Check out who is first, second- and third-team all-state

Check out who is first, second- and third-team all-state

Who was honored in NJ.com's season in review?

Who was honored in NJ.com's season in review?

A motor vehicle stop led to the arrest of a Salem woman on multiple charges.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- A Salem City woman was arrested after police found her with a taser during a motor vehicle stop, authorities said.

Pennsville Police conducted a motor vehicle stop at 10:20 p.m. last Thursday.

During the stop, police found the driver of the vehicle, Michele L. Coleman, 50, with a taser and charged with possession of a dangerous weapon. 

Coleman was also charged with interfering.

Police also arrested Samuel J. Downing, 56, of Salem, on an outstanding warrant, interfering with an officer, and providing false information to authorities.

Both Coleman and Downing were processed and released pending court action.

Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

How do you keep your kids safe online? Here's what NJ law enforcement agencies say.

The digital world has dramatically changed in the past decade and as technology changes, the need to protect children from online predators continues to increase, according to New Jersey law enforcement agencies.

It is important for parents to become accustomed to their children's online use in a completely different way, said New Jersey State Police Detective Christopher Camm, who works with digital technology investigations and internet crimes against children.

Earlier this month, a 32-year-old man who worked at the Monroe Township school district was accused of posing as a teenage girl and communicating with students, leading to an alleged exchange of child pornography.

In February, another 32-year-old man pleaded guilty to first-degree manufacturing child pornography after allegedly befriending teenagers online and blackmailing a 16-year-old to strip for him. 

"Children today barely ever use a traditional desktop of laptop computer and consume almost all of their digital access via their smartphones," Camm added.

From laptop computers to tablets and smartphones, here are some safety tips from police in New Jersey:

1) Have parental control

"The best way a parent can protect their children from the dangers on the internet is to express more control over children's phones. Parents should always know their child's phone password and the passwords to their various social accounts," Camm said.

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 58 percent of 12-year-olds own a cell phone.

Restrict the amount of time a child spends on the internet in general, but more specifically on their phones, state police say.

Install software that blocks inappropriate websites and utilizes passwords or subscribe to a service provider that offers parental control features.

2) Know about trending apps

Parents should conduct random audits of their children's devices and become intimately familiar with any apps they find installed on these devices, according to Camm.

"Very often, parents will look through their child's devices and just target the known areas such as text messages, email, pictures and videos -- this type of search overlooks apps that can be very dangerous to children," Camm said.

Additionally, parents should search the apps online so to confirm the apps are what they appear to be. 

A newer trend in child crimes, according to Camm, involves hidden or encrypted apps. 

"Some apps may appear to be a program that is benign but with the right key presses, the app could unlock other hidden apps, photos and videos," the detective added.

3) Monitor online hours, set limits

Monitor any calls or texts coming from unknown phone numbers, email, or social media accounts, Camden County Police warn parents.

Only allow computers, tablets and other devices to be utilized in common areas of the home that are accessible to everyone, authorities advise.

Regularly check in on your kids' social media pages and profiles to make sure what's there is appropriate.

Only allow them to have "friends/followers" who are people they know personally, not strangers that request a connection, police advised.

Set limits about posting photographs of your kids, alone or with their friends. 

Also, only let "friends/followers" see their posts and full profile page, not every user out there -- not even friends of friends.

Social media safety in NJ schools

4) Educate children about basic safety

Teach kids the importance of never meeting someone face-to-face they met online, and remind them to never give out their name, phone number, address, or other personal information to someone online, according to Camden County Police.

Make it clear that they should never put their address, phone number or any other specific contact information on a social media page or provide that information to individuals they connect with on social media.

5) Pay attention to red flags

Know when your child is at risk.

Also, parents should closely monitor their children's behaviors involving the internet -- children should not have access to the internet behind closed doors and should never be allowed to sleep with their devices in their rooms, according to state and local authorities. 

Notice your child's behavior for red flags: Are they using the internet at odd night hours? Does your child quickly switch screens or become defensive when you enter the room? These are just a few behaviors to pay attention to, authorities said.

