Thursday, May 22, 2025
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Campus News

Merrill students named to NTC Fall 2024 President’s List Northcentral Technical College (NTC) announced their President’s List for outstanding academic achievement for the fall 2024 …

Area Events & Entertainment Community Calendar

May 22 - Veterans Coffee & Conversation at Pine Ridge Restaurant May 23 - Merrill High School Graduation May 24 - A Taste of Jamaica Food Truck at The Creative Spirit May 26 - Memorial Day …

Memorial Day: Honoring the Ultimate Sacrifice

Dear Reader,  As Memorial Day approaches, we pause to remember and honor those who gave everything for our nation. Each Memorial Day, we stand in solemn gratitude for thos who never …
Fiction and non-fiction, sci-fi, and bookmarks all displayed for easy browsing.

Dream of owning a bookstore takes to the road

Jessica Golisch always dreamed of owning a bookstore. “It’s kind of been my dream forever to have a bookstore,” Jessica said, explaining how she and her husband Luke turned that …
Sourdough rhubarb scones are perfect to enjoy with a hot cup of coffee.

Sczygelski Farm Products: Farm fresh eggs and home-baked goods

Just southwest of Merrill at N995 Fairview Rd., Katie Sczygelski operates a small market stand on their farm, offering home-baked goods, farm fresh eggs, maple syrup, tallow cream, and wax melts for …
Sports

Merrill Track and Field athletes soar at Otto Bacher meet

On Friday, May 9, 2025, the Merrill High School Varsity Track & Field Team showcased their talents at the annual Otto Bacher Meet hosted by Merrill at Jay Stadium, competing against 11 other area …
Getting after it!

Merrill Girls Varsity Soccer Team

The Merrill Girls Varsity Soccer Team celebrated a win in their home game against Crandon on Friday, May 2, 2025, scoring 2 goals to shutout the Crandon girls. Unfortunately, their winning match …

Merrill Varsity Baseball falls to Marshfield in seventh inning heartbreaker

The Merrill Varsity Baseball Team traveled to Marshfield on Friday, May 2, 2025, for what would be their only game of the week after multiple weather postponements. “It was the fourth night we …
2025 Merrill Track and Field Team.

Merrill Track & Field shows promise at Indoor Conference Championships

The Merrill High School Track & Field program competed at the recent Indoor Conference Championships, with both boys’ and girls’ teams showcasing developing talent and earning notable …
Erik Grunenwald applying tag after the throw from pitcher EJ Weix (in the background).

Bluejays split doubleheader with Warriors, sweep weekend road games

Bluejays bats quieted by Warriors’ southpaw The Merrill Varsity Boys Baseball Team opened their four-game week with a tough Bluejay loss to Wausau West on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at …

Lambeau Field, second oldest and second biggest

At the 1957 dedication of the New City Stadium, many well-known figures were in attendance, including then-Vice President Richard Nixon, center, and the reigning Miss America, Marilyn Van Der Bur, left, and NFL Commissioner, Burt Bell, right.

GREEN BAY – Though the Green Bay Packers have a long-standing reputation for being the oldest team in the NFL, their stadium is close to holding a similar status. New City Stadium …

De Pere studio looks to relinquish Packers history

A 1970s posed photo of the Golden Girls, Green Bay Packers cheerleaders.

GREEN BAY – Over the last century, Green Bay Packers photography has grown synonymous with names like Stiller, Biever and Harmann, but one of those names is looking to relinquish that history …

Green Bay’s Golden Girl: An early start

Mary Jane Van Duyse Sorgel started her dance career at the Dorothy Leyse La Plant School of Dancing at the age of six. Three years later, she began to twirling baton and started wowing the crowds at regional festivals with her acrobatics and baton twirling skills.

Part I in a series GREEN BAY/STURGEON BAY – “She was a very gregarious person. Everyone knew Mary Jane, and Mary Jane knew everyone else, especially in the Green Bay area,” …

Obituaries
Ruth Elizabeth Schoetz (Ryan)
Ruth Elizabeth Schoetz (Ryan), age 88, passed away on May 21, 2025. Up until the end Ruth maintained her kindness, compassion and love of her family, friends, faith and felines. She was born on …
Daniel Everett Ervester Kniess
Daniel Everett Ervester Kniess, age 86, of Gleason, passed away on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Aspirus Merrill Hospital.  He was born on October 12, 1938, to the late Ervin and Esther (Luedtke) …
Ruth Helen Grell
Ruth Hellen Grell
Ruth Helen Grell of Marathon, formerly of Merrill, Wisconsin passed away peacefully at the age of 99. Ruth was born on January 18, 1926 to August and Margaret (Jaeger) Schleif in Pine River …
Lisa M. Hehling
Lisa M. Hehling, 57, of Wausau, passed away Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital. Lisa was born July 4, 1967, in Merrill, daughter of James and Ruth (McDonald) Heisler. She worked …
Rosalie Marie Jaeger
Rosalie Marie Jaeger, age 87, of Merrill, passed away on Friday, May 16, 2025, at her home, while surrounded by her loving family and under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice …
Business
Expanding beyond auto repair, MLD in Merrill now offers Toro sales and service.

