|
|
« November 30, 2007 | Today | December 4, 2007 » December 3, 2007Tonight: Rocky Point remembered on public TVRhode Islanders can relive Rocky Point adventures on television tonight. Feature-length film You Must Be This Tall: The Story of Rocky Point Park offers a history of the now-closed Warwick Neck amusement park. It premieres tonight on WSBE Channel 36 at 8. Before that, at 7, there will be a program on the state’s historic lighthouses. At 10 there will be a documentary on the Providence Grays, a vintage baseball team. For more of what's on TV, check out projo.com's movies and TV page. For more on local events, go to our calendar page. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:57 PM | Comment 5 mini-grants boost historic preservation effortsFive projects around the state aimed at preserving a piece of Rhode Island history are getting a boost from “mini-grants.” The money, from the Preserve Rhode Island-Citizens Bank Foundation program, is intended to help jump start programs ranging from developing curricula for high school students to creating historical tours. Since 1999, the organization has awarded 66 “mini-grants” worth more than $61,000. This round of money goes to: Smithfield High School: $1,000 to help defray the costs of developing a course of study called “The History of American Houses” for the school’s Historic Preservation/Traditional Building Arts program. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 6:33 PM | Comment Portable heater blamed for fire in Smithfield tenementSMITHFIELD -- Fire apparently caused by a portable heater damaged a two-decker tenement this afternoon. Fire Chief Joseph P. Mollo III said that firefighters got the blaze at 16 Lincoln St. under control in about 20 minutes, but one of two children at home in the upstairs apartment was sent to Fatima Hospital with smoke inhalation. His injuries appeared minor, Mollo said. He said their names were not available. “It was a pretty quick knockdown,” he said of the performance by his firefighters. The call came in at about 2:30 p.m. The chief said the fire appeared to have been caused by a portable heater placed too close to a bed in the upstairs unit. He said the heater ignited the bedding, spreading the fire to other parts of the room. Mollo said there was smoke, water and heat damage to both apartments. The Red Cross was arranging housing for the two families. -- Journal staff writer Thomas J. Morgan Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:28 PM | Comment Update: National Grid eyes consolidating operationsUtility giant National Grid today announced plans to consolidate its regional operations in a new building it is constructing in Waltham, Mass. The company is the dominant energy provider in Rhode Island, where it has 476,000 electricity customers and supplies power to residents and businesses in 38 of the state’s 39 municipalities. It is not clear how the consolidation will affect Rhode Island customers and employees. At least some Rhode Island-based employees will be transferred out of state, although they may be replaced with employees now stationed in Massachusetts, company spokeswoman Jackie Barry said yesterday. No Rhode Island employees will be laid off, she said. The company was unable today to provide the number of Rhode Island employees it has, or which Rhode Island facilities would be affected. The company’s goal is to locate its employees closer to their managers and areas of responsibility, and to better integrate employees at facilities formerly operated by KeySpan Corp., New England Gas and other so-called legacy companies that have been acquired by National Grid in recent years. “Hopefully, it will be an improvement for customers,” Barry said in an interview. --Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan In a statement, National Grid, a British company headquartered in London, said it is transferring 1,700 employees into the new building, mostly from its offices in Waltham and Westborough, Mass. The new facility, in the Reservoir Woods East office park, is expected to open in 2009. The Waltham facility, formerly a KeySpan office, has a staff of 500. It will be closed, as will the Westborough complex, where 900 employees work. When the new regional headquarters opens, National Grid will occupy about 270,000 of the 300,000 square feet of office space, the company said. It is leasing the building from Boston-based Davis Marcus Partners. The consolidation follows rapid growth of the utility. In October 2006, National Grid completed its $7.3-billion purchase of KeySpan, a provider of gas and electricity. The acquisition more than doubled National Grid’s U.S. customer base. “The company is not closing the building it owns in Northborough. Instead, it will convert it into a “special-purpose facility” housing 