6) Know your resources

You can always report concerns or incidents via CyberTipLine -- an online resource used to receive tips specific to suspected crimes of sexual exploitation committed against children.

According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, more than 4.3 million suspected child sexual exploitation reports were submitted to CyperTipLine between 1998 and April 2015.

This online tip line is operated through a collaboration of FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Secret Service, military criminal investigative organizations, the U.S. Department of Justice, Internet Crimes against Children Task Force, and other state and local law enforcement agencies.

Always contact your local police department if there are concerns of online predatory behavior.

For more information on internet safety or protecting kids online, visit missingkids.org. 

Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Carneys Point Police investigated a credit card left, leading to the arrest of two men.

CARNEYS POINT TWP. -- Authorities arrested two men on charges of credit card theft and fraud in Carneys Point Township.

Cole Curriden, left, and Zackary Wilson, right, were charged with credit card fraud and theft, according to Carneys Point Police.
 

Carneys Point Police originally responded at 7:56 p.m. on June 14 to a residence on Sorenson Drive for reports of a theft.

The victim reported to police that a credit card had been taken from her purse and was used seven times within Carneys Point Township, totaling charges of $506.84, according to authorities.

Police connected Cole Curriden, 20, of Carneys Point, to the crime and Curriden was arrested at his home on charges of credit card theft and fraudulent use of a credit card.

Authorities then arrested Zackary Wilson, 18, of Pennsville, on Friday at 8:15 p.m. when Wilson turned himself in at headquarters, police said.

Wilson was also charged with credit card theft and fraudulent use of a credit card.

Both Wilson and Curriden were processed and released pending court.

Over in the Delaware Bay they were also having a good weekend on Mr. Flounder.

Jim Bolton 

By Jim Bolton

How about this nice weather we had for Father's Day weekend?  The water finally warms up and not only the flounder but stripers, blues, drum, weakfish and kingfish start to bite all along the coast and Delaware Bay has the same good news.

The flounder bite was as good as it gets. They were biting everywhere and some nice size ones included four and five-pounders were common with fish up to 9 pounds being caught.

I heard that Norm Paxton weighed in a flatty going 8 pounds 4 ounces.  He caught it in Ludlam's Bay.

Black drum are biting good around the cape surf fishing and boating and are now being caught out in Delaware Bay.

Kingfish are showing up in good numbers from Sea Isle on down to Wildwood along with some nice size weakfish.

The odd thing about this situation is that I haven't heard of many striper being caught.  Maybe they took Father's Day off!?

Over in the Delaware Bay they were also having a good weekend on Mr. Flounder.

Ken at Husted's Landing reported that John Robinson and his wife came in with 6 flounder, 1 bluefish and 1 drum.

He said he had other boats come in with catches of four and five flounder and a couple of kingfish.  And he said he heard the party boats were doing good on flounder.

And of course "The Perch King" Don McCarthy came in with his usual cooler full caught in Back Creek.

Over at the Anchor Marina in Matt's Landing Bob told me his customers are coming in with some nice catches of flounder and weakfish.

He had Alex Philibob and "Uncle Peter" bring in two drum, two weakfish and one kingfish.

And also Harry Price had his limit of flounder.

Jim Bolton is the outdoors columnist for the South Jersey Times. He can be reached at 856-313-9347 or 22 Arbutus Ave., Millville, NJ 08332.

Charles Bennett writes that it's absurd for him to have to travel to Delaware for needed medial tests under the VA system.

To the Editor:

I just found out I need to have major health tests done. I was hoping to go to a local doctor, instead of traveling out of state to the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Delaware. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs states that a veteran can go to a "local" doctor only if a wait is more than 30 days, or if the patient lives more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility.

I live in Cumberland County. The nearest VA facility is in Vineland, 18 miles from my home. However, this outpatient clinic does not perform the tests I need. I'm told I must travel to the Delaware hospital.

