The Week That Was

Woonsocket

Landmark ends

heart surgery

Landmark Medical Center announced last week it has permission from the Rhode Island Health Department to close its heart surgery program on June 1.

The hospital will continue to offer angioplasty, but it has become increasingly obvious that the surgical program was not attracting enough patients to remain viable.

The Health Department's decision essentially gives Landmark an exemption to the rule in Rhode Island that hospitals offering angioplasty must also offer heart surgery as a backup in case of emergency.

Picard sworn in

Roger A. Picard was sworn in as the new District 20 senator last Thursday, replacing longtime Sen. Roger Badeau who passed away earlier this year. District 20 covers parts of Woonsocket and Cumberland.

Picard's Representative seat, vacated after he won the Senate seat, will remain so until after scheduled November elections.

Woman killed

on Social Street

A 75-year-old woman crossing Social Street Saturday evening died from injuries sustained when she was struck by the vehicle of 68-year-old Joseph Tessier, of Clinton Street. Tessier allegedly failed an alcohol breath test at the scene and was charged with one count of driving under the influence of liquor or drugs, resulting in death.

Burrillville

Shots fired

at Zambarano

Todd Brown, a security guard on detail at Zambarano Hospital Sunday, allegedly fired a shot from his 9 mm pistol at an intruder who attacked him with a knife in a vacant building. Brown worked for a North Providence security company, whose contract with Zambarano stipulates that guards are not allowed to carry weapons on hospital grounds. Police searched the grounds and nearby area for the intruder after it was reported that the single shot missed its mark, without finding the intruder.

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