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August 16, 2006

Washington County Fair opens up five-day run

Journal photo / Bob Breidenbach
Mistletoe, a Holstein being shown by Tara Mulcahy, 10, of Portsmouth, seems to want to stay in the judging ring after winning fifth place in the 10-to-12-year-old "showmanship" category today.

RICHMOND -- Have you been itching to see a tractor pull or a motorcycle rodeo?

Then hitch up your wagon -- or 4x4 or convertible or whatever wheels you like -- and head on down to the annual Washington County Fair.

The fair, which opened its five-day run today, features livestock shows, carnival rides, arts and crafts, tractor and horse pulls, a horse show and a motorcycle rodeo each day through Sunday.

Admission to the fairgrounds on Route 112 is $9, free to children 10 and under.

And it's not too late to drop by tonight. Three bands are scheduled to appear beginning at 8 p.m. on the main stage: The Platters, Cornell Gunther's Coasters, and Elsbeary Hobbs Drifters.

The fair kicks off tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. with a sheep show. But the motorcycle rodeo isn't scheduled to start until 8 p.m. For more information check the fair's Web site.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:06 PM | Comment

Five Bay beaches closed to swimming

The state Department of Health today recommended closing several beaches on Narragansett Bay to swimming because of high bacteria counts in the water.

They are the Barrington Town Beach, Warren Town Beach and three Warwick beaches: City Park Beach, Conimicut Point Beach and Oakland Beach.

State health officials plan to monitor the water quality and recommend re-opening when the areas are safe for swimming, according to the statement.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:28 PM | Comment

Funeral Friday for Channel 10 anchor White

CRANSTON -- Funeral arrangements for Channel 10 anchor Doug White have been finalized, according to an announcementthis afternoon by the station.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul, One Cathederal Square, in Providence.

White, 61, died yesterday following a battle with cancer. He was an anchor at the station since 1978 before going on medical leave in September 2005.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:22 PM | Comment

Update: Sex-slave ring includes Providence site

NEW YORK -- Twenty brothels around the Northeast -- including one in downtown Providence -- posing as legitimate businesses were shut down and 31 people were arrested, freeing more than 70 sex workers enslaved by a large human-trafficking ring, officials said today.

The arrests Tuesday capped a 15-month probe that began when a Korean couple who owned and operated a chain of brothels in Queens tried to bribe an undercover New York Police Department detective, said Julie L. Myers, assistant secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Those arrested on federal charges including conspiracy to engage in human trafficking, prostitution and conspiracy to transport illegal aliens included brothel owners and managers, middlemen who worked as transporters and individuals who handled the money.

The arrests occurred in Washington, D.C., New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Maryland, California and Rhode Island. If convicted, those charged faced maximum sentences of five to 10 years.

At least one establishment in downtown Providence was involved, according to Thomas Connell, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Rhode Island.

Connell referred questions about its exact location and any arrests to the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York. The spokesman there was not immediately available.

Myers said the victims who were working in brothels throughout the Northeast were being interviewed by ICE agents at secret non-detention locations, where they were receiving health care, clothing, food and other services as they were being questioned.

Read the full Associated Press story

-- With reports from projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:23 PM | Comment

Misquamicut motel owner charged with operating without license

WESTERLY – The owner of Ocean View Motel was charged today with 26 counts of operating a motel without a license. He is due in municipal court on Aug. 24.

Police shut down the eight-room motel at 140 Atlantic Ave. in Misquamicut on Friday afternoon, expelling all tenants.

The town licensing board has denied the motel owner’s application for a license, citing insufficient septic.

-- Journal staff writer Maria Armental

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:18 PM | Comment

Update: Fighter jets escorted diverted flight to Boston

BOSTON -- Fighter jets escorted a London-to-Washington, D.C., flight to Boston's Logan airport today after the pilot declared an emergency because an apparently claustrophobic passenger caused a disturbance, federal officials said.

The federal security official for Logan said there was no indication of terrorism and denied reports that the 60-year-old woman had a screw driver, matches and a note referring to al-Qaida.

The passenger aboard United Flight 923 said she was claustrophobic and became very upset and got into some kind of confrontation with the flight crew, said George Naccara, security director for the Transportation Security Administration for Massachusetts' airport.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 2:44 PM | Comment

Johnston man gets nine years in prison in FBI sting

PROVIDENCE -- A Johnston man was sentenced to nine years in prison today for his part in a cocaine traficking conspiracy that turned out to be an FBI sting.

Federal Judge Ernest C. Torres today sentenced 50-year-old Alan Blamires, six months after Blamires admitted that he was one of two men who guarded an apparent shipment of 67 kilograms of cocaine.

