9-26-73
Ten members of the 1948 Merrill High School football squad will be inducted into the Silver M Club at the annual homecoming banquet at Don’s Steak House this Saturday. Those members that will be honored include: Bill Hotzfelt, Hales Corners; Dave Ecklund, Tomahawk; Ken Felberg, Robert Grefe, Stanley Sladek, and Roger Tholl of Merrill; Paul Bruhn, Madison; Tom Knudson, Memphis, TN; Dale Stevenson, Miles City, MT; and Richard Vignali, Wausau. Silver M, organized in 1946, is one of only two such clubs in the nation with the other being located in Butte, MT.
Workmen are pictured removing articles from buildings being razed at 1400 E. Main St., which will be the site of the new Caylor’s Corners Department Store. Plans call for the construction of a new 90′ X 120′ one story steel building with a parking lot adjacent to the store. Construction is expected to be completed by Jan. 1. The two buildings which are being razed housed over the years such businesses as the Plautz Creamery, Associated Co-Op Services, Kufahl’s Implement, Merrill Electric Motors, and the Budget Home Center.
Several people and organizations were honored at the annual Merrill on the Move recognition banquet Saturday evening at Don’s Steak House. Mayor Voigt acted as the master of ceremonies as city attorney William Wulf handed out awards to Pat Weber for her work with the County Retarded Association; Rev. Ted Jackson for his work with the Parkside Day School Center, and Robert Koth for his work with the gun safety course. Also honored were Mrs. Millie Jackson, this year’s Jaycette Carol Award winner, and Miss Dorothy Gibson, the chamber’s Office Girl of the Year winner for her cheerful manner at Holy Cross Hospital where she has worked the last 18 years and is the current executive secretary of medical records. Associations that were honored included the Merrill Chamber, Merrill City Band, and the Glengarry Highlanders.
9-28-83
Over 2,600 people, including the Merrill Junior High band who marched to the restaurant – ate at the newly opened Hardee’s Restaurant on North Center Ave. in Merrill Friday. The new restaurant is open daily starting at 6 a.m. and features a drive-thru. In an ad in last week’s Foto News, the owner of Chip’s, Calvin Hinz, assured customers that despite rumors, Chip’s is not locking its doors now that Hardee’s has opened.
A Merrill man has been charged in the murder of 63 year old Ruth Tiffany. Richard J. Swanson, 27, was charged Monday with first degree murder and armed robbery. He remains in the jail on a $150,000 cash bond. Tiffany was found dead in her rural Merrill home last June 6 after the postmaster reported she wasn’t picking up her mail. Investigators think the murder actually took place June 1, and Swanson was arrested in Shawano on June 21 for violating the terms of his probation.
Despite a small turn out, country music fans were thrilled at the performance by up and coming country music star Terri Gibbs, who performed in Merrill Sunday night. Gibbs, who is blind, calls Grovetown, GA home. Five nights a week Gibbs sang at a steak and ale house in nearby Augusta until her hit single “Somebody’s Knocking” launched her career. Merrill is one of 175 performances Gibbs does yearly on the road; she recently released her fourth album “Over Easy.”
Merrill Police Officer Brian Sladek has been officially appointed the new emergency government director. Sladek was recommended for the position by County Board Chair Neil LeMay. Sladek, 27, is a Merrill High School graduate with degrees in police recruit training and accounting from Northcentral Technical Institute.
9-29-93
A new business has chosen the historic Lincoln House Hotel in downtown Merrill as its home. The original Lincoln House was constructed in 1863 by Jules Posey, Sr. Destroyed by several fires, the current Lincoln House was constructed by George W. Kollock in 1878. The only historic hotel still standing in Merrill, the building currently offers apartments on upper floors and houses several professional services at and below ground. The new business to occupy the Lincoln House will be Insight Marketing; they will join Mallery-Zimmerman law offices, Phil Ziesemer Photography, Edward D. Jones and the Ad House.
Page 23 pictures the newest inductees into the Silver and Golden M Clubs after the banquet on Saturday night at St. Francis Hall. Old Merrillite Robin Lee was the entertainment as Ray Smedul, Dallas, TX; Dempsey Schram, Holmes Beach, FL; John English, Merrill; Lorton Layman, Brevard, NC; and Ray “Curly” Baumann of Merrill were inducted into the Golden M Club. The Silver M group was Bob Gustin, Tom Hass, Dan Rajek, Steve Kohler, Jeff Kraft, Gene Simon, Denny Schneider, Tom Klug and Mike Schroeder. Earlier in the day the football team was defeated in their homecoming game 26-18 by Wausau West.