Region Roundup: Christmas Eve Fire; OUI Arrest; Teen Accused of School Shooting Threat Freed on Bail

Two-Alarm Fire Causes Extensive Damage to Stoughton Home on Christmas Eve

A two-alarm fire caused extensive damage to a home on Kenmore Road in Stoughton on Christmas Eve, according to Stoughton Fire Department officials, but there were no reported injuries to any of the home's occupants or to the first responders who were on scene.

A fire on the first floor of the single-story wood-framed structure extended to the attic space shortly after 9 p.m. on Dec. 24.

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Walpole Man Arrested After Causing Accident in Easton

A Walpole man was arrested for drunk driving last Sunday after allegedly driving recklessly down one of Easton's busiest roads.

According to Easton Police, Keith Eisele, 30, of Walpole, was driving around 70 m.p.h. on Foundry Street in Easton, caused in accident at nearby Five Corners and continued driving towards Mansfield.

A caller identified the license plate of the vehicle which allowed Easton Police to notify Mansfield and Walpole Police. Eisele was eventually arrested in Walpole. He was charged by both Walpole and Easton Police.

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Teen Accused of School Shooting Threat Freed on Bail

An Attleboro District Court judge on Thursday rejected a prosecutor's request to keep a teen recently accused of threatening to "shoot up the school" behind bars without bail.

Patrick Skrabec, a 17-year-old junior at North Attleboro High School, was arrested Dec. 21, but released on $10,000 bail following a dangerousness hearing on Thursday, Dec. 27.

WPRI in Providence reported that during the dangerousness hearing, it was revealed Skrabec has no access to guns or other weapons and does not have a criminal record. Skrabec will return to court in February.

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Retired Canton Police Officer Offers 'Pepper Spray Confident Classes'

A Canton police officer for 25 years, Jack Spierdowis, now retired, believes that there is no need for guns.

"You can protect yourself with pepper spray if you know how to use it," said Spierdowis, who teaches pepper gas instruction classes which he calls "Pepper Spray Confident Classes.

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Sharon Professor Develops Chemistry Camp for Girls at URI

A new week-long chemistry camp for 40 middle school girls will be held at the University of Rhode Island’s Kingston campus during the April public school vacation in 2013 and 2014.

The camp is the brainchild of URI assistant professor of chemistry Mindy Levine, a Sharon resident, who hopes to ignite a passion for science in girls at a crucial age.

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Massachusetts State Police and local police departments will be out this holiday weekend looking for drunk, impaired and dangerous drivers.

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