Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr
4-26-78
An Irma woman is safe today after she was threatened yesterday by escapees from Lincoln Hills School. The two 16-year-old youths broke into her home at Route 1 Irma, Tuesday morning after escaping from the correctional institute Monday evening. The pair threatened the woman and her son and stole articles including a rifle. During the incident, a couple from Tomahawk, the daughter of the victim and her husband, arrived at the home and soon found themselves being held at gun point. The two escapees commandeered the daughter’s vehicle and fled. An ambulance from Merrill was called to the scene, but thankfully several nurses had already arrived and provided care to the Irma woman who refused transport. Police statewide were alerted to the escape and armed wanted suspects and late Tuesday afternoon Sparta Police found the missing station wagon which contained the stolen gun, but the two suspects had fled.
In news briefs: State Senator Clifford W. Krueger (R-Merrill) and Representative Sheehan Donoghue (R-Merrill) are slamming a trail fee that was approved by the DNR board. The board will charge users of the state’s hiking and biking trails $2.50 for a yearly pass. The DNR intends to use the money collected for trail improvements, but according to Donoghue there is plenty of money in the general fund which could be used to improve the trail system. Mayor-elect Patrick Nugent called upon the area aging and senior clubs to band together for a unified voice. Nugent feels some programs may see cuts as the programs compete for financial aid each year. The Drop In Center, Golden Agers, and Nutrition Program and North Central Agency on Aging plan on meeting in May to discuss the issue while the Drop In Center is already planning on asking for space in the basement of city hall as a new home. Carl Eklund is wrapping up his career at Council Grounds State Park where he will retire as superintendent Friday. Eklund has worked the last 37 years with the DNR and came to Merrill in 1972 to take over control of the park. Under his watch, camping at the park expand from 18 to 55 sites and he oversaw the 10-year improvement plan to the 332-acre park. Faith Lutheran Church south of Merrill on County Rd. K will officially dedicate their worship and educational facilities this Sunday; Rev. Allen Behnke will officiate at the 10 a.m. service.
Two area businesses are profiled in this week’s paper. The Blackheath will soon be opening in the new pro shop of the Merrill Public Golf Course. Dick and Marcene Puder will operate the restaurant which will feature red meats, seafood, and an extensive wine list. The restaurant will also have a completely different lunch menu for those looking for a lighter meal. Prior to coming to Merrill the Puder’s managed the Laramie Country Club in Laramie, Wyoming and have previously ran the University of Iowa Athletic Club in Iowa City. Meanwhile in downtown Merrill, Vern and Darlene Kasper are serving up a different menu to their customers – office supplies. Ten years ago, Vern knew more about milk then he did about stationary as he worked for the Pure Milk Co-Op. Kasper had reached the top of that company’s ladder when he learned the stationary store in Merrill was up for sale so he gambled the security of his Abbotsford home and moved to Merrill to set up shop. Besides his deep knowledge of office supplies, Kasper is also sort of an expert in fishing, running a repair shop in his basement for fishing rods; he also played trumpet for years with the Dwain Seefeld Band out of Spencer, a band he once owned.
4-27-88
As Merrill Mayor Richard Holt walks off into the sunset, he is reflecting back on his eight years leading the park city. Holt was elected mayor in 1980 succeeding long time mayor Ralph “Fata” Voigt. During his terms in office Holt looks at Merrill’s growth and feels his leadership was a success. Merrill was able to expand its local use of rail and the expansion of area trucking companies became the highway of growth. Holt truly believed as long as Merrill had a strong shipping network the products would move and the production would increase. Holt felt his hands on leadership inside of city hall also fostered growth and helped implement the long term plan he developed for himself upon taking office. Those priorities included fixing up the city garage, widening Hwy. 107 out to Council Grounds, improving Kitchenette Park and improving infrastructure at the city owned buildings occupied by Weinbrenner. As he leaves office, Holt advises the city to keep moving ahead adding that he would like to see a central fire station, 911 system and the reconstruction of west Third Street.
It seems all Dennis Berndt is doing nowadays at work is putting out fires, literally. Berndt is a Lincoln County Landfill employee and without a landfill he mans the transfer station where material is held until it is shipped to an out of county landfill. Careless dumping of combustible materials has caused numerous smoldering fires to develop at the site with one this past weekend burning into 13 tons of trash before it was noticed. Solid Waste Manager Robert Reichelt was thankful that snow fell Friday, which kept the nearby grass wet and prevented the fire from spreading.
4-22-98
Dennis Hintze still remembers his first day on the job at the Merrill Police Department. He borrowed a uniform from a neighbor (George Severt) and reported in for the night shift. He was handed a badge, a gun and a set of keys and was instructed to head out alone and explore the town. Over the years Hintze advanced with promotions, first as a lieutenant then to captain in 1981. Working inside and running the day to day office operations was a big change for Hintze, who recalled many a night walking the beat checking doors and occasionally using a pass key to sneak inside of a local bank to warm up. Hintze said besides computers the role of a police officer has changed drastically, remembering how Merrill had a Harley-Davidson three wheeled motorcycle when he started for traffic control. In total Hintze served 30 years and under three chiefs during his career; his last day of work will be next Friday.
In local political briefs: Michael Caylor Sr. has officially taken his seat as mayor of the city. He – along with new aldermen Tom Schotz, David D’Amico and Robert Colclasure – were sworn in last night. A controversial selection to the Police and Fire Commission was changed and Rev. Robert Smallman will now serve on that body as a part of Caylor’s appointments. Across the street at the court house, Robert Sumnicht was returned as county board chairman; Eugene Mootz will serve as vice-chair of that body. Before the organizational meeting Tuesday, the City Council met as a body for the last time a week prior and approved pay raises for non-union employees and city officials as well as settling contracts with the police and city street unions. The street department will go to a 10 hour four day work week while the police will switch to a five day on, two day off and then a four day on and two day off schedule.