5-30-73
Phil Ziesmer has joined the Foto News staff as the new staff photographer and sports editor. Phil is a native of Milwaukee. He earned an associated degree in applied science in photography at the Milwaukee Area Technical College. In August of 1971 he moved to the University of Wisconsin, Platteville, where he worked as the public relations department photographer. He was awarded a bachelor of science degree on May 13. Phil and his wife Mary live at 705 N. Memorial Drive.
The East Wing of Holy Cross Hospital is now open. Patients and visitors are asked to use the new east entrance. The new one-story wing houses admitting, cafeteria and kitchen, medical records, purchasing and personal. All cars are asked to use the Hwy. 51 entrance; in emergency situations the emergency entrance on the ground floor should be used.
The 3rd annual Knotty Pine double elimination Slow Pitch Tournament will be held June 9 and 10. All teams from Merrill – Gleason school area are eligible. All players must be 21 years of age or older. All fast pitch or hardball players must be 35 years of age or older. Entry fee is $15. Contact Lloyd Hackbart for more details.
The Merrill Blue Jay golf team advanced to the state tournament at Stevens Point after their win at sectionals in Green Bay Friday at the Brown County Country Club. Coach Willis Bogenhagen reported that course conditions were very wet Friday and that contributed to the high scores. The Jays were seven strokes behind the leader at the end of nine holes but cut 17 strokes off their front nine score to finish on top. Tom Rajek won the medalist honors, Rick Semling followed five strokes above. The other finishers in order were George Johanson, and Anson Scholarship winner Basil Woller.
6-1-83
One hundred years ago, the first graduation was held in the City of Merrill ; seven graduates received their diplomas at the Presbyterian Church – over 300 will walk across the stage tomorrow at Merrill Senior High School to receive theirs. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Strick will make the announcement and presentation of the scholarships. Senior vice-president Ann Opsahl and Principal Lanny Tibaldo will introduce the class prior to the presentation of diplomas by school board president Diane Mikkelson. The invocation will be given by class secretary Wendy Plautz and the benediction by class treasurer Tammy Oestreich.
Centennial Buttons are now for sale at area businesses. St. John Lutheran School and St. Robert’s Catholic School students sold over $1,900 worth of the buttons this past month. If you did not purchase your button you can find them at: Big Eddy Bar, Blackheath, Bogie’s Bar, Carl’s Liquor, Club Modern, Fowler Drugs, Frisch’s Bar, Grand Central Station, Grund’s Bar, Grunty’s Bar, Harold & Marge’s, Lincoln County Bank, M&I Citizen American, Merrill Federal, Nelson Rexall, Plawman’s Playhouse, Riverside Club, Shalow’s Drug, Schulze’s Drugs, Social and Sick, and South of the Border.
Gary Hartwig has joined the team at ERA Lincoln Realty. The 1969 Merrill High School graduate recently completed his degree at UW Madison in construction administration and has been a licensed broker for the past six years.
5-26-93
Nelson Drug and Photo thanks their customers for their patronage during the past 30 years and announces they will be closing as of Sunday. Owner Phyllis Nelson will be sending all prescriptions to Snyder Drug Store where pharmacist Don Hostvedt will also be employed as of Monday. The final in-store drawing winner was Florence Moyer who won $100.
Merrill Police Officer Mark Smith is pictured on page two handing out baseball cards to local students Brad Seubert, Morgan Brandt, and Chelsey Hoff. According to D.A.R.E. Officer Ned Seubert, Merrill Police Officers will be handing out the Brewer baseball cards throughout the summer as part of the Officer Friendly program.
Father Joseph Fichtner, O. S. C., Phoenix will celebrate his golden jubilee in the Catholic priesthood with a mass on June 6 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Born in Lincoln, IL, Fichtner attended elementary school at St. Francis in Merrill and considers St. Francis his home. He previously served as Holy Cross Chaplin from 1982-1986, and has written nine books and authored a host of stories in Catholic magazines and newspapers.