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Kozy Corner Kitchen has long been a favorite place to get a good breakfast and a hot cup of coffee, and now it is again.

Lass and Kozy Corner Kitchen bring new life to historic Merrill building

Merrill native Robert “Bob” Lass has made it his mission to restore a local landmark, bringing back a community gathering spot while preserving a hidden architectural feature. Lass, a …
Andy working on a customer's Firebird in the shop.

Andy’s Autocare LLC opens in Merrill

After years of dreaming about owning his own auto repair shop, Andy Vollert opened Andy’s Autocare LLC at 424 E. First St. in Merrill on Jan. 1, 2025. The Stevens Point resident makes the daily …

Lincoln County to sue Dunphy for interfering in Pine Crest sale

On Monday, Mar. 10, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. in a special meeting of the Lincoln County Administrative & Legislative (A&L) Committee that lasted approximately two hours, most of which was held in …
The Wisconsin National Veterans Cemetery in Harshaw, after all the wreaths have been placed. A tribute to the lives of those who lay in rest.

Merrill residents honored veterans on National Wreaths Across America Day

Local residents took part in National Wreaths Across America (WAA) Day on Dec. 14, 2024, in a heartfelt tribute to fallen veterans. The northern Wisconsin National Veterans Cemetery in Harshaw was …

Preliminary hearing set for Tomahawk woman charged with husband’s homicide

A court appearance has been scheduled for a Tomahawk woman charged with stabbing and killing her husband earlier this year. Court records show that Michelle Marie Sanderson, 43, is set to appear in …
Sports
Merrill's Remington Skic took second place in his weight class.

Merrill wrestlers shine at Dominate the Dells Tournament

The Merrill Wrestling team delivered a strong performance at the Dominate the Dells Tournament in Wisconsin Dells on March 8-9, 2025, with multiple wrestlers securing top finishes in their respective …
Award winners L to R: Dusty Schmirler (Most Team Points), Remington Skic (Charles Gustin Outstanding Wrestler Award, Rod Genrich Memorial Most Takedowns Award, and Most Dedicated), Broc Suchocki (Most Improved Underclassman), Austin Depies (Legion Award and Most Pins), Callum Wheeler (Ogre Award— given to the Senior who gets the most out of their ability, gives 100%, and leads by example), Carson Brooks (The Jered Severt Coaches Award— given to an upperclassmen who displays best what it means to be a Merrill wrestler), and Brett Suchocki (Most Improved Upperclassman).

Varsity wrestlers rack up awards at 65th annual Legion Awards Banquet

On Tuesday, March 11, 2025 the Merrill High School Wrestling Team held their 65th annual Legion Awards Banquet, recapping a great season. “It’s a good time to celebrate accomplishments, …
Merrill playing Wausau East in the second playoff game.

Multi Media Channels editor writes Curly Lambeau book

Multi Media Channels (MMC) Senior Editor Kris Leonhardt has authored a book on Green Bay Packers first head coach and general manager, Curly Lambeau. Lambeau—The Boy Behind Green Bay Football …
2024-25 Merrill Girls Varsity Wrestling Team with grade. Front row L to R: Bryanna Doerr (9), Lauren Hoffman (9), Katelyn Grawien (9), Caroline Durbin (11), Madlyn Hunter (9), Natalia Woller (9), and Gracie Vanvuren (11). Back row L to R: Cadence Seliger (Manager - 9), Kendell Klug (9), Marissa Miles (10), Liberty Yates (11), Adison Clark (11), Kaylynn Allen (11), Shelby Yates (9), and Merin Yates (12).

Merrill Girls Varsity Wrestling Team celebrates sweet ending to their season

The Merrill Girls Varsity Wrestling Team wrapped up their 2024-25 season with a unique twist on the traditional end-of-year banquet. Instead of a dinner, the team chose to celebrate their …
Remington Skic, while having a leg-up, doesn't appear to have the advantage in his first match against Devon Lietzau from Sparta, but he's battling hard.

Skic represents Bluejays with strong showing at WIAA State Wrestling Tournament

Merrill’s Remington Skic represented the Bluejays with determination at the WIAA Individual State Wrestling Tournament, competing in the 132-pound Division 1 bracket. The Sophomore wrestler …

Downtown to Titletown

As the City of Green Bay prepares to host the NFL Draft on April 24-26, Green Bay Metro Transit has announced special Draft days scheduling.

GREEN BAY – As the City of Green Bay prepares to host the NFL Draft on April 24-26, Green Bay Metro Transit has announced special Draft days scheduling. Downtown to Titletown Route To …

Lumberjack Band: The majorettes

The Packers Tobin Rote “passes” Lumberjack Band Head Majorette Mary Jane Van Duyse to Bill Howton at Stevens Point training camp in 1955.

Continued from last week Carol Jean Collard wasn’t quite three when she started with the Lumberjack Band and is noted as the band’s first majorette. “Within the next …

Lumberjack Band: The makeup of a band

Carol Collard, second from left, is pictured with fellow Lumberjack Band majorettes, Germaine Pirlot, left, and Gloria Birmingham, right,  in 1944.

