Is Milwaukee County footing the bill for removing Deep Thought? What's next for the abandoned boat
After the boat's removal from the lake on May 6, questions remain about how much of the bill Milwaukee County will be left to pay.
In an email to County Executive David Crowley and other department officials on May 7, County Board Supervisor Steve Taylor wrote: "The fun and games are over and I am asking for full transparency on the final cost and if Milwaukee County is paying for any shortfall."
In an interview with the Journal Sentinel, Taylor shared his concerns about the financial impact it could have on the already cash-strapped county and hopes that there are legal avenues that could be investigated to prevent taxpayers from covering the cost of its removal.
"The story's not over," Taylor told the Journal Sentinel.
The journey of Deep Thought began when it was left stranded during a thunderstorm by a Mississippi couple in mid-October after they ran out of gas and landed on the lakeshore. Since then, unsuccessful efforts to remove the boat placed it as one of Milwaukee's signature attractions with visitors coming from all over.
And pilgrimages turned to a funerary tribute on May 6, when a crowd of about 100 onlookers gathered to cheer and mourn as the boat was dragged out of the lake.
Crowley's office did not immediately respond to questions.
The county's park department signed a $55,000 contract with a Milwaukee-based company, All City Towing, to remove the boat, according to a statement from the county.
Supervisor Sheldon A. Wasserman, whose district was a temporary home for Deep Thought, told the Journal Sentinel that the dollar amount was the upper limit the county was willing to pay for the boat's removal.
All City Towing is holding Deep Thought, and it is unclear how much storing the boat with the company might cost. Wasserman said he expects the boat to be held there for two or three months until the county sorts out the legalities of the boat's ownership.
"It's junk. It's not gonna be repaired," he said.
While Wasserman doesn't know exactly how much or if the county will have to pay, but he suspects the money would be pulled from an emergency fund.
At least two donations to help finance Deep Thought's removal from the Milwaukee shoreline hit headlines.
In late April, an anonymous donor contacted Milwaukee's Mayor Cavalier Johnson to provide financial support for part of its removal. It is not clear who or how much was proffered. Since then, the anonymous donor has not contacted the county, and no formal offer has been received, according to a statement from Wasserman.
A week later, the Daniel W. Hoan Foundation donated $10,000 to the effort.
The county continues to investigate pursuing legal avenues for reimbursement, given the tenuous nature of the boat's ownership. In mid-April, it was determined that Milwaukee County was responsible for salvaging the boat as it was left on county property by its Mississippi-based owners, Sherry and Richard Wells, after they ran out of gas.
The couple previously expressed an inability to pay for the boat's removal.
Wasserman suggested in his weekly newsletter that the original owners from Michigan, who sold the boat to the Wellses, may ultimately have to pay. At the time, the Milwaukee County corporation counsel was working on an outline for who was legally responsible to pay for the boat.
Wasserman has since clarified that the corporation counsel's office would not pursue legal action against the Wellses.
'There are ongoing questions about who holds the title, and if the transfer was never properly completed, the original owners may still be liable,' Wasserman said on May 6. 'Either way, Milwaukee County residents shouldn't be forced to cover the cost of cleaning up after out-of-state tourists who abandoned their boat and their responsibility.'
In the event the county is left to pay the final bill, Wasserman said that the county is seriously considering chopping up the boat and selling parts of it as mementos.
"There's a real market there from what we've been seeing," Wasserman said, adding that any potential money could be put toward paying off the salvaging company.
The day of the boat's removal from Lake Michigan, an MATC student sold a handful of salvaged pieces of Deep Thought for $10.
Taylor has since requested an agenda item to go before the appropriate committees — possibly including the county's finance, parks and culture and judiciary and law committees — to glean more details about any other additional costs the boat's removal could have on the county.
"It's kind of funny how it's taken a life of its own," Taylor said of Deep Thought. "But we need to just wrap this story up."
