Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr
7-14-76
Due to recent action by the Merrill City Council it will now be up to the voters to decide how members of the Merrill Area Public Schools Board are elected. The current system allows for nine members to be elected at large, but a ballot measure in November will ask voters if they want that changed to having the nine members come from established districts much like the current city council. In other action at the meeting the council voted to change the zoning at the Scott Street parking lot from business district to public to make way for the planned Housing Authority project. The aldermen also voted 9-0 to hold firm on the Personnel and Finance Committee’s position for the police union and their contract. This most likely will send the matter to arbitration. And it will cost more if you get a parking ticket in town, well sort of. The cost of a the $1 ticket will not increase, but the late fee will go from $.50 to $2.50 if not paid within 48 hours.
In briefs throughout the paper: Holy Cross Hospital will increase their fees. Private rooms will now cost $64 per day, up from $55 per day. The cost for newborns will also go from $25.50 per day to $30 per day. Here is something to be optimistic about, the Opti-Mrs. Club has elected their board members for another year, Marion Meyer is president, Ellen Holt vice, Kathy Donohue secretary, and Janet Johnson treasurer. First Financial Savings and Loan has now opened their new facility on North Center Ave in Merrill. Yurgen Markewycz heads the staff at the new bank. (The bank is now known as Associated Bank, and the building is now the Merrill Chamber.) Alice F. Krueger has announced she will seek the office of County Clerk on the democratic ticket this fall. Krueger is currently the sales manager at Quality Print in Merrill and has extensive community involvement on her resume. The St. Francis Carnival will be held this weekend on the church grounds. There will be rides, refreshments, games, and a ladies’ booth; Jay Tlusty and his orchestra will play on Friday and the Jolly Gentlemen on Saturday. A reminder that all advertisements are due early this week due to Crazy Day next week.
The Bonnell brothers are celebrating one year as owners of the Red Owl store in Merrill. Three full pages of ads take up this week’s paper noting the specials throughout the store. On Friday you will find WJMT’s own Mike Berg locked in the Pepsi prison inside the store. Mike will have to stay inside of the “prison” made of Pepsi 12-packs until enough are bought that he can escape on his own. With a price of $1.99 a 12-pack, that shouldn’t take long. Other specials include cake mix 3/$1, half gallons of ice cream $1.09, five cans of corn for $1, four loaves of bread for $1, chuck roast is .58 per pound, turkeys are .59 per pound, and ground chuck is only .88 per pound. Be sure to register for the grand prize drawing of a $50 gift certificate.
7-15-86
The long process of creating a new Lincoln County landfill has again been brought to a grinding halt. News was released this past week that Walt Nelson has removed his land from the consideration list. The Solid Waste Committee had made a temporary agreement with Nelson to exchange his 160 acres for another 200 acres in the Town of Merrill along with additional $5,000 cash. Legal advisor to the group, attorney Glenn Hartley, stated the matter is now on hold. The DNR also addressed the Alfred and Cleone Turner property in the Town of Birch and said that it was suitable for a landfill.
Latzig and Son’s Excavating in Merrill has removed what was left of the apartments that neighbored the Foto News in the 800 block of East Main St. This past March a fire destroyed the multi-unit building. There are no current plans to fill in the empty space. (It took only about 20 years, and is now known as Cosmo 3.)
It is Crazy Days in Merrill tomorrow. Specials found in this week’s Foto News include: Green’s Flower Shop where you can grab a bunch of carnations for only $2 and it is 15% off all green plants. Helmstadter Jewelers will pierce your ears on the sidewalk in front of the store for only $3, many of the earrings inside of the store are half off; WJMT will have their Little Red Wagon race on North Prospect Street starting at 6 p.m. The Lions Club will be selling their famous chicken barbeque in front of the Cenotaph starting at 11 a.m. Estelle’s House of Fashion on Merrill’s west side has summer wear up to 60% off. Pamida Store has many outdoor items for sale, from gas cans and inflatable boats to lawn and garden needs. Deli-Delite in the sixth ward has two-piece chicken dinners for $1.24 and ice cream cones for .30. Merrill House of Music has many of their albums and tapes available at discounted prices, and you will also find a Magnavox portable radio for only $37. Bruce’s Coverall has 20% off all paints and stains. Remember the Merrill-Go-Round runs free all day.
7-17-96
The Lincoln County 4-H Free Fair starts today at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds. Calkin’s Amusements will be the midway entertainment this year. The schedule includes $9 armbands for unlimited rides on Wednesday, Thursday is good neighbor day where bringing two canned food items for the food pantry will get you six rides for $5, and on Friday all rides are half off until 5 p.m. On Saturday the more you ride the more chances you get to win a CD boom box, and on Sunday it is last blast with arm bands for unlimited rides again for only $9.
The girls from Our Savior’s Church are having a sweet time of it as they are pictured preparing pies for this year’s food booth. The girls were already ready for the task by freezing apples from last fall’s harvest in preparation for the event. Pictured working on the pies are Bernice Hanson, Carol Sczygelski and Emily Schleif. Schleif noted if apple isn’t for you, blueberry and cherry will be on hand as well.
The Merrill Little League All-Stars are moving on in competition, heading to Milwaukee for the next round of tournament action. On Saturday the boys took on the Antigo All Stars and held them to only six hits in the 8-5 win. On Sunday they again took on Antigo this time handing them a 12-2 loss. Coach Bob Klug stated the group will probably face a team from Madison when they head to Milwaukee for play this Saturday. Klug and Chuck Stine coach the team whose members include Nate Mann, Mark VanderHeiden, Nick Phelps, Andy Simon, Travis Spoehr, Josh Klug, Luke Porath, Jared Sanders, Justin Stine, Paul Kufahl, Waylon Hartl, Kevin Harding, Jared Schmidt and Jason Henrich.