25 Years Ago — July 28, 1993
Julie DeBoer was abruptly terminated as director of the Allegan County Emergency 911 program by the Board of Commissioners. She received about $25,000 in severance compensation. Board Chairman David Babbitt would not say why she was ousted, but inside sources said officials were uncomfortable with a potential conflict of interest because her husband, Lt. Steve DeBoer, is commander of the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police and a member of the 911 Board.
Mike Hudson of Wyoming was selected as head varsity basketball coach for Wayland. His father, Harry, was a member of the 1955 Wildcat state finalist team and athletic director Dave Chesney said Hudson showed him the drive, work ethic and youthful enthusiasm necessary to do the job, even though he’s never been a varsity basketball coach before. Hudson, who succeeds Jim Orlowski, will teach elementary physical education as well.
The Hopkins Board of Education is mulling presentation of a fourth millage request in a special election, perhaps as early as September. The board said the funds are sorely needed for renovations for Sycamore Elementary and expansion of the high school to serve a growing student population.
Julie Spencer, Ray Brenner, Lisa Fein and Terry and Jeanne Smit penned letters to the editor in support of Brenner’s request for a zoning change to mine gravel in Martin Township. The referendum will be on the ballot in a special election Aug. 3.
The Martin Board of Education is grappling with a budget deficit caused by defeat of a request for a Headlee Override in June, which costs the district a little more than $100,000.
A homemade explosive devise was found inside a mailbox in Thornapple Township and a 3-year-old boy suffered injuries after handling it. Michigan State Police are investigating.
The champions in Wayland’s “Zacker” three-on-three basketball tournament girls’ ages 9 to 11 bracket were the “Fab Four” squad made up of Nicole and Jessica Merchant, Kelly Leep and Stephanie McEwen.
The Fontana Festival of Music is planning to offer screenings of movie entries in the Ann Arbor Film Festival on Friday and Saturday, July 29 and 30, in Shelbyville.
Michigan State Police at the Wayland post have announced receipt of a $90,000 state grant for Operation HEMP (Help Eliminate Marijuana Planting). The money will be used to include National Guard helicopters to survey likely site of marijuana grows. Trooper Gary Hirdes said Allegan County is No. 1 in the state among counties confiscating marijuana plants, with 51,738 seized in 1992. Hirdes said the lofty figure was the result of “the recognition of marijuana as a problem and the fact we deal with it as a priority.”
50 Years Ago — July 24, 1968
Wayland Union school district voters finally approved a 6.8-mill increase request, 732 to 604, in an election with the third highest turnout in local history. The proposal had been defeated in June by just 29 votes.
Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey had a rather lengthy “Turned Up Here and There” column in anticipation of the Centennial celebration Aug. 18-24. He noted that “three Negro boys walked a block in town” and asked him and a few other local men amusing questions about their bearded presence. Helmey later added, “Unfortunately, Wayland’s new monthly publication, ‘The Advocate,’ carries no names to accept the responsibility for the editorial contest or for the success or failure of the sheet.”
The winner of this year’s Wayland Centennial Queen Contest will get a grand prize of a seven-day airplane trip to Miami Beach and $50 in spending money. The centennial celebration will get under way at the Henika Library downtown at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. It will be followed by a band concert and then a community religious service at the football field at 3 p.m. The Wayland pageant, “Wonderful Wayland,” from 1868 is supposed to have as many as 400 local residents as part of the cast and it will be presented every evening, Tuesday through Saturday.
Local historian Mrs. Ruby Smith, in her weekly column, told of the legend of the Plank Road from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids, which was built in 1855 and abandoned in 1869 in favor of the newfangled railroad as the preffered transportation method. She said Mark Twain traveled on it to present a program in Grand Rapids and remarked, “The road would not have been bad if some scoundrel had not now and then dropped a plank across it.”
Mrs. Smith also told the story about Plank Road pioneer gatekeepers wagering their share the road on the outcome of the 1856 presidential election, won by Democrat James Buchanan over Republican John C. Fremont.
Trooper Ken Howell of the Wayland post of the Michigan State Police was honored for saving the life of a seven-month-old infant on a ride from Wayland to a hospital in Grand Rapids with a rescue breathing operation.
The Wayland Board of Education, in the interests of economy and efficiency, will implement double busing routes for the 1968-69 academic year.
Ralph Marcott of Wayland scored a hole-in-one on the No. 7 par three hole at the Orchard Hills Golf Course.
Chief Petty Office Alan Hayes, a 1965 graduate of Wayland High School, received his third air medal during the Vietnam Conflict in a ceremony in Guam.
