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August 7, 2006

Update: Vandalism probed at water office in Big River area / Photo

Journal photo / Bob Thayer
Vandals struck all sides of the building. The front, which faces the road, is shown above.

WEST GREENWICH -- State authorities are searching for clues, fingerprints and other physical evidence at a government office in the Big River Management Area where vandals spray-painted swastikas and obscenities over the weekend.

A state employee discovered the vandalism on the state Water Resources Board field office building at 612 Nooseneck Hill Road yesterday morning after receiving calls from nearby residents.

“It appears the building was not broken into, but there’s a fair amount of graffiti,’’ said Capt. James Swanberg, the Southern District commander for the Rhode Island State Police. “It’s not the normal graffiti you find in the city. This is more vandalism than tagging. It looked like someone had a mission.”

The markings were in black spray paint and found on all sides of the building, Swanberg said. The field office mailbox was smashed, the mail inside the box was scattered over the front lawn, and some of it was destroyed. It included several rent checks from the 37 commercial properties that the water board owns.

The front door was not broken, but some window screens were torn. The building, an old white Cape Cod, is the agency’s field office in the Big River Management Area, an 8,600-acre expanse that stretches from West Greenwich to Coventry, said Juan Mariscal, the board’s general manager.

State authorities believe the crime happened sometime between late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. It was discovered by Elaine Maguire, the board’s property manager and the only person who works at that location. She was not there when the incident occurred, police said.

“I know she [Maguire] was doing evictions on the property,” Swanberg said. “We are looking at all different angles.”

-- Journal staff writer Lisa Vernon-Sparks

Mariscal said, “The rent checks were destroyed and strewn across the front lawn. All four sides of the building predominated [with graffiti] plus vulgar or threatening language. It is language I would never use. It’s very graphic and disgusting. Something you’d hear in a movie. They may be X-rated statements.”

He said there were other threatening messages, such as “Leave us alone,’’ “We are coming for you’’ and “Tax this.’’

“I would think we are very good neighbors. We have demonstrated we are very good neighbors,’’ Mariscal said. “It must be someone that has a gripe with the Water Resources Board. I can’t even begin to imagine who that might be.’’

-- Journal staff writer Lisa Vernon-Sparks

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:56 PM | Comment

Underwater blasts tomorrow for old Jamestown span

A series of underwater explosions are planned tomorrow as the demolition of the old Jamestown Bridge continues.

The explosions will not be as spectacular as the above-water detonations earlier in the year, but traffic will be slightly affected from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to the state Department of Transportation.

Instead of closing the new bridge altogether for half-hour blocks, as initially planned, state troopers plan to execute a "rolling block" on bridge traffic by "traveling very slowly in all lanes of travel and momentarily clearing traffic from the bridge," the DOT said in a statement.

Tomorrow's underwater explosions will involve two detonations on the North Kingstown side of Narragansett Bay. The explosives will remove two piers to the mud line, about 15 feet deep, according to the DOT.

These detonations are among the last steps involved in razing the old bridge that once connected North Kingstown and Jamestown. The contractor has spent the past several weeks using jackhammer-like devices to break apart the concrete piers to the waterline.

The Coast Guard plans to establish a 3,000-foot safety zone on either side of the bridge during tomorrow's detonations.

If delayed due to weather, alternative dates are Wednesday, Aug. 9, and Thursday, Aug. 10. The forecast for those days, however, is for fair weather.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 6:46 PM | Comment

Police officer misses deer, hits tree

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- A veteran police officer plans to spend the night in the hospital after hitting a tree to avoid a deer on a rural Matunuck road today. The officer, Robert L. Simeone, was taken by town rescue workers to South County Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition this afternoon. Simeone was on routine patrol on Matunuck Schoolhouse Road when a deer apparently darted in front of his 2004 Crown Victoria just after noon. Under South Kingstown's policy, the investigation was turned over to the State Police. No other car was involved. -- Journal staff writer Paul Davis

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:52 PM | Comment

DEM: Still no signs of West Nile virus or EEE

PROVIDENCE -- The state Department of Enviromental Management announced today that tests of dozens mosquito pools from across the state showed no evidence of the West Nile virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

Despite some recent positive tests in southeastern Massachusetts, testing done throughout the summer in Rhode Island has shown no instances of the diseases, according to DEM.

