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Year: 2026

LINCOLN COUNTY MAN DEEMED COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL FOR MARCH 2025 MURDER

Steve Dillon

A competency hearing was held at the Lincoln County Courthouse on Wednesday for 27-year old Austin Stevenson, who was accused of killing his father in March of 2025. Stevenson has been found competent to stand trial given agreement from defense attorneys and state prosecutors regarding a recent medical report. The trial has been rescheduled to the summer of 2027. Stevenson is facing charges of first-degree intentional homicide and burglary. According to authorities, deputies conducting a welfare check at a Lincoln County residence discovered 48-year-old John Stevenson dead from two gunshot…

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WORK UNDERWAY TO RESTORE LINCOLN COUNTY COURTHOUSE CLOCK

Steve Dillon

Work is underway to restore the clock atop the Lincoln County Courthouse in Merrill, bringing new life to a piece of the city’s history that has been frozen at 11:08 for about a year. Crews recently began removing the clock’s mechanical components so they can be transported to Ohio for repair. The work is being handled by clock specialist Phil Wright of South Charleston, Ohio, with assistance from Stacy Wagler of Rhinelander. The clock mechanism contains numerous original components dating back to the courthouse’s construction in 1903. The pieces will…

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Lincoln County Man Faces Multiple Charges Following Dispute Along Highway 51

Steve Dillon

A Lincoln County man is facing multiple charges following a dispute with his adult son along Highway 51 on Monday, September 29. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, Kurt Hungerford allegedly pushed his son, Matthew, from the driver’s seat and into a traffic lane during an argument over a flat tire. He reportedly left the scene afterward with Matthew’s son. Merrill police later located Hungerford and the truck at the Kwik Trip on Pine Ridge Boulevard. Authorities say he refused commands to exit the vehicle and resisted officers’ attempts…

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Multi-County Pursuit Ends in Merrill; Antigo Man Arrested

Steve Dillon

A high-speed pursuit involving multiple stolen vehicles and law enforcement agencies across several Wisconsin counties ended on East Main Street in Merrill Thursday afternoon with a crash, a seriously injured sheriff’s deputy and the arrest of a 44-year-old Antigo man. According to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were alerted Thursday morning to a stolen vehicle connected to a high-speed pursuit through Shawano, Menominee and Langlade counties. The suspect allegedly abandoned one stolen vehicle and took another. Authorities later learned the suspect had traveled to Minocqua, where approximately $1,000 in…

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Northwoods Forum to Examine Child Care’s Impact on Families and Workforce

Steve Dillon

A local forum next week will examine how the availability and affordability of child care is affecting families, employers and the workforce across northern Wisconsin. Dream Up! Lincoln County and Advance Wisconsin Employment are hosting the Northwoods Forum on Child Care Wednesday, October 14th, at the Lincoln County Service Center in Merrill. Organizers say the discussion will look at child care not only as a family issue, but as a workforce and economic-development issue — including how access to child care affects employers’ ability to recruit and retain workers. The…

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Merrill Housing Growth Featured in Spectrum News 1 Report

Steve Dillon

Merrill’s efforts to expand housing opportunities are getting some attention beyond the local area. Spectrum News 1 recently featured Merrill in a report focusing on housing growth in the community. Mayor Steve Hass discussed new residential development, including additional apartment units, as well as the city’s Residential Incentive Program. Spectrum reports Merrill has been adding roughly twelve to fourteen new homes a year since 2022, and more than sixty additional apartment units are being developed near the River Bend Trail. The city’s residential incentive program can provide up to ten-thousand…

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MERRILL POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT: SPEEDER CITED AFTER “MESSING” WITH DRIVERS ED INSTRUCTOR

Steve Dillon

The Merrill Police Department responded to 11incidents during the week ending October 4th. Officers conducted approximately 24 traffic stops and 62 security checks. A driver’s education instructor reported a car passed him traveling approximately 50 MPH in a 25 MPH zone. The vehicle was located at Merrill High School, and the driver admitted to speeding so he could “mess” with the Driver’s ED vehicle. A citation was issued to the driver for unreasonable / imprudent speed. Other activity included four reports of theft – one of those a misunderstanding, an…

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Merrill Recognizes October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Steve Dillon

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the City of Merrill is recognizing the importance of raising awareness and supporting survivors. Mayor Steve Hass recently issued a proclamation declaring October Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the City of Merrill. The proclamation recognizes the impact domestic violence can have on individuals, families and the community, while encouraging residents to learn the signs of abuse and connect those in need with available resources. The city is also recognizing the work of HAVEN, Incorporated, which provides support and resources to individuals and families…

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MERRILL FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT: TWO-CAR CRASH IN TOWN OF CORNING, VEHICLE FIRE IN CITY OF MERRILL

Steve Dillon

The Merrill Fire Department responded to 41 calls last week, bringing the total for 2026 to 1,800 calls. 37 of those calls required EMS Services. The Department responded to the report of a two-vehicle crash with injuries at State Road 107 and County Road Z in the Town of Corning on Tuesday, and to the report of a passenger vehicle fire at Polk and East Second Streets in the City of Merrill on Thursday.

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Highway Construction Continues Across Lincoln and Marathon Counties

Steve Dillon

Motorists traveling through Lincoln and Marathon Counties will encounter several ongoing Wisconsin Department of Transportation construction projects this week, including highway closures, lane restrictions and interchange ramp closures. Lincoln County WIS 107 — Wilderness Drive to County S Crews are beginning paving work on WIS 107 between Wilderness Drive and County S as part of a project that includes repaving the roadway and repairing or replacing culverts. WIS 107 is closed to through traffic. The posted detour uses WIS 64, U.S. 51 and County S. The project is scheduled to…

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