Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr
9-27-78
Lincoln County Bank will not be sold. Bank president Charles H. Eckerle has confirmed that talks between the local financial institution and a Wausau based multi-bank holding company have been terminated. Duane Ruth, president of Central Wisconsin Bankshares was attempting to negotiate with Eckerle for the purchase of Lincoln County Bank but an agreement was not able to be reached.
The city of Merrill’s Police and Fire Commission has approved the replacement of all parking meters in the city. In all 525 of the meters will be replaced under the proposal for a total of $46,852.50. Duncan Meters will pay the city $8 per meter in trade in for the old meters; the purchase will be paid for by the parking meter fund. Seventy-five of the meters will allow 20 hours of parking, 150 will be four hour meters, while 280 will be one hour meters. Twenty meters will be installed that allow only 12 minutes per stop. The current meters in use in the city were all installed in 1957 and 1958. Police Chief Charles Johnson said the city will be allowed to pay for the meters over two years thanks to an agreement he negotiated with Duncan.
In a letter to the editor a “Merrill fan” praises Coach Ira Rebella and his coach staffing for teaching the Blue Jay football players to respect our flag and anthem. The writer states they witnessed teams at Rhinelander, Wisconsin Rapids and Stevens Point sitting in a storage shed, still in the locker room, or in the case of Point still practicing as the anthem was being played. The writer notes that our local team was standing in line at full attention during the anthem. The sports page reports that the Jays blew Wausau East out of the water this past Saturday to come away with a homecoming victory of 35-0. Mike Thistle was named offense player of the week while Duane Yorde took the honors on the defensive side. The Jays travel to Menominee this weekend.
9-28-88
Another homecoming is in the books leaving the fans with much to cheer about after the Blue Jay football team’s 10-3 victory over the Rhinelander Hodags last Saturday. Senior Kristen Beyer reigned as homecoming queen and if you recognized her shawl, that is because it was the same one her mother Janet Beyer Thums (Osness) wore when she was prom queen. Coach Greg Schofield credited his offensive line for the hard fought victory against the visiting squad, singling out Rob Kaderavek, Pete Deates, Chad Meyer and Chris Gennrich. The Merrill Marching Jays are featured on page one as they give a rousing half time show under the leadership of Dale Smith and Dan Nordall. In other news out of MAPS this week, school administration staff is celebrating a turn in enrollment with 44 students added to the rolls for this school year. Washington and Franklin schools saw the largest spikes in students. The Board of Education has voted to pause the plans for a multi-use recreational facility or complex. The BOE would like to see what effort will be put into the project from groups such as the city, county, and youth hockey association before going forward on spending $50,000 for drawing up the plans for the facility.
The County Board has authorized spending $4 million for Phase One of the landfill construction. The money, which will need to be borrowed, will build the access road, bring in the clay for the site, install a leachate collection system, and finish off the road to be known as County Rd. R and will serve as the entry road to the facility.
The family of “Ches” Kienitz has donated to Council Grounds State Park in honor of their father and grandfather. Steve Wendland is pictured receiving the donation from Amy Wendorf and her mother Julie Kienitz Wendorf along with Paul Kienitz, her uncle. The money will go to the expansion and continued development of the interpretive nature building in the campground. The late Kienitz was a longtime Merrill Police Officer and was known within Council Grounds as a man who wisely used, renewed, and preserved the area’s natural resources.
In news briefs: Dr. Dennis Abegglen has purchased the building at 925-927 E. Main St. and plans to open a chiropractic office in that location formerly occupied by Thorp Finance. The offices are currently being remodeled and Abegglen plans to move there by the end of the year; this was the first Krueger Funeral Home location in Merrill. Hometown Café is now open in the 1200 block of East Main Street. This new restaurant was previously known as the Ritz. A grand opening celebration will also be held at the E&K Tavern where music will be provided by Nigh Switch.
9-30-98
The Holy Cross Sisters are celebrating the anniversary of their arrival in Merrill, and as a part of the event they are hosting an open house at Scott Mansion. Tours will run on Saturday afternoon with a reception to follow at Assisi Hall. The order is celebrating 75 years of serving the City of Merrill, having come to this city originally to operate the hospital.
The monkey is finally off the back of the Merrill High School football team after defeating North Milwaukee this past Friday 28-6, the first victory by the local team in almost three years. Coach Duane Gray said he was elated with the victory and with the way the student body stormed the field after the contest. This was his first win since taking over the Merrill program. Quarterback Jared Sanders started the winning pace in the game by scampering for a 19 yard touchdown on the first possession. In the second quarter Sanders connected with Kevin Harding for a 40 yard TD pass for a 14-0 half time lead. Luke Porath added on a five yard dash in the third quarter while Jeff Christensen led the Jays with 9 solo tackles; defensive coach Greg Schofield also credited Tyler Hess, Ike Mattson, Mark VanderHeiden and Josh Klug on the defensive end. Wausau East at 2-3 will now come to Jay Stadium for homecoming this Saturday.
The Silver M Club will welcome in some new members this year as usual when they meet Saturday evening at Lincoln Lanes. New inductees include: Mike Harbath, Steve Ackley, Steve Plautz, Mike Hull, Jeff Jameson, Joel Kleinschmidt, Paul Lindstrom, Pete Malm, Randy Hill, Wally Chase, Bill Ruder, Brad Sanders, and Mike Schmidt. Golden M inductees are Bill Hotzfeld, David Ecklund, Robert Grefe, Paul Bruhn, Tom Knudson, Stanley Sladek, Dale Stevenson, Richard Vignali, and Roger Tholl.
The good news for the Christiansen family is everyone is safe. Cindi Christiansen was driving home this past Sunday from her birthday dinner when she spotted a fire and not realizing it was her family’s barn. The Christiansens credit their neighbors’ quick action for saving the animals who were in the barn, one of which was saved by using a chain saw to cut a hole in the side of the barn. Firefighters from Merrill, Corning, and the Town of Maine worked to put out the flames at the farm on County Rd. Z. The milking operations continue thanks to a neighboring farm.
A public information meeting will be held next Tuesday at SARA Park in Tomahawk. The Wisconsin DOT is hosting the meeting to inform residents of their plans to bypass the city with a complete four lane highway. The nine mile long project will cost an estimated $22 million and extend from Irma to County Rd. S and then north to US Hwy. 8. The project should begin in 1999 and be completed in 2001.