25 years Ago — Aug. 1991

The Dorr Township Board has issued Hillcrest Mall Manager Bernie Hull an ultimatum to live up to obligations of his tax abatement by Jan. 1, 1991, or the tax breaks, which were granted back in 1985, will be canceled. A board statement complained that “management of the restaurant and bowling alley have disgraced the community.” Both establishments have been forced to close.

The Allegan County Road Commission and members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) AFL-CIO are stalemated in negotiations on a new two-year contract. The union has rejected an offer of a 2.9% and 2.8% increase over the next two years.

Dorr Township Clerk Dick Dutkiewicz wrote a letter to the editor suggesting presidential primaries be included on traditional August primary election ballots.

David Keith Farley, 20, of Moline, was sentenced to pay $1,833.60 in court costs and restitution after his conviction for breaking into Moline Elementary and starting a fire in the gym.

The Allegan County Redistricting Committee has begun deliberations on a redistricting plan for county commission seats. The committee, mandated by law, includes County Clerk-Register of Deeds Joyce Watts, Treasurer Fred Edgerton, Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Marks, and Ken Pardee and Jack Petet, chairmen of the County Democratic and Republican parties, respectively.

Pat Staley wrote a “Soapbox” article about Wayland High School student Kathy Brenner and WHS graduate Chris Gruver, both of whom recently survived uncomfortable close brushes with death. Brenner has just returned to Wayland after receiving a double lung transplant for cystic fibrosis and Gruver is in stable condition in a hospital after suffering an attack of cardiac arrythmia in a Gus Macker basketball tournament in Belding.

Wayland Police Chief Dan Miller promises more aggressive traffic enforcement along West and East Superior streets in the wake of complaints of too many motorists speeding.

Beverly Nyland, Ken and Grace Frue and Martha Buist were winners in the Penasee Globe’s first annual garden contest.

Martin High School senior Julie Martin won the senior solo flag competition in the U,S. Baton Twirling championships in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Ella Schwander of Sandy Pines took third place in the Michigan State shuffleboard competition in Muskegon.

50 Years Ago — Aug. 3, 1966

The rural school districts of Dorr, Sproat, Moline, Jones and Corning voted to join the Wayland Union school district, but Hooker School turned down the proposal, which was being made in the wake of a new state law that mandates all public schools to be part of a K-12 system.

The Wayland Village Council voted 4-2 to reject Ford Henry’s request to drill for oil in an area near West Sycamore and South Main streets. Drilling for oil within the village limits now will be illegal.

Five candidates are seeking two seats from the Village of Wayland on the Allegan County Board of Supervisors. They are Russell Rugaber, William Mauchmar, John Gurney, Harold Weaver and Charles Stoddard.

J.C. Clyma, who has been high school principal at Holton Community Schools, has been appointed principal at Wayland High School, succeeding James Thomas, who was elevated to the superintendency.

Sycamore School, west of Dorr along 142^nd Avenue, is seeking a three-mill levy for the two years in a special election. Sycamore is for grades K-8, with high schools students given the opportunity to attend Hopkins on a tuition basis. Sycamore is expected to have between 35 and 40 students in September 1966.

The one-mill request for five years for repair of Allegan County bridges was defeated by just nine votes in the August primary. Meanwhile, Clayton Jackson was re-elected supervisor of Wayland Township, turning back a challenge by fellow Republican James Ward.

Martha Blain and Rita Belka were introduced as two of the candidates for the Miss Wayland pageant Aug. 27 during the Wayland Community Fair.

The movie “Born Free” was being shown this weekend at the Wayland Theatre.

The Globe published a feature story on Mrs. Harold Sinke and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Robert Sinke, the former Brenda Langley, both of whom serve as nurses in a growing professional field.

“Wild Thing” by the Troggs spent its second consecutive week atop the national music charts.

75 Years Ago — Aug. 8, 1941

Rollo Mosher, Harry Elenbaas and Sib Rumery are involved in a local project to place interesting and historical documents inside a tin box at the cornerstone of the new Wayland school building near the corner of Pine and Pearl streets.

The Leighton Eagles are leading the Wayland summer softball league with a 3-0 record.

The Wayland Dahlia Gardens are expecting a new combination tool shed and office on property just north of the north village limits on Dahlia Street.

Wayland Rural Grange No. 37 is planning its annual potluck picnic next Saturday at Cooke’s Landing, Green Lake.

The local branch of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union will have its next meeting at the Allegan County Farm with a song service led by the Revs. Harris and Shorney. Members then will go to Dumont Lake County Park for a potluck.

Sam Meyers, editor of the Middleville Sun, protested a recent column by Rollo Mosher suggesting Barry County’s roads were inferior to Allegan’s. He explained that Barry County has not had sufficient funds for paving, improvements and repairs.

Because of a confirmed case of rabies reported in the Saugatuck-Douglas area, a large chunk of western Allegan County is under dog quarantine, according to decree by C.H. Clark, agriculture commissioner.

Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:

• Joan Blondell, Roland Young and Eddie (Rochester) Anderson in “Topper Returns.”
• Anna Neagle, Ray Bolger and Edward Everett Horton in “Sunny.”
• Guy Kibbe, Boss Watson and Susan Peters in “Scattergood Pulls the Springs.”
• Carole Landis and Cesar Romero in “Dance Hall.”

“Every auto belonging to a Christian should go to church every Sunday.”

100 Years Ago — Aug. 4, 1916

The Common Council has appropriated additional funding to enable the Henika Library Board for the first time to hire a library director, who will be available one afternoon and one evening weekly. The library is less than two decades old and has been open sparingly for several months each year. Residents now will be able to take books and magazines home with them.

Editor George A. Mosher published a letter from Sadie Chamberlain Notestine, who was traveling in the American West, notably Colorado and Kansas. Her letter read much like a travelogue, describing mountains, prairies and streams.

The Globe published photos of the members of the West Michigan Press Association during its tour of northern Michigan the previous month.

Joseph Herb is occupying his new residence in Moline and his sons, Otto and Roman, have been busy repairing automobiles. Both are in charge of the auto livery.

As the Brake brothers were returning from Caledonia, their horse was overcome by oppressive heat. The animal since has been reported to be recovering with proper care.

The Rev. C.F. Badder, formerly of Gun Lake, was reported to be bedridden and weak with little hope of recovery in Hickory Corners.

Mrs. A.D. Smith, who has been an invalid since January because of a broken hip, fell and broke the same leg above the knee. She had improved recently, enough to get around on crutches.

“Barry County, which has never been honored with a Republican nominee for Congress, presents John C. Ketcham of Hastings as a candidate for the Fourth District.”

Glenn M. Sooey, a Wayland High School graduate who earned a degree from Western Normal in 1911, has been appointed physical director at State Normal School in Los Angeles, Calif.

The recent heave wave and drought has caused a drop in the supply of milk coming into the Helvetia Condensary.

PHOTO: This is a photo from 50 years ago of Carol Michaud just after she won the Miss Dorr pageant.