PLYMOUTH, WI (WHBL) - It’s back to work for United Auto Workers Local 833.

After authorizing a strike against the Kohler Company a little more than a month ago, members voted Wednesday to approve a new four-year contract with Sheboygan County’s largest employer.  The union says 91-percent of the over 18-hundred members who voted at Plymouth High School voted in favor.

What is known about the contract is that it will have wage increases each year, plus increased benefits and lower health care costs for employees.

A key issue that led to the strike was a two-tier wage system set up when the two sides agreed to their most recent contract in 2010.  The system pays Tier-B employees, consisting mostly of recent and temporary/seasonal hires, at a lower rate than Tier-A employees, consisting mostly of people who have been with the company for years.

The union was trying to get rid of this system in the hope to have all employees paid at the same rate.  Kohler wanted to keep it, saying it will ensure the local plants can remain competitive and continue to pursue future job growth in Sheboygan County.  In the end, the two-tier system will remain in place, but the gap in pay between them will shrink over the four-year contract period.

Union President Tim Tayloe says it’s a good feeling to get everybody back to work.  “The community now; we’ve got to rebuild it, put everybody’s minds at ease and everybody back to work.  It came at a good time, done right before the holidays.”

In a statement, Kohler President and CEO David Kohler said the company is pleased a contract has been ratified and will maintain a competitive wage structure to keep their Wisconsin facilities growing with new jobs.  He added they are ready to welcome back workers and “continue to work hard to exceed our customer expectations.”

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Cedar Grove man will have to serve one year in state prison and one year extended supervision for possessing heroin found after he overdosed at an Oostburg home  in June.

Judge Timothy Van Akkeren sentenced 36 year old Adam Didier this week after a plea deal was reached, where Didier pleaded no contest to one count each of possessing a narcotic drug and bail jumping.  A count of possessing drug paraphernalia and three counts of bail jumping were dismissed.

The criminal complaint against him states Sheboygan County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call back on June 13 at a home on East Union Avenue in Oostburg of a man possibly suffering from a heroin overdose.  Deputies found the man, Didier, unresponsive, and he was given Narcan to help him recover.

While treatment took place, a deputy talked to a woman who was at the home at the time.  She reportedly said she noticed Didier went into the bathroom for 15 to 20 minutes, and then went into the basement.  About 20 minutes later she called for him, but after not hearing anything she went down and found him unresponsive.

Once Didier recovered, he was asked by deputies if he had taken heroin, to which he denied any use. However, the department found evidence of heroin and its use at the home after getting permission from its owner to search it.

Didier is scheduled to serve his sentence after he finishes serving time for an Ozaukee County drunk driving incident from New Years Eve last year.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Random Lake man was sentenced to two years probation for his role in stealing over two thousand dollars from the ATM at the National Exchange Bank and Trust in Adell nearly three years ago.

28 year old Brandon Erickson received the sentence from Judge L. Edward Stengel this week, which was withheld given he is serving time in state prison for two Ozaukee County crimes from 2014.

The criminal complaint against Erickson states surveillance video spotted two people using various tools to break into the ATM  on December 23, 2012, taking the cash and causing damage that required the machine’s replacement.

During their investigation, the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department interviewed several people who were in contact with one of the suspects who committed the crime, Ian Kinney.  He allegedly described how he and Erickson were targeting ATMs for money over several months in 2012, including the bank ATM in Adell.

Kinney was given 90 days jail and two years probation for his role in the Adell crime back in August.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - When a person is charged for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, it typically means the person consumed some sort of alcohol before getting behind the wheel.  There is also the chance a person could be inhibited due to the use of prescription pills or medication, which could also lead to this charge.

The latter reportedly happened on December 15, leading Sheboygan County prosecutors to charge 37 year old Jason Des Jardins with his fifth OWI and second revocation charges.

The criminal complaint against him details what Sheboygan Police found when they responded to a two vehicle accident at the intersection of Eighth Street and Riverfront Drive.  Police found a Volkswagen with extensive rear-end damage, and an Infiniti SUV with its front bumper on the road as well as other front-end damage.

