SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Two service clubs from Wilson Elementary School volunteered to ring bells on behalf of the Salvation Army during the holiday season. After school on a cold blustery day, members of the Above the Influence Club rang bells at the south side Pick ‘n Save. Student Council members gathered at the south side Wal-Mart to ring bells during winter break. The mission of both clubs is to do things for others in school and throughout the community.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - The colder than normal weather will not stop the Sheboygan Polar Bears from having their annual dip in Lake Michigan on New Year's Day. Member Larry Pratt says the event is still scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. at their usual location - north of Deland Park.
Anyone wanting to participate in this event is asked to meet at Dave’s Who’s Inn on Indiana Avenue at least 20 minutes beforehand to register and get mentally ready. Participants are reminded to bring extra clothes and other items to ensure you warm up after you go into the water. The event is free, and donations will be collected for the Special Olympics.
PLYMOUTH, WI (WHBL) - A Plymouth man has been formally charged for trying to rob the West Side Pantry this past Sunday evening. 25 year old Travis Diels faces an armed robbery charge for the December 29 incident.
According to the criminal complaint, Diels allegedly went behind the counter and demanded several times that the clerk open the cash register. The clerk did not comply and, instead, pressed a panic button, forcing Diels to flee the business.
The next day, following up on a tip, Plymouth Police conducted a search warrant at a residence on Beth Circle in Plymouth where Diels was arrested.
He faces up to 40 years in prison if found guilty.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Milwaukee man was hospitalized Thursday night after he rolled his car on Dairyland Drive west of Haven in the town of Mosel. The Sheriff’s Department said 32 year old Jose Medina-Martinez was headed north around 8pm when he hit a patch of snow and lost control of his car. It slid broadside into the ditch and rolled onto its top. Medina-Martinez was taken to St Nicholas Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
RANDOM LAKE, WI (WHBL) - For the second year in a row, a Random Lake student has received a state art honor. Middle school student Reilly McMullen was one of around 40 students from across Wisconsin to receive the W.T. Graham Youth Art Award for 2013.
School art teacher Brian Sommersberger said the artwork Reilly created was in the style of artist Wayne Thiebaud, who was famous for his dessert themed drawings. Reilly did the same thing with five to six different desserts he liked and put them on paper in his own style.
Reilly’s piece was also selected to be shown in the State Capitol and at the Wisconsin State Fair last year. Sommersberger said Reilly gets to keep his artwork, but his accomplishment will be remembered in the district with a plaque that will be hung in the school.
Sommersberger hopes to have another winning art entry this year.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - The former technology coordinator for the Random Lake School District will spend one year in prison for stealing hundreds of tablets from the district. Judge James Bolgert sentenced 33 year old Mark Ustby of Milwaukee Friday for two counts of theft.
It was discovered just before the start of the current school year that Ustby had taken around 600 tablets and laptops from the district, worth around 200-thousand dollars, over a year’s time to sell on Craigslist. Prior to sentencing, Ustby told the court that he sold the tablelts to cover the overspending he did in his life.
In additional to the prison time, Ustby will serve one year extended supervision and pay the district restitution for legal costs.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Students in the Sheboygan Area School District will be getting a three day weekend due to the expected cold temperatures Monday. Superintendent Joe Sheehan said it is because the National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Warning for the entire state.
The warning, in place across Wisconsin from Sunday evening through Tuesday morning, is issued when the feel like temperatures of at least 30 below zero is expected. This can cause frostbite on expose skins within 10 minutes.
