News Nearby: NH/Mass. I-93 Border Toll Considered

Each Saturday, Melrose Patch will run a round-up with links to stories from surrounding communities that are of interest to Melrosians.

MEDFORD—The debate over placing a toll near the New Hampshire border on I-93 may return in 2012 as an option to shore up transit funding shortfalls in Massachusetts, according to one state representative.

“Open road tolling is a possibility, on the New Hampshire border, that Governor Patrick and the (MBTA) caucus is looking at,”  Rep. Sean Garballey, D-Medford/Arlington, said Wednesday.

Garballey, the chairman of the legislature’s MBTA caucus, was on hand at Medford City Hall with two other state representatives and a state senator Tuesday for

MALDEN—Malden's "Field of Dreams" took another step ahead Wednesday night, when the Malden Redevelopment Authority designated them a "preliminary developer" of the 6.5-acre downtown National Grid site. 

The designation will allow developer Alex Bok and his group to begin further discussions with owners of the three abutting properties, which the group will need to acquire in order to proceed with the proposal.

WAKEFIELD—Wakefield Police arrested a man charged with attempted murder in Woburn who allegedly fled the scene of the crime to a residence in Wakefield.

Thomas Ponte, 41, of 75 Elm St., was arrested on Feb. 7 and charged with attempted murder, armed kidnapping with serious bodily injury, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (three counts), intimidation of a witness, larceny under $250 and malicious destruction of property over $250.

According to police, officers and Woburn Fire responded to an Elm Street address and found a woman sitting on the stairs with visible injuries.

The victim, a Tewksbury woman, told police that Ponte had held her “hostage” for two days before leaving the residence armed with a knife.

STONEHAM—A Stoneham man was arraigned in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn Thursday morning on charges of attempted murder, assault and battery and making threats against a woman, according to a press statement issued by Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone Thursday.

Middlesex Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan ordered Stacey Jones, 35, held pending a dangerousness hearing slated for Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. in courtroom 630, according to the statement.

“We allege that this defendant threw the victim to the ground, and attempted to strangle her with the intention of killing her in her own home, all while the victim’s young child was asleep in the house,” Leone said in the statement.