Monday, February 17, 2025
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DNR now accepting entries for 2026 State Park And Forest 12-Month Vehicle Admission Pass Design contest open to high school students across Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is now accepting artwork entries from high school students for the 2026 12-month Wisconsin state park and forest vehicle admission pass. The annual …

January Law of the Month: Safe winter driving

Winter is officially here, and with that comes the potential for dangerous road conditions. Snow, sleet, and ice make it harder to control and stop your vehicle. From Oct. 2023 to May 2024, winter …

It’s individual income tax season

MADISON, Wis. — The individual income tax filing season began on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) is ready to help taxpayers with their tax preparation and …
Arlene Meyer laughs with Paula Streich, a certified nursing assistant, right, while eating lunch with three of her fellow Pine Crest Nursing Home residents in Merrill, Wis., on Nov. 15, 2024. (Joe Timmerman / Wisconsin Watch)

‘We own it. It’s our place.’ Worsened care feared as counties privatize their nursing homes

Over more than three decades, residents in 22 Wisconsin counties lost public nursing homes to sales or closures. This year alone at least five counties — including Lincoln — considered selling, started the sales process or sold. County leaders say they have only two options while facing financial pressures and staffing shortages: sell or close the homes. Local organizers disagree, arguing counties should continue providing high-quality care for low-income older people and disabled adults.

Drive winter blues away by spending time outside

Winter blues got you down? Spending time outside can help boost your mood and both your physical and mental health. “Getting outside in the wintertime can really help your state of mind,” …
Sports
Figure skates, figure skating.

Figure Skating Across the Galaxy is this weekend

The Merrill Ice Reflections Figure Skating Club will present Skating Across the Galaxy, their annual show this weekend, on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 6 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 9, at 1 p.m. at the Merrill …
Molly White celebrates her All-State Solo Dance Championship win on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025.

White named All State Champion in solo dance at WACPC State Dance Competition

Amelia “Molly” White, a Senior at Merrill High School, went to the Wisconsin Association of Cheer/Pom Coaches (WACPC) State Dance Competition this past weekend, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. …
The Merrill Boys battle it out in mid-air against Wausau East at the basket.

Varsity Boys Basketball suffers two consecutive home losses

The Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, Merrill Boys Varsity Basketball game was postponed due to the frigid temperatures which also closed school and activities throughout the Merrill area. On Friday, Jan. …
Jeff Ott, Jessica (VanDerGeest) Truax, and John Bezier are inducted into the Merrill Basketball Hall of Fame..

Merrill Basketball Hall of Fame Night

On Jan. 18, 2025, the Merrill Basketball Program celebrated their annual 2024 Merrill Basketball Hall of Fame night at halftime during the Merrill Girls Varsity Basketball Team game against Antigo. …

EMU Bluejacks lose two, one in OT

On Jan. 23, 2025, the EMU Bluejacks played Wisconsin Rapids in a conference game at Marathon Park. Wisconsin Rapids kicked things off with the first goal in the first period, and the Bluejacks came …

Packers of the Past: Ahman Green

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 No. 30.

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 organizations gear up for 2025 Draft

Don Mjelde, Eastern District vice president, Tavern League of Wisconsin,  speaks during the December announcement of the shuttle program.

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 …

Former Packers PR Director dead at 82

Lane

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 …

Obituaries
Barbara A. ‘Barb’ Zoellner
Barbara A. ‘Barb’ Zoellner, 87, of Rhinelander, formerly of Merrill and Minocqua, passed away Thursday, February 13, 2025, at Friendly Village Nursing & Rehab in Rhinelander. …
Nancy L. Muschinske
Nancy L. Muschinske, age 91, passed away on February 17, 2025. She was born on September 1,1933 in Merrill, WI, the younger daughter of Lynn and Edna (Hollsted) Higgs. Her life was marked by joy, …
Yvonne M. Pedersen
Yvonne M. Pedersen, 77, of Merrill, passed away Monday, February 10, 2025, at UW-Hospital in Madison. Yvonne was born November 24, 1947, in Rockford, IL, daughter of Emil and Dorothy (Gordon) …
Evelyn Frances Schmidt
Evelyn Frances Schmidt, age 88, of Athens, Wisconsin, passed away on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill, Wisconsin. She was born on July 14, 1936 in Marathon City, …
Deborah Seubert
Deborah "Debbie" Pearl (Breaman) Seubert
Deborah “Debbie” Pearl (Breaman) Seubert, 66, of Marathon, passed away on February 13, 2025 at Bell Tower Residence, Merrill, with family at her side, from complications of Lewy body …
Business
American Heritage 6’’ Tobacco Safety Toe Work Boot produced by Thorogood of Merrill.

