Researched by Michael J. Caylor, Jr.
10-13-71
A large amount of the drug marijuana is missing, and the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Committee wants to know where it is and why the potential owner is not in custody. Deputy Ted Cortazzo told the committee he had been told of a large amount of the drug that was found at the end of a roadway this past Saturday in the Town of Bradley. Cortazzo said a test showed it was “manicured” marijuana or of high quality and presumably worth a large amount of money. Cortazzo made contact with Chief Deputy Harvey Woodward and asked for a stakeout to see if someone would come along to collect the marijuana; however, before the operation could be formed, Sheriff Al Giese overruled the decision and ordered the drug brought back to the Sheriff’s Office in Merrill. Cortazzo did as he was instructed, but when Cortazzo went to secure the drug the next week, it was missing, and no one knows where it went. When questioned, Woodward explained he was never involved in the case and has no knowledge; committee member M.L. (Bud) Nelson called the actions inexcusable. Giese later told the Committee this would not be the last marijuana that is found in the County and hinted much of it is thrown away.
After searchers from the Civil Air Patrol and Coast Guard and numerous volunteers spent better than a week looking for a lost plane, loggers in the Spirit Falls area found the wreckage and the two victims Monday, 10 days after the plane went missing. Frank Majersky, 33, of Milwaukee and his wife Doris, 30, left Milwaukee’s Timmerman Field on Friday heading to Phillips, but were never heard from again. A crew from Owens-Illinois found the wreckage in a wooded area 8.5 miles south of Spirit Falls in the Town of Corning. The Cessna plane apparently crashed straight down, leaving little for search planes to see from above. The FAA is coming from Milwaukee to continue the investigation.
Mrs. Willis (Mary) Bogenhangen, supervisor of the Merrill Area Public Schools meals program, is encouraging students to eat healthier, as MAPS participates in the national school lunch program whose theme this year is “Beautify America – Feed the Children.” Mrs. Bogenhagen, who is president elect of the Wisconsin School Food Service Association, tells the paper that MAPS served 320,000 lunches last year and is currently serving 1,980 students a day, or about 53% of the students attending MAPS schools. Nine cooks prepare, and nine servers serve, the meals each day.
10-14-81
The Lincoln County Finance Committee has made some major cuts to the 1982 budget in order to adjust to major cuts from the state in shared revenue. Jean Rogers, first district representative to the board, led the charge to trim the budget, which was $166,000 less after her committee met last week. The biggest cuts were made from the highway budget, but committee members pointed out they did not feel sympathy for a department whose non-lapsing accounts have only grown in the past year. The current proposed tax levy for 1982 is $3,165,866 – an increase of $366,567 over last year.
The savings for operating an LP fueled squad car during the month of August saved County taxpayers $307 ($884 today) according to Chief Deputy Harvey Woodward. Those numbers were based upon the price of gasoline versus LP. The County had to abandon plans to fuel the car at the Tomahawk highway shop this month, as it seems a raccoon chewed through the supply line.
The City of Merrill Common Council met last evening and approved several resolutions. Most likely the most controversial of the measures was to require any property owner in the city installing a wood burning stove to seek a permit and undergo an inspection by a City fireman or the Building Inspector. Another measure passed by the County reduced the number of aldermanic districts from nine to eight, with the provision that the new districts all have an election this spring to determine their representative. The change was in line with new mapping after the 1980 census.
MAPS is celebrating four teachers being named educators of the year. They include Ruth Dietrich of Jefferson School, Kaye Mathwich of the Life Tasks Center, Jim Richardson of the High School, and Mike Hacker of the Junior High.
10-16-91
The Merrill Chamber went all out this weekend with yet another reason to celebrate the city. Oktoberfest began on Saturday and included pig roasts, pumpkin carvings, music, games, and most important to merchants, sidewalk sales. Even a bingo tent and classic car show took place at the Merrill Ridge Mall.
Former Merrill Mayor Ralph “Fata” Voigt has died at the age of 74. Voigt was first elected Mayor in 1960 and served until 1978 when he was defeated by Patrick Nugent. Health concerns forced Nugent from office and Voigt once again took over the City by vote of the Council in 1979, serving until 1980. During his tenure in Merrill, Voigt served on several state committees related to the League of Municipalities, including president of that group from 1967-1968. He was also regional chairman of the Governor’s Mission ’70 Committee. Voigt established Fata Voigt Insurance in 1946 following his service to our country in World War II. Funeral services were held today and burial was in Merrill Memorial Park.