Letters to the Editor

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 officials or written by others. The views and opinions expressed are those of the letter writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of this publication, its publishers, Editor, or staff.

To the Editor:
The Merrill Area Public School (MAPS) district, which covers the majority of residents of Lincoln County, serves over 2,000 of our children, educating them and preparing them for life and to be fruitful contributors to society.
Twice in the last few years, voters could not find the finances to fund an additional $2.5 million/year for MAPS, with a commitment of 4 years, which would have benefited those 2,000 students.
It is being suggested that by and large those same voters commit to giving $3 million a year for the next 10 years, to keep Pine Crest county-owned, which hosts 120 residents max (at any one time).

More recently, we know MAPS will potentially ask for a capital funding referendum for updating and aligning their facilities with their current and future needs; likely an additional ask of millions in taxes annually.
I think it would be great if these taxing entities would WORK TOGETHER, and always with a mind that we are not a county seeing great amounts of population or economic growth. We need to be practical with what we can afford to fund and not fund as taxpayers. We shouldn’t have the mindset that the government is the answer to every problem. We need our elected officials to understand what we can afford and what we cannot, and to prioritize funding that has the greatest benefit to taxpayers.

– Jeremy Thompson
Merrill, Wis.

To the Editor:
Well, it’s official, we’ve had our first snowfall. Next thing you know people will be enjoying all manner of winter outdoor activities. Except one. The dreaded snow shoveling! You’re probably saying to yourself, “Why talk about that?”
Here’s why. There are so many people in Merrill, including yours truly, who find it extremely difficult to get around in the snow. A large segment of the population relies on canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. We depend on businesses and residents to keep the sidewalks, alley crossings, and especially the crosswalks clear. When the streets are plowed, snow and slushy ice is pushed up, causing an accessibility problem.
When I explain the problem to able-bodied people, they never fail to respond with, “I’ve never thought about it that way.” It’s true that unless you metaphorically walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, you won’t understand. For example, towards the end of last winter, I rode my wheelchair down Main St. to meet a friend for coffee. Afterward, I needed to drop off a UPS package. To my shock, every crosswalk on the south side of the street was plowed in, as well as the entrance to the alleys. When I checked to see what could be done, the Street Department told me it is the responsibility of the businesses on the street to keep those areas clear.
I appeal to everyone, both businesses and residents, please “Keep It Clean.”

– Char Seetan
Merrill, Wis.

Letters To The Editor Policy:
*Letters must be 250 words or less. (There will be no exceptions to this. Any letter longer than 250 words will not be printed.)

*The writer must include their full name, complete address, and a phone number where he/she can be easily reached for verification. Phone numbers and street addresses will not be published, but will be used for verification purposes, if necessary. Letters must be signed and the name, city, and state will be printed.
*Letters may be edited for style, grammar, and length. Form letters or those we determine to be libelous or slanderous will not be accepted. Any letter deemed derogatory, inflammatory, or involving vulgar language will not be published. We reserve all rights to reject material submitted to this publication.
*Letters will be published on a “first come, first served” basis. Any letters which we are unable to publish in the printed newspaper may be run online at www.merrillfotonews.com and/or may be printed in the paper at a later date.
*In fairness to all, and due to space constraints, there is a limit of two letters per year from an individual writer. Additional letters may be submitted to our Paid Letters to the Editor column and will require payment in full prior to publication at the same rate as Political Letters to the Editor (see policy below).

Political Letters To The Editor Policy:

All letters submitted as an endorsement for a political candidate, referendum, or political agenda will carry the same guidelines as above; however, they will be charged $40.00 per letter of up to 250 words in length. Longer political letters will be accepted but will be charged $10.00 per additional 100 words. All political letters must be prepaid prior to printing. Letters to the Editor will not be accepted from candidates running for election or representatives of an organization endorsing their own referendum, as these are clearly advertisements and not opinion letters; those submissions will be referred to our Advertising Department to be run as paid ads.