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April 3, 2006

Post-dance stomach bug spurs Health Dept. warning

State health officials are investigating a cluster of stomach problems that followed a father and daughter dance held Friday night in Woonsocket.

It is unclear exactly how many people have been affected with the illness that causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and low-grade fever, but the state Department of Health received enough complaints to issue a public warning today.

The father and daughter dance was sponsored by the Cumberland Hill Elementary School and held at the Bocce Club.

Anyone who attended the event who is experiencing symptoms is encouraged to seek medical care. The Health Department urged those affected to stay home if they work at child-care facilities, restaurants, or in a health-care setting.

State officials have yet to identify the cause of the illnesses.

Those who attended another event at the Woonsocket club the following day have not reported any negative health effects.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:58 PM | Comment

Fire damages former Masonic temple in Burrillville

BURRILLVILLE -- Fire crews spent much of the afternoon battling a three-alarm fire that damaged a former Masonic temple on Chapel Street today.

The building's owner, Guy Lima, had spent much of the winter converting the old temple into apartments.

No one was hurt in the afternoon blaze reported at about 2:15 p.m., but it snarled traffic and caused power outages to many area residents.

Fire officials are investigating the cause of the fire, which began in the attic, but do not believe it to be suspicious.

-- With reports by Journal staff writer Talia Buford

The building was fully insured, Lima said in an afternoon interview, but he’d already invested between $80,000 and $100,000 into construction. He planned to convert the building into two floors of apartments, with a business space on the bottom floor, he said.

The building can be salvaged, Lima said, but the blaze set back the construction process indefinitely.

-- With reports by Journal staff writer Talia Buford

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:50 PM | Comment

Teens in Glocester car crash identified

GLOCESTER -- Police have identified three teenage boys hospitalized earlier today after a car crash on Chestnut Hill Road.

The driver, Kyle Brodeur, 17, of Chopmist Hill Road, was initially trapped in the wreckage. Once removed, he was airlifted to the UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester. Police could not comment on the extent of his injuries.

Both passengers -- Nathaniel Rogler, 16, of Douglas Hook Road, and Stephen Lataash, 16, of Terrace Drive -- were able to leave the car after the accident. They are being treated at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence.

The car was travelling east when Brodeur lost control, hitting a tree with the driver's side, according to his police.

-- With reports by Journal staff writer Philip Marcelo

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:42 PM | Comment

Evans to recommend closing Bishop Middle School

PROVIDENCE -- Schools Supt. Donnie Evans will recommend closing the Nathan Bishop Middle School at tonight's School Board meeting, a move expected to draw praise from concerned East Side residents.

If the board approves Evans' recommendation, the school would close its doors at the end of this semester. The superintendent has a complicated plan to deal with the 260 sixth, seventh, and eight graders planning to attend the school next fall.

Evans detailed his plan in an afternoon interview with The Journal.

Tonight's meeting location has also been changed, from the School Board's office to Classical High School. It will start at 6 p.m.

-- Journal education writer Linda Borg

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:26 PM | Comment

Lawyers' payment in lead-paint case debated

PROVIDENCE -- A private law firm that won the state's lawsuit against former lead paint makers stands to win millions of dollars after a jury found three companies liable for creating a public nuisance.

But the paint companies say the state's contract to pay the lawyers was unconstitutional.

Lawyers for both sides appeared in the state Supreme Court today to argue over the contract -- which gave private law firms more than 16 percent of what the state receives in the case. The clean-up costs could reach billions of dollars, depending on what a judge decides.

The manufacturers argued the deal created a financial incentive -- and the private lawyers should have been paid on an hourly basis or in some other way that was not connected to the outcome of the case.

The state says the contract was legal.

-- Associated Press

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:39 PM | Comment

Updated: Hearing delayed for driver accused in hit-run

PROVIDENCE -- A probation violation hearing for the North Smithfield woman facing charges after a fatal hit-and-run accident in Glocester last month was continued today until April 24, according to Michael J. Healey, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office.

Lori J. Benoit will continue to be held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston until her next Superior Court hearing, Healey said.