But heavy rains in July mean that more mosquitoes have hatched, raising the possibility of disease transmission, DEM said in a statement released today.

Residents are encouraged to protect themselves by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds -- such as pools of standing water -- and wearing long clothes to minimize exposed skin.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:43 PM | Comment

Warwick man wins $60,000 on scratch ticket

A Warwick man won $60,000 on a scratch ticket over the weekend, the Rhode Island Lottery announced today.

The man, whom the lottery did not identify, purchased a $10 scratch ticket on Saturday from the Lakewood Liquor on Warwick Avenue in Warwick.

He has no immediate plans for the prize money, according to the lottery.

Posted by Steve Peoples at 5:37 PM | Comment

Update: Judge will rule tomorrow on casino ballot question

PROVIDENCE -- A federal judge will decide tomorrow whether a proposal to amend the state Constitution to allow a casino in West Warwick will appear on the November ballot.

U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith heard arguments this afternoon from several lawyers, including the two partners in the proposal, the Narragansett Indians and Harrah's Entertainment. Attorneys for the town of Johnston and Ajax Gaming Ventures, which had ties to developer Donald Trump, alleged that Rhode Island lawmakers illegally gave Harrah’s a monopoly.

Smith suggested there would be no problem with the question if the tribe, as a political entity, would benefit from a casino. However, if tribal members would benefit solely by their ethnic or racial background, not as a sovereign nation, then the question would probably be unconstitutional under the equal protection clause.

Smith said he would issue his ruling by the close of business tomorrow, the day before the Secretary of State Office's deadline for printing the November ballots.

-- With reports from Journal staff writer Scott Mayerowitz

Posted by Steve Peoples at 3:32 PM | Comment

Patriots' Rodney Harrison returns to action

FOXBORO -- Rodney Harrison, who became the heart and soul of the Patriots' defense in his two years at safety before suffering a career-threatening knee injury in the third game of last season, is back on the field.

The Patriots today removed Harrison, and four other players, from their Physically Unable To Perform list. Harrison is on the field with the Pats this afternoon for their regularly scheduled practice.

For more information, go to projo.com's Patriots Blog.

Posted by Art at 3:01 PM | Comment

Update: Providence police seek 2 cars in fatal hit-and-run

PROVIDENCE – The police are searching for suspects in connection with the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian early this morning on the Union Avenue exit ramp of Route 10 south.

The police believe the man, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of his family, was struck by two separate vehicles, according to a press release just issued by Police Chief Dean M. Esserman.

Specifically, the police are searching for two cars they believe may have been involved in the accident. They are asking anyone with information about the accident to contact the department’s Hit and Run Squad at (401) 243-6409.

They have identified the vehicles as a Honda, color and model unknown, with a missing driver’s side mirror, and a silver Mercedes Benz Coupe SL, possibly a 2003 model, bearing a temporary Rhode Island registration. The investigators are not releasing the plate number of the second vehicle, according to the news release, until they can ascertain ownership of the vehicle.

Fire and police crews were called to the scene around 12:55 a.m. with the report of a pedestrian struck on the off ramp, according to James Taylor, the Fire Department’s chief of communications.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 1:36 PM | Comment

Westerly officer pleads not guilty to sex assault

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- Westerly police Officer Don M. Thompson pleaded not guilty this morning to two counts of second-degree sexual assault.

Judge Edwin J. Gale, sitting in Washington County Superior Court, ordered Thompson released on $10,000 personal recognizance bail and scheduled a Sept. 18 pre-trial conference.

Thompson, a six-year officer on the force, was charged after he was accused of assaulting a 17-year-old hostess at a Misquamicut restaurant.

