Jay G. Wegimont

08/31/2026

More than 80 years later, 1st Lt. Franklin H. McKinney is finally home. 🇺🇸

I was incredibly honored to attend, with Vice President Marran on behalf of the Town Council, Friday’s ceremony at Riverside Cemetery in South Kingstown as Lt. “Mac” McKinney was finally laid to rest beside his mother and father.

A Narragansett native and 1941 graduate of South Kingstown High School, Lt. McKinney joined the Army Air Corps during World War II and served with the 14th Air Force, which carried on the legendary tradition of the Flying Tigers in China.

At just 21 years old, he was flying dangerous reconnaissance missions overseas. On November 5, 1944, Lt. McKinney took off from Beitan Airfield in China in his F-5 Lightning on a mission over Thailand and Burma. He never returned.

For more than 80 years, his family waited for him to come home.

On Friday, surrounded by his Grandniece Courtney, members of our military, veterans and our community, South Kingstown had the privilege of finally welcoming Lt. McKinney home and honoring the sacrifice he made for our country.

There are fewer and fewer opportunities for us to personally honor members of the Greatest Generation, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to be there for this incredibly moving homecoming.

Welcome home, Lieutenant McKinney. South Kingstown will remember you. 🇺🇸

May he rest in peace and forever soar the skies. 🕊️

Governor Dan McKee Senator Jack Reed Representative Carol Hagan McEntee House District 33 Senator Alana DiMario, Rhode Island District 36 Tiger Patrick Mike Marran Kathy Fogarty State Representative District 35 U.S. Army RI Office of Veterans Services Union Fire District of South Kingstown, Rhode Island

08/28/2026

Thank you to the South Kingstown Democrats for the warm birthday greeting! I’m proud to serve with my colleagues on the South Kingstown Town Council, and grateful to serve my hometown. I hope everyone has a wonderful day! 🎈

08/26/2026

RIP Dolly Parton. 🇺🇸❤️

A true American hero who gave us incredible music, brought joy to millions, and never stopped giving back.

Few people could bring people together like Dolly could. That’s who she was.

Thank you for inspiring us all. There will never be another Dolly Parton. 🎶🕊️

08/25/2026

📚 South Kingstown’s new Community Learning Center at the Peace Dale Library is officially open! 📖🏛️

Today we celebrated the grand opening of this beautiful new space, a nearly $3.6 million investment funded through federal grant programs, not through the Town of South Kingstown RI alone.

Nearly $2.9 million came through Governor Dan McKee Community Learning Center initiative using federal ARPA Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund dollars, with another $700,000 in federal HUD Community Project Fundingsecured with the support of Senator Jack Reed and Representative Seth Magaziner.

The library is more than just books, and what I really love about this project is how many different people in our community are going to benefit from it.

📚 For our students, it means more space for learning, tutoring, technology and educational support.

💼 For people looking for work or their next opportunity, it means workforce preparedness, resume help, job-search assistance, career planning and job-development programming.

💻 For seniors and residents who may need some extra help, it means digital navigation assistance, access to technology, connections to resources and a welcoming place to get help.

🩺 And I’m especially proud that our Community Paramedic Program, created by our incredible South Kingstown EMS South Kingstown EMS team and supported by the Town Council, will have a presence here providing proactive health care and helping connect residents with the care and services they need.

And they did all of this while preserving what makes the South Kingstown Public Library's so special. 🏛️📖✨

Original wood was restored and reused, historic flooring and architectural details were preserved, and this beautiful building has been given new life while keeping its character.

A huge thank you to Governor McKee, Senator Reed, Congressman Magaziner, our Library Board of Trustees, our amazing library staff, our builders and project team, our Town staff, and my Town Council colleagues President Rory McEntee, Vice President Mike Marran and Councilwoman Patti Alley for South Kingstown Town Council for helping make this happen.

A beautiful new space for learning, opportunity, connection and health right here in South Kingstown. 📚💻💼🩺❤️

Come check it out!

And if you need me, I’ll be in the science fiction section. See you at the Library 👽📚🚀

08/21/2026

Tonight in Wakefield! 🏞️🔥

RiverFire 🔥 TONIGHT! It's our final event of the summer, and Purple Honey is bringing the ultimate soundtrack to wrap it up! They’re playing all the songs you know and love and love to sing along to. So lace up your dancing shoes and join us for great music, craft vendors, food trucks, and a beer garden from 5–9! Gary Hopp and Friends kick off the music at 5:30 PM.

See you in Saugatucket Park!

08/19/2026

Today we begin to say goodbye to my amazing Auntie Chris Gorman. 💙☘️

My Auntie Christine Gorman was the most loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend anyone could ask for. She was the devoted wife of my Uncle Jim, a proud mother to my cousins David and Jimmy, and the heart of so many family gatherings.

A successful Rhode Island entrepreneur and restauranter, Chris helped build businesses that touched countless lives and created opportunities for so many people. But what I will remember most was not her professional success. It was her kindness. You could always count on Auntie Chris to greet you with a smile, ask how you were doing, and leave you feeling better than when you arrived. She carried an optimism that never seemed to fade and a love for her family that knew no bounds.

The world feels a little less bright without her in it, but her legacy lives on through the family she loved so deeply and the many lives she touched along the way.

I will miss the warmth, laughter, and love you brought to every event and every moment we shared.

Rest in peace, Auntie Chris. You will be missed more than words can say. ❤️

If you would like to pay your respects, the wake is tonight from 4pm-7pm and the funeral is tomorrow morning. More details can be found below.

https://www.trippfuneralhome.com/obituaries/christine-gorman

08/18/2026

After South Kingstown, Narragansett, North Kingstown, and other municipalities in Rhode Island listened to their constituents, Governor Dan McKee again showed us that he is an active and responsive leader by pausing all flock camera in Rhode Island. True leadership. This is what the power of the people can do. Very proud of our Governor. 🇺🇸

I’m pausing new automated license plate reader installations and ordering a 60-day review to establish clear statewide standards for privacy, transparency, and data use.

08/18/2026

Today was a frightening day for our community.

South County Hospital was placed on lockdown this afternoon after authorities received a serious threat. Thankfully, after an extensive law enforcement response and search of the hospital, no active shooter or other threat was found, no one was injured, and everyone was safe.

I want to thank the men and women of the South Kingstown Police Department and all of the law enforcement and public safety agencies who responded so quickly and professionally.

I am equally grateful to the doctors, nurses, staff, patients and families at South County Hospital who remained calm and followed emergency procedures during an incredibly stressful situation.

We all know South County Hospital is an important part of our community, and today was a reminder of how fortunate we are to have dedicated healthcare professionals and first responders ready to act when they are needed most. Everyone that lives around here knows someone that works at South County Hospital, has been treated at South County Hospital, or was born at South County Health. 🏥

Thank God no one was hurt.

Tonight, I am simply grateful that our neighbors, hospital staff and first responders are safe, and thankful to everyone who helped bring this situation to a safe conclusion. 💙🌊🩺