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This Precious Moment figurine depicts a loving birthday celebration.

Precious Moments, precious memories on exhibit at the library

For the month of March only, the T. B. Scott Free Library in Merrill will showcase a portion of the Precious Moments collection amassed by Library Director Laurie Ollhoff, as a part of the Beyond …

Mandatory meetings announced for Bluejay Trap

The Merrill Bluejay Trap Team is gearing up for another season. “And we have a BIG year ahead of us—defending Conference Champs and we are hosting the Conference shoot,” coaches …

Underdown Free Trail Pass Weekend is Feb. 1-2

The Lincoln County Forestry Department will host their annual Underdown Free Trail Pass Weekend on Feb. 1 and 2, 2025. Visitors to the Lincoln County Underdown Recreation Area are free to use the …

Public involvement meeting set to discuss WIS 64 bridge project

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will hold a public involvement meeting to share details about the proposed replacement of the bridge that carries WIS 64 over the Wisconsin River …

‘For the Love of Chris’ fundraiser to benefit local man fighting blastomycosis

All area residents are invited to a fundraiser celebration on Saturday, Feb. 15, to support Christopher Busterud, 26, a 2017 graduate of Tomahawk High School and Merrill resident who is battling blastomycosis (blasto), a rare and serious fungal infection.
Sports
Merrill playing Wausau East in the second playoff game.

Multi Media Channels editor writes Curly Lambeau book

Multi Media Channels (MMC) Senior Editor Kris Leonhardt has authored a book on Green Bay Packers first head coach and general manager, Curly Lambeau. Lambeau—The Boy Behind Green Bay Football …
2024-25 Merrill Girls Varsity Wrestling Team with grade. Front row L to R: Bryanna Doerr (9), Lauren Hoffman (9), Katelyn Grawien (9), Caroline Durbin (11), Madlyn Hunter (9), Natalia Woller (9), and Gracie Vanvuren (11). Back row L to R: Cadence Seliger (Manager - 9), Kendell Klug (9), Marissa Miles (10), Liberty Yates (11), Adison Clark (11), Kaylynn Allen (11), Shelby Yates (9), and Merin Yates (12).

Merrill Girls Varsity Wrestling Team celebrates sweet ending to their season

The Merrill Girls Varsity Wrestling Team wrapped up their 2024-25 season with a unique twist on the traditional end-of-year banquet. Instead of a dinner, the team chose to celebrate their …
Remington Skic, while having a leg-up, doesn't appear to have the advantage in his first match against Devon Lietzau from Sparta, but he's battling hard.

Skic represents Bluejays with strong showing at WIAA State Wrestling Tournament

Merrill’s Remington Skic represented the Bluejays with determination at the WIAA Individual State Wrestling Tournament, competing in the 132-pound Division 1 bracket. The Sophomore wrestler …
Merin Yates wrestling Mackenzie Stanton from New Berlin in her first match.

Merrill’s Yates secures fifth place finish at State Wrestling Tournament

Two Bluejay wrestlers represented Merrill at the WIAA Girls Individual State Wrestling Tournament last weekend, with Senior Merin Yates bringing home hardware after an impressive performance in the …

Merrill Boys Basketball: Mixed results in recent matchups

On Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, the Merrill Boys Basketball Team played host to Tomahawk and secured a dominant win, 85-24. “After three tough conference games, it was nice to get outside the …

Lumberjack Band: The makeup of a band

Carol Collard, second from left, is pictured with fellow Lumberjack Band majorettes, Germaine Pirlot, left, and Gloria Birmingham, right,  in 1944.

Continued from last week “Those intimately concerned with the destinies of the Green Bay Packers have seen for some time that a football game, even a bang-up battle, is not quite enough …

The Lumberjack Band: The Leader of the Band

In this undated photo, Wilner Burke is pictured at the far left standing.

Continued from previous week In 1939, the Lumberjack Band “swing band” was performing at all of the Green Bay Packers home games, as well as concert dates at the Columbus Club with …

The Lumberjack Band: ‘Go! You Packers Go!’

The 1939 Lumberjack Band, front row from left: Walter Remick, James Collard and Franklin Le Roy; second row: Wilner Burke, Norbert Ecker, Russell Walters, Joseph Hartinger, Gordon Beseau and Bill Johnson; third row: Tony Vandenberg, Ray Du Puis, James Aerts, Howard Sheldon, Bernard Paulson and Carl Sturdevant; fourth row: Leo Klamert, Elmer Kapp, Quinten Willems and Merrill Guerin; fifth row: Wendell Shaw, Donald Barber, Robert Le Claire, Clifford Ahasey and Eugene Stiller.