Contact Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or vswales@gannett.com. Follow her on X @Vanessa_Swales.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County might pay for removal of abandoned boat Deep Thought
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Buzz Feed
The Camping Safety Items You Should Have On Hand
Safety and emergency preparedness are typically two notions that most folks already take into consideration when it comes to camping and outdoor adventures. That still doesn't mean it's not important to take stock of what's in your current stash of gear, or, if you're a wilderness newbie, to learn what essentials to take. Cody Lundin is an Arizona-based survival instructor who teaches living skills and urban preparedness. He said that the specific essential gear that a person takes outdoors is really based upon 'their bioregion, the intention of the trip, personal skill level and experience.''In other words, if I head into the mountains with spruce and fir trees, or if I go into one of our four North American deserts, the gear that I carry may change to adapt to that specific landscape,' he said, adding that winter survival and desert survival are opposite outdoor temperature extremes that can kill the unprepared hiker or Lundin said that there are items that have been carried in the wilderness for thousands of years by native peoples that are just as valid today in a modern outdoor survival kit. So now that you've already got your tent, your sleeping bag is packed and the s'mores provisions are locked and loaded, consider the following list of items that Ludin and other wilderness experts say they always bring out into field — — plus guidance on how to make your next camping trip safe and fun. Stormproof strike anywhere matches and match safe Survival instructor Cory Lundin stressed the importance of having fire in survival situations and the modern and reliable lighting tools to make one. "I prefer a gross motor way to create fire, meaning that it is easier to do when stressed out, with cold hands, in inclement weather, or the dozens of other things that can go sideways in the wilderness," Ludin said. "Save the exotic fire by friction sets for having fun, making fun of crap TV survival shows, or showing off to your friends."According to Ludin, he carries at least three different fire lighting methods in his personal kit because there are pros and cons to each type of ignition. One method is a pack of strike anywhere matches stored in a match safe. Based on this guidance, we chose this set of 25 storm- and wind-proof matches that are easy to light, will burn up to 15 seconds each and will relight even after being submerged in water. They come in a floating and waterproof match box that features an integrated and replaceable them from Amazon for $8.95+ (available in three colors). A Ferro Rod fire starter The Ferro Rod with striker is another fire lighting tool that came at the suggestion of Creekmore, as well as Lundin, who explained that it's a magnesium bar with a ferrocerium rod embedded in the side as an ignition source. The sharp-toothed sparker effectively shaves off hot ribbons of magnesium to make quick and easy work of lighting tinder. Creekmore suggests taking along cotton balls dipped in petroleum jelly when packing the Ferro Rod because these can help not only work as tinder for the fire, but also help sustain its burning for it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in four styles). A pack of three credit card-sized fresnel lenses Lundin's final fire-starting tool in his kit are fresnel lenses which are the size of a credit card and use magnification to concentrate sunlight onto to tinder in order to ignite a flame."All fire craft demands a reasonable amount of skill and attention," said Lundin, who offers fire safety courses. He noted that hundreds of acres of wilderness are lost to forest fires each year, caused by careless campers with no working fire a 3-pack from Amazon for $4.99 (available in three colors). A robust knife with a continuous blade "This robust, full-tang knife is perfect for a variety of survival tasks, from cutting and carving to gutting and skinning game," Creekmore said of the Morakniv Garberg knife. "Its durable build and sharp edge make it a reliable tool for any wilderness adventure."The Morakniv Garberg also fits the knife guidance of Lundin, who said that he advises opting for a fixed blade (not a folding knife) that is carbon steel with a wide sharpening bevel that is simple in design.""The skill of using the knife comes from the user, not the knife, and a simple blade design will give the user the most options for using the knife in a wide variety of environments," Lundin it from Amazon for $70.04. A two-way emergency satellite phone Mykel Hawke is an author, former Army special forces officer, an educator and survival expert possessing an impressive resume of qualifications. According to him, having the ability to to call for help is the number one thing to do in any emergency. "I recommend a [satellite] phone or a spot device or anything that can reach for help when you have no cell coverage," Hawke said. "Sat phones," like this highly rated option that we selected, allow users to send SOS notifications to 24-hour search and rescue services globally, as well as share your location with loved ones back home at any time — though an active satellite subscription is required. The Garmin is enabled with an accurate compass and other directional routing features that allow you to track back the direction you came from. Using Bluetooth, users can sync to all existing smart devices to help plan trips and the battery can last up to 14 days per charge. One important note is that, according to some reviewers who claim to have experience using satellite phones, delays in message response time is to be it from Amazon for $349.99 (available in two colors). A multi-fuel camping stove "[Have] a good camp stove and utensils for cooking and eating. The main thing we do [is] cook, boil, eat, drink, prep, clean and repeat so, own