Articles

City Council votes to reject proposed ORV ordinance

January 2, 2023

New Police Chief Scott Mattice shakes hands with Councilman Rick Mathis after his swearing in. The Wayland City Council Monday evening voted down a proposed off-road vehicle (ORV) ordinance by a 4-2 count. There may be a silver lining to supporters, as city officials are being encouraged to come up...

Former Wayland schools official fired by Kalamazoo

December 29, 2022

James English A former Wayland Union Schools administrator was fired Wednesday by Kalamazoo Public Schools for what school board members called making inappropriate decisions without proper oversight. James English, 55, who served as assistant superintendent for finance and operations under Supt. Evior Swan until 2010, had been assistant superintendent for...

Capt. Scott Matice hired as new Wayland police chief

December 19, 2022

Scott Mattice Retiring Allegan County Sheriff's Dept. Captain Scott Mattice has been selected as the City of Wayland's new police chief. Mattice, who served on the Allegan. County department for 28 years, most recently was in charge of patrol operations and investigative services. The City Council Monday night approved a...

City Council approves 4 special use permit requests

December 19, 2022

Bret Butler (left) and Brian Sikkema explain the special use request from University of Michigan West Health Center. The Wayland City Council Monday night approved four requests for special use permits for new businesses in the community. Included among them were proposals for three marijuana retail businesses and the new...

Leighton Township to take over old school site Dec. 26

December 15, 2022

The Leighton Township Board plans to take possession of the former Happy Camper business Dec. 26 after the current occupant of the old Moline Elementary School vacates the building Dec. 22. The board, which used $650,000 in federal America Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to buy the old school from...

Articles

Martin Township losing three officials at end of year

December 14, 2022

Pete Zeinstra Rachelle Smit Martin Township will lose three local officials at the beginning of next year. Township Clerk Rachelle Smit submitted her resignation Wednesday evening to the Township Board after serving for seven years. She will begin her new job as state representative from the 43rd District after winning...

City Plan Commission OKs 3 marijuana retail requests

December 13, 2022

Steve Witte explains that the new medial center on West Superior will include 119 parking spaces. The Wayland City Planning Commission Tuesday night recommended the City Council approve four special use permit requests, three of them from prospective retail marijuana businesses. After considerable discussion in the public hearings, site plans...

Articles

Wayland school officials hail return to normalcy

December 12, 2022

The consensus among Wayland Board of Education members Monday night was that things seem to be getting back to normal in the school district. Wayland, like so many other school systems, was reeling from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 until the start of this academic...

UMH-West plans 17,300 sq. ft. facility on West Superior

December 6, 2022

University of Michigan Health-West has further announced plans for a new health center and expanded services for Wayland on the north side of West Superior Street between United Bank and Burger King. UMH-West earlier this year announced plans to move from its current location on East Superior across the street...

Articles

Public hearing Dec. 19 on proposed ORV ordinance

December 5, 2022

City of Wayland Water Superintendent Ben Batchelder is retiring soon. Though prospects for an ordinance permitting use of golf carts in the Wayland City limits are dead in the water, hope springs eternal for off road vehicle (ORV) enthusiasts. The Public Safety Committee has been meeting and crafting a proposed...

Category: Articles