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A successful archer at Trinity school after receiving instruction from volunteers from Lincoln County Sports Club.

Lincoln County Sports Club—promoting safety, conservation, and family-friendly activities

The mission statement of the Lincoln County Sports Club (LCSC) is to promote conservation, the responsible uses and handling of firearms, shooting sports, and participation in outdoor activities; and …
The Merrill Varsity Girls Softball team celebrates after their victory over Wausau West.

Merrill Girls Varsity Softball Team comes from behind to defeat Wausau West

The Merrill Bluejays Varsity Softball Team continued their winning streak Tuesday, April 8, 2025, coming from behind to defeat the Wausau West Warriors 6-4 in their first Conference match-up of the …

PRAIRIE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL 2024-2025 third quarter Honor Roll

EIGHTH GRADE Gold 4.00: Alle Bergh, Ella Bergh, Darby Bonnell, Aaron Collinsworth, Bethany Crockford, Elijah Dymerski, Colton Fox, Autumn Genisot, Jaedyn Goetsch, Jase Huston, Kassandra Johnson, Mara …

The bidding war behind the NFL Draft

GREEN BAY – On May 19, 1935, the NFL club owners approved a plan for a college player selection process, now known as the NFL Draft. “The players were free to sign with any team before …

Merrill High School Third Quarter Honor Roll 2024-2025

GRADE 9 HIGHEST HONORS (4.0): Brooklyn Clabots, Brady Genisot, Shane Gibson, Sawyer Grubb, Marie Hagemeister, Lilee Haltinner, Noelle Iverson, Kendell Klug, Claire Kufahl, Finlee Lange-Peronto, …
Sports
The Merrill Varsity Girls Bowling Team, L to R:  Peyton Smith, Marley Krueger, Avery Frisch, Bella Kottke, and Izzy Scheffler (all from Merrill) and Jayden Dellinger (from Tomahawk).

Girls Bowling Team claims second consecutive State Championship

The Merrill-Tomahawk Girls Bowling Team captured their second straight State Championship at the Division 2 Girls Bowling Tournament held March 8-9, 2025. “The girls bowled 15 baker-style …
Paul Hornung is one of 33 halfbacks drafted by the Packers, and one of just two No. 1 overall selections. New York Times photo

Forerunner: Lambeau gets jump start on Draft process

GREEN BAY – “In the early 1930s there was no Draft system. It was pretty much a free-for-all, as far as free agency goes,” said Packers Hall of Fame Curator Brent Hensel. Hensel …
Marcus Brock dominated at State, bringing home a State Championship from the WWF Kids Folkstyle State Tournament.

Merrill youth wrestlers shine at State Tournament

Seven young Bluejay wrestlers represented Merrill at the WWF Youth Folkstyle State Championship Tournament held March 28-30, 2025, with three bringing home State medals after qualifying at the …
High school Junior Chris Holz takes his turn at shooting.

Merrill Bluejay Trap Team kicks off 2025 season

The Merrill Bluejay Trap Team kicked off their 2025 season on Tuesday evening, March 25, 2025, competing against the Tomahawk Claybusters. Trap is somewhat different from other sports in that, during …
Merrill Historical Society & Culture Center on Third St. in Merrill.

Local baseball history to be celebrated at Merrill Museum

Merrill Museum & Historical Society will celebrate local baseball history with a new exhibit, “Chatter from Left Field.” Opening Saturday, April 12, 2025, the exhibit will spotlight …

