Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr.
4-11-79
The City of Merrill has called fowl on the feeding of animals in the city parks. The step is expected to control the over population of ducks at Stange’s Park. Alderman Anita Gebert supported the measure after the duck count went from an average of 30 to over 300. Patrons of the T. B. Scott Library reported being attacked by the feathered flock as they exited their vehicles. Dr. Geoffrey Kloster, Merrill City Health Officer, expressed his concern over diseases the birds could carry including swimmers itch, which has been plaguing Madison area beaches for years.
The paper is filled with appointments to various groups around the area. Jay Tlusty, a student at the University of Wisconsin Law School, has been selected chair of the Lincoln County Republican party. Tlusty, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Tlusty in Merrill, is a 1977 graduate of the UW Business School and is scheduled to graduate from law school in May of 1980. Mike Ravn has been appointed as vice-chair of the group while Nancy Pfotenhauer will serve as secretary and Ed Klune as treasurer. Mayor Ralph Voigt has appointed Paul Waid and John Drengler to the Youth Advisory Board and Dorothy Rathjen to the State of Women Commission. Ray Hinch was also appointed to the City Planning Commission. Up on the hill the Holy Cross Governing Board saw C.D. Livingston appointed as president, Dr. J.D. Millenbah as vice-president, Sister Delores Hrdina, secretary, and E. W. Hielke, treasurer.
Weinbrenner Shoe Company in Merrill has halted production for an Easter break. The break has more to do with the lack of work right now rather than the holiday. The company hopes the vacation will end the cycle of four-day work weeks and allow the built up stock to be cleared out while the machines sit idle.
4-12-89
Call it the Dahlke ordinance. The Merrill City Council passed an ordinance that will allow businesses such as the shoe repair business run by Harold Dahlke to be done in private homes. Dahlke had moved his shoe repair business to his home after a fire destroyed his shop. The city warned him he had to stop operating out of a zoned residential area as he was violating city ordinance. Dahlke in turn filed complaints against numerous other businesses operating out of homes just as he was. Dahlke’s attorney called the change in ordinance a victory and notes that now the neighbors of these small businesses will have say if it upsets the neighborhood, not city hall. The council also refused to reinstate $500 which had been used to fund the annual Merrill on the Move Award Banquet. The Chamber asked for the money to be reallocated after it was originally cut from the budget last fall. Alderman Patsy Woller asked how the city could maintain a budget if they make the cut but then turn around and just put the money back in. The future of the banquet is now in doubt.
In news briefs: Things are blooming at East Side Floral. Lucille Polebitski is shown admiring her orange tree which is in full bloom and recently yielded three dozen oranges. The fragrant tree has been at the shop since 1955. Chief Charles H. Johnson has announced the appointment of Officer Ned Seubert to the position of Juvenile Officer in the Merrill Police Department. Seubert was appointed to the department in May of 1976. Robert Burk has passed away. Burk was a well-known member of the community who was a route salesman for the Semling-Menke Company. Burk passed away suddenly at the age of 61 while in Lexington, KY. He is survived by his wife Helen, his daughter Victoria and son Dan.
4-14-99
For the first time in over 30 years a Democrat will represent Wisconsin’s 35th Assembly District. Sarah Waukau (D-Antigo) defeated Ted Nickel (R-Merrill) in a special runoff election to fill the seat after Tom Ourada vacated the sat in November to take a job with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Nickel and Waukau both took their respective counties, and in the end Nickel lost by less than two percentage points or by a margin of 216 votes out of over 12,000 votes cast. Waukau said her biggest challenge for the immediate future is finding her way to the capital without getting lost.