24-hour call centers, dispatch operations and data management. The staff in Northborough is expected to decrease to 400 from 600 employees. The utility will also continue to operate electricity and gas operations facilities throughout its service area to provide rapid response for repairs to electricity transmission lines, gas pipes and other infrastructure, Barry said. National Grid provides electricity to 3.3 million customers in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York. The company sells natural gas to 3.4 million homes and businesses in those states. National Grid says its new building, with a mostly glass exterior, will incorporate a range of environmentally sensitive technologies to assure energy efficiency. Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:25 PM | Comment EB awarded share of submarine parts contractThe Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $270 million contract to make components for a Virginia-class submarine, and some of the work will be done in Quonset Point and Groton, Conn. The contract covers steam and electric plant components, the main propulsion unit, ship service turbine generator set, and various hull, mechanical and electrical systems components. Those are "long lead-time" materials, and the work is to be completed in July 2011. The goal is to have them ready so that submarine SSN-784 meets its projected 2015 completion date. Along with Rhode Island and Connecticut, work will also be done in Newport News, Va., California, Pennsylvania, Arizona and other U.S. locations. The contract modifies an already awarded 2003 contract and brings the total to $8.8 billion. Electric Boat is a subsidiary of General Dynamics, which has its headquarters in Falls Church, Va., and has about 83,000 employees worldwide. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:05 PM | Comment Cicilline announces 3 School Board nomineesPROVIDENCE -- Mayor David N. Cicilline announced today that he has nominated two Providence School Board members for reappointment and a Brown University professor for appointment to the board. In a news release, Cicilline said he wants Mary McClure and Ronnie Young reappointed to three-year terms and Brown University professor Philip Gould appointed. The nominees will be submitted to the City Council for consideration. If approved, the candidates will be sworn in in January. “As a parent of a child who has special needs and attends special education classes in one of our schools, Philip Gould brings a unique perspective to the School Board,” Cicilline stated. “It’s my hope that the board will also benefit from his expertise in higher education as we continue to redesign our high schools and prepare our students for college. Cicilline's statement added that McClure and Young share the mayor's "vision for excellence in our schools" and their continuing on the board "will help maintain continuity as we work towards accelerating student achievement.” -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney MClure is the board president. She helped found Parents for Providence Public Schools, is a member of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees executive board, and former manager of Brown University's information technology services. Her now-grown children attended Providence schools. Young graduated from Classical High School in 1999 and is working on a master’s in public administration at Roger Williams University. Young works for the Greater Elmwood Neighborhood Services program and is a member of the Community Preparatory School Alumni Relations Committee, the RI Non-Violence Initiatives, and Alpha Sigma Lamda Academic Honors Fraternity. More about the School Board and its members ... Posted by Mike McKinney at 6:00 PM | Comment Judge to Barrington man: Time to pay or go to jailPROVIDENCE -- Unless the state Supreme Court steps in tomorrow, a Barrington man will go to prison on Wednesday because he failed to make court-ordered payments over the past two months to the Warwick man whose skull he fractured in a 1988 brawl. Since a 1992 civil judgment, Paul D. Grieder has paid about $21,000 toward the $1.5 million he owes Michael P. Trainor for an assault outside a Providence nightclub. With interest, the debt now totals nearly $5 million. On Oct. 4, Superior Court Judge Daniel A. Procaccini said he’d send Grieder to the Adult Correctional Institutions for 30 days if he failed to pay $3,000 to Trainor and $1,000 to Trainor’s lawyer within 60 days. Grieder has not made any payments since then, his lawyer said today. But lawyer J. Ronald Fishbein asked Procaccini to grant an “emergency motion for stay of order or incarceration,” arguing that Grieder was never served with required legal papers in 1996 and that such a failure invalidates a court order requiring Grieder