Other veterans and even VA staffers have expressed frustration over this absurd interpretation of the rules by the administrators. One VA nurse said: "It's a really ridiculous thing that they did ... But that's the way they're interpreting it ... .(The distance limitations apply) to any building with a VA stamp on it."

This is not a new issue and I'm certainly not unique. Earlier this year, in apparent frustration over health care, a veteran set himself on fire outside the Northfield VA clinic and later died. The VA suicide hotline is a joke. "Thank You for Your Service," an HBO documentary highlighting the life-and-death drama of the VA suicide hotline efforts, won an Oscar just last year.

Personally, I believe the Office of Veterans Affairs is stalling as long as possible to clarify its ruling. I believe they are waiting for Vietnam veterans, such as myself, to die off. How sad is that?

Charles Bennett

Mauricetown

Rein in NRA as we did with Big Tobacco

To the Editor:

Everybody is talking about the presidential election -- which is just what the NRA "owned," do-nothing Congress wants. 

This keeps the spotlight off the members so they can continue to line their pockets and play politics instead of governing for the people who elected them. Threatened by the National Rifle Association, they again have failed to pass any viable gun laws. 

The congressional majority still wants to abolish Obamacare, has failed to hold hearings for the president's U.S. Supreme Court nominee, and some even want to keep Harriet Tubman off the $20 bill. Republicans facing re-election are even tiptoeing around their presidential nominee just to keep their positions. 

How Sad! 

Let's do to the NRA what we did to Big Tobacco: Put them in their place. 

The majority of constituents should be the ones threating Congress to do its job. Companies may have the money, but we, the people, still have the vote. Let's take back control of our government and let Congress know we put them there and we're the ones who can boot them our=t.

Your boss wouldn't let you keep your job if you do nothing while there. We shouldn't let Congress get away with it, either.

Tim Krajewski

Williamstown

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

My hope is that the state will work with urban cities to come up with creative tools that can help leverage what is unique to the states' urba

Sometimes when I think about the Bridgeton community through my "mayor eyes," it almost comes about in the same way that a doctor might think about his or her patient. That is to say clinical, dispassionate, and business-like.

This clinical thing doesn't happen often because Bridgeton is filled with people I know and care deeply about, but it happens enough that I pay attention to it when it occurs. What prompted the latest bout of clinical "mayor eyes" was a report on urban poverty from the John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy at Thomas Edison State University.

The report, entitled "The Cost of Poverty: The Perpetuating Cycle of Concentrated Poverty in New Jersey Cities," looked at four urban communities: Trenton, Perth Amboy, Passaic, and Bridgeton to understand the chronic nature of urban poverty in our state. We tend to think of South Jersey as exclusively rural, but that's not quite accurate. 

Bridgeton, like many other urban communities, struggles to overcome problems that can only be understood in the same way we understand a patient with systemic problems --things that are foundational-less a symptom than a cause. Maybe understanding this difference is part of treatment.

One systemic or foundational thing in the report is New Jersey's ongoing reliance on the local property tax as being the only real way municipalities have to fund their budgets. This dependence means distress when the property tax base erodes, as has been the case here. The burden gets placed on the shrinking base. 

Another issue is the number of tax exempt properties in urban communities and the impact they have on the base. In Bridgeton, some exempt properties come from being a county seat and having certain state and county facilities. But a lot of exempt properties in cities exist in response to helping the poor. It's no surprise that nonprofit, social service, and faith-based agencies "cluster" where they are most needed.

Nonprofits do a lot of good in other ways, but it's forgotten when it comes to tax revenue. That's a big part of why Gateway, my nonprofit agency, and Complete Care run by Council President Edwards, willingly pays property tax, so as not to burden a communities' ratable base.

Cities do receive state funding known as "CMPTRA" or Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid along with the Energy Receipts tax, but this aid has been reduced a lot over the past 10-15 years. Less revenue means more distress and unlike funding for schools, the money is not necessarily given out based on need. 

One possible answer might be a non-resident or "commuter" tax. Unfortunately, New Jersey does not let cities charge non-resident taxes as happens with those commuting into Philadelphia to work. This would be a way to ease the property tax burden for urban cities where a lot of the jobs are located.