At Benoit’s request, her lawyer, John D. Lynch Jr., asked the court to continue the hearing until a later date, Healey said. The state did not object.

Benoit has been charged with crashing her car into a group of friends at about 1 a.m. on March 18, killing Robert George, 36, of Glocester, and Jason Roy, 36, of Rehoboth, Mass., and injuring three others.

The state is seeking to have Benoit held at the ACI for two years for violating the terms of an earlier court matter, Healey said.

"Given the seriousness of the new allegations against her, we think it's appropriate," he added.

Benoit pleaded no contest in February 2005 to charges of cocaine possession, obstructing a police officer, disorderly conduct and simple assault. She received suspended sentences and probation.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:20 PM | Comment

3 teens hurt in Glocester car crash / Photo

Journal photo / Gretchen Ertl
Glocester Police Sgt. Matthew Fague and Patrolman David Hebert look around the car that a teen driver crashed into the woods off Chestnut Hill Road.

GLOCESTER -- One teenage boy has been airlifted to the UMass Memorial Medical Center and two others are being treated at Hasbro Children's Hospital following a car crash this afternoon.

Police have not released the names of the teens, all males either 16 or 17 years old. Nor would they confirm whether they were students at the nearby Ponaganset High School.

Their car was travelling east on Chestnut Hill Road when the driver lost control and hit a tree at about 2 p.m., around the same time school let out.

-- Journal staff writer Philip Marcelo

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:20 PM | Comment

Coventry policeman in fatal shooting ID'd

COVENTRY -- The Police Department today identified the officer who fatally shot a 24-year-old man in the front yard of his mother’s house as Officer Kevin P. Nolan, 29.

Police Chief Brian O’Rourke said the 11-year-veteran was on administrative leave at his home.

O’Rourke also said the victim, Timothy Gileau, was not living at his mother’s house at 10 Lowell St. where the incident took place early Saturday morning.

O’Rourke said, “We have a couple of addresses,” but he did not elaborate.

Police said officers responding to a complaint of a domestic disturbance fired at Gileau when he came at them swinging a crowbar.

-- Journal staff writer Peter Elsworth

Posted by Steve Peoples at 4:11 PM | Comment

Sox' Ortiz hits first HR of season

ARLINGTON, Tex. -- Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has hit the first home run of the season for his team.

In the fifth inning, with one man on base, Ortiz hit a Kevin Millwood pitch over the fence to give Boston a 5-0 lead in their opener against the Texas Rangers.

Pitcher Curt Shilling is also having an excellent start, giving up just two hits and no runs through the first four innings against the potent Texas lineup.

Keep up with the rest of the game via projo.com's SoxBlog.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:46 PM | Comment

Board to decide Bishop middle school's fate tonight

PROVIDENCE -- The Providence School Board is poised to decide the fate of Nathan Bishop Middle School.

At tonight's meeting the board is expected to decide whether to convert the East Side middle school into a high school -- a plan that has angered many local residents who fear it may hurt the neighborhood.

The city has proposed the move to ease the crowding. Providence has 400 more high school students than the current buildings can handle. Nathan Bishop, the smallest of the city's nine middle schools, has 400 students that would be reassigned to other middle schools.

Tonight's meeting will be held at 6 o'clock at the Providence School Board, 797 Westminster St. It will begin with a public comment period.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:33 PM | Comment

Red Sox season under way

The Boston Red Sox have opened their 106th season on a sunny, mild afternoon in Arlington, Texas. Newly acquired center fielder Coco Crisp led off, and ended up taking a called strike three from Texas Rangers starter Kevin Millwood.

The Red Sox have a five-game opening day losing streak, the longest such slump in Major League Baseball. Their last win was in 2000, when Pedro Martinez shut down the Seattle Mariners. In club history, the Red Sox are 50-54-1 on opening day.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 2:10 PM | Comment

WBRU back in its original groove

Radio station WBRU is back to its regular alternative-rock format after an abrupt switch turned out to be an April Fool's hoax.

Last Friday, station DJ's were mournfully announcing that the station had changed management, and its Web site had posted a notice thanking listeners for the last 36 years, adding "we will miss you all." At 5 p.m., there was a brief blast of static and a new voice announced the new "Buddy FM."

