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June 5, 2006

N. Smithfield man wins big at Delaware casino

Everett Brown never got to use his ticket for this weekend’s car races in Delaware, but he’s not complaining.

That’s because during his semi-annual trip to Dover International Speedway to see the NASCAR Nextel Cup, Brown took his chances on the nickel slots and won. Big.

“I went there for car racing and I won at the slot machines,” said Brown, 61, of North Smithfield, in an interview today. “It changed my whole weekend.”

A $100 bill turned into a $375,179.87 windfall for Brown. According to a press release today from the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Delaware, the jackpot is the largest prize ever given away at the casino.

A self-employed plumbing contractor, Brown has been going to Dover for 33 years for the NASCAR races there but only began playing the slots 5 years ago, he said today. He plans to use the money to build a retirement home in North Carolina, near "NASCAR Country," where he'll be close to numerous race tracks.

-- Journal staff writer Talia Buford

Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:56 PM | Comment

Photo: Celebrating a happy 107th birthday

Journal photo / Bob Thayer
Mae Burdon, at 107, is believed to be the oldest person in Rhode Island. Today, she and almost 100 people celebrated her birthday at the Linn Health Center in East Providence, where she now lives. Burdon was raised in Providence and lived many years in Warwick. Her secret to longevity? "Take things as they come," she says.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Rich Salit

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 6:24 PM | Comment

Providence Fire Dept. promotes 1st female to captain

PROVIDENCE – One of the city's first two female firefighters and the first woman promoted to an officer’s position in the department has accomplished another first.

Heidi J. Rivard today became the first woman in the department’s history to be promoted to the rank of captain. In 1998, when she was promoted to lieutenant, she took the first female officer’s role in the department. Rivard has been with the department since August 1991.

Today she joined four other Providence firefighters at a promotions ceremony at the Public Safety Complex.

Also promoted to captain are Kenneth J. Cirelli and Scott G. Mello, who both joined the department in 1984 and were promoted to lieutenant in 1995. Promoted to lieutenant were Anthony J. Lancellotti and Peter K. McMichael, who joined the department in 1989.

Mayor David N. Cicilline and Fire Chief David D. Costa administered the oaths of office at the promotions ceremony.

“The firefighters we are honoring today have earned their promotions by serving their department and this city with great courage, distinction and hard work,” Cicilline said, according to a statement released by his office. “They have stood ready to risk their lives to protect the residents of this city, and for that we are eternally grateful.”

Posted by Kate Bramson at 6:05 PM | Comment

S. Kingstown police probe shooting at hip-hop studio

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The police are investigating a weekend shooting incident outside hip-hop recording studio offices on Railroad Street.

Bullets pierced the old train station at 43 Railroad St., home of Syko Rekordz, around 1:50 a.m., Saturday, in what police believe was a targeted shooting, said Capt. Jeffrey Allen.

Kevin K. Guarriello and Fearon K. Wright, who live in the building, were asleep at the time. Guarriello's girlfriend was awake; no one was hurt, Allen said.

"Obviously someone was targeted,'' Allen said. Police view the shooting as isolated and ``specific to that residence,'' he said.

The shooter, on foot or in a slow-moving car, is believed to have fired three shots at the building, one of which penetrated the wall, Allen said.

-- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Guarriello, 25, said he awoke to a loud noise early Saturday morning that he initially thought was something falling from the wall. As he investigated, he kicked a bullet that had come through the wall facing the street and landed on the kitchen floor, he said. A hole could be seen above the front door today.

"I know a lot of people. I don't have a problem with anyone,'' said Guarriello, who grew up in town. "I don't know if someone is trying to scare us.''

Syko Recordz's clients include Phokus, a rapper who once opened for Ludacris at the University of Rhode Island's Ryan Center. A video of Phokus's song "Shake it 4 Me'' shows him performing in front of the old rail station.

-- Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Posted by Andrea Panciera at 5:05 PM | Comment

Another chance today to air contractor troubles

PROVIDENCE – Homeowners with contractor-horror stories have a second chance this afternoon to address the Special House Commission to Examine the Issue of Licensing Builders and Contractors.

The commission is holding its second public hearing today from 4 to 6 p.m. in Room 313 of the State House. Thirteen people who signed up for a May 25 hearing but didn’t get a chance to speak will get the first opportunity to testify today. Others will be allowed to speak on a first-come, first-served basis.

