in Iwo Jima.
The top academic members of the Wayland High School Class of 1945 are Esther Winger, Don Sutton, Bob Perry, Donna Jean Blue, Adeline Kaminski, Verla Michael, Fred Hildenbrand, Florene Evans, Irene VanDuine, Ruth Jager, Loujis Harnish, Margaret Van Heuklem and Walter Gurney.
Second Lt. Richard Hines has been earned the Combat Infantryman award while serving with the Seventh Army in France.
The Anti-Can’t Club has decided to trim back its meetings to the first Friday of each month instead of every other week.
Albert Dean, a native of Wayland Township, past Mason Lodge master and a member of the local Knights of Pythians, died at the age of 64. He founded the Riverside Creamery in Plainwell.
Maude Sigler celebrated her 88th birthday and noted she had lived in Wayland now for 86 years.
The Servicemembers Wives organization has established four standing committees, with Vivian Kidney and Mrs. Alta Stoddard as early prime movers.
The Dorr Township Democratic Caucus was well attended, but the Republican Party’s counterpart failed to come up with even one nominee.
Bob Crofoot led a discussion on the issue of compulsory military training for Americans at the Leighton Grange meeting.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Tom Conway in “The Falcon in Hollywood.”
- Smiley Burnette and Sunset Carson in “The Code of the Prairies.”
- Carmen Miranda, Perry Como and Phil Silvers in “Something for the Boys.”
- Abbot & Costello and the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra in “Lost in a Harem.”
100 Years Ago — March 14, 1920
Wayland auto dealers will he hosts for the third annual Wayland Auto Show April 9 and 10.
Area contributions to a fund to help Armenian victims of post-war Turkey’s genocide attempt have totaled $137,000, including $47,000 from Wayland Township and $10,000 each from the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, the Congregational Church, the Church of Christ, Mary Fallas and Wayland schools.
Mrs. Phila Deuel presented Ladies Library Club President Fanny Hoyt with the red rose she won in a contest on the occasion of Miss Hoyt’s birthday. Mrs. Deuel also announced she is opening her parlor millinery, making hats in her home and selling them.
The average daily attendance for the primary school in Shelbyville is 22.6, according to teacher Mrs. Myrtle Chamberlain. It has 30 students, 21 of whom are girls. The grammar school has 12 girls and eight boys.
Miss Chloe DeForest is keeping house for Frank Sliter, whose daughter is away tending to the sick.
Miss Hazel Trautman is entertaining a case of the mumps at home.
Mrs. William Brinkert has been at Gun Lake this week caring for her sister, who has been ill.
The Rebekahs’ quilt auction will be at the Odd Fellows’ Hall March 18 and their potluck supper will take place the following evening.
Fred Burleson has moved his second hand store and broom factory into the Stockdale building on North Main.
Wayland now has received authorization ofAmerican Legion Chapter Post No. 266. Election of officers will be held at the home of Fay C. Wing.
Charles Bullen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clint Bullen, was killed in an accident while scaling logs oin Derrington, Wash.
Only 34 local residents voted in the village election.
The Rev. W. C. Langden, China missionary for 27 years, will present a lecture March 18 at the Methodist Church. A silver offering will be taken.