SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - The Sheboygan Area School District has delayed a vote on a proposed sale of Field of Dreams North.

The district’s Board of Education was scheduled to discuss and possibly approve the sale Tuesday of the recreational land to Aurora Health Care so they could build a new outpatient care building.  However, neighbors of the Field of Dreams and other local residents voiced opposition to the plan for having been made public just one day earlier and questioning the placement of the medical building.

In exchange for the land purchase, Aurora would help the district and the city of Sheboygan build a new sports complex on the city’s southside with a focus on top-quality soccer fields.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Kevin Maticheck resigned from his Distrct 4 Alderman post today, amid felony charges filed against him for alleged repeated sexual assault of a minor. Sheboygan Police arrested Maticheck on Friday, February 6th, after following up on an anonymous tip that was phoned in to Crimestoppers one week prior.

The criminal complaint against the now former Alderman alleges that Kevin Maticheck developed a sexual relationship with a 15 year old boy, whom he met online eight months ago.  Investigators were pointed in the direction of the minor after discovering a separate relationship involving a 17 year old male.

Sheboygan Police Captain Kurt Brasser says investigators are pouring over computers and other electronic devices belonging to Kevin Matichek to determine if there are more possible victims .

The District 4 Common Council Seat is up for election in two months.

UNDATED (WHBL) - Congressman Glenn Grothman has announced his first series of town hall meetings since his election.  The Campbellsport Republican will be traveling around the state’s Sixth Congressional District as Congress takes a week off for the Presidents Day holiday.

Grothman will be in Sheboygan County Tuesday, February 17^th.  He will first meet constituents at the Mead Public Library in Sheboygan from 9 to 10, and then at the Plymouth Public Library from 3:30 to 4:30.

Grothman also announced this week his first authored bill.  It is a request to honor Fond du Lac native James “Maggie” Megellas with the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of the Bulge.  Grothman’s predecessor, Tom Petri, also made similar requests.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Two people face charges for burglarizing a Sheboygan home this week.

According to the criminal complaint, a homeowner on Lenz Court returned home Monday night to find 18 year old Dakota Hartl and 17 year old Sean Kuck inside trying to steal jewelry, make-up, and a wallet.  Kuck is also accused of punching a person and forcing them down some stairs.   Police arrested the two a short time later.

Both made their initial court appearances Wednesday.  Both face burglary charges, while Kuck is also charged for battery, possession of T-H-C and controlled substances, and carrying a concealed weapon.

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) - Sheboygan County will decide Tuesday which two of three candidates will run this April for an open judge seat on the county’s circuit court.  One of those people is Matthew Mooney, who has continued a family tradition when he became a lawyer over 14 years ago and works at his family’s practice in Plymouth.

Mooney, who has been the only judge for Plymouth’s municipal court since that begin in 2003, tells W-H-B-L News he has kept the idea of being a circuit court judge in his mind, and now is a chance to fulfill it with the retirement of Judge Terrence Bourke.  "Over the years I was able to gain experience and, at this point, felt that I was the most qualified candidate to run," says Mooney

Mooney says his experience has shown him what it required to be a good judge.  "Listen to those facts that come out, apply the facts to the law, and then come up with a common sense ruling," says Mooney.

Mooney faces Catherine Delahunt and Rebecca Persick in Tuesday’s primary.

Sheboygan, WI (WHBL) - Gene Schnurr of SheBoyGuns Shooter Supply says gun sales are through the roof for his business .

Schnurr says,“It’s almost like a pyramid it just keeps climbing and going up, and up, and up, and up."

The strong sales are in line with national trends which show a sharp rise in sales of firearms during the last three months of 2014, spurred on, Schnurr says, by a perceived rise in violent crimes.

Schnurr says, “All cause of the dangers of the street. You know, all of the drug dealing, the burglaries, the looting and stuff going on, the purse snatching.” 

With that, just as many women as men are loading up, according to Schnurr.

 “About 50/50 now.  It used to be only like 25/75, with seventy five percent men buying. Now it’s like 50/50,” says Schnurr

And, Schnurr says gun buyers come to Sheboygan from several cities to purchase weapons.

“I’m getting people from all over the state like from Racine, and Milwaukee, and up north in Marinette County. All different counties,“ Schnurr tells WHBL News .

The Top Seller at SheBoyGuns Shooter Supply is the Glock 22.

“The most popular firearm is a Glock model 22. That’s what the police and law enforcement use,” Schnurr says.

Note: Police Officers typically carry Glock .40 caliber firearms.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Sheboygan County Sheriff Todd Priebe is at odds with a local gun shop owner’s position on a perceived rise in crime in Sheboygan that is driving up gun sales .

The sheriff says the overall crime rate for 2014 in Sheboygan County is down. 

 “With the exception of burglaries. Our burglaries are up and, significantly up, and we do feel as if that is driven by our drug issue that we have throughout the county,” Preibe says .

Gene Schnurr, of SheBoyGuns Shooter Supply, recently told WHBL news that sales have skyrocketed at his store, which he co-owns.

