Community Corner

The Week in RI: Teachers Charged, Tolls on Hold

Miss anything that happened this week? Check out these top headlines from around Rhode Island.

Saturday, March 9

Putting Post Road on a Diet?

Big changes could be coming to Post Road in the form of a “diet” from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation.

DOT officials are considering reducing part of the roadway from four lanes to three, with two travel lanes in other direction and a center turn lane. 

Find out what's happening in Middletownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sunday, March 10

Cowesett Lawyer Arrested for Embezzlement

Rhode Island State Police arrested Janet A. Mastronardi, 52, of Cowesett for embezzlement and unlawful appropriation, state police Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell announced.

Find out what's happening in Middletownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Monday, March 11

DOT Needs Answer From Feds Before Tolling

Plans to install tolls on the Sakonnet River Bridge still await federal approval, despite comments by state Department of Transportation (DOT) Director Michael P. Lewis to a legislative committee on Thursday that tolling would be implemented this summer.

Tuesday, March 12

Body Found in Car Behind Wickford Gourmet

The body of a 49-year-old woman was found in a car behind Wickford Gourmet Tuesday morning, according to North Kingstown police.

Wednesday, March 13

Police Investigate Middletown Teacher's Relationship With 17-Year-Old Girl 

A 39-year-old Middletown teacher's relationship with a 17-year-old Middletown girl is under investigation, said Middletown Superintendent Rosemarie Kraeger. 

Patrick Aylward, of 9 Nancy St., Fall River, MA, has been placed on paid leave during the investigation.

Police Investigate Former Coventry Teacher's Behavior With Students

A former Coventry High School teacher charged with threatening school officials had been under investigation for potentially inappropriate relationships with students, Coventry police have confirmed. No charges were filed.

Todd Gillheeney, 33, of 11 Larchmont Drive, Coventry, was arrested on March 1 after school officials forwarded several tweets from his Twitter account to School Resource Officer Jason Burlingame. The tweets were deemed threatening/disturbing. Gillheeney, who was recently fired form the school system, was charged with threats to public officials, cyberstalking and crank or obscene phone calls (harassing). 

Thursday, March 14

ACLU: Portsmouth Schools Web Filtering 'Over-Extensive'

Portsmouth School Committee Chairman David Croston promises to investigate allegations made in a new report released earlier this week by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on web filtering, reports local blog Hard Deadlines. 

Friday, March 15

Narragansett police said a man suffered a skull fracture and had a brain hemorrhage after falling off a roof.  His injuries are not considered life threatening.  Police said the incident appeared to be an accident, but suspect alcohol was a factor. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here