For reasons passing understanding...

Shorewood Village Code
409-6. Fortune-telling

Every person or corporation who or which shall keep or permit to be kept on his, her or its premises within the limits of this Village a house of fortune-telling, clairvoyance or palmistry or who or which shall engage in fortune-telling, clairvoyance or palmistry and every person or persons who shall be an inmate of or found in any house of fortune-telling, clairvoyance or palmistry within the limits of this Village shall be punished as indicated hereinafter.

The smoking ban debate in Shorewood brought spirited arguments on both sides.  But hey, it could always be worse.  At least we do not live in St Charles, MO.  It is from there that we draw today's strange ordinance of the day.

Bill would ban swearing in bars
AP, 1/8/07

ST. CHARLES, Mo. - What the ...? A St. Louis-area town is considering a bill that would ban swearing in bars, along with table-dancing, drinking contests and profane music.

City officials contend the bill is needed to keep rowdy crowds under control because the historic downtown area gets a little too lively on some nights.  City Councilman Richard Veit said he was prompted to propose the bill after complaints about bad bar behavior. He says it will give police some rules to enforce when things get too rowdy.

But some bar owners worry the bill is too vague and restrictive, saying it may be a violation of their civil rights.  Marc Rousseau, who owns bar R.T. Weilers, said he thinks the bill needs revision.

"We're dealing with adults here once again and I don't think it's the city's job or the government's job to determine what we can and cannot play in our restaurant," Rousseau said.

The proposal would ban indecent, profane or obscene language, songs, entertainment and literature at bars.

A meeting to discuss the proposal is set for Jan. 14.

We have had a lot of heavy and controversial stories about redevelopment these last few weeks. 

To break the tension and bring a smile to your face, I bring you this humorous WI State Statute.  It specifies list of days Wisconsin schools are legally required to observe. 

WI Statute 118.02 - Special observance days.

On the following days when school is held or, if the day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, on a school day immediately preceding or following the respective day, the day shall be appropriately observed:

(1) January 15, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
(2) February 12, Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
(3) February 15, Susan B. Anthony’s birthday.
(4) February 22, George Washington’s birthday.
(5) March 4, Casimir Pulaski Day.
(5m) March 17, for “The Great Hunger” in Ireland from 1845 to 1850.
(5r) April 9, Prisoners of War Remembrance Day.
(6) April 13, American Creed Day.
(6m) April 19, Patriots’ Day.
(7) April 22, Environmental Awareness Day.
(7g) The last Friday in April, Arbor Day
(7r) June 14, if school is held, Robert M. La Follette, Sr. Day.
(8) September 16, Mildred Fish Harnack Day.
(9) September 17, U.S. Constitution Day.
(9g) Wednesday of the 3rd week in September, as part of Wonderful Wisconsin Week.  (Editors note: What?)
(9r) Friday of the 3rd week in September, POW−MIA Recognition Day.
(10) September 28, Frances Willard Day.
(11) October 9, Leif Erikson Day.
(12) October 12, Christopher Columbus’ birthday.
(13) November 11,Veterans Day.

I, for one, went to Shorewood High School, and never once celebrated Wonderful Wisconsin Week or Frances Willard Day.  I feel slighted, and demand accountability!

I haven't done post with a strange ordinance of the day recently, but came across this one while researching "at large" elections.  This bit of hilarity comes to us from WI State Statutes.  Although it is a statute, and not an ordinance, it is still a good warning for those among you who let your boars and billy goats run loose after they hit 4 months old.

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172.01 Animals not to run at large.  No stallion over one year old, nor bull over 6 months old, nor boar, nor ram, nor billy goat over 4 months old shall run at large.  If the owner or keeper of an animal described in this section, for any reason, permit the animal to run at large, the owner or keeper shall forfeit $5 to the person taking up the animal and shall be liable in addition for all damages done by the animal while at large, regardless of whether the animal's escape was the fault of the owner or keeper.

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