MONROE - Monroe police are estimating the crowd at this year's Cheese Days to about 95,000.
The crowd was estimated at reaching about 20,000 Friday; 45,000 Saturday; and about 30,000 Sunday, Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said. To arrive at these estimates, Kelley said he and Fire Chief Daryl Rausch looked at photos of the crowd and then extrapolated crowd size based on known dimensions of city blocks on the Square. They also looked at parking in the area to help determine attendance.
The number is typical for Cheese Days weekend, Kelley said. While it may have seemed more crowded than past festivals, Kelley said, some tents were a little bigger, which could have given the perception of more people being there.
The weather mostly cooperated - there was a light shower Saturday afternoon that did little to disperse the crowd. A heavy downpour at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday sent people under awnings and tents, but even that didn't deter most revelers, Kelley said. A few sprinkles fell on the parade Sunday, but that also didn't drive many away.
This year, the crowd seemed to linger longer after the parade than in past years, he noted.
One man was arrested and jailed in the waning hours of Cheese Days for punching a police officer. Leo R. Dempewolf, 22, Sterling, Ill., was being pursued on foot by staff from a local tavern where he allegedly punched another patron in the tavern and caused a disturbance. As police attempted to stop Dempewolf, he punched an officer in the face.
The officer is from the Stoughton Police Department, one of 25 extra-duty officers brought in to help police Cheese Days. He sustained minor injuries and was treated and released from Monroe Clinic Hospital.
Dempewolf faces charges of disorderly conduct, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony battery to a law enforcement officer.
But for the most part, police dealt with infractions typical of Cheese Days weekend. Kelley said there were seven other arrests and "there were a couple of people passed out." There were also two incidents involving husband-wife couples, and one dispute involving chairs set up along the parade route.
The crowd was estimated at reaching about 20,000 Friday; 45,000 Saturday; and about 30,000 Sunday, Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said. To arrive at these estimates, Kelley said he and Fire Chief Daryl Rausch looked at photos of the crowd and then extrapolated crowd size based on known dimensions of city blocks on the Square. They also looked at parking in the area to help determine attendance.
The number is typical for Cheese Days weekend, Kelley said. While it may have seemed more crowded than past festivals, Kelley said, some tents were a little bigger, which could have given the perception of more people being there.
The weather mostly cooperated - there was a light shower Saturday afternoon that did little to disperse the crowd. A heavy downpour at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday sent people under awnings and tents, but even that didn't deter most revelers, Kelley said. A few sprinkles fell on the parade Sunday, but that also didn't drive many away.
This year, the crowd seemed to linger longer after the parade than in past years, he noted.
One man was arrested and jailed in the waning hours of Cheese Days for punching a police officer. Leo R. Dempewolf, 22, Sterling, Ill., was being pursued on foot by staff from a local tavern where he allegedly punched another patron in the tavern and caused a disturbance. As police attempted to stop Dempewolf, he punched an officer in the face.
The officer is from the Stoughton Police Department, one of 25 extra-duty officers brought in to help police Cheese Days. He sustained minor injuries and was treated and released from Monroe Clinic Hospital.
Dempewolf faces charges of disorderly conduct, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony battery to a law enforcement officer.
But for the most part, police dealt with infractions typical of Cheese Days weekend. Kelley said there were seven other arrests and "there were a couple of people passed out." There were also two incidents involving husband-wife couples, and one dispute involving chairs set up along the parade route.