Thursday, May 9, 2013 - Page 1
Ripon Commonwealth Press www.RiponPress.com
INSIDE
Umpire Attacked at game A New London man is being referred for charges after he allegedly struck an umpire after a Ripon College baseball game last month. See page 3
Our Views
20 20 Wisc 12 Wisc 11 onsin on Single copy — $1 Week Week sin l y News News ly Thursday, May 9, 2013 pape pa r of th of th per e e Year Year
Issue No. 19 Serving the Ripon community since 1864
Ripon, WI 54971
City applying for $$ to demolish Davis But applying for grant doesn’t lock city into tearing down downtown building by Ian Stepleton ians@riponprinters.com
The Ripon Common Council agreed Tuesday night to apply for funds that could lead to the demolition of the Davis Hotel (Mapes House) — and a new developer building a hotel in its place. It did so despite hearing from several Ripon residents who urged aldermen to vote against the concept.
Zimman will take consulting post after Ripon
Council members, though, explained they support applying for the grant because applying does not commit the city to following through with a project — it just gives them more options. “There is a potential developer looking to build a hotel,” Mayor Gary Will said. “[Applying for the grant] does not mean the Davis Hotel has to come down [if another developer steps forward]. But, to this date, nobody has done that.”
Will described the developer as “a very reputable developer.” The city will find out in the months ahead whether it will be approved for the grant. At that time, the city then may choose whether to accept the grant dollars and possibly move forward with working with the unnamed developer. The grant in question is a community development block grant. The city is applying to Wisconsin
Economic Development Corp. to receive $500,000 in federal funds. City Administrator Lori Rich explained Tuesday such dollars are earmarked “for blighted areas.” In the past, she’s explained the grant could lead to acquisition and demolition of the building that was to be Boca Grande Capital LLC’s biggest project: the Ripon Inn & Spa at 300 Watson St. Acquisition of the grant dollars could pave the way for a yet-to-
be-named third-party developer taking over construction at the site. As a matching grant, the state could agree to pick up no more than 40 percent of the project. A table provided in the meeting agenda showed the total project cost as being $1.47 million, with the remaining $975,000 needed coming from tax increment finance district (TID) No. 11.
See DAVIS/ page 17
MAY THE PROM BE WITH YOU
by Ian Stepleton
Graduation day After six weeks of Ripon Police Citizen’s Academy, the firstever class graduates with a few lessons under their belts. See page 4
Area
Net gains Find out why these and hundreds of other adult walleyes are being scooped up out of Big Green Lake. See page 7
Sports
ians@riponprinters.com
When Superintendent Richard Zimman finishes his last day at the Ripon Area School District June 30, it would be a misnomer to say he’s retiring. In fact, even Ripon’s superintendent of nine years admits he might be working, more or less, full time by the end of the summer. The difference? Zimman will be the master of his own schedule after he leaves Ripon’s school district. “I’ve accepted a position with a private-sector educational consulting firm — actually, two firms,” Zimman said. “I’ll be doing some part-time consulting with school districts. They’re loRichard Zimman c a t e d p r e dominantly in the southeast section of our state.” He could not offer details of exactly what that work would entail, though. Yet Zimman explained he is looking forward to the change of pace as this means he’ll no longer be required to work a traditional school calendar or even work day. “It will take up as much time as the customer demands, and I want to devote to it,” Zimman said. “It’s not meant to be a 9-to-5 job, but I expect to be very busy. “I’m not ready for the rocking chair yet.”