Schnurr says, “All cause of the dangers of the street. You know, all of the drug dealing, the burglaries, the looting and stuff going on, the purse snatching."

Sheboygan saw a spate of high profile crimes in the last five months of 2014, including two burglaries at Glander Prescription Plus – with an additional attempted burglary, a string of armed robberies at local gas stations during the holiday season, and a shooting in November on South 10^th street that left two people wounded.

Sheriff Preibe admits Sheboygan has issues, but says the crime rise perception is not the reality.

 “Unfortunately what gets a lot of the attention is the high profile, negative stuff, and we have a tendency of dwelling on that.  I think we have more going for us than other areas. - and together, working hand-in-hand with the public, and with law enforcement, we can maintain a quality of life that we expect in our neighborhoods- but we do have to work together on it and we can achieve that,” the sheriff says.

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) - Three people will be on the ballot Tuesday for the race to fill an upcoming vacancy in Sheboygan County’s Circuit Court.  One of them is Rebecca Persick, who has been a part of the Sheboygan County Circuit Court System since appointed Court Commissioner in 2003.

Persick tells W-H-B-L News the duties of that position, such as jail intakes, family court, and issuing warrants, make her the most prepared to fill the soon to be open position with the retirement of Judge Terrence Bourke.  "You can’t get a closer experience to circuit court judge than being a court commissioner," says Persick.  "So is it identical?  No, but it’s the closest experience you can get."

Persick says her years as both Court Commissioner and prior attorney work have shown her a good judge will treat people with respect and explain their rationale when it comes to a decision.  "So when people walk out, they can feel satisfied that they got a fair hearing," says Persick.

Persick faces Catherine Delahunt and Matthew Mooney to be one of two people on the general election ballot for April.

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) - Some Sheboygan County residents will be most likely voting for their next state senator on Tuesday. One of those running is Lee Schlenvogt, who has been active in local politics for 25 years, currently serving as chairman of the Ozaukee County Board of Supervisors.

Schlenvogt tells WHBL News he has the experience to pick up where Glenn Grothman left off in the state Senate.  "This past year we achieved a zero tax increase at the county," says Schlenvogt.  "That’s not easy to do but we did it just through conservative leadership, and good staff, and just not backing down from some of the tough decisions."

Schlenvogt says he will focus on conservative ideals when it comes to the state budget and other issues.  "My main concerns are right to word and also I’m a real strong pro-lifer."

Schlenvogt faces Duey Storebel and Tiffany Koehler in the Republican primary Tuesday.  With no other ballot challengers, whoever wins next week will most likely earn the right to finish Grothman’s term in April.

You can hear more of our interview with Schlenvogt during "A Closer Look", this Sunday at 8:30 a.m.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Two days after being charged with repeated sexual assault of a minor, Kevin Matichek informed the City of Sheboygan he will resign his seat on the Common Council.

Mayor Mike Vandersteen tells W-H-B-L News he is pleased with Matichek’s decision.  "I think the intent there is to not have this detract anymore than it has from city business, and I expect that the council will accept that on Monday in the council meeting," says Vandersteen.

Vandersteen adds there was no indication from any council members to force Matichek out, and expects the seat to remain open until it is filled in the April election.

MILWAUKEE, WI (WHBL) - A former Sheboygan resident will serve 25 years in federal prison for sex trafficking and heroin distribution.  Federal prosecutors say evidence showed 33 year old Jason Guidry got three women addicted to heroin and use it to get them to work as prostitutes.

In announcing the sentence Friday, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin James Santelle says this was the first federal conviction in the state of someone who used addictive drugs to control the trafficking activities of his victims.

Sheboygan Police arrested Guidry in 2012, and Santelle commended the department’s detectives for their investigative work in the case.

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) -  Two young men from Sheboygan County made initial court appearance Friday as they face sexual assault charges in separate incidents.

22 year old Luis Santillan of Sheboygan is charged for getting a 15 year old girl pregnant last July at his former home on Indiana Avenue.  According to the criminal complaint, Santillan tells Sheboygan Police the sex was consensual.

Also charged is 18 year old Eric Risch of Random Lake for an incident at Amsterdam Beach Park near Cedar Grove this week.  According to the criminal complaint, the 18 year old female victim told Sheboygan County Sheriff deputies she wanted to stop the consented act but Risch did not allow it.

Both men face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

SHEBOYGAN COUNTY, WI (WHBL) - There are three Republicans trying to fill Glenn Grothman’s former seat in the State Senate.  One of them is Duey Stroebel, who previously was an Assemblyman for four year before losing to Grothman in a run for Congress last fall.

Stroebel tells WHBL News he will use his past work in Madison if elected back this spring.  "I’ve got a track record in the Assembly where you can see how I voted, you can see what I’ve done, you can see what I stood for," says Stroebel.  "I’ve been a fighter, and I’ve been willing to take on tough issues."

Stroebel says he will continue the conservative approach that Grothman championed when in the State Senate.  "Because that’s what’s right, that’s what works, and that’s what’s going to allow our state to move forward and succeed," says Stroebel.

