Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr
5-10-78
The City of Merrill has ratified the contracts with their police and fire unions. The firemen will see a 7.8% raise while the policemen will see a 7.5% increase. The contract also calls for the city to contribute 75% of the life insurance premiums for each employee and increases the longevity bonus $2 per month. Policemen will also enjoy a choice of paid overtime now for any hour worked beyond the eight hour shift. Previously the officers were only compensated with time off. The base salary for fire is $12,314 while the police is $12,340 per year. City Engineer Charles Pierotti met with business owners in the 1300 block of East Main Street to discuss the road reconstruction in that area planned for the next month. At a luncheon Pierotti told the five effected business owners that last minute addition of sewer laterals may extend the project. Business owner Richard VanDerGeest humorously summed up the feelings when he said at the end of the meeting, “If you could do it all on Sunday, it would be nice.”
County Clerk Ken Oldenburg has announced the Lincoln County Court House has received official status on the National Register of Historic Places. The designation allows the county to apply for grants for restoration of the building. It will also uphold any future work on the building to conform to its original architectural design.
The Jaycee and Jaycettes have held their annual meeting and awards banquet this past Wednesday and installed officers for the year. Installed as officers for the Jaycette’s are Char Seetan, Donna Dietrich, Sue Hass, Carol Lonie, Debbie Seeger, Carol Severt and Sharon Haig; Jaycee officers are Bill Trempe, Lloyd Haig, Jamie Koch, Dan Woller, Rick Stine, Wayne Polak, Jim Roets, Dick Knospe, Dick Polebitski, Stan Seeger, Glen Strozewski, Rusty De Broux and Tim Frick. Donna Dietrich was named Outstanding Jaycette while Char Seetan was Key Woman of the Year; Marta Rusch was awarded the Outstanding First Year Jaycette award. Dan Woller was named Chairman of the Year, Werner Rusch was Director of the Year, Lloyd Haig was Officer of the Year, and Outstanding First Year Jaycee was Tom Busha. The annual golf luncheon for the Women’s Golf Club style show is scheduled. Modeling fashions from the Corner Shop include Karla Lokemoen, Vera Block, Eleanore Wildes, Marg Kamke, Barb Nolan, Letty Zastrow and Sandy Hardgrave. For reservations contact Ruth Bolden or Helen Brandt.
5-11-88
The City of Merrill took the next step in their plans to annex portions of the Town of Pine River. City Attorney John Thiel set hearings on the matter for June 1 at 7 p.m. The annexation would encompass property behind and to the east of the 3’s Company Restaurant and the Pine Ridge area east of the present Carl’s Foodlane. This would bring properties such as Pine Ridge Restaurant and hotel into the city. (It covers the area from the Boarders Hotel to Culver’s up to Church Mutual 2)
The New River Valley State Bank branch in Merrill will be opening later this month and Bruce M. Giese has been named its president. Giese has over 20 years of experience in the Merrill banking community and is excited as the first ever 24 hour bank opens in Merrill. The bank will have expanded lobby hours and outside of the bank what is known as a TYME (take your money everywhere) machine will be installed which will allow patrons access to their money day and night. Giese is a graduate of Merrill High School from the class of 1956 and is a graduate of North Central Technical Institute in Wausau.
Merrill’s Fox Point Sportswear is expanding and has purchased a satellite sewing facility in Ironwood, Michigan. Mike Anderson, owner of Fox Point, explains the idle factory was the perfect location for Fox Point being within a couple hundred miles of Merrill, and having a trained local workforce and the ability to expand operations. Anderson assured his 220 local workers that this does not mean their jobs are going anywhere noting that as the plant in Ironwood expands so will the plant in Merrill. Anderson expects to employ 50-60 people at the new facility immediately and will likely double that number in a year.
Sorry to George Buska and Mike Brock as they didn’t have their Bankroll cards punched at Drew’s this past week when their names were drawn. The Bankroll now balloons to $1,300 on the east side and $1,200 on the west side.
Craig Josiger has blown up the record books for Merrill Baseball at Merrill Senior High and the season just got started. This past week with a single to right field in the Wausau City Tournament, Josiger broke the record for most hits with 70, passing the previous record by Bill Boyd of 69. Last year in a season he describes as “pretty decent,” Josiger set the school record for the highest batting average in a season (.508), most doubles in a season (12), most doubles in a career (16) and most RBI’s in a season (19). His career batting average at .481 breaks the previous record held by Larry Simon and his hit count is now up to 76 ahead of Boyd, Steve Walsh (54), Eric Finanger (53) and Todd King (46.)
5-13-98
The meeting of the Town of Harding was brief this past week when a judge’s order halted plans by the board to expand Alexander Lake Road for a new boat landing planned by Wisconsin Public Service. Chair LaVerne Henrichs made the motion to adjourn the meeting and told the audience of around 50 people that they could not proceed due to the order issued by Lincoln County Judge J. Michael Nolan. He ordered members of the board to appear before him with all records related to the extension of the road and the condemnation of the property owned by John and Bonnie Zulliger. The meeting itself did draw one heckler who demanded to hear the voice vote of Town Board members; at least two town officials are facing a potential recall. Sheriff Paul Proulx was present at the meeting to keep the peace.
Family Video in Merrill is enjoying their official grand opening celebration. The movie rental store opened on East 2nd Street in February but is making it official now. Membership is free for the store whose company has been renting out video tapes for the last 20 years and boasts 15,000 movies in stock.
The new Oriental themed restaurant that was coming to Merrill may not be. The Manhattan Buffet was preparing to open when the city building inspector pointed out they had not obtained any of the necessary permits from the state. The work has halted and the tenant has disappeared.
Mike Ravn has achieved his second ace at the Merrill Golf Course. Ravn was golfing with Rick Faherty and Jon Krohn when he hit the hole in one on the third hole of the course. He had previously aced number 17 in August of 1992.