Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr.
5-21-75
Tragic events mar this week’s paper. Two people drowned this past week, a 15 year old Merrill boy who died while swimming with a friend at Council Grounds Sunday and a 63 year old Tomahawk woman who was found dead in Gerbick Lake in the Town of Skanawan. On Monday a 65 year old Merrill woman was fatally injured after a crash on Merrill’s west side. The woman was driving south on Chippewa Street when she struck a parked car in the 700 and 600 blocks, crossed Grand Ave and then struck a utility pole before striking a house. The woman was rushed to Holy Cross Hospital and then to Wausau Hospital North where she died Friday evening.
A Merrill man escaped serious injuries after crashing his small home built aircraft just south of the Merrill Airport on Sunday. Walter Muschinske had just taken off from the Merrill Municipal Airport when the engine of his plane stalled. The plane flipped during an attempted landing, ending up in a field near St. Paul and Cottage St. Pictured examining the wreck of the plane are Lincoln County Sheriff Ronald Krueger, Merrill Police Officer Kirby Stoelting, and Fire Chief Ray Priebe. Muschinske was taken to Holy Cross Hospital for treatment of his minor injuries.
Many people are being recognized in this week. Clifford Livingston was honored by the Chamber of Commerce for the completion of the remodel of his downtown department store. The renovation which began in February included the redecorating of the first floor, moving the shoe department, and expanding the men’s department. Kathleen Gosz of Green Bay has been named the new director of the T.B. Scott Library, and she will begin her duties August 1st. Interim director of the facility is Mary Lagerbloom. Ray Kurtzweil has retired and was honored last week as he stepped down as the maintenance supervisor at Holy Cross Convent. Three teachers who retired from MAPS were honored at a dinner last week; Mrs. Alice Bloyer was a first grade teacher at Franklin, Mrs. Irene Ellingston, a special education teacher at Washington, and Mrs. Arthura Krembs, an algebra teacher at the Junior High.
At the Cosmo the two theaters present completely different spectrums. In Cosmo One it is Mel Brooks with his film “Blazing Saddles.” Cosmo Two has Walt Disney’s “Swiss Family Robinson.”
5-22-85
The ongoing saga of the Prairie Dells Dam continues as the county board is wrestling with the idea of how much to pay Lunda Construction. Lunda was in the middle of repairing the dam when they were told to drop their tools and walk away from the job. The board then accused Lunda of breaching the contract for not finishing the job on time and asked for a bill for the repairs. At the forestry land and parks meeting on May 8th Lunda did just that by billing the county $608,000. The committee offered to settle the amount at $427,350 with the stipulation that the county would cut a check by May 17th. They didn’t. Yesterday the board of supervisors offered Lunda $330,000 to settle the account, a measure approved 16-5. Comments from supervisors on the settlement included Jim Severt who called the matter “one big circus” and further stated that, “they’re playing hardball and I think we’ve got to get into the game.” Forestry land and parks committee chairman Eugene Schmit addressed his board members noting, “if this gets into arbitration you’ve sold the farm, boys. I don’t know what kind of gamblers you are, but we’ve gambled on this thing from the beginning.” In other board action Chairman Neil LeMay appointed Walter Proft to fill the vacancy in the seventh district which was created when Larry Holl moved out of the city’s theatre district.
Teachers being honored this past week as they retire with a combined 305 years of experience from MAPS included: Ruth Boettcher, Audrey Lange, Bette Klinger, Elaine Ruprecht, Viola Wendland, Oscar Kretschmar, Ruth Dreger, Twila Will, and Jim Wood.
5-17-95
Auditors from a firm hired by the city to investigate and streamline city operations has once again failed to prove any wrong doing in the police department despite early allegations of inappropriate activity. The firm did recommend some changes in accounting procedures such as depositing cash more often and providing more detailed deposit slips, but initial calls for turning the matter over to the district attorney were no longer being recommended despite early rumors of wrong doing. Chief Charles Johnson initially placed himself on administrative leave while the audit was conducted but soon returned to work and was present on May 9th when the results of the audit were presented to the council. Mayor Patsy Woller noted that the study was still a good idea despite troubles caused by incomplete public statements being blown out of proportion and negative media coverage.
Still lots of jobs on the employment page: Weinbrenner needs sewing machine operators, Northern Wire is seeking first and second shift maintenance mechanics, McDonald’s needs workers for all shifts, Park House needs youth counselors, Semco has first and second shift production openings, Stokely USA is taking applications for work at the bean although production has yet to start and they are offering bonuses this year for attendance, the Prairie Motel needs a housekeeper, First Financial Bank would like to hire a part time teller, Pine Ridge Restaurant needs a cashier and waitress, 3’s Company needs a waitress, a hostess, a cook, and a dishwasher, Jay VanDerGeest is looking for farm help and will start employees at $6 an hour, the City of Merrill needs an equipment operator, the sheriff’s office needs cook / matrons and a confidential secretary, and Skippers is looking for a dishwasher and morning cook.