Other school districts in the county that we talked to Friday follow a similar procedure. Sheehan said he and his counterparts work together in these situations, communicating with one another on how their individual districts are handling any weather related situation. Sheehan expects other districts to make their decisions regarding classes on Monday over the weekend.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Workers at Rockline Industries on Maryland Avenue were evacuated from the factory when a bomb threat note was found in the building about 10:30 Sunday night. Sheboygan Police said it took about two hours to check the building and, when nothing was found, workers were allowed back in. Police are continuing to investigate.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Schools throughout the Sheboygan area have shutdown for the day today in the wake of dangerously cold weather. Travel on the interstate and in rural areas is hazardous due to whiteout conditions caused by blowing snow. Some light lake effect snow along with the existing snow and winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour are producing zero visibility at times on the road and wind chills of 30 to 50 below zero. One other weather related note - the city of Sheboygan has cancelled today’s garbage collection.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - State Senator Joe Leibham of Sheboygan continues to oppose raising the speed limit in Wisconsin. Legislation was approved in the Assembly last year, but the Senate leadership says it will not be taken up.
Leibham on Sheboygan’s Morning News, says the legislation is currently in the Transportation Committee, of which he is a member. He said this issue is not a top priority for him and there are other matters the state Legislature can focus on first.
Leibham said public support would determine whether or not he could support raising the speed limit on four-lane highways to 70. Of the people that have contacted him from the 9th Senate District, he said a majority of them oppose this issue.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - There is an effort underway to preserve the Sheboygan Armory and save it from whatever fate the city has in store - whether it be sale or demolition. Members of an organization called "The Armory Foundation" appeared Monday night before the City Council to serve notice of their intentions. Attorney Kirk O’bear said, "We just want to put our name into the hat that we are a group of people that are interested in providing support and help and hopefully working out a win-win scenario whereby we're not interested in costing the city anything, but providing community support for something we view as an incredible asset that we'd all hate to see go to waste." Teacher Collin Kachel said the future of the building has been left up in the air since Spaceport Sheboygan left for a new location in South Pier. He told aldermen that the Armory can again host things like basketball games, the Hmong New Year, dances, and reunions and again become a financial asset. He said the group has set up a website at thearmoryfoundation.com and their goal is to return the Armory to its former glory and more. The group’s website indicates they are willing to assume responsibility for the scheduling of all events, get the building on the historical register and restore it to its original beauty and prestige.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Schools throughout the Sheboygan area have joined those around the state in closing for a second straight day due to the cold weather. It’s pretty much a carbon copy of Monday with temperatures at 15 below zero and wind chills down to 36 below as of 4am. The complete list of cancellations can be seen by clicking on the following link: http://whbl.com/cancellations/
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Two Rivers man has been charged with felony endangering safety and criminal damage to property in a road rage incident which occurred in the city of Sheboygan over the weekend. 40 year old Daniel Wright was formally charged in Sheboygan County Court Monday. Authorities said it happened at South Taylor and Washington Avenue when a vehicle driven by a Sheboygan man pulled out in front of Wright. Wright allegedly caught up to the vehicle on Washington Avenue, pulled alongside and then sideswiped the other vehicle, denting the right front fender. His own vehicle sustained damage to a side view mirror and the driver’s door. Wright admitted he did it out of frustration.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Sheboygan man is facing numerous misdemeanor charges after allegedly breaking into at least 7 vehicles on Sheboygan’s south side over the Christmas holidays.
23 year old Scott Popovich was charged after police were called by his grandmother, who said Popovich was again trying to steal her Oxycodone pills. According to the criminal complaint, officers then searched Popovich’s room and found numerous items which had been allegedly stolen from vehicles in the neighborhood on December 27th and 28th. The items included two GPS units, an Ipod, and a purse with items inside valued at $400.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A race for mayor in the city of Sheboygan Falls and a lack of primaries highlights the Spring Election. Tuesday was the deadline for candidates to file nomination papers. Incumbent Randy Meyer is being challenged by Daniel Krueger for the office of Mayor in Sheboygan Falls in April and two incumbent aldermen are being challenged. Randy Messner has opposition from Peter Weber in the 2nd District and Dawn Beimel is being challenged by Robert Spatz in the 3rd District.