An officer talked to the driver of the Infiniti, identified as Des Jardins, regarding what happened.  Des Jardins said he hit the other vehicle after that vehicle switched lanes and stopped suddenly in front of him.

The officer claims he noticed Des Jardins had glazed eyes and slurred speech, prompting him to ask if he had any alcohol recently.  Des Jardins denied this.  He did add he takes Zolptem for a sleep condition, and was trying to make his way to a pharmacy to fill his prescription.

Des Jardins was taken to St. Nicholas Hospital after he complained of neck and lower back pain.  Before the officer went along he talked to Des Jardins’ wife who arrived at the scene.  She informed the officer that her husband does take Zolptem, but also was taking Xanax to help with PTSD he suffers from after serving time in the military.

At the hospital, the officer performed field sobriety tests on Des Jardins, such as following a pen with one’s eyes and reciting certain parts of the alphabet and number orders.  Based on those results, the officer determined Des Jardins was under the influence.

As Des Jardins was checked out by medical staff, the officer noticed a pill bottle and several pills that were Alprazolam, better known as Xanax.  The officer reportedly had to prevent Des Jardins from taking a few of the pills at the hospital before he was released after medical personnel determined he was uninjured.

Des Jardins now faces over six year in prison if found guilty.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Sheboygan’s Common Council has seen five of its members step down over the past year for various reasons.  Two of those people will be stepping down at the end of 2015, Second District's Jodi Vander Weele and Third District's Darryl Carlson.  How the city will proceed with filling these positions will be different for each.

Mayor Mike Vandersteen tells WHBL News the seat currently held by Jodi Vander Weele in District 2 will be filled by voters in her district.  “Jodi’s term ends in April, so that seat will just be filled by the election coming up, and it will be vacant until after the election.”  Her district covers wards 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 on the city's northwest side.

As for Carlson's seat, Vandersteen says timing will cause a different approach. “His notice and resigning at the end of the year, the city attorney advised me that it would be better to fill this one through the council election process rather than the voting process because there wasn’t proper time for people to circulate papers and everything after the resignation is effective.”

That means people living in Carlson's district, which covers wards 10, 11 and 12 on the city's east side just north of the downtown area, who wish to take over the seat will need to get in touch with City Hall.  “They will be presented to the council at the first meeting in January, which is January 4.  All they need to do is write a letter to the City Clerk, let them know about their interest in running and present a brief resume.  At the council meeting they will have an opportunity to make about five minutes worth of comments before the election.  And then the council members will elect the person to serve in that role for the remainder of this year and then the following year of Darryl Carlson’s term.”

To recap, the members of the Sheboygan Common Council who have resigned in 2015 are Kevin Matichek, Eldon Burg, David Van Akkeren, Vander Weele, and Carlson.

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) - Back in September the State Department of Justice began their statewide “Dose of Reality” campaign to bring more attention to opiate overdoses and addictions to this chemical, either by using heroin or abusing prescription drugs.

Now with some funds in place, several local entities are coming together to begin a localized effort.  This will include Sheboygan County departments, law enforcement, schools, and health care providers.

Sheriff Todd Priebe says the effort will be two-pronged.  One is to bring attention to those who are suffering from addiction, which can fall into two groups. “We’re talking about those that have been fighting life addictions, various types of drugs throughout their lifetime.  It’s a revolving door for some of those folks.  Then we have folks that have been prescribed opioid based medications because of surgery and pains and things of that nature, and they find themselves addicted.”  Priebe cited a stat that possibly one out of four people prescribed opiate pain medication become addicted.

Liz Abler, Public Health Nurse with the Sheboygan County Department of Health and Human Services, says addiction comes from the effect of the drug on a person's brain. “Drug addiction is a brain disease, and because of how drugs actually change the way the brain works that people who are addicted to drugs, they just can’t stop using them even when they really want to.”

