Grand jury to review Merkel abuse charges MERKEL - A state probe of relationships between Merkel students and teachers paints a picture that suggests boundaries between coaches and students vanished years ago. The six-month investigation by the state department of Child Protective Services, which investigates allegations of child abuse and neglect, is believed to be a first for the school district. The Taylor County Sheriff's Office assisted CPS with the investigation, which was prompted by a teacher's complaint in August. No arrests have been made in the investigation, although District Attorney James Eidson is expected to present the findings of...