Matthew Guglielmetti, 57, of Providence and Anthony Moscarelli, 46, of Cranston also pleaded guilty to the conspiracy. Last year, Torres sentenced Guglielmetti to 11 years in prison and, in May, he sentenced Moscarelli to eight years.

In January 2005, Guglielmetti sent two men -- Blamires and Moscarelli -- to a hotel room in Warwick to guard three suitcases containing 67 kilograms of cocaine. Undercover agents were also in the room and other agents arrived later to remove 18 kilograms of the cocaine, supposedly for distribution in Rhode Island.

Guglielmetti had arranged to earn $500 per kilo that was guarded. But the man with whom he made the arrangement was an undercover FBI agent.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 2:26 PM | Comment

Carcieri orders DEM to fine gas company for contamination

PROVIDENCE -- About 50 people who live in contaminated properties in Tiverton gathered at the State House today as state leaders pledged to force New England Gas Co. to clean up their homes.

Governor Carcieri ordered the state Department of Environmental Management to file a notice of violation with the gas company's parent, Southern Union, within the next seven to 10 days. Once the violation is issued, the gas company will be fined $25,000 each day that the Tiverton contamination isn't dealt with, according to DEM Director W. Michael Sullivan.

The notice of violation can be appealed.

Carcieri also said he planned to meet with the head of Southern Union face-to-face as soon as Friday to force the company into action.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Michael McKinney

Roughly 500 residents live in Tiverton's Bay Street neighborhood found to be contaminated with various toxic chemicals consistent with coal gasification waste discarded by power companies decades ago.

DEM has said that the waste came from a former Fall River Gas Co. plant a few miles away. New England Gas, which purchased Fall River Gas in 2000, has denied that it is liable for the cleanup costs.

Property values have plummeted and residents have been warned not to grow gardens or let their children play outside.

At the State House today, residents carried signs and plastic baby dolls with blue coloring on their knees, a reminder that their children can't play in the dirt without being exposed to the toxins, which have turned the soil blue.

Last month state regulators approved the sale of the Rhode Island operations of New England Gas Co. to National Grid Plc, allowing the creation of a massive utility company that controls both electricity and gas distribution throughout the state.

The state Division of Public Utilities and Carriers chose not to impose any conditions on the approval, despite calls by some state officials and the Tiverton residents to do so. One of the most contentious conditions rejected was a proposal by Attorney General Patrick Lynch to require Southern Union to set aside $55 million in an escrow account, in case the company is found liable for the hazardous waste site in Tiverton.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:56 PM | Comment

Hornoff to get $600,000

WARWICK -- The city of Warwick has reached a settlement Scott Hornoff, the detective who wrongfully served six years in prison for murdering a former lover.

Hornoff will be paid $600,000 and will receive a work-related disability pension, beginning July 18 of this year.

The settlement was reached yesterday afternoon. Under the terms of the federal court resolution, the city will pay $525,000 out of its legal reserve fund, and the remainder will be paid by the Rhode Island Interlocal Trust, Warwick's insurer.

Hornoff was released from prison in 2002 after Todd Barry confessed to the 1989 murder of Victoria Cushman. He later filed suit in Superior Court against the city of Warwick, seeking reinstatement to the city's police department and, in Federal Court, for an alleged civil rights violation stemming from his wrongful conviction. He asked for $11 million in damages.

"The city is pleased to be able to put this issue behind us and behind Mr. Hornoff,'' said Mayor Scott Avedisian. ``I hope that this bad chapter of city history is finally behind us, and I wish Mr. Hornoff all the best.''

-- Journal staff writer Daniel Barbarisi

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:00 PM | Comment

Update: Derderian's bankruptcy petition clears

PROVIDENCE -- The deadline for challenging a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition filed by Jeffrey and Michael Derderian has passed, clearing the way for the federal court to shield the brothers from civil claims filed in The Station fire case.

But those civil suits filed by victims of the fire name nearly 50 defendants besides the Derderians. Besides the Derderians, the suits name foam manufacturers, a radio station and a beer company.

The state Department of Labor and Training's $1 million fine against the Derderians for not carrying workers' compensation insurance coverage is not affected by the bankruptcy.

The brothers own The Station nightclub in West Warwick, which burned to the ground in February 2003, killing 100 people. The brothers are each facing 200 counts of involuntary manslaughter. Michael Derderian's trial is slated to begin Sept. 5.

The Derderians released a statement this morning, indicating that they intend to continue to make voluntary monthly payments to some employees' families who died in the fire.

