Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr.
12-20-78
An Irma family is dealing with a tragedy just before Christmas after their son was killed in a single vehicle crash north of Merrill. Kirby J. Stoelting, age 18, of Irma, was killed when his vehicle left County Rd. K and struck a tree. Sheriff Ron Krueger said Stoelting was alone in the vehicle when the accident took place. It was reported just before midnight last Wednesday, but it is not known for certain when it actually occurred. Stoelting was removed from the vehicle by the Merrill Fire Department with the newly acquired “Jaws of Life,” but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Holy Cross Hospital. The son of Kirby L. and Marlene was buried from Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church yesterday; he was a graduate of Merrill Senior High and was attending NCTI in Wausau along with working at Lee’s Mobil. (His father was a Merrill Police Officer and later worked at Lincoln Hills who was also killed in a traffic crash. He once told my father the worst thing to see in the world is the sheriff outside your door knocking at 2 a.m.)
Christmas greetings fill this last paper before the holiday. Advertisers include: Dick Holt and Wayne Marrier of American Family Insurance, Church Mutual Insurance, Dave’s Red Owl, Ward Paper Company, Luebke’s Office Supply, Brose’s Flower Center, S&L Department Store, People’s IGA, Lincoln County Bank, Pat Bucket Realty, Whitburn Motor Company, Lincoln Realty, Park City Credit Union, Fair Deal Realty, Willie’s Tire Center, Livington’s Department Store, Northern Door, Tylenda-Galkin, Fowler Drug Store, Merrill House of Music, Associated Co-op, Knab Insurance Agency, Double R Realty, Rajek’s Riverside Club, Gulke Plumbing and Heating, Woodmen Insurance – Bob Nedden, Zettler’s Bakery, Wausau Mutual Insurance, South of the Border Restaurant, Reinke Realty, M&G Plumbing and Heating, Gruett’s Appliance Center, Martha at Schneider’s Bar, 3rd Street Liquor, Elmer’s Shoe Service, Prairie Motel, Holy Cross Hospital, Sharon Chevrolet, Merrill Manufacturing, Bob’s Union 76, Pamida Discount Center, Merrill Federal Savings and Loan, Campbell’s Department Store, M&I Citizens American Bank, Seeger Dairy, Schulz’s Wrecking, Country Sports, Arlo’s Spur, Ronis Chevrolet, Schneider Distributing, Dave’s Club 107, Lincoln County Abstract, Eagle’s Club, Lindy’s Clark Super, Lincoln County Tavern League, Queenie and Ron’s Pizza, Joe’s Standard Station, Waldburger Furnace Shop, J&W Books and Tobacco, Park City Motors, Drew’s Supermarket, City Transfer, Gene’s Shoe Service, Hull’s Ben Franklin, Howland Ace Hardware, the Corner Shop, Vic’s Lincoln Beauty Salon, Estelle’s Beauty Shop, Schulze’s Pharmacy, Miller Home Furnishings, the Bowery, Merrill Equipment, Hargrave’s Appliance, WJJQ Radio, McLellan’s Department Store, Gene’s Refrigeration, East Side Floral, Wanless TV, Legion Lounge, Ament & Son’s, Lincoln Cleaners, Quality Furnace, Frisch’s Bar, Trophy Bar, Larry’s Auto Sales, Nelson’s Rexall, Eddie’s Bake Shop, Anderson Printing, Taylor Insulation, Lee’s Mobil, Taylor Body Shop, Schulz Dairy, Bloechl’s Motors, Hub Inn, Club Modern, Trantow & Russell Insurance, Gene Block Insurance, Kozy Korner, House of Merrill, Lazy J Bar, Wire Products, Knispel & Latzig, Bill’s House of Guns, K&B Body Shop, Bishop Carpets and Caylor’s Corners.
