Archive - Mar 11, 2011
PEACE DALE--Residents of Schaeffer Street where a child killer was found living amongst them 29 years ago after murdering a five year old do not want him back.
In 1975, Michael Woodmansee brutally killed his 5-year-old neighbor, Jason Foreman. The boy was mysteriously missing for seven years until 1982, when Woodmansee was caught after attempting to strangle a second boy on his paper delivery route. Now, Woodmansee is scheduled to be released in August after serving just 28 years of a 50-year prison sentence for murder. He was initially to serve just 40 years of the sentence, but shaved off an additional 12 years for good behavior.
Woodmansee grew up in the quiet friendly neighborhood on Schaeffer Street, where children from around the block, including Harrison Street, Austin Street and Uncle Samâs Lane all played together until the streetlights came on. It was a simpler time in 1975 when parents could let their kids out to play, believing they were safe in a neighborhood where everyone knew one another. Woodmanseeâs horrific act shattered that peace of the small town community.
The Charlestown Land Trust is holding a bonfire and celebration of open spaces this Sunday, March 13 from 1 to 4 p.m.
CRANSTONâProvidenceâs Poverty Institute hosted âBudget Rhode Map,â a discussion and lecture event sponsored by local non-profits to discuss the condition of the state and nationâs budget challenges. The conference was attended by various state representatives including Sen. Spencer Dickinson and representatives Teresa Tanzi and Donna Walsh.
The first speaker, Jon Shure, Deputy Director of the Center on Budget and Policy Prioritiesâ State Fiscal Project presented a discussion titled âThe State of State Budgetsâ and said that âin a perfect worldâ state leaders would raise the income tax in a time of recession, not the sales tax. The proposed increase in the sales tax would adversely affect the poor who spend more of their income on items that would be taxed. But Shure said that he would still support it if it was the only way to raise revenue.
According to Governor Chafee, the plan would raise $89 million in new revenue that state-funded programs need in order to serve Rhode Islanders. Shure also described how, contrary to popular opinion, states that raised taxes in a recession performed economically better because they made necessary investments.
PEACE DALE--In 1982, South Kingstown thought it freed itself of the cannibalistic murderer who was sentenced to jail for killing 5-year-old Jason Foreman in 1975, but Michael Woodmansee would not remain behind bars forever.
NORTH KINGSTOWNâWithin the darkened auditorium, the only light coming from the stage, over 50 North Kingstown High School students sacrificed their Saturday for a 12-hour day of rehearsals for âWest Side Storyâ last weekend. The classic story of star-crossed lovers came to amazing life during the cue-to-cue light rehearsal, which started at 10 a.m. and lasted until well into the evening hours.
The students have been putting in seven-hour rehearsal days after school since January, according to director Norma Caiazza.
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