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Coming Full Circle: From Camp II to Family Legacy

Dear Reader, Some stories take decades to complete themselves. Ours began over a century ago in the dense forests of northern Wisconsin, where Camp II operated as a bustling lumber operation …

Fireworks display celebrates Independence Day

Merrill held their annual fireworks display in honor of Independence Day on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at the Merrill Area Recreation Complex. Despite storms moving through the area earlier in the day …

Kid’s sports physicals: Make the appointment before the school year starts

Summer may still be in the early stages for most kids, but parents should be scheduling sports physicals for athletes planning on playing sports when school resumes in a couple of months, a press …

ATV and UTV crashes raise safety concerns during peak riding season

“If an ATV is going 30mph and you’re thrown from the ATV and hit another object, the force that is generated is equal to falling out of a three-story building.” ATV and UTV …

Bell Tower Residence launches $2 million capital campaign

In June 2025, Bell Tower Residence Assisted Living & Memory Care, a longtime pillar of elder care in Merill, announced the launch of its first capital campaign in two decades—a $2 million …
Sports
L to R:  Carrie Barz; Tim Steinfest, EMS Chief of the Town of Russell First Responders; Courtney King, Assistant Chief of the Town of Russell First Responders; Sid Sukow; Eddi Zimmerman, Town of Russell First Responders Lieutenant; and Mort Sukow.

Russ Sukow Memorial Golf Outing raises funds for Town of Russell First Responders

On Saturday, June 14, 2025, Sid Sukow and his brother Mort Sukow got together with friends and family to play golf, remember their brother Russ, and raise funds for a good cause. The Russ Sukow …

Bluejay Trap Team competes at State, Kufahl takes first place in her division

On Friday, June 20, 2025, the Merrill Bluejays Trap Team traveled to the State Championship Trap Tournament in Rome, Wis., to represent Merrill. Fifty athletes made the trip, and of those attendees, …

Five Merrill golfers earn academic all-state honors

Five Merrill High School Varsity Golfers were recognized by the Golf Coaches Association of Wisconsin as 2025 Academic All-State honorees for their excellence both on the course and in the classroom. …
L to R: Boys Varsity Baseball players were recognized by their teammates for the 2025 season. Carter Kaminski was named Outstanding Teammate, EJ Weix was named Outstanding Pitcher and Outstanding Hitter, and Kory Page was named Outstanding Defender.

Merrill Varsity Baseball players receive awards

The Merrill Varsity Boys Baseball Team just held their annual year-end picnic, and numerous players received recognition and rewards for their contributions to the team and the season. EJ Weix was …
Stock photo.

Bluejays wrap up their clay-busting season

It’s typical that Trap Team scores aren’t all available immediately since each school shoots on their own home shooting range and then inputs their scores, but the results of the 2025 …

From dinner table to board room

Ed Policy is introduced during the 2024 Green Bay Packers Shareholder meeting at Lambeau Field.

GREEN BAY – If you’ve heard of the self-fulfilling prophecy, you may start to believe that the Packers are heading into some successful seasons. Incoming Green Bay Packers CEO Ed …

Lambeau Field, second oldest and second biggest

At the 1957 dedication of the New City Stadium, many well-known figures were in attendance, including then-Vice President Richard Nixon, center, and the reigning Miss America, Marilyn Van Der Bur, left, and NFL Commissioner, Burt Bell, right.

GREEN BAY – Though the Green Bay Packers have a long-standing reputation for being the oldest team in the NFL, their stadium is close to holding a similar status. New City Stadium …

De Pere studio looks to relinquish Packers history

A 1970s posed photo of the Golden Girls, Green Bay Packers cheerleaders.

GREEN BAY – Over the last century, Green Bay Packers photography has grown synonymous with names like Stiller, Biever and Harmann, but one of those names is looking to relinquish that history …

Obituaries
Thomas Edward Vanney
Thomas Edward Vanney of Gleason, Wisconsin, passed away at King Veterans Home Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 89. He was born in Rhinelander, Wisconsin on August 16, 1935, the son of Irvin …
Roger David Nienow
Roger David Nienow, age 92, a lifelong resident of Merrill, WI, passed away on Friday, July 11, 2025, at Wood Aven Health & Rehab Center in Wausau, WI, while under the care of Aspirus Comfort …
Jane Schulz
Jane was born December 19, 1956, in Merrill, the daughter of Vernon and Joyce “Totsy” (Burrow) Kleinschmidt. She married Daniel Schulz on December 6, 1975. He preceded her in death on …
Gary Michael Mosser
Gary Michael Mosser
Gary Michael Mosser, 84, passed away peacefully at Aspirus Merrill Hospital on July 10, 2025. He was born in Merrill on May 2, 1941, to Stanley and Helen (Zastrow) Mosser. Gary graduated from …
Leland I. Raasch,
Leland I. Raasch, age 96, of Merrill, passed away on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill, WI, while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services.  …
Business

Lincoln County Tourism Saw Record-Breaking Year in 2024

The Wisconsin Department of Tourism released 2024 economic impact data, showing Lincoln County tourism generated a record $113 million, which contributed to Wisconsin tourism’s third …

Sawmill Unleashed

Pets weren't just welcome—they were the guests of honor—at the Sawmill Brewing Company's Sawmill Unleashed Dog Party last Saturday, June 28, 2025.

In the Lite wins state award for smart home innovation

In the Lite Automations of Merrill was recently recognized for excellence in residential construction technology, earning top honors from the Wisconsin Builders Association. The company was named the …

Celebrating 15 years and Grand Opening of Kindhearted Floral

Kindhearted Home Care will celebrate 15 years of service to the community with a Grand Opening event next Thursday, June 26, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The celebration will combine an Open House with tours …
Schools

2025 student awards and scholarships

Merrill High School 2025 graduates received many awards and scholarships at the award ceremony held ahead of graduation in May. The following is a list of recipients, followed by the names of the …

Campus News

Lee named to MSOE Honors List for spring semester 2025 Kevin Lee, from Merrill, was named to the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s (MSOE) Honors List for the 2025 Spring Semester. Lee is …

PRAIRIE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL 2024-2025 fourth quarter Honor Roll

EIGHTH GRADE Gold 4.00: Alle Bergh, Ella Bergh, Darby Bonnell, Aaron Collinsworth, Elijah Dymerski, Autumn Genisot, Jaedyn Goetsch, Jase Huston, Mara Kautzer, Aubrey Kromholz, Julio …

Legislators introduce bill to enhance child development education

On Monday, June 16, 2025, Wisconsin State Senate President Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk), Representative Amanda Nedweski (R-Pleasant Prairie), Senator Julian Bradley (R-New Berlin), and Representative …
Health
The Lincoln County Board of Supervisors met last Tuesday, June 17, 2025, to vote on the approval of the Asset Purchase and Sale Agreement and Operations Transfer Agreement between Lincoln County and Merrill Health Holdings, LLC and Jack Pines Healthcare, LLC. The resolution passed 14-8 to approve the signing of the documents.

Lincoln County board approves sale of Pine Crest nursing home—again

The Lincoln County Board of Supervisors voted 14-8 on June 17, 2025, to approve the sale of Pine Crest Nursing Home to The Ensign Group through their subsidiaries Merrill Health Holdings, LLC and …

Aspirus: How to safely store medications

Aspirus Health recently provided information on safely storing medications. Every year, approximately 35,000 young children are brought to the emergency room because they accidentally ingested …

DHS: Wisconsin underage tobacco, vape sales decreased in 2024

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) earlier this month reported a decrease in the rate at which tobacco and vape retailers sold to underage consumers last year. Annual data showed a …

Ensign Group presents plans for Pine Crest acquisition at Town Hall

Representatives from The Ensign Group met with community members last Tuesday, June 10, at a Town Hall Meeting hosted by the Lincoln County Board of Supervisors to discuss their proposed acquisition …
Special Sections
Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill.
Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill.
Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill.
Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill.
Courts
A Wausau man who previously owned a cell phone business on Merrill’s east side near McDonald’s has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering in connection with an alleged $15 …
Bobby Dabbs, age 27, of Trenton, Tenn., made his initial appearance in Lincoln County Court on Monday, March 31, 2025, via Zoom video from the Lincoln County Jail. Dabbs is charged with multiple …
According to a press release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LISO), on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at approximately 6:06 p.m., the Lincoln County 911 Dispatch Center received a call …
Opinion and Editorial
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 …
Dear Reader, Recently, I encountered the late David Foster Wallace’s famous commencement speech, and I found myself captivated by his insights on steering through life’s complexities …
Dear Reader, The Fourth of July is upon us once again—a day when we pause to celebrate our independence as a nation. This holiday commemorates that pivotal moment in 1776 when our …
Community & Human Interest
Recent storms that crossed the area made for some impressive photos of lightning and the stormy skies over the city of Merrill.
The city of Merrill will hold their annual Independence Day fireworks display on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at the Merrill Area Recreation Complex (MARC), 1100 MARC Dr. in Merrill. Families can begin …
“Even when the firework is finished, the residual sparkler stick remains hot and can still cause burns.” Fireworks are a hallmark of Independence Day celebrations, but they also pose …