to pay Trainor $400 per month. Procaccini refused to grant the motion, saying, “It is time for the defendant to pay or go to jail. I am not going to validate his disrespect for the court.” The judge questioned why Fishbein was raising a “technical” issue “at the 11th hour” 11 years after the fact, and said he’d heard no explanation as to why Grieder, who works as a “floor host” at a Providence strip club, has not paid Trainor since Oct. 4. “We are in 2007, and he wants to appeal issues that occurred in 1996. There is something inherently wrong with that,” Procaccini said. “Common sense and the law ought to intersect as often as possible, and they have never intersected in this case. You have technical arguments that are as stale as they could possibly be.” The judge said he respected Grieder’s right to appeal, and he’ll give him 24 hours to seek a stay from the state’s highest court. But Procaccini said that if the Supreme Court won’t halt the prison sentence, Grieder must return to his courtroom at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. “The sheriffs will be waiting,” he said. -- Journal staff writer Edward Fitzpatrick Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:38 PM | Comment Slick road blamed for car wrecking state police cruiserNORTH KINGSTOWN -- A police cruiser was wrecked when another vehicle lost control on the slick roadway last night and crashed into it. Officer Andrew Greenhalgh responded to Route 4 north near exit 6 to investigate a one-car accident involving a 2007 Suzuki at 11:40 p.m. He told the driver, Daniel Attoh, of West Warwick, to remain in his car with his seatbelt on after seeing another vehicle slide on the ice, narrowly missing the cruiser, which was parked in the fast lane with its emergency lights on. Greenhalgh returned to his patrol car to call for help slowing traffic, when he noticed another car spinning toward his as it tried to slowdown. That 2008 Chevy Lumina driven by Taylar Ranton, 20, of Post Road, Warwick, slid sideways into the cruiser, hitting its trunk and front passenger-side door and pushing it into the Jersey barrier. Ranton’s car came to rest in the breakdown lane. She and Attoh were not injured. Greenhalgh was treated for soreness at South County Hospital and released, said Capt. Charles Brennan. The cruiser appeared to be a total loss. The accident was among five weather-related crashes in town that occurred between 10:49 p.m. and 12:30 a.m., before state Department of Transportation crews sanded the icy roads, police said. No charges will be filed. -- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney Posted by Mike McKinney at 5:33 PM | Comment Update: Barrington teen indicted in boating deathRyan A. Greenberg, 17, of Barrington was indicted today on a second-degree murder charge in the July boating death of Barrington High School classmate Patrick Murphy. Murphy had disappeared the evening of July 17 while skimming on a kneeboard on the Barrington River towed by the boat driven by Greenberg, of 33 Lamson Rd., the authorities have said. The statewide grand jury handed up an indictment that alleges "on or about that same date Greenberg operated a vessel in reckless disregard for the safety of others, with the death of Patrick Murphy ensuing as a proximate result of an injury received by such operation of the vessel, " Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch's office said in an afternoon news release. The indictment also charges Greenberg with one count of operating a boat to endanger, death resulting, one count of refusal to take a chemical test, and one count of underage possession of alcohol. Authorities alleged that on or about July 17, "having been offered the opportunity to submit to a chemical test by a member of the Rhode Island Environmental Police," Greenberg refused. Greenberg will be arraigned in Providence County Superior Court on Jan. 2. Greenberg has previously been cited by the state Department of Environmental Management with reckless boating and refusing to submit to a chemical test. He was arraigned in late July on one state felony count of reckless operation, death resulting; a state misdemeanor count of refusing to take a Breathalyzer test on the night of Murphy's death; and a new count from Barrington police of underage possession of alcohol. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with Journal archival reports Divers found Murphy’s body below the surface around 2:45 p.m. July 18, about 100 yards north of the East Bay Bike Path bridge near the bridge at County Road. The state Health Department said that Murphy, 17, of 15 Noble Ave., died from "blunt and sharp force injuries." He was not wearing a life vest while riding the kneeboard, authorities said. Murphy was the son of John F. Murphy Jr. and Phoebe M. Murphy, the men’s and women’s crew coaches at Brown University. Posted by Mike McKinney at 4:58 PM | Comment Winter storm whitens northern New England ski resorts
