On “Meet the Press” 10 days ago Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson maintained that his and fellow Republicans’ efforts to scrutinize if not challenge electoral college results from the Nov. 3 presidential election stem from the “grossly biased media’s” refusal to accept President Trump’s election fo… Read more
Recent objections to a proposal to move Ripon’s dispatch center from Ripon City Hall to Fond du Lac County have come in the form of first-person testimonials which, while gratifying in their e… Read more
Before we condemn 2020 as being an undisputed annus horribillis, let’s recognize that during the previous 12 months, the Ripon area enjoyed some pretty terrific moments. Read more
Today’s editorial is a true story involving a highly contagious, respiratory illness that infected many Americans and, before a vaccine was distributed, killed many of them. Read more
Time to temporarily lock the front door of Little White Schoolhouse until the party born in Ripon’s landmark can regain its bearings and reclaim its brand. Read more
Recent allegations made concerning the town of Ripon’s Hibicki family are heartbreaking on many levels. Read more
Should the emergency-services dispatch center remain in Ripon, or move to Fond du Lac County? Read more
Ripon resident Margaret Klapperich recommended the Commonwealth invite readers to tell why they are grateful this Thanksgiving. She will lead the parade. Read more
A Ripon resident and faithful Commonwealth reader suggested that as “a break from all the negativity and stress people are feeling because of the political climate and the COVID outbreak,” thi… Read more
How fitting that this year is 2020. If ever there was a year we wanted to relinquish to the rearview mirror (as in “hindsight is …”) it’s this one. Read more
It seems last week’s mask-shaming editorial hit a new low, at least for many denizens of Facebookville. Read more
Many have experienced the flash of fear. A cough, tickle in the throat, headache, stiffness. Symptoms that eight months ago would have generated nary a second thought now force us to silently … Read more
If knowledge is power, Ripon residents are about to become much more powerful thanks to two Ripon High School teachers. Read more
Below are excerpts from emails Tim Lyke sent last week to George Stanley and David Haynes, editor and Ideas Lab editor, respectively, of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Read more
“It’s not anecdotal; it’s real. And if you put yourself in a situation outside of your circle then you are risking the spread of COVID.” Read more
Notice how campaign lawn signs magically cluster? Read more
Last week Wisconsin reported three straight days of new COVID-19 cases exceeding 2,000. The state’s inability to flatten the curve has earned it the dubious “uncontrolled spread” rating, a lab… Read more
111: That’s how many employees Heidel House Resort & Spa told the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development would be impacted by its May 20, 2019 closure. Read more
Congratulations, Alex Dallman! Now please show up. Read more
Two weeks ago the Ripon Rotary Club awarded its highest honor, the Paul Harris Fellowship, to two men who each made significant and lasting contributions to this community. Read more
Last week the Ripon Rotary Club awarded its highest honor, the Paul Harris Fellowship, to two men who each made significant and lasting contributions to this community. Read more
When a state’s legislative minority party complained about the other party’s gerrymandering, the majority’s leader quipped that the minority’s complaints about its new redistricting map were “… Read more
At a time when few of our institutions are trusted, it’s no surprise that our county’s chief law-enforcement officer thumbed his nose at Gov. Evers’ mandatory mask order. Read more
“Particularly rural mayors. If every rural mayor could mandate mask wearing. The virus is there. You may not see it today because it may be in young people. But it’s spreading. And it will hit… Read more
Hypocrisy can be a convenient dodge when it permits our impulses to overshadow our values. Read more
Within hours of Ripon Commonwealth Press Editor Ian Stepleton telling me he had decided to step down after 20 years, Ripon College retired sociology Professor Eric Godfrey sent me a link to a … Read more
The “Black Lives Matter” mural downtown off East Fond du Lac Street is serving its purpose — getting people talking. Read more
This past spring the barnyard birds reappeared on the agendas of Ripon Common Council members. Read more
Remember when you were 7 or 8 and you may have had a squirt gun, cap gun or one of those plastic pistols with the rubber-tipped darts that clung to windows? Read more
It’s no secret that this is an unpopular time to be a journalist. Read more
None of us can imagine ourselves being Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who for almost nine minutes left his knee on George Floyd’s neck despite pleas that his captive couldn’t breathe. Read more
Two grocery stores four miles away from each other just off Highway 23. One is in Fond du Lac County, the other in Green Lake County. Read more
When the state Supreme Court lifted Gov. Tony Evers’ Safer at Home order two weeks ago today (Wednesday), it was not making a declaration of public health. Read more
Like much of the nation, Ripon appears divided as to whether news about the coronavirus pandemic is: Read more
May we please stop blaming sexism for women not Read more
It’s time for the city of Ripon to move forward with the Haas Brewery stable, the two-story red barn that straddles Silver Creek. Read more
Nobody appears interested in the Heidel House Resort, at least for now. Read more
We are told to “never forget” the 6 million Jews from every quarter of Europe who lost their lives believing they would be deloused before showering in Zyclon-B poisoned chambers overseen by N… Read more
While Ripon’s Common Council and staff have the authority to transition the city’s public residential garbage collection to a private company, they do not have the right to discuss that move w… Read more
The Ripon Area School District’s (RASD) inability to field a full slate of School Board candidates for the spring election recently caused board members to ask themselves whether the board is … Read more
The Ripon Board of Public Works learned earlier this month that cost to build a pavilion at Murray Park’s ball diamonds may far exceed the $484,000 the Lloyd and Grace Mitchell family has gift… Read more
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed constitutional changes to assure he can extend his power beyond 2024, at which time he lawfully is required to step down. Read more
Not since Lyndon Johnson was president has a non-Republican represented Wisconsin’s sixth district in Congress. Even then John Race, a crane operator for Giddings & Lewis, served only one,… Read more
Lately the Commonwealth has run several pieces about people who, upon their death, made gifts to others: Dennis Valstad’s $500,000 to funeral attendees; Pat Wood’s request for unwrapped toys f… Read more
If we had a nickel for every time someone has said, “We don’t want Green Lake to become another Wisconsin Dells,” we’d have enough money to buy the Heidel House. Read more
The four candidates running for the three open seats on the Ripon School Board all expressed appreciation for the Ripon Area School District’s ongoing improvement efforts. Read more
