Researched by Michael J. Caylor, Jr.
5-12-71
He was fired, he was still paid, and now he is back on the job. That is the story of the last week of Chief Deputy Sheriff Harvey Woodward. Late last week Sheriff Alfred Giese fired Woodward and told him to turn in his badge, gun, and car keys. Woodward, based on advice from his attorney, District Attorney James T. Rogers, and Law Enforcement Committee Chair Clarence Krueger, instead stayed on the job. As the week and weekend went on, Giese said he would refuse to pay Woodward out of his budget, but County Clerk Ken Oldenburg said that would be impossible and promised Woodward, who is 42 and has five boys at home, that he will still be paid. On Saturday, Giese filed court action against Woodward seeking his removal, based on his claims that the County’s Civil Service Commission is invalid, therefore making Woodward and every deputy on the department at-will employees, his will. However, when a special hearing was called into session on Monday in Marathon County Court, Giese asked to dismiss the case. That request came after Giese, Woodward, their attorneys, and DA Rogers all met behind closed doors. Giese claims when the office of Sheriff was merged with the former Traffic Patrol Division, the process was invalid, as was the appointment of Woodward, who had previously served as supervisor with the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office. Insides sources reported this past week that Giese refused to deputize Woodward for 1971 and at first refused to issue him an identification card. Local fire apparatus salesman Otis Radke confirmed Sheriff Giese did issue him an identification card as Chief Deputy in 1971, but it was done as a joke, and he instead now holds a Deputy Sheriff card in its place.
Chief of Police Gerald Plautz is reminding motorists that the weekend traffic crunch has hit Merrill. This past Friday was the start of the traffic rush as vacationers follow Hwy. 51 north through the city. Plautz has an officer stationed at the signal lights for about five hours on Friday nights in order to control the flow of traffic. Signs are now installed by the hospital reminding motorists to yield to ambulances trying to turn into the facility. Last Friday the back up at Merrill stretched for over a mile south of the city, thanks to all the fishermen heading north for the opener. (My dad always said it was the easiest job sitting in the Cushman with his cigar and can of Pepsi.)
The chances of you surviving an emergency with your heart has now improved at Holy Cross Hospital, thanks to two new crash carts that were donated by local funds. Donald Taylor of Merrill Manufacturing and Taylor Insulation, along with money from the Holy Cross Auxiliary, helped pay for the carts. The rental of TV sets by patients at the hospital provided $2,000 of the needed $6,000 funds. The first of their kind carts are equipped with an oscilloscope which shows your heart rhythm and two paddles which can be used by a doctor to shock a patient back to a normal heart beat. The machines also allow a continuous monitor on a patient which sounds an alarm if an irregular heart beat is detected. That alarm sets off a team of a doctor, nurse, anesthesiologist, floor supervisor, and a clergyman to a patient’s room (not sure the clergyman part is reassuring for survival) where they will work to restore the heartbeat with the defibrillator on the cart.
5-13-81
Frank Bolea has announced his car dealership is going out of business. Bolea blamed the sagging economy for the closure, noting he wants to close now before he has to declare bankruptcy. Bolea explained he finances his inventory through funds borrowed at an interest rate somewhat above the prime rate. When the prime rate hit 21%, the rate Bolea paid was 22 ¾ %, currently costing him around $9,000 a month just to keep vehicles in stock. Bolea said he will sell his remaining inventory this week at wholesale prices; his 33 employees have all mostly found work, most in Wausau.
Merrill Mayor Richard Holt will get to roll out the red carpet next month, as Merrill has been selected to host the quarterly meeting of the Wisconsin Valley Mayors, Village Presidents, and Chamber Executive Association. A lunch will be held at Stueber’s Country Way, where Donald Woodruff, Director of Tourism for the state, will speak. A morning presentation will focus on direct sellers and transient merchant licenses, along with special assessment powers. An election will be held for the officers of the group; Marshfield Mayor Marilyn Hardacare is currently the President. After lunch, the group will ride on the new Merrill Go Rounds to tour the city, with a stop at the high school to view the new expansion.
The trial in federal court in Madison is underway for three men who stand accused of trying to set fire to the Anson Gilkey Factory in Merrill. In opening remarks, federal prosecutors noted the crew made three attempts to burn down the factory before their arrest last summer by Merrill Police. (Loopy scared them off one of the times.) Charles Conant, former owner of the factory, along with Frank Briggs and Daniel Schlacks, both of Illinois, are charged with conspiracy to commit arson. Roderick MacKenzie and Phillip Eberhardt were arrested by Merrill Police Officers Rick Hermsen and Lt. Dennis Hintze. Those two, along with Fred Welchman of Los Angeles, have all accepted plea deals in the case, and Welchman and MacKenzie are expected to testify for the prosecution. Local witnesses include Det. Lt. Thomas Schotz, Hintze, and Officer Bruce N. Hass. (I noted one of the defense attorneys is Gerald Boyle)
5-15-91
Merrill Mayor Ken Sparr is home. Sparr returned from Milwaukee late last week where he has been hospitalized since April 23, when he had emergency heart surgery. City Clerk Judy Stockowitz said Sparr stopped in at City Hall for a quick hello before returning home to rest.