You are here

Month: April 2026

WEEKEND FIRES AT FACILITIES IN MARATHON COUNTY LEAD TO RESPONSES FROM MULTIPLE AGENCIES

Steve Dillon

Marathon County fire crews were dispatched to two facility fires over the weekend.  On Friday evening, multiple departments responded to a small fire on the east side of Weston Power Plant, operated by Wisconsin Public Service. The Kronenwetter, Mosinee, and Riverside Fire Departments were all on scene to battle the blaze which was active as of 10:00 PM and was later contained, per a Kronenwetter Fire Department official. Another incident at Crystal Finishing Systems Inc Saturday evening drew response from Mosinee, Kronenwetter, Riverside, Safer, City of Wausau, Ringle, and Town…

Read More

BLUEJAY BOYS SUFFER FIRST DEFEAT OF 2026 CAMPAIGN, LOOK AHEAD TO HOME CONTEST MONDAY

Steve Dillon

In a game heard right here on WJMT and wjmtfm.com as well as seen on our WJMT TV Channel on YouTube, the Merrill Bluejays boys’ baseball team saw its 2026 record fall to 3-1 as they were defeated by the Northland Pines Eagles 4-0 in Friday afternoon action at Athletic Park. Bluejays’ starter Cam Wallin, who was the AmericInn Bluejay Player of the Game, took the loss while giving up only one earned run in 5 1/3 innings of work. Brody Klebenow came in to finish the game for the…

Read More

CITY OF MERRILL STREET DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES SPRING BRUSH CLEAN-UP DATES

Steve Dillon

The City of Merrill Street Department Spring Brush Clean-Up is scheduled for the week of April 20-23, 2026.  All City of Merrill residents are permitted to place brush on the boulevard no later than 6:00 AM, on their regularly scheduled garbage collection day, The Street Department has asked that brush be placed next to your garbage and recyclables, butt ends toward the street. Bundled brush will continue to be collected throughout the year, as usual.

Read More

BLUEJAY GIRLS BLANK NORTHLAND PINES, BOYS DEFEAT WAUSAU WEST IN EXTRA INNINGS

Steve Dillon

In a game heard last night on WJMT, wjmtfm.com, the WJMT app, and seen on our WJMT TV channel on YouTube, the Merrill Bluejay girls defeated the Northland Pines Eagles in Great Northern Conference softball action 15-0.  The game was called after 2 1/3 innings due to the mercy rule. The Bluejay girls scored three runs in the first on only one hit and eight more in the second before scoring four in the third, leading the game to be called.  MacKenzie Herdt drove in three runs for the ‘Jays…

Read More

RECALL RETRACTED FOR POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED CHICKEN BREAST NUGGETS

Steve Dillon

In a story that aired earlier this month on a WJMT Newscast, we shared information regarding the issuance of a Public Health Alert. The product in question was Walmart Great Value Fully Cooked Dino Shaped Chicken Breast Nuggets with a “Best if Used By” date of February 10th, 2027. The notice has now been RETRACTED by the US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service, who issued the alert. They say that follow up testing, included tests on the original lot, showed no elevated levels of lead in the…

Read More

MERRILL POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT: MEDICAL CALL LEADS TO ARREST ON ACTIVE WARRANT

Steve Dillon

The Merrill Police Department responded to nine incidents during the week ending April 5th. Officers conducted approximately 19 traffic stops and 58 security checks. On Monday, officers responded to a medical call regarding a female that appeared to be unconscious. Upon arrival, Officers determined that she had an active warrant. After receiving medical treatment, she was taken into custody. Other activity included a traffic accident involving two vehicles that resulted in a citation for inattentive driving, two instances of possession of illegal substances – one of those a juvenile, one…

Read More

Wausau Mayor Cleared in Ballot Drop Box Investigation

Steve Dillon

More than a year and a half after Wausau Mayor Doug Diny moved an unsecured ballot drop box inside City Hall, prosecutors have closed the case without filing charges. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney announced this week that a bipartisan review found there was not enough evidence to prove any criminal violation beyond a reasonable doubt. The case dates back to the weekend before the 2024 presidential election, when a municipal absentee ballot drop box was placed outside Wausau City Hall. City Clerk Kaitlyn Bernarde had intended…

Read More

HASS ELECTED TO SECOND TERM AS MERRILL’S MAYOR

Steve Dillon

Incumbent Mayor Steve Hass claimed victory in his bid for a second term as Merrill’s Mayor, with the vote tally reflecting a significant defeat of challenger and former mayor Derek Woellner. In a statement shared with Bluejay 96.3 News following the unveiling of local spring election results, Hass expressed his gratitude. “I am very, very happy with the voter turnout and the win. It was great to see the support of the people and the citizens of Merrill. It is overwhelming to me that this many people came out and…

Read More

LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT: CAR CHASE ON HIGHWAY 51 ENDS WITH K9 UNIT CAPTURE

Steve Dillon

Last Week, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted 22 traffic stops and 40 security checks. There were nine calls involving cars hitting deer. On Friday, the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office regarding a car chase of a vehicle heading northbound into Lincoln County on US Highway 51. The request included placement of tire deflation devices to disable the suspect car, which Lincoln County deputies successfully completed. The suspect, Patrick Finnegan of Antigo exited the vehicle shortly after his car was stopped and then started…

Read More

Northwoods Road Construction Underway, with work scheduled in two phases

Steve Dillon

Construction is set to begin this week on a section of US Highway 51 near Tomahawk, bringing a temporary closure and detour for motorists. Crews will be working on US 51 between US Highway 8 and Oneida County Highway L. The project includes concrete pavement repairs, asphalt resurfacing and bridge work. The first phase of the project is expected to continue through mid-May. During that time, the highway will be fully closed and traffic will be detoured. The work then transitions into a second phase which will continue through the…

Read More