Thursday, October 15, 2026
Log in Subscribe

Vivette Lindstrom

Vivette Lindstrom, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on October 8, 2026, at the age of 74. Born on March 18, 1952, to Otto & Hedwig (Kuester) Kuckhahn in …

Merrill Foto News 10.15.2026

James Edward Krause

James Edward Krause passed away on October 9, 2026. Jim was born to Edward and Lucille (Hoinacki) Krause in Beaver Dam, WI. Jim graduated from Beaver Dam High School with the Class of 1970. He earned …

Antigo man arrested after chase ends in crash on Merrill’s E. Main Street

An Antigo man suspected of stealing multiple vehicles was arrested Oct. 8, 2026, after a high-speed pursuit through Lincoln County ended with a crash on E. Main Street in Merrill, according to a …
2026 Homecoming Senior Princess Grace Hoff is escorted by her parents Molly Hoff-Davis and John Davis..

Homecoming Court, Silver M’ers introduced

Homecoming in Merrill isn’t all about football. Well, it is all kind of connected, but there are more fun traditions in addition to the Homecoming Football Game. There’s the Homecoming Parade …
Business

What to know before harvesting timber this fall

Landowners planning to harvest timber on their property this fall are reminded that Wisconsin law requires filing a County Notice of Intent to Cut before any cutting begins, according to the Lincoln …

Beautiful autumn weather draws shoppers

On Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, the parking lot at the Merrill Area Recreation Complex (MARC) was busy, with shoppers vying for a close parking spot and some vendors even setting up booths or stalls …

Merrill forum to tackle child care’s toll on Northwoods workforce

Policymakers, employers, child care providers, and residents will gather in Merrill in about two weeks to talk about a problem that reaches well beyond the nursery: how the shortage of child care is …

A labor of love: Hillview Farms Wedding Barn

Hillview Farms Wedding Barn is not just a gorgeous rustic venue. It is a true labor of love, developed and refined by a couple with a vision for a family-run venue to create beautiful moments and …
Schools
Joan and Walter Kobielus.

New Kobielus Memorial Scholarship to award UW-Madison scholarships to MHS Seniors

The Joan L. (Franz) & Walter G. Kobielus Memorial Scholarship, a new program that will award $2,500 scholarships to Merrill High School (MHS) Seniors attending the University of …

Campus News

Area students named to spring 2026 Dean’s List at UW-River Falls The University of Wisconsin-River Falls has released its spring semester Dean’s List, honoring 1,497 students. To be named to …

MAPS accepts August donations

The following donations were approved and/or accepted at the Aug. 19, 2026, Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS) Board of Education meeting: A monetary gift from Kent & Sue Johnson valued at $100 …

Back-to-school safety reminders

Students in Merrill went back to school this week, and most school districts in the state have already started or will soon begin classes. That means an increase in pedestrian traffic as children …
Health
September Law of the Month: Child passenger safety
Babies should ride in a rear-facing car seat until they are 1 year old and weigh 20 pounds, in the back seat if the vehicle has one.

Parents and caregivers: ensure children are buckled into the correct seat

Children are best protected in a vehicle when they are correctly buckled into the correct seat for their age and size. The Wisconsin State Patrol’s September Law of the Month reminds parents and …

Aspirus Merrill Hospital earns national recognition for stroke care

BY TINA L. SCOTT EDITOR Aspirus Merrill Hospital received a Stroke Silver Plus award and a Rural Stroke Silver award in July from the American Heart Association’s Get With The …

Aspirus: how three weekly family meals can lead to healthier kids, adults

Aspirus Health recently shared information on how regular family meals can positively impact the health of both kids and adults. “Between school, sports, work, and after-school activities, finding …

With new school year approaching, Aspirus shares sleep tips for children

With the start of the new school year approaching, Aspirus Health recently shared tips to ensure children get enough sleep. “As families prepare for another school year, school supply lists, open …
Courts
Some of the items to be sold at public auction.

Pophal’s forfeited assets headed to public auction

Assets seized from a former Hamburg resident convicted of running a multimillion-dollar investment fraud scheme will be sold at online public auctions beginning July 28, 2026, U.S. Attorney Chadwick …

White faces upgraded charge of attempted first-degree intentional homicide

An Amended Criminal Complaint filed April 23, 2026, in Lincoln County Circuit Court has upgraded the charges against Julia L. White, 43, of Merrill, in connection with the March 27 stabbing of a male …

Former Merrill woman charged with homicide, child neglect in death of 5-year-old daughter

Katelyn M. Nardi, age 27, formerly of Merrill and now listing a Tomahawk address, was charged in Lincoln County Circuit Court on March 23, 2026, with two felony counts in connection with the Oct. 22, …
Community & Human Interest

Wisconsin State Patrol boosts enforcement and education of Move Over Law

The Wisconsin State Patrol is stepping up efforts to remind motorists of the importance of moving over or slowing down when approaching first responders or stranded motorists stopped along the road. …

Merrill church invites volunteers to sew dresses for Africa missions

Volunteers of all skill levels are invited to help sew dresses for missions in Africa from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at Christ United Methodist Church, 300 N. Mill St., Merrill. …

Our Community. Our Stories. Our Newspaper.

