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Year: 2025

WAUSAU ETHICS BOARD SCHEDULES TENTATIVE DATE FOR DINY COMPLAINT HEARING

Steve Dillon

WAUSAU – A tentative hearing has been scheduled for August 25th by the Wausau Ethics Board in the complaint against Mayor Doug Diny. Board members are also seeking additional information from about a dozen potential witnesses, including several department heads and police officials. Those individuals will have 21 days to respond once the investigation order is signed, though board members say some may simply confirm they had no involvement. The inquiry focuses on any contact Mayor Diny may have had between September 19th and 29th of last year related to…

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TWO DEAD, ONE CRITICALLY INJURED IN PRICE COUNTY HOUSE FIRE

Steve Dillon

FIFIELD, WI – A house fire last weekend in the Town of Fifield in Price County left two victims deceased and one injured. The Price County Sheriff’s Office stated the call was received just after 3am on Sunday morning, with the caller stating while one person escaped the home, two others were still inside. The surviving individual sustained what was described as significant, life threatening injuries. The bodies of the deceased were recovered from what remained of the home. The State Fire Marshall’s Office is assisting local officials as the…

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MAY UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES IN THE NORTHWOODS TAKE TURN FOR THE POSITIVE

Steve Dillon

NORTHERN WISCONSIN – Local unemployment estimates took a turn in the right direction in May, per the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. They released county job figures last week, which reflected improvement in 37 of the state’s 72 counties, with some of the most significant progress taking place here in the Northwoods. The unemployment estimate in Lincoln County dropped from 4% in April to 3.5% in May. Oneida county fell to 3.3% from 4% in April, and Vilas saw the biggest decrease as the 6% estimate reported for the County…

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MAN SHOWS SIGNS OF AGGRESSION WITH MERRILL POLICE, CHARGED WITH BAIL JUMPING

Steve Dillon

MERRILL – Last Saturday at 8:54pm, a Merrill police officer was dispatched for a welfare check regarding a man in a vehicle passed out. Though he was sleeping, the man exhibited signs of being intoxicated. The officer asked him to remain on scene, and he became confrontational, assuming and aggressive stance. The suspect was arrested and eventually transported to the jail, then charged with three counts of misdemeanor bail jumping.

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MERRILL FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WEEK ENDING JUNE 29

Steve Dillon

MERRILL – The Merrill Fire Department responded to 41 calls last week, bringing the total for 2025 to 1,231. There were 36 EMS calls. There was one cooking fire that was confined to the container on Blue Haven Ln in the Town of Scott on Thursday, and there were two alarm system activations due to malfunction. There was one motor vehicle accident with injuries on Grand Ave in the City of Merrill on Friday.

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WAUSAU SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES NEW LISTING FOR RECENTLY CLOSED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Steve Dillon

WAUSAU – The Wausau School District has announced three of four closed elementary schools in the area are now officially for sale. The Hawthorn Hills, Hewitt-Texas and Grant buildings have been listed through broker Tim Wimmer. Per a recent press release, school district leaders will be working closely with Wimmer through the sale process. Asking price for the properties ranges from $250K to $650K. Staff will pack up classrooms and offices during the summer break in preparation of their move to other facilities. The transition should be complete in time…

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WISCONSIN EXPECTING RECORD NUMBERS FOR TRAVEL THIS WEEK

Steve Dillon

With the Fourth of July weekend approaching, a record number of travelers are expected. AAA projects nearly 1.47 million Wisconsin residents will be on the roads this week—a 2.5% increase from last year. Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel at AAA, says the holiday falling on a Friday allows travelers to enjoy a longer weekend and a bit more time away. In the Northwoods, peak traffic is expected northbound on Wednesday, July 2nd, and southbound on Sunday, July 6th. Early morning hours are recommended for smoother travel. Gas prices are…

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MERRILL FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WEEK ENDING JUNE 22

Steve Dillon

MERRILL – The Merrill Fire Department responded to 31 calls last week, bringing the total for 2025 to 1,083. There were 26 EMS calls. There was one incident involving carbon monoxide, one unintentional smoke detector activation, and one Community Paramedicine Program visit. On Saturday EMS crews responded to a request for mutual aid on County Rd JJ in the Town of Merrill`.

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FIRST HONORARY STREET SIGN FOR 2025 UNVEILED NEAR STANGE PARK

Steve Dillon

The first of five honorary street dedications scheduled for 2025 took place on Monday afternoon at the intersection of East and Merrill Sts in the City of Merrill. Honored at Monday’s tribute was Sgt Carl Schenzel, who died when his B-25 J Bomber that was part of the 501st Bomber Squadron / 345th Bomber Group crashed over the Philippines in 1945. The entire crew onboard that day was lost; no bodies were recovered.   On hand at the event were members of the Schenzel family, along with Mayor Steve Hass…

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