Fotos from the Past

11-29-72

Although it's been open for a month local dignitaries gathered Tuesday afternoon for the official opening of the new emergency department at Holy Cross Hospital. Hospital administrator Robert Koepke and Mrs. Kay Slewitzke R.N. are pictured showing off a new portable heart monitoring machine. The emergency room is staffed from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. with a nurse and a nurse's aide and during the early morning hours with a shift supervisor. Doctors can be at a patient's side from within 5-10 minutes of arrival.

Merrill Police along with Antigo and Steven's Point Police are all looking for an armed robbery suspect after three heists at area gas stations. Just after 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Dean Trantow reported the robber held up the Clark Station, 422 E 2nd St., as he was working. The gunman got away with over $100 in cash. Merrill Police noted the man's description is identical to the person who robbed the Zephyr Station in Antigo Sunday night and a gas station in Point on Monday.

The Merrill Blue Jay basketball team split two non-conference games last week but now will have a steady diet of Wisconsin Valley opponents in the coming weeks. Merrill beat Tomahawk last Tuesday by a score of 75-28 but lost to Milwaukee Riverside on Friday 59-56. While Coach Don Kerr described the Tomahawk game as a boring event, the Jays made the Milwaukee contest a nail biter to the end. The boys were losing 53-36 when the team went on a 20-6 scoring drive but fell just short at the end. Tom Rajek, Rick Semling and Dave VanDerGeest led the scoring for the Jays.

12-1-82

A long-awaited program from the Wisconsin DOT goes into effect today. Residents will be required to have their photos taken when they renew their driver's licenses. The new photo cards will be a plastic laminate and will be slightly smaller than the old paper ones and will cost $9 to renew them. The DOT will take your picture when you renew your license and will mail you your new driver's license within two weeks.

Norm Heideman's Quotem Pole has some local history in it and seeks more. Col. Harold Morgan a veteran whose service began before World War I and stretched beyond WW II talks about the previous armory posts in Merrill. The first one was located on Mill St. near what is now the Ward Paper Company. It consisted of horse stables for the horse soldiers of that time. Other training spots included Streeter's Square, the vocational school on West Main Street and the Quality Print building. Anyone who knows of any other locations where the military trained in Merrill is encouraged to call Jig's. (I would include the number but Norm's number is now very long distance).

Merrill Blue Jay girls' basketball team won their second straight game of the young season last night beating Wisconsin Rapids 58-47. Janet Wickman led the team in scoring with 14, center Janet Fruend added 11 and guard Lisa Baumgart tossed in 10. Coach Bob Yuska is calling this Friday's contest against Wausau West "the big game". Tip off is at 8 p.m. The boys' team on the other side is not fairing as well losing their first two contests. The Jays lost to the Newman Cardinal's 56-53 and to Wisconsin Rapids 52-38. Senior center Mark Heldt is an early stand out for coach Bob Wojtusik, during the Newman game Heldt scored 23 points and grabbed 25 rebounds. Foul trouble with Joe Weix and Jeff Monti having to sit out some of the fourth quarter did not help the Jays.

11-24-92

The Lincoln County Board voted last Tuesday to approve a county wide 911 system which should be operational by 1994. County residents will see an additional 57 cents on their phone bill to help pay for the service. Emergency Government Director and acting 911 Coordinator Brian Sladek noted numerous details need to be worked out yet including where the answering points will be in Merrill and Tomahawk. The Tomahawk Police Department is a logical choice for the northern part of the county, but on the south end it could be either at the police department or Sheriff's Office.

With Thanksgiving being celebrated this week Merrill retailers are getting into the swing of the Christmas spirit as a photo spread on page two shows. Lori Thom, the manager of Green's Floral and Gifts, is pictured in a sea of poinsettias, Donna Ward the bakery manager at Piggly Wiggly is shown preparing treats of the oven, Russell Grefe the manager of Carl's Food Lane is featured cutting up a cheese and meat platter, Jeff Bonnell a manager of Dave's Red Owl is shown putting together a fruit basket, Wendy Hoff manager of Brose's is decorating a silk Christmas wreath, Chris Langbecker of Krueger Floral and Gifts is creating a fresh floral arrangement, and Don Beam the manager of Wal-Mart is pictured next to the "Smiley Face Tree" an inspiration of local Wal-Mart employees to help needy local children.

Former Merrill High School standout Liesl Storm received honorable mention from the 1992 Wisconsin Woman's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Storm was a redshirt junior outside hitter for the UW-La Crosse volleyball team that ranked 7th in the nation in NCAA Div. III this past year. Storm is completing her five year degree in physical therapy as she plays for the Eagles.