Researched by Michael J. Caylor, Jr.
4-29-71
The MAPS Board of Education has approved the hiring of nine new teachers for the 1971-1972 school year, including a new wresting coach and an assistant principal for the senior high. Frank Borg will come to this city from Richland Center where he currently serves as athletic director and assistant principal. Norris Hattlestadt will be a junior high physical education teacher, senior high head wrestling coach, and assistant football coach. Raymond Vils will come here from Grafton to fill the role as English Department Chair, Miss Mary Shafer, a June graduate of Eau Claire will serve as English teacher and debate coach. Miss Janice Loshek, a January graduate of UWM will serve as a junior high English and social studies teacher. Mary Mares will transfer from part time at Maple Grove to full time at Lincoln in kindergarten. Linda Bronsteater will be a fifth grade teacher at Pine River, Ruth Boettcher will teach fourth grade at Maple Grove, and Mrs. Margaret Bennet, who is coming here from Sussex, will be a half-time kindergarten teacher at Maple Grove. It was also announced that Alice Reardon will retire as senior high home economics teacher. Miss Reardon has taught that subject for the past 29 ½ years here. Dale Skerhutt, a vocal teacher at the high school has resigned. Gary Newel will replace Skerhutt for the next year as he completes his military obligation. All appointments were made from a pool of 435 applicants.
After months of fretting, it turned out Gleason was quiet this past weekend. Residents of the town feared another invasion by college students. An advertised second annual “Goin’ to Gleason” did not materialize, thanks mainly to an understanding between students of the college and County law enforcement officials and Town Supervisors. On Friday night, Gleason was a virtual ghost town by midnight as all the taverns had locked up and traffic slowed. Deputies did find four youths from Antigo who hitchhiked up for what they thought would be a rock festival; they were returned to their parents. Troopers from the State Patrol found a carload of juveniles from Wausau, and they were returned to that city and turned over to police there. A few young people, most from out of state, trickled in during the weekend, but quickly left after finding nothing to do; they had been told of the rock festival, as well. The cold wintery weather likely played a role in the lack of participation.
It is about one year past its scheduled completion date; however, the Merrill Area Housing Authority has officially taken possession of a seven-story elderly housing complex on Merrill’s west side. Funds for the project were obtained through a 40-year loan from the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. The project was delayed several times due to strikes, which affected workers and materials. The building has 37 efficiency apartments for individuals and 54 one-bedroom apartments for couples and 1 apartment for the maintenance man. About 140 applications were received by people looking to become residents, according to Housing Director Joe Jackelen. About 65 of those have been approved for admission, and those people will get a letter this week explaining the move-in process. One of the questions Jackelen clarified is that tenants will be allowed to own cars; about 45 spaces will be available.
4-29-81
The Lincoln County Board could be the latest in the state to declare its opposition to becoming a nuclear waste depository, but only after the Board studies the resolution some more. Supervisor Paul Garner brought the measure directly to the floor of last week’s meeting; however, because it did not go through a committee, it was referred back for further study. Lincoln County is one of 16 counties in the state being looked at for a nuclear waste dump site. Such a site would need to be 3 x 4 square miles or about 7,680 acres above ground and a mined area of about 1 x 3 miles or some 2,000 acres underground. Opponents in other counties have spoken of their concerns that a Wisconsin state dump would be a threat to the residents and the environment.
Members of the Little Florida Fire Department invite you to attend their benefit dance this Saturday at the Eagle’s Club where the band “Easy Street” will play. The 10 members of the department are in the middle of attending an 11-hour recruit level training program arranged by Ray Priebe of NCTI. The department uses a second-hand pumper truck to hold down any fires that may break out around the trailer court until the Merrill Rural Fire Department arrives, and they have been successful on several occasions.
A former businessman and a fixture of the west side has died. Alfred Fleischfresser, 94, died Sunday evening at Holy Cross Hospital. He and his brothers and sisters operated Fleischfresser’s Department Store in Merrill until they sold it in 1978. Fleischfresser was a graduate of Valparaiso University and then served in the US Army during World War I at evacuation hospitals in France and the United States. He was also pianist with several area orchestras. Funeral services were today at the Schram-Waid Funeral Home. (A long since gone gathering point on Grand Ave, many a Caylor kid smoked a cigarette there back in the day.)
5-1-91
Merrill Mayor Ken Sparr is reported to be in critical condition after receiving emergency heart surgery at a Milwaukee hospital. The Mayor was visiting his son in that city when he became ill and was rushed to the hospital. He underwent six bypasses of his heart according to City Clerk Judy Stockowitz. This is the second open heart surgery Sparr has had in recent years. Patsy Woller, 8th Ward Alderman and Council President, is acting as the Mayor in Sparr’s absence. Sparr has served as Mayor since he defeated incumbent Mayor Richard Holt in 1988. He is a retired executive of Marathon Electric.