Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr
5-3-78
A 15-year-old juvenile is in the Lincoln County Jail this morning after an attack at Lincoln Hills School in Irma. The incident occurred yesterday afternoon when the female juvenile attacked a female counselor in one of the security cottages. According to Assistant Superintendent John Ross, the female was being escorted back to her cell when she shoved the counselor to the floor and banged her head against it several times. The counselor was not hospitalized and LHS staff are awaiting action by the courts to decide if she will be remanded into the adult courts. This is the second attack on a counselor in the past month. Two 16-year-olds who fled from the facility last week and stole a car at gun point are also in the jail. The pair was found in Sparta and now face charges of armed robbery.
Business owners on North Center Avenue are objecting to plans to widen that roadway. A petition signed by both home owners and business owners was presented to the Board of Public Works this past week. The city would like to widen the road between 9th Street and State Hwy. 17. The 15 businesses’ chief complaint was they did not want to see their parking lots shrink to the extent that is planned. The city is trying to prioritize projects throughout the city for their summer construction. One request may not be easy to accomplish as Church Mutual has requested they pave Johnson Street in order to cut down dust near their facility. City engineer Charles Pierotti advised they still have to install sewer laterals under that road including a large diameter pipe costing $40,000 which will be used to control rain water runoff from the facility. Street Commissioner Phil Erickson reported he has not been able to reach an agreement with the street workers’ union regarding replacing the mechanic there. Erickson said no one internally applied for the job which starts at $4.18 an hour (the pay is about $22/hour today). The city and the union will meet with a state businesses rep from that bargaining group next week in hopes of resolving the matter. City Attorney Mike Ravn reports he is working with the Merrill Cemetery Association in order to obtain an easement to install sewer and water lines through those grounds. Ravn notes the process is lengthy with thousands of people being under the project.
Merrill Area Public Schools is looking for a new administrator. Robert McCardle resigned at the BOE meeting this past Wednesday. He is moving to Mitchell, SD where he will take a job with the Randall’s Food Company. McCardle told the board he will stay through June if needed; the board authorized seeking a replacement immediately. In other action at that meeting, Lester Voigt was appointed president of that board by vote; Wayne Schultz is vice-president and Jean English is the clerk.
5-4-88
The MAPS BOE has formally approved the reorganization of the school district which will find grades and buildings being realigned as early as next school term. The plans call for the establishment of a middle school rather than a junior high school, ninth grade students will now move to the high school and a middle school will hold grades 6-8 leaving elementary schools to hold grades K-5. By approving the plan, MAPS administration can immediately seek a principal for the newly created middle school and allow them to start facilitating the movement of the classes. The BOE plans to establish committees comprised of both parents and staff to better plan extra-curricular programs at the new school while staff committees work on hand books, procedures, and establishing the home room concept.
Wisconsin Public Service has officially broken ground on its new facility on Merrill’s far-east side. The power company has been planning the upgrade from their mid-city location for six years now. The 28,400 square foot building will consolidate several operations under one roof. Pictured breaking ground on the facility alongside Mayor Ken Sparr are district manager Robert Akey, district supervisor Eugene Bondioli, William Comeau, retired district supervisor, and Elroy Lemke, a top stock holder and company spokesmodel.
Two Bobs are sad this week but you could be smiling if you get your Bankroll card punched at Drew’s. This past week Bob Berndt missed out on $1,100 at Drew’s East while Bob Mueller missed out on the $1,000 Bank Roll at Drew’s West. Next week’s totals are $1,200 and $1,100 east to west. If you don’t win you can also drown your sorrows with this week’s top special, cases of Miller products for only $8.49.
5-6-98
In stunning news to both the city and Town of Merrill, the International Paper, owner of the now shuttered Ward Paper mill has announced plans to abandon and remove their dam on the Prairie River. The paper mill itself closed in 1994 taking with it 150 employees. Company spokesman James Matheson said the company’s main priority is to get the empty factory sold and back into productive use. Merrill Mayor Michael Caylor expressed disappointment in the move but noted it was not surprising as International Paper considers the dam a liability and a roadblock into making the factory marketable. The DNR will conduct an impact study but IP does not expect any issues and plans on removing the dam by the end of this year. IP did offer to give the dam to the city of Merrill along with a fund to maintain the dam, but neither the city nor any government entity was impressed with the offer since the dam is considered an antique by today’s standard and is the last dam on the Prairie River.
Former and current staff members of Lincoln School gathered this past week to say goodbye to the facility. The school has been sold and classes will be consolidated in other MAPS facilities including the new Kate Goodrich School on the north side. Verna Schumacher, who taught for 36 years at the North Center Avenue facility, organized the farewell party along with retired secretary Lois Latzig and current staff member Elaine Ohlmann. All that gathered conceded the best memories of the facility were the students it produced.
Local law enforcement is warning residents that a chain letter going around is a fake. The letter pertains to Craig Sherwood, a 17-year-old cancer patient from the United Kingdom, who was seeking to become the Guinness Record Book holder for the most business cards received and ties the effort into the Make A Wish Foundation. Make A Wish advised they were never involved in the project and the staff is being overwhelmed by cards being sent to their offices. Make A Wish went on to note that the original request is from 1990 and Sherwood is now officially a cancer survivor and broke the record in 1991 with a total of 16 million business cards. (I looked him up online, he is still healthy but makes occasional public appearances begging people to stop sending him mail. Last count he was up to 350 million business cards, and someone is likely sharing his “urgent” story on Facebook as you read this.)