good stuff," Hawke explained. He said that he personally uses stoves that are multi-fuel to keep ignition options open. Based on this guidance, we researched and found this well-known option by MSR, a hybrid portable camping stove that uses a brand-exclusive technology to create the optimal fuel and air mix. This means the stove operates seamlessly with canister fuel, white gas, kerosene and unleaded gasoline. Additionally, the brand claims that the feed system from the liquid canister delivers "better cold weather and low-fuel performance with a more consistent output."Get it from Amazon for $179.96+ (available in two sizes). An all-purpose emergency first aid kit It might go without saying that a first aid kit should always be among your camping essentials but Hawke said that it's surprisingly an item that people often forget. Whatever kit you choose, Hawke said the kit should be one that will tend to both illness and injuries. We found this popular 299-piece kit that includes everything you need to disinfect wounds, bandage cuts and soothe burns. Clear plastic interior compartments keep everything organized and the soft sided zip case makes storage and transportation a it from Amazon for $19.71. An editor-endorsed sleeping pad Although a sleeping pad may not seem like a typical safety essential for camping, Hawke said that a good night's sleep is often under-appreciated in the outdoors and extended days of poor sleep can really put a damper on an otherwise fun camping didn't suggest a specific sleeping pad or brand, however we are big fans of the Expend MegaMat 10, a self-inflating pad that uses a core of air-channeled foam insulation to keep the pad lightweight, yet extremely comfortable and warm in cold conditions. The MegaMat comes in several sizes and lengths to accommodate different heights and number of sleepers. Get it from Amazon for $259.95+. A pair of tactical LED flashlights Hawke mentioned flashlights should be among the standard list of tools one would need for camping. We selected these Gear Light tactical flashlights for their compact size, affordable price point and the over 61,000 5-star Amazon ratings. These weather-proof and high-lumens flashlights have five light modes, a zoomable beam and claim to be strong enough to withstand a 10-foot a 2-pack from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in two colors).
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
Woman berates her boyfriend of five years over his reaction to her home-cooked meals
A woman received an outpouring of support after revealing that her boyfriend of five years rarely compliments her home-cooked meals – yet gushes over takeout and leftovers from work. It caused a huge blowout between them, she said on Reddit, and sparked a debate online, too. 'Yesterday, I made a meal from scratch and, as usual, he ate it silently and only said it was good after I asked,' the woman wrote on the platform recently. 'Then, today, we had a meal he brought from work and immediately reacted with an enthusiastic, 'Mmm.'' 'That hit a nerve,' she admitted. 'I blew up.' In the midst of the argument, the boyfriend claimed he tries to compliment her cooking but often forgets. That only made her more upset, the woman shared. 'Why does he have to try so hard?' she wrote. 'I don't want forced compliments. I just want him to be honest.' 3 It caused a huge blowout between them, she said on Reddit, and sparked a debate online, too. DragonImages – The 25-year-old woman, who also shared that she is Slavic, described herself as an accomplished home cook. 'Everything you can name, I can cook,' she said in the comments section, adding that she prepares dishes from their shared cultural background, as well as Chinese, Thai and more. Her boyfriend, she noted, grew up in a household in which home-cooked meals were the norm and takeout was a treat. 'Now I'm wondering if I overreacted,' she wrote. 3 Melanie Williams, a Baltimore-based psychotherapist, said it boils down to one of the most common relationship problems she sees. ViDi Studio – Most users sided with her. 'Cooking is a labor of love,' one commenter wrote. 'Your guy doesn't understand that, but he needs to learn.' Said another person, 'My [significant other] thanks me and compliments me even if it doesn't turn out that great. He's not just complimenting the food, he's grateful for my time and effort.' Keep up with today's most important news Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Melanie Williams, a Baltimore-based psychotherapist, said it boils down to one of the most common relationship problems she sees. 'It's entitlement,' she told Fox News Digital. 'She was right to speak up because if she didn't address it now, his entitlement would likely have continued and worsened.' But not everyone agreed. One person said the girlfriend was being too 'touchy.' Another said, 'Cook for him either because you enjoy it or because you've mutually determined it's your fair share of the household labor. Not something to start a fight over.' Other people said compliments can't be forced. 3 But certified life and parenting coach Randi Crawford of California said it's all about being seen. Prathankarnpap – 'She's pouring energy into this relationship, and he's acting like dinner magically appears from the kitchen staff.' 'Otherwise it's performative and what's the point of that?' one person wrote. But certified life and parenting coach Randi Crawford of California said it's all about being seen. 'She's pouring energy into this relationship, and he's acting like dinner magically appears from the kitchen staff,' Crawford said. The woman should sit her boyfriend down and tell him she is hurt, Crawford said. 'Say, 'I don't need a production every night, but I do need you to notice me, not just the DoorDash guy,'' she advised. 'And if he can't do that? Stop bending over backwards and let him know: 'Appreciation isn't optional in this relationship – it's the bare minimum,'' Crawford added. 'And if he still doesn't get it? Let's see how quiet he gets when your kitchen is closed for business.'
