APPLETON OFFICIALS WILL CLOSE PARK TO AVOID RAVE

Authorities Who Raided Town Of Sheboygan Falls Party Found Flier

Appleton authorities said Wednesday they plan to shut down a city park on
Saturday because of a planned rave party there.

The 38-acre Telulah Park, on the east side of the city, south of the Fox
River, will be closed all day, said John DeLong, spokesman for the Appleton
Police Department.

The city is closing the park to send the message that raves are not welcome
in the community and to ensure that the drug use and loud noise associated
with raves don't become a problem, he said.

Athletic events scheduled to take place in the park will go on as planned,
DeLong added.

The decision to close the park came after numerous fliers publicizing the
Appleton event were found at a Town of Sheboygan Falls rave last weekend.
Typically, in rural areas, raves - parties known for loud techno music and
rampant drug use - are held in remote locations such as empty barns or
fields. In urban areas, they're often held in warehouses.

"Here we end up with one smack in the city," DeLong said.

This year, a huge party filled with young people high on Ecstasy took place
at the Alliant Energy Center of Madison.

The fliers found in Sheboygan County provided a phone number for more
information about the Appleton party. Those who called that number
Wednesday heard a message from Appleton police saying the park will be
closed Saturday and the party wouldn't be taking place.

Two Appleton men had reserved two park pavilions for the day, saying they
anticipated a crowd of 50 people, DeLong said. But the number of fliers
discovered at the Sheboygan County rave indicated the crowd would far
exceed that number, he said. The men who reserved the park did not get the
permits required for a large, noisy party, so city officials are denying
their request.

Since making the reservations, the men have moved - so police have not been
able to tell them of the cancellation.

At the Sheboygan County rave last weekend, one person was arrested on
suspicion of selling hallucinogenic mushrooms,said sheriff's Capt. David Adams.

Deputies raided the party early Sunday morning and found three large tents
and several smaller tents set up in a field, Adams said. Deputies also
found several kegs of beer, he added, and a laser light show was taking place.

Adams described the crowd there as in the hundreds, and said attendees paid
$20 at the door and an extra $10 for beer.

Appleton police will patrol the park Saturday to make sure no disturbances
occur, DeLong said.