25 Years Ago — Oct. 30, 1991
The City of Wayland is study
ing a proposal from an Ann Arbor engineering firm to upgrade the water producing system by installing a 400,000-gallon elevated tank. City officials say the current system is producing about as much water as it ever will and it may be inadequate to meet the needs of a growing city.
Linda Hutchings wrote a story about a proposed $$850,000 sewer extension project for Leighton and Dorr townships north along 12th Street in Moline to the Kent County line. Dorr Township Supervisor Don Kaczanowski said concerns about commercial and residential growth and failing septic systems have prompted the proposal.
The Northeast Allegan Governmental Advisory Group was being formed with the help of a grant from Michigan State University Extension. Members, who include local officials from Dorr, Leighton, Wayland, Salem and Monterey townships, will work on a regional master plan.
Because one Wayland Junior High School student has been diagnosed with mumps, school and health officials are taking actions to control and prevent the spread of the disease.
Burglars struck at the Crystal Flash gasoline station on West Superior and at Joe’s Archery on Railroad Street. Taken were cartons of cigarettes, money from a cash register and archery equipment accessories.
Scott and Linda Moyer have opened Moe’s Pizza in the old barbershop in Moline.
Wayland school officials predict about 30 percent growth in student population over the next four years, which would bring the total number district wide to 3,300.
Thornapple Kellogg High School Athletic Director Ray Page noted that in the football rivalry between Middleville and Wayland the Trojans have a 35-14-4 edge. Middleville is eyeing the post-season playoffs with an 8-0 record and Wayland is 5-3.
Also still in the hunt for playoff berths are the Hopkins and Martin football teams, both 6-2, though the Vikings are licking their wounds after a 12-6 loss to Maple Valley.
Jenny Kaczanowski became the first female Wayland swimmer to qualify for the state meet. She will compete in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races.
The Wayland girls absorbed a tough hoops loss to South Christian, sinking their O-K Gold Conference record to 5-3. Martin is 9-6 and Hopkins, riding a three-game winning streak is 7-7.
Brian Paul, Jason Young and Angie Permoda all qualified for the Division 2 state meet in cross country, which will be held in Big Rapids.
50 Years Ago — Oct. 26, 1966
Wayland volunteer firefighters have been busy of late. They were summoned to a tractor fire at Plank Road Farm in Bradley, to dump fire near Selkirk Lake, to a barn fire on the Kenneth Hendrixson farm in Hopkins Township, and to a fire on the Ron LaFountain farm east of Selkirk Lake. Firefighters were hampered by a traffic jam that delayed response to the Hendrixson farm.
Wallace Wakeman, coordinator of the Romney-Milliken campaign in Allegan County, announced the opening of a voter information center in Wayland. Congressman Ed Hutchinson was scheduled to stop in and officially open the GOP headquarters.
Robert Stites of Grand Rapids has been selected rto be general manager for the Kessler’s Undies and Woolies manufacturing facility in Wayland.
Russell Tobolic, a Wayland High School graduate, has been elected station manager for the Amateur Radio group formed at Tri-State College in Angola, Ind.
Mrs. Frank Bellgraph of Hopkins, died at the age of 77 and left a whopping 127 descendants surviving in her obituary.
Wayland High School graduate Phil Regan capped a terrific season by being named Fireman of the Year in the National League, pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Regan had a 14-1 record, a 1.92 earned run average, was named to the All-Star team and pitched in the World Series.
Members of the Dorr Shrinking Violets TOPS (Taking Pounds Off Sensibly) Club celebrated their third anniversary.
South Christian pinned a 27-13 defeat on the Wayland football squad. After George Towne blocked a punt, quarterback Lee Pankratz tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Roger Merren. Arlin Patterson scored the other TD on a four-yard run. Kurt Sebright booted an extra point.
Mrs. Pat McKee, physical education teacher at Wayland High School, was a speaker at a Michigan Education Association meeting in Grand Rapids. Her topic was “Building a Better Girls’ Athletic Association.”
Hopkins lost 26-14 to Saugatuck. Keith Newell acoed a touchdown on a 25-yard run and quarterback Dennis Brenner hooked up with Dick Schwartz for a 65-yard TD strike.
Julie Andrews and Dick VanDyke were starring in “Mary Poppins” at the Wayland Theatre.
The Four Tops made it two weeks in a row at No. 1 with “Reach Out, I’ll Be There.”
75 Years Ago — Oct. 31, 1941
Wayland churches have launched a “Go to Church” promotion in attempts to increase attendance. It’s been estimated that only one-quarter of the 1,000 people living in the village go to a local church on a regular basis.
The Globe continues to promote the U.S. Navy with pro-enlistment commentary, “Imagine me, steering a destroyer, and I’ve had two pay raises in only eight months!”
A free motion picture will be shown at the Wayland High School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7, and a cooking expert will prepare a meal for the audience, compliments of the Bennett Furniture Store.
Twenty-two members of the Wayland High School Agriculture boys went with advisor Jack Prescott to a county-wide meeting of vocational agriculture students at Camp Mich-Vo-Ed near Allegan.
The Agriculture boys were joined Bessie Baker and the Home Economics girls for a game supper. Freddie Hilbert spoke to the gathering about his trips to Canada and the Upper Peninsula.
Rev. Ward of the Caledonia United Methodist Church gave a presentation on “Hobbies and Birds” to 75 members of the Brotherhood, a group that soon would become the Wayland Rotary Club.
The regular meeting of the Anti-Can’t Society will be at the Congregational Church Friday afternoon.
Now showing at the Wayland Theatre:
- Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman and Lana Turner in “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.”
- Randolph Scott, Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews in “Belle Starr.”
- Tom Harmon, Anita Louise and Forest Evashevski in “Harmon of Michigan.”
- The Weaver Brothers and Elviry in “Mountain Moonlight.”
100 Years Ago — Oct. 27, 1916
Charles Sutter, 55, of Dorr, pleaded guilty in Circuit Court to changes of assault with intent to murder in connection with shooting his daughter during a drunken rage at his house. Judge O.S. Cross granted Sutter an opportunity to reconcile with his teen-aged daughter.
The Michigan State Teachers’ Association will put together an institure for two days and all area educators are expected to attend. Schools will be closed accordingly.
“Are there any young men itting around the kitchen fire this winter?” the author of “School Notes” asked. “The school is open to you and there’s always room for one more.” Enrollment was reported at 109 at the high school this week.
Wayland school students adopted a resolution encouraging all local citizens to “vote dry” in the upcoming elections.
James Halloran won the fourth grade spelldown.
A Prohibition rally is planned in Bradley, with Allegan County Prosecuting Attorney Perle L. Fouch as guest speaker.
The barn of William Stanka caught fire, burning 10 head of cattle and a team of horses.
Clarence Belson of Monterey Township is seeking election as State Representative on the Democratic Party ticket. He has been a school teacher for the past 11 years.
John C. Yeakey and son Charles went to Grand Rapids to a rally on behalf of President Woodrow Wilson. The speaker was William Jennings Bryan.