What would that mean for a city like Bridgeton? It would mean an inflow of revenue from those commuting in to work at places like the county court/jail complex, state prison, school system, hospital, City Hall, and some of our larger factories and businesses. What gets spent at local stores helps local business, but it's not enough to lessen the burden in urban cities.

The report included a number of other recommendations -- everything from tax credits and nutrition programs to minimum wage increases, affordable housing, child care subsidies, literacy programs, pay equity, and paid family leave. While important, these are larger issues that get played out on a larger stage if at all. 

Until then, we still have an obligation to provide services for residents, including a unique labor force that works almost exclusively in the surrounding townships --  the opposite of the commuter. The difference here is that the bulk of this group is outside the financial mainstream so they can't easily be a part of growing the base.

What is needed are some new tools on the state level, tools that will allow for new and creative ways to ease the burden of urban cities, whether a commuter tax, a new set of tax incentives that are user-friendly for small businesses in urban areas, ways to mitigate the exempt inventory, or a needs-based formula for handing out state aid. 

Whatever it is, my hope is that the state will work with urban cities to come up with creative tools that can help leverage what is unique to the states' urban cities.

Albert B. Kelly is mayor of Bridgeton. Contact him by phone at 856-455-3230 Ext. 200.

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

The Veterans Administration Telehealth Services can help veterans in many ways to stay healthy.

By Joseph Hannagan Jr.

Veterans Administration Telehealth Services uses health informatics, and telehealth technologies to improve healthcare services. For this technology to work it must work for people it is meant to help, which are the patients and the professionals providing care. Telehealth in the VA will ensure patients get the right care in the right place and aims to make the Veterans home into the preferred place of care, whenever possible.

Joseph Hannagan Jr. is Salem County's Veterans Services Officer. (File Photo) 

Telehealth provides clinical care in circumstances where distance separates those receiving services and those providing services. Advances in technology have made a big impact with veterans with Chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pain management and even weight control issues.

The major technologies used for Telehealth are:

* Synchronous, is real-time or clinical Video Telehealth and it requires the presence of the patient and medical staff at the same time and a communication link between them that allows a real-time interaction to Take place. Video-conferencing equipment is one of the most common forms of technologies used in Synchronous Telehealth. There are also peripheral devices that can be attached to computers or the video-conferencing equipment which can aid in an interactive examination.

* Asynchronous or store-and-forward Telehealth requires acquiring medical data (like medical images, bio signals, voice recordings etc.) and then transmitting this data to a doctor or medical specialist at a convenient time for assessment offline. It does not require the presence of both parties at the same time

Coordination/Home Telehealth (CCHT) technology has been available to help veterans at our Wilmington VA Medical Center VAMC for a few years. The Wilmington VAMV, Telehealth program provides veterans with coordination and the support needed to successfully manage healthcare from home, through an easy-to-use device that connects to the veteran's home telephone line (POTS), they can communicate daily results to the Telehealth care coordinator a a registered nurse who will work closely with the veteran's primary care provider to ensure success.

Home Telehealth provides a home messaging device at no cost to Veterans. Veterans, who participate in the program, use the device daily to send data such as weight, blood sugar and blood pressure to a registered nurse who review the information, documents findings in the patient medical records and assist the primary care provider with care management. Non-emergency healthcare advice and treatment can be obtained without having to drive to the Wilmington VA Medical Center.

Typically, veterans who qualify for Telehealth may have an elevated hemoglobin A1C, or need some extra monitoring of their blood pressure or other conditions, have the ability to use and care for the easy-to-use equipment, a working telephone line and has communicated a strong commitment to managing their healthcare.

For further information, contact the Wilmington VA Medical Center at 302-994-2511.

Joseph Hannagan Jr. is Salem County Veterans Affairs Officer. Veterans can contact Hannagan at his office by calling 856-339-8603, via cell phone at 609-774-7450 or via email at Joseph.Hannagan@salemcountynj.gov

The children at the Junior Law Enforcement Camp learn about the life of a police officer.