Stroebel faces Lee Schlenvogt and Tiffany Koehler in Tuesday’s primary.  With no other ballot challengers, whoever wins will most likely win the general election in April.

PORT WASHINGTON, WI (WHBL) - Memories, or as some may have known it as Weiler’s, just north of Port Washington is starting its 25^th season for dinner theater.

Co-owner and manager Rolland Roebuck tells WHBL News it all began with a dream back in 1990, and he needed help from the Sheboygan area to get it going.  "It’s just a passion I had," says Roebuck.  "It was a dream that I had, and I walked in here and I could visualize it, and we’ve spent the past 25 years making it what it is today."

Today Memories offers dinner theater, comedy acts, murder mysteries, and hall rentals.  Rolland says it has become a one stop entertainment destination.  "You park your car, you come in and you enjoy your evening, and you don’t have to go anywhere, do anything, just enjoy yourself and then get your car and go home," says Roebuck.

More information can be found online at memoriesballroom.com.

Sheboygan, WI (WHBL) - While the average Sheboygan might have had enough of shoveling snow, and scraping ice off of windshields, for the average plow driver this winter is not snowy enough,yet .

That’s according to Toby Roth of Edgewood Landscaping in Sheboygan.

“Guys who rely on snow usually get hurt by it,” Roth says.

Typically, snow plow drivers rely on busy winter seasons to at least generate enough revenue for new equipment, or to maintain existing equipment, and cover operating costs.

But, Roth says that barring several weeks like the walloping  currently seen by New Englanders, this season is pretty much a bust snow-wise for Sheboygan plow drivers.

“For the beginning of the year we had a total of three inches from the beginning of December through January. So obviously at that point you’re not getting a lot of snow removal or anything done. “

“You can never guarantee at any point in time that it is going to snow. For guys who have forty or fifty accounts absolutely it’s a great time when it is snowing, but for everybody else, they’ve waited all year long for it to snow, and now we’ve gotten this -so, where they are for winter - no matter how much it snows for the rest of the year, they’ve already lost money for this year”

Roth adds that this Wisconsin winter is still young , and anything could happen

“If you want to plow and you have the capability you can certainly go out there and find work,” He says.

1979 might have served as an ideal winter for plow drivers who are looking to reap huge profits from an abundance of snow. Sheboygan saw 40” that year. Or, the years 2004, and 2005 which were back to back years of 27”.

SHEBOYGAN AND OZAUKEE COUNTIES, WI (WHBL) -  Two area state parts are looking for seasonal workers for the summer.

Both Kohler-Andrea and Harrington Beach state parks are looking for a laborer and cleaner from mid-May through Labor Day.  Duties include cleaning park facilities, mowing, general maintenance duties, and minor plumbing and electrical work.

Harrington Beach is also looking for a laborer and shuttle driver.  Duties would be the same, but also include driving park visitors from the main parking lot to Lake Michigan.

Those interested in applying must do so by the end of the month.  More information can be found at the D-N-R’s website, dnr.wi.gov

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Smoking in bed is being blamed for a mattress fire at a Sheboygan home Monday morning.

Sheboygan Fire Department Battalion Chief Gary Kolberg says firefighters and a Sheboygan Police officer were able to get a man out of the home on the 1800 block of North 10^th street just after 5am. The fire was quickly extinguished with damage limited to the mattress and a box spring.

The man was taken to an area hospital for minor burns and smoke inhalation.  A Sheboygan Police officer was also treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Kolberg says the man admitted to smoking in bed.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Kevin Matichek’s resignation to the Sheboygan Common Council was approved Monday night by all 12 council members present.

Matichek submitted his resignation two days after he was charged with repeated sexual assault of a minor for a past relationship with a 15 year old boy.  Sheboygan Police say Matichek also sexually assaulted a 17 year old and is continuing to investigate if there were other victims.

Matichek is due back in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Sheboygan Mayor Mike Vandersteen told common council members Monday a nomination for an area National Marine Sanctuary has been placed on a NOAA consideration list for approval.

The sanctuary, which would covers 875-square miles between Two Rivers and Port Washington, is intended to help boost local economies and bring attention to past shipwrecks.  "It would contain 34 known shipwrecks, including two of the oldest shipwrecks in Wisconsin, and 14 intact shipwrecks, four of them with standing masts," says Vandersteen

The new development does not guarantee a marine sanctuary will be approved, but it will be considered over the next several years.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Aurora is taking plenty of heat for pursuing a plan to purchase Field of Dreams North in Sheboygan so it can build a new outpatient medical building.

During Monday’s Common Council meeting, Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center President Dave Graebner says Aurora has been working on a plan for several years to expand its footprint in the area, with a goal to be able to control future changes over the long term.  "To serve the community it’s critical that we have a place that we have the ability to control, to be able to manage what is needed to serve the community," says Graebner.

Graebner says Aurora is willing to compensate for their proposed purchase, such as helping create a new park area on the other side of Taylor Drive and provide funding for new top-quality sports fields at Butzen Farms.