Eek! Rats giving RI Statehouse staffers a scare

Sue Stenhouse, who handles emergency preparedness for Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri, displays cartoon images of rats that were given to her by co-workers, in her office at the Statehouse, in Providence, R.I., Monday, Nov. 16, 2009.

Tools

Story Created: Nov 16, 2009 at 2:18 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 16, 2009 at 2:18 PM PDT

By RAY HENRY Associated Press Writer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - A staffer for Rhode Island's governor gets paid to be calm in a crisis, at least until a rat crosses her path.

An exterminator inspected the Statehouse on Monday after several employees reported seeing rodents last week. Among them was Sue Stenhouse, the governor's director of community relations and emergency preparedness.

She says a large rat ran across her office floor Thursday night. She says she jumped on her chair, shot rubber bands at it and threatened it with perfume until it left.

Another rodent was spotted that day outside the office of Senate President M. Teresa Paiva-Weed.

Grounds officer Edward Butler says the exterminator found no evidence of rats but left a trap in Stenhouse's office.

Weather

Icon
Current Temp 62.0 °
Mostly Cloudy
More Weather

Upload directly from your mobile device.

Learn how

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

On Demand

Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV.