Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr
9-26-79
Residents in Gleason are at least temporarily without a grocery store this morning after a fire broke out Sunday afternoon at the Gleason Shopping Center. Owner Gerald Goniwicha reported to Gleason Fire Chief Fred Friedl that the store was closed for the day at 2:00 PM on Sunday. At 6:25 PM patrons of the nearby Gleason Bowling Alley sounded the alarm after they saw smoke coming from the back of the building. Gleason firefighters were hampered by metal doors which had to be pried open in order to reach the fire. Chief Friedl was joined at the scene by Merrill Fire Chief Ray Priebe, and the pair concluded the fire likely began in the wiring of an ice machine at the rear of the building.
Three young ladies are vying for the crown of 1979 Homecoming Queen. This Friday the winner of the contest will be announced at the all school assembly. Seniors Patty Lindquist, Beth Hielke, and Missy Chartier are competing for the crown while sophomore Robin Woller and junior Joanna Sazama make up the rest of the homecoming court.
It is another event from the Chamber this weekend as the Harvest Moon Fest starts next week. A parade, multiple sales, and demonstrations at businesses along with street displays of harvesting equipment from the past and present. All stores will be open until 10:00 PM in order to serve the expected crowds of shoppers in the east and west shopping districts.
The Merrill Blue Jay football team sent the homecoming crowd at Stevens Point home in astonishment last Friday after their come from behind victory at Point making them the first place team in the Valley at 4-0. Stevens Point looked like they were well on their way to a victory in front of their home crowd, holding a 20-7 edge going into the second half before the Jays started rallying and came back to claim victory over the Stevens Point Panthers, 23-20. With two minutes left in the contest a 27 yard field goal by junior Marshall Wolowicz was the difference in the game. Three mainstays of the Blue Jay offensive did not disappoint as tailback Dave Grisa held a key role, scoring the three Blue Jay touchdowns. Quarterback Rick Bonnell completed nine out of 14 passes, and Pete Weber caught five tosses for 109 yards. The final comeback was sparked by a 43 yard punt return by sophomore Tony Hartwig which resulted in a Blue Jay touchdown four plays later. The Panthers are now likely out of playoff contention as they fall 2-2 while the Jays are now preparing for their own homecoming where they will host the Wisconsin Rapids Red Raiders, a team that just knocked off Antigo in an upset last week.
9-27-89
The Merrill Development Corporation is touting the assistance they are getting directly from the State of Wisconsin in the way of an economic development loan to assist local company C&H Packaging Corp of Merrill. The loan will allow them to purchase a second printing press, enabling the company to substantially expand production says Governor Tommy Thompson. John Clark, president of the company, expects once the second machine is in production the company will see sales potentially move up to $17 million dollars per year. The partners in the project believe 25 jobs will be created based on the expansion.
The Merrill Blue Jay football team grabbed the tiger by the tail and brought a homecoming win to an overflow crowd at Jay Stadium this past Saturday. The game with the Marshfield Tigers got off to a quiet start until Jeff Bonnell burst through a crowded house to streak 51 yards for a touchdown with just 11:38 remaining in the first half. Coach Greg Schofield praised the play of Bonnell, along with Robin Klade, Chad Meyer and Dave Malluege. The 3-1 Jays head to D.C. Everest this Friday to take on the 4-1 Evergreens.
The Silver M Club honored new Diamond M member Otto Bacher at the game on Saturday. He was also honored at the traditional banquet where MHS Principal Lanny Tibaldo presented him with a plaque from the student council. Bacher joins a rare group of former MHS football players who celebrated their 75th anniversary of lettering in the sport. On Friday, Tasha Peck was named homecoming queen at the all school assembly.
9-29-99
As the project manager for the proposed jail expansion project laid out plans and deadlines the members of the building committee spoke of location, expandability, and costs before eventually reaching no consensus and leading the manager to declare the entire project dead in the water. The contractor noted that even if the board did reach an agreement in the next few months the soonest construction could start would be next June.