We welcome letters to the Editor, a chance for members of the community to comment on issues of concern to them. All letters must be original, not duplications of letters addressed to public officials or written by others. The views and opinions expressed are those of the letter writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of this publication, its publishers, Editor, or staff.
To the Editor:
There is a rare gem in Lincoln County. Until I attended the County Board meeting last week about the future of Pine Crest, I had no idea of its true value. Residents and staff alike spoke about the excellent care and loving family spirit in this place they warmly call home. Home for 80 residents. Good jobs for 130 employees. It may well be the best nursing home in Wisconsin–for now.
A motion to seek a broker to manage its sale passed, while one to seek further input from the voters failed. Other items approved included one million dollars of ARPA funds for upgrading campsites and advertising Lincoln County as a destination.
When our family moved to Merrill 32 years ago, it was the natural beauty, great schools, and small town community feel that attracted us. People caring for each other in times of need is what makes a place desirable. There is no better advertising.
It has been said that the moral test of government is how it treats the children, the elderly, and those who are in the shadows of life–the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.
Our elders have worked hard and paid their dues. They deserve a positive quality of life to the end. We all want that. When dedicated staff can count on job security with appreciation, fair pay, and benefits, they will stay and more will come.
We shine a light in our County by seeking the good of all.
– Irene Mehlos
Merrill, Wis.
Letters To The Editor Policy:
*Letters must be 250 words or less. (There will be no exceptions to this. Any letter longer than 250 words will not be printed.)
*The writer must include their full name, complete address, and a phone number where he/she can be easily reached for verification. Phone numbers and street addresses will not be published, but will be used for verification purposes, if necessary. Letters must be signed and the name, city, and state will be printed.
*Letters may be edited for style, grammar, and length. Form letters or those we determine to be libelous or slanderous will not be accepted. Any letter deemed derogatory, inflammatory, or involving vulgar language will not be published. We reserve all rights to reject material submitted to this publication.
*Letters will be published on a “first come, first served” basis. Any letters which we are unable to publish in the printed newspaper may be run online at www.merrillfotonews.com and/or may be printed in the paper at a later date.
*In fairness to all, and due to space constraints, there is a limit of two letters per year from an individual writer. Additional letters may be submitted to our Paid Letters to the Editor column and will require payment in full prior to publication at the same rate as Political Letters to the Editor (see policy below).
Political Letters To The Editor Policy:
All letters submitted as an endorsement for a political candidate, referendum, or political agenda will carry the same guidelines as above; however, they will be charged $40.00 per letter of up to 250 words in length. Longer political letters will be accepted but will be charged $10.00 per additional 100 words. All political letters must be prepaid prior to printing. Letters to the Editor will not be accepted from candidates running for election or representatives of an organization endorsing their own referendum, as these are clearly advertisements and not opinion letters; those submissions will be referred to our Advertising Department to be run as paid ads.