ALLOWAY TWP. -- They just might be the next class of police recruits.

Approximately 70 children this past week took part in the Junior Law Enforcement Camp.

The annual week-long event, held at Camp Edge in Alloway Township, teaches the participants about law enforcement practices, firearm safety, investigative techniques and the steps of conducting an investigation.

The camp not only teaches children about the work of police, it also teaches them the importance of team building.

Retired Carneys Point Township Chief of Police Bob DiGregorio and his wife, Amanda, who works in the Salem County Prosecutor's Office, organize the cam each year.

Salem County's top officers lauded

They receive tremendous support from members of the local law enforcement community.

While there, the campers enjoyed the many other offerings available at Camp Edge.

On Friday morning the campers put the skills learned to the test as they investigated a mock crime scene.

Later in the afternoon, a graduation ceremony was held.

The Senate president has the better of a pair of dueling school aid plans, but both represent stopgap measures at best.

In a recently renewed battle over New Jersey school aid, Stephen Sweeney's Band-Aid is more likely to promote healing than Chris Christie's Band-Aid.

Both the Senate president and the governor took the wraps off of their new plans in the past two weeks.

While Band-Aids are known to cause pain when you pull them off, these plans would cause several "ouch" moments if New Jersey were to put them on. And, each fails to get at the cause of the wound, which is New Jersey's continued over-reliance on local property taxes to fund hundreds of local school districts.

Sweeney's reveal was first. He says his measure fully funds the school aid formula installed a decade ago under former Gov. Jon Corzine. Finalized in 2008, the formula has been nipped, tucked and used as political-deal fodder often enough to create significant distortions. Yet, it's unique in that it has survived state Supreme Court challenges -- a key attribute, since past formulas were declared unconstitutional for decades because they shortchanged the poorest, mainly urban, school districts.

The governor's alternative calls for a flat per-student aid amount, regardless of a town's wealth or ability to raise money from the local tax base. Offering $6,599 per year per student across the state has the aroma of fairness. But, it would take away 78 percent of the money that now flows to state-aid-dependent Camden, for example. You can argue that extra dollars don't mean better results, but not that this kind of reduction won't hurt kids.

Christie's radical surgery is surely unconstitutional. His plan also has absolutely zero chance of passing a Democrat-led Legislature.

Sweeney may not have the votes to pass his plan, either, since its aid "losers" could also include urban districts that the majority Democrats represent. But, it's better than Christie's. Here's why:

First, Sweeney would stick with a formula that's been proven to be constitutional, at least as written. 

Secondly, some districts get of extra aid although their student counts have declined (or their socio-economic status has improved) for years. The distortions will worsen with no action, and Sweeney says that $600 million in aid should be shifted to more-needy districts.

Third, we like that Sweeney would install a BRAC-style committee to recommend school funding changes. As with BRAC -- the military Base Realignment And Closing plan that neutralizes parochialism politics in Congress' base-closure decisions -- the Legislature would take an "up or down" vote on the school committee's report. No tweaking or horse-trading allowed.

Yet, both plans are admissions of failure as Christie and Sweeney end their current incarnations of public officeholding. 

The governor had more than seven years to try to re-balance school aid rules by seating more conservative Supreme Court justices. Sweeney now describes his long effort to reduce spending by having small New Jersey school districts consolidate as "banging your head against the wall."

What if both often-effective leaders had spent the last seven-plus years finding a way to replace local real estate taxes as the state's main school funding mechanism? These taxes still force senior citizens out of their homes and send young families running to neighboring states.

Hey, Teaneck, here's a $1,600 cut (under Chrisite's plan) that would reduce your average household property tax bill to a measly $9,913.

Our leaders still need to do much better.

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

Garcia was the only cowboy to place in the bull riding event.

PILESGROVE TWP. -- Connor Garcia was the top money-winning cowboy at Cowtown Rodeo Saturday night.

Garcia, of Mullica Hill, was the only contestant to make the required eight-second ride in the bull riding event.

