Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr
5-30-79
A total of 324 students at the Merrill Senior High School will talk together as a class over the stage in the East Gym for the last time on Wednesday, graduating as the class of 1979 and the 96 th class of the school.
Class President Michael Mann will give the commencement address before Vice-President Steven Jackson presents the class to school Principal Lanny Tibaldo. As Tibaldo reads the name of each student they will receive their diplomas from School Board President Lester Voigt. (How many were still sweating that day hoping there was a diploma between the bindings?) Those who arrive to the evening event early will enjoy the music of the Senior Symphonic Band under the direction of Fred Mumma. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Strick will announce the scholarships and a complete wrap up will be in next week’s Foto News.
Another week and another front page story about the Lincoln County Jail in this week’s paper. State Jail Inspector Ralph DiSalvo has officially given a written order to Sheriff Ron Krueger to make immediate repairs to the aging jail or he will shut it down in six months. DiSalvo listed 20 necessary corrections which need to be made before the jail is termed compliant. If the county were to move ahead with the now stalled plans for a new safety building, DiSalvo would quash his own order. Sheriff Krueger has stated numerous times in the past that a new facility needs to be built; if he is forced to close his jail it is not known where the local prisoners will be kept as most surrounding jails are in the same position.
In local business briefs: Johnson’s Paint and Wallpaper would like to thank everyone who made their grand opening a success. Their new decorating business is located between the Sixth Ward bridges. A large article welcomes Bob Nafe to town; he is the manager at the Pamida Store. Nafe has a long history of creating profitable retail stores and has enjoyed success in nine communities in five states over the last 12 years. Marion Meyer has opened her own decorating business; Silks and Twigs is located at 1503 E. 1st St, and she is pictured at the ribbon cutting with Mayor Fata Voigt and Chamber Exec Dee Olson and Richard Taylor of the Chamber Board.
5-31-89
A total of 259 seniors will graduate this Sunday from Merrill Senior High School. This will be the 106th class from the school. President Jason Corroo will give the commencement and Vice-President Jolene
Kasper will present the class at the ceremony which begins at 2:00 PM. Norm Raasch gave a $5.25 haircut to Joe Chilsen this past Friday. While most people would not see how that made the local newspaper loyal customers of Raasch and his Ideal Barbershop know it was the end of 52 years of cutting hair in Merrill for Raasch who is hanging up his scissors for good.
It was ironic that Chilsen was the last customer of Raasch as he was also one of his first customers in 1937 when Raasch
was serving his apprenticeship and Chilsen wandered down from his nearby Daily Herald office for a trim. Norm Raasch took his barber training in Wausau and then joined his uncle Harry at his barbershop at 911 E Main St. At the time haircuts cost .50 and a shave was .25. In 1970 the business moved down to 705 E main St before Raasch closed the doors for good. His loyal customers credit Raasch’s personality or keeping them coming back. Raasch credits his fellow barbers for keeping the business thriving havingfirst worked with George Deacon and then after buying Deacon out Raasch continued to expand, at one time having four chairs going. Raasch recalled how the barbershop was the local gathering spot where at times 20 or more guys would be sitting around, with some even looking to get their hair cut.
Eventually, on the advice of Chilsen and Dr. Braun, Raasch started requiring appointments for haircuts as a matter of simple economics. As the story was being written the haircut was finished and Raasch set down his scissors for the last time just as the phone rang, “I’m sorry, I’m done,” said Raasch.
6-2-99
A total of 246 seniors will graduate from the Merrill Senior High School, in a class filled with firsts. The class was the first class to not graduate out of the Polk Street school, instead finishing their senior year in the newly remodeled former Junior High School building. The class was also the first to have a girls’ soccer and hockey team, and the first to have 13 straight-A students. Class president Jacquelyn Wissen recapped the accomplishments of the class of 1999, noting her class endured more construction work then school work during their last years. (I was amazed how the numbers have been shrinking. By 2018 they were down to 154 graduates, a 52% decline in forty years.)