Tuesday, November 11, 2025
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HAVEN Donors

HAVEN (Household Abuse Victims Emergency Network) would like to thank the following donors listed below, for their support and generosity in making contributions and/or in-kind donations to HAVEN …
The Merrill Tractor Supply store made a $500 donation to the Merrill Fire and Police Departments. Shown with the giant check, L to R: Firefighter/Paramedic Matt Bathke (MFD), Firefighter/Paramedic Daylan Enkers (MFD), Emily Tregllwen representing the Merrill Police Department, Tractor Supply Store Manager Brenda Davis, Battallion Chief John Kraegenbrink (MFD), Firefighter/Paramedic Jacob Aumann (MFD), and Firefighter/Paramedic Nick Phelps (MFD). ..

Tractor Supply celebrates Hometown Heroes with $500 donation

The Merrill Tractor Supply store joined more than 2,300 stores nationwide on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in celebrating the company’s inaugural National Hometown Heroes Day. As part of the event, …
Breigh Voigt.

Elevate: New business helps small companies navigate HR challenges

Park City Credit Union (PCCU) recently launched a new venture to help small businesses manage their human resources (HR) needs. Elevate Business Solutions LLC began a soft launch in late September, …

25th annual Merrill Poker Run set for Nov. 15

The Merrill community will celebrate a milestone this month with the 25th annual Poker Run on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. Fifteen downtown Merrill businesses are partnering to offer $1,700 in prizes …

Meetings & Community Services

• Casual Prayer for Local and Aspiring Business Owners - Thursdays from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at The Humble, 923 E. Main St. • Alanon Meeting - Mondays at 7 p.m. at 7pm at Ascension Episcopal …
Sports
Stock photo.

Merrill Varsity Football season comes to a close during Level 2 playoff game

The Merrill Varsity Football Team saw an end to their 2025 season on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Grafton High School in level 2 of the playoffs. “We had the long trek down to Grafton on Friday …
Jacob Mueller getting up to the front during the first mile of the race.

17 teams compete in Cross Country Sectional at the MARC

Merrill hosted the WIAA Division 2 Sectional for Cross Country on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at the Merrill Area Recreation Center (MARC). Athletes from 17 teams came out to run, competing with one goal …
Marissa Miles catches a breath as she competes in the 100 yd. butterfly medley.

Merrill Varsity swimmers place fourth at Rice Lake

The Merrill Varsity Girls Swim Team traveled to Rice Lake on Oct. 24, 2025, to compete in the Conference Meet against eight other schools and took fourth place overall with a team score of 182.5 …
The Bluejays being introduced as a team at their home playoff game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. .

Merrill Varsity Football celebrates victory in first playoff game

Did you miss the game?  The Merrill Varsity Football Team celebrated an exciting victory under the Friday night lights in their first playoff game of the 2025 season. The team was cheered …
Merrill quarterback #4 Cole Rudie with a touchdown run late in the fourth quarter sealing the victory for the Bluejays..

Merrill Varsity Football Team secures playoff berth with win over Rhinelander

On Friday, Oct. 17, 2025, the Merrill Varsity Football Team celebrated Tackle Cancer and Senior Night at Jay Stadium with a 27-13 victory over the Rhinelander Hodags, wrapping up the regular season …

Bob Harlan: The key man

Packers Former Head Coach Mike Holmgren, from left, General Manager Ron Wolf and CEO Bob Harlan at a Lambeau Field event in 1998.

Continued from previous week Editor’s Note : In last week’s segment of this story, the last quote of the story should have been attributes to former Packers GM Ron Wolf. Once …

Bob Harlan: The kid from Atlanta

Brett Favre was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons from Southern Mississippi. Photo circa 1991.

Continued from previous week “(Ron Wolf) comes up on a Tuesday or Wednesday of the week that we hired him. (We) had a press conference at Lambeau. When he was finished, he said ‘Bob, …

Bob Harlan: Wolf walks through the doors

Ron Wolf, left, on his first day with the Packers, pictured with Bob Harlan.

Continued from previous week Five years early, the Green Bay Packers President Judge Parins wanted someone to come in and help with football operations. “Someone who would come in …

Obituaries
Gerald “Jerry” Degner
Gerald “Jerry” Degner, age 84, of Merrill, passed away on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the Aspirus Wausau Hospital, surrounded by his loving family.  He was born on January 13, 1941, …
Darlene H. Pepke
Darlene H. Pepke, aged 81, went Home to be with our Lord and Savior on Sunday, November 9, 2025, under the loving care at Pine Crest in Merrill.  She was born, October 28, 1944, in Port …
Dennis Ball
Dennis Ball, age 88, passed away on Monday, November 3, 2025. Dennis Ball was born March 17, 1937, in Waupun, the son of Lawrence and Violet (Soper) Ball. Dennis attended Waupun schools, …
Priscilla “Penny” A. Haring
Priscilla “Penny” A. Haring
Priscilla “Penny” A. Haring, age 75, of Tomahawk, WI, passed away on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff, WI.  Penny was born in Tomahawk, WI, on …
Joseph “Joe” Charles Zimmerman
Joseph “Joe” Charles Zimmerman
Joseph “Joe” Charles Zimmerman, 68, of Merrill, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on October 31, 2025. Joe was born in Merrill, Wisconsin on February 17, 1957, to Victor and Charlotte …
Business
After curing 1 week and sealing, colors are activated and texture is apparent, giving the look of real stone.