STOWE, Vt. -- A winter storm that wreaked havoc on the Upper Midwest began its snowy assault on the East today, spelling trouble for travelers but elation for ski resorts that suffered through an abysmal winter last year. Drivers in much of the region had to navigate a tricky mix of rain, sleet and snow as the storm - which was blamed for at least 16 deaths - made its way east, blanketing northern New England overnight and promising up to 20 inches in some places. "It's not snow; it's white gold," said Christopher Francis, innkeeper at Ye Olde England Inne, a 30-room inn located in the shadow of Stowe Mountain Resort. Seven inches of powdery white fluff welcomed skiers and snowboarders this morning. School was canceled or classes delayed from New York to Maine as highways turned slippery and wind gusted to 40 mph. Ice storm warnings were issued for Massachusetts and Connecticut, and winter storm warnings were in effect in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and northern and western New York. Most of Rhode Island experienced rain and icy road conditions during the morning commute, with a handful of cancellations in the the norther part of the state. Want to know how your favorite ski resort has fared? Check projo.com's ski conditions report of resorts throughout New England, the nation and Canada. Full story from the Associated Press... Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:45 PM | Comment State to explore wave energyGovernor Carcieri tomorrow will sign an agreement with an Australia-based company to explore installing the first technology in Rhode Island to harness ocean waves as a renewable-energy generating source. The agreement will start installation of a 1.5-megawatt generating unit that will go "close to Block Island," according to a news release from the governor's office. The governor will sign the memorandum of understanding, as the document is known, in Narragansett at 11 a.m. at the Coastal Institute building on the Narragansett Bay campus of URI with Oceanlinx, which develops "wave technology energy facilities," the release says. The agreement is to explore the project but is not a contract, said Jeff Neal, spokesman for the governor. In August, the Journal reported that the company has proposed installing a wave turbine off Block Island and 10 turbines off Point Judith. The turbines were described as floating moors and each could generate up to 1.5 megawatts of electricity. The governor's office said the company has successfully done a full trial of its technology in Port Kembla, Australia, and has signed agreements for developments in Hawaii, England, Australia, and Namibia. The company, formerly known as Energetech Australia, has been seeking to turn waves into energy in Rhode Island since 2003. -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:31 PM | Comment Suspect in hostage-taking at Clinton office arraignedROCHESTER, N.H. -- The man accused of taking hostages at a Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign office last week watched impassively during his video arraignment today as he was portrayed alternately as a desperate man seeking psychiatric help and a manipulative, longtime criminal. The judge ordered Leeland Eisenberg held on $500,000 cash bail on six felony charges and ordered a psychiatriac evaluation for him. "I want to make sure that this man doesn't go anywhere until he is dealt with properly," Rochester District Court Judge Daniel Cappiello said. Strafford County Attorney Janice Rundles asked for the high bail, saying Eisenberg, 46, has a long criminal record, including two rape convictions, and would be a threat to the public. His public defender, Randy Hawkes, said Eisenberg was profoundly sorry for the trauma he caused to the campaign workers and the disruption he caused to the campaign. Hawkes also said Eisenberg, who had made repeated suicide attempts in the past, wanted to thank the police for not shooting him, even though he asked them to on Friday. Hawkes said the incident was the act of a desperate man who had been turned away many times in his quest for help. He allegedly took hostages at Clinton's storefront office in Rochester on Friday, showing them what he said was a bomb strapped to his chest. Authorities said it turned out to be road flares. No one was hurt in the 5 1/2-hour drama. Full story from the Associated Press ... Posted by Andrea Panciera at 3:26 PM | Comment Fire reported on Lincoln Street in SmithfieldSMITHFIELD -- Firefighters are at the scene of a two-story house at 16 Lincoln St., where a fire was reported about 45 minutes ago. The fire has been brought under control. No other details were available.
