CITY OF MERRILL HOLDS STREET SIGN DEDICATION FRIDAY FOR LESLIE “CHES” KIENITZ
Friday morning at 10 a.m., family, friends and members of the community gathered in Merrill in response to an invitation from Mayor Steve Hass to honor the late Leslie “Ches” Kienitz. An honorary street sign was dedicated in Kienitz name near his family’s home on West 10th Street near Chippewa St, by the City of Merrill’s Historic Preservation Committee.
Kienitz is remembered as serving in many different capacities for the city. He was Merrill City Band’s drum major in 1937, serving in the that role until 1985 except for his time in the military during World War II where he obtained the rank of Master Sergeant in the United States Army. He was also a Merrill Police Officer starting in 1950 until his retirement as Captain in 1976, then worked for the state at Council Ground State Park for many years. Known as a forester, Ches and his family planted more than 100,000 trees which led to his 1986 nomination for tree farmer of the year.
The City has four more sign dedications planned through the end of 2026. Kienitz was selected in 2025, however due to inclement weather the sign dedication was postponed until this spring.