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Associated Press
Basswood Tree Recognized as a 'Plant of CARE' by The Wright Scoop
'Basswood, also known as linden,' says Glen Allen-based The Wright Scoop – Sylvia Hoehns Wright, 'is a plant recognized to enable eco-sustainable urban and suburban landscapes as well as larger spaces. As a result, I am recognizing it as a 'plant of CARE'.' As a deciduous tree native to North America, particularly the eastern regions, basswood is valued for its lightweight, workable wood, which is used in various applications, including musical instruments and carvings. A popular choice for landscaping due to its attractive appearance and shade, its flowers are a valuable source of nectar for bees, producing a distinctive, gourmet honey. Basswood's soft, even grain also makes it ideal for carving, turning and other woodworking projects. Its inner bark fibers can be processed into strong rope and twine. From an ecological perspective, basswood flowers are a vital source of nectar for bees and other pollinators. In fact, the tree provides shelter and food for various birds, insects and animals as well as plants such as woodpeckers, beetles or mistletoe. Identified remarkable by the Remarkable Trees of Virginia Project, such a tree is located on Wright's family properties. It is one of the state of Virginia's largest, oldest, most historic, beautiful and beloved trees. Landscape Gardens of CARE 'Eco-sustainable spaces,' says Wright, 'are not simply a result of lifestyle choices but reflect how we feel about the environment. While keeping it simple (as in simple living) is the name of the game, there is a more important underlying factor—a commitment to ultimate greening: providing for the present without sacrificing the future. Basswood trees flourish naturalized in almost any nationwide landscape and through their vibrant color and sustainability are recognized to inspire people to become people who CARE—have a perspective of conservation, advocacy, recovery and eco-efficiency.' Plants of CARE, Plant Recognition Program Whether an experienced landscape professional or novice homeowner, Wright's advocacy challenges all to not simply identify plants that survive but thrive—and then, to create landscapes from a sustainable point of view, seeking to reduce their carbon footprint as well as feed their family pesticide-free produce. 'For,' says Wright, 'any style landscape should not simply reflect traditional design concepts but be a result of the right plant, installed in the right place at the right (optimal) planting season—creating a legacy of green, healthier urban and suburban communities. The challenge is to create landscapes from a 'waste not and want not' ecological commitment to become caretakers for the environmental community.' As a hands-on landscape gardener who has participated in nationwide regional plant testing, Wright gained familiarity with programs such as the 'Southern Living Plant Collection,' 'Proven Winners,' 'Plants That Work' and many more. Still, while such plant materials have proven to enable landscape gardens, a plant of CARE is spotlighted by Wright for its ability to inspire people to CARE—have a perspective of conservation, advocacy, recovery and eco-efficiency. To ongoingly encourage all to 'dig in the dirt,' a 'plant of CARE' is recognized quarterly. About The Wright Scoop – Sylvia Hoehns Wright A graduate of the Virginia Natural Resource Leadership Institute program and a recipient of the 'Turning America from Eco-weak to Eco-chic' award, The Wright Scoop – Sylvia Hoehns Wright urges all to keep America beautiful and become people who CARE—have a perspective of conservation, accountability, recovery and eco-efficiency. To inspire others, she offers one-on-one consulting, speeches and workshops and has published a series of more information, visit email [email protected] or follow her activities on social media through Facebook group The Wright Scoop or @WrightScoop on Twitter/X. Media Contact Sylvia Hoehns Wright [email protected] ### SOURCE: The Wright Scoop – Sylvia Hoehns Wright Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire
