KOHLER, WI (WHBL) - The strike by United Auto Workers Local 833 against the Kohler Company is now in day ten.  As has been the case since the strike began, there's no public word on any new negotiations between the two sides on a new contract that affects around 21-hundred employees at the company's two plants in Sheboygan County.

Both sides will be in the same room Wednesday morning, but it is a court room.  Judge James Bolgert will be holding an injunction hearing by the Kohler Company against the union.  It was last Tuesday, November 17, when Judge Bolgert agreed to an injunction that prevents striking workers on the picket line outside company facilities from blocking traffic into and around these sites.

WHBL News was able to talk to several workers on the picket line Tuesday who were employed with Kohler when the last strike took place in 1983.  We asked how the current strike differs from the last one, which lasted about two and a half weeks.

Pat says there are plenty of differences, including how the company is continuing to keep the plants operating.  “Back in ’83 from day one they stopped production one-hundred percent, and Herb Kohler was out here in the morning and he says we’re going to work on this right now, we’re going to get this settled up real quick.  So far, the company hasn’t contacted the union and vice versa, so nobody is talking.”

Paul says the attitudes of the two sides are different from the '80s.  “I think the company’s now greedier than they ever were.  I think they are more arrogant.  The union’s more organized than they were back then.”

Jerry says compared to the last strike, the union has a better public image.  “I think the community is behind us on this.  So I think that’s why you see the people and the support that we have now.”

All union members continue to say they want a fair contract for all of its members from Kohler, especially for Tier B workers.  They typically are younger and newer to the company. Another striker, Paul, says he supports the strike since the union has the same mindset that he had when he served in the military.  “One of the things that they always taught us is you never left people behind.  You always went back, you take care of your people.  This contact was not that bad for Tier B, but you left people behind.  And I think this is what this is all about.  It’s not for me, it’s for Tier B.  I have maybe two years left before I retire, and it’s for them that we’re doing this.  This union is not letting people behind.  I’m glad that they have the attitude that they do.”

WHBL News has reached out to the Kohler Company to share their side.  So far, all requests for comment have not been returned.  They have released two statements, one regarding their "last, best and final contract offer, and reaction to the union's rejection of that offer.  The statements can be found here.

PLYMOUTH, WI (WHBL) - With Thanksgiving almost here, community meals for those who may not have a way to enjoy one elsewhere typically take place.  One such place will be at St. John Lutheran Church in Plymouth, as the Welcome Table will host its third-annual meal for this holiday from 12 to 1:30 p.m.

Russ Groblewski tells WHBL News their group has offered a weekly meal at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Plymouth, but wanted to expand to the holidays. “As we were looking for the holiday three years ago, we looked around the Plymouth area, and we found out that there was nobody doing holiday meals for people who needed it in our area.”

Groblewski says the growth of the event has been quick. “The first year we weren’t well known - we served 68 people.  Last year we served 175.”  That has also prompted the group to host Christmas and Easter holiday meals as well.

As for Thanksgiving, Groblewski says attendees, which could total up to 200, will enjoy a traditional meal. “Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, cranberries, relish, green bean casserole, dinner rolls, and pies galore.”

Spots for the meal must be reserved before Thursday.  That can be done Wednesday by calling 889-4660.

Sheboygan, WI (WHBL) – 24-year old Teng Thao of Chilton is facing one count of child trafficking as a party to a crime for his alleged role in a prostitution ring that operated in Sheboygan in early 2013. The ring was setup and led by then, 28-year-old Pao Chang of Appleton.

The case stems from a February 10, 2013 accident on US Highway 10 in Clark County that piqued the interest of Sheboygan police detectives after they discovered six females inside one of the vehicles involved in the accident. The car was being driven by Pao Chang and some of the girls were under age.

Chang, now age 30, is currently serving an 18 year prison sentence on child trafficking charges after a months-long investigation revealed that he forced the young women to perform sex acts with various men, for money.

The girls, mostly teenagers, were runaways and Chang took them in under the guise of providing them shelter.

However, shortly after the girls were taken in, they were each told that they would have to work. One of the girls told investigators that she suggested getting a job at Goodwill, which Chang quickly rebuffed, saying she would make more money prostituting than at Goodwill. Another teen told investigators that she recalls “servicing up to 16 men in one night,” and that Sheboygan was the busiest.

