A 40-year-old Merrill man was arrested Wednesday morning after a deputy located a vehicle in the ditch on State Rd. 107 north of Matthews Road just before 2 a.m. The driver displayed signs of impairment and was taken into custody for first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and jailed for violating the terms of his probation. The next morning it as learned the vehicle the man was driving was stolen from a home in the City of Merrill, the man is now facing additional charges through Merrill Police regarding the burglary and theft.
Two crashes, five vehicles in the ditch with storm Wednesday.
Deputies monitored the Wisconsin River in the Town of Rock Falls throughout the night on Wednesday after an ice jam caused water to back up between the Grandfather and Grandmother Dams. Residents on State Rd. 107 phoned the Sheriff’s Office around 5 p.m. to complain the water was rising rapidly. Deputies made contact with dam tenders from WPS who stated the matter should resolve on its own during the night.
A 41-year-old man from the state of Washington was taken into custody early Sunday morning on a traffic charge. A caller reported a vehicle traveling north on US Hwy. 51 traveling at 30 MPH and all over the roadway. When deputies located the vehicle, the driver had gotten stuck in the median. The Lakewood, WA man was cited for a first offense of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
A 22-year-old Merrill woman was arrested early Sunday morning for violating the terms of her probation. Deputies went to the woman’s home in the Town of Merrill after the Wisconsin Department of Corrections reported she was violating her electronic monitor rules.
Motorists are still reporting deer collisions with 12 being reported this past week.
Sheriff Jeff Jaeger is wishing residents a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season. He passes on a reminder that his Deputies will be out helping to keep the highways safe throughout the holidays with the goal of having everyone arrive safely at their destination. So far in 2017 over 560 people have been killed on Wisconsin highways; five of those crashes have occurred in Lincoln County.
“No one should have to find me or one of my Deputies knocking on their door right before Christmas with tragic news. By slowing down, buckling up and using a designated driver; we can all reach our destination and enjoy the holidays with our families,” said Sheriff Jaeger. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who lost loved ones in 2017 on the roadways and we hope through our efforts of prevention we can keep others from going through the holidays without the ones they love.”