MLD Auto Repair expands to become Toro dealership

MLD Auto Repair, 805 N. Center Ave. in Merrill, is bursting at the seams with new Toro stock, having become Merrill’s newly-authorized Toro dealer about two weeks ago. Owned by Mike and Lynn …

Geiss Meat Service brings home awards from state competition

Andy Geiss and his team at Geiss Meat Service have plenty to celebrate after the 86th annual convention of the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors (WAMP) held in Madison on April 11, 2025. The …

Business News Shorts

C.J. Robinson’s Branch Team receives Edward Jones Award for Exceptional Achievement C.J. Robinson’s Branch Team of the financial services firm Edward Jones on E. Main St. in Merrill …

Valerie Caylor: Caring for the living and the deceased

Lincoln County Coroner Valerie Caylor may have an unusual job, but for her, it’s all about caring for people—whether they’re fighting for their lives or have already lost that …
Schools
L to R on the stage:  Lincoln County Sheriff Ken Schneider, Lincoln County Coroner Valerie Caylor, Wisconsin State Trooper Caleb Honensee, Merrill Fire Chief Josh Klug, and City of Merrill Attorney Tom Hayden.

Merrill Optimist Club sponsors Law Expo

As part of Respect for Law Week, the Merrill Optimist Club held their annual Law Expo at Prairie River Middle School (PRMS) on Thursday, May 1, 2025, from 1 to 3 p.m. The event, formerly known as the …

Kell takes second place in Wood Olympics at NTC

Aiden Kell of Merrill High School took second place in the Wood Olympics held at Northcentral Technical College’s (NTC) Antigo Campus. The competition, which included a variety of challenges …

MAPS accepts April donations

The following donations were approved and/or accepted at the April 17, 2025, Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS) Board of Education meeting: Two monetary gifts from United Health Group for the MHS …

MAPS Great Speaker Forum: Human connection matters

The Merrill High School Fieldhouse buzzed with energy Tuesday morning, April 22, 2025, as nationally-recognized youth speaker Joe Beckman delivered a powerful message about the importance of human …
Health
As of 2015, Wisconsin’s rate of deaths caused by preventable falls for people aged 65 and up was double the national average. Stock photo

Local Coffee Talks event to feature dementia resources

A mini-fair offering dementia resources will be held Saturday, May 31, 2025, from 9-11 a.m. at First Street Coffee Station in Merrill. The event, sponsored by Park City Credit Union, will provide …

Potatoes and immune function

As winter fades and spring blooms, so do seasonal allergies. With lingering challenges of COVID-19 and flu season, supporting a resilient immune system is more crucial than ever. While the peak of …

Legally ensure your family can make health decisions for you

Did you know your spouse, adult children, or next of kin don’t automatically have the right to make health care decisions for you? It’s a shocking truth that surprises many Wisconsin …

Help us investigate end-of-life care solutions in Wisconsin 

Death: It’s an unavoidable part of life we often avoid talking about. So folks who are seriously ill may not know how to navigate their final years or months.  Many have turned to …
Special Sections
Courts
Bobby Dabbs, age 27, of Trenton, Tenn., made his initial appearance in Lincoln County Court on Monday, March 31, 2025, via Zoom video from the Lincoln County Jail. Dabbs is charged with multiple …
According to a press release from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LISO), on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at approximately 6:06 p.m., the Lincoln County 911 Dispatch Center received a call …
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 …
Opinion and Editorial
Dear Reader,  In the final accounting, when the ledger of our days closes and the last breath escapes like a whisper into the void, what remains of us? We who once walked with purpose, …
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 …
"Dazed and Confused" takes place over the course of one day in 1976 Austin, Texas, following the conversations and activities of various teenagers on the last day of school.
Community & Human Interest
APRIL 28, 2025 Girl, Magdalin Karin, born to Amanda White and Travis White of Merrill.
May 15 - Veterans Coffee & Conversation at Pine Ridge Restaurant May 15 - UWSP Stevie’s Food Truck at The Creative Spirit May 15 - Creatives for Christ at The Gathering Table May 16 - …
Brooke’s School of Dance presented their 2025 annual dance production entitled One Drop this past weekend, with three shows on Saturday, May 4, 2025, and two shows on Sunday, May 5. All of the …