©2020 THE VALLEY BREEZE
GLOCESTER – There is no
truth behind statements from Supt.
Michael Barnes that Ponaganset
schools are considering a name
change for the mascot, the
Chieftains, says School Committee
co-Chairwoman Shelley Pezza.
Pezza said Barnes was misquoted
when he said the district will begin
considering a name change in light
of NFL's Washington Redskins plan-
ning to update the team's name
after 87 years. The team agreed to
the name change after decades of
pressure from Native Americans
and activists who believe the term is
racist.
Ponaganset's long-standing
BREEZE PHOTO BY BILL MURPHY
BRADY HESSION, 7, of North Smithfield, reels in a sunfish during a morning of
fishing at Stump Pond in Smithfield on Sunday. Brady was fishing with his dad,
Dan, and his brother, Owen. The extreme heat brought folks to the water over the
weekend.
School official
denies movement to
change Ponaganset
Chieftains name
By JACQUELYN MOOREHEAD
Valley Breeze & Observer Staff Writer
jackie@valleybreeze.com
Reeling with pride
See PONAGANSET, Page 17
SMITHFIELD – Despite a rise
in town debt payments, increased
spending for the upcoming elec-
tion, and expanding the veteran tax
exemption, Smithfield leaders passed
an $83.6 million budget on Tuesday
night without a tax increase.
Town Manager Randy Rossi said a
zero-increase budget does not neces-
sarily mean that some taxpayers will
not see a larger bill in the mail. He
said residents, many whose homes
ended up with a higher tax valuation,
Smithfield budget passes
with no tax increase
By JACQUELYN MOOREHEAD
Valley Breeze & Observer Staff Writer
See BUDGET, Page 10
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