See ZIMMAN/ page 16
RIPON HIGH SCHOOL adopted a “Star Wars” theme for its prom last weekend. Because the date was May 4, the theme was, “May the Fourth be With You.” Crowned prom king and queen at the conclusion of the grand march Saturday afternoon in the Ripon High School auditorium were, at left, Peter Vander Galien and Julia Wagner, who are congratulated by Bailey Hoch. Above right, John Lyke and Aubrey Schoff display their light sabres before briefly doing battle while being introduced to the audience. For more prom photos, see page 10 and go to RiponPress.com. Tim Lyke photos
Top prognosticator will speak Sunday at RC by Aaron Becker
aaronb@riponprinters.com
Nate Silver apparently messed up big time when he only called the outcome of 49 of 50 states in the 2008 presidential election. So this past November, he got them all right. Silver — the man CNN calls “a mathematical genius” — is becoming a household name for his political analysis and prognosticating. In what the Washington Post has dubbed one of the 18 biggest commencement speeches of this spring, Silver will serve as commencement speaker Sunday at Ripon College. A statistician and commen-
tator, Silver will become the latest big name to visit the college in recent memory. He joins political guru Karl Rove, singer/songNate Silver writer Carole King, political journalist Fred Barnes, adventurer Steve Fossett, former CIA Director George Tenet and Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. Ripon College’s 147th graduation will take place Sunday, May 12 at 1:30 p.m. on the lawn in the center of campus, weather permit-
Report,” Messitte said. ting. “He’s definitely in the mainRain location is Wyman Gymstream, and someone who speaks nasium at the Storzer Center. Silver will address the theme to multiple generations,” Messitte of data and decision making in said. “The fact that our students know who he is — and their parhis speech. ents and grandRipon Colparents know lege President who he is — is Zach Messitte For an editorial related sort of a testacalled Silver “a to this story, see “Silver ment to his role pioneer in the will be a golden speaker for in the field.” field.” While Silver “ I t ’s ve r y RC,” page 4. uses mathematexciting, and it came together nicely,” he said. ical predictions in commentary “[Silver is] really on the rise. He’s from everything to sports to the Academy Awards, he’s perhaps an up-and-comer.” Silver appeals to a variety of best known for his political calgenerations, appearing on such TV culations. shows as “The Daily Show with See SPEAK/ page 18 Jon Stewart” and “The Colbert
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Proposals sought for future use of current RMC facility by Jonathan Bailey jonathanb@riponprinters.com
Run around More than 200 runners, joggers and walkers turned out Saturday to use their two feet to survive runs between 5k and 13.1 miles. See page 22
With work beginning on the new Ripon Medical Center (RMC), the future of the old one remains up in the air. Not a lot of progress has been made in determining the future use of the current hospital building. The site will become the city’s responsibility after RMC moves to its new location off Highway 23 and Douglas Street. The hospital currently is located between Newbury and Metomen streets on Ripon’s southeast side. Despite the lack of progress,
Ripon Community Development it’s a big project for somebody. Authority (CDA) president Joan We’re still hoping to stay on time. Karsten is hopeful the city will We still have a year and a half to have a handle on what to do with go.” The CDA, which is in charge it by the time the move happens. of figuring The target out what to do date for the new with the current hospital to open For a letter to the editor building, has is September related to this story, see sought the help 2014. of colleges and “We know “Turn RMC site into public universities. it’s going to be It issued a a longer pro- pool,” page 5. formal request cess,” Karsten said. “In the perfect world it would for proposals (RFP) to schools be great to have someone ready with architecture and planning to take over when Ripon Medical programs and considered proCenter vacates that property, but viding a cash gift of $500 to the
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winning program for use as a scholarship. Proposals were due last week Wednesday. The CDA’s next meeting is not scheduled until the end of May, but Karsten figures the committee will examine the proposals before then. “It’s being driven by the FCEDC [Fond du Lac Economic Development Corp.] and Steve Jenkins,” Karsten said of the RFPs. “So we’re looking for his guidance in the process.” Karsten also has been in touch with a developer to see if they would be interested in coming to the hospital to suggest different
uses or taking on the project. One major hurdle that the CDA is faced with — and an issue it addressed from the beginning of the process — is the building’s age. The oldest section is more than 76 years old. Several other sections have been added onto it and updated throughout the years. “Remodeling it for something is probably one of the biggest challenges anybody would have with that building, hence the hospital building [a] new [facility] and not remodeling [the existing building],” Mayor Gary Will said.
See RMC/ page 15