(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — May 24, 1995
Letter carriers Matt Gilbert and Renee Chachulski were featured in a photo and story about the U.S. Postal Service empoyees’ food drive campaign.
Area police agencies, including the Wayland City Department, Allegan County Sheriff’s Department and Wayland post of the Michigan State Police, are mounting a “no excuses” campaign exhorting motorists to use their seat belts.
Hopkins High School junior Katie Helder placed first in the state Business Professionals of America competition in Lansing in the document formatting category.
The Allegan County Youth Tobacco Reduction Coalition is putting pressure on area retailers to not sell cigarettes to minors.
The Martin Board of Education has agreed to spend $85,000 with Entre of Kalamazoo to buy 31 Compac computer units.
Wayland High School students Sarah Smith and Jenny Koch finished fifth in the State Olympiad in the “reptiles and Amphibians” category.
Scott Sullivan wrote an extensive enterprise piece on the Michigan Militia in the wake of the April 20 Oklahoma City bombings. He focused on Colleen Zoll of Wayland, who explained some of the group’s philosophies.
Jeff Reynolds’ hitting and Dan Koperski’s pitching led the Hopkins baseball team to victory over Allendale. Coach Mark Austin’s squad now is 11-8 overall.
In the showdown for first place in the SAC, Gobles swept the Martin softballers in a doubleheader, dropping the Clippers to 14-5 overall. A bright spot was sophomore centerfielder Bethany Hunderman, who threw out three Tigers’ baserunners trying to score at the plate.
The Hopkins boys’ track team scored its first dual meet victory in 22 years by defeating Wyoming Lee 76-51, but the girls completed their campaign without a win. Shane Wierenga led the way for the Viking boys by recording three firsts.
Doug Cutler and Ryan Konecny were featured as star bowlers for the Young American Bowling Association of Greater Grand Rapids.
Jeff McCarty’s 51.4-second effort in the open 400 wasn’t his personal best, but he qualified for the state tournament.
Heather Postma went 59.4 seconds in the 400, less than a second off her school record. She qualified for state by clearing 5-1.
50 Years Ago — May 20, 1970
Linda Morris was announced as valedictorian and Susan Beaver salutatorian for the Hopkins High School Class of 1970.
Wayland had its Mayor Exchange Day with Charlevoix and Martin traded officials with Grass Lake.
Earning perfect 4.0 grade point averages for the final marking period at Wayland High School were senior Tom Latondress, juniors Paul Calkins, Tom Lanning, Lory Purdom and Carol Crawford, sophomores Lois Sykes and Mary Lautenschleger, and freshman Bob Grafford.
Hopkins High School senior Bette Schwartz was crowned Miss Hopkins at the annual pageant.
The Wayland City Council was told it must raise the local millage rate from 10 to 12 mills to meet expenses and three additional mills to cover costs of the sanitary sewer system. Construction of which will begin in October.
The Rev. Neil Horn, who has been pastor at the Wayland Calvary Church for the past five years, has accepted the call for pastorate at Grace Bible Church in Berne, Ind. Horn gave the baccalaureate address for the Wayland High School Class of 1966 and guided two state champions and one national champion (1969) in Bible Quiz Bowl.
Dennis Randolph, son of the Rev. and Mrs. B.R. Randolph, has been appointed to a traffic controller’s post by the Fedeeral Aviation Administration.
Everett E. Boggs, owner of the Wayland Pool Hall for 15 years before retiring because of ill health, died at Grand Valley Nursing Home in Grand Rapids. He was 75.
Marjory Hath, president of the Spring Arbor chapter of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, was guest speaker at the Wayland United Methodist Church.
The Wayland track team earned a three-way tie for first place in the soon-to-be-defunct Expressway League, with Hamilton and Caledonia. The squad finished ninth in the regionals. Brent Irwin came within a whisker of besting Jim Kotrba’s school record in the high hurdles and the 880-yard relay team of A.J. Predum, Greg Dandrow, Irwin and Rich Worfel qualified for the state meet.
Jim Hendrixson lifted his dual match record to 11-2 and Wayland went undefeated in the Expressway League standings.
The Martin golf team won the Class C-D regional championship with Don and Dennis Knight and Roland and Rick Levett.
75 Years Ago — May 25, 1945
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher warned readers that if dog owners don’t keep their pets from roaming all over town, “some day Towser will fail to return home when he should.”
Local barber Ray Gilger was the first serviceman in Allegan County to earn a points system discharge. He had served for four years and while in Egypt served under Lt. Col. Leon Schuh.
The Rev. Jack Steele will be guest speaker for the Decoration Day ceremony May 28, which will include music by the Wayland High School Girls’ Ensemble and band.
John M. Clouse is the new rural letter carrier, succeeding the retired Fred Birchard.
Dick Chapple of Wayland was reported to have been liberated from a German prisoner of war camp. He had been a turret gunner on a B-17 that was shot down.
Grand Rapids Creston High School Principal Howard Wickitt presented the commencement address at the Hopkins graduation ceremony. Stanley Iciek was recognized as valedictorian and Delores McBride salutatorian.
Sgt. Orville Miller of Hopkins has been released from a German prisoner of war camp. He had been detained after serving on a flying mission in 1944.
Dwight Punches has purchased the meat market owned by his father, William, and the grocery store owned by Herbert O’Meara.
The North Dorr baseball team has been organized by the Rev. Father Walters and it was supposed to take on a Wayland opponent. The latter was a no-show.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Robert Mitchum and Ann Jeffries in “Nevada.”
- Phillip Dorn, Mary Astor and Gloria Grahame in “Blonde Fever.”
- Dennis Moragn and Faye Emerson in “The Very Thought of You.”
- Margaret O’Brien, Jose Iturbi, Jimmy Durante and June Allyson in “Music for Millions.”
100 Years Ago — May 21, 1920
Memorial Day services will be held Sunday, May 30, at Elmwood Cemetery. The Commercial Club will help the new Wayland band with expenses.
The Wayland High School Class of 1920 will graduate 18 seniors June 4 at the Christian Church. The class motto is, “Not evening, but dawn.”
The Allegan County Order of Eastern Star met at the Masonic Lodge in Wayland, with special guest past worthy matron Mrs. Eva Briggs of Shelbyville. Mrs. Kathlyn Ehle of Dorr was elected president.
The Wayland Farm Bureau Cooperative has voted to purchase the H.F. Buskirk warehouse for use for the organization’s activities.
Martha Adeline Barbeau, who was married in Wayland in 1866 to the now deceased Monroe Durkee, died at the age of 75.
The water tank in Wayland Village will be cleaned as soon as possible and local drinking fountains will be ready soon.
Sprinkling hours have been set for 6:30 to 7:30 nightly.
Village Council members are having discussions about removing hitching posts along North Main Street.
The council has ordered cessation of pasturing cows in the village park under penalty of removal of the animals.
Frank Nevins became violently ill while in Grand Rapids and was rescued by a physician who declared he was the victim of ptomaine poisoning from cheese.
Ten cases of perch were planted in Gun Lake by workers from the Comstock Park hatchery.
“The patriotic film, “The Fighting Roosevelts” will be shown at the Christian Church Sunday evening.
The Wayland High School Alumni Banquet will be held at the Dixie Inn Saturday, June 5.
The Plainwell girls’ basketball team came from behind to edge Wayland 15-12. “Their (Plainwell’s) coach says their team plays fair and clean, but the work of the referee was considered by many to be ragged.”
A recent shortage of gasoline has been abated somewhat by the arrival by rail from Muskegon of two tank cars.
COVER PHOTO: Dorr School, 1931