From healthcare leader to landscape curbing expert: Pajtash’s journey to Elite Landscape Curbing

Seth Pajtash spent nearly 25 years in healthcare, working his way from CT scan technologist to clinical manager at Aspirus. But by 2022, he was ready for something new. “I was ready for a …

Thorogood Boots voted into the Top 16 products in Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin Contest

On Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and Johnson Financial Group announced the Top 16 products moving on in the 10th annual Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin …

Thorogood Boots voted into the Top 16 products in Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin Contest

On Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, the Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and Johnson Financial Group announced the Top 16 products moving on in the 10th annual Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin …

New business owner finds her niche at Pamper Palace

Paige Plautz admits she’s “not much” of a girly girl. The 21-year-old Merrill native, who made her mark as a standout bowler in high school and college, seems like an unlikely …
Schools

Campus News

Kramer named to SNHU President’s List Nick Kramer of Merrill has been named to Southern New Hampshire University’s (SNHU) summer 2025 President’s List. The summer terms run from May …

Third annual Food For Kids “Love Your Neighbor” Fundraiser Banquet to be held Nov. 1

The third annual Food For Kids “Love Your Neighbor” Fundraiser Banquet will be held Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at Les and Jim’s Lincoln Lanes, 1208 N. Center Ave. in Merrill, beginning …

Homecoming 2025—A week of anticipation, followed by celebration

Homecoming in Merrill is always a great week, packed full of fun activities and events to draw in not only everyone in the student body at Merrill High School (MHS), but also kids throughout the …

Superintendent’s Corner…

October 5–11 marks American School Board Week, and it’s the perfect time to pause and recognize a group of community members whose contributions too often go unnoticed: the Merrill Area …
Health
Give a life-saving donation of blood.

Blood donors needed for all blood types, type O critically low

The Community Blood Center (CBC) announced on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, that after months of urgent need for multiple blood types, as of Wednesday at 9 a.m., CBC’s inventory dropped to just a …

Legislators introduce bill to legalize medical cannabis

On Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Madison, Senate President Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk), Senator Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point), and Representative Patrick Snyder (R-Weston) introduced legislation to …

LCHD maintains national accreditation

The Lincoln County Health Department (LCHD) has maintained its national accreditation status through the Public Health Accreditation Board for another five years. The accreditation demonstrates that …

Free dental program returns to Merrill schools for 14th year

The Lincoln County Health Department’s Seal-A-Smile program is back for its 14th year, offering free preventative dental care to students in the Merrill Area Public School (MAPS) District. The …
Special Sections
Courts
Merrill, Wis.—Lincoln County Emergency Management in coordination with Lincoln County Sheriff Office will conduct an active threat training exercise at Lincoln County Court House from 8:00 am …
Merrill native Jessica Fehrenbach was sworn in on Aug. 1, 2025, as the first female judge in Lincoln County, surrounded by family and close friends. She was elected in April to fill the vacant seat …
Dale L. Bergman, age 55 of Athens, a former Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS) employee, was charged on Aug. 6, 2025, with one felony count of misconduct in office and excess of authority in …
Opinion and Editorial
Dear Reader, There’s a peculiar alchemy that happens when you reach a certain age and find yourself leafing through old yearbooks or stumbling across a box of letters tucked away in the …
We welcome letters on local issues. National topics may be referenced only if they have direct local impact. Letters must include the writer’s name, address, phone, and email; only the name and …
The Lincoln County Veterans Services Office is launching a new program to honor area veterans with complimentary hats representing their branch of military service. “Operation Hats Off to Our …
Community & Human Interest
Once the grass gets its final cut and the leaves are handled, it’s time to swap out the mower, blower, and trimmer for the snow thrower, generator, and chainsaw. The Outdoor Power Equipment …
The Lincoln County Humane Society (LCHS) would like to thank the following donors for their support in September: Meghan Stevenson, Margaret Hawley, Dean Barker, Jo Ann Brandenburg, Dale Casperson, …
The Lincoln County Humane Society would like to thank everyone who donated in honor of a loved one in September: Russ Dettmering by Scooby; Evelyn Lee by Kathryn Krohn-Gill; Tiffany’s 20th …