To check a contractor’s record, go to the Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration Board Web site.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 4:15 PM | Comment

Accessible R.I. giving away 10,000 guides covering 300 buildings

PROVIDENCE – This year’s updated accessibility guide for restaurants, theaters, museums and recreational venues will be unveiled at a State House ceremony from 4 to 6 this afternoon.

Accessible Rhode Island is distributing 10,000 copies of the 48-page guide that outlines what’s accessible statewide for people with disabilities. The guide is available at nonprofit organizations, the airport, the State House, welcome centers in Rhode Island and in the offices of congressmen, according to Don Perna of Accessible Rhode Island.

The 200 restaurants, more than 70 theaters, museums, historical and recreational venues and more than 30 libraries statewide that are in the guide are also on the organization’s website, Perna said. The site is updated year-round, but many people with disabilities prefer the pamphlet-sized guide instead, Perna said.

At today’s event, Gov. Carcieri is expected to issue a proclamation, U.S. Rep. James R. Langevin will speak and the chair of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, Peter Kiernan, will attend. This year’s guide is dedicated to the memory of Christopher and Dana Reeve.

Langevin, who uses a wheelchair since an accidental shooting damaged his spinal cord when he was a teenager, has worked closely with the Reeve foundation and was involved in establishing a federally funded program, named after the couple, that promotes the health and well-being of people living with paralysis.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 3:56 PM | Comment

State flag at half-staff in honor of Judge Dimitri

PROVIDENCE -- Governor Carcieri has ordered the state flag to be lowered to half-staff today to honor the memory of Superior Court Judge William A. Dimitri Jr., who died Saturday at the age of 76 after a lengthy illness.

The flag will remain at half-staff until memorial services are complete.

Dimitri was formerly a high-profile criminal defense lawyer and a state and federal prosecutor.

His wake will be held tomorrow from 4 to 8 p.m. at the A.A. Mariani & Son Funeral Home, 200 Hawkins St. in Providence. His funeral will be Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. in the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1081 Mineral Spring Ave. in North Providence.

“Judge Dimitri served the Superior Court with honor and dedication and was an active and energetic presence in the state’s legal and political circles for more than three decades,” the governor said in a written statement. “My wife, Sue, and I extend our condolences to the entire Dimitri family.”

Extra: Sign an online guest book in Dimitri's memory.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 3:40 PM | Comment

Casino opponents to protest at W. Warwick meeting

WEST WARWICK -- Opponents of the proposed Harrah's Entertainment casino plan to stage a protest outside West Warwick Town Hall tomorrow at 6 p.m. The protesters, including members of the group West Warwick Citizens Against The Casino, will gather as members of the West Warwick Town Council meet behind closed doors to discuss their upcoming negotiations with Harrah's over the host-community agreement.

-- Journal staff writer Benjamin N. Gedan

Posted by Kate Bramson at 2:34 PM | Comment

Update: Police ID motorcycle victim

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Police have identified the local man who died yesterday morning in a motorcycle accident.

Kyle Rocha, 24, of 59 Shelldrake Road, South Kingstown, was killed when his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck in the northbound lanes of Route 1. He was not wearing a helmet.

The accident occured shortly before 11 a.m. at the Succotash Road exit.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Katie Mulvaney

Correction: An earlier version of this report incorrectly gave the date of the accident.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 11:06 AM | Comment

Gas prices up again

Gas prices across the state rose four cents per gallon over the past week, wiping out the modest decreases of the previous two weeks.

The average price for a gallon of regular unleaded self-serve gasoline in Rhode Island is $2.97, according to a AAA Southern New England gas survey released this morning.

AAA reported slight decreases each of the past two weeks, but today's price is back to where it was two weeks ago.

The current price is up 72 cents from the start of the year, and up 85 cents from a year ago at this time.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 10:49 AM | Comment

Update: Patrick Kennedy out of rehab, speaks at Brown

PROVIDENCE - Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy was greeted with a standing ovation when he was introduced at Brown University this morning, his first public appearance since a car crash near the U.S. Capitol drove him to enter an alcohol and drug abuse treatment center on May 5.

The congressman arrived at the seminar on mental illness shortly after 10 a.m. -- tracked by a horde of photographers and television cameras -- wearing a navy suit with a royal blue shirt, and a red tie with yellow stripes.

"This year, more than any other, has special personal importance to me," Kennedy said of the conference to a partly-filled auditorium this morning.

Rep. James R. Langevin and U.S. Senate candidate Sheldon Whitehouse were among his supporters in the audience.

