(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — Dec. 22, 1993
O & A Electric Cooperative General manager Robert Hance wrote a letter to the Globe about its recent articles and letters about a Martin-area farm family asserting that stray electric voltage was causing health problems. Besides disputing the contention, he wrote, “We gave one of your reporters a nine-page document summarizing the work we’ve done for Mr. Aukema over the past two years. None of that work was mentioned in the article.”
Timothy Franks of Indiana led two Michigan State Police troopers from Wayland on a high-speed chase on U.S.-131 and was finally apprehended. He was found to be wanted on warrant arrests and was arraigned on charges of assault with a deadly weapon (a motor vehicle).
The Michigan High School Athletic Association plans to ban use of platforms for swimming race starts when the water below is five feet or less. The move would have adverse impact on the Wayland High School swim pool and interscholastic meets.
In a letter to the editor, State Senate Majority Leader Dick Posthumus noted he actually agrees with President Bill Clinton about one thing, encouraging Japan to lower its taxes, but insisted Clinton shepherded the largest tax hike in U.S. history earlier in the year.
David Hodge of Hopkins wrote a letter urging the Allegan County Board of Commissioners to consider using material from the report it sought from consultant Kenneth Verberg from Michigan State University.
Ron Neil, detective with the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police, has been promoted to commander of the post in Hastings.
Advocates of the People Path for joggers and bicyclers at Gun Lake might attempt to resurrect the proposal next year.
Gerald and Dorothy Johnson were winners of the annual Gun Lake Christmas lighting contest.
Wayland’s basketball team is raising eyebrows with upset victories, 62-59 over Caledonia and 75-69 over Cedar Springs. Heath Alflen came off the bench to score 11 points against Caledonia and he swished two crucial free throws near the end. Matt Barghan scored 29 points, Ken Stewart 25 and Jon Ainsworth 17 in the victory over Cedar. The ‘Cats, under new coach Mike Hudson, are now 3-1.
Sophomore Richie Guerrant scored 29 points and gathered 21 rebounds to spark Martin’s first win of the season, over Marcellus.
A tall and talented Allendale quintet had little trouble subduing outsized Hopkins 70-46.
Martin’s Buzz Hunderman claimed his weight division championship for the fourth year in a row at the Allegan County wrestling meet, this time at 125 pounds.
Wayland sixth-grader Christopher Blanco won the local geography bee and will move onto the preliminary round of the state competition.
50 Years Ago — Dec. 18, 1968
Junior Kathy Willard, sophomore David Smith and eighth-graders Kimberly Baugh and Bonnie Lynema earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages for the second marking period at Wayland schools.
Kathy Lapekes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lapekes of Dorr, was this year’s winner of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship award for Wayland High School. She plans to attend Central Michigan University and major in physical education.
The Wayland City Council voted to establish a local parking bureau to enable citizens to pay parking fines at City Hall rather than have to travel to Allegan.
The Wayland City Council is engaged in negotiations with Hopkins Township on possibilities of extending firefighting service.
Mrs. Keith McBride penned a letter expressing dismay over lack of attendance at high school wrestling meets. Noting the team’s 5-0 record in dual meets, she said, “We have every reason to be extremely proud of this fine team Mr. (Eugene) Knobloch has brought together in just two years.”
The Globe’s second installment of the “Our Teachers Speak” column was a discussion about children’s stuttering, provided by John Hotchkiss, Allegan County therapist.
The Rev. Walter Ellis, former pastor of the Church of Christ in Wayland and former linotype operator for the Globe, died at his home in Tampa, Fla.
Reports about a couple of 1966 Wayland High School graduates who were serving in the military were noted. Gary Richardson was promoted to specialist fourth class in Fairbanks, Alaska, and Kenneth Engle was promoted to spec-5 as a radar technician in Vietnam.
Cpl. Dennis Noble is serving aboard the USS Sterettin in the Gulf of Tonkin, Vietnam.