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
Phyllis Jane Reinhardt
Phyllis Jane Reinhardt
Phyllis Jane Reinhardt, age 92, passed away on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill, while under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care & Hospice Services. Phyllis was …
Meredith Oehlkers
Meredith Oehlkers
Meredith Oehlkers ~ June 9, 1938 – April 19, 2025 MONONA - It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Meredith Oehlkers on April 19, 2025, at Agrace HospiceCare. Meredith was …
EPSON MFP image
Linda Sue Kanapka
Linda Sue Kanapka passed away on April 11, 2025, at the age of 69 years old.  Born in Merrill, Wi on September 16, 1955, the daughter of the late Elmer and Joyce (nee Wetzel) Kanapka. …
Arthur J. Drew
Arthur J. Drew, affectionately known as "Art," was born on January 12, 1937, in Gleason, Wisconsin to the late Charles and Blanche (Yanda) Drew. He passed away peacefully at his residence on April …
Donald "Don" Scheu
Donald "Don" Scheu
Donald “Don” Scheu passed away peacefully on Friday, April 4, 2025, at the home of his daughter Debra in Branson, Missouri, where he had resided for the past eleven years. Born on …
Business

New child care platform from Lincoln County native set to launch this summer

On April 9, 2025, Lincoln County native and former candidate for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District announced the upcoming launch of a new child care platform in the Badger State. Elsa …

Brooks joins Merrill Chamber as new Member Engagement & Office Manager

The Merrill Area Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Sarah Brooks as the new Member Engagement & Office Manager. Brooks, who moved to Merrill 10 years ago when her husband completed his …

Aspirus Merrill Hospital confirms renovation and expansion is moving forward

A March 31, 2025, press release from Aspirus Health confirmed their plans for a $40 million renovation and expansion at Aspirus Merrill Hospital is on track to start construction this coming summer. …

All Aboard Soup Fundraiser

The “All Aboard” Bar recently held a Soup Cook Off fundraiser to benefit Kate Goodrich Elementary School. “We had 12 different soups provided by 11 people,” said owner Seth …
Schools

MAPS Great Speaker Forum: Beckman focuses on reclaiming human connections

Merrill Area Public Schools will host nationally-recognized youth speaker Joe Beckman at this year’s Great Speaker Forum on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 9 a.m. in the Merrill High School …

Native American culture comes alive at Washington School

A unique cultural experience brought Wisconsin history to life at Washington School on March 14, 2025, when third-grader Piper Pullium and her father, Mathew, shared their Native American heritage …

Merrill Theatre Jays present Catch Me If You Can

The Merrill Theatre Jays will showcase Catch Me If You Can, the Musical , as their spring high school musical production, with three shows this Friday and Saturday. Evening performances will begin at …

Highland Community Church purchases Jefferson School

Highland Community Church in Merrill purchased the former Jefferson School property from Merrill Area Public Schools (MAPS) for $750,000. The sale closed just days prior to Christmas in Dec. 2025. …
Health

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 …

Marshfield Clinic Research Institute seeking ticks for second year of study

The Marshfield Clinic Research Institute is once again asking Wisconsin residents to send in ticks they find this year. In 2024, the Research Institute launched the Tick Inventory via Citizen Science …

Lincoln County Health Department measles update

The Lincoln County Health Department (LCHD) issued a press release on April 1, 2025, to provide the community with a measles update in light of a recent increase in cases throughout the U.S. …

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 …
Special Sections
Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill.
Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill.
Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill.
Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill.
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, Easter is upon us, a time of great celebration for Christians around the world. It is the day we proclaim, Christ is risen!—a moment of triumph over death, of hope restored, …
Dear Reader, In a world overwhelmed by noise, wisdom is too often drowned out. Today, everything fights for our attention—headlines, outrage, sirens, engines—clamoring for dominance in an …
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 …
Community & Human Interest
Airline travelers will face new identification requirements to board their flights for air travel starting May 7, 2025, when enforcement of the REAL ID Act begins. Regular Wisconsin driver licenses …
MARCH 27, 2025 Girl, Aurora Grace Maddix, born to Carissa Howe and Dyllon Maddix of Merrill. APRIL 1, 2025 Girl, Ruby Louise, born to Morgan Nofsinger and Myles Nofsinger of Weston. APRIL …
Numerous area veterans are slated to take next week’s Never Forgotten Honor Flight (NFHF) to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials that honor their service. The flight, which will take place …