Another Merrill resident fell victim to a scam last week. On Tuesday, the Town of Merrill resident phoned the Sheriff’s Office to report he was the victim of a scam. The man had been contacted and told he qualified for a government loan of over $10,000 but he had to cover taxes prior to the money being deposited in his account. The man initially sent a green dot card, which is a pre-paid debit card, for $190. After the scammers got the money, they called him again and again saying they needed additional fees before they could send him the money. The man ended up sending $800 and provided his bank account number before he realized it was a scam. The man prevented any theft from his bank account number, but all of the cash cards were used by the time deputies were notified of the scam.
A Tomahawk man was injured after a two vehicle crash late Wednesday night in the Town of Somo. Deputies along with Tomahawk EMS and Fire Department responded to US Hwy. 8 near County Rd. T after a cell 911 caller reported the crash at 11 p.m. According to the deputy’s report, a vehicle being driven by an 18 year old Tomahawk man was traveling east on US Hwy. 8 when he braked to avoid a deer that was crossing the road. A second eastbound vehicle, also being driven by an 18 year old Tomahawk man, crested the small hill and could not brake in time to avoid striking the rear of the first vehicle. The driver of the vehicle that was struck was transported by Tomahawk EMS to Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital, where he was treated and released.
Firefighters from the Town of Pine River and the Town of Russell responded to a structure fire on Friday afternoon in the Town of Pine River. A cabin owner on Town Hall Rd. near Town Line Rd. reported he had come to his cabin at noon time to mow the lawn when he heard the smoke detector inside sounding. When he investigated, he found that a fire had started in his cabin but appeared to have burned itself out. When firefighters and a deputy arrived, they found that the fire had started near an electrical outlet that was recently replaced by the cabin owner and had burned through the wall and caused severe damage but yet had burned itself out before taking down the cabin. Firefighters checked for extension before they left the scene about half an hour after arriving.
A Milwaukee area man was reunited with his family after being found by two Good Samaritans Friday night. The two Merrill residents told a deputy that they were following the vehicle near US Hwy. 51 and County Rd. Q and noted how poorly the man was driving. When he asked directions to get back to Milwaukee, they instead called the Sheriff’s Office. When deputies ran a check on the 71-year-old man, they found he was listed as missing and endangered by the Greenfield Police Department. A deputy found the man very confused and brought him to the Sheriff’s Office, where they waited for family to arrive hours later and take the man safely home.
A 25-year-old Tomahawk man is in the Lincoln County Jail after deputies from Lincoln and Oneida counties investigated a traffic crash early Saturday morning. Just after 2 a.m., a cell 911 caller reported that a vehicle had left the road and struck a tree on Heafford Rd. off of County Rd. L. An Oneida County deputy was nearby and found blood on the steering wheel when he arrived. Deputies went to a residence in the Town of Nokomis and found the driver passed out there. The suspect was intoxicated but claimed he started drinking after the crash. A check showed the man was on probation and also out on two felony bonds. The suspect had been charged in January of 2013 with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and battery to a law enforcement officer. The man was released from jail on a signature bond and as a part of his bond he was not allowed to consume alcohol. In late August, he was charged with bail jumping after violating terms of his bond and again he was released on a signature bond. The suspect was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he was jailed on a probation hold and will be referred on two felony counts of bail jumping.
67-year-old Merrill man was injured in an ATV crash Saturday morning in the Town of Harrison. Just after 11 a.m., a cell 911 caller reported that the driver had crashed on a trail north off of Cinder Rd. The Rec. Deputy reports indicated the man was traveling south when he lost control of his ATV and crashed. The Rec. Deputy ferried paramedics from Oneida County Medic One to the crash scene and they transported the victim to Ministry Saint Mary’s Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. The man was wearing a helmet and alcohol was not a factor in the incident.
One person was transported to Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital in Tomahawk after a one vehicle crash Sunday morning in the Town of Bradley. A vehicle being driven by a 17 year old Tomahawk man left the roadway and struck a power pole on County Rd CC west of Peaceful Valley Rd. at around 10:40 a.m. The 16 year old female passenger was transported to Ministry Sacred Heart Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
The number of car deer crashes has been increasing and deputies are seeing more bucks being struck, eleven crashes were reported this past week. Other animals were also struck this past week; on Monday evening a Carpentersville, IL man struck a bear on US Hwy. 51 near State Rd. 64 in the Town of Pine River, a bear cub was found struck the next morning near that same location, on Wednesday a cub was struck and killed on US Hwy. 51 near County Rd. D, and on Sunday night a cow was struck by a vehicle on County Rd. E near Tesch Rd. Both the cow and the car left the scene under their own power.