Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter
Merrill native and US Marine Corps veteran Mark Raymer has spent most of his life seeking to improve local residential and commercial properties.
Two weeks ago, Raymer answered yet another call to duty in volunteering his time and expertise to perform long needed replacement of cattle barn rotunda windows at the new Merrill Festival Grounds.
“I see it as a way of giving back,” Raymer says of the venture.
“I’m happy the new festival grounds is up and running and I’m more than happy help out over here.”
As Raymer explains, Dennis Krueger and Lincoln Wood Prouducts donated the 24 laminated glass windows for the project and while in the process of the installation, one of his employees; Jason Spoehr applied a fresh coat of paint on benches to be used at the grounds.
“We enjoy doing our part to be active in the local community,” Krueger explained of the donation.
“We are very pleased to see the improvements at the new festival grounds and were more than happy to participate in the good happening over there.
“Giving back to the local community was very important to (company co-founder) Jane Bierman. Being involved in projects like this and the Brickyard school a few years ago, helps assure her legacy lives on.”
The entire project took about a week Raymer adds, and just over 60 man-hours to complete.
“I spent a lot of time here at the old fairgrounds when I was young,” Raymer adds as he glances up at the newly finished rotunda.
“It’s a great feeling to help out like this so my own daughter, and other children can come over and enjoy the grounds same as I did.”
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