State police said Thompson followed the teenager to her car after speaking to her intermittently throughout the night at Paddy's Beach restaurant and bar. The state police said Thompson touched the girl, who resisted, and then exposed himself.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

The teenager reported the incident to the police, who found Thompson at the Atlantic Avenue restaurant, records show. He then drove away at a "high rate of speed," despite commands to stop. He was located at the Venice Restaurant on Shore Road and taken to the Westerly Police Department under suspicion for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Thompson has been suspended without pay since his arrest on June 26, said Westerly Chief Edward A. Mello.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

Posted by Steve Peoples at 12:45 PM | Comment

Update: High court hears ballot question arguments

PROVIDENCE -- The state Supreme Court this morning heard oral arguments on whether the governor has the power to put nonbinding resolutions on the state ballot.

Governor Carcieri wants to put two nonbinding measures on the ballot, relating to a state spending cap and a voter initiative program. The legislature voted in the past session to strip the governor of the authority.

Supreme Court justices peppered both sides with questions and seemed cool to the suggestion that the executive branch had an "inherent right" to place nonbinding questions on the ballot.

Chief Judge Frank J. Williams said the court would do its best to give a decision in time for the Secretary of State to have the ballots printed; tomorrow is the deadline to get that portion of the ballot to the printer without the state having to pay a higher price.

Find more background in today's Journal story.

-- Journal staff writer Mark Arsenault

Posted by Jack Perry at 11:56 AM | Comment

Seekonk crash victim was recent high school grad

SEEKONK -- Myles J. Goulart of Seekonk was identified by police Sgt. Frank John today as the 18-year-old man who was killed Friday night after the car he was driving crashed into a fire hydrant and then hit a tree at 83 Bradley St.

Goulart, a recent graduate of Seekonk High School, was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital Friday night.

John also identified Carl Danielson, 19, and Lee A. Trahan, 18, also a recent Seekonk High School graduate, as the two passengers that accompanied Goulart.

Danielson and Trahan were taken to Rhode Island Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the police said.

The police are still investigating whether the men were wearing seatbelts, John said.

-- Journal staff writer Justin Amoah

Posted by Kate Bramson at 11:48 AM | Comment

R.I. gas prices drop for the first time in 5 weeks

Gasoline prices in Rhode Island have fallen for the first time in more than a month, but they didn't fall by much -- just one penny per gallon, according to AAA Southern New England.

The average price for regular, unleaded gasoline is $3.10 per gallon at the self-service pump, according to AAA's weekly price survey.

The price had climbed five straight weeks before falling this week, but the break could be short-lived, since prices are expected to increase nationally with BP's shutting off shipments from a major Alaskan oil field while the company assesses pipeline corrosion.

Posted by Jack Perry at 10:28 AM | Comment

Acquistion, retirement costs weigh down LIN TV

LIN TV, the owner and operator of 30 television stations around the country including Channel 12, today reported a net loss of $244 million in the second quarter.

That figure includes a $91 million tax benefit. Without it, the company posted a loss of $335.7 million for the quarter.

Revenues grew in the quarter by 17 percent, the company said. But if
the seven stations aquired last year are taken into account, LIN's net revenues increased by just 1 percent in the quarter compared to the same three-month period in 2005.

The company said acquisition expenses for those seven stations were booked in the second quarter. Those costs, the company said, included "an impairment charge" of $333.6 million relating to a loss of goodwill.

LIN posted an operating loss of $315.1 million in the second quarter as compared to an operating gain of $23.9 million for the same period last year.

The company today also said its second quarter results were weighed down by the $5.6 million it paid to its former chairman and chief executive officer, Gary R. Chapman.

Posted by Peter Phipps at 8:27 AM | Comment

Small craft advisory and thunderstorms predicted

PROVIDENCE – Boaters, beware of a small craft advisory in effect from 11 a.m. today through evening, for coastal waters from the Merrimack River in Massachusetts to Watch Hill, R.I.

Showers and thunderstorms are also forecast for the region.

A cold front moving in from the Great Lakes region should bring with it an increasingly warm and humid air mass. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop ahead of the cold front, according to the National Weather Service.

The showers and thunderstorms will become more widespread across central and western New England late this afternoon and by evening should hit all of southern New England.

The weather service warns that there is a slight risk that much of southern New England will experience severe thunderstorms today. Heavy rainfall and flooding are possible.

As for temps, expect a high around 84 today and a nighttime low around 68.

Get the latest conditions and forecasts from projo.com.

Posted by Kate Bramson at 7:08 AM | Comment