Abler adds that part of today's problem with opiate addictions is due to what doctors did not to long ago.  “In the 1990’s up until about 2000 assessing pain when you went into the doctor’s office or the hospital became what we referred to as another vital sign, like when you went in and you had your temperature, your blood pressure, your pulse; they did what they called a pain assessment.  You might remember on a scale from one to ten ‘are you having pain today?’ ‘What is it?’ And then we began treating that pain.  And the doctors and the health care providers became responsible and started prescribing medication, a lot of it opioid medication."

The second approach the local program will do is bring added attention to how family and friends of those suffering from an addiction.  Priebe says that people have the misconception that they can't do anything, but indeed they can when it comes to starting the detox process.  “Because these treatment facilities like Teen Challenge and Genesis; they’re not going to take you unless you’re detoxed.  Well you can do that at home.”

The official start of the local "Dose of Reality" program will begin in January.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Traffic was slowed down for a short while around the I-43/Highway 28 interchange late Friday morning, but not for an accident.

Electrical crews have been busy working on the lines in this portion of Sheboygan County.  As part of their work, they placed a new wire for a power line across the interstate.

To aid with safety, the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department closed the on-ramp from 28 to 43 northbound so that crews could have the room needed to get the line up in the air.  There was also a rolling lane closure along the interstate as the line was raised.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - He just can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble at the Sheboygan County Detention Center.  Sheboygan County prosecutors leveled 32 year old Tyler Metzner of Sheboygan Wednesday with eight new charges - three for assault by prisoner and five for bail jumping.

The latest criminal complaint details what Sheboygan County Sheriff’s deputies heard from corrections officers regarding what Metzner did on December 11.

One officer told the deputy he was helping to watch Metzner as he walked around the center when Metzner allegedly spat at him.  Following a shower, Metzner was again watched by the same corrections officer as he made his way back to his cell, and again the officer claims he was spat on by Metzner.

Another corrections officer told the deputy she was aiding another officer in feeding Metzner later in the day.  She said they were using a blue impact bag to protect themselves, given Metzner has thrown items through the food shoot in the past.  This time, the officer claims Metzner threw feces, hitting the officer in the thigh.  Metzner reportedly apologized to the officer.

The deputy would meet Metzner in his cell, and he noticed there were feces smeared on the cell’s windows and walls.  When asked, Metzner reportedly admitted that he did something wrong and asked if he would be charged.  The deputy said he would, and when he began listing them Metzer is alleged to have said “Go f*&# yourself and go to the Masonic Temple and kill yourself.”

Metzner has a lengthy list of charges for his actions at the Sheboygan County Detention Center over the past few months.  They include the damaging of surveillance cameras and sprinkler heads.

Metzner was taken into custody after he was charged for threatening numerous people at random in late September near Vreeke’s Tavern in Sheboygan with a switchblade.

Online court records also show that for some of the charges, Metzner has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental defect.  Court proceedings are scheduled as well for other charges this upcoming week.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Plymouth man will be spending a long time in the state prison system for sexually assaulting his toddler son for over a year.

Judge L. Edward Stengel sentenced 44 year old Scott Saeger this week to ten years of confinement, followed by 16 years extended supervision.  The sentence comes after Saeger pleaded no contest to a count of repeated sexual assault of the same child, having committed at least three violations of first-degree sexual assault.

The charge came about after Plymouth Police began investigating a complaint from early November 2014.

The criminal complaint states the then four year old told investigators he would do “naked stuff” with his dad, Saeger, at various places where he and other family members live, adding that when they did this “it hurt."

A later interview with the child’s mother determined that Saeger was watching his son when she would be gone during the evenings to attend classes at Lakeshore Technical College.

The most recent incident prior to the interview occurred when the three of them were together to celebrate the son’s fourth birthday in late October, 2014.  They spent the night at a hotel near Plymouth, but the following morning the mother found her son crying and with his pants unzipped and lowered.

The complaint adds that there was an investigation for an earlier complaint in February of 2014 involving the same child, but it did not proceed due to the inability of the son to articulate his story to investigators.