Buddy FM was an eclectic-to-the-max mixture that played everything from Johnny Cash to Black Sabbath to the Village People.

That lasted until about noon Saturday, April 1, when rebellious DJs and a "crowd'' of incensed listeners -- actually recordings of crowd noise -- retook the station from its mysterious corporate masters and restored the old format.

-- Journal TV writer Andy Smith

Posted by Jack Perry at 1:38 PM | Comment

Middletown woman pleads no contest to assaulting aunt / Photo

Journal photo / Kris Craig
Evangeline "Lea" Henry talks with her lawyer, J. Terence Houlihan, about her change of plea to no contest.

NEWPORT -- In the midst of her trial on felony assault charges, a Middletown mother of three today pleaded no contest to attacking her elderly aunt with bleach in an incident that almost killed the 70-year-old woman.

The defendant, Evangeline "Lea" Henry, 45, of 64 Beagle Drive, Middletown, was serving as guardian for her aunt, Mary S. Goulios, at the time of the bleach attack which occurred on Dec. 15, 2004, at Goulios's apartment at the AHEPA House, elderly subsidized housing at 87 Girard Ave.

In a plea bargain with prosecutors, the defendant will face up to six years in prison in exchange for her admission of guilt.

-- Journal staff writer Tracy Breton

In response to questioning by Superior Court Judge Edwin J. Gale, Henry, who stood weeping, said she accepted full responsibility for her actions.

As a result of her no contest plea to a charge of assault and battery on a person over 60 with serious bodily injury, the attorney general's office agreed to drop a second felony assault charge in connection with the same incident.

The judge scheduled sentencing for May 30.

Prosecutors announced in court that prior to the sentencing, they plan to bring another felony charge accusing Henry of embezzling her aunt's money while serving as her guardian.

Henry has already repaid her aunt about $20,000, but prosecutors said after court, they will be seeking additional restitution from her.

Henry was removed as her guardian after the bleach attack. Goulios is now living independently.

-- Journal staff writer Tracy Breton

Posted by Jack Perry at 1:31 PM | Comment

Roger Clemens visits with Red Sox in Texas

Roger Clemens, back with the Red Sox?

The star pitcher planted that thought in many minds today when he spent more than an hour visiting with Boston players and team officials in the Sox clubhouse prior to the Opening Day game in Texas. Afterwards, Clemens told the media that while he hasn't decided where -- or even whether -- he'll pitch in 2006, some members of his family are warming to the idea of his returning to Boston, where he spent the first 13 years of his career before leaving after 1996. He said his wife, Deb, had ''tears in her eyes'' at the thought of going back to the Sox.

For more details, check the Red Sox blog.

-- Art Martone, with reports from Sean McAdam in Texas.

Posted by Art at 1:22 PM | Comment

Write-ins may affect Seekonk selectman's race

SEEKONK, Mass. -- Balloting began at noon for a Board of Selectman's race that could be decided by write-in ballots.

Two seats on the board are open, and the only two candidates on the ballot are incumbent Francis Venditti and newcomer John K. Turner. But Venditti's critics are waging a write-in campaign for incumbent John Whelan, who had decided to step down so he could run for state Rep. Philip Travis' seat in the fall.

Because there are no contested races on the ballot, turnout for the municipal elections would normally be extremely light. During the first half hour of voting, 35 residents had cast ballots in Town Hall, one of the four polling places. But an hour later, at the town library, only four people had voted.

-- Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery Jr.

Last week, Whelan, chairman of the Selectmen, endorsed the campaign. Yesterday, he and his supporters were urging voters to use pre-printed stickers to put Whelan's name in the write-in spot, and to vote for Turner as well.

Venditti, who was been running hard since getting wind of the write-in campaign, has cried foul and threatened a court challenge. But by late last week he had backed off from the threat.

The only other reason to go to the polls: two seats on the library board have no candidates on the ballot. Those two races will be decided by write-ins as well.