Continued from previous week Back in 1931, the Lumberjack Band had been leading the crowd with the fight song, “Go! You Packers Go!” — composed and written by Erich Karll. …

Obituaries
Duane Gable
Duane Gable
Duane Gable, of Merrill, passed away on March 8th, 2025. Duane was born May 18th, 1950, to Alec and Ella Gable. Duane enjoyed fishing, hunting, and farming.  He is survived by his son Donn …
Dennis Leroy Parshall
Dennis Leroy Parshall, born March 17, 1930 to Otis and Gertrude (Lange) in Tomahawk, passed away peacefully at home on March 16, 2025, in Irma, WI surrounded by his loving family.  Dennis …
Dorothy H. Krause
Dorothy H. Krause
Dorothy H. Krause, 100, of Merrill, formerly of the Town of Pine River, passed away Monday, March 17, 2025, at her home under the care of her family and Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services. …
Celina J. Schmidt
Celina J. Schmidt
Celina J. Schmidt, 77, of Merrill, passed away Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Celina was born December 3, 1947, in Dowagiac, Michigan, daughter of Charles E. and Coral …
Bristol D. Bailey
Bristol D. Bailey
Sweet little Bristol D. Bailey, gained her little angel wings at the age of 3 months old, due to illnesses, and complicationsbecause of being 2 ½ months premature.  Bristol was born …
Business

News Shorts

Park City Credit Union receives Best New Account Experience Award Park City Credit Union (PCCU) recently recived a 2025 Best of the Best New Account Experience Award, presented by MemberXP, a …

Merrill Area United Way names Deborah Moellendorf as new Executive Director

The Merrill Area United Way Board of Directors announced the hiring of Deborah Moellendorf as the new Executive Director. Moellendorf, who brings 35 years of experience with the University of …

United Way of Wisconsin launches CommunityUpskill.org

On Feb. 18, 2025, United Way of Wisconsin, in collaboration with United Way Fox Cities, announced the launch of CommunityUpskill.org. This online platform provides in-demand skills and career …

Weinbrenner wins Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year

Weinbrenner Shoe Company was named one of Wisconsin’s top manufacturers, earning the Manufacturer of the Year Grand Award in the Large Business Category at the 36th Annual Wisconsin …
Schools
Fourth grade puzzle fun.

St. John Lutheran School celebrates National Lutheran Schools Week

National Lutheran Schools Week is a very important time! Started by the Missouri Synod and celebrated by schools across the nation, this week gives students the opportunity to proclaim God’s …

Celebrating Lutheran Schools Week 2025 at Trinity

Lutheran Schools Week at Trinity Merrill Lutheran School is set for Mar. 3-7, 2025, featuring an array of engaging dress-up days and two special events. On Monday, Mar. 3, students will participate …

MAPS accepts December and January donations

The following donations were approved and/or accepted at the Dec. 18, 2024, Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS) Board of Education meeting: Donation of funds from Merrill Lions Club valued at $4,000 …

Merrill High School second quarter Honor Roll 2024-2025

(NOTE:  This was inadvertently published in our print edition as the first quarter Honor Roll.) GRADE 9 HIGHEST HONORS (4.0): Azalea Blake, Brooklyn Clabots, Austin Doering, Shane …
Health

People for Pine Crest to hold open meeting in Tomahawk

People for Pine Crest will hold an open meeting in Tomahawk on March 8, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Tomahawk Public Library, 300 W. Lincoln Ave. in Tomahawk. The meeting is open to the public and all …

County corrects Pine Crest Nursing Home financial data

Lincoln County Administrative Coordinator Renee Krueger has issued a correction to financial information about Pine Crest Nursing Home that was published in last week’s edition. The …

Preventing slip-and-fall injuries in the winter

Snow and ice can turn sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots into hazardous zones. Slip-and-fall injuries are among the most common winter-related accidents, often leading to serious consequences …

Pine Crest Nursing Home: Looking back at 11 years of financials

In response to a request for additional financial information from Lincoln County, Lincoln County Administrative Coordinator Renee Krueger—at the direction of Lincoln County Board Chair Jesse …
Special Sections
Courts
Jason H. Meister, age 44, of Pearson [Langlade County], Wis., made an initial appearance in Lincoln County Court on Monday, Mar. 10, 2025, via video conference from the Oneida County Jail where he …
Richard “Ricky” Sanderson, a 50-year-old Tomahawk man, died on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital from an apparent stab wound to the upper center of his chest/lower …
On Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Lincoln County Circtui Court, 23-three-year-old Vincent Galella of Merrill was sentenced, after reaching a plea agreement with the State of Wisconsin, in separate charges …
Opinion and Editorial
We welcome letters to the Editor, a chance for members of the community to comment on issues of concern to them. All letters must be original, not duplications of letters addressed to public …
To our valued readers, We want to take a moment to explain an important update to our editorial policy regarding political letters and opinion pieces. While many media companies are eliminating …
We welcome letters to the Editor, a chance for members of the community to comment on issues of concern to them. All letters must be original, not duplications of letters addressed to public …
Community & Human Interest
Rural homelessness and the fight to do “more with less” BY HALLIE CLAFLIN Wisconsin Watch NORTHERN WISCONSIN – Last winter, Eric Zieroth learned that multiple layers and a down …
FEBRUARY 5, 2025 Boy, Maxwell Jonathan, born to Alexis Heckendorf and Dakota Heckendorf of Marathon. FEBRUARY 7, 2025 Boy, Nolan Alexander, born to Cassandra Wendt and Dale Wendt of Schofield. …
The Central Wisconsin Children’s Theater’s (CWCT) production of Les Miserables at the Veninga Theater at UW Center for Civic Engagement on the UW-SP campus in Wausau kicked off last …