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Joann Utecht

Joann Utecht, 92, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. She was born on December 5, 1933 to Harvey and Eldora (Harder) Woller. She graduated from Merrill Senior High School …

Phyllis M. Bauman

Phyllis M. Bauman, 92, of Merrill, passed away Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Phyllis was born on July 9, 1934, in Merrill, Wisconsin, to Christian and Erna (Sense) …

Merrill Foto News 11.12.2026

Robbin R. "Rob" Pichelman

April 29, 1949 – November 4, 2026 Robbin R. "Rob" Pichelman, 77, passed away peacefully on November 4, 2026, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Rob was born on …

Merrill Poker Run deals its 25th hand Nov. 14

For a quarter-century, a group of local businesses has turned one November Saturday into a free holiday shopping game. On Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, the Merrill Poker Run returns for its 25th year, …
Business
Klinner Insurance welcomes Cordova Insurance to its growing team. L to R: Jeremy Cordova and Carrie Cordova of Cordova Insurance, and Nic Weight, Jason Steliga, and Mike Weiland of Klinner Insurance.

Klinner Insurance acquires Cordova Insurance Agency

Cordova Insurance Agency customers will see the same faces at the same Merrill office, now under a new name. Medford-based Klinner Insurance has acquired the agency, which Jeremy and Carrie Cordova …

Merrill Chamber announces 2026 Businesses of the Year

At its 25th Annual Merrill Chamber Celebration & Awards banquet and awards ceremony on Oct. 8, 2026, the Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce announced the 2026 Businesses of the Year, as voted on by …

Sip & Stroll Merrill stretches across 26 stops

Wine lovers took to the streets Saturday afternoon, Oct. 17, 2026, for the first Sip & Stroll Merrill, a wine walk organized by the Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce. The event ran from 1 to 7 …

Cowgirl Collective draws shoppers to downtown Merrill

Boots, hats, and shopping bags were the theme for the evening at several businesses in downtown Merrill along East First Street Friday evening, Oct. 16, 2026, during the Cowgirl Collective, a …
Schools
Closeup of an American flag in a row. Memorial day, Independence day, Veterans day concept. Copy space.

Updated start times for Veterans Week ceremonies at area schools

The start times for this year’s Veterans Week ceremonies and assemblies at area schools have changed from the times listed on the flag in last week’s edition of the Merrill Foto News. The updated …

Campus News

Area students among graduates at UW-Eau Claire The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire congratulated its 1,469 May 2026 graduates from the Eau Claire and Barron County campuses. Area students who …

MAPS accepts September and October donations

The following donations were approved and/or accepted at the Sept. 16, 2026, Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS) Board of Education (BOE) meeting: A donation of a four-person blocking sled and game …

Merrill grad takes the coach’s chair in high school esports

Jonathan Myszka is finding out what the game looks like from the other side of the headset. Myszka, a Merrill High School graduate, competes on the Valorant team at UW-Stout Polytechnic, where he’s …
Health
September Law of the Month: Child passenger safety
Babies should ride in a rear-facing car seat until they are 1 year old and weigh 20 pounds, in the back seat if the vehicle has one.

Parents and caregivers: ensure children are buckled into the correct seat

Children are best protected in a vehicle when they are correctly buckled into the correct seat for their age and size. The Wisconsin State Patrol’s September Law of the Month reminds parents and …

Aspirus Merrill Hospital earns national recognition for stroke care

BY TINA L. SCOTT EDITOR Aspirus Merrill Hospital received a Stroke Silver Plus award and a Rural Stroke Silver award in July from the American Heart Association’s Get With The …

Aspirus: how three weekly family meals can lead to healthier kids, adults

Aspirus Health recently shared information on how regular family meals can positively impact the health of both kids and adults. “Between school, sports, work, and after-school activities, finding …

With new school year approaching, Aspirus shares sleep tips for children

With the start of the new school year approaching, Aspirus Health recently shared tips to ensure children get enough sleep. “As families prepare for another school year, school supply lists, open …
Courts
Some of the items to be sold at public auction.

