25 Years Ago — Aug. 14, 1991

The soon-to-be constructed east wing of the Allegan County Building will be called the Ralph B. Sytsma Memorial Center in honor of the County Board chairman and Leighton Township dairy farmer who died earlier this year.

Congressman Paul Henry (R-Grand Rapids) stopped in at Wayland High School to take part in a public forum that focused on education. He reported U.S. children are performing poorly as compared to counterparts in other countries. “In math, our students are graduating at about the bottom and they’re next to last in science.”

Yankee Springs Township has hired a special inspector to monitor the gravel mining operations of Thompson-McCully near Payne Lake and Bowens Mills roads.

Lee Pankratz, a 1968 graduate of Wayland High School, has announced his resignation as a member of the Wayland Board of Education because he has taken a job as senior vice president and loan officer for Ameribank in Muskegon.

David Dickens of Dorr won $100,000 in the “Zinger” contest for the Michigan Lottery, purchasing his ticket from Dorr Community Pharmacy.

State Rep. Paul Hillegonds, responding to questions about the recent defeat at the polls of Proposals A and B for school finance reform, said Gov. John Engler was the clear winner. Engler opposed both plans, insisting that voters do not trust state government.

Curt Golm, 29, of Hopkins, has just returned from Australia, where he served for a year as a vicar for the Lutheran Church.

WHS golf coach Rick Morse is welcoming a solid nucleus of juniors with Ryan Morse, Bill Goodwin, Ken Rehm, and Jack Bredeweg, and Mike Merren and Wayne Czarnecki, as the season gets under way.

Mary Lou and Willie Nieuwenhuis of Moline have offered for bidding their special “garbage can meal,” featuring local produce, as a fund-raiser for the youth group of the Christian Reformed Church.

50 Years Ago — Aug. 11, 1966

In the continuing weekly series about candidates for the Wayland queen contest, photos of contestants Joanne Banas and Bonnie Ritsema were published on the front page. The pageant will be the closing event for the 20^th annual Wayland Community Fair Aug. 25-27, but it was announced the horse show had to be canceled.

Sycamore Elementary School voters approved a two-year, three-mill request in that rural school district’s first-ever millage election.

Editor-Publisher Irvin P. Helmey published a front page editorial insisting only a handful of teen-age boys are responsible for recent acts of vandalism at the Wayland Theatre. Owner C. Kincaid had reported seats had been slashed and some woodwork damaged by carvings. He urged anyone with knowledge to report to authorities for spoiling “wholesome entertainment provided for the community.”

Brief profiles and pictures of candidates for city offices were published on the Globe front page. This week it was Marie Hall and Rose Marie Feldswich for treasurer and Earl Lanning, Steve Tobolic and Ben Ciboch for justice of the peace.

Coach David Dagley has just rejoined the Hopkins High School faculty in biology after earning a master’s degree from the University of Georgia. He is the head varsity football coach for the Vikings.

David Niven and Francoise Dorleac were starring in “Where the Spies Are” at the Wayland Theatre.

The marriage of David VanEerden and Janet Ellen Plum of Bloomingdale was announced in the social section. Both were preparing for teaching duties in Wayland schools. David, also and coach, and Jan, later were to become well known for their service on the Wayland Area Emergency Services ambulance service before Jan died in 1987 of kidney failure.

Sister Michael, who was about to complete her vows this summer, dropped in to see parents Mr. and Mrs. Herman Ignatowski in Dorr. The former nancy Ignatowski, she has been teaching at a Catholic school in Michigan City, Ind.

75 Years Ago — Aug. 15, 1941

Editor-Publisher Rollo Mosher called it “a million dollar rain” because its arrival provided welcome relief for crops and farm land “burning up for lack of moisture.” Ironically, it was followed by a major storm that included thunder and lightning that felled trees over local roads and even tore down a steel roof on a barn.

“J.E. Sturgis will be in Wayland and vicinity next week, tuning pianos. Leave orders at this (Globe) office.”

The Leighton Eagles continued to dominate the summer Wayland Softball League with a perfect 4-0 record.

The annual Hopkins Holiness Camp, featuring guest evangelist speakers, will be held Aug. 21 to 31 at campgrounds located a mile and a half north of Hopkins.

The Sproat School reunion attracted a whopping 140 former students and spouses to the old school room, with a luncheon afterward. Mrs. Stella Miller is president of the alumni association.

Though the Wayland baseball team lost the Allegan County championship in a 6-2 loss to Martin in the finals, team members were awarded tickets to see the Detroit Tigers play the St. Louis Browns. (Quick now, what team did the now defunct Browns become in the 1950s?)

The film lineup this week at the Wayland Theatre:

• Fred MacMurray, Madeline Carroll, Edmund Gwenn, Billie Burke and Reginald Denny in “One Night in Lisbon.”
• John Wayne, Betty Field and Harry Carey “The Shepherd of the Hills.”
• Roy Rogers, Gabby Hayes and Sally Payne in “Nevada City.”

100 Years Ago — Aug. 11, 1916

A front page new-advertising item promoted the candidacy of John C. Ketcham of Hastings for Fourth District Congressman in the Aug. 29 Republican primary. It noted that 75,8 percent of the district is rural with 25,170 farms, and Ketcham is the candidate who best understands agricultural issues.

A barn near Hillards was burned in an electrical storm, which also took out power from telephone cables in downtown Wayland.

John C. and Charles R. Yeakey have contracted for a new supply of 1917 model year Ford automobiles.

The Sproat School reunion was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Milo Gray in Moline. About 60 were in attendance, including 29 alums and former teacher Mrs. Mary Martin, who now is 84 years old.

J.W. Gibson delivered his farewell sermon at the Methodist Church in Bradley. One of the attendees in the audience was the Rev. J.W. Crowe of the Congregational Church, who next week will give his farewell address.

The Board of Trade will meet in the council room Aug. 15 to finalize plans for a fall festival in October.

Local members of the Rebekahs met at the home of Mrs. Ed Heydenberk east of the village for a potluck. “These Rebekah affairs can’t be beaten when it comes to eating.”
A large number of local youth has been enjoying the bathing beach at Selkirk Lake to cool off during a heat spell.