Tom Latondress pumped in 26 points and John Baar added 10 to lead the Wayland varsity basketball team to a 55-44 victory over Maple Valley. The Wildcats now are 2-1 under coach Jon Walcott.
Under the headline “Indians scalp Vikings” was a story about Hopkins losing to Saugatuck 70-59. John Wilson scored 22 points, but the Vikings had a frigid shooting performance of 27 percent.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die.”
Students of Mrs. Walter Gurney presented a piano recital.
Members of Local 994 of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers from Kessler’s gathered for their Christmas party at the local VFW Hall.
Thirteen members of the Hopkins FFA traveled to Chicago for the group’s annual trip to the Livestock Show.
Construction has begun on the new building for the First Baptist Church of Wayland.
75 Years Ago — Dec. 24, 1943
Word was received that Donald Gurney, son of John Gurney of Wayland, was killed in action in the Pacific theater of the war. A 1942 graduate of Wayland High School, he was salutatorian and president of the senior class and worked at his father’s grocery store downtown before joining the military service.
A number of local stores reported solid business receipts Saturday, but there still is a scramble for merchandise, which is in short supply because of the war.
Members of the Wayland chapter of the FFA are reporting a successful waste paper drive for the war effort. Many of the boys have spent free time weekends and after school sorting and binding the materials.
John L. Sager, who retired in 1929 after a career at the Southern Michigan Electric Railroad Co., died at a hospital in Kalamazoo.
The Wayland boys’ varsity lost to Martin 25-24, with much credit due to Rantz, who sank four field goals “in or near Center Circle.” The girls also lost, because “Rantz of Martin kept guard of Irene Nakken, who in previous games had pretty much her own way under the basket.”
The local American Legion will have a potluck supper Tuesday evening, Dec. 28, at the hall and an invitation is being extended to all boys home on furlough to join the fun.
Donna Currie sent a letter to the Globe outlining her stay in Italy while working at a hospital. She wrote, “The Italian people are very grateful to the Americans… they look upon us liberators.”
The Wayland PTA has engaged Ben East to show his colored motion pictures at the Wayland High School auditorium Thursday evening, Jan. 20.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Richard Dix and Jane Wyatt in “The Kansan.”
- William Tracy and Joe Sawyer in the Hal Roach production of “Fall In.”
- Monty Woolley and Gracie Fields in “Holy Matrimony.”
- Dorothy McGuire and Robert Young in “Claudia.”
100 Years Ago — Dec. 20, 1918
Pvt. Clyde Pierson wrote a letter to his father, Guy E. Pierson of Wayland, telling of his military experiences overseas in St. Nazaire, France. He included a tale of getting seasick on the way from the U.S. to Liverpool, saying he went to the overboard rail and, “I became interested in providing the fish with the remains of my dinner.”
Allegan County farm Bureau agent Alfred E. Bentall reported the organization hasn’t been able to do as much lately in communities because of the prevalence of the influenza epidemic.
Leon Ellard, son of Mrs. J.C. Potter of Wayland, was seriously wounded in one of the last battles in France.
Three reels of the film “Joseph in Egypt” will be shown Sunday evening at the Christian Church for a free-will offering.
Mr. and Mrs. Otis Fox have received word their son is recuperating from influenza in a hospital in France.
John Coats of Ohio Corners died in a Kalamazoo hospital, leaving behind a wife and four children, the youngest just a week old.
“LOST: A peddler’s hand purse containing some silver. Return to C. McBride.”
The U.S. military has released information that the number of casualties for American in the war recently concluded was 236,117, with 53,169 fatalities. Of the deaths, 14,811 were from disease.
The Angel School at Gun Lake will have a Christmas party and tree Friday afternoon.
“Wayland is to some a large town; large enough to get lost in. If you don’t believe it, ask Alpha Lewis.”
Nettie Button of Ohio Corners died at her home after a lingering illness. She leaves behind three sons and five grandchildren.
Many families in the area continue to report being confined to their homes because of influenza.