PLYMOUTH, WI (WHBL) - A Plymouth woman has been making headlines recently for selling dog food as heroin.  That’s not the whole story, however, as criminal complaints filed by Sheboygan County prosecutors this week show that this alleged action was just the beginning of her criminal troubles for her interactions with illegal drugs.

In total, 22 year old Megan Meyer was charged with five offenses Wednesday and Thursday.  They include two for imitation of a controlled substance, one for possession of drug paraphernalia, and two for bail jumping.

The complaints begin with a drug overdose incident in a City of Plymouth home December 13.  While three people inside the home were arrested and charged, two of them claimed Meyer and Jerome Brost were with them when they purchased the heroin in Milwaukee earlier that day that led to the overdose.

That had Plymouth Police on alert to find the two and arrest them for probation warrants.  It was just after midnight on December 15 when an officer found Brost entering a vehicle that did not have its headlights on.  A traffic stop was conducted, and the officer found Brost in the vehicle, as well as Meyer in the driver's seat.

Both were taken into custody, but before leaving the scene Meyer reportedly asked an officer to get her cell phone, wallet and keys from the vehicle.  When officers complied, they found an orange needle cap, cotton balls, two elastic tie-offs, and “binders" - a term for tightly folded pieces of paper to transport drugs in.

When interviewed, both Meyer and Brost reportedly admitted to have traveled to Milwaukee on December 14 to purchase heroin, but they were unable to use it because Brost spilled it.

Later on in the day of December 15, Meyer talked with Sheboygan County Sheriff deputies at the Sheboygan County Detention Center about a controlled buy that the county MEG unit conducted on November 18 with her as the seller.  Details on that sale in a criminal complaint state a confidential informant got word that Meyer was willing to sell her a Percocet pill.

An investigator set up a controlled buy in Plymouth, where they received what was thought to be the Percocet and heroin.  Meyer told the buyer she needed to get rid of the stuff before a probation agent visited her home.  The drug unit analyzed the items, but they were determined not to be drugs at all.

When interviewed at the detention center, Meyer reportedly admitted that she sold fake items to the undercover agent.  She used crushed dog food to pose as heroin, and an aspirin as the Percocet pill.  When asked why she did this, she claimed it was to get back at the informant for stealing a car seat from her.

Meyer now faces over 19 years in prison if found guilty of all charges.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - The Sheboygan Police Department is investigating a disturbance that took place in the downtown area early Saturday morning that left one injured.

Lieutenant Scott Mittelstadt says the incident occurred around 1:55 a.m. in the area of North 12th Street and Michigan Avenue, and involved two men who know each other.

One of the men, a 36 year old from Sheboygan, had to go to Sheboygan Memorial Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.  The injuries could have been from being stabbed, but Lt. Mittelstadt says this could not be confirmed when he spoke to WHBL News a few hours after the incident.

An investigation continues, and police are looking for a 41 year old Sheboygan man who may have been involved.  Anyone with information about the disturbance is asked to contact Sheboygan Police.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.

TOWN OF MOSEL, WI (WHBL) - Alcohol may have been a factor in a one vehicle accident that injured two people north of Sheboygan Sunday morning.

The Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department says they got word of the accident around 4:50 a.m. on I-43 just south of County Road MM in the Town of Mosel.

The initial investigation has determined a 21 year old female lost control of her vehicle as it was heading south on the interstate.  That vehicle rolled over several times.  The driver and a 21 year old female passenger were taken to area hospitals for treatment of injuries.

An investigation continues.  The sheriff's department was assisted at the scene by Howards Grove First Responders, Orange Cross Ambulance, and the Haven Fire Department.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Click on the link below to access this week's episode of "A Closer Look", a public affiars program on WHBL and WSCS.

This week's program features a closer look at RCS, a private non-profit organization that helps those with disabilities learn skills that will help them live more independent lives.  Lynn Justinger, Employment Services Coordinator, and Ruth Weigel, Day Services Coordinator, detail more about the organization's history, what services and provided now, and how they work with the community for opportunities for their clients.

A Closer Look Replay: RCS

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) - Christmas is four days away, but the ground and landscape is looking more like early November instead of late December with no snow on the ground.  Will this mean we won't see a white Christmas?

