(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — April 5, 1995
A Globe cover photo had a closeup of the members of the Wayland Recreation program’s three-on-three championship team in the 11- to 13-year-old division, including Coleman Lutz, Matt Gilbert, Matt Longstreet and Josh Smith.
Hopkins Board of Education member Christine Schwartz penned a letter critical of America’s recent results in teaching reading, promoting an intensive, systematic phonics approach rather than whole language. She contended, “Prior to the 1930s, illiteracy was almost unheard of.”
Allegan County Economic Development Commission Chairman John Hinkle reported the EDC is down to two finalists in interviews for Alliance Director to succeed Barbara Kaarlie.
This year’s celebration of the Dahlia Festival may include as many as three hot-air balloon lifts May 5-7, Chairman Jeff Salisbury told the City Council.
The City Council voted 6-1 against having a mid-decade census performed in the wake of the arrival of the Windsor Woods mobile home park.
Richard and Marian Baxter of Moline were arranged in Allegan County District Court on charges they they falsified records for tests not performed and returned polluted water to a creek near Green Lake. Leighton Township Supervisor Dar VanderArk said he was dubious about the charges.
John Rough V copped the gold medal in kata in the master’s division of the state karate contest and Ricia Babladelis won in women’s senior advanced. The teacher (sensei) for the local martial arts program is Paul Babladelis.
Former Globe Sports Editor Paul Jackson submitted a special column about the return of the “brats,” Major League baseball players after the strike that ruined the 1994 season.
Dorr Township firefighter Billy Fifelski Jr. and Memory Lanes owner Tess Wykoski were pictured showing off a Ram extrication tool the department was able to purchase with proceeds from a bowling benefit.
Audrey Willard, longtime activist in the Trinity Lutheran Church and former president of the Dorr American Legion Auxiliary, died at age 67.
Wayland High School student Kelly Herrema captured first place in keyboarding at the state Business Professional of America contest in Detroit.
50 Years Ago — April 1, 1970
The Wayland City Council has learned that about 30 percent of the $1.57 million cost of the sanitary sewer project will be absorbed by the federal and state government. The amount will be just over $422,000.
Hopkins Public Schools will have a special election April 6 on a request for renewal of five mills for two years and two separate proposals for constructing and maintaining a storage facility and bus garage.
Wayland High School graduate Rosemary Chrusciel was elected secretary of the Beta Beta Beta biological society at Western Michigan University.
Connie Blake was named valedictorian and Robert Larson salutatorian for the Martin High School Class of 1970.
A Michigan State Police helicopter did a test landing on the vacant ball field across the street from the local post on North Main Street. State police may use the field if necessary in the future.
Manslaughter charges against Gerald D. Anderson have been dropped at the request of the family of one of the victims. The issue was a traffic crash at the court corners at Bradley that killed Anderson’s wife and the infant childe of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Glass.
Former Wayland barber Bill Standish, now of Otsego, has been elected president of the Kalamazoo Valley Barbers’ Association.
Seeking three open City Council seats in the April 6 election will be Max Barnes, Ted Green, Walter Gurney, Willard Benedict and Edmund Henderson. All other candidates for city offices are unopposed.
Larry Kiser, a 1968 graduate of Hopkins High School, has been elected treasurer of the Alpha Pi Literary Society at Bob Jones University in South Carolina.
Heavy snowfall postponed the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the City Park, but sponsors, members of the local Fraternal Order of Police, have rescheduled it for Saturday, April 4.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: John Wayne and Rock Hudson in “The Undefeated.”
Larry Amborski apparently took issue with Editor-Publisher Irv Helmey’ scathing editorial against striking postal workers, asking him if he could live on just $6,200 a year. Irv replied his problem was with striking against the public.
Former Wayland resident Helen Higgs wrote a letter to the Globe from her new home town in Dubuque, Iowa, mentioning she is doing freelance writing and art work for the local newspaper there.
Esther Philp of Dorr, past worthy matron of the Order of Eastern Star and longtime member of the Carlisle Grange died. She was 75.
Former Wayland High School teacher Vincent DeJong, now director of the Community Action Program and Office of Economic Opportunity in Kent County, was guest speaker for the Ladies Library Club.
75 Years Ago — April 6, 1945
A memorial service was held on the afternoon of Easter Sunday at the Congregational Church for
Pfc. James Miles, who was killed in action Feb. 25 in the Roer Valley in Germany. His unit’s chaplain said he was buried in the American Military Cemetery in Belgium.
Pvt. Hubert Niemchick of Wayland, now hospitalized in England after being hit by schrapnel, has been awarded the Purple Heart.
Fewer than 200 people showed up at the polls to vote in the annual spring election. Perhaps having no races was the reason.
Eighteen neighbors of coach and teacher Walter Gillett took over the chores of planting spring crops at his farm because he has been idled by illness.
Roll call answer at this week’s Wayland Grange meeting: “Three Things I’m Doing for Victory.”
Pvt. John Dolegowski of Dorr has been wounded in battle in the Philippines and is recuperating in a hospital. He sent the Globe a letter dated March 10.
Virgil Clay is on leave from radio school in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he is with the U.S. Naval Reserves.
Richarld Hildebrand of Shelbyville has been awarded the Bronze Medal for taking heroic actions in Germany while serving in the Third Army.
Pfc. Herman Stoffel is recovering in a California hospital after undergoing surgery for wounds he received in battle in Manila.
Roger Kibby sent the Globe a letter from an undisclosed location in the Pacific Theatre.
The Anti-Can’t Club will have an all-day meeting Friday, April 6, at the Congregational Church.
Pvt. Ted Iciek reported he is with a battalion that has broken through enemy lines and crossed over into the Roer Valley in Germany.
The annual Wayland High School junior class play, “Ever Since Eve,” features Dorothy Larsen and Bill York in the lead roles.
The Wayland High School baseball season is under way, under the tutelage of John Miles.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Paul Kelly and Lee Patrick in “Faces in the Fog.”
- Bob Livingston and Smiley Burnette in “Pride of the Plains.”
- Rita Hayworth, Janet Blair and Lee Bowman in “Tonight and Every Night.”
- Roddy McDowall, Preston Foster and James Bell in “Thunderhead, Son of Flicka.”
100 years Ago — April 2, 1920
The annual auto show and Bargain Days celebration will take place in downtown Wayland April 9 and 10. Among the bargains is Campbell’s Pork and Beans at 15 cents a can and a pair of work boots for $4.95.
Dr. L. L. Slater has announced he is returning to working for the state and will spend his weekends in Wayland.
Deyo Fox is taking a brief vacation in his home town of Wayland before he returns to work as an instructor in manual training for Jackson Schools.
Barbara Pierson was chosen worthy matron and husband Guy Pierson worthy patron for the Wayland chapter of the Order of Eastern Star.
The high prices being paid by scrap paper dealers is increased business for the Wayland Business Men’s Paper Press.
The farm of Clyde McClintock west of Bradley was severely damaged in a windstorm, which completely removed his barn’s roof.
Work is progressing apace at the new Regent Theatre, which is replacing Frank’s Opera House. The basement now is complete and a furnace is being installed.
Former local pastor, the Rev. F.A. DeWalbur, has died Feb. 22 of complications from influenza, which evolved into pneumonia.
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher indicated he and his wife were caught in a severe windstorm in Barry County while they traveling to Hastings. The storm uprooted trees and brought down a number of roofs.