Garcia took home $977.60 in prize money.

Here are the standings from Saturday night's performance. The results include the contestant's name, score or time, and winnings:

Bareback Bronc Riding: First, Shelton Owens Murphy, 74 score, $485.04; Andy Carter, 70, $323.36.

Saddle Bronc Riding: First, Eddie Parller, 67 score, $893. (The cowboy's winnings include $535.80 in ground money.)

Bull Riding: First, Connor Garcia, 65 score, $977.60. (The cowboy's winnings include $586.56 in ground money.)

Steer Wrestling: First, Gary Hewett, 15.0 seconds time, $579.04; Daniel Cipully, 20.4, $473.76. (Each cowboy's winnings include $157.92 in ground money.)

Team Roping: First, Keith Brown and Ryan Whetham, 6.4 seconds time, $752 each; Waylon Cameron and Justin Yost, 7.2, $564 each; Joe Sciacca III and Joe Delapaz, 8.7, $376 each; Travis Dase and Butch Dase, 11.8, $188 each.

New Jersey's lone rodeo marks 6 decades

Barrel Racing: First, Amanda Lloyd, 17.67 seconds time, $572.46; Nicole Yost, 17.94, $473.76; Sheralee Fiore, 18.08, $375.06; Jessica Green, 18.11, $276.36; Liz Terhune, 18.23, $177.65; Wilhemina Horzepa, 18.30, $98.70.

There was no tie-down roping competition Saturday night.

The rodeo continues every Saturday, rain or shine, at 7:30 p.m. at the Cowtown Rodeo arena on U.S. Route 40 through Sept. 24.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

New Jersey has changed dramatically in recent decades. But in many places, deep segregation still exists.

Committee seeks businesses, youth groups, churches to participate

Alloway Community Day is planned for July 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Alloway Municipal Building grounds. The Wistarburg Ruritan Club along with community churches and organizations are preparing to bring back this event the Alloway Township community.

The committee is extending an invitation to all businesses, youth groups, churches, and residents to participate. It is with the intent for families to enjoy a nice summer day of fun, food and activities with friends and neighbors.

This is not a yard sale event.

The committee has 10-by-10 spaces available for your group or organization to set up for a $10 fee. Your organization, business or group can get a space by mailing the information about your activity, contact person and name of organization with a $10 fee payable to Wistarburg Ruritan at PO Box 906, Alloway, NJ 08001.

You can check us out on Facebook-Alloway Township Community Day for up-to-date information. Questions, call 856-935-4047.

This information submitted by Wistarburg Ruritan Club.

Police say a Wilmington woman stole $186 of merchandise from Walmart.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- A Delaware woman was charged with shoplifting from a Salem County Walmart Sunday night, according to police.

Pennsville Police said Marie L. Morley, 27, of Wilmington, was observed concealing merchandise valued at $186, then trying to leave the store without paying.

Morley was taken into custody where she allegedly provided a false name.

Police also found Morley wanted on an outstanding warrant out of the Superior Court.

Morley was charged with shoplifting and providing false information.

After processing, Morley was held at the Salem County Correctional Facility in Mannington, in default of bail.

Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Authorities in Maryland arrested a man who allegedly stole a vehicle from an NJ sales lot.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- A 37-year-old Maryland man was arrested for allegedly stealing a vehicle from a car sales lot in Salem County.

Hunter Truck Sales reported to Pennsville Police at 2:23 p.m. last Monday that a vehicle valued at roughly $118,000 was stolen from the lot.

Police in Maryland later located Christopher Jones driving the vehicle out of state where he was arrested, according to authorities.

Jones was arrested and was being held in Maryland pending extradition to New Jersey, police said.

Bail was set at $20,000 full cash.

Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Ken Frank writes that the ex-congressman wanted to stay in office for months until he was pressured to quit.

To the Editor:

Civilization is a thin crust over a volcano. I was reminded of that saying when I read about the arrogance of U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah.

