5-22-74

Don’s Steak House was the setting for the Merrill Area Education Association’s retirement dinner which honored five retiring teachers Monday afternoon. Merrill Mayor Ralph Fata Voigt and board president Bob Monti presented certificates of appreciation to the retirees. They include Russell Stewart who is principal at Jefferson School and teaches sixth grade; Louis Evans, the longtime high school teacher who taught English, literature, mythology, basic composition and film study and was the moderator of the student newspaper and the Annual; Richard Marheine, who taught in Forest and then Price County before coming to Merrill where he started teaching in the Brickyard School which now sits at the Lincoln County fairgrounds, Marheine ends his career teaching fifth grade at Jefferson; Evelyn Pergande, who started teaching in Oneida County, taught at St John’s School and last taught special education at Washington;  and Ellis Evans, the Senior High School principal.

Merrill Police are investigating a break in at Merrill Junior High School early Thursday morning. Police Sgt. Don Trantow is pictured on page three dusting a window sill in the art room for finger prints as police track down leads into the early morning crime. According to a report, the thieves broke down a block wall to gain access to a safe and made off with $600 in cash. (That is nearly $2,800 in today’s money)

The Merrill Blue Jay baseball team captured the Wisconsin Valley Crown Tuesday at the Lincoln County fairgrounds, squeaking out a 1-0 victory over the Wausau West Warriors. The game, which was strong on pitching and defense, went 10 innings. Steve Imhoff pitched the tenth inning for the Jays, striking out all three batters he faced. When he came to bat, Imhoff singled and then moved to second on an error and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Jim Dotter. A walk soon loaded the bases, and then senior shortstop Keith Zuelsdorff singled to bring home the winning run in walk off fashion. Ron Sterr is the coach of the team whose record stands at 13-3. They will be traveling to play WIAA Regional action in Spencer on Thursday. The Jays recently defeated Athens 20-1 and Prentice 8-0 in sub-regional play.

5-23-84

A 15-year-old Hamburg youth charged with the murder of his parents and his 18-year-old brother has been sentenced to one year in a juvenile detention facility following a court appearance on Monday. The youth pleaded no contest to the charges before Marathon County Circuit Court Judge Daniel LaRocque and received the maximum sentence. According to Marathon County DA Rand Krueger, the youth will most likely go to the Ethan Allen School for Boys in Waukesha County. The one-year sentence may be extended annually until he reaches the age of 19, at which time he must be released. The youth was charged with three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder after the shooting at his Town of Hamburg home on April 8.

In what for some will be their last athletic event of their high school days, the annual Battling Blue Jay Booster Club Spring Sports Banquet was held last Wednesday. A total of 90 athletes received varsity monograms for their performances in the spring season and 15 Jays received senior awards for receiving five or more varsity letters during their school careers. Those seniors include: Terri Bacher, Lisa Bonnell, Margaret Bonnell, Marc Britten, Tregg Byer, Jane Drengler, Rob Grefe, Marie May, Paul Murray, Tammi Rebella, Randy Runge, John Slewitzke, Stephanie Spoehr, Kevin Steidinger, and Joe Weix.

Little Miss Susan Beckman, daughter of Polly and Wayne Polak, has been selected as an entrant in the 1984 Little Jr. Miss Wisconsin Pageant in Milwaukee this weekend. The winner of the Milwaukee event will move on to the Little Jr. Miss America Pageant in Miami Beach in October. Miss Beckman attends St. Robert’s Catholic School where she participated in Brownie Troop 74, was a member of the 1983-1984 Jr. Gymnastic Team, and was a student of Dorinda Rasmussen.

5-25-94

Tragedy on a county road is played out on the obituary page this week after three young men lost their lives in a traffic crash this past weekend. Obituaries list the lost as Jeffery Muschinske of Genesee St, Brandon Duginski of E. 3rd St., and Chad Teschner of Gleason. The crash occurred on Saturday on County Rd. G in the Town of Pine River and involved a car and motorcycle. Muschinske, who did farm labor and enjoyed working on cars, was remembered at a service Tuesday morning that was officiated by Pastor Robert Smallman; Duginski was a sophomore at Merrill Senior High School, a member of St. Roberts Catholic Church, and enjoyed a host of outdoor activities, his funeral mass was celebrated Wednesday morning; Teschner was a laborer at C&H Packaging and enjoyed the outdoors and was known for being very outgoing, his funeral was held Thursday morning at St. Stephens United Church of Christ.

Local veterans are preparing for this upcoming weekend’s Memorial Day services. On page one Cecil Hill, Elmer Lemke, Ray Washick, Lawrence Hommerding, and Lylas Berndt are pictured placing crosses and flags on the lawn of the Courthouse. On page two members of several posts of the American Legion gather for a quick picture as they mark local graves with flags at Merrill Memorial Park and St. Francis Catholic Cemetery. Pictured are Lylas Berndt, Art Wais, Cliff Sabatke, Vern Buntrick, Leroy Ott, and Bill Hommerding. The crew claimed to have flagged both cemeteries in less than half an hour.

On the help wanted page, an interesting occupation awaits promising travel and adventure as Calkins Midways is hiring. Jobs include working on rides or popcorn concessions. The ad promises on the job training, living quarters, and the chance to see the sunny south all while earning a living. Those interested can apply right on the midway this week as the carnival plays the Summer Fare on the Fox River at Oshkosh. (Your mother would still advise against this)