The accounts are all detailed in criminal complaints filed against Chang, and in the new charges filed against Teng Thao.

Police were led to Thao after determining that at least one hotel room used for the prostitution was reserved in Thao’s name. He reportedly admitted to investigators that he drummed up clients for the girls and transported them to various locations for the purpose of prostitution.

Sheboygan, WI (WHBL) – When 49-year-old Dean J Crimmins returned a credit card to its rightful owner on June 6, 2015, he told Michalene Hirschfield that he “accidentally” picked it up, and wanted to return it to her.

Hirschfield instantly became suspicious because she kept the card in her purse and rarely used it. That is why she and her daughter-in-law immediately obtained a transaction history for the card from Guaranty Bank to determine if anything was amiss. It was.

Hirschfield told Sheboygan police that she discovered that the card had been used to make 33 ATM withdrawals between May 19, 2015 and June 23, 2015.

A criminal complaint filed in Sheboygan County court reveals that multiple withdrawals were made each day, including seven withdrawals in just one day. All of the withdrawals took place at the same ATM near the victim’s home.

Crimmins allegedly racked up nearly $5000 worth of transactions and $557 in overdraft fees while the card was in his possession.

Hirschfield knows Crimmins through her daughter who was dating Crimmins before she was incarcerated last June.

When detectives asked Crimmins about making the ATM transactions, they say he “admitted to using the ATM card 20 times, but would not be surprised if it was closer to 32 times.”

But, Crimmins also told police that he was given permission to use the card and sometimes made purchases for Hirschfield, whom he says would help him out from time to time. Hirschfield disputes having given Crimmins the ATM card or permission to use it. She says that she wrote checks to Crimmins for any financial transactions between them.

Crimmins also admitted to police that he currently has a heroin addiction but claims that he did not use any of the money from Hirschfield’s account to pay for drugs.

He is facing one count of theft by acquisition of a credit card, fraudulent use of a credit card, and identity theft. The charges could land Crimmins behind bars for more than six years, if convicted.

Crimmins is already facing felony burglary charges stemming from a separate case that occurred at the Aim Insurance Company on Erie Avenue.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Sheboygan man will serve 18 months in a state prison for a battery incident earlier this year.

Judge Timothy Van Akkeren also sentenced 30 year old Deadrian Walker to two years extended supervision last week.  It comes after a plea deal was reach, in which Walker pleaded no contest to substantial battery and possession of THC, while charges of strangulation/suffocation and resisting an officer were dismissed.

According to the criminal complaint, the charges came after Sheboygan Police were call to a Division Avenue apartment August 8 for a disturbance.  Police reportedly found Walker inside and a female with numerous injuries.  The two got into a physical confrontation while officers were around, in which a taser was use to subdue Walker.

The female victim later told investigators she had been in a relationship with Walker for some time, which had been abusive at times.  That night, she claimed Walker returned to the apartment and began attacking her in bed.

When asked about the claims, Walker allegedly admitted to some of them.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Sheboygan woman avoided a long time in prison when she was sentenced last week for stealing thousands of dollars from an area car wash business.

Judge Timothy Van Akkeren gave Leticia Bilbrey a deferred prosecution of five years for a charge of theft from a business, meaning it could be removed from her criminal record if she avoids future prosecution.  She also got 24 months probation and 90 days in jail withheld and stayed for additional theft charges.

The 23 year old was charged back in August after Sheboygan Police were informed of a theft of over 45-thousand dollars from the Magic Carwash on North 10th Street.

According to the criminal complaint, an investigation found Bilbrey took two-hundred dollars each day from the business over a roughly nine month period, and changed deposit and financial sheets to try to conceal the thefts.  The scheme was discovered when the owner was looking to refinance with a bank and noticed discrepancies with his financial books with the ones Bilbrey took care of.

PLYMOUTH, WI (WHBL) - The local Christmas holiday season will get underway Friday evening as Plymouth hosts its annual parade and other activities in the downtown area.

It will also be the first opportunity for local residents to help a local group ensure children with cancer have a Merry Christmas.  Project Angel Hugs is once again running a toy drive to collect toys for distribution to those affected by this disease.

Executive Director Chari Perl tells WHBL News any parade attendee can help.  "We ask that parade goers come to the parade with new gifts, new toys, that they can donate to us, and we have people walking along the parade route collecting toys."

