1-10-73
Major donations continue to come into Holy Cross Hospital to aid the major construction and remodeling project. Pictured on page one Mr. and Mrs. Carl Bierman of Lincoln Wood Products Merrill are presenting a check for $1,325 to R. W. Koepke, the hospital administrator. The funds were presented on behalf of their employees who raised the cash; $1,325 is the amount needed to fully equip one room in the new wing. The project is expected to be completed in late summer of 1973 and will be part of a better hospital which will serve Merrill for years to come.
In business news, Lincoln Realty has a half page ad noting their significant recent sales. In one day alone last week they sold over $40,000 in Merrill area real estate. The Merrill Chamber is busy as they have organized a “bypass task force” to help Merrill area businesses deal with the proposed highway which will take Hwy 51 out of Merrill. Dewey Pfister and Ron Henrichs will study the effects this may have on business and industry. James T. Rogers has announced he is opening a law office at 120 S. Mill Street, and an ad from Merrill Area Barbers announces a price increase of .25 as of Jan. 15.
Merrill basketball coach Don Kerr is considering some lineup changes after Shawano defeated the Jays 63-56 on Friday. The Jays host the Stevens Point Panthers Friday night, and Kerr is considering moving the team’s scoring leader Rick Semling to the forward position and bringing in either Keith Zuelsdorf, Todd King, or Steve Dahm to take his place. Semling is averaging 17 points per conference game this season. Shawano was the first team to go over 60 points against Merrill this season and sports writer Rob Orcutt notes the Jays need to put a quick stop to the Panthers or it may happen again Friday.
1-12-83
Sheridan Schwark has taken over the leadership of Merrill Memorial Park. Schwark was hired to take over the 45 acre cemetery starting in May but has assumed the role early after the illness and death of caretaker Woodrow Van Slate. Schwark previously worked with Alan Drum and Associates as a surveyor.
State Representative Sheehan Donoghue has formally announced her bid for the 12th Senate seat being vacated by Clifford W. “Tiny” Krueger. Donoghue was elected to the assembly in 1972 and has made it her campaign pledge to turn the attention of Madison and Governor Tony Earl beyond Madison and Milwaukee. In the past she has worked to promote tourism and rewrite the state’s mining tax laws to help provide for economic expansion north.
Ellsworth “Buckets” Jaeger age 59 of Merrill died last week at UW Madison Hospitals. Jaeger was one of four men severely injured after a storage tank containing sodium chlorate collapsed on them while they were working at Nekoosa Paper Mill. The four men were all employees of Taylor Insulation of Merrill. Of the others injured in the incident Mark Maluegge is in serious but stable condition and Jerald Laak is in satisfactory condition; both at UW Madison. Reuben Malluegge was discharged from Holy Cross Hospital last week. The incident happened Dec. 14.
The Merrill Girls basketball team continues their winning ways knocking off Appleton East and Tomahawk last week to push the girls’ undefeated streak to ten games this season. Coach Bob Yuska complained his starters are spending more time on the bench then playing due to the lack of competition in recent games. In the Tomahawk contest the team tied a world record for the fewest points allowed in a quarter – zero.
1-6-93
In local health news: New officers have been installed for the Good Samaritan Health Center Foundation Board. Serving from 1992-1995 will be Chris Malm, Bob Akey, Sr. Mary Thomas Reichl, and Ruth Mitchell. Two cardiac chairs, a medication pump and six wall-mounted blood pressure cuffs were all purchased after a recent donation of $4,500 by Merrill Manufacturing Corporation. Dick and Don Taylor are pictured with Kathy Klippel, nurse manager at Good Samaritan.
Columnist Norm Heideman is reminiscing about bus travel in the city noting when he was a child more people rode the bus then ever owned cars. Not only would the bus drivers guide the children on their way to school they would often become almost like members of the family. Some of the bus drivers remembered were Harry Nelson, Louie Lohff, Motorman Schulz, August Braun, and a man named Oldenburg who was known as the “Bandy Rooster” by older passengers.