Officially, the National Weather Service says a location has a white Christmas when they have at least one inch of measurable snow on the ground on Christmas Day.

Now there is still enough time to get enough snow, but Meteorologist Marc Kavinsky with the National Weather Service office in Sullivan says the chances are slim.  “It’s not looking too good.  I’m not encouraged. We are going to see the warmer weather continue for the next few days with more periods of light rain and drizzle.  I’d keep the lawn mowers handy over the snow shovels.”

Kavinsky says the reason for the lack of snow this December in our area has been the El Nino weather pattern, which is one of the strongest seen in recorded history, and has kept warmer air coming into the state.  "We just haven’t been able to tap into the cold air that’s across southern Canada, and the upper level steering winds have been keeping the warmer air in the area, warmer air and periods of wetter air, and we’re seeing the periods of rain across the area.”

For those still holding out hope, Kavinsky says there may be one last chance on Christmas Eve, but it would be a miracle if its happens. “It is possible, though, a weak system could bring us a little light snow the afternoon of Christmas Eve, but right now it’s looking very tenuous.  I wouldn’t count on that.”

As for the likelihood of having a white Christmas every year, Kavinsky says the chances are not as great as those in northern Wisconsin have.  "We’re looking at about a 51 to 60-percent chance across east central Wisconsin.  It decreases when we head toward Milwaukee, about a 40 to 50-percent chance from Milwaukee south to Racine/Kenosha for a white Christmas.”  In comparison, the northwoods of Wisconsin have at least a 75-percent chance for a white Christmas.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Sheboygan man is facing a number of charges for causing a disturbance and a one vehicle accident in Sheboygan’s downtown area early Monday morning.

The Sheboygan Police Department says they got word of the disturbance just before 1:30 a.m. at the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and South Water Street.  When law enforcement arrived, a Dodge Durango was determined to have flipped over at least once with all windows shattered and broken out and the driver fleeing.

Police, with assistance from the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department, found the 25 year old Sheboygan man about a half hour later hiding in a bush near the Sheboygan River.  He was transported to Sheboygan Aurora Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Police Lieutenant Doug Teunissen says he is facing six possible felonies and misdemeanors, and a number of traffic citations including an OWI and hit and run damage to city signs.

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) - For the second month in a row, Sheboygan County’s housing market saw a decline in sales but a rise in home prices.

The latest numbers from the Wisconsin Realtors Association show 84 homes were bought in the county in November, down 20 from the same month last year or a decline of just over 19-percent.  Meanwhile, the median price for homes sold increased just over 15-percent to 145-thousand dollars.

Sheboygan County has had a roller coaster of a housing market in 2015 as each month passes, with some months have increases and some months having decreases.  However, Wisconsin as a whole as seen a consistent increase throughout the year.

Last month the housing market statewide saw home sales and the median price increase three-point-four percent compared to last year.

As for the year total thus far, Wisconsin has had an increase in home sales by over 11-percent, with the median price up five-point-four percent.

Sheboygan County has had an increase as well, but only by two-point-nine percent in home sales and four-point-two percent in the median price.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Sheboygan man already serving time in the Sheboygan County Detention Center for drug related charges began serving another 30 days there last week for a fight with another inmate.  Judge Angela Sutkiewicz sentenced 25 year old Filiberto Gutierrez after he pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct misdemeanor.

The charge was issued last month in connection to an investigation by the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department into the October 7 fight.

The criminal complaint states video of the incident shows Gutierrez approached another inmate and started to hit him over the head with one of his jail sandals.  The two continued fighting until other inmates, then jail staff, broke them up.

When interviewed, the inmate that was attacked claimed Gutierrez attacked him because he was suspected of telling the guards about hooch, known as jailhouse liquor, which was found in their cell pod the previous day.

When investigators interviewed Gutierrez, he reportedly said the fight was an argument between the two of them that got physical and had nothing to do with the hooch.