David Selzer, another WHS grad, has returned homw after a seven-month deployment on the USS Demato off the coast of Vietnam. The ship was badly damaged and had to be brought to Norfolk, Va., for repairs.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre: “The Private Navy of Sgt. O’Farrell,” starring Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller and Jeffrey Hunter.
The irony shouldn’t have been lost in the new Hugh Masekela took over the No. 1 slot among the nation’s tunes with “Grazin’ in the Grass.” He overtook Herb Alpert’s “This Guy’s in Love with You.” Alpert and Masekala were famous for playing the trumpet.
75 Years Ago — July 30, 1943
A contingent of Wayland area men are traveling to Allegan to join Earl DeLano’s formation of an Allegan County War Chest to consolidate fund-raising for all war-related charities except the American Red Cross. Much of the funds will be turned over the USO.
Letters from servicemen overseas were reqceived this week from Cpl. Roger Kibby and Rodney Cole in North Africa. It was startling that Kibby reported catching WKZO radio on a special citizens’ band.
Charles W. Appleton, superintendent for Wayland schools from 1904 to 1909, died at his home in Lansing after a lengthy illness.
Kittie B. Stroud, 67, died at her Hopkins Township home. She had become famous statewide for her prowess in archery and her husband, Herman, was owner of the Wayside Crafts Shop.
Raymond Cavanaugh, 17, died at his home in Watson Township after a brief illness. A 1942 graduate of Hopkins High School, he was the son of the Mr. and Mrs. Bernie Cavanaugh.
Fire destroyed the barn at the farm owned by Fred Dean of Shelbyville.
Mrs. Horace Parrish, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Elenbaas, was stricken while visiting her parents and was rushed to Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids, where her gall bladder and appendix were removed.
Silvers, Rich and Co. of Hastings announced in an advertisement it was seeking girls and women for candling and breaking eggs for its egg drying plant.
Blood Brothers of Allegan was seeking machine operators, stock handlers, laborers and “colored help” to aid in the wartime effort.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Walt Disney’s immortal full-length Technicolor animated film, “Bambi.”
- Chester Morris, Richard Arlen and Jimmy Lydon in “Aerial Gunner.”
- John Carro, Susan Hayward, Gail Patrick and Eve Arden in “Hit Parade of 1943.”
- Cecil B. DeMille’s “Reap the Wild Wind,” with John Wayne, Paulette Goddard, Ray Milland, Raymond Massey and Milburn Stone.
100 Years Ago — July 26, 1918
The Women’s War Work Conference meeting for Allegan County was to be held July 27 at the Wayland United Methodist Church. The local interurban service announced that if at least 20 passengers were guaranteed, it would provide dropoff at the Wayland sire at 9:40 a.m. that Saturday. Mrs. Alta Chase of Otsego was to lead the women in an effort to understand their role in the suffrage movement and in the war effort. A picnic lunch was planned at noon.
The Globe had a front page story about Michigan Senate candidate Sheldon Coleman, treasurer of the Good Roads Association and a township supervisor. He stands for “betterment of the citizens of this state and nation, a vigorous prosecution of the war and a speedy and righteous victory.”
Deeper into the edition was a story about Bayard G. Davis, “The Farmers’ Candidate.” The senate district included all of Allegan and Van Buren counties, close to what it takes in today.
An electric thunderstorm visited the area and lightning struck and burned to the ground the barns of David Anderson of Shelbyville and Henry Pallett of Martin.
There will be a demonstration of Ford tractors at the farm of Frank Couch west of the village. Supervising will be representatives from the Frank Yeakey Auto Co.
“Free air, free water, pressure all the time and a full line of accessories” were promises to customers in an advertisement by Howard E. Ward’s service garage.
A huge crowd of 300 automobiles visited Wayland downtown Saturday night to take in the Grotto military band performance. The Grand Rapids-based musical group included Wayland’s own Charles Yeakey and locals Thomas Barnes and Cleo Fox were invited to join the band briefly for the performance.
Editor-Publisher George Mosher declared the Globe is 34 years old today.
Methodist Episcopal Church Supt. Floyd and Mrs. Drake were given a special sendoff with 90 people before they left for Vandalia.
George Manning appeared before the Allegan County War Board, which determined he no longer is a candidate for military service because of injuries her suffered in an electric railway accident.
Peter J. Lonstreet has purchased 1,500 cords of wood and will deliver them to GR&I tracks for shipment to clients in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids.
A memorial service was held in Grand Rapids by the International Order of Odd Fellows for Corp. Clyde Gillispie of Wayland, who died of pneumonia earlier this year while serving in France.
