Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Green Bay Packers Quarterback Jordan Love said he is proud of his team’s efforts this season and looks forward to seeing them recover over the next few months for a healthier 2025 season.

Packers look to recover in offseason

PHILADELPHIA, PENN. — The Green Bay Packers’ 2024 season came full circle with a 22-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles — also the team’s first loss of the season in …

The Joys and Blessings of Christmas

Dear Reader,  Christmas holds many meanings for those who celebrate this special day and the season that surrounds it. At its heart, Christmas signifies the birth of Christ, a moment of …
Levon Van Der Geest presents a donation check to the Merrill Area Concert Association..

Van Der Geest races to raise funds

At age 20, Merrill’s Levon Van Der Geest is living out his dream and setting a fast pace raising funds for local charities, as he endeavors to compete both on and off the race track as one of …

Veterans Day Free Meal for vets is Nov. 2

The Lincoln County Veterans Council will hold their annual Veterans Day Free Meal on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Northwoods Veterans Post, 601 Johnson St. in Merrill. …

Gruling Family Playground now open at Agra Pavilion

On Sept. 25, 2024, an official ceremony and ribbon cutting was held at the new Gruling Family Playground located next to the Agra Pavilion at Rotary Park near the River Bend Trail in Merrill. Members …
Sports

EMU Bluejacks win four out of last six games, including two shutout games

On Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, the EMU Bluejacks took on Wausau West in a conference game at Marathon Park and took a hard loss. Wausau West shut out the Bluejacks who remained scoreless throughout the …

Merrill Basketball Program to celebrate Hall of Fame Night

Three new members will be inducted into the Merrill Basketball Hall of Fame this Saturday evening, Jan. 18, 2025. The celebration will take place at halftime of the Merrill Girls Varsity Basketball …
Volunteers from last year's First Annual January Jamboree event gather for a photo.

January Jamboree to celebrate softball, old-fashioned winter fun

Merrill Fastpitch is holding its second annual January Jamboree on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Normal Park (by the Gazebo) in Merrill. It’s a chance to celebrate …

Merrill Varsity Girls compete at Mauston Invitational

On Friday, Jan. 3, 2025, the Merrill Girls Varsity Wrestling Team attended their second major event of the season and first of the new year, traveling to Mauston High School for the Mauston Golden …
A little cheerleader cheers for the Bluejays.

Lady Jays claim home game victory over Tomahawk

The Merrill Girls Varsity Basketball Team played Tomahawk and took the win on their home court last Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. The Lady Jays beat the Hatchets in an exciting home game. Leading scorers for …
Entertainment

Movies You Gotta See

There are few comedic actors working today who are more iconic than Will Ferrell. He’s one of the greatest Saturday Night Live cast members of all-time, and he’s starred in some of the …

Area Events & Entertainment Community Calendar

Nov. 7 - Bingo at St. Francis School Nov. 7 - Open Mic Night at Sawmill Brewing Company Nov. 8 - Free Swing Dance Basic Lessons at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church Nov. 8 - Murder at the Murder …
Obituaries
Donald "Fritz" Taylor Jr.
Donald "Fritz" Taylor Jr.
Donald “Fritz” Taylor Jr., age 62, passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2025, in Rochester, MN, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.  He was born on July 2, 1962 to Donald …
Russell J. Ryan
Russell J. Ryan, of Gleason, passed away unexpectedly on January 15, 2025, age 67, at a local hospital with family by his side. Russell was born on October 6, 1957, to Patrick J. and Helen M. …
Elaine Marie Marnholtz
Elaine Marie Marnholtz (73) passed away with family by her side on January 15th, 2025 after a short battle with cancer. Born July 31st, 1951, Elaine grew up in Wonewoc, WI. She graduated from Wonewoc …
Garilyn R. ‘Gari’ Eder,
Garilyn R. ‘Gari’ Eder, 68, of Merrill, passed away Friday January 17, 2025, at Marshfield Medical Center – Marshfield. Gari was born August 28, 1956, in Houston, TX, daughter …
Helen M Hanns
Helen M Hanns, of Merrill, WI, passed away peacefully under hospice care at Pine Crest Nursing home in Merrill on Friday, January 10, 2025. Helen was born on February 15, 1948, in Phillips, WI, the …
Business
The new A&W Restaurant in Merrill will be ready to open for business on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.

