6-6-73
With the school year at an end, the Board of Education is considering some new hours to alleviate overcrowding. The proposed schedule would start classes at 7:15 a.m. and have the last class begin at 3:04 p.m. for the Senior and Junior High. The Ag program is also on the agenda; enrollment in the course has increased from 95 students to 156 students over the last three years. The most expensive item on the agenda is the opening of bids for the new Jefferson Elementary School. On a lighter school note, page two shows students enjoying their last day before summer. Ruth Dreger and her special education students are shown playing on the lawn at Washington School, and Brian Knab and Don Brose both are shown outside of St. Robert’s School after completing Mrs. Hull’s (whom they like “a lot”) first grade class. Their plans for the summer? “Climbing trees, playing and stuff like that.” The two lads rated math ahead of recess as their favorite subjects this year.
John R. “Jack” Ament is now associated with his father, Jacob J. Ament, in the Ament Law Firm 1027 E. Main St. Young Ament received his law degree from Marquette University in 1973. He has been admitted to practice before the State Supreme Court of Wisconsin and the Eastern and Western Districts of the Federal Court. He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Lincoln County Bar Association. Ament interned in Lincoln and Waukesha counties at their district attorney’s offices. He is married to the former Carol Gross who is an elementary school teacher at Midway School near Gleason.
Members of Local 2344 of the Carpenters and Joiners of America went on strike at 7 a.m. this morning at the Semling-Menke company. No negotiations are scheduled as of press time, 231 employees are affected by the walk out.
In other business news, the finishing touches are going on the Sears Roebuck Store. 1022 E. Main St.; it will open next Wednesday.
6-8-83
A 63 year old blind woman was found stabbed to death late Monday at her rural Merrill home. Ruth Tiffany, Route 7, was discovered in her bed, fully clothed with a pillow over her head by Lincoln County Sheriff deputies, who were summoned to the residence by a postal employee who noticed Tiffany’s mail had not been collected in about three days. Wounds believed to be delivered by a knife were found in the upper chest area. Sheriff Ronald Krueger said his agency is being aided in their investigation by the state Crime Lab and the Department of Criminal Investigations. So far no motive for the killing has been determined. Tiffany was a Minnesota native who moved to Merrill in 1971. After the death of her husband Edgar in 1974, she continued to live in her rural mobile home. It was explained she had hoped to move to town but her dogs and possessions kept her at her rural home until the time of her death.
Mayor Richard Holt continues to recover after an attack of angina. The mayor was stricken as he picked up his mail at the post office this past Friday and drove himself to Holy Cross Hospital for treatment. Mrs. Holt said her husband is expected to be released this weekend if his recovery is continued but he will need to go to Wausau Hospital next week for additional tests. Prohibited from smoking at the hospital by his doctor, the mayor seems to have developed a sweet tooth, he reportedly has replaced his urge from smoking to craving candy suckers.
Even though he plans on retiring soon, Lindy Porath, operator of Lindy’s Clark Station, played head chef for Merrill High School students one last time. Porath, whose station is located near the high school, uses the money he gets from discarded soda cans to finance an end of the year party every year. The Clarke Oil Company assisted with this year’s feast.
6-2-93
The class of 1993 gathered with family and friends Thursday at the field house for their graduation ceremony. After receiving a message from Senior Class President Dave Schroeder, Dr. Ralph L. Neale, Superintendent of Merrill Area Public Schools, announced the names of the scholarship winners. 101 scholarships were awarded to the class, totaling over $600,000 including two appointments to West Point. Approximately 216 seniors took part in the ceremony.
As those graduates head out to conquer the world, two other Merrill High graduates are noted in this week’s paper as they join the medical field. Doctor Kevin Scheu received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Milwaukee recently. He is the son of Russell and Donna Scheu and a graduate of MHS. He is moving on to Wilford Hall USAF Medical program in San Antonio TX, he will be re-commissioned a captain in the United States Air Force.
Kenneth Sparr, son of Kenneth and Norma Sparr of Sixth Street in Merrill; a 1986 graduate of MHS also received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He has begun his residency and internship in urologic surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin affiliated hospital in Milwaukee. Dr. Sparr plans to practice medicine in the Air Force Medical Corps; he is currently a captain in the USAF Reserve.