UPDATE: Tuesday, April 1, 2008 -- 4:30pm

No smoking signs replace the ashtrays at Kelly's Grille and it's no April Fool's Day joke.

"Generally, when we come in, we have to search for a spot that's smoke-free," says one Kelly's regular customer. "Now, we don't have to worry about that."

While that's true at Kelly's, four Fitchburg businesses still cater to smokers.

"There's absolutely no reason to favor one business over the other," says Fitchburg Alder Steve Arnold.

He says all public places in the city should clear the air.

"Many times you will hear people say, well, let the marketplace decide and the government shouldn't intervene," Arnold says. "Yet, how can the government go in and protect the public health, in almost all the establishments, but leave out four?"

The city granted two bars and a bowling alley three year exemptions. A cigar bar has a permanent pass, under the current local legislation. (See list below.)

Fitchburg's mayor says the breaks are to prevent businesses from going out of business.

Even though it's not 100-percent, the grassroots group, Smoke-Free Fitchburg sees this as a victory for public health.

"It's like if someone wants to eat some fattening food," says spokesperson Alice Jenson. "The only person that person is hurting is himself. But, the smokers are hurting themselves and everyone else around them."

Jenson says Fitchburg has done what the state has failed to do. A feat the diners, we spoke with, appreciate.

"Being a college student, I'm around it enough. When you go out to eat, you don't have to smell it."

Right now, four Wisconsin communities, including Madison, ban smoking in all public places.

Tuesday evening, the Middleton City Council is taking up the issue. Restaurants in Middleton are already smoke-free, but lighting up is currently allowed in bars.

***FITCHBURG SMOKING BAN EXEMPTIONS***
-Monkeyshines (three years)
-Schneid's Sports Bar & Grill (three years)
-Ten Pin Alley (three years)
-Hemingway Lounge (permanent)

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POSTED: Monday, March 31, 2008 -- 9:30pm

The cigarettes are about to be put out for good in Fitchburg. At midnight, April 1st, the city's restaurants and bars go smoke-free

The beginning of the Brewers season marks the end of a game-time ritual for some baseball fans.

"The last day of smoking in here," says Mark Denhart. "I have to enjoy it while I have the chance."

Denhart lives in Madison, but frequents Fitchburg bars, like the Great Dane where he can light a cigar--that is until the clock strikes 12.

"When we open for business (Tuesday), there will be signs up letting people know," says General Manager Scott Simmerman.

Simmerman says he's ready to do away with his upstairs smoking section.

"I would say about 40-percent of the patrons up here, on the weekends, are smokers," he says.

But, Simmerman's not worried about losing business. He's expecting a different trend.

"There's a lot of the population that wants to go out but didn't in the past because of smoking," he adds.

Fitchburg will become the 32nd Wisconsin community to enact some form of a smoking ban.

It includes a few exemptions. The mayor telling NBC 15 News he didn't want to shut down any businesses.

Meantime, ashtrays at the Great Dane move to an outside patio where smoking will remain legal.

Back inside, Simmerman says some physical changes are on the way, like new carpet.

"Get kind of the smell out of the air," says Simmerman.

"Yes, I'll still come here, probably not as often," says Denhart.

He says he's heard the arguments and believes this is government going too far.

"People should be able to smoke, it's a legal product, you know, that's the way it is," he adds.

On the same day Fitchburg's ban takes effect, Middleton takes up the issue.

Tuesday night, the city council will consider drafting an ordinance to prohibit smoking in bars. Middleton already bans cigarettes in restaurants.

Meantime, Monona has formed a committee to discuss a proposed smoking ban.