Continued from last week “Those intimately concerned with the destinies of the Green Bay Packers have seen for some time that a football game, even a bang-up battle, is not quite enough …

Obituaries
Kenneth ‘Ken’ C. Tupa Sr.
Kenneth ‘Ken’ C. Tupa Sr., age 84, of Merrill, passed away on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill, while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice …
Guy Pawlicki
Guy Pawlicki, age 56, of Merrill, passed away on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, after a short illness.  He was born on September 18, 1968 to the late Neil and Diana …
Vera Ann Leitzke
Vera Ann Leitzke, 101, was born to eternal life on Thursday, March 20, 2025.  She was born in Wausau on March 7, 1924 to Max and Emily (Fraedrich) Pagel.  Vera attended Trinity Lutheran …
Anna Emma Krueger
Anna Emma Krueger left peacefully on the first day of spring, March 20, 2025, at Bell Tower Residence in Merrill, under the care of Interim Healthcare & Hospice.  She was born in Merrill, …
Gerald Willis Kriehn
Gerald Willis Kriehn, age 89, of Merrill, passed away on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, while at The Bay at Eastview Health and Rehabilitation in Antigo, and while under the care of Compassus …
Business

News Shorts

Park City Credit Union receives Best New Account Experience Award Park City Credit Union (PCCU) recently recived a 2025 Best of the Best New Account Experience Award, presented by MemberXP, a …

Merrill Area United Way names Deborah Moellendorf as new Executive Director

The Merrill Area United Way Board of Directors announced the hiring of Deborah Moellendorf as the new Executive Director. Moellendorf, who brings 35 years of experience with the University of …

United Way of Wisconsin launches CommunityUpskill.org

On Feb. 18, 2025, United Way of Wisconsin, in collaboration with United Way Fox Cities, announced the launch of CommunityUpskill.org. This online platform provides in-demand skills and career …

Weinbrenner wins Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year

Weinbrenner Shoe Company was named one of Wisconsin’s top manufacturers, earning the Manufacturer of the Year Grand Award in the Large Business Category at the 36th Annual Wisconsin …
Schools
Fourth grade puzzle fun.

St. John Lutheran School celebrates National Lutheran Schools Week

National Lutheran Schools Week is a very important time! Started by the Missouri Synod and celebrated by schools across the nation, this week gives students the opportunity to proclaim God’s …

Celebrating Lutheran Schools Week 2025 at Trinity

Lutheran Schools Week at Trinity Merrill Lutheran School is set for Mar. 3-7, 2025, featuring an array of engaging dress-up days and two special events. On Monday, Mar. 3, students will participate …

MAPS accepts December and January donations

The following donations were approved and/or accepted at the Dec. 18, 2024, Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS) Board of Education meeting: Donation of funds from Merrill Lions Club valued at $4,000 …

Merrill High School second quarter Honor Roll 2024-2025

(NOTE:  This was inadvertently published in our print edition as the first quarter Honor Roll.) GRADE 9 HIGHEST HONORS (4.0): Azalea Blake, Brooklyn Clabots, Austin Doering, Shane …
Health

People for Pine Crest to hold open meeting in Tomahawk

People for Pine Crest will hold an open meeting in Tomahawk on March 8, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Tomahawk Public Library, 300 W. Lincoln Ave. in Tomahawk. The meeting is open to the public and all …

County corrects Pine Crest Nursing Home financial data

Lincoln County Administrative Coordinator Renee Krueger has issued a correction to financial information about Pine Crest Nursing Home that was published in last week’s edition. The …

Preventing slip-and-fall injuries in the winter

Snow and ice can turn sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots into hazardous zones. Slip-and-fall injuries are among the most common winter-related accidents, often leading to serious consequences …

Pine Crest Nursing Home: Looking back at 11 years of financials

In response to a request for additional financial information from Lincoln County, Lincoln County Administrative Coordinator Renee Krueger—at the direction of Lincoln County Board Chair Jesse …
Special Sections
Courts
Jason H. Meister, age 44, of Pearson [Langlade County], Wis., made an initial appearance in Lincoln County Court on Monday, Mar. 10, 2025, via video conference from the Oneida County Jail where he …
Richard “Ricky” Sanderson, a 50-year-old Tomahawk man, died on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, at Aspirus Tomahawk Hospital from an apparent stab wound to the upper center of his chest/lower …
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 …
Opinion and Editorial
We’ve gotten a few landmark sports films over the last 50 or so years. Each decade has had at least one top-tier sports film, but usually more. The 2011 biographical sports drama "Moneyball" might be the genre’s peak in the 2010s.
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 …
To our valued readers, We want to take a moment to explain an important update to our editorial policy regarding political letters and opinion pieces. While many media companies are eliminating …
Community & Human Interest
For the month of March only, the T. B. Scott Free Library in Merrill will showcase a portion of the Precious Moments collection amassed by Library Director Laurie Ollhoff, as a part of the Beyond …
Rural homelessness and the fight to do “more with less” BY HALLIE CLAFLIN Wisconsin Watch NORTHERN WISCONSIN – Last winter, Eric Zieroth learned that multiple layers and a down …
FEBRUARY 5, 2025 Boy, Maxwell Jonathan, born to Alexis Heckendorf and Dakota Heckendorf of Marathon. FEBRUARY 7, 2025 Boy, Nolan Alexander, born to Cassandra Wendt and Dale Wendt of Schofield. …