Remembering Dylan Quinn; voters to decide on Taunton charter: Top stories
Before we begin the new week in earnest, we're taking a look back at the week that was, and the stories that led the news with Taunton Daily Gazette readers.
Top stories this past week included:
Our latest All-Scholastics team, this time for boys soccer. This year, local teams made it to tournaments, christened some new turf, and gained good varsity experience. With the fall of 2022 now in the rearview, here's a final look back at the Greater Taunton area boys soccer players who stood out among the crowd to earn their spot as the 2022 Taunton Daily Gazette Boys Soccer All-Scholastics.
The Greater Taunton real estate report, which featured a custom-built ranch in Raynham that sold for $900,000. The open-concept home at 124 Carriage Hill Dr. features a large eat-in kitchen with 15-foot ceilings, an impressive foyer with a designated office, and a living room with an oversized mantel and fireplace. Explore what this property has to offer, as well as other recent top-sellers.
These were the Top 5 stories of the past week, according to Gazette readers:
Southeastern-B-P star goalie remembered as 'the most uplifting kid'
On the morning of Jan. 15, tragedy struck as Dylan Quinn was killed in a motor vehicle accident when the pickup truck he was riding in struck a utility pole and flipped.
The 16-year-old Rehoboth resident was a junior at Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical High School in Taunton, where he participated in the metal fabrication program, as well as athletics, as a member of both the Southeastern/Bristol-Plymouth co-op hockey team and the boys lacrosse team.
"Dylan was the most uplifting kid that we had in our locker room," Southeastern/Bristol-Plymouth hockey senior John Whalen said. "Every day he was jumping around and smiling. It’s just something that we’ll never forget."
'Win one for Dylan':Southeastern-B-P star goalie remembered as 'the most uplifting kid'
Should Taunton mayor's term be doubled? Voters will decide fate of charter changes
Taunton voters will be heading to the polls in November, to decide whether or not to approve an updated city charter.
Mayor Shaunna O’Connell said the state legislature approved and former Gov. Charlie Baker, in one of his final actions as governor, signed off on Taunton’s proposed revisions for its charter.
If passed by November's ballot, this will be the first time the charter has had an update since 1909.
Proposed changes include longer terms for the mayor (the term limit would still be 12 years), as well as term limits for other elected officials, and some election changes.
Let's go over what that would look like, as well as a series of proposed checks and balances.
At the ballot box:Should Taunton mayor's term be doubled? Voters will decide fate of charter changes.
Taunton man has very personal reason to fly 1st RI Regiment flag next month
A Taunton resident will be flying a special flag for Black History Month, to honor his ancestor and to help educate others about some Revolutionary War history.
Jason Roomes said he and his family would celebrate Black History Month by trying to make more people aware that Black soldiers fought in the Revolution.
"I'll be flying a 1st Rhode Island Regiment flag in my yard in Taunton on Feb. 1 and February to commemorate Black History Month," said Roomes, 52, who serves as a Taunton election commissioner.
He's doing so to honor his ancestor, Caesar Rome, an enslaved man, and other people of color who fought in the regiment.
Caesar Rome wouldn't be the only member of Roomes' family to serve in the military either, though he also has the distinction of having served with the 1st Rhode Island Regiment — widely regarded as the first Black battalion in U.S. military history, according to history.com.
US history is local history:Taunton man has very personal reason to fly 1st RI Regiment flag next month
Pet of the Week: Milo finds himself back at the shelter at 10 years old
This week, the story of a cat named Milo resonated with a lot of readers.
Milo was the latest Pet of the Week, who finds himself in a tough spot at the moment. He was adopted from the Taunton Animal Shelter in 2017, but due to some unfortunate circumstances, he finds himself back at the shelter, at almost 10 years old.
It's been an adjustment for him. He's got a special adoption fee, and is ready for his forever home.
Learn more about adopting Milo here, and be sure to check TauntonGazette.com on Sunday mornings for Pet of the Week, where we feature an animal in need of a loving home.
Pet of the Week:Milo finds himself back at the shelter at 10 years old
'Get your old jobs back': Is in-person sports betting just weeks away at Raynham Park?
Raynham Park could be bustling again, very soon.
A return of the good old days at Raynham Park has come a giant step closer, as the historic greyhound track has announced a retail sports betting deal with gambling industry giant Caesars Sportsbook.
If regulators approve the partnership, in-person sports betting could begin within weeks at Raynham Park's current simulcasting space of about 3,000 square feet. The footprint would expand once the new sections of Raynham Park are finished in June or July, said Chris Carney, owner of Raynham Park.
'Get your old jobs back':Is in-person sports betting just weeks away at Raynham Park?
Taunton Daily Gazette/Herald News copy editor and digital producer Kristina Fontes can be reached at kfontes@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette today.
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton Gazette Top 5 Dylan Quinn city charter 1st RI Regiment