The toys are used in what they call 'hugs', boxes that are sent out to children who are suffering from cancer for their birthday and four holidays, including Christmas.

If a person won't be able to attend the Plymouth parade, Project Angel Hugs will be collecting toys at the Kiel parade this Saturday, and the Sheboygan Falls parade next Saturday.

Project Angel Hugs was the topic of discussion during a recent "A Closer Look" program.  Click here to watch the interview and learn more about the organization.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - With Thanksgiving passed, the traditional holiday shopping season is officially underway.  As has been the trend in recent years, some retail stores opened their door on Thanksgiving to shoppers looking for early deals before Christmas.

Several hundred braved the rain to get inside Kohls in Sheboygan once they opened at 6 p.m.

Store Manager Amy Klarkowski says no matter when they open, they are just part of the Thanksgiving weekend traditions.  "Thanksgiving has always been about a couple of different things.  Its family first, and then we open up and take care of our customers.  So we’re glad for anybody that comes out to see us.

The store was at full staff to help shoppers looking for deals.  Klarkowski says no matter when they open, they are prepared.  "Making sure that everything is filled and available for the customers.  We take a lot of pride and teamwork goes into to making sure the store is 100-percent ready."

As for those who were waiting in line to get into the store, shoppers say they were looking for electronics like the Nintendo DS XL and a hover board. Klarkowski says the popular items at her store this holiday season are electronics, jewelry, beauty, and anything Star Wars.

For stores that did not open on Thanksgiving, they are planning to open early Friday.  Others that did open are planning to have deals throughout the day to keep customers coming.  One can expect deals to continue the next few days with “Small Business Saturday” and “Cyber Monday”.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Click on the link below to watch and listen to the most recent "A Closer Look" program, a public affairs program on WHBL and WSCS.

This episode features a look at the efforts done by the Sheboygan Lions Club.  Lou Cecil, the Sheboygan Evening club president, and Ellen Cheney, who is a regional officer, described what the club has done in years past, what they do now, and how they hope to continue their efforts in the future.

A Closer Look Replay: Sheboygan Lions Club

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Sheboygan man will serve six months in jail after violating probation for two 2013 disorderly conduct offenses when he got involved in a stabbing incident last June.  Judge Angela Sutkiewicz sentenced 40 year old Angelo Merritt last week for the three incidents.

The June incident is the most egregious, with charges of injury by negligent use of a weapon, plus fleeing.

According to the criminal complaint, Sheboygan Police were called to investigate a stabbing on the city’s south side June 10th.  The victim said he was checking his vehicle for a possible problem when a van stopped nearby, and Merritt reportedly got out and stabbed him.  The stabbing forced the victim to lost twenty centimeters of small intestines during a surgery.

Once Merrill was found, he claimed he was the one who was attacked with a knife by the victim.

The incident occurred when Merritt was serving one year probation for two disorderly conduct offenses from 2013.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A second suspect charged for their role in a fight in Sheboygan last month will have to spend 30 days in the local jail.  Judge Timothy Van Akkeren sentenced 18 year old Tavirl Ringel last week after he pleaded no contest of a disorderly conduct misdemeanor.

Ringel was one of four people charged after two groups fought each other on Indiana Avenue back on October 8.

The criminal complaint against Ringel states the fight between two groups of mostly teenagers, one primarily consisting of blacks and the other primarily of Hispanics, was possibly retaliation for a fight between the two at a graduation party in June.  Ringel was a person identified in the group of Hispanics accused of bringing items, such as a broomstick, to use in the fight.

Of the four charged, the only other person sentenced so far was Christopher Amador, who was given four months of jail time.  Elias Luna and Juan Valadez both have court dates scheduled in December for their charges.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - The Sheboygan Area School District has not run a referendum for over a decade, which has its Board of Education considering one come next November.

Superintendent Joe Sheehan tells WHBL News the district is in need of capital improvements that cannot be covered through its current budget alone.  “As we promised with our community we said we would not come back for ten years.  It’s been eleven, and we’re still not saying yes we’re coming for a referendum.  What we’re saying it we’re exploring options to how do we fund to get some of the capital needs that we have.”

Sheehan says up to now, the discussion has been within the district with school leaders sharing what they want to see happen. “Obviously student safety and security was a huge piece.  The impact on programming; how do we serve students, classroom environment, energy efficiency, those are pieces that we’re going to look at to say of all the things on the plate which ones are the most important that we need to address.”