Gutierrez remains jailed as he faces charges for possessing cocaine, possessing THC, illegally obtaining prescription drugs, and possessing drug paraphernalia.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Sheboygan man has begun serving an 18 month sentence in a state prison for causing serious injuries to a person at a Sheboygan night club last year.

Judge Angela Sutkiewicz sentenced 27-year-old Ramon Cortez last week to the prison time, plus two years extended supervision, after he pleaded no contest to a count of substantial battery.

The criminal complaint details what happened when Sheboygan Police were called to SheVegas on August 17 to investigate a disturbance.

Police found a man who had suffered a serious injury to his face and head, claiming he was hit with a bottle.  The person was taken to a hospital for treatment, with the possibility of needing plastic surgery.

Police were informed by the bartender that the suspect had left the night club already, but provided a description of the suspect based on his tattoos.  With assistance from surveillance cameras, police found the vehicle that the suspect left in.

The vehicle’s owner aided police in finding the suspect, Cortez, and he was taken into custody. When interviewed, Cortez reportedly claimed he acted in self defense after he was disrespected by the injured person.

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) - Last week the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department and the Sheboygan County Department of Health and Human Services told WHBL News they are preparing to work with other local entities to start a local campaign connected to the statewide "Dose of Reality" effort.  That effort is intended to combat the growth in heroin and prescription drug addictions in the area.

With the campaign starting next month, Sheriff Todd Priebe and Public Health Nurse Liz Abler provided information when it comes to helping a family member or friend suffering from an addiction start to detox.

Priebe says the first step is change the environment that the person lives in.  “The first thing is cleaning out the house - anything and everything that is drug related.  It’s the spoons, the needles, the prescription meds and things of that nature.”  Also recommended is ending all contact with people who were responsible for providing the substance that led to the addiction.

Abler says if one is going to help a person end their addiction, they will need to be ready.  “Being prepared and having all of these things in the house before the person starts the recovery process because, believe me, they’re not going to want to fell like going to the store to get these things.  They are going to need a family member.”

Once the detox begins, it will be important to have items ready to help a person get through the physical pains.  “Like Imodium can help with the stomach," says Abler, "Advil can help with aches and pains.  There’s things that are over the counter that can help with sleeping like Melatonin or Unisom.  It’s important to get their vitamins like calcium, potassium, magnesium because those are going to speed up the recovery process.  Also you lose those because you are going to suffer from the signs and symptoms similar to having the flu.  It can be like having a flu that’s ten times worse than having the normal flu.”

"They’re going to have diarrhea, constipation, body aches, insomnia, sweats, chills.  You might hear a lot of times about the skin feels like it’s crawling or burning," says Abler.  "They say it’s the worst thing, but it’s really worth it.  If people can start the recovery process, and to know that they may have relapses.  Relapses are very common, but we want to try to help these people work through this.”

Abler adds that while loved ones can help a person detox, there is help available in the county.  “We do have some recovery coaches in our county now, and that’s something that people may be able to access that will help them with recovery.”  More details on the "Dose of Reality" campaign will be public starting in January.

TOWN OF NEWTON, WI (WHBL) - A Sheboygan man is facing charges in Manitowoc County in connection to a high speed chase and a find of marijuana last Saturday.

The Manitowoc County Sheriff’s Department says a deputy spotted a vehicle just after 6 p.m. driving around 100 miles-per-hour south on County Road CR in the Town of Newton south of Manitowoc.  The deputy pursued for a few miles.  The chase ended when the vehicle struck a fence and tree in the Wetenkamp Pallet Company’s parking lot.

The driver, identified as 21 year old Quincy Soun, was taken to Holy Family Memorial Medical Center for treatment of a minor cut.

A search of the vehicle reportedly found approximately one pound of marijuana inside.

Soun made his first court appearance Monday for charges of possessing marijuana with intent to deliver, knowingly fleeing an officer, possessing drug paraphernalia, and a probation hold.  He also faces traffic violations, including speeding and reckless driving.

He remains in jail on the probation hold.

Newton EMS and Fire, and Manitowoc Fire and Rescue assisted at the crash scene.