Mansfield Year In Review: Top Stories Of 2017

MANSFIELD, MA — The year is almost in the books and needless to say, 2017 had some notable stories.

If you were looking for something to talk about, you were not short of issues in Mansfield. From the town manager leaving, to traffic nightmares near the Xfinity Center, and more tragedy near the train station, there were plenty of headlines around town.

Below are the top 10 Mansfield stories of 2017:

10. Benny's Goes Out Of Business

The rise of e-commerce has been bad news for many beloved stores, including the Benny's on Copeland Drive. Citing a change in the retail landscape for brick and mortar stores, the discount store announced in September that the ownership family has decided to retire and close all their stores. The property has since been purchased by a Rhode Island real estate firm, which hopes to redevelop the land.

Read More

• Benny's To Close All Stores, Including Mansfield Location
• RI Firm To Buy Benny's Properties, Including Mansfield Location

9. Another Death Near The Train Station

On a March night, 52-year-old Mansfield resident Roxane Wiskow was found dead near the southbound track about one-eighth of a mile north of the train station. The death was another in was feels like a semi-regular tragedy. Since the death, the selectmen have called on studies to improve safety near the train station. The board talked about solutions over the summer including blue lights, fencing, and a sensor siren.

Read More

• Woman Killed Near Mansfield Train Station
• Selectmen Call for Study on Mansfield Train Station Deaths
• Selectmen Search For Solutions To Stop Train Station Deaths

8. Mansfield Man Gets 15 Years For Child Rape, Porn Conviction

William Koury, 35, pleaded guilty in August to five counts of possessing child pornography, disseminating child pornography, rape of a child (aggravated by age), rape of a child, and indecent assault and battery on a person under 14. He was sentenced to serve 15 years in a state prison.

Read More

• Mansfield Man Gets 15 Years For Child Rape, Porn Conviction

7. Mansfield Public Schools Leadership Shuffle

This year saw some new additions to the school's administrative office and a new leader. With the retirement of Superintendent Zeffro Gianett, Assistant Superintendent Teresa Murphy was promoted to the top spot and the director of finance and operations position became the second assistant superintendent. This year, Mansfield High School Principal Michael Connolly was named the assistant superintendent for teaching and learning while Edward Donoghue became the assistant superintendent of finance and operation. Donoghue's position was formerly the director of finance and operations position held by the now retired Edward Vozzella.

Read More

• Mansfield High School Principal Tapped For Assistant Superintendent Opening
• Mansfield Hires New Assistant Superintendent of Schools

6. Neil Rhein Becomes A Selectman

After years of keeping Mansfield beautiful, the longtime volunteer was voted to the board of selectmen during a special November election.

Read More

• Mansfield 2017 Special Election Result
• Neil Rhein: Thank You To Mansfield Voters

5. Elaborate Fake Kidnapping Scam Nearly Costs Mansfield Family

Need proof that phone scams are getting trickier by the day? Voice recordings and phone number spoofing were both used by scammers in an August scheme to convince a Mansfield family that their daughter was kidnapped. Officers were able to find all family members and make them aware of the scam, saving them from giving away their cash.

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• Elaborate Fake Kidnapping Scam Nearly Costs Mansfield Family

4. Rest In Peace George Dentino

Many in Mansfield were shocked and sadden to learn of the death of Selectman George Dentino. The board member of 11 years succumbed to injuries in August sustained in a fall. At the time of his death, selectmen Chairman Michael Trowbridge said, "I can say George was bigger than life. A crusader, a man on a mission. A man who was at times relentless, during a period that Mansfield needed it most. He spoke out for the working man and had only one agenda, to do what he thought was best for the Town of Mansfield. He will be sorely missed by us all."

Read More

• Mansfield Selectman Hospitalized After Fall
• Mansfield Selectman George Dentino Passes Away
• Obituary: Mansfield Selectman George Dentino, 73

3. Town Manager Walks Away

Town Manager Bill Ross and the selectmen announced late March that Ross resigned from the position, effective March 31. Ross did not give a reason for his sudden departure in his remarks during the town manager's update, only reflecting on his tenure in Mansfield.

Neither Ross or the board have publicly disclosed the reason for the split.

Read More

• Mansfield Town Manager Resigns
• Separation Agreement Gives Ex-Town Manager Bill Ross a Year's Salary
• Selectman Trowbridge Says Separation Agreement With Town Manager Was Best For Mansfield

2. Attleboro Mayor Becomes Mansfield Town Manager

The selectmen voted in December to name outgoing Attleboro Mayor Kevin Dumas as the new town manager, pending contract negotiations. Dumas is leaving office after 14 years as mayor. His term ends at the end of the month.

Read More

• Attleboro Mayor Picked For Mansfield Town Manager Opening

1. Xfinity Center Traffic Woes

At the start of concert seasons, residents knew something wasn't right when traffic flooded the back roads. It quickly became evident that Xfinity Center visitors were using apps like Waze and Google Maps to find a quicker way to the venue and avoid the Interstate 495/Route 140 merge. With residents understandably angry that they couldn't get out of their own driveways and Xfinity Center officials quickly came up with a plan to stop the traffic and make sure that everyone going to the show had to use the main roads and not the side roads.

Read More

• Residents Upset Over Back Road Traffic Jam From Xfinity Center Show
• Roadblock Could Stem Xfinity Center Traffic Woes