Latest news with #AllCityTowing
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Milwaukee abandoned boat; leader of crew that freed vessel talks
The Brief The owner of All City Towing spoke on Tuesday, May 20, about his team's removal of Deep Thought from Milwaukee's lakefront. The boat was abandoned back in October. Despite multiple attempts by other teams, the All City Towing crew successfully removed the boat in early May. MILWAUKEE - Boat watch 2025 is back! Well, sort of. On Tuesday, May 20, we learned a lot more about how a Milwaukee crew successfully removed Deep Thought, the boat that was abandoned on the city's lakefront. What we know On Tuesday, Jeff Piller, the owner of All City Towing, spoke at the Rotary Club. He was invited to share how his crew was able to free the boat which had been beached between Bradford and McKinley beaches from October 2024 until early May. Piller said his crew estimated the boat weighed between 40,000 and 50,000 pounds. It was actually close to 100,000 pounds. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Piller spoke about the challenges of removing the boat. He initially estimated the cost to free it from the beach would be around $50,000. It turns out that it was much more than that. What they're saying "There was a lot of people who wanted to see it stay but it was definitely time to get rid of the boat," Piller said. Piller said he is giving the county and taxpayers a discount, as they are figuring out a way to come up with the money to pay for it. Two donors previously pitched in around $20,000 to help with the costs. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "But we have went way over that," Piller said. "But I have a discount on my invoice. That's approaching about $35,000." What's next Milwaukee County Parks said final costs and responsibilities will be confirmed once it reviews the invoice. For now, the boat is being housed at All City Towing's lot on Milwaukee's south side. The Source The information in this post was produced by FOX6 News and taps into previous FOX6 News coverage.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Is Milwaukee County footing the bill for removing Deep Thought? What's next for the abandoned boat
The odyssey of Deep Thought, the boat abandoned for months on Lake Michigan's Milwaukee shoreline, is not over. 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@ 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
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
From eyesore to icon, Milwaukee says farewell to abandoned boat, ‘Deep Thought'
MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WFRV) – After spending nearly seven months abandoned along Milwaukee's lakefront, the boat known as 'Deep Thought' was finally removed. On Tuesday, May 6th, the long-awaited operation led to a full day of street closures, announced by Milwaukee County. Hundreds of people gathered at Bradford Beach yesterday to witness the long-awaited removal of the 75,000-pound boat. 'Get ready to clown around:' Insane Clown Posse coming to Green Bay 'Deep Thought' had been stranded between McKinley and Broadford beaches since October 13th, 2024, after its owners ran out of fuel, causing the boat so wash ashore. Over the months, the boat became a quirky local attraction, drawing curious visitors, serving as a backdrop to countless photos, featured in an animated music video, and even a song have been written about the local landmark. The National Bobble Head Hall of Fame even made a bobble boat. Earlier attempts to remove the boat didn't work, at one point, even a barge brought in to help got stuck. But on Tuesday, Milwaukee-based All City Towing finally got the job done using three cranes set up on the beach. District 3 County Supervisor Sheldon Wasserman emphasized the importance of finally resolving the issue. He said it was a serious safety and environmental concern as the public starting climbing the boat, risking injury. 'Huge relief': Drivers and businesses thrilled Oneida St. is back open following NFL Draft The removal cost is estimated at $50,000, with Milwaukee County covering the initial expense. Crews faced major challenges during the extraction, calling it a difficult and complex operation. But saying goodbye wasn't easy for some, as many residents felt the boat had become a quirky piece of Milwaukee's shoreline history. According to County Executive David Crowley, there's even talk of possibly salvaging parts of the vessel and selling them, giving the boat one final chapter before it fades into memory. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Over 100 spectators gather to cheer and mourn 'Deep Thought' for what could be its final hours in Milwaukee
More than a hundred people swarmed Milwaukee's lakefront. A stretch of North Lincoln Memorial Drive was completely closed. A helicopter whirred overhead. You'd think someone important was in town. But no. It wasn't someone, but rather something — Milwaukee's iconic abandoned boat. Starting at 7 a.m. on May 6, crew members kicked off a sixth attempt to remove the boat, 'Deep Thought,' from the shoreline between Bradford Beach and McKinly Marina. Around noon, owner of All City Towing Jeff Piller announced the boat would likely remain on the beach for several more hours. 'It's a lot heavier than I thought,' Piller said. 'Now's a good time for a bathroom break." Milwaukee County contracted the Milwaukee-based towing company to lead the latest attempt to rescue Deep Thought, which has also been nicknamed 'The S.S. Minnow' by locals. Throughout the morning, crew members used two cranes to rotate the boat 90 degrees and drag it out of the water and onto the lakeside rocks. Earlier that morning, the crew also successfully salvaged the mangled remnants of a pontoon boat that got stuck next to Deep Thought in late April in a previous, failed rescue attempt. Cheering — and at times, lamenting — the removal attempts were at least 100 spectators. As the sun glinted off Lake Michigan on the 70-degree day, runners, bikers, families and dogs alike gathered for the what could be boat's final hours. What do resident think should happen to the defunct boat? Work is done to remove the abandoned boat "Deep Thought" from the shoreline of Lake Michigan near Bradford Beach in Milwaukee on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. The boat has been stuck since October after its Mississippi-based owners ran out of gas while operating it. By mid-morning on May 6, the grass was littered with backpacks, bikes, strollers and sweaters of the spectating crowd. Some, like Milwaukee resident Paul Fredrichs, said he planned to stay the entire day. Fredrichs said he's visited the boat regularly since October and worries it's become 'a bit of a hazard.' "Seems very Milwaukee-esque," he said of the spectacle. "One of our cheap amusements." In recent weeks, the Daniel W. Hoan Foundation donated $10,000 to rescue attempts, on top of an undisclosed amount already proffered by an anonymous donor. Milwaukee resident Elizabeth Ketter said she wonders about the time and resources funneled into the effort. During the boat's removal, a portion of North Lincoln Memorial Drive was closed to traffic for most of the day. Traffic was even at a near total stop a little before 9 a.m. as commuters navigated the detour. "It's become an inconvenience to the city,' Ketter said. Deep Thought has become a 'Milwaukee landmark,' others say Work is done to remove the abandoned boat "Deep Thought" from the shoreline of Lake Michigan near Bradford Beach in Milwaukee on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. The boat has been stuck since October after its Mississippi-based owners ran out of gas while operating it. Not everyone was ready to say goodbye to what they called a modern-day 'Milwaukee landmark.' West Allis resident Kelly Haessly said she's been following the boat's story since last fall and visited it for the first time May 6 with her son, who she did not identify and her dog, Bodie. 'We happened to be off work, and today was the big day,' Haessly said. For others, it was far from their first trip to the site. In the past few weeks, Milwaukee resident Alexander Minik said he's helped organize a boat "funeral," lit a candle at a boat vigil and even visited the site a final time in the early morning hours of May 6. "The boat has brought so many people together — artists, dancers, community members. It's funny, iconic, whimsical," Minik said. "I hope it continues to be this monkey wrench in the city's side." Shorewood resident Peter Froelich said he's biked past the boat almost every day since it got stuck. As crew members dragged 'Deep Thought' up the rocks, inch by inch, he said he hopes it won't be the last he sees of the boat. If its owners are willing, Froelich said he would like to see the boat attached to a trailer as a traveling attraction for Milwaukee's summer beer gardens. 'I'd buy a little chunk of it if that was an option,' Froelich added. MATC student sold 'S.S. Minnow' keepsakes to onlookers In fact, it was. Magnus Bonde, a 19-year-old first-year Milwaukee Area Technical College student, had the same idea. As the removal effort was underway, he was selling wood cut-outs he and his father salvaged from inside Deep Thought for $10. The wood, which included an engraving that read 'deep thought MKE,' was taken from the boat by Bonde and his father on May 5. 'The Minnow is an iconic piece of Milwaukee history," Bonde said, as he sold the last of the half-dozen or so of the keepsakes he had made. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee abandoned boat finally dragged out of Lake Michigan
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A portion of Lincoln Memorial Drive will be closed May 6 for the removal of the abandoned boat
A stretch of lakefront roadway will be closed on May 6, as the city takes another stab at removing the abandoned boat "Deep Thought" from Lake Michigan. The boat has been stuck on the shoreline since October after its Mississippi-based owners ran out of gas while operating it. In late April, "Deep Thought" was joined by a salvage crew's pontoon boat that also washed up on the shore in need of rescue. Here's which road closures to plan for Tuesday and how the latest boat removal attempt will work. North Lincoln Memorial Drive will be closed in both directions between Lafayette Hill Road and East Water Tower Road to "ensure public safety and accommodate heavy equipment," according to Milwaukee County Parks. No traffic or parking will be allowed along the road. At both intersections, there will be marked detours to redirect traffic westbound. The impacted area of Lincoln Memorial Drive will be closed to parking starting the evening of Monday, May 6. Parked vehicles during that time may be towed. Traffic will be closed from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6. Three cranes will be set up on land to lift the boat from the water, according to Milwaukee County Parks. There will also be security perimeter around the removal, which will be executed by All City Towing. "Removing a large boat from the shoreline isn't something we do every day, so it takes careful planning and coordination,' Guy Smith, executive director of Milwaukee County Parks, said in a news release. 'We're grateful for the community's patience as we work to clear the site and restore this stretch of the lakefront.' This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Lincoln Memorial Drive to close May 6 for abandoned boat removal