Every week, we use these pages to tell the stories of our community. We celebrate accomplishments. We recognize our students and athletes. We tell you what’s happening in our schools, local …
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 …
Dear Reader, We live in a curious time. The same screens that connect us to the world have become stages where we watch others perform fragments of existence—sometimes genuine, often …
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 …
Obituaries
Donald Ian “Goose” Ogden
Donald Ian “Goose” Ogden, 28, unexpectedly went to the Heavenly Hunting Grounds on Monday, October 12, 2026. Goose was born to Donald and Lori (Hanson) Ogden, who raised him with love and …
Vivette Lindstrom
Vivette Lindstrom
Vivette Lindstrom, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on October 8, 2026, at the age of 74. Born on March 18, 1952, to Otto & Hedwig (Kuester) Kuckhahn in …
James Edward Krause
James Edward Krause passed away on October 9, 2026. Jim was born to Edward and Lucille (Hoinacki) Krause in Beaver Dam, WI. Jim graduated from Beaver Dam High School with the Class of 1970. He earned …
Screenshot
Mary Kathryn Norman
Mary Kathryn Norman January 10, 1953 – October 5, 2026 If you knew Mary Norman, chances are you had a great friend. Mary never needed much of a reason to lend a hand, share what she had, or …
Kim Renee Woellner
Hi, I am (or in the livings case was?) Kim Renee Woellner who went home on September 30th 2026 at the age of 63. I was born January 3, 1963 to my parents, Kenneth and Ann Pasholk, in the City of …
Sports
This year's high school Seniors, from L to R:  Allyson Boquist, McKenzie Plautz, Claire Hintz, Addison Pickard, and Greta Peterson.

Merrill Varsity Girls Tennis Team sweeps Phillips on Senior Night

The Merrill Varsity Girls Tennis Team marked Senior Night on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, with a 7-0 sweep of Phillips. “Merrill defeated Phillips by a 7-0 score on Sept. 24, controlling every court …

Merrill Varsity Football wins the War on 64 in 121st matchup against the Red Robins

The Merrill Varsity Football Team came back in the second half to defeat the Antigo Red Robins 32-27 Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, at Schofield Stadium in Antigo. The game marked the 121st matchup between …

Merrill Varsity Football shuts out Mosinee, 13-0, in home conference win

The Merrill Varsity Bluejays snapped a nine-year losing streak to Mosinee with a 13-0 shutout win Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at Jay Stadium in Merrill. The win also came on Senior Night for the …

Bluejays fall to Medford 36-0, look to rebound against Mosinee

The Merrill Varsity Boys Football Team dropped a 36-0 decision to Medford on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at Medford Area Senior High School’s Raider Field. “Medford was a very physical football …
2026 Merrill High School Varsity Cross Country Team. Front L to R: Caylinn Van Der Nest, Madlyn Hunter, Natalia Woller,  and Amelia Weberpal. Middle L to R: Charlotte Van Der Nest, Olivia Smith, Rebekah Hagemeister, Evelyn Hagemeister, and Bryanna Doerr. Back L to R : Kayla Klimek, Jameson Morgan, Emmett Johnson, Preston Schmidt, Ben Hanson, Kane Hanson, and Siobhan Schuetze. Missing from photo: Sophia Wendt..

Cross Country 2026 correction

Editor’s Note: The information included in last week’s special Fall Sports Profile section for Merrill High School Cross Country was inadvertently a repeat of the 2025 Cross Country Team …

Fritsch: Good clean play

The Oshkosh All-Stars were an American professional basketball team based in Oshkosh, that played from 1929 to 1949. Fritsch is pictured in the front row, second from left in 1946-47.

That winter, Ted played guard for the Oshkosh All-Stars. The Oshkosh All-Stars were an American professional basketball team based in Oshkosh that played from 1929 to 1949. They became a …

Fritsch: From gridiron to diamond

Ted Fritsch in 1942.

Continued from previous week Ted Fritsch finished his rookie season with the Green Bay Packers as the lead rusher with 323 yards, ahead of Tony Canadeo, who had 272. He was also fifth in …

Fritsch: A backfield coach’s tip

Fritsch

Continued from previous week In January of 1942, Green Bay Packers Coach Curly Lambeau took a trip to Chicago, where he met with Elmer Layden, National Football League commissioner at the time. …

Special Sections