Former Treasurer Charged With Stealing Thousands of Dollars from South Milwaukee Heritage Days Parade

A former treasurer for the South Milwaukee Heritage Days Parade is charged with embezzling more than $17,000 from the parade's budget. 

According to a criminal complaint, 36-year-old Emily Ukasick took that money over a two-year period. 

     "We all kind of knew something wasn't right," says current Treasurer Shanda Caveney. "When I sat there with my husband looking over the statements, our jaws dropped."

Caveney says Ukasick took cash, wrote personal checks, and even spent $1,000 on a car payment.

     "It's not just that she stole from the parade, she stole from every child who's on that street watching the parade," says Caveney. "She stole from a whole community and more." 

Despite the alleged theft, Caveney says the parade will go on as planned. 

     "It's going to happen, and it's going to be bigger and better than ever before because we busted our butts to get to where we are today," she says. 

The parade has been going on since 1946, bringing dozens of bands and entertainment to downtown each summer.  

The entire parade is run off donations. Caveney says they still need to raise a few thousand dollars for this year's parade.

If you'd like to donate, you can do so here.