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Month: October 2025

MERRILL POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 26; SOCIAL SERVICES ASSISTS WITH CHILD NEGLECT INCIDENT

Steve Dillon

MERRILL – During the week ending October 26, the Merrill Police Department responded to 14 incidents, while officers conducted approximately 37 traffic stops and 62 security checks. On Monday October 20th, an officer completed a traffic stop of a vehicle that was speeding and noticed signs of impairment with the driver. Following field sobriety testing the driver was arrested for OWI 2nd offense. Additionally, a passenger in the vehicle was cited for underage drinking and possession of tobacco. There were three instances of arrests for open warrants and probation violations,…

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FIELD EXPANDS FOR WISCONSIN GOVERNOR’S RACE AS TWO MORE CANDIDATES ENTER THE ARENA

Steve Dillon

Two additional candidates have joined the field of those vying for Wisconsin’s 7th congressional seat that’s being vacated by US Rep. Tom Tiffany, who has entered the Gubernatorial race. Conservative businessman Paul Wassgren of Ashland and Michael Alfonso, both self-proclaimed pro-Trump Republicans will be on the ballot for next year’s primary, which will take place in August of 2026. Alfonso is the son-in-law of former congressman and current Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. This grows the field on the Republican side to three nominees, as Jessi Ebbens had previously announced his…

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LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE SOLICITING HELP FROM THE COMMUNITY IN ONGOING SEARCH FOR MISSING FOX VALLEY MAN

Steve Dillon

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office continues their search for a missing Fox Valley man whose vehicle was found in the area earlier this year. Authorities are requesting hikers, hunters, or folks riding off-road this fall to report any possible clues that could help locate thirty-four-year-old Mitchell Reif. Back in June, Deputies first investigated an abandoned vehicle belonging to Reif  in the Town of Somo. Winnebago County officials had reported him as missing days earlier. The Sheriff’s Office says K9 teams have been involved in recent search efforts but no new…

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D.C. EVEREST STAFF MEMBER CHARGED WITH 2024 SEXUAL ASSAULT

Steve Dillon

WESTON, WI – A D.C. Everest staff member has been placed on leave following charges in Milwaukee County of sexually assaulting a Greenfield student in 2024. Twenty-three-year-old Bennet Schmitz of Schofield faces charges including child enticement and sexual assault of a student by school staff. Superintendent Casey Nye says Schmitz, who works at the Greenheck Turner Community Center, was placed on leave after his arrest. The district disabled his key card, locked his electronics, and directed him to stay off school property.

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LINCOLN COUNTY BOARD APPROVES RESOLUTIONS FOR FUNDING PROTECTION OF LOCAL WATERWAYS

Steve Dillon

During their Tuesday, October 21st meeting, the Lincoln County Board approved seven resolutions focused on grant funding and donations to protect their 650 miles of rivers and streams, and more than 700 lakes and waterways. Included in the grants is funding for Clean Boats, Clean Waters; Lake Monitoring and Protection Network, Surface Water Planning, Surface Water Restoration, and Healthy Lakes and Rivers programs. The new funding will help grow educational and outreach programs, and support ongoing restoration and improvement work. Also included in the resolutions were local stakeholder pledges to…

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LACK OF RAINFALL CALLS FOR CAUTION BEFORE OUTDOOR BURNING

Steve Dillon

With the lack of rainfall in September and October, abnormally dry conditions still exist across most of our state. The Wisconsin DNR is requesting that residents be aware of local fire danger levels prior to any outdoor burning activity. As trees continue to shed their leaves and plant life enters dormancy stages, the risk of wildfires increases. Almost twenty acres have burned in October alone from more than fifty wildfires, most of them preventable according to the DNR.

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LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WEEK REPORT; TRAFFIC STOP ENDS IN ARREST ON MULTIPLE CHARGES

Steve Dillon

Last Week, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted 47 traffic stops and 44 security checks. There were 14 calls involving cars hitting deer. On Wednesday a deputy on patrol in the Town of Merrill was traveling N/B on STH 17 near Norwegian Rd, following a vehicle traveling below the speed limit and weaving in the travel lane. After conducting a traffic stop of the vehicle, the deputy made contact with the 65-yr-old female driver from Merrill and noticed signs of impairment. The driver agreed to complete some sobriety testing and as…

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GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN WILL DELAY FOODSHARE BENEFITS IN NOVEMBER

Steve Dillon

November benefits for FoodShare members will be delayed as a result of the lingering federal government shutdown. Local United Way organizations are reminding the community that residents whose access to food has been impacted by the shutdown can dial 211, download the 211 Wisconsin App, or text their zip code to 898211 Monday thru Friday 8 a.m til 4 p.m. to find food nearby. FoodShare benefits may not be available on QUEST cards to make purchases in November, which may include funds that remain on your car at the end…

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LINCOLN COUNTY BOARD APPROVES FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF FLOCK LPR CAMERA SYSTEM FOR SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

Steve Dillon

During last Tuesday’s Lincoln County Board meeting, a resolution to accept a $184,000 donation from the Bierman Family Foundation was approved for implementation of the Flock LPR camera system program for 10 years. The grant allows Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office to move from using the law enforcement camera system in a trial phase to full use. Lincoln County Sheriff Ken Schneider shared that during the trial period, the agency strategically placed six small, solar-powered cameras along roads to search for previously flagged vehicles as part of open investigations, through reading…

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