Pophal’s forfeited assets headed to public auction

Assets seized from a former Hamburg resident convicted of running a multimillion-dollar investment fraud scheme will be sold at online public auctions beginning July 28, 2026, U.S. Attorney Chadwick …

White faces upgraded charge of attempted first-degree intentional homicide

An Amended Criminal Complaint filed April 23, 2026, in Lincoln County Circuit Court has upgraded the charges against Julia L. White, 43, of Merrill, in connection with the March 27 stabbing of a male …

Former Merrill woman charged with homicide, child neglect in death of 5-year-old daughter

Katelyn M. Nardi, age 27, formerly of Merrill and now listing a Tomahawk address, was charged in Lincoln County Circuit Court on March 23, 2026, with two felony counts in connection with the Oct. 22, …
Community & Human Interest
"Trick-or-treat!"

Rain doesn’t stop Merrill trick-or-treaters

Cold, rainy weather didn’t keep Merrill’s ghosts, superheroes, and princesses from collecting their candy on Halloween. Trick-or-treating ran citywide from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. …

Merrill Poker Run deals its 25th hand Nov. 14

For a quarter-century, a group of local businesses has turned one November Saturday into a free holiday shopping game. On Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, the Merrill Poker Run returns for its 25th year, …

Grants double diaper giveaway at local diaper closet

Families who visit the Love the Littles Diaper Closet will now be able to go home with twice as many diapers per visit, thanks to grants from the Green Bay Packers Foundation and the Merrill …
Opinion and Editorial
Dear Reader, There is a poem I return to infrequently, written four centuries ago by an Englishman named John Donne, and it contains what I believe is one of the most quietly profound …
We welcome letters to the Editor, a chance for members of the community to comment on issues of concern to them. All letters must be original, not duplications of letters addressed to public …
Dear Reader, The past does not make an appointment. A letter falls out of a box carried from house to house and never opened. A song from a high school dance comes on in a store. Burning leaves …
Obituaries
Joann Utecht
Joann Utecht, 92, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. She was born on December 5, 1933 to Harvey and Eldora (Harder) Woller. She graduated from Merrill Senior High School …
Phyllis M. Bauman
Phyllis M. Bauman, 92, of Merrill, passed away Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Phyllis was born on July 9, 1934, in Merrill, Wisconsin, to Christian and Erna (Sense) …
Robbin R. "Rob" Pichelman
April 29, 1949 – November 4, 2026 Robbin R. "Rob" Pichelman, 77, passed away peacefully on November 4, 2026, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. Rob was born on …
Gary L. Dietrich
Gary L. Dietrich
Gary L. Dietrich, 78, of Merrill, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2026. He was born on May 7, 1948, in Merrill, to the late Victor and Pauline (Reichelt) Dietrich. On April 28, 1973, Gary …
Joseph C. (Joe) Calmes
Joseph C. (Joe) Calmes age 95, passed away on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 to be with his Lord and Savior, surrounded by his family at home.  He was born on April 4, 1931 the son of the …
Sports
Khloe Olson gets low to get under the ball.

Merrill Girls Volleyball

A peek at a recent Merrill Varsity Volleyball game ... in pictures!

Merrill Varsity Football falls to Wausau East in season finale, turns attention to playoffs

On Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, the Merrill Varsity Football Team traveled to Thom Field in Wausau for the regular-season finale against Wausau East and came up one score short, falling 21-14. “We fell …
#2 Cris Velazquez running the ball.

Athens Varsity Football Team rolls past Turtle Lake in Level 1 Playoff opener

The Athens Bluejays Varsity Football Team opened the WIAA 8-man football playoffs with a 44-20 victory over Turtle Lake on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, on the road in Turtle Lake. The Level 1 Playoff …

Fritsch: Taking the reins at Bay Beach

The World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 and its “White City” had left its impression and those who visited Chicago during the fair took home new ideas and it helped usher in the “City Beautiful” movement.

“Fritsch is appointed to beach post,” a headline on page 4 of the Feb. 10, 1955, Green Bay Press-Gazette stated, announcing Ted Fritsch as the new program director at Green Bay’s Bay Beach. …

Fritsch: Good clean play

The Oshkosh All-Stars were an American professional basketball team based in Oshkosh, that played from 1929 to 1949. Fritsch is pictured in the front row, second from left in 1946-47.

That winter, Ted played guard for the Oshkosh All-Stars. The Oshkosh All-Stars were an American professional basketball team based in Oshkosh that played from 1929 to 1949. They became a …

Fritsch: From gridiron to diamond

Ted Fritsch in 1942.

Continued from previous week Ted Fritsch finished his rookie season with the Green Bay Packers as the lead rusher with 323 yards, ahead of Tony Canadeo, who had 272. He was also fifth in …

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