New A&W Restaurant set to open in Merrill on Monday

The building on the corner of E. Third St. and N. Center Ave. in Merrill that was formerly a Hardee’s Restaurant has been refurbished into a new A&W Restaurant. Deanne “Dee” and …

Wisconsin Safety Council Now Accepting Nominations for Workplace Safety Awards

  MADISON - Wisconsin Safety Council launched nominations for its 31st annual awards program, now named the …

Merry Merrill Market offers late night downtown shopping

The first annual Merry Merrill Market will be held this Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, from 5-10 p.m. in downtown Merrill. It’s Merrill’s first annual late night shopping experience to provide …

MMC announces Holiday Break for printed editions

MMC will not publish a printed edition of this paper between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1. This will allow our employees to enjoy quality time with their families during the holiday season. This publication …
Schools
Students experience what education was like in a one-room schoolhouse.

Trinity shows students what it was like to learn in a one-room school

It’s one thing to teach children about things through reading about it, talking about it, looking at drawings or even photographs, or even watching a movie, and it’s another thing …

Office of School Safety releases annual Speak Up, Speak Out report

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of School Safety (OSS) last week released the 2023-2024 annual report for Speak Up, Speak Out (SUSO), a free statewide threat reporting tipline …

MAPS accepts recent donations

The following donations were approved and/or accepted at the Aug. 21, 2024, Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS) Board of Education meeting: State Farm Matching Program (matching Bob and Janet …

Op-ed Lincoln County Retired Teachers Association observes National Education Week

Since 1921, National Education Week, observed this year from Monday, Nov. 18 through Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, has become a celebration during which we recognize the important roles public schools and …
Health

Sanford Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System complete merger

On Jan. 2, 2025, a press release announced that Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the U.S., headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Marshfield Clinic Health System, had …

Keep blastomycosis on your radar

Lincoln County Health Department would like to remind community members of the risk of blastomycosis (or “blasto”). Although the risk of getting this fungal infection is low, every year …

Aspirus provides info on seasonal affective disorder

“Do you notice that your mood changes with the seasons, becoming gloomier as the days get shorter?” Aspirus Health asked in a recent press release. “If so, you might be experiencing …

Trick-or-treaters visit Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill

Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill was busy on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, as trick-or-treaters collected candy from residents for Halloween. Diana Zimmerman’s father, John Sladek, is a resident …
Special Sections
Rose Wendorf and her therapy dog, dressed as a triceratops.
Rose Wendorf and her therapy dog, dressed as a triceratops.
Rose Wendorf and her therapy dog, dressed as a triceratops.
Rose Wendorf and her therapy dog, dressed as a triceratops.
GREEN BAY – From the time he joined the Packers in 2000 through the end of the 2004 season, no one in the NFL gained more yards from scrimmage or rushed for more yards than Green Bay’s …
GREEN BAY – Plans are starting to emanate from local organizations preparing for the NFL Draft to be held in Green Bay in April. On Broadway, Inc., Downtown Green Bay, Inc. and the City of …
GREEN BAY -- Green Bay Packers Former Director of Public Relations Chuck Lane died Jan. 19 at 82. Lane worked under Packers Former Head Coach Vince Lombardi. “Lane also was heavily …
Courts
On Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Lincoln County Circtui Court, 23-three-year-old Vincent Galella of Merrill was sentenced, after reaching a plea agreement with the State of Wisconsin, in separate charges …
In Lincoln County Court on Nov. 11, 2024, 30-year-old Tanner Graap of Merrill was sentenced to 15 years in state prison, to run consecutive with any other sentence, followed by 10 years of extended …
On Oct. 1, 2024, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced a settlement has been reached with the previous owners/operators of Morning View Dairy - Morning View Dairy, LLC, Erich W. Roth, the …
Opinion and Editorial
Dear reader,  I am not just one; I am a unit of many — my ancestors who paved the way, the stages of my life shaped by community and friends, and the family of God's creation to which …
The 1998 drama "Rounders," directed by John Dahl, gives us a glimpse into another fascinating underworld: one that revolves around high-stakes poker.
Dear Reader,  Life's treasures aren't measured in material possessions like a sleek car or a spacious mansion. You could have all of these things, but without someone to share them with, …
Community & Human Interest
DECEMBER 10, 2024 Girl, Elektra Blank, was born to Elizabeth Blank and Jakob Blank of Merrill. DECEMBER 12, 2024 Girl, Charlotte Ann, born to Autumn Tatman and Brandon Lieder of Merrill. …
The Friends of Council Grounds State Park recently made a donation to the Merrill Community Food Pantry, demonstrating their commitment to improving and maintaining the local Council Grounds State …
DECEMBER 23, 2024 Boy, Archer Allen, born to Ashley Dunlop and Neil Nehrbass of Merrill. DECEMBER 27, 2024 Girl, Nikayla Mae, born to Tara Grundman and Andrew Grundman of Kronenwetter.