(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — May 10, 1995
Augie VandenBerg of Shelbyville was sixth and Jesse Snyder of Wayland was 10th in the garden tractor pull national tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.
“Lacking any concern on the part of Yankee Springs officials or residents, it is unlikely that a single spadeful of contaminated soil will ever be removed from the (Misak Landfill) site,” commented Editor Nila Aamoth in this week’s “Soapbox.”
Ira Hamburg, director of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, has announced that a ceremony this year will honor Dennis Roxbury of Hopkins, a veteran who was killed in a police standoff in 1991.
Ralph’s Food Market held a benefit for Hopkins Public Schools, raising $1,008 for purchase of educational materials.
Joe Henton Jr., 24, of Allegan was arrested after being accused of leaving the scene of a fatal crash on U.S.-131 at 135th Avenue that killed Robert James Parr, 29, of Kentwood.
Scott Sullivan wrote a feature about Helen Kamyszek, 102, marking the death of her son, Steven, who drowned 50 years prior in New Guinea trying to save a comrade during World War II.
The Hopkins softball team was guilty of committing seven errors and consequently absorbed its first loss of the season, to Allendale. The Lady Vikings now are 8-1.
South Christian ended the Wayland High School boys’ track team win streak. Jeff McCarty won the open 400-meter run, but suffered a hamstring injury.
Junior ace Heather Postma won three events but the Lady Wildcat tracksters lost to Sparta.
Despite some promising individual performances, the Hopkins boys’ and girls’ track teams are sporting 0-5 dual meet records in their first season in 22 years.
Wayland’s softball team is 11-9 overall and 3-2 in the O-K Gold. The Lady Wildcats were no-hit by Forest Hills Northern ace Kelly Kermode.
The Martin softball team’s 11-game winning string was snapped by Marcellus in a rain-shortened contest.
Nancy Meconis, 51, a longtime Wayland resident, died of cancer at her home.
50 Years Ago — May 6, 1970
Wayland High School graduate Lee Reno has graduated with a law degree from Howard University in Washington and has been admitted to the bar. A Western Michigan University graduate, he also served in the Peace Corps in Liberia.
Joe Iciek, former Wayland High School teacher, has been named principal at the Townline Elementary in the Kentwood school district. He succeeds William Mauchmar, also of Wayland.
The names of two Hopkins High School seniors, Virginia Belka and Sharon Zerfas, were inadvertently omitted from the previous week’s reports of all-A students.
Members of the Wayland City Council, Planning Commission and Chamber of Commerce joined new City Manager John Hefner in touring the sanitary sewer facility in Saranac.
The wording for a ballot proposal for Hopkins schools has been approved in an effort to pass a $3.2 million issue over 30 years. The proposal was defeated by just 13 votes earlier this year.
Michael Chesebro, valedictorian of the Wayland High School Class of 1962, will be guest speaker for the Scholastic Honors Night. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute and the University of Kentucky and currently is a fifth grade teacher at Moline Elementary.
Mrs. James Smith, wife of the pastor at the Wayland Congregational Church, has won the Waldo-Sangron Award at Western Michigan University. Her project for the 1970-71 academic year is “Renewal in the Church.” She will be paid a stipend of $750.
Ellert Hendricksma, a longtime local truck farmer, died on his 79th birthday.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “The Secret of Santa Vittorio.”
The Wayland High School tennis team defeated Middleville to remain undefeated on the season.
The Wayland High School track team won a triangular meet at Allegan. Greg Dandrow won the 100, 880, high jump and anchored the 880 relay team with Rich Worfel, Brent Irwin and A.J. Predum to set the school record in 1:37.2.
The Jackson Five took over the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “ABC.”
75 Years Ago — May 11, 1945
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher wrote in his “Observations” column, “The announcement for one of those days for which every American has hopes and prayed for came early Monday morning with the announcement the Germans had officially surrendered.” However, in Wayland there were no parades or public celebrations. Several churches, however, planned several special thankful services for Sunday afternoon.
Mosher exhorted fellow citizens to “keep on working until Japan is licked and then we can have a genuine celebration.”
Arthur H. Clark, 89, who had lived in Wayland since 1878, died. He and his father were longtime beekeepers.
Cpl. Robert Riedlinger, a Wayland High School graduate, is getting a little rest and relaxation after dodging plenty of bullets in Germany.
Frank Konecny of Wayland was wounded in action on Okinawa while serving with the Marines in the Pacific Theatre.
Mr. and Mrs. Pirl Truax have three sons serving in the European Theatre overseas, all sergeants, Harley, Alvin and Ivan. Two other sons, Harold and Lyle, have been honorably discharged.
Richard M. Phelps has returned from overeas and now serves as a baker for the WAVES unit stationed in Washington D.C.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Paul Kelly and Virginia Grey in “Grissley’s Millions.”
- Jane Frazee and the Hoosier Hot Shots in “Swing in the Saddle.”
- Merle Oberon, Franchot Tone and Thomas Mitchell in “Dark Waters.”
- Thomas Mitchell, Gregory Peck and Roddy McDowell in “The Keys to the Kingdom.
100 Years Ago — May 7, 1920
The Village Council has concluded, “From present indications, it does not seem possible that the new road would go through (Wayland) this year on account of the extreme scarcity and high price of concrete.”
Gov. Albert Sleeper has proclaimed that Mother’s Day has become a national institution and should be celebrated accordingly Sunday. Several local churches are planning services saluting mothers.
Barbara Pierson has been installed as worthy matron of the local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star.
The Business Men of Wayland has organized after about 30 showed up for the first meeting. Fay Wing has been elected president, Homer Brown vice president and George Reno secretary. One of its first projects will be finding ways to help local farmers at harvest time.
The poor condition or roads was blamed for the lack of turnout for the Farmers Club meeting at the home of Ray Trautman of Moline.
Dorothy Beckwith has begun duties as the new station manager at the interurban at Bradley.
The Congregational Society of Bradley has called the Rev. H.E. Baird of Moline to be pastor on every Sunday for the next year.
The Wayland High School track team, led by Roy Jones, Maurice Eggert, Bert Bowman and Raymond Fox, registered eight points at the all-star track meet at Kalamazoo Normal.
Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Zaiser have moved to Hudson to form a partnership with Ellis Manchester to establish a grocery store and meat market.
The new dog licensing law for Allegan County has been estimated to be bringing in an extra $7,000.
R.B. Smith is remodeling the new pool room using fixtures purchased from Amos Mauchmar.
George Edison of Plainwell pleaded guilty to furnishing a cigarette to a 6-year-old and was fine $10 plus $6.50 in court fees.
The Wayland baseball team lost a 10-inning heartbreaker to Otsego, 16-15.