After being convicted on 22 counts including bribery, racketeering, fraud and conspiracy, the Pennsylvania Democrat was not ashamed to say he was going to stay in office until his October sentencing, although he has since resigned.   

Then I watched other Democrats protest on the floor of the Senate like little children, smug with the idea that guns are the cause of all the terrorism we are watching. This is tantamount to blaming the airplanes for the bombing of Pearl Harbor while ignoring the ideology of Japan.

Black Lives Matter activists, Bernie Sander's supporters and a host of other protesters unyieldingly force themselves in our faces with no concern for the law. It's not a reach to believe they are mostly Democrats. I'm not making a case for "angelic" Republicans, but the Democratic Party seems to harbor lawlessness like I've never seen. The party even comforts immigrants who are here illegally and desires that they be able to vote.  

I see my country as more uncivilized than ever before. Morals are dead. Values are based on one's own narcissistic desires. Shame is voiceless. People like Fattah have no personal integrity for their followers to witness and learn from. 

This reminds me of what a young male Democrat said years ago, when asked what he thought about President Bill Clinton's sexual escapades in the White House. He smiled and said, "Sure makes me feel better about my sins." The poison of that thought has grown roots. And those roots are shredding the thin crust of civilization over the volcano. 

Ken Frank 

Pitman

Washington Twp. follows Atlantic City's path

To the Editor:

What happened to Atlantic City may happen to Washington Township.

Atlantic City was known as the biggest casino resort on the East Coast. Its success has come to an end, partly because of political corruption, and its future is uncertain. 

Washington Township is known as the "Premier Community" of South Jersey, but because of local government's political culture, the township is losing its identity little by little. 

The irresponsible spending of taxpayers' dollars is a recipe for a failing administration. The more that money is wasted on political jobs and political appointments, the less there is to pay the employees who fix our roads, maintain our parks and keep us safe. The result is that the taxpayers do not receive all the services that they are paying for. 

If we continue to have the current political establishment in a leading role, in a very short time Washington Township will be another Atlantic City. It is inevitable! 

Granting a 25-year property tax abatement to a 330-unit apartment and mixed-use complex under the township's PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) ordinance  imposes a substantial debt on the township's other taxpayers.

Common sense dictates that this ordinance must be repealed, since the math shows that it does not benefit the community. We should not be paying for people to come and live here.

Giancarlo D'Orazio

Washington Township

Editor's note: The writer is a former Republican township councilman and is running this fall for mayor as an independent candidate.

IRS scams still targeting N.J.

To the Editor:

Be on guard, my friends. There are hucksters, identity thieves and underhanded shysters at every turn.

A couple of years ago, I was caught off-guard by a phone call. The caller told me she was from the IRS and that I had to call a number immediately to resolve a tax-return issue that could lead to criminal proceedings.

I couldn't imagine what the problem was, since I've always tried to be honest to the penny with my tax returns. So, I frantically called the number and started talking to someone who began to ask me questions. When he asked me my Social Security number, I thought, "Wait a minute -- the IRS should know my SSN."  

At long last, the red flag finally went up. I told the "representative" I'd call him back. Then I talked to my father and one of my friends, and the scam came into clear focus. The first tip should have been that the caller ID didn't say "IRS." I made a call to the police, and they directed me to a website to file my information and complaint.

But this year, I got two more IRS scam calls. On TV shows, the cops use phone numbers to track down the bad guys. So, South Jersey's finest, you have your assignment. Go get 'em!

And, citizens, beware.    

Anthony Milanese

Paulsboro  

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

USDA announces measure to improve pollinator health

WASHINGTON -- During National Pollinator Week and in advance of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) seventh annual Pollinator Week Festival, the USDA is announcing initiatives in support of the President's National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honeybees and Other Pollinators, announced just over one year ago. A review of USDA's most popular conservation program found that farmers and ranchers across the country are creating at least 15 million acres of healthy forage and habitat for pollinators, and the department has also entered into a new partnership with leading honey bee organizations that will help to ensure future conservation projects continue to provide benefits to these important species.

