Rise & Shine! Your Newport County guide for March 22
Rise & Shine! I’m Scott Barrett, digital editor for The Daily News, and today is March 22, the 81st day of the year — 284 days remain in 2022. On this day in 1998, the film “Titanic” won 11 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for James Cameron. It tied a record set previously by the 1959 epic film “Ben Hur.”
Here & Now
• If you missed out on last month's fantastic digital subscription sale — two years for $22 — I have some good news for you. We're duplicating it today. It's a second opportunity to make sure you're getting the most in-depth journalism Newport County has to offer.
But don't take my word for it. Below you'll find some of the great stories our reporters have worked on recently, and some from the past. And for just $22, you can make sure you never miss a thing from our team. Because I'm not privy to such decisions, I don't know when another deal like this will come around, so take advantage while you can. Click here to subscribe.
• Alexander Tobiassen, who grew up in Newport, got his first taste of combat in Afghanistan in 2012. After his deployment ended and he returned home, he faced struggles with addiction. That led to an attempted robbery in 2015 at the Cumberland Farms in Middletown.
Tobiassen left Newport and ultimately landed in Urakine, where he started to raise a family. Now he's on the front lines of a war, fighting for his new country. Subscribers can read this unbelievable story here.
• Ralph Plumb Jr., who founded Brick Alley Pub & Restaurant in 1980, never put any pressure on his sons, Ralph III and Matt, to take over the family business. But that's the path they chose, and it will become official this week as business licences are set to be transferred.
Reporter Savana Dunning spoke with both Matt and Ralph, who will oversee the future of the popular Thames Street restaurant. Read her story here.
• Traditionally, at the end of each sports season, The Daily News names its All-County team. We're changing that up. This year, we're highlighting 40 basketball players in five "superlatives." Sports reporter Steve Rogers kicks off the series with the MVPs. Check it out here.
• Speaking of high school sports, I'll be breaking some news this morning. Keep your eye on NewportRI.com for the story.
• A Newport official is looking to hit the brakes on party bikes rolling through city streets even before the proposed legislation in the General Assembly is passed. Read more here.
• Congressman David Cicilline will be in Middletown today as the state Department of Transportation breaks ground on a resurfacing project on Aquidneck Avenue in Middletown. A ceremony at Middletown Commons is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Earlier this year, we wrote in detail about the project.
• Members of Diane Drake's family were at Easton's Beach on Monday to hold a memorial for the 19-year-old woman who was killed 42 years ago this month. Laura Damon was there, and she'll have an update later today on NewportRI.com. Until then, you can read her in-depth, two-part examination of the case here.
• From the inbox: According to a recent study, we're No. 1 — in identity theft. Rhode Island has the most identity thefts per capita of any state in the U.S., nearly twice as many as second-place Kansas. Find the full state-by-state list here.
Have you signed up for The Daily News app on Apple or Android devices? It's the best way to make sure you're in the know when breaking news happens.
Born today
Reese Witherspoon (actress), 46
Keegan-Michael Key (actor), 51
Matthew Modine (actor), 63
Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer), 74
William Shatner (actor), 91
Weather report
Low tides: 4:52 a.m., 4:48 p.m.
High tides: 11:39 a.m.
Sunrise: 6:43 a.m. Sunset: 7 p.m.
Water temperature: 43.5 degrees.
Municipal meetings
Newport
School Committee, 5:30 p.m.
Middletown
School Committee, 4 p.m.
Zoning Board of Review, 6 p.m.
Portsmouth
School Committee — Negotiations Subcommittee, 4 p.m.
School Committee, 7 p.m.
Tiverton
School Committee, 6:30 p.m.
Tax Assessment Board of Review, 7 p.m.
Jamestown
Zoning Board of Review, 7 p.m.
Local obituaries
None new today
Today is …
National Goof Off Day
Daffodil Day
World Water Day
Trivia Tuesday
This town was one of the original four municipalities in Newport County before it joined Washington County in 1963. Name the town. Send guesses to sbarrett@newportri.com.
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This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Rise & Shine! Your Newport County guide for March 22
