Letter to the editor:
If you think that you don’t need to buckle your safety belt because you’re a good driver, remember that you’re likely sharing the road with bad drivers, who cause crashes when you least expect it. Once a crash occurs, it’s too late to buckle up.
Fastening your safety belt every time you drive or ride in a vehicle provides proven protection against serious and fatal injuries. Buckling-up also is quick and easy, so it’s hard to understand why approximately one out of five Wisconsin motorists does not wear a safety belt.
To increase safety belt use, law enforcement officers throughout Wisconsin will be patrolling city streets, rural roads, and major highways during the Click It or Ticket mobilization from May 20 to June 2. The Click It or Ticket message is clear-whenever officers see an unbelted driver or passenger, they will stop the vehicle and issue tickets.
The ultimate goal of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and our traffic safety partners is to reduce the number of preventable traffic deaths to “Zero in Wisconsin.” To achieve this life-saving goal, all of us-no matter how good a driver we think we are-need to buckle up every trip, every time.
Mark Gottlieb
Secretary of the
Wisconsin
Department of
Transportation
Dear Editor,
I am writing this letter to make people aware of a problem we have here in Merrill – SLOBS.
They love to dump their garbage wherever they feel like it, and in particular, they love to dump their garbage behind the Semco plant along the banks of the Wisconsin River.
I have been down in the Deep South and was amazed at how many people live with piles of trash in their front yards. I was proud to be from Wisconsin, where we clean up after ourselves. But, not all of us. Those people down South? At least they were honest about it. Our SLOBS? They scurry around like rats and sneak in behind Semco to dump their garbage.
I am copying Semco with this letter (please forward to the President). All kinds of us Merrill citizens use this area along the river to run our dogs (Merrill has no dog park), to fish, to hike – it is almost beautiful, like a park there. Almost, I say, because everywhere you go, the SLOBS have been there first. Their garbage is everywhere, both on land and in the river.
I am attaching photos to this letter. They are of what looks like to be about 100 cigarette butts some SLOB dumped on the ground. I smoke. I put my butts in my pocket till I get home. They are of a pile of tires some SLOB decided to get rid of back there. There is a photo of a bunch of laundry bottles all tied up, as if the SLOB was going to recycle them, but instead dumped them behind Semco.
If you use this area, have you ever noticed the three or four piles of trash there? These were made by me, as I picked up beverage containers, fast food trash, worm boxes, and all the other stuff the SLOBS leave behind. I wanted to make it easier for Semco to pick up, but I also wanted it to be visible. Most of the SLOBS hide their garbage. I drag it out for all the world to see. It would take a weekend a large troop of people to thoroughly clean up after the SLOBS, if we were to get every bit of trash that is there. Much of it has blown into the brush and has to be taken out by getting all scratched up in the process. Thanks for that, SLOBS.
It is entirely possible that Semco reads this letter and closes off the area. Me and my dog will miss having an open space that is not infested with ticks. All kinds of people who fish there will miss it (but some of you are SLOBS judging by the trash left behind, so I have no sympathy for you). If they do, good for them. Why should they allow the SLOBS to dump their trash there?
In 15 years or so of living in Merrill, I have seen air conditioners, tires, large car parts, bikes, bags of used kitty litter, bags of used human baby diapers, bags of leaves (why didn’t you dump the leaves and take you bags back home, SLOB?), illegal deer carcasses, strollers, TV sets, computer monitors, and the list goes on and on. Of course the SLOBS leave all their daily refuse as well, like beer and pop cans and bottles, worm containers and the wrappers from fishing tackle, long lengths of tangled fishing line, which is dangerous to wildlife, food wrappers, etc. This stuff is on the grass, in the bushes, up in the trees, and in the Wisconsin River where some SLOBS like to throw it to make it especially difficult to get out.
Just think – maybe we are not so much better than those people down South. If Semco closed this area to public enjoyment, then the SLOBS would have to pile all their garbage in their front yard so we would know who they are. And we would also feel more like our Southern cousins and get along better.
I am finally sick of this. I have personally picked up piles and piles of trash the SLOBS left behind. I am the guy who drags it out of the bushes into plain view so everyone knows what you did, you rat. I would gladly help pick up the area once and for all, but I refuse to sit back and let the SLOBS have their way anymore. You SLOBS better not let me catch you with my camera phone as you scurry like the rats you are because THAT letter with attachments goes to the police department. If anyone would care to donate some trail cameras, I am sure we could place them so that the SLOBS will be memorialized forever in their natural behavior.
David Renaud
City of Merrill
Resident
Editor:
The Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of the Northwoods District of Samoset Council wish to thank the citizens of Merrill for contributing to the 2013 “Scouting for Food” community food drive. With your help boys in Merrill collected over 4,000 items of food that were sorted and distributed to the Merrill Food Pantry. Together we made a significant impact on the food shortage that many of our neighbors face on a daily basis. Thank you for your caring and continued support!
Erin Straw
Northwoods District Executive
Samoset Council, BSA