DENNIS MCCANN

Dry Ephraim decides not to take a sip

By DENNIS MCCANN of the Journal Sentinel staff

Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Friends, we gather this morning to consider the latest news and views, but let us begin with the message of the Old Testament from the book of Isaiah:

"Woe . . ." it reads, "to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine."

News: There was a recent kerfuffle in historic little Ephraim, the last dry community in Wisconsin, after reports the village might be considering going wet.

We're not talking spring rains here, either. The Door County community founded by Moravian settlers has been alcohol-free for 151 years, but after a brief discussion about the policy at a Village Board meeting a while back, some news accounts suggested the village might be considering shucking that stance for a more pro-tourism (read: pro-liquor) policy. At one point, the board did actually consider holding a public meeting this summer to discuss the issue further.

But upon -- what else? -- sober reflection, the board decided at its last meeting even talking about it further wasn't necessary. Residents have twice voted in referendum (78-54 against alcohol in 1934 and a resounding 141-50 against in 1992), and Nancy Goss, Ephraim zoning administrator, said that sentiment -- based on strong public reaction to what she called the overblown news accounts -- likely hadn't changed.

"Why get people all riled up again?" she asked. "It's turned into a tempest in a tea pot, and that's how controversial this thing is."

Views: Excellent decision. Turn on the taps in Ephraim and you might as well also close Wilson"s ice cream parlor and open a McDonald's, or replace the village's historic buildings with strip malls. Ephraim needs to stay as is to remind visitors of what the rest of Door County once was.

A toast to Ephraim!

News: The Duluth News Tribune recently listed visitor numbers for 2002 and 2003 for top tourism draws in the Twin Ports area. The troubled Great Lakes Aquarium attracted some 130,000 visitors last year, down from 208,000 in its first season in 2002; Lake Superior Zoo held about even with 113,000 visitors, while the handsome Glensheen Mansion hosted about 68,500 visitors, down 10,000.

The No.1 draw in both years also reported a slight decline in 2003 but still attracted 682,000 people.

You're wondering, which center of art and culture, of history and entertainment drew such hordes?

The Fond-du-Luth Casino, of course.

Views: Forget poker and blackjack. The No.1 gamble these days is running a historic site in a town with a major casino.

News: Proving that Sin City has completely given up on that family- friendly nonsense of a few years ago, the Web site LasVegas.com has offered "50 Ways to Love Las Vegas," including a few that would make your minister blush. Or, in some denominations, buy a ticket.

For example, No. 34 is "Get friendly. Have a woman who's WAY out of your league treat you like her boyfriend at one of the city's strip clubs." Or there's No. 46: "Party hard. There are suites in the Palms that come equipped with stripper poles." And of course there's No. 14: "Swap spouses. Swap your husband or wife at the Green Door, a social adult club.' That's a swinger's club to the rest of us."

Views: Sure, there's also the Liberace Museum and Siegfried and what's left of Roy. But you certainly can understand the thinking behind the city's latest tourist pitch that "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas."

Unless, of course, it requires a few weeks of penicillin when you get home.

News: The Eagle River Visitor Center has been presented with a new fawn display for city slickers who have never seen a newborn deer up close. The poor fawn died on the day it was born last spring when a player at Eagle River Golf Course sliced into some thick grass off the 10th fairway where the doe had hidden her newborn while she went about other business. A golf course employee, Matt Buettell, arranged to have the fawn preserved by a taxidermist and put in a glass case in a woodsy setting so visitors could see the rare sight.

Views: I can't be sure of this, but you have to think when the golfer was asked for comment he said, "Doh! A deer . . ."

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E-mail dmccann@journalsentinel.com

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