How much is Christmas dinner going to cost you this year? Here are the specials from this week’s paper: Dave’s Red Owl has hams for $1.20 per pound, turkeys are .89 per pound, and rump roasts are $1.78, while cans of pineapple are .55, pumpkin or cranberries are just $1 for three and a dozen eggs are 19 cents. People’s IGA has fully cooked ready to go ham roasts for $1.45 per pound, a gallon of milk for $1.37, and ten pounds of Idaho potatoes are $1.39. At Drew’s you can find Cool Whip for .49, roasting chickens are .69 per pound, two pounds of shrimp are $4.99, navel oranges are 10 for $1, and Pabst beer is only $5.69 per case. Bob’s Food King has cake mix for .59 a box, a 10 pound bag of flour is $1.39, Hawaiian Punch is .59 per can, and turkeys are just .79 per pound. At Carl’s Foodlane Armour five pound canned hams are $8.98, brown and serve rolls are .49 for a 12 pack, Parkay margarine is .49 for a pound, and eggnog is only .79 a quart.
12-21-88
This week’s paper is four sections and filled with ads surrounding Christmas along with some explanations of Christmas traditions. Live nativity scenes are just some of the pictures that also fill one section of the paper as area churches prepare for the holiday. Karen Nelson and Robin Grenfell, employees of Lincoln County Bank show off a village they made from cookies and candies.
In news briefs: The United States Military has opened recruiting offices in Merrill. The office will serve both Lincoln and Taylor counties. Sgt. Wayne Joyce and Sgt. Steve Tessier will staff the office; both are veterans of service in the United States Army. The office is open between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Some people will flock together two days after Christmas to count birds. This is the 89th anniversary of the All Christmas Bird Count being done. If you have any information or you have any questions call local ornithologist Oscar Kretzschmar. Thank you to Merrill Police Chief Charles “Bubsy” Johnson for the Christmas gift, at least that is what local ordinance breakers are saying. The city changed the fine structure for parking fines which was supposed to be implemented on Dec. 1, but due to the oversupply of paper tickets the local police are waiting until Jan. 1 to implement the new fines on the newly printed tickets. Most parking violations such as odd even and overnight parking will increase from $5 to $10, handicapped parking stall violations increase to $30, while over parking a meter’s time will remain at $1 if you pay it within 48 hours, $5 if it is late.
Advertisers with Christmas greetings include: Bruce’s Cover All, Proulx’s Locksworks. Red & White Foods, Rod’s Wrecking Service, Green’s Flower Shop, Davos Printing, Klug’s Country Gold, North Central Hairlines, Good Samaritan Health Center, Weinbrenner Shoe Company, Grandma’s Bargain Bin, Carl’s Liquor Store, Abegglen Chiropractic, Spurgeon’s Department Store, Johnson’s Pharmacy, Park City Auto Body, S&S Bar, Merrill View Hotel, Pine Ridge Best Western, Midwest Sports, Dr. V.S. Pikikklla, Becker Baits, Helmstadter Jewelers, Merrill Candy and Distributing, Gold-n-Way Video, The Cosmo Theatre, D’s Bear Den, Mary’s Homestead Inn, The Fairway Super Club, Ashby’s Supper Club, Sturdevant Cork & Dyne, Trust Me Tap, Diamond Dave’s, Lincoln Lanes, Monty’s Bar, Lincoln Wood Products, Dr. Larry Wolf, Merrill Medical Associates, Weaver & Son’s, The Cleaners of Merrill, Phil Ziesemer Photography, Auto Stop, Daul’s 6th Ward Barber Shop, Family Medical Clinic, Stillman’s Service, Rosemurgy Used Cars, Schroeder Ford Mercury, 3’S Company, Main Street Liquor, Dr. E.T. Krembs, Hurd Millwork, River Valley State Bank and Quality Print – Foto News Publications.
12-23-97
A total of 18 local businesses participated in the annual holiday decorating sponsored by the Merrill Chamber of Commerce. Merrill Snyder Drug took first place for the interior contest, Green’s Flower Shop took first place for the exterior award, and Candlewick Inn and Johnson’s Pharmacy both received honorable mentions.
Congratulations goes out to those local youths who have obtained their Eagle Scouts. Garrett Stine, Tyler Gehrmann, Chris Grunenwald, and Brad Seubert were all presented the honor in the past weeks.