Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr
3-1-78
When a voter thinks ahead to the gubernatorial ballot for this November some names will be familiar, Martin Schreiber, Robert Kasten, Lee Sherman Dreyfus, and motion picture producer Bill Rebane? The creator of movies such as the Giant Spider Invasion has announced he is running for governor as an independent candidate for the fall election. Rebane of Route 1, Gleason has no political experience but told a reporter that it will take a non-politician to straighten things out in Madison. Rebane noted the state has a $400 million surplus because it knows how to collect taxes but now has to come up with a way to streamline the structure that creates the need for the cash. Rebane also called Governor Schreiber’s plan of returning $20 to each tax payer in the state as “hairbrained” saying it would do nothing for the people. Rebane has named Wood Jarvis, a former business associate and present manager of a Milwaukee auto dealer as his campaign chairman. Prior to moving to Gleason about 11 years ago, Rebane had lived in Germany and Chicago. (I peeked ahead – he wasn’t on the ballot come November – maybe his candidacy went back up in space with the spiders?)
The Merrill Chamber of Commerce hosted the third annual Merrill on the Move banquet this past weekend. The first ever Past Presidents Award was presented to Andrew Semling for his outstanding leadership of the chamber, he had served as president in 1977. The Hall of Fame Award was given to Emil Semling; he was cited for his contributions to the community as co-founder of the Semling-Menke Company, one of Merrill’s largest manufacturing firms. Ninety-year-old Semling was not present for the award which was accepted by his daughter Marion Lillicrist. The Ambassador Award went to high school band director Fred Mumma; he was recognized for his years of contributions to the building of a strong community music program. The Merrill on the Move award for an organization went to the Merrill Jaycees. They are the first organization to win that award twice, the first being in 1967. Walter Wendland accepted on behalf of the organization. Ellis Evans, long time and now retired educator and high school principal, was recognized for his work outside of the schools, and Myrtle Natzke was cited for her work to get the now former City Hall on the National Register of Historic Places. Leander “Lindy” Porath was recognized for his participation in the American Legion Club and other local civic clubs.
Park City Credit Union is ready to showcase their new bank lobby this Sunday. The local bank calls itself the fastest growing bank in the Merrill area, and it has now moved into the former WPS building and expanded and modernized the facility. The open house will allow visitors to register for door prizes including a Panasonic AM/FM digital clock radio, a Weber grill, a Cobra 21 channel CB radio, or the first prize of a 10 speed Schwinn bike fresh off the floor from Les’s Schwinn Shop. In the three pages announcing the open house numerous businesses and contractors that helped facilitate the building advertise. They include: The Drapery Den, Bishop’s Carpet, Rystom’s Badger Paint, Nikolai Electric, M&G Plumbing and Heating, Trantow’s Building Center, Birchfield Nursery, J.G. Johnson and Son’s Painting, J.J. Lee Construction and A&P Pavers. Members of the PCCU board of directors are: Sven Gustavson, Robert Koth, Frank Roskos, Dorothy Gibson, Albert Degner, Harry Dahm, and Everett Lange.
3-2-88
For now the Merrill Area Board of Education has agreed to park their latest issue, land purchases near the high school for future parking needs. The school is running into issues with so many students and teachers driving to school now that they are out of parking as off-site parking lots at the pool and Athletic Park are filling up. The City of Merrill proposed to MAPS that the two purchase the three houses directly across the Third Street bridge and demolish the buildings for shared parking needs at Lion’s Park and for the high school. The city would maintain the lots and split the costs of the maintenance between the two entities. But Les Voight of the BOE is leery of the price tag, an estimated $100,000 for half the project. The BOE did toss around ideas such as user fees from students and staff to help pay for the project, but for now the issued is stalled. Superintendent of Schools Thomas Strick reported some state funding may be accessible for the project.
Merrill residents will soon have a new choice for their dining pleasure as Domino’s Pizza is about to open a store in mid-city. The new Domino’s Pizza shop will be located directly east of the Post Office at 504 E 2nd St. Scott Jahnke is the local manager and the store will be open Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. until 1 a.m. and Friday and Saturday until 2 a.m. (The building is Pier2 Citgo now, stop by the girls will cook you a pizza with a smile if you ask nice)
If you get invited to a chicken dinner and the meat tastes hotter than normal, Sheriff Krueger would like to know about it. Under this week’s crime wrap up it notes his office is investigating the theft of 10 chickens from a residence on 2nd Avenue in Gleason. So far no suspects in this fowl crime.
For the second consecutive year Merrill wrestling has produced two state champs as Craig Josiger and Joe Ramsey brought state titles back to Merrill. In the process Ramsey also became Merrill’s first ever three time state place winner. The other two state qualifiers didn’t place as well, both 119 Dean Nowinski and heavyweight Chris Gennrich won their opening bouts but lost the next two. Ramsey won his state title in the 105 weight class by defeating Rick Schuppe 6-1, Josiger won his first three matches before meeting Aaron Fellenz of Stoughton in the finals. At the Badger invitational in December, Fellenz gave Josiger his only loss of the season beating him 7-4, but this time Josiger was prepared and the Blue Jay 145 pounder beat Fellenz 3-1.
3-4-98
Lincoln County is looking at some financial concerns for the future, and doing so without a financial advisor as county finance director Bruce Hutchinson has resigned. John Mulder the county administrative coordinator has told department heads to start planning on their own for capital improvements but warns money will be tight moving ahead. The county expects to spend $18 million in the next four year period on land acquisition, building remodeling, and construction of new buildings.
Laureen O’Day, Associate Publisher of the Foto News thanks you for the eye opening letters but warns none will get any ink unless they contain a verifiable name. O’Day reports that with the upcoming elections the letters to the editor have started to get rather interesting, but she will not publish any without a name to stand behind them.