-- Journal staff writer C. Eugene Emery Jr.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 1:17 PM | Comment

Photo: Building a bridge in Providence

Journal photo / Mary Murphy

Workers swarm over a bridge support that has been erected for the relocation of Interstate 195 near the Fox Point Hurricane Barrier in Providence this morning.

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:34 PM | Comment

'Waterfront' wrapping up; 'Underdog' next

PROVIDENCE -- Filming for the CBS pilot Waterfront will wrap up today, just in time for many of the same camera crews and support personnel to move to a new project, the Disney movie Underdog.

Waterfront, a show about an ethically-challenged mayor played by Joe Pantoliano of The Sopranos, has been filming in Providence for the past two weeks. Trailers clogged alleys around City Hall last week. Mayor David N. Cicilline even loaned out his office.

Walt Disney Pictures will begin filming Underdog in Providence on Thursday. A popular children's TV cartoon series, Underdog ran during the '60s and early '70s.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:21 PM | Comment

CCRI hoop star stabbed

WEST WARWICK -- The star forward on the Community College of Rhode Island’s basketball team was stabbed in the abdomen during a house party in West Warwick yesterday morning, the police said.

Marvin Owens, 19, a sophomore who led the NJCAA Division II in scoring last season, sustained only superficial wounds, the police said. He was listed in good condition at Rhode Island Hospital at noon today.

The police went to a home at 5-7 Sisson Street at about 12:30 Sunday morning, after neighbors complained about a large party there, said police Sgt. Richard M. Ascoli. The party involved the mens’ and women’s CCRI basketball teams, and was breaking up when the police arrived, Ascoli said.

Inside, they found Owens suffering from the stab wounds. The police have no suspects and have not been able to get a clear picture of what happened, Ascoli said.

-- Zachary R. Mider

Posted by Jack Perry at 12:20 PM | Comment

Gavitt shoots into Basketball Hall of Fame

Dave Gavitt -- the Westerly native, former Providence College men's basketball coach and Big East Conference visionary -- has won election this morning to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Gavitt joins NBA stars Charles Barkley, Joe Dumars and Dominique Wilkens; University of Connecticut women's coach Geno Auriemma; and Italian National Team coach Sandro Gamba as members of the Hall of Fame's Class of 2006. The new Hall of Famers will be enshrined during ceremonies Sept. 8 and 9 in Springfield, Mass.

Posted by Mike McDermott at 11:44 AM | Comment

Bay Queen will return, but with new manager

A 33-year tradition will continue on Narragansett Bay later this month when the Bay Queen resumes its dinner cruises out of Warren.

Capt. Luther H. Blount, the 89-year-old owner of the vessel, was unsure whether he could continue the operation, but he said today he found "a good fit" to manage it in Michael Ferreira, owner of Gillary's Night Club and Tavern in Bristol.

Blount, well-known as a shipbuilder, won't be acting as captain of the ship, but will still own the business.

He'll also still be able to see off many of his guests. He lives in a house near the departure gate, "so I have literally enjoyed seeing quite possibly a million guests over the years."

The Bay Queen Cruises office opens April 10, seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. It is already booking charters. Call 401-245-1350. The first trip is April 21.

Blount's shipyard also makes similar vessels for cruises in ports around the country. Last year, the Harbor Queen began operation out of Newport.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:34 AM | Comment

Photo: A proud new citizen

Photo / Mary Murphy

New citizen Titilayo Oluseun Omisore, right, poses for a photograph with her mother, Eunice Omisore, outside Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence this morning after Titilayo was sworn in as a new citizen. The Omisores are from Nigeria. Eunice is already a citizen. Five hundred Rhode Island residents from 70 nations became U.S. citizens in this morning's ceremony.

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:08 AM | Comment

Ethics reform bill to be publicized today

PROVIDENCE -- An ethics reform bill that would mandate ethics training for all public officials will be announced this morning at 11 in the House Lounge at the State House.

Introduced at the request of Lt. Gov. Charles J. Fogarty, the 2006 Public Accountability and Reform Act also would require greater disclosure by lobbyists and public officials and would increase penalties for ethics violations.

