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The Merrill City Council unanimously approved the issuance of $300,000 in industrial revenue bonds to the Merrill Candy and Distributing Company at its meeting last Wednesday. City Attorney William Wulf objected to the grant as he felt that Merrill Candy did not qualify for the financing as it was not engaged in manufacturing. Merrill Candy owner Ralph Schewe and his attorney Leonard Schmitt disagreed, noting he and his company are willing to stick their neck out and if the matter wasn’t legal they would take the affects, not the city. Merrill Candy is looking to build new facilities at State Rd 17 (County Rd G) and Memorial Drive. In other city news, the council abolished the height and weight requirements for new police applicants and referred an ordinance restricting the number of family members who can work for the city at one time back to the city attorney.
A Merrill man who admitted guilt in the shooting of a Lincoln County Deputy will be going to prison. The man was sentenced last week by Judge Donald Schnabel to not more than five years in the Green Bay Reformatory. The original complaint charged the man with attempted first degree homicide, but the suspect pled into a lesser charge of endangering safety regardless of life.
In a see-saw battle in the east gym on Friday night, the Merrill Blue Jay boys’ basketball team pulled out a victory in a 50-48 contest with Rhinelander. The Jays dominated the first quarter leading 28-16 but the Hodags outscored the boys 12-0 to take a 28-28 tie into the locker room. Down by four points at the end of the third quarter, Merrill Coach Steve Kirk noted the team wasn’t moving the ball around enough letting the visitors control the boards, the tip offs, and shooting. But in the fourth quarter, Frank Murphy, a reserve guard for the Jays, came off the bench and sparked a rally with the Jays scoring 18 points in the fourth quarter; 12 of them courtesy of center Dave VanDerGeest. The team now travels to Marshfield, a team they lost to by two points earlier this season.
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Don’t break out your bathing suits just yet; the thaw isn’t going to last. With December of 1983 being called one of the coldest Decembers on record and January being right behind it – residents will rejoice with the 30 degree temperatures predicted Thursday and Friday. But weather forecasters are predicting teens by Saturday and single digits by Sunday. Lows will be below zero this weekend and snow will follow as temperatures will range to minus 15. (Sound familiar?)
If the cold is keeping you down, local merchants have many bargains this week to warm you up. Brose’s has a cash and carry fresh cut bouquet for $2.99; Helmstadter Jewelers has an inventory clearance sale with up to 50% off dainty rings, pendants and earrings, watches and diamonds sets. Livingston’s is offering all seasonal merchandise up to 50% off. Schulze’s Pharmacy has half off all jewelry and most gifts, Campbell’s flea market is continuing this weekend with additional merchandise added; Caylor’s says to take five dollars off on every pair of western boots. Cal’s Chip’s Hamburgers now has Italian Burgers, buy one get one free with the coupon on page eight. Stueber’s Country Way will now have a champagne brunch on Sundays; it’s only $5.25 for adults. Lierman’s Ball Room will feature the entertainment of Ray Coble on Saturday. Coble is known for his appearances on Hee Haw and the Grand Old Opry.
In business news on page 12, Mark Weix has been promoted to vice-president and cashier at M&I Bank following their annual meeting on last Tuesday. Weix is in his 23rd year at the bank. The following were elected to the board of directors at the same meeting: Robert Savaske, William Natzke, L. J. Bayer, Stanley Bauman, Edward Chartier, Paul Duginski, George Page, Walter Schuster, A. N. Renner, and Gerritt VanDerGeest. The Board then in turn elected the following officers: Savaske, president; Natzke, vice-president; Ronald Lass, senior vice-president; John Zulliger, vice president; Louise Wix, assistant vice-president; Carlynn Zander, auditor and assistant cashier; Marilynn Hehling and Barbara Iwen, assistant cashiers.
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Several Merrill residents were recognized recently by the Lincoln County Chapter of the American Red Cross for their efforts to save lives. Lori L. Stine and Mike Josiger both of the Town of Pine River were in the right place at the right time this past Friday evening. The pair were with separate parties dining at Chico’s Restaurant in Wausau when a patron started choking. Josiger tried the Heimlich maneuver but when that didn’t work he lowered the victim to the floor where Stine took over with abdominal thrusts expelling the food item. This past Jan. 2 after a church member of St. Stephen’s United Church of Christ crumpled to the floor with a heart attack, off duty police officers Mark Heckendorf and Michael Kunkel along with nurse Dorothy Radke sprang into action performing CPR until the EMT’s arrived. Presenting the awards were Dan Deml, local Red Cross Safety Chair and Brian Sladek, Red Cross Coordinator, along with CPR instructors Steve Peterson and Tadd Wegener.
The last surviving member of the crew that raised the flag on Iwo Jima has died. John Bradley of Antigo died two weeks ago; he was the last member of the crew that raised the flag on Mount Surabachi that was captured in the iconic photo. But former Merrill resident Jibo Wittman reminds readers that there was a Merrill connection on that island as well. Jack Weiss and Dwayne Mittlesteadt were killed during the assault on the island, and Jack Krueger and Jibo Wittman were both wounded in action. Over 6,800 U. S. Marines were killed at Iwo Jima.