Researched by Michael J. Caylor Jr
12-26-79
As the year comes to an end residents are still declaring their candidacy for the spring election. Phil Erickson, 55 of W 3rd St, is seeking another term as the city’s Street Commissioner. A veteran of WWII, Erickson served in Europe. Gilbert Sabatke has announced his desire to retain his sixth ward aldermanic post, which he has held since 1972. In the fifth district David Mootz will vie for the seat held by Roger English; Mootz is an accountant at Semling-Menke and has an accounting degree from NTCI. Jean Rogers announced this week her committee for her mayoral campaign; Mrs. Paul (Judy) Weaver and Rev. Dale G. Kuck will head that drive.
The Merrill Rotary Club will host Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice William G. Callow next month. Callow will speak at a special program in tribute to Lincoln County Judge Donald Schnabel who is retiring next month. Callow was first elected to the court in 1977 (and served until retirement in 1992) and is known as a more moderate or conservative member of the court. Judge Schnabel was appointed judge here in 1955 by Governor Kohler following the resignation of Judge Max Van Hecke; prior to taking the seat as judge, Schnabel served in the United States Navy during WWII. He was a graduate of Notre Dame and the UW Madison Law School. He and his wife Mabel reside in Merrill. The event is at Club Modern.
We had mentioned earlier this month that local members of the community are serving on the committee to elect George (H.W.) Bush President of the United States. In a full-page feature story, Sharon Thatcher follows the former head of the CIA as he greets voters in the Wausau area. According to the story Bush marveled at the site of Rib Mountain and was amused looking at fishermen out on the ice of the Wisconsin River. Besides greeting voters, Bush worked with his national campaign team headquartered both in Virginia and Texas. According to the story the only time Bush was truly alone was when he did a three mile jog around the streets of Wausau away from staff and reporters. (Never knew our 41st President jogged around Wausau)
12-27-84
A tragic accident has left two children dead and two more fighting for their lives. According to Sgt. Robert Hartkopf of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office a vehicle being driven south on slippery snow covered roads lost control and crashed into a northbound vehicle just after 8:00 AM this morning. Emergency staff at Good Samaritan Health Center assembled a team of over 30 health professionals to receive the injured who started arriving by fire department ambulance shortly after the crash was reported. Coroner Dave Haskins pronounced 11 year old Mandy Brown dead at the scene, her sister Heidi, 7, died later at UW Hospital in Madison, their sister Teresa, 9, is in critical condition at UW Madison, while their brother Mark, age 4, is at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield. The operator of the vehicle and mother of the children, Cheryl Brown is being treated at Good Samaritan. According to Good Samaritan Hospital, ambulances from both Merrill and Wausau ferried the injured children to Wausau where a helicopter met them and took the most injured to Madison.
A former Merrill businessman has passed away. Carl Jankowsky owned and operated a grocery store in Merrill’s Sixth Ward for many years, later known as People’s IGA. The store was first opened in 1935 and became a second vocation for the former barber when Jankowsky started working on the west side in the Sixth Ward. He retired in 1959. Carl is survived by his wife Grace and his step-daughter Betty Fitts.
The last baby contest is on and sponsors this year are: Park City Credit Union, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Kathy and Cal’s Club 64, Maty Hair Club, Drews Piggly Wiggly, Merrill Glass and Paint, John’s United Foods, Be Some Body, Kozy Korner, Spurgeon’s, Seeger’s Dairy, Hair for All, Club Modern, Carl’s Foodlane, Helmstadter Jewelry, and Eastside Floral.
12-29-19
The deadline for next week’s paper has been extended to noon on Friday due to the New Year’s holiday. If the world implodes as some expect when the clocks strike midnight Friday night and the calendar switches to 2000, your paper carrier may be slightly delayed next week.
Looking for something to do this New Year’s Eve? (If the earth doesn’t implode) Gail’s Place has prime rib for $11.95 and the music of Finn Power, Buffalo Spirit Restaurant is featuring buffalo steak and shrimp, Diamond Dave’s has tenderloin and shrimp for $15.45, Chatter Box 2 will have a DJ and free champagne, Club Modern will have prime rib for just $12.00, and Jeff’s Bar in Gleason has a buffet for just $8.95. Staying home? Busch Light is $10 a case at Carl’s Liquor.