Neronha IDs Pawtucket Cop + Slater Robotics Coach Honored

Welcome to the Pawtucket Patch Daily — your quickest way to get caught up on the city's top news stories. I'm your host, Mary Serreze. I can be reached at mary.serreze@patch.com. Feel free to send me your news tips, thoughts, and ideas.

First, the weather:

• Friday: Mostly cloudy. High of 80, low of 67.
• Saturday: Overcast. High of 80, low of 71.
• Sunday: Mostly cloudy. High of 84, low of 72

Patch Pick: In a boost to the restaurant industry, Rhode Island lawmakers have approved extending cocktails-to-go (with take-out food) until March 2022. The bill now heads to Gov. Dan McKee's desk. (Patch)

Here are the top five stories from Pawtucket today:

1. Attorney General Peter Neronha has identified the Pawtucket police officer who shot and injured an 18-year-old man in West Greenwich Wednesday night. Neronha said Officer Daniel Dolan was off-duty when he tried to detain the driver of a black Audi in the parking lot of a pizza shop after the two vehicles left I-95. Dolan shot his service weapon and the teen was hit in the arm. The AGO, Rhode Island State Police, and West Greenwich police are investigating. Dolan has been placed on administrative leave. (Patch)

2. Two people were injured, including a firefighter, as fire destroyed a Pawtucket mobile home. (WPRI) Firefighters were called to Maple Meadows Trailer Park on Beverage Hill Road just before 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Fire Battalion Chief William Conroy said crews worked hard to prevent the flames from destroying nearby homes. The chief told ABC6 that a man in his 60s lived in the home.

3. Nicole Lemire, a 6th-grade science teacher at Slater Middle School, is a state finalist for a major honor — the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Lemire was honored at a surprise ceremony. “My love for science increased when I had her as a teacher,” a former student said. Among other things, Lemire is a robotics coach. (The Valley Breeze)

4. Steve Ahlquist at UPRISE RI says documents show that the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees at the Wyatt Detention Center in Central Falls suddenly jumped 316 percent in June. Ahlquist has reached out to Wyatt spokesperson Christopher Hunter and ICE spokesman John Mohan trying to figure out why.

5. Volleyball clinics start next week at Tolman High School for kids entering 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. The cost is $10. “We want to provide the students of Pawtucket with a high quality volleyball experience this summer that is affordable and convenient,” said boys’ volleyball head coach Neil Nachbar. (The Valley Breeze)

(OK, make it six...)

6. A young scholar from Central Falls is making her mark at the University of Rhode Island. Naleen Camara is the recipient of the William Gould Award for All-Around Outstanding Achievement, URI announced. She was one of 13 graduating seniors honored at the University’s 24th annual Black Scholar Awards.

EVENTS, June 25:

• It's Awards Night for the Pawtucket Slaterettes Girls' and Womens' Baseball League. That's at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket at 5:30 p.m. People are invited to attend and bring a folding chair. After the awards ceremony, the athletes will compete in its first-ever "Dresses on the Diamond" game.

• A campaign fundraiser is set for Senator Meghan Kallman. Attendees are promised an "evening of hot policy takes and tapas." The Pawtucket Democrat and former city councilor is finishing her first year in the Rhode Island General Assembly, and is apparently gearing up to run for reelection. The event will be held at 10 Rocks Tapas Bar, with a suggested donation of $100.

• Over in nearby Cumberland, it's the The Saint John Fest. Expect Portuguese food, music, dance, and a bounce house for the children. Head over to the Lusitana Club at 10 Chase Street. Festivities run from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m.

That's it. You're all caught up. If you like this newsletter, sign up and tell your friends. It's simple, but it keeps us rolling. Let me know about your community events. Have a good day out there. -Mary

About me: Maine native, UMass Amherst Regional Planning alum. Stick-shift driver, explorer. I believe in good government and the public's right to know. Interested in just about everything. I still like paper maps. I can be reached at mary.serreze@patch.com.