Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr
5-17-78
By a 5-4 vote the Merrill City Council has rejected attempts to hire a manager for the city’s public works departments. The recommendation for a public works director comes from meetings held over the last few months by former mayor Ralph Voigt’s task force to study city government. Ralph Nienow, task force chairman said creating a public works manager would not mean abolishment of the elected street commissioner. Task force member Jerry Whitburn told how Wausau, Rhinelander, Antigo and Port Edwards already have a position similar to a public works director and the job is being considered in Marshfield. But Alderman Ellsworth Plautz asked his fellow council members to give the elected street commissioner a chance and pointed out that if they change, it likely would lead to the need for a secretary and a foreman to oversee the crew. The aldermen had already voted last month to reject calls from the task force to eliminate the transit commission and administrator; the council on Tuesday voted to reduce the makeup of the group from five to three members and transfer powers away from it such as those dealing with off street parking. The council also voted to create what will be known as a health and safety committee, but that likely will not happen until the council re-organizes in April of 1980.
Two escapees from Lincoln Hill’s School in Irma have been captured slightly 24 hours after running from the institution. Shortly after 8 p.m. Sheriff Ron Krueger, his deputies, and staff from Lincoln Hills took the two boys aged 14 and 15 into custody in the town of Merrill near the intersection of US Hwy. 51 and State Rd. 17. Sightings of the two flooded into the sheriff’s office all day and kept the two confined to a small area north of town. Eventually a dog flushed the juveniles from some brush across the four lane highway and into the waiting arms of Sheriff Krueger. The two youths were returned to the facility in the Town of Birch because according to Sheriff Krueger they did not commit any new crimes while they were on the run. Lincoln Hills’ acting superintendent John Ross expected the pair to be transferred to the state facility at Wales today. On Monday night the pair broke from a minimum security cottage while the counselor had others students outside playing basketball.
In briefs: The Blackheath restaurant will finally open to the public Monday; Dick and Marcene Puder will manage the facility which is located on the Merrill Golf Course. Mel’s Big Dollar has a new name, store owner Mel Peterson and his wife Eleanore are pictured cutting the ribbon for their newly branded store Piggly Wiggly. Bill’s House of Guns north of Merrill is known as the leading distributor of Stoeger firearms in the United States, and thanks to that Terry Casper and his wife Nancy will be taking a vacation to Spain. While in Spain the Casper’s will tour the Stoeger factory. Belle City Amusements has been named in a law suit by the Wisconsin Department of Justice alleging the amusement company has violated safety standards. A laundry list of deficiencies in the company’s rides are listed including worn out brakes and missing safety guards. Ted Lokemoen, board treasurer of the Lincoln County 4H Fair, said Monday that the fair has been doing business with Belle City for 20 years and he expects they will have everything ship shape when they hit town. (I have said before I have visited them in Florida at the Manatee County Fair and I can vouch that they are top notch now and often play large state fairs)
5-18-88
The Merrill Marching Jays are heading for Washington D.C. in the spring of next year. Band directors Dan Nordall and Dale Smith received approval from the Board of Education to plan the trip in which the Marching Jays will take part in the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, VA in May of 1989. It is expected that the Jays will be one of 110 bands that normally participate in the event. The trip is expected to cost $27,300 which will include travel, lodging, meals and sightseeing. Currently the Band Boosters have $12,000 so fund raising will soon begin to fund the trip. The last large scale band trip was to Canada in 1986 where Merrill took home first place. (I think some of our pictures still hang in some hotel offices out in Virginia on the “do not rent” list from that trip)
The Bankroll continues to grow at Drew’s as on the east side Hannah Hess did not have her card punched and on the west side it was Frank Bertagnoli. The jackpots are now up to $1,400 and $1,300.
Ed Stiver says you just have to talk about good things in order for them to happen. His theory carries weight as he was telling his golfing companions yesterday about how he was going to hit a hole in one on the Merrill Golf Course number nine hole. The five year golfer then used a seven-iron to hit the 135 yard shot in one stroke.
5-20-98
The City of Merrill will have a serious meeting in the next couple of weeks to discuss the city’s finances after alarm bells were set off by the city auditing firm. Bill Miller of Cohen & Associates asked for the sit down with the personnel and finance committee in light of the recent audit. The concern is the city’s general fund which stood at $3.3 million at the end of 1997 but now sits at $589,494. City Finance Director Bruce Redlin stated the city will still be able to meet expected expenditures. Mayor Michael Caylor campaigned on his concerns over the city’s finances and now he is telling the auditors he wants a clear explanation for everyone to understand instead of getting mixed messages from numerous sources as to the health of the city. Chief Neil Strobel of the police department was the first to feel the effects of the newly produced tight belt; his request for a third secretary was turned down by the council last night as were the reclassifications of several city employees into higher pay grades.
The Lincoln County Law Enforcement committee has agreed to a temporary fix for the overcrowding in the Lincoln County Jail by installing double bunks in the cells. Sheriff Paul Proulx said the cost of the fixtures, cameras, and extra staff would be around $110,000 the first year but it would save on the estimated cost of $230,000 for outside housing at other jails. Currently the Sheriff is $304,000 under budget for the year.
Will Lincoln County abolish the office of coroner? Both the personnel and law enforcement committees have recommended abolishing the position starting in 1998. According to county administrative coordinator John Mulder the act would be in accordance with 14 other counties who have switched to a medical examiner. Mulder explained the switch would allow the appointment of a qualified person instead of an election. The current budget for the coroner’s office is $23,000 of which $6,952 is salary for Coroner David Haskins.