In the city of Sheboygan there will be two aldermanic contests. Julie Kath, hoping to return to the council, is challenging Scott Lewandoske in the 5th district, and Bryan Bitters is looking to unseat Joel Pentico in the 6th. Meanwhile, four incumbents will run unopposed while incumbent Scott Versey isn't running in the 3rd district, leaving Mike Damrow unopposed for that seat. And, newcomer Ty Dassler will run unopposed for a one-year term in the 1st disrict.
In the city of Plymouth Mayor Don Pohlman is running unopposed, as are four aldermanic candidates.
Three incumbents, including Board President Dave Gallianetti, are seeking re-election to the Sheboygan Area School District Board without opposition.
There are also scattered races for town, village and school board posts throughout Sheboygan County.
MANITOWOC, WI (WHBL) -
The Manitowoc County Coroner’s Office has released the identity of the person killed in a southside Manitowoc house fire last night. Coroner Curtis Green said an autopsy performed this morning confirmed the victim as 90 year old Arnold Goeke of 1711 Phillipen Street. Goeke died from carbon monoxide and smoke inhalation after his house caught fire last night.
He was the only person in the home when firefighters responded around 8 o'clock Tuesday night. They were told there was heavy smoke, visible flames, and a possible victim inside. Officials said Goeke was removed and taken to a hospital, where resuscitation efforts failed.
Fire Battalion Chief Tim Herzog said the blaze was brought under control about an hour after units were called, and one crew stayed overnight. Five other fire and rescue departments responded. The Salvation Army provided hot beverages for firefighters working in sub-zero temperatures. A city bus was used as a warming shelter. The state Fire Marshal is helping Manitowoc authorities investigate the cause of the blaze.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - The city of Sheboygan will be meeting with representatives of a group that wants to rejuvenate the Armory. Mayor Mike Vandersteen, on Sheboygan’s Morning News yesterday, said the city had no definite plans for the building once it is vacated by Spaceport Sheboygan. For now, the building will be 'mothballed' so that no deterioration will occur from its current condition.
Members of The Armory Foundation appeared before the city council on Monday to say they are interested in taking over the operation of the Armory and restoring it to what it used to be. Vandersteen said city officials plan to meet with the group, and in the end will work on a staff recommendation to the city council on what they see the best use for the building.
Spaceport Sheboygan announced last month it is moving to the South Pier District.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - The Sheboygan County District Attorney’s office has a new assistant DA. District Attorney Joe DeCecco said Alexandra Smathers was hired to fill the opening left by Jennifer Bork, who recently resigned.
Smathers, a UW Law School graduate, was recently a part-time ADA in Columbia County. She also in the past interned in the Milwaukee County DA office and was a special prosecutor for the U.S. District Court Magistrates in Milwaukee.
DeCecco says Smathers began full time duties last week, and has adjusted quickly to Sheboygan County’s court procedures.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - The Sheboygan Police Department has formally recommended a reckless homicide charge against a 31 year old Sheboygan man for a heroin overdose death from last July.
Captain Jim Veeser said the charge stems from the July 19 incident that killed a 30 year old Sheboygan woman. Subsequent information has determined the man provided the narcotics to the victim prior to her death.
Veeser said the suspect has been in the Sheboygan County Detention Center since July 30 due to other drug related charges and is currently on probation.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - A Sheboygan Falls man faces charges for breaking into a Sheboygan gas station and stealing beer. 21 year old Joshua Hart is charged with burglary, criminal damage, and retail theft for the incident at the Petro Gas Station on the 1200 block of Union Avenue during the early morning hours of January 5.
According to the criminal complaint, Hart turned himself in Tuesday afternoon. He told Sheboygan Police he was walking back from a house party when he passed the gas station and wanted more beer. The business was closed, but Hart broke a front window to enter the business, took a 12-pack of Coors Light and left. Damage to the business is estimated at around 500 dollars.
Hart said he felt extremely guilty about the crime and wanted to make things right.
