SAUK COUNTY PROBABLE SITE FOR 3-DAY RAVE

SHERIFF ALSO HAS WEEDSTOCK TO WORRY ABOUT

BARABOO - Sauk County, the site of this year's Weedstock marijuana
celebration, may also host a three-day "rave" this summer featuring as many
as 300 musical acts.

Sheriff Randy Stammen said he likes music but the idea of two such outdoor
events in his county this summer is more than he cares to handle.

While Stammen virtually confirmed that Weedstock, the annual event
supporting legalization of marijuana, will again be held on Memorial Day
weekend, he has not been able to pin down reports of the rave being staged
in Sauk County.

Raves are underground dance parties that organizers have been hosting for
years at area farms and abandoned warehouses. The rave in Sauk County is
reportedly scheduled for July 23-25 on the same town of Fairfield farm as
Weedstock.

The property is owned by Marcus Gumz, colorful Sauk County mint farmer and
perennial political candidate.

"I haven't been able to confirm the rave report but the town chairman said
he spoke to Gumz who said he has plans for another concert program after
Weedstock," Stammen said. "Getting in touch with Mr. Gumz is difficult."

Gumz was not available for comment Wednesday.

Stammen said the rave has been advertised on the Internet, although no
location has been given other than "Central Wisconsin." It is being billed
as "Rave and Bail III."

There is an incomplete listing for the rave on the World Wide Web site for
Tribal Brothers, a Madison-based entertainment booking firm. Attempts to
contact representatives of Tribal Brothers were unsuccessful.

"I would like to be able to deal with one major crisis at a time," Stammen
said, referring to the law enforcement efforts that will be needed for
Weedstock. "We are familiar with the events at Weedstock and what to expect,
but I know little about a rave," the sheriff added.

In September 1996, the Gumz property was host to a rave that drew more than
1,000 young people who paid $25 for a weekend of camping, tunes and dancing.
The event sparked several noise complaints from neighbors and resulted in a
handful of arrests, mostly traffic violations.

Stammen plans to contact Dane County sheriff's officials, who handled a rave
attended by more than 2,100 people at the Dane County Arena on Easter
weekend.

Stammen also said he is concerned about the cost of law enforcement for the
two events.