Officials block Saturday ‘rave’
By The Post Crescent – Sep 9 2002
Copyright: The Post Crescent
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. Police were told the individuals had moved.
Bill Siebers, assistant to Hanna, said a letter has been sent to the applicants 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.
