Fotos from the past

11-15-72

Twelve youths were honored this noon by the Merrill Optimist Club at their weekly meeting at Club Modern. Receiving the Youth Appreciation Week Citation for their many admirable achievements and actions include: Mary Kaliface, Basil Woller, Robert Gruling, Keith Duley, Mark Kraft, Brian McHenry, Alison Behling, Bonnie Wendt, Mary Malm, Janis Klinger, Lyman Hatz, and Lyndon Russell.

To accommodate deer hunters County Clerk Kenneth Oldenburg will hold office hours all this week until 9 p.m. If a hunter is not able to buy their license before the office closes they can visit participating taverns to get their license before the midnight deadline. For those who have the misfortune of losing their party tags for areas 46 or 33 they can call Clerk Oldenburg at his office during the week or at his Gleason home on evenings or weekends to get a duplicate.

Three Merrill Blue Jay football players were placed on the Wisconsin all-conference football team. Despite the fact that Merrill had its most successful season their all-star numbers were dwarfed by conference rivals Antigo (seven) and D. C. Everest (five). Steve Dahm, Tom Schulz, and Bob Grunenwald received the honor locally and received high praise from coach Ira Rebella on the sports page.

There is plenty of bargains to be found in this week's Foto News. Gene's Refrigeration and Appliance is offering a free turkey with the purchase of any Whirlpool Appliance from now until Thanksgiving. Gruett's Toy Land is now open, you will receive 15% off of toy purchases of $5 or more. Weaver and Son's is thinking snow, a 1973 Polaris Charger snowmobile starts at $1050.

11-17-82

The new Highway 51 bypass project in Tomahawk had a 58 ton setback this week after a bridge beam fell off a truck. A county deputy was escorting the truck hauling the beam on County Rd D at Kings Rd when the semitrailer slid on the ice and rolled on its side. The beam; which is valued at $6780 was cracked in three places. Minor injuries were reported in the incident.

Street Commissioner Phillip Erickson is advertising for two employees for the street department. The starting salary is $6.03 an hour and new employees are required to establish residency in the city within six months of hire. Work hours are from 7 AM to noon and from 1 PM to 4 PM.

On the sports page five members of the Merrill Blue Jay volleyball team have made the All Wisconsin Valley Conference team. Janet Fruend, Wendy Plautz, Ann Opsahl, Jan Wickman and Lisa Baumgart were all honored after their successful season. The boys varsity basketball team is looking to rebuild this year. Coach Bob Wojtusik reports Mark Heldt is the only returning letterman to the squad, and they will sorely miss Jeff Ott who left Merrill to continue his education at Henderson County Junior College in Texas. Wojtuski notes that Ott was perhaps the premier guard in the Wisconsin Valley the last two seasons. On the girls side, Coach Bob Yuska is looking to return to Madison. Last year the team won only one of their first seven games and then shocked the valley by winning 13 of their next 15 games. The season ended in a heartbreaker when the girls lost in overtime to Madison West at the WIAA State Tournament. Returning letter winners to the girls squad include Jan Wickman, Janet Fruend, Lisa Lindquist, Lisa Baumgart, Terry Meyer and Julie Sazama.

11-11-92

Several residents were honored at the annual Merrill on the Move award banquet this past Saturday. Jack Semling was awarded the Hall of Fame Award. Semling is the president of the Semling-Menke Company, a window and door manufacturer. Jack Semling joined his father's business at the age of 13. He graduated from business school and was drafted into the Army in 1950. In 1953 he returned to the Semling-Menke company which has now expanded to locations in Utah, Indiana, and Minnesota and employs 675 workers. Bob Sumnicht, Chairman of the County Board, was given the Chamber Ambassador award. Sumnicht came to Merrill in 1953 as the Lincoln County Agricultural Agent and has been active in the community ever since. Besides serving on the county board Sumnicht serves the community as a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Merrill Evening Lion's Club, The Merrill Park and Rec Board, and formerly worked for 15 years with the 4H program.

The Mayor's life-saving award went to Sue Herbig and Karen Akey. Herbig was a witness to a car accident that involved two deaf brothers who were seriously injured. Herbig who knows sign language was able to calm the two boys through the frightening incident. Akey responded to the hospital where she was able to assist with sign language as doctors stabilized them. Both women stayed with the boys until 4 AM consoling the pair.