In touting the bill, Fogarty will be joined this morning by H. Philip West Jr., executive director of Common Cause of Rhode Island, and the legislators who introduced the House and Senate bills at Fogarty’s request – Sen. J. Michael Lenihan, D-East Greenwich, and Rep. Peter F. Kilmartin, D-Pawtucket.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:30 AM | Comment

Suspicious fire destroys closed Woonsocket bar

WOONSOCKET -- City firefighters are on the scene of a suspicious fire that destroyed the old O’Grady’s, a bar that has been closed for about two years, Fire Chief Henry Renaud said.

State and local fire marshals are investigating the fire that began around 6:10 this morning in the vacant building at 230 Bernon St., which includes an upstairs apartment.

Party Town, a party shop and banquet facility, is adjacent to the building. Out of fear that the fire could spread to that structure, the city’s entire fire crew responded – five engines, two ladders and two rescue trucks, Renaud said.

The fire began in the bar area and spread to the second floor. It took crews about 30 minutes to get it under control, Renaud said.

Renovations were being done on the building a couple of weeks ago, the chief said. He labeled the fire suspicious because the building is empty.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 10:18 AM | Comment

Official word due on Gavitt's hall of fame selection

An announcement is expected this afternoon that former Providence College coach and Big East commissioner Dave Gavitt has been elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Although the formal announcement isn't until later today, Journal sports columnist Jim Donaldson reported yesterday that Gavitt has won election.

Read Donaldson's Friday column on why Gavitt deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:10 AM | Comment

Photo: Morning run

Journal photo / Mary Murphy

Teresa King of Providence gets in her morning run under blue skies at India Point Park this morning. The sky probably won't be as clear tomorrow morning. Rain is in tomorrow's forecast.

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:46 AM | Comment

Gas prices up 10 cents

PROVIDENCE -- Gasoline prices jumped 10 cents per gallon in Rhode Island over the past week, the fifth consecutive week that prices have increased, according to AAA Southern New England.

The average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline is $2.56 at the self-service pump, according to AAA's weekly survey. It's the highest price since October.

Posted by Jack Perry at 9:10 AM | Comment

N. Providence girl hurt in ATV-SUV collision

SCITUATE -- A 14-year-old North Providence girl was in the hospital with broken bones this morning after she drove out into traffic on a small all-terrain vehicle and collided with an SUV, town police said.

Scituate Police Sgt. Stephen Lang said today that the girl, who was not identified, had been driving the four-wheeler for the first time on a friend's property at 953 Danielson Pike.

She started going “really fast” and could not figure out how to stop the vehicle, Lang said. Yelling to her friends, asking how to stop the vehicle, she shot out into traffic and into the path of an oncoming Jeep Cherokee, Lang said.

She collided with the Jeep, the ATV flipped, and she became trapped under the Jeep.

Police are not releasing the name of the Jeep's driver, a 41-year-old Johnston resident, he was driving with his wife. No charges are being filed against him, Lang said.

Lang said the girl, who was not wearing a helmet, was in Hasbro Children’s Hospital with a broken collarbone, broken leg and a shattered ankle, according to her mother.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 8:30 AM | Comment

Students, R.I.'s senators to discuss world issues

PROVIDENCE -- Students from 11 Rhode Island high schools are visiting the State House today to discuss international problems with Rhode Island's two U.S. senators and others.

Students participating in Rhode Island's seventh annual Capitol Forum on America's Future will discuss issues such as international security, the environment and global economics with U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Lincoln Chafee.

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:13 AM | Comment

Cloudy day, rainy night

Expect partly cloudy skies with a high near 57 today.

Tonight, there’s an 80 percent chance of rain, and we could see one-quarter to one-half inch of rain, according to the National Weather Service.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:57 AM | Comment

500 in R.I. to become U.S. citizens today

PROVIDENCE -- Nearly 500 Rhode Island residents will take the oath to become U.S. citizens during a 9:30 a.m. citizenship ceremony today at the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence.

The new citizens come from more than 70 nations, including the Dominican Republic, Senegal and Bulgaria.

Posted by Jack Perry at 6:50 AM | Comment