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Month: August 2026

Lincoln County to Host Statewide Rural Development Forum

Steve Dillon

One of two Wisconsin forums taklng place this fall to examine the future of rural communities will be held in Lincoln County. The Wisconsin Small Community Forum comes to the Buedingen Training Center at PCA on October 13th. The event will bring together local residents, business owners, elected officials and regional organizations to exchange ideas on strengthening small-town economies and communities. Discussions will include ways to address rural housing needs, how businesses can contribute to their communities, and examples of successful projects from around the region. The Lincoln County Economic…

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Two Wausau Brothers Face Charges Involving Teen

Steve Dillon

An incident reported to Wausau police last month has now resulted in felony charges against two brothers. According to a criminal complaint, a 17-year-old girl told investigators she was pressured to consume marijuana while at the Wausau home of Bryan and Tyler Wick.She also reported being shown graphic videos depicting violence and hearing racist and anti-Semitic threats. 27-year-old Bryan Wick faces seven charges, including child enticement and exposing a child to harmful material, while 30-year-old Tyler Wick faces three charges, including delivery of THC and disorderly conduct. Both men are…

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SINGLE-VEHICLE CRASH AT COUNCIL GROUNDS LEADS TO OWI ARREST

Steve Dillon

On Sunday August 23rd, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to Council Grounds State Park for a single-vehicle crash. The driver, Spencer Jones of Merrill failed to properly negotiate a curve and struck a tree stump, resulting in significant damage to his vehicle. In speaking with Jones, a deputy noticed signs of impairment. Further investigation led to his arrest for OWI first offense with a passenger under the age of 16, and the issuance of a traffic citation for failure to keep his vehicle under control. Jones was transported to…

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MERRILL POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT: JUVENILE SUSPECT THROWS ROCK AT SQUAD CAR

Steve Dillon

The Merrill Police Department responded to 14 incidents during the week ending August 23rd. Officers conducted approximately 23 traffic stops and 123 security checks. On Monday, while assisting the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office regarding the whereabouts of a juvenile, an Officer had his squad car damaged by a rock that was thrown by the juvenile when the Officer encountered him. The juvenile was referred for criminal damage to property along with other charges. Other activity included two additional reports of criminal damage to property, two reports of theft, four instances…

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Merrill, Lincoln County Home Values Continue to Rise

Steve Dillon

Home values in Merrill and throughout Lincoln County continue to show year-over-year growth, according to recent real-estate data. Zillow reports the typical home value in Merrill is $227,366, up 6.6% over the past year. Across Lincoln County, the typical home value is approximately $248,000, representing a 6.2% increase from a year ago. Recent property-transfer data provide another point of comparison. In Marathon County, the median sale price for August is currently $271,250. The figures indicate continued strength in the north-central Wisconsin housing market, although the numbers should be viewed in…

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Lincoln County Sheriff’s Report: Active Threats Against County Facilities Land Suspect in Jail

Steve Dillon

Last Week, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted 24 traffic stops and 17 security checks. There were 4 incidents involving cars hitting deer. Tuesday, the sheriff’s office was alerted to an active threat against both the Lincoln County sheriff’s office and the Department of Probation and Parole. The reporting party stated Tristan Zdroik of Merrill made threats of shooting at both locations. As a result, a warrant was issued for Tristan’s arrest. Deputies then went to Tristan’s residence, located him and took him into custody. He was eventually transported to the…

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New Partnership Offers Local Path to Four-Year Degrees

Steve Dillon

Students in central Wisconsin now have a new way to work toward a four-year degree without leaving the area. Northcentral Technical College and UW-Stevens Point are teaming up through the Purple and Blue Advantage program. About 300 students have either enrolled or expressed interest.Students from both schools are taking classes at NTC’s main campus, with UW-Stevens Point students using facilities throughout the campus, including the Health Sciences Building and A-Wing.The partnership gives students access to shared laboratories, academic support and extracurricular activities while allowing them to remain enrolled at their…

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Lincoln County K-9 Unit Getting Two New Members

Steve Dillon

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office is rebuilding its K-9 unit, and one of its newest members is already a familiar face around Merrill. Dasty, who spent five years working with the Merrill Police Department, is moving to the Sheriff’s Office along with his handler, Deputy Josh McCaskill. McCaskill previously served with the county’s Corrections Division before spending 15 years with the Merrill Police Department. The county is also bringing in another new K-9 to replace Poncho and Nina, who recently retired from service. Funding for both dogs comes through a…

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MERRILL FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT: HEAD ON COLLISION LEADS TO MOTOR VEHICLE EXTRACTION

Steve Dillon

The Merrill Fire Department responded to 42 calls last week, bringing the total for 2026 to 1,507 calls. There were 39 calls requiring EMS Services. On Friday, the Department performed a motor vehicle collision extraction of an individual after responding to a head-on collision on County Road K just south of County FF. Three patients were transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital following the crash.

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MERRILL POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT: WEEK ENDING AUGUST 16

Steve Dillon

The Merrill Police Department responded to 4 incidents during the week ending August 2nd. Officers conducted approximately 37 traffic stops and 112 security checks. A call was received on Thursday regarding damage caused to an individual’s vehicle during the overnight hours after a chunk of concrete had been thrown onto it. Investigation into the incident is ongoing. Other activity included two reports of theft, and a County Jail inmate reporting someone had hacked into his online accounts, and he suspected it was a citizen of Merrill.

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