"Pollinators are small but mighty creatures who need our help as much as we need theirs, and that is why USDA is dedicating resources from all corners of our department to boost their habitat and better understand how to protect them," said Agriculture Secretary Vilsack.

FSA plays a critical role in the delivery of programs that provide a safety net for beekeepers who experience losses due to natural disasters, and the agency administers the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program, which provides assistance for the loss of honeybee colonies, in excess of normal mortality, due to Colony Collapse Disorder or other natural causes.

The National Strategy called for seven million acres of land to be enhanced or restored for pollinators. USDA has more than tripled the acreage enrolled in USDA's Conservation Reserve Program's (CRP) pollinator initiative, through which USDA helps to cover the cost of planting pollinator-friendly wildflowers, legumes and shrubs, and USDA has increased the limit on this initiative in response to landowner demand so that more acres can be enrolled in the future. 

USDA's People's Garden Initiative has launched a number of efforts to expand pollinator public education programs, including a bee cam that gives real time insight into the 80,000 bees who live on the roof of USDA's Headquarters and pollinate the surrounding landscape.

This fact sheet contains more information about USDA's work to keep pollinators buzzing and contributing to a diverse domestic and global food supply.

To learn more about FSA's conservation programs, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation or contact Al diBella, county executive director for Salem and Gloucester counties, Farm Service Agency, 51 Cheney Road in Woodstown, 856-769-1126.

This item submitted by Salem/Gloucester Farm Service Agency.

In Camden County, new policies clearly state that it's not up to an individual patrol officer to decide when to turn on a body camera.

As unwavering as this space has been in support of police dashboard and body-worn cameras, an absence of clearly spelled-out limitations on the recording systems can create a sort of Wild Wild West.

The Camden County Police Department, whose Metro Division serves exclusively the City of Camden, just finished creating a far-ranging set of camera policies, accomplished with admirable input from the community and established law-enforcement experts.

The finished rules were released last week. They can be found in full at camdencountypd.org/body-worn-cameras. They're a good template for other police departments that are undergoing this video revolution. In addition to holding a public forum in March, Camden County utilized resident and officer surveys, and engaged the help of the Policing Project of the New York University School of Law.

The basic tenets are a lot like those of sound journalism: Who, what when, where and why. The rules say the cameras are to be used at every interaction, with several mostly justifiable exceptions. The cameras aren't to be turned on for encounters with undercover officers (for security reasons), in restrooms or locker rooms (for privacy reasons), or during officer-to-officer conversations.

The important concept is that the cameras' use is "not discretionary" with the officer for such incidents as vehicle stops, shootings, searches, witness interviews and arrests. The devices are to be turned on "without unnecessary delay upon being dispatched."

Unless conditions are unsafe, an officer must tell a subject that an incident is being recorded. Civilians involved may ask that the camera be turned off, and the cop must comply, but only if the civilian gives a reason other than mere preference. (That provision seems to be overly malleable; other towns may wish to state the conditions more clearly.)

Then, there is what happens to the recorded video. Playback is to be only by departmental personnel, only for official purposes, including training and obtaining intelligence. Recordings that are not in use as evidence or for investigations must be erased from servers after 90 days -- a rule that addresses concerns about unjustifiably long data retention. 

While the rules address body-worn-cameras only, they can be adapted for dashboard cameras that some rural and suburban departments prefer, since most of their policing is done with patrol cars. Dashcams can also provide a better perspective of a scene than the body cameras.

It would be best if departments deployed both kinds of cameras, but since a state law that used fines to fund the systems was overturned, affordability is an issue. Lawmakers should find another way to help departments buy cameras, one that won't be tossed out out as an "unfunded mandate" on towns.

Camden, which has 70 officers with body cams, is off to a good start. When every New Jersey police department has the cameras, along with appropriate rules, this will be a safer state for officer and civilian alike.

Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

The column that wants to remind everyone we're all in it together

The column that wants to remind everyone we're all in it together

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Good morning!

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Jaime E. Marine | South Jersey Times 

"All sorts of books, tapes and videos will go on sale Saