Milwaukee,– More than 120 people showed up in person and nearly 100 watched via live video stream as the youngest children of WTMJ-TV Anchor Bill Taylor hosted a celebration of life for him in Milwaukee on Saturday, August 3, what would have been his 80th Birthday. The African-themed celebration took place at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center Street, Milwaukee, WI 53206 and opened with drummers leading the family into the assembly, a performance by the Ko-Thi Dance Company and libations being poured in honor of Bill by Omotolokun Omokunde, who traveled from North Carolina to be a part of the ceremony.

Taylor Family in attendance. (Additional version)

Former TMJ4 anchor Vivian King walked the audience through a program that incorporated community and family reflections. Congresswoman Gwen Moore, representing Wisconsin’s 4th District, kicked off the community reflections, grateful for the August celebration that finally gave Milwaukeeans a time to grieve for the anchor many grew up watching on TV. At the time of Taylor’s death on May 8, the family had asked for privacy while they processed their grief. Longtime engineer, Tony Lucas, shared how Taylor helped him adjust to a station and industry that welcomed few African Americans when he started. Retired photojournalist Andrew Triplett talked about Bill Taylor the colleague-turned friend and big brother after they spent days covering stories and supporting each other far beyond the job.

Former TMJ4 anchor Vivian King, Omotolokun Omokunde, significant other and Milwaukee County Supervisor Willie Johnson pose at the event.

Through career and family videos, those in attendance got to see Bill Taylor at work and at home. Taylor’s youngest daughter, Akua Taylor, opened her remarks by saying it was so good to be home. She talked about the impact of her father and then read an excerpt from a book he was writing about his life. Next up was Taylor’s youngest son, Kwao Taylor, sharing “Dad-isms” and stories about his father. In a surprise to the audience, he ended the celebration with an emotional tribute to his father, a rendition on the violin of “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke.

In lieu of flowers, the Taylor family asks that you donate to the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum (WBHSM), as Taylor was the inspiration for Clayborn Benson founding the institution.

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Police Department needs the public’s assistance in finding a critically missing person, Deloris Hall.

According to police, Deloris Hall is a 69-year-old Black woman standing around 5’9″ tall and weighing about 155 lbs.

Hall was last in contact with her family on Friday afternoon, Aug. 9. She was last believed to be in the area of the 48th and Capitol in Milwaukee.

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She was last seen wearing a flower-patterned headband, red t-shirt and black leggings, and she should be on foot.

Hall is diagnosed with dementia and does not have anyone to talk to nor any other place to go. She likes to go for walks. 

She had gone missing in the past and was found walking down Martin Luther King Drive about two months ago. Her family also said she may go to the area of 51st and North.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Milwaukee Police Department District 7 at 414-935-7272.

MILWAUKEE — It’s that time of year again that the Sawall family sets up camp at the Milwaukee County Zoo. It’s for the annual ‘Snooze at the Zoo’ event organized by the Zoological Society of Milwaukee.

It’s a night filled with fun activities, s’mores, animals, and sleeping inside the zoo. It’s a tradition that the Sawall family has enjoyed together for 25 years.

“We always ask well do you guys still want to do it, they say yeah let’s do it, so let’s go [and] let’s have fun,” Marty Sawall said.

Marty brought his two sons Chris and Daniel to ‘Snooze at the Zoo’ for the first time in 1999 with their grandpa Dale.

Marty Sawall

“I guess he and Marcie, my mother-in-law, decided well maybe you should do that with the boys. That’s a good boys thing. So, when Chris was five he said well we’re going to do this! Let’s go! I said OKAY, let’s go. And then we just kept going. And when the boys were old enough, they’d come along so they were all looking forward to it so they could do it,” Marty explained.

Watch: Local family reflects on 25 years of camping event at Milwaukee County Zoo

Local family reflects on 25 years of camping event at Milwaukee County Zoo

Matthew and the youngest Joshua joined in as they got older. Life has gotten busy for Marty and his four boys, but they still find a way to make it to the zoo each August.

“It doesn’t feel like it went that fast and here they are,” Marty said.

Marty Sawall

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Grandpa Dale doesn’t come anymore because he lives in Florida. However, no matter what the boys make the time to come.

“It’s nice to get the boys together and hang out with them and spend time with them,” Marty said.

His son Daniel said spending time together is the best part.

Marty Sawall

“We just get to come hang out, get to catch up, again, we get to kind of be kids again and that’s just something super fun to enjoy with your dad,” Daniel explained.

The boys hope to continue this tradition together for 25 more years.

“I think it would be a fun time to continue seeing the zoo change and bring little ones as they come…like my nephew Noah,” youngest sibling, Joshua said.

The event for this weekend is sold out but you can click this link for more information.

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