Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr
8-30-78
The number of people killed on roadways in Lincoln County grew this past weekend after a vehicle being operated by an Antigo woman drove through the wall of a Town of Pine River tavern. Joanne Tucker was traveling west on County Rd. P when her vehicle went through the stop sign at County Rd. W and into the Henrich’s Club Tavern, Route 6. With the accident occurring at 2:40 p.m. no one was in the game room of the tavern as the Volkswagen Beatle crashed through. Sheriff Ron Krueger surmised that the vehicle was slowed after clipping a parked car in the lot prior to striking the building; he believes the vehicle was traveling at around 55 MPH at the time of the impact. Tucker’s daughter, two-year-old Jessica, was pulled from the crushed automobile by witnesses. She is listed in fair condition at Wausau Hospital North. In another tragic accident a 64-year-old Merrill man was killed in an industrial accident at a quarry in the Town of Maine. Norman Krause was splitting a piece of red granite at the Anderson Brothers and Johnson Quarry on Maine Drive. The incident occurred last Wednesday afternoon and Krause died late Wednesday at Wausau North Hospital after being transferred from Holy Cross Hospital. Krause was set to retire next month from the quarry.
Excavation work at Merrill Memorial Park has led to the discovery of human remains. Workers with the Ronald Wimmer Company of Wausau were working to install storm sewer near an easement on the eastern side of the cemetery when two sets of what appears to be human remains were found under the black top. Authorities pieced together enough long bones to support the conclusion that two individuals were interred there. No concrete burial vault was found, but workers found what appeared to be what was left of a casket handle near one set of remains. Dr. Geoffrey Kloster, city health officer, issued a permit to complete the removal of the remains from the site which was closely monitored by local officials. City Attorney Michael Ravn said that research of the records of Merrill Memorial Park showed that no burials were ever recorded in the area of the find. He said all of the bones have been safely stored in a vault in the chapel of the cemetery pending proper re-burial.
Some new jobs and promotions were announced in this week’s paper. Harry Banaszak has taken over the helm as the new Administrator of the Merrill Transit Commission. He replaces Michael Neumann as the overseer of the Merrill Go Round bus service. Banaszak is married to Dorothy and has two sons; previously he worked with People’s IGA. Up at Bill’s House of Guns, Ron Thimm, vice-president and general manager, has announced that Scott Mahn has been promoted to assistant retail manager and Terry Kasper to retail manager. Both men have been with that company for five years. Park Side Preschool will now have an afterschool program for youth. Sue Hass will manage the initiative which she called much more than a babysitting service with planned activities such as nature studies and field trips. The new program will use classroom space at St. Francis School on West 8th Street. Natalie Tank has given up the coaching role with the MAPS Volleyball program. Tank brought the program to its feet according to MHS athletic director Jack Ader. The team went to state tournament in 1977 for the second time in its short history, won sectionals in 1975 and participated in regionals during the last four years. Wendy Kohrt will take over the program according to Acting Superintendent Robert Opsahl.
8-31-88
The Lincoln County Board of Supervisors has agreed to a contract with American Materials of Eau Claire for a new road which will be known as County Trunk R. County Rd. R will be the new road into the Lincoln County Landfill which will be built on the Nelson property in the Town of Merrill. The winning bid for the landfill is nearly $150,000 under the estimated cost of the road. The county also signed a contract to continue shipping waste to Tork Landfill at the cost of $21 per ton. This will continue until the new landfill is open. Chair of the board Frank Mangus has appointed Don Nelson to fill the seat left vacant by the late Neil LeMay. Nelson will represent District 17 in the City of Tomahawk; he is a graduate of UW Stevens Point.
At least one change is coming to the downtown as McDonald’s Restaurant will soon be building across from the Lincoln County Court House. Paul and Christine Kienitz, owners of the Fitness Force, have agreed to sell the building to the fast food giant in order for them to build. Kienitz has purchased land on the south side of the viaduct and plans to open an 11,000 square foot facility which will include racquetball courts and an indoor track. He expects to re-brand that new building with a new name and should be open by March. The city plan commission has voted not to change the zoning in the 200 block of North Center Avenue from residential to commercial. Property owners Henry Golde and Charles Geiss requested the change as Superwash from Green Bay has offered to buy the land and would construct a car wash if approved by the city. The Plan Commission did approve the annex of Woodchip Corp into the city and will provide city sewer and water services to the company who has 200 employees; it will also add $15,500 to the tax rolls.
Lottery fever is growing in Wisconsin and a picture in this week’s paper shows a fork lift being used to load crates filled with lottery tickets onto trucks destined for warehouses in Madison and Milwaukee. Thousands of retail employees are attending training sessions on the new game at 15 locations throughout the state. The first tickets can be purchased next month, Lottery Executive Director William Flynn also unveiled the new logo for the games, a large painted L. (Still the same logo)
9-2-98
The opening of one new school and the re-dedication of two others will usher in the new school year for Merrill Area Public Schools. This Saturday the new Kate Goodrich Elementary School will be dedicated at 10 a.m. followed by the dedication of the repurposed Prairie River Middle School at 11:30 a.m. and the new Merrill High School at 1:30 p.m. School begins next Tuesday. In a series of pictures on page two MAPS staff including Connie Servert, Jim Blair, Jan Black and Larry Lebal are shown preparing their rooms for the year.
The City of Merrill Common Council Chambers will be the site for the informational meeting regarding the removal of the Ward Paper Mill Dam on the Prairie River. Reps from International Papers and the DNR along with city, county and town officials will all be in attendance when the DNR environmental assessment will be shared.
You may not have met Ron Mulford, but chances are if you are from Merrill you have eaten one of his pizzas. The longtime Merrill business owner and Korean War veteran died this past week at his home after a battle with cancer. Mulford came to Merrill in 1959 and started Queenie and Ron’s Pizza with his mother Regina “Queenie” Mulford. Both Mulfords were natives of Ironwood, MI.
In a quarter-page advertisement, business owners are calling upon the residents of Lincoln County to contact their county board reps to encourage them to keep the jail downtown. The reasons listed for continuing to have the jail downtown include the jobs and economic impact the increased traffic from the court and jail facilities bring to the downtown.