(Taken from the archives at the Then & Now Historical Library in downtown Dorr)
25 Years Ago — April 24, 1996
The Globe published a dramatic front-page photo by Terry Sturman of Hopkins pitcher Toni Newell missing a tag at home plate on Martin runner Bethany Hunderman. Newell got the last laugh, however, being the winning pitcher and striking out 14 in an 8-4 Vikings’ victory.
The Salem Township Planning Commission is grappling with the issue of whether a water treatment plant causes harm to the Little Rabbit River.
Members of a Hopkins band have been banished to a basement of a home in Bradley because they failed to keep down the noise.
Hopkins Elementary students Dustin Hoezee, Ryan Kaminski and Lisa Wilhelm have had their art works selected by the Michigan Art Education Association for display at the State Capitol in Lansing.
Green Lake Calvary Church will celebrate its 40th birthday in a special service Sunday.
The Wayland Township Board has agreed for a second time to award Ampro Seeds a tax abatement with the promise of additional jobs.
The Henika District Library showed off its renovations and new features in an open house.
Wayland Junior High School held a “whiteout” program to draw attention to the problems of alcohol- and drug-related deaths.
Karen Krulac wrote a letter to the editor complaining about the littered landscape around construction of Wayland Junior High. It turned out the cause was a recent wind storm.
Gun Lake is showing a housing boom with plans for three development projects.
Dan Koperski, Mike Kisner and Jerry Funk came up with sparking performances on the mound as Hopkins won three of its four baseball encounters and now is 7-1.
Richie Guerrant broke a 35-year-old Martin school record in the 200-meter dash by checking in at 22.85 seconds.
Wildcat Amanda Dzierzyc tossed her second one-hitter of the season, striking out 15 Kelloggsville hitters.
The Hopkins boys’ track team, in only its second season after reinstating the sport, captured a 73-55 O-K Silver Conference dual meet victory over Allendale.
Robert W. Klinge, 23, who worked for Wayland Area Emergency Services, died at his home.
50 Years Ago — April 21, 1971
Allegan County Circuit Court ruled the City of Wayland may proceed with plans for lagoons and a sewer treatment plant at a site just south of 137th Avenue. The court decided against Leighton Township, which insisted it would hurt the nearby Rabbit River.
Meanwhile, the Globe published a photo of Bill Kirkby, who lives on Lorene Street and has septic issues, which will be taken care of by installation of a sanitary sewer system.
The “Coffee House” program at the United Church of Wayland drew almost 75 people. The vast majority agreed the U.S. should get out of Vietnam, but when remained the issue. Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey attended and opined of the sponsor, the Wayland Priorities Committee, “We hope the group will be a unifying, not a fragmenting, force.”
Mrs. Willis Miller was appointed to a seat on the Hopkins School Board left vacant by Ed Marcinek taking on the Hopkins Township Supervisor’s post.
Miss Nancy Medler has been named Hopkins Public Schools’ first-ever special education teacher and will begin duties at the start of the 1971-72 academic year.
Mrs. David Blok and Mrs. Gordon Culver have been appointed to the postmistress posts at Moline and Shelbyville, respectively.
Hopkins High School graduate Jerry Thompson and his wife were killed in a private plane crash near Ionia. He was an attorney with a firm in Grand Rapids. Surviving the Thompsons were four young children at home.
The Wayland Priorities Committee, sponsor of the Coffee House program, plans to have a silent vigit at the corner of Main and Superior Streets in downtown Wayland and will pray for the end of the Vietnam Conflict.
Mrs. Alvin Schwartz, 55, former elementary teacher in Hopkins, Wayland and Middleville, died at her home.
Larry Tolan and Joe Koperski tossed a couple of mound gems, as Wayland’s baseball team defeated Otsego, Grand Rapids Central and Plainwell, but lost to Allegan. Leon Hilaski boomed a home run.
Evan Siefert set the Wayland school record for lowest nine-hole score with a 37 in a dual match victory over Otsego.
The Wayland High School track team is in a three-way tie for first place with Hamilton and Caledonia in the O-K Blue Conference.
75 Years Ago — April 26, 1946
Editor-Publisher Rollo G. Mosher, in his “Observations” column, insisted the village does a poor job of enforcing traffic laws against young drivers by letting “some you galoot race around town, cutting corners on two wheels, with danger to young and old…”
Ernest Ames, born on a farm near Wayland in 1969, died at the home of his son in Los Angeles. He lost both of his parents before he turned 2 years old and was raised by Uncle John Aunt Line Ames.
Lloyd Thompson of the Pine Lake Vocational Training School will be guest speaker at the next meeting and potluck of the American Legion Auxiliary April 28.
A new Veterans of Foreign Wars post for Wayland is being proposed. Leading the charge locally are Tom Bartell, Richard Lutostanski, Raymond Smith and Jack Miles.
A chicken pot pie supper and “Spring Shuffle” featuring Anthony Zoppa’s Orchestra will be held April 28 at Sts. Cyril & Methodius, Gun Lake.
About 450 teachers and children are expected to be part a special cruise along Lake Michigan from Holland to Chicago. Each ship is fully equipped, including medical supplies and personnel.
Republican Edward Hutchinson has announced he is a first-time candidate for state representative from Allegan County.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Roy Rogers, Gabby Hayes and Dale Evans i9n “Sing of Arizona.”
- Sir Aubrey Smith, Erich Von Stroheim in “Scotlans Yard Investigator.”
- Joel McCrea, Brian Donleavy and Barbara Britton in “The Virginian.”
- Dana Andrews and Richard Conte in “A Walk in the Sun.”
100 Years Ago — April 22, 1921
Little Ivy Ward was starring as “Betty” in “Heads Win” at the Regent Theatre. Also showing was Alice Lake in “The Misfit Wife.”
Mrs. Phila Deuel presented a paper on Reconstruction and there was a geographical quiz for members at the most recent Ladies Library Club meeting.
This month’s report on proceedings of the Northeast Hopkins Community Club, “Escaped the Late Frost,” was done entirely through poetry.
The reopening of the Corning Methodist Church will be April 29, after extensive repairs and improvements are completed. Detroit-area Bishops Theodore Henderson and W. F. Kendrick are expected to speak and join the potluck Sunday.
Dorr School District No. 7 eighth-graders Johanna Douma, Irene Kubiak, Tena Bakker and Ruth Frank are anxiously awaiting their examination.
A sleet storm and cold snap damaged telephone wires in Moline.
Prosperous Watson Township farmer Earl Meyers died of pneumonia.
Ed Noble suffered a stroke while at work at the Allen & Noble show repair shop and now is resting at home, but is still unconscious.
John Maloney was elected president of Hopkins’ first-ever Village Council after incorporation. D.A. Holman was elected clerk, L.J. Adams treasurer and Russell Ferber, Floyd Roberts, Charles Iler, Frank Nole, Walter Stone and Marvin Keenan trustees.
Miss Carol Havens, Extension specialist from Michigan Agricultural College in East Lansing, will b e in charge of a special series of programs, “The Food Value of Milk,” which will take place at Pomona Grange, Corning Church, Lovell’s Hall,, Burnips Township Hall and the Wayland Christian Church.
COVER PHOTO: Miss Wayland pageat 1955, included Carol Hall, Rochelle Brocker, Pat DeVries (1st runner-up), Jeri Selkirk (queen), Judy Gorman, Honey Lee Cook and Esther Hall.