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Year: 2026

LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT: LASER POINTING INCIDENT REPORTED BY MINNEAPOLIS AIR TRAFFIC

Steve Dillon

Last Week, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted 30 traffic stops and 22 security checks. There were 5 reports of cars hitting deer. The Sheriff’s Office received a call on Sunday from the Minneapolis Airport air traffic control regarding a complaint of a laser being pointed from the area of County Highway E and Wadell Rd in the Town of Bradley. The laser was directed at a 737 traveling at 34,000 feet. Deputies dispatched to the area did contact the property owners but were unable to identify a suspect. There were…

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HEALTH PROVIDERS URGE PREPARATION FOR RESPIRATORY ILLNESS SEASON

Steve Dillon

Aspirus health care providers are encouraging Wisconsin families to prepare now for the upcoming respiratory illness season. Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV typically become more widespread during the fall and winter, and health experts say taking preventive steps now can help reduce the risk of serious illness and complications. September and October are considered good times to get recommended vaccinations, giving the body time to build immunity before respiratory illnesses become more widespread. Health officials also recommend frequent handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, cleaning commonly touched surfaces and staying home when…

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TWO MAJOR LINCOLN COUNTY HIGHWAY PROJECTS CONTINUE THROUGH FALL

Steve Dillon

Two major highway construction projects in Lincoln County will continue through the fall, with both WIS 107 and WIS 17 closed to through traffic. WIS 107 WIS 107 is closed between Wilderness Drive and County S while crews repave the asphalt roadway and repair or replace culverts.Work will resume September 21 with milling of the existing pavement. The project is scheduled to continue through October 15.Drivers should use WIS 64, U.S. 51 and County S as the signed detour. More information about the WIS 107 project, including construction updates, is…

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MERRILL FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT: EMERGENCY UNITS RESPOND TO MULTIPLE COLLISIONS

Steve Dillon

The Merrill Fire Department responded to 52 calls last week, bringing the total for 2026 to 1,658 calls. There were 48 calls requiring EMS Services. The Department responded to three motor vehicle collisions involving injuries during the week There were two accidents on Wednesday, the first where County Road Z meets State Road 107 in the Town of Corning, and the second at the intersection of First and Hope Streets in the City of Merrill. The third collision occurred on Thursday at the intersection of County Roads X and J…

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Marathon County Authorities Searching for Man After Rothschild Pursuit

Steve Dillon

The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help locating a 38-year-old Weston man who fled from deputies following a traffic stop and led authorities on a high-speed pursuit through several communities Thursday evening. According to the Sheriff’s Office, deputies attempted to stop a white Cadillac Escalade driven by Christopher Connors at about 6:56 p.m. on Interstate 39 near County Road C in the Town of Knowlton.Connors was wanted on felony charges including bail jumping, battery, theft and disorderly conduct stemming from an incident in Wausau earlier this…

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Tom Tiffany, Pilot Rescued After Emergency Plane Landing in Lake Wausau

Steve Dillon

U.S. Representative and Wisconsin Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany and a pilot escaped with minor injuries Saturday night after their small plane lost power and made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau. According to the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened shortly before 9 p.m. as the plane was approaching Wausau Downtown Airport. Tiffany and the pilot, 73-year-old Leonard E. Boltz of Pearson, were the only two people aboard.The aircraft, a Beechcraft Bonanza, lost power as it approached the airport. The pilot made an emergency water landing in Lake…

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NorthStar Restoration Services Earns Small Business of the Year Honor

Steve Dillon

NorthStar Restoration Services of Wausau is celebrating a major honor after being named the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Small Business of the Year.The award recognizes businesses for growth, community involvement and innovation. NorthStar received the honor in the business category during the Chamber’s annual Business EXPO in April. The company was a first-time nominee for the award. Co-owner and founder Jay Cricks says he and fellow co-owner Shawn Millikin were surprised when they learned they had been nominated, and even more surprised when NorthStar was announced as the…

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MERRILL POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT: 911 NUISANCE CALLER ARRESTED ON BAIL JUMPING CHARGES

Steve Dillon

The Merrill Police Department responded to 12 incidents during the week ending August 30th. Officers conducted approximately 30 traffic stops and 111 security checks. On Monday, a female party was arrested for bail jumping following a 911 hang up call, since she had done so numerous times previously and was issued a bail bond stipulating she should not call 911 unless there is an emergency. She became resistive when place under arrest and was charged with resisting an officer. Other activity included two arrests for disorderly conduct – one domestic…

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MERRILL TO HOLD 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF 9/11 MEMORIAL CEREMONY

Steve Dillon

The City of Merrill’s 25th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Ceremony will be held tomorrow at City Hall, beginning at 7:35 a.m. The ceremony will open with the presentation of the colors by the Honor Guard, followed by an opening prayer from Deacon Jim Arndt of St. Francis Xavier. Mayor Steve Hass and Lincoln County Board Vice Chair and veteran Jesse Boyd will offer opening remarks and reflections on the events of September 11th, followed by a brief moment of silence. At 7:46 a.m., the courthouse bells and bells from several local…

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LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT: TEXTING DRIVER CITED FOR OPERATING WITH SUSPENDED LICENSE

Steve Dillon

Last Week, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted 44 traffic stops and 15 security checks. There were 7 incidents involving cars hitting deer. On Monday, a reckless driving complaint from the Town of Skanawan for a driver who was reportedly texting led to the issuance of a citation for operating with a suspended driver’s license. The driver also was not carrying any proof of insurance.

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