As for how the public can assist, Sheehan says that will come after a list of possible projects and services are considered to go to referendum. “In the spring we’re going to be actually getting a survey out to Sheboygan, saying ‘Sheboygan what is your appetite, Sheboygan what will you support?’  And the board is saying then going from that, then we’ll say ‘okay, what do we do with the referendum or not?’”

After that survey, Sheehan says the district will decide if there is enough support for a referendum and what to put on it.  He adds there would be no last-minute change as only what the public supports in the survey would go to them for a vote.  He cited successful referendums for other local districts that had a similar prep process.

If a referendum is run, Sheehan says it will take place during next November's general elections. “The whole issue of we want as many voters as possible.  There’s some other tactics that say ‘well you do it on an off year where there is less people voting’; that’s not what we do, that’s not how we operate.  We want as many…Sheboygan, tell us.  Tell us what you’ll support.”

KOHLER, WI (WHBL) - United Auto Workers Local 833 have now spent two full weeks on the picket line after they and the Kohler Company failed to reach an agreement on a new contract earlier this month.

With the strike now entering its third week, the union is focusing some attention on helping its members get through the impact of being on strike.  In addition to having members sign up for strike pay, the union is asking the public for cash and material donations to the Emil Mazey Hall.

Union President Tim Tayloe told WHBL News recently the response has also been heard across the nation.  "People are calling about what they can donate and where they can bring it to.  There’s a lot of people across the United States shipping diapers and food.  Food and everything else to help out the lower tier levels, or anybody else who may need it."

As has been the case since the strike was authorized November 15, there has been no public word on any new negotiations between the union and Kohler Company over a new contract.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Quick work kept an outlet fire from becoming something worse at a Sheboygan home Monday morning.

The initial call came in around 6:30 at a home in the 1600 block of Sibley Court for a possible appliance fire.  By the time Sheboygan Police and Sheboygan Fire Department personnel responded, smoke was seen coming from the building.

The fire department tells WHBL News there were no visible flames, and the fire was quickly put out.  They also aided in ventilating the home of smoke.

No injuries to people and pets living inside the home were reported.

Sheboygan, WI (WHBL) – In what may be the first clear evidence of intimidation tactics levied against union workers at the Kohler company, a list of possible targets for intimidation was distributed to United Auto Workers local 833 members on Monday.The members being targeted reportedly crossed the lines and returned to work at the Kohler plant.

The list, obtained by WHBL news, includes 13 encircled names on a flyer that reads, “No longer our union brothers or sisters. A scab is a scab. Don’t be afraid to point them out.”

A union member who was in attendance at the meeting spoke to WHBL news under the condition of anonymity. The Kohler Company worker alleges that the union was told that if either of the individuals whose names appear on the list were spotted, they (union members) should go out of their way to "Make their lives miserable."

WHBL News attempted to reach local 833 union leaders about the distributed flyer, to no avail.

Local 833 has been on strike since November 15, 2015, after contract negotiations broke down with the Kohler Company.  

Meanwhile, it’s about to become a lot less comfortable for workers who are braving the elements on the picket lines outside the Kohler company.  The Kohler Company has ordered the removal of an apparent tent city on the property surrounding the plant in the Village of Kohler.

 The tents started going up on the first day of the strike, and have been growing in number ever since. Now, only tents approved by the Kohler Company will be allowed on the picket lines. Some of those tents are three-sided, which would make weathering Wisconsin winters rather daunting.

Add to that, workers on the picket lines will not be allowed to use burn barrels between the hours of 8pm and 6am.

Snow is expected overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday in the Sheboygan area.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Sheboygan man began serving an 85 day jail sentence last week for committing his third OWI offense.  55 year old David Schleining was also ordered by Judge Angela Sutkiewicz to have his license revoked for 30 months, and required to use an ignition interlock for that same time period.

The sentence comes after Schleining pleaded no contest to the third OWI offense, which occurred on January 11 of this year.

According to the criminal complaint, a Sheboygan Police officer conducted a traffic stop on the city’s south side for a vehicle that had no headlights on while driving at night.  While conducting the stop, the officer suspected Schleining to be intoxicated due to the smell of alcohol and slurring of speech.  Following field sobriety tests, Schleining was found to be under the influence, with a breathalyzer test determining he was nearly three times over the legal limit.