Posted by Mike McKinney at 3:21 PM | Comment 'Teacher of the Year' a Goodfellow from Scituate HighSCITUATE -- Wasn’t chemistry fun? OK, maybe not for everyone, but it's likely not everyone had a teacher like George Edwin Goodfellow. After 40 years the Scituate chemistry teacher has been named by Governor Carcieri as the 2008 Rhode Island Teacher of the year, at a surprise ceremony today at Scituate High School. Goodfellow was recognized for the work he's done with thousands of students as well as for helping his peers. “George Goodfellow has devoted many years to the education of students from a variety of backgrounds,” said Patrick A. Guida, vice chairman of the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education. “And in recent years he has spent a great deal of time instructing and mentoring his younger colleagues.” Goodfellow turned the tables when he addressed the crowd, which gave him a standing ovation. He credited a variety of people for teaching him, including his family, friends, students and colleagues. “I think it’s a great honor to be a school teacher,” he said, “and I think we all take some kind of a role along that line.” -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson, with reports from Journal staff writer Mark Reynolds Goodfellow has been teaching at Scituate for about four years. He’s also taught at Bristol Community College and in New Bedford in Massachusetts. “What I most admire about Mr. Goodfellow is his innovation and talent in making learning fun,” said Guida. “If we are to make American public education superior globally, we will need more such innovation and talent in refocusing our popular culture on quality education. We are pleased to honor Mr. Goodfellow with this award.” With the award, Goodfellow becomes eligible for National Teacher of the Year. If he wins that honor, he’ll join the ranks of Kathleen Mellor, a North Kingstown teacher who won in 2004. Goodfellow said just being a teacher puts him in good company. At the ceremony today, he said there were hundreds of teachers that should be recognized. He said he knew of teachers who “literally save kids lives every day,” by keeping them off the street. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 2:11 PM | Comment New Yorker claims $200,000 Powerball prize sold in R.I.Talk about Thanksgiving. The $200,000 Powerball prize was claimed today by Marilis Rodriguez of Tarrytown, N.Y., who bought her ticket in East Providence while visiting relatives for Turkey Day. The ticket was from the same drawing last week in which someone won the $151.9 million jackpot after buying a ticket at Warren Mart in Warren. That winner has not yet come forward, and "there has been no communication with the ticket holder at this time," Rhode Island Lottery said in a news release today. Rodriguez, who bought the $200,000 winner at Cumberland Farms, 2812 Pawtucket Ave., East Providence, and lives in the suburb of New York City, "plans to do a lot of holiday shopping this year," Rhode Island Lottery said. As for the $151.9-million winner, Rhode Island Lottery said it "strongly recommends" the player immediately sign the back of his or her ticket, "keep it in a safe place and seek sound financial and legal advice." -- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:18 PM | Comment Ex-hospital execs ask appeals court to reverse convictionsBOSTON -- Two former hospital executives found guilty in an influence-peddling probe have asked a federal appeals court to overturn their convictions. Robert Urciuoli, the former president of Roger Williams Medical Center, and former vice president Frances Driscoll were convicted last year of paying ex-state Sen. John Celona to do the hospital's bidding at the State House. Their lawyers argued today that the trial judge's instructions to the jury were overly broad and allowed the jury to convict the executives for conduct that was not illegal. A lawyer for the government says the instructions were proper. Urciuoli and Driscoll are both free on bail pending their appeal, and both attended the arguments. The court did not say when it would rule. Extra: Read the projo.com's special report on the Celona case.
Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 1:09 PM | Comment Odor sends firefighters, residents to hospitalTwo firefighters were taken to the hospital after responding to strange odor at an apartment complex in Providence. James Taylor, chief of communications for the Providence Fire Department, said two firefighters were taken to Rhode Island Hospital and at least two residents of the Carroll Tower apartment complex at 243 Smith St., were also taken for treatment, after feeling overwhelmed by a strong odor. Taylor said the cause of the odor hasn't been determined, but that some of the residents though it might have come from chemicals used by an exterminator. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 12:30 PM | Comment Busted boiler gives E. Greenwich kids a 3-day weekendEAST GREENWICH — School children at Eldredge Elementary School got a three-day weekend after bursting water pipes in a heating unit sent gallons of water rushing through the hallways, prompting officials to cancel classes for the day. The heating unit, a mini-boiler inside the school’s attic, takes in air from the outside. Freezing temperatures last night caused a heating coil to freeze, which froze the pipes and caused them to burst, said facilities director Robert J. Wilmarth. The break sent at least 100 gallons of water rushing through hallway, classrooms and down to the gymnasium, he said. “They are repairing it as we speak,” Wilmarth said. “We are getting some dehumidifiers to get all the water dried up.” School will resume tomorrow, “unless it snows,” he said. Eldredge’s cornerstone was laid in 1927 making it the district’s oldest school. The school serves students in grades four through six. -- Journal staff writer Lisa Vernon-Sparks Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 12:04 PM | Comment Nominations sought for MLK King Hall of Fame awardPROVIDENCE -- Who in your community has made a difference? Now may be the time to share that person with a wider audience. Mayor David N. Cicciline is accepting nominations for the 5th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hall of Fame award. The award is for anyone “who has made a substantial contribution to acceptance, social justice, civil rights and equality as or for the residents of this community,” according to a statement from the Cicilline’s office. Last year’s recipients were the late Roosevelt Benton and the late Nancy Gewirtz. A formal induction for the Hall of Fame inductees will be held Jan. 16. To nominate someone, send a letter – no longer than two pages – that gives specific details about the candidate’s qualifications. Nominations are due by Dec. 14. Letters that arrive on or after Dec. 15 will be considered for next year’s award. Sent nominations to: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hall of Fame Selection Committee, Office of the City Solicitor, 275 Westminster St., Providence, RI 02903. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 12:03 PM | Comment A contrite Imus returns to the airwavesRadio host Don Imus returned to the airwaves this morning with an opening statement full of contrition and a roster of guests who were willing to forgive. Imus was fired in April from his jobs at CBS Radio and MSNBC after calling the Rutgers women’s basketball team “nappy-headed ho’s.” It wasn’t the first time he’d made racial slurs on the air. Imus was signed to return to WABC in New York, a Citadel Broadcasting station, earlier this month. His show is being broadcast in Rhode Island via WSKO 790 AM, also a member of the Citadel chain, weekdays from 6 to 10 a.m. The Rutgers team was front and center in Imus’s opening statement. He spoke of meeting with the women the night he was fired. He recalled that earlier in the controversy, he had apologized for his remarks and “I had said … I was a good person who said a bad thing. And I thought about how irrelevant that was, because whether you’re a good person or not is completely unrelated – doesn’t give you a license to make any kind of remark you feel like making, and doesn’t minimize the impact on who you make it about. … “I will never say anything in my lifetime that will make any of these young women at Rutgers regret or feel foolish that they accepted my apology and forgave me. And no one else will say anything on my program that will make anybody think that I didn’t deserve a second chance.” Imus said that the basic thrust of his program wouldn’t change, however. He concluded his opening statement by saying, “Dick Cheney is still a war criminal, Hillary Clinton is still Satan and I’m back on the radio.” -- By Journal staff writer Rick Massimo with reports from the Associated Press. Imus’s supporting cast included producer Bernard McGuirk, who had also been fired for his role in instigating the Rutgers comments and who Imus once said was hired to do “[n-word] jokes,” as well as new cast members Karith Foster and Tony Powell, both African-American. The first guest was historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, who finished her segment by telling Imus, “I’m so glad you’re back.” Republican senator and presidential candidate John McCain signed off telling Imus, “Welcome back, old friend.” There was also a silly but inoffensive skit involving mimicry of President Clinton. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., also a presidential candidate, credited Imus and his wife, Deirdre Imus, with their work on a national autism bill. “People finally understood what autism was.” Imus is working on a five-year contract with Citadel Broadcasting. He will be heard on 240 stations across the country, and will be simulcast on the cable-TV network RFD-TV. “It might be melodramatic to call it a life-changing experience, but it was pretty close,” Imus also said. “… I think things worked out the way they should have worked out.” Posted by Jack Perry at 11:28 AM | Comment Gas prices remain unchangedGas prices in Rhode Island have stayed unchanged for the second week in a row, according to AAA Southern New England. The average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.079 at the self-service pump, the same price as last week, according to AAA's weekly survey. The price is nevertheless 40 cents more than it was seven weeks ago. A year ago at this time the average price in Rhode Island was $2.309. Rhode Island is one cent above the national average $3.069. Posted by Jack Perry at 10:44 AM | Comment Man charged with murder after bar fight in WarehamWAREHAM, Mass. -- A New Bedford man faces murder and other charges after a weekend bar fight turned deadly in Wareham. Police said 31-year-old Bruce Gallagher was fatally injured early Saturday morning during the brawl outside Stevie B's Onset Sports Resort Bar & Grill. A second man, 27-year-old Daniel Martin of Fairhaven, was seriously injured. Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz said both men sustained head injuries. The suspect, 21-year-old Joshua Russell, was arrested the following day after police spotted him outside a convenience store in Fairhaven. Russell was due to be arraigned Monday in Wareham District Court. Relatives said Gallagher was a cousin of Marine Lance Corporal Patrick Gallagher, who was killed in Iraq in April 2006. -- The Associated Press Posted by Jack Perry at 9:46 AM | Comment Photo: Slick roads, bumper-to-bumper traffic on 295
Posted by Jack Perry at 9:30 AM | Comment More closures as Iway project rolls onMore highway closures are scheduled for this week as the Iway project moves along. This week, the state Department of Transportation will be working on the India Point Park Pedestrian Bridge and on restriping sections of the Iway. The DOT says all closures are weather dependent; with the weather we’ve been having, nothing is certain so check the DOT Web site if you expect the closures to affect your plans. - Tomorrow from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., the Iway will be closed at Exit 19 off of Route-95 north. Drivers can take the old Exit 20 off Route 95 north. - From midnight to 5 a.m. on Wednesday, traffic on the old section of Route 195, eastbound traffic will be directed to exit the highway at Exit 2/Wickenden Street, and to re-enter the highway at the new South Main Street ramp. - Thursday between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., the Iway will be closed at Exit 19 off Route 95 north will be closed. Traffic will be redirected to Exit 20, the old Route 195 exit. - Westbound traffic on Route 195 should expect lane closures Tuesday through Thursday between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 9:22 AM | Comment Woman accused of killing foster child due in courtA 24-year-old woman accused of murdering a 3-year-old while serving as the boy’s guardian is scheduled to be in court todayafter her trial was postponed last winter. Katherine Bunnell, and her boyfriend, Gilbert Delestre, each face one count of murder and conspiracy to commit murder after prosecutors say they beat Thomas J. Wright so violently that they cracked both his skull and femur. The two were given guardianship over the boy while his mother served time in jail. Thomas died in October, 2004. Bunnell is scheduled for a status conference in Providence Superior Court this morning. Delestre is scheduled for a pre-trial conference Dec. 13. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson The boy’s death led to an investigation by the state’s child advocate, who said the state’s Department of Children, Youth and Families missed at least five opportunities to rescue Thomas. Among the errors cites was ignoring a doctor’s expressed concerns about Bunnell becoming a foster parent. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 9:05 AM | Comment R.I. officials to meet with Greek ambassador to U.S.PROVIDENCE -- Greece's ambassador to the U.S. is meeting with state officials to bolster relations between his country and Rhode Island. Today, Ambassador Alexandros Mallias will meet with Gov. Don Carcieri and officials from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation. Yesterday, Mallias was scheduled to take part in an evening reception sponsored by the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Cranston, the St. Spyridon Greek Church in Newport and the Assumption Greek Orthodox in Pawtucket. State Sen. Leonidas Raptakis said Mallias has worked to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Greece. -- The Associated Press Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:10 AM | Comment School closings: It's a short listSeveral schools around the state are starting late or canceling classes today: DELAYED 1 hour: Good Shepherd Regional School CLOSED: Click here for up-to-date school closings from our news partners at WPRI. For regular updates, see projo.com/weather. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:06 AM | Comment Sleet and rain continuingIt looks bad, but it may get worse. The National Weather Service is forecasting a high temperature of about 38 degrees today with sleet and rain continuing throughout the morning. And winds will reach near-advisory speeds, gusting as high as 45 mph at times. Keep an eye open for downed tree limbs and possible power outages. Tonight may bring some more snow before midnight and a cold overnight low of 21 degrees. Winds will likely continue, gusting as high as 45 mph. Tomorrow is looking a little sunnier, with a high in the mid 30s. The winds will keep up, however, gusting as high as 39 degrees. Posted by Brandie Jefferson at 7:01 AM | Comment Today's front pageToday's front page features a story reporting that 462, the highest total reported yet, were inside The Station nightclub on the night of the tragic fire in February 2003. |
|
ADVERTISING |
|
|
|
|
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 | 31 |
ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006