Weinbrenner Shoe Company named finalist for Manufacturer of the Year

Weinbrenner Shoe Company, headquartered in Merrill, has been named a finalist in the Large Manufacturer Category (250-499 employees) for the 36th Annual Manufacturer of the Year (MOTY) Awards. This …

Wisconsin Healthy Grown® potatoes featured on award-winning TV show

ANTIGO, Wis. – As the third largest potato-producing state in the nation, Wisconsin potatoes have an important story to tell about feeding families with sustainably produced Wisconsin potatoes. …

78th Alice in Dairyland applications open through Jan. 31

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is accepting applications from individuals with a passion for promoting Wisconsin agriculture and invites interested …

Cenex brand celebrates local festivals and community pride With the Hometown Throwdown Giveback Program

On Jan. 7, 2025, Cenex, the energy brand of CHS Inc., announced their second annual Hometown Throwdown contest. The contest invites individuals and organizations to nominate their hometown festival …
Schools
Back row L to R, current LJHA members:  Emmie Steinagel, Jillian Severt, Aubrey Renzelmann, and Kayla Klimek. Front row, L to R, new inductees:  Lexee Laabs, Amber Blennert, Adeline Huth, and Chloe McKeen..

New members inducted into Trinity School’s Lutheran Junior Honor Association

On Dec. 18, 2024, four new members were inducted into Trinity Lutheran School’s Chapter of the Lutheran Junior Honor Association. The induction ceremony was conducted at Trinity Church by …

Trinity Lutheran School announces 2024-2025 second quarter Honor Roll

Students are recognized on the Trinity Honor Roll for a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 and higher. An*indicates a 4.0 GPA Fifth GRADE Easton Baade Eli Clerveaux Grace Dupke Evie Gilbert Paul …

St. John Lutheran School announces 2024-2025 second quarter Honor Roll

HIGHEST HONORS (4.0): Ruby Hoffman, Ella Humphrey, Molly Literski, Ever Smith, Samuel Szeto, Esther Verpoorten, Job Verpoorten HIGH HONORS (3.76-3.99): Claire Canne, Poppy Geisler, Abner …

St. Francis Xavier Catholic School announces 2024-2025 second quarter Honor Roll

HIGHEST HONORS 3.75 – 4.00 Abigail Rell (4.0) Sophia Wendt (4.0) Margaret Delp Daven Saeger Elizabeth Burkhardt Fiona Giese Alex Shimel HIGH HONORS 3.50 – 3.749 Julia Fleischman …
Health

Marshfield Clinic blood drive in Merrill seeks donors

Marshfield Clinic Health System’s blood supply partner, Versiti, will host a blood drive at Marshfield Clinic Merrill Center, 1205 O Day St., in Merrill on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025, from 10 a.m. …

Staying safe in the cold: Aspirus Health shares cold weather injury prevention tips

“Cold-related injuries can range from frostbite, frostnip, all the way up to hypothermia, where the body is not able to produce heat fast enough to keep it warm to survive.” As …

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 …
Special Sections
Courts
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 …
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 …
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
FEBRUARY 3, 2025 Boy, Benson Robert Thomas, born to Nichole Grupstra and Benjamin Grupstra of Weston. Girl, Lennox Leigh, born to Mikaela Plautz and Zachary Plautz of Athens.
Julia Skaar had a little brother she loves and continues to miss dearly. In her own words, “Three years ago, my family was in a fatal car crash. We were hit by a drunk driver. Everyone was …
JANUARY 5, 2025 Girl, Lillian Rose, born to Kaci Kalbes and Coleton LeDuc of Wausau. JANUARY 6, 2025 Girl, Athena Marie, born to Jafia Ritchie and Andrew Ritchie of Clintonville. JANUARY …