Schleining was also found guilty of bail jumping, but his jail time will be served at the same time as the OWI offense.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - When a Sheboygan County Sheriff’s deputy was called to Sheboygan Memorial Hospital in the early morning of November 29th, they found a woman with a noticeable gash to the right side of her head that would need staples to close.

What caused that injury and other abrasions is why a 23 year old Cleveland woman is facing a substantial battery felony.  Sheboygan County prosecutors charged Alicia Bullock Monday after an investigation began into the events at a home on Dairyland Drive in the Town of Mosel.

According to the criminal complaint, the injured woman reportedly told the deputy she and Bullock got into verbal arguments three times.

Twice was after she found Bullock upstairs, which was considered out of bounds as a party took place downstairs, while the other was when she was ready to leave and Bullock allegedly splashed beer on her.

The injured woman claims as she turned away, she felt being hit by a blunt object, then jumped on and having her hair pulled after she fell to the ground. Eventually, the fight was broken up, and the injured woman called her mother to take her to the hospital.

The deputy was able to make contact with Bullock, who did confirm that she got into several verbal arguments with the injured woman and getting into a fight with her.

What differs in Bullock’s account is how the fight began, as she alleges the beer splash was due to the injured woman provoking her.  As for the beer bottle, Bullock reportedly said she was holding the bottle when the fight occurred and she may have used it, but could not remember definitively.

Bullock now faces over three years in prison and a fine up to 10-thousand dollars if found guilty.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Sheboygan man facing a charge for reckless homicide in a heroin overdose case will now spend several years in state prison for violating probation from a 2013 theft case.

36 year old Benjamin Dehn was sentenced last week to three years in a state prison, plus one year extended supervision, by Judge Rebecca Persick.  Dehn was serving probation for theft and receiving stolen property charges, connected to the unlawful use of a personal check from a Town of Sherman home in May of 2013.

According to the criminal complaint, the owner of the check believed a son stole it and had it cashed for six-hundred dollars.  Investigators with the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department were able to determine the son was involved, and got Dehn to write the check out.

The new sentence comes after Dehn was charged last month for his alleged role in providing the heroin that killed Brian Glynn in Cedar Grove back in September.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - After Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday, a number of non-profit groups are reminding people today that there’s more to the holiday season than shopping.  Giving Tuesday began a few years ago as a way to bring awareness to what non-profit and charitable groups do in the area they serve, and raise funds for them.

A number of groups in Sheboygan County, whether based in or have offices in the area, will be doing their part.  One of them is the John Michael Kohler Arts Center.  Chief Advancement Officer Cynthia Echols says they are using the day to raise money and meet a goal.  “We had a couple of very generous donors who agreed that they would do some matching for us.  Their challenge to us was to raise 20-thousand dollars by midnight on December 1st.  And if so, they would kick in enough additional giving to triple that, up to 60-thousand total.”

Echols says they began this fundraising recently, and as of November 30 they were over the halfway point.  Echols says the money will be use to keep the center free to the public.  "It’s what’s called general operating, and what that means is it’s basically keeping the lights on, making sure that’s it’s safe and clean, and that’s our basic platform to do all of the other programs that we do."

Echols adds that no matter what is done by non-profits on Giving Tuesday, the main goal is to show that there are other ways to give time and money to help groups that serve the area one lives in.  “One reason we’re doing it is to call attention not to just the arts center, but to every non-profit; all of the good work in the non-profit sector.  Just to remind people that after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, time to maybe reflect on how you can give back to your community, and you can do that by giving through one of the non-profits in your community, and they give back to the community all year long.”

FOND DU LAC, WI (WHBL/KFIZ) - For the second time in as many days Fond du Lac firefighters start out their day with a house fire.

The latest fire call came in shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday, when firefighters were dispatched to a duplex in the 300 block of West 2^nd Street.  Around 25 firefighters were needed either at the scene, to put the fire out and keep it from spreading to other homes, or provide other coverage in the city.  Red Cross members were also on scene to provide food and drink to firefighters.

Fire Chief Peter O’Leary says the duplex wasn’t occupied as a new owner just took over possession in the past few days. He says there was extensive damage to the interior of the duplex, but no one was injured.

As a precaution Alliant Energy shut off power to about 5 or 6 adjacent homes.

The cause for the fire is under investigation.