Attleboro's Biggest Stories of 2013

2013 was a year of change for Attleboro. A new superintendent took over and new city officials were elected. Additionally, Attleboro boasted a new bus terminal, a new football field, and 110 acres of Industrial Park land had a new owner.

There were also scandal, lockdowns, and snow advisories.

Below, in chronological order, are the biggest stories of 2013. Click on the link to read the full story.


Winter Storm Shuts Down Attleboro

Governor Deval Patrick issued a driving ban and Mayor Kevin Dumas issued a city-wide "State of Emergency" in February when nearly two feet of snow covered the city and nearly 5,000 lost power.

Attleboro Teen Allegedly Stabs, Attempts to Kill Neighbor

In March, a 63-year-old Attleboro woman was sent to Rhode Island Hospital but survived an alleged attack from her 15-year-old neighbor who, according to police, stabbed, attempted to drown, and attempted to asphyxiate the woman. The boy was charged in juvenile court with attempted murder.

School Lunch Scandal Hits Coelho

Students at Coelho Middle School were denied lunch or asked to throw their lunch away in April when it was discovered they had insufficient funds in their school lunch accounts. The scandal gained national attention and resulted in the demotion of an assistant principal and the firings of several lunch-provider employees.

New Superintendent Named in Attleboro

It was a changing of the guard in the Attleboro Public School system in 2013, marked by the hiring of Kenneth Sheehan as the new Superintendent. Sheehan won the job by a 7-2 school committee vote in May and took over at the start of the 2013-2014 school year for departing Pia Durkin.

School Funding Central in Budget Debate

Budget season in June resulted in a heated discussion over the school's finances. After the school committee requested a 6 percent increase for it's FY2014 budget, Mayor Kevin Dumas presented a budget with a 4 percent increase for schools - leaving the school committee with $1.2 million less than what it had requested.

ARA Sells Industrial Park Land

The Attleboro Redevelopment Authority saw its ups and downs in 2013, including an ongoing court battle regarding the layoffs of two employees, but a major win came in September when the ARA announced the sale of 110 acres of Industrial Park land for a mega sports complex for $2.3 million - a huge step forward in healing the ARA's money woes.

Attleboro "Bleeds Blue" at Field Dedication as Bombardiers Soar

"Blue Pride" was the theme in 2013 for many in Attleboro and no event marked the sentiment more than the September dedication of the new Tozier-Cassidy Field - a $4.15 million project funded by a combination of city money and donations. The field made a formidable new home for the Blue Bombardier football team, which soared all the way to the South Sectional Finals in 2013.

Wamsutta Goes into Lockdown

With the memory of the Newtown tragedy fresh, school officials across the country were on high alert in 2013.

Attleboro was no different. When one Wamsutta Middle School student alleged to have seen a man who may have had a gun outside, both Wamsutta and Hyman-Fine were placed into lockdown as police searched the area. While it turned out to be a false alarm, principal Karol Coffin said the school was fully prepared.

Standoff Sends Attleboro Neighborhood into "Shelter-in-Place"

A late-night shooting in November ended with an entire neighborhood and some nearby schools sheltered-in-place as Police surrounded the Jackson St. home of Richard T. Galiotte, who allegedly fired a non-fatal bullet at a neighbor before barricading himself in his house. Galiotte was eventually arrested with no additional injuries.

2013 City Election Ushers in Some New Faces

An election year in Attleboro meant a changing of the guard for some elected officials. While Mayor Kevin Dumas ran uncontested, newcomers Heather Porreca and Ronald Churchill earned their way onto the Attleboro City Council, replacing councilors Jay Dilisio and Sara-Lynn Reynolds. The school side also saw a number of changes with Julienne Singer, James Stors, Dianne Sawyer, and Lori Scales all earning their way onto the board.

Governor Promises More Downtown Funding for Attleboro

Ongoing development in downtown Attleboro was a consistent story in 2013. In November, Gov. Deval Patrick visited the city to dedicate downtown's new bus terminal and promise continued funding from the state for Attleboro's development.