Town of Russell firefighters responded last Monday afternoon after a tree branch got caught on a wire causing a small fire. A warden reported the incident just before 1 p.m. Russell firefighters spent about half an hour on the scene before Wisconsin Public Service arrived to remedy the problem.
A 53 year old Merrill man was arrested Monday afternoon after deputies checked on the welfare of two dogs. A caller reported a vehicle parked at an establishment in the City of Merrill that had dogs locked inside of it. When Merrill Police Officers checked the area they were not able to locate it but a deputy found a truck matching the description a short time later at a Town of Scott establishment. When the deputies went inside of the establishment, they found Michael J. Streich inside. Streich is currently out on a felony bond in Lincoln County which requires he not go into taverns and remain sober. Streich admitted to the deputies he had been inside both taverns but stated he only had a soda. He volunteered to provide a breath sample which tested positive for alcohol. Streich then admitted he had drank earlier while at home. Streich was taken into custody on a felony count of bail jumping. He was brought to the Lincoln County Jail and held until a bond hearing on Tuesday where he was released by a Lincoln County Judge on a signature bond.
A 31 year old Merrill man was arrested Monday evening after a business owner in the Town of Merrill reported an attempted theft. The owner reported he was watching as a man stopped to check on a boat that was parked for sale on his property. The suspect removed the propeller from the motor and concealed it under his shirt. When the owner confronted Joseph T. Wille, he placed the propeller back on the boat and left. Deputies located Willie a short time later and he denied taking the item. At the victim’s request, he was cited for a county ordinance violation but was brought to jail and held on a probation hold.
Deputies are investigating and need your help after damage was reported to a dump truck doing work in the Town of Corning. The Mack truck was parked overnight Monday on County Rd M near County Rd MM and when workers returned the next morning they discovered fluids leaking and a bullet hole in the radiator. A bullet was found on the scene that appeared to have come from a pistol. If you have any information on this damage to property, you are asked to call the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 715-536-6272. Callers may also phone Crime Stoppers of Lincoln County at 715-536-3726. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.
Tomahawk firefighters were called out on Wednesday evening after a fire alarm was reported in the Town of Bradley. Just before 9 p.m., an alarm company reported smoke alarms sounding at a residence on Peaceful Valley Rd. As firefighters and a deputy responded, the alarm company canceled the call saying the resident had burned food in an oven and there was no fire.
A 64 year old Gleason man was arrested Friday evening on a warrant charge. A deputy had checked at a residence on Jane Spur Rd. after receiving information that Wayne Edward Koeferl was wanted by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Koeferl was found outside of his residence and taken into custody on the warrant for violating terms of his probation. He was brought to the Lincoln County Jail and held.
A 61 year old Minnesota man was arrested Friday evening on a drug charge after the Rec. Deputy stopped a boat he was operating on Somo Lake. The Rec. Deputy observed the boat was operating with improper lights and he stopped and spoke with the operator, Larry J. Krause, just after 9 p.m. While speaking with Krause, the deputy noticed a metal mint container at his feet and the deputy asked what was inside of container, to which Krause admitted the item contained marijuana. Krause was taken into custody on the misdemeanor possession charge. He was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he was cited for operating in a careless manner, operating with improper navigation lamps, and having no personal flotation devices. Krause was able to post cash bond on the marijuana charge and was released.
Pine River firefighters were called out early Saturday morning after a vehicle struck a deer and caught on fire. A 50 year old Merrill woman was driving the 2012 BMW on County Rd X near County Rd P when she struck the deer just after 3 a.m. The crash caused severe front end damage and caused the airbags to deploy; a short time later the vehicle started on fire. When a deputy arrived on the scene a short time later, he found the vehicle engulfed in flames. Firefighters extinguished the fire but the vehicle was a total loss.
A 64 year old Tripoli man is in the Lincoln County Jail after deputies investigated a report of shots being fired in the Town of Wilson Saturday afternoon. Deputies had been to a business on several occasions during the week as the owner, Berry K. Scheu, and the tenant dealt with civil property disputes regarding the lease of the establishment. Just after noon on Saturday, a witness called 911 and report Scheu was outside firing a pistol into the air. When deputies arrived, Scheu came out of the building and spoke with them. He admitted to firing the gun 10-15 times but said it was at a target. Deputies were only able to locate two holes in the target and witnesses stated he had fired the gun into the air and had reloaded it and fired again, including when children were outside playing. Scheu was taken into custody on a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct and a felony charge of reckless endangering safety. Scheu was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he remained awaiting a Monday bond hearing.
A 20 year old Greenfield man was cited for violating the absolute sobriety law late Saturday night on Lake Nokomis. The Rec. Deputy stopped a boat the man was operating after he observed it operating without navigational lights. The operator admitted he had been drinking and had started his boat up and tried to leave when he saw the deputy approaching. The man was cited and released to a responsible party.
A 49 year old Tomahawk man was taken into custody early Sunday morning after deputies responded to US Hwy 51 after a report of a wrong way driver was phoned to 911 at 3 a.m. The cell caller reported the vehicle was traveling south in the northbound lanes of traffic from County Rd J at Irma. A deputy located and stopped the vehicle just two miles down the road. Patrick J. Kelley was asked to perform field sobriety tests but he was unable to. He was brought to the Lincoln County Jail where he was cited for a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated along with driving the wrong way on the highway. Kelley was booked into the jail where he was held until late afternoon Saturday, when he was sober enough to be released.
Deputies are crediting the honesty of a Kronenwetter man after he found a bank bag Sunday morning in the Town of Harding. The man told a deputy he was traveling on County Rd E when he found a bank bag lying in the roadway. The bag contained close to $3,000 in cash and over $1,000 in checks to a Merrill man. The deputy was able to track down the man just before noon and return the bag, which he was did not know was missing.
A 56 year old Wausau woman was taken into custody Sunday evening after deputies responded to check on a driver who was reported to be slumped down behind the wheel. Deputies located the vehicle at County Rd Q and Joe Snow Rd in the Town of Scott and called for an ambulance to check on the driver, Debra L. Burghardt-Staehle. EMS found no medical factors and after noting the odor of an intoxicant, Burghardt-Staehle was asked to perform field sobriety tests but she was unable. She was cited for a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and brought to the Lincoln County Jail where she was held until sober enough to be released.
Five people reported striking deer this past week.