Kennedy, who still may face police charges in connection with the pre-dawn accident, was discharged late Friday from the addiction center at the Mayo Clinic. A self-described pain pill abuser and binge drinker for most of his adult life, Kennedy completed a four-week course of rehabilitation at the Minnesota clinic, according to his office. Kennedy has said he took a prescription sleeping drug and other medication before the predawn accident.

The congressman spent most of the weekend at the home of his sister, Kara Kennedy Allen, and her family in suburban Washington. He returned to Rhode Island last night.

Today, the Rhode Island Democrat addressed an annual conference that he helped found at Brown Medical School. He is scheduled to introduce one of the key-note speakers.

He was greeted this morning by a full-page advertisement in The Providence Journal that expressed support from members of the state's medical, mental-health and drug-abuse treatment communities. Several politicians were also among the 50 signers of the ad.

"Substance abuse treatment is available and effective, but not enough people seek it,'' the advertisement said in part. "Patrick Kennedy's entry into intensive treatment provides an excellent model for others who are dealing with an addiction.''

Meanwhile, in a statement released by Kennedy's office, the Mayo Clinic said: ``Congressman Kennedy's doctors are encouraged by his progress and have worked with him to put in place a stringent system of after care that may include periodic visits to Mayo Clinic for continued health care consultation.''

At the podium this morning, Kennedy addressed the seriousness of his situation.

"I recognize that 'concluded' is not a word that I’ll ever be able to use when it comes to my aftercare," he said.

-- Journal Washington Bureau John E. Mulligan

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:30 AM | Comment

Big Dig dedication to recall 'Tip' O'Neill

BOSTON -- It has cost more than $14.6 billion, transformed the face of downtown Boston, and unclogged one of the most notorious bottlenecks in the country's interstate highway system.

Today, in yet another sign that work on the Big Dig is finally winding down, political leaders are scheduled to converge for a ceremony to formally dedicate the project's Interstate 93 tunnel.

The event, led by U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, will also honor one of the political godfathers of the massive highway project, the late House Speaker Thomas P. 'Tip' O'Neill - a Massachusetts Democrat who helped secure federal funding for the project.

Read the full Associated Press story.

Posted by Jack Perry at 8:42 AM | Comment

Reed wants World War II shoreline hazards removed

NORTH KINGSTOWN -- U.S. Sen. Jack Reed will hold a press conference later today to urge federal officials to remove "hazardous camels" from the Rhode Island shoreline.

The camels -- 10-by-5-foot blocks of creosote-soaked wood and steel -- were placed along the shore by the Navy during World War II to help keep ships away from piers. Rhode Island's congressional delegation sent a letter to Navy officials last fall urging their removal.

Reed will provide an update on the situation at his 1 p.m. press conference while he inspects camels along the North Kingstown shoreline with representatives from Clean the Bay.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 8:35 AM | Comment

Update: Johnston shooting victim's wound self-inflicted

JOHNSTON -- A dead man found inside the Johnston Motor Lodge last night is the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to local police.

The Medical Examiner's Office this morning confirmed that a body was discovered last night at about 10:15 p.m. The man shot himself, according to Johnston Deputy Police Chief Gary Maddocks.

An employee at the Johnston Motor Lodge, located at 2750 Hartford Ave., said the man had been a guest at the motel.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 8:30 AM | Comment

Dry weather returns

PROVIDENCE -- After a wet weekend, the National Weather Service is predicting some sun today, with a slight chance of a thunderstorm in the late afternoon.

Early morning fog in some parts of the state is expected to burn off, giving way to a mostly cloudy day with some breaks of sun. Temperatures are expected to range from the low 60s along the coast to the mid 70s inland.

Fog may return in some areas later tonight, while mostly cloudy skies are predicted with highs dropping down to the mid 50s.

For more weather and updates, go toprojo.com/weather.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 7:00 AM | Comment

Carcieri speaks to volcanologists in Greece

NARRAGANSETT -- Governor Carcieri will speak to a team of University of Rhode Island volcanologists aboard the research vessel Endeavor in Greece this morning.

The governor will join URI president Robert Carothers in asking the team via satellite video conference about their exploration of undersea archaeology and geology near the Greek island of Thera. The eruption of a volcano there around 1600 B.C. is considered the second largest volcanic eruption in history.

The Endeavor, owned by the National Science Foundation, has been managed by URI's graduate school of oceanography for 20 years.

This morning's discussion will take place a 9:15 a.m. inside URI's Coastal Institute Auditorium.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:55 AM | Comment