"While we are deeply aware that no amount of money could ever provide solace to those affected, we remain fully committed to doing all we can to assist those affected by this tragedy for as long as we are able to do so," reads the Derderians' statement.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples and Journal staff writer Lynn Arditi

The Labor Department fined the Derderians and Derco LLC $1.06 million for failure to purchase the mandatory workers' compensation insurance coverage for the nightclub.

The bankruptcy petition, expected to go through later this week, would wipe out the more than $200,000 in workers' compensation benefits that state labor officials last year ordered the Derderians to pay to the families of the nightclub employees killed in the fire.

In lieu of those benefits, the Derderians have been sending the employees' families monthly checks -- $125 for those without children and $500 for those with children -- since April 2005, lawyers said.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:16 PM | Comment

GTECH: Florida latest state to approve merger

WASHINGTON -- GTECH Holdings Corp. said today that the Florida Lottery has consented to Gtech's merger with Lottomatica SpA, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Lottomatica, of Italy, announced in January it would buy West Greenwich, R.I.-based GTECH Holdings for $4.8 billion, or $35 a share. Under the merger terms, Florida and other major customers have to agree to keep GTECH contracts.

Several states, including Rhode Island, New York, Illinois, Ohio and Georgia, already have told the company the merger won't affect their contracts with GTECH.

GTECH said it believes that the merger condition has been satisfied with respect to the Florida contract, the SEC filing said.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:57 AM | Comment

North Kingstown high school students get an extra 15 minutes of sleep

NORTH KINGSTOWN – When school starts on Aug. 30, high school students will get to sleep in, a little.

The School Committee last night voted 4-2 to start high school at 7:20 a.m., 15 minutes later than last year.

Last week, the School Committee had decided the high school would start at 7:30 a.m. But because that later time pushed elementary schools to start even later, parents of the younger children were upset.

So the School Committee went back to the drawing board last night, listening to parent concerns and debating from 7 p.m. until an 11:30 p.m. vote, according to Karen Nutini, administrative assistant for Supt. James M. Halley and the School Committee.

All the school start times are dependent on each other because the district buses must transport students to all the schools.

Last night's vote was a compromise. The superintendent had originally recommended start times five minutes earlier than what was approved last night, but the board had gone with even later starts for nearly all students.

Now, exactly two weeks from now, students must be prepared to start: high school at 7:20 a.m., middle school at 8:20 a.m., Davisville Elementary School at 8:05 a.m. and all other elementary schools at 9:10 a.m., Nutini said. For all starting and ending times, see the district's web site.

Voting for the new start times were board members Donald DeFedele, the chairman, F. Renee Cockerill, Bill Mudge and Barry Martasian. Voting against were Denise Coppa, the vice chairwoman, and Melvoid Benson. Member Janice DeFrances was absent.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:06 AM | Comment

Washington County Fair starts today

The Washington County Fair, marking its 40th anniversary, starts this morning in Richmond and runs through Sunday.

Today's events include an antique car show, a swine obstacle course, a pony pulling contest and a concert by The Platters.

Check out the fair's Web site for more information.

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:22 AM | Comment

AOL thinks there could be gold in spammer's backyard

It’s got all the makings of a good story.

Internet giant AOL is going after a man who became a millionaire by sending out massive amounts of spam e-mail messages to its subscribers. The company now wants to bring in bulldozers to search the two-acre property in Medfield, Mass., where the man’s parents live.

AOL believes the man has buried large amounts of gold and platinum bars near the home, and the company wants to seize them to make good on a $12.8 million lawsuit it won against the man.

Davis Wolfgang Hawke’s own mother complains of the embarrassment her son has brought to the family and says AOL won’t find a thing. But, she says, if AOL's people go through her yard with a bulldozer they are just going to “make fools of themselves.”

Wanna read more? We did. The full Associated Press story is available here.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:57 AM | Comment

Romney seizes control of Turnpike board and Big Dig

BOSTON -- Gov. Mitt Romney officially seizes control of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the troubled Big Dig today as his hand-picked successor to former Turnpike Chairman Matthew Amorello calls his first board meeting to order.

New Turnpike Chairman John Cogliano is set to push through a series of changes that Romney has characterized as reforms, including a motion to revoke free FastLane transponders and tolls for board members and Turnpike management.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 7:40 AM | Comment

Beautiful days on the way

PROVIDENCE – Summer is already waning.

We’ve got some beautiful weather forecast for the next few days, with highs in the low 80s and lows at night down in the 60s. With temps like that at night, it sure is starting to feel like fall.

The National Weather Service has issued a small craft advisory, in effect until 11 a.m. today, for the coastal waters stretching from Montauk, N.Y., to Block Island and on to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

We'll keep you posted on the latest weather conditions at projo.com/weather.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:03 AM | Comment