PLANNED LOCAL RAVE BLOCKED

Mayor, Cops Say Telulah Park Party Unwelcome

APPLETON -- A rave party planned for an Appleton park will be shut down by
city officials, who say rampant drug use accompanies the events.

Appleton police were tipped off by the Sheboygan County Sheriff's
Department that a rave was being planned Saturday at Telulah Park on
Appleton's east side.

When the plans became known, it was decided the best course of action was
to close the park for the day, Mayor Tim Hanna said.

"If we find out events like this are scheduled to take place in our city,
we're going to do whatever we can to thwart them," he said. "The message
is: 'If that's what the plan is, not in Appleton.'"

Last weekend, Sheboygan County authorities dealt with a rave of their own,
at a private residence in the Town of Sheboygan Falls, according to Lt.
Leroy Nennig of the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department.

Nennig estimated between 300 and 400 people were at the Sheboygan Falls
party. He said three tents were set up - one served beer - and disc jockeys
played music in each.

Three undercover officers were at the party and others were in the area to
assist, but the only arrest was for selling psilocybin mushrooms, Nennig
said. A few underage drinking tickets also were handed out to individuals
from outside the county, he said.

"It was pretty much an all-nighter thing," Nennig said. "I think there
could have been a lot more arrests, but you don't want to cause a riot out
there."

Appleton Police Department public information officer John DeLong said
other drug use, including Ecstasy and LSD, was reported from Sheboygan County.

"It had all the elements of a traditional rave party - loud music, lots of
noise and drugs - lots of drugs," said DeLong.

At the Sheboygan Falls party, flyers were distributed announcing a rave to
be held at Telulah Park. The flyer also listed a phone number in the 920
area code that when called Tuesday night gave directions to the park.

A check by Parks and Recreation Department staff found that the two Telulah
Park pavilions had been reserved by two Appleton residents from noon until
dark Saturday. Hanna said the reservation applicant misled staff by
indicating the party would be limited to 50 people.

"If the word gets out there is a rave party, there will be a lot more than
50 people there," Nennig said.

The permit applicants listed Appleton addresses, but police were told the
individuals had moved.

Bill Siebers, assistant to Mayor Hanna, said a letter has been sent to the
individuals who took out the permit in hopes it will be forwarded to their
new address. The letter informs them the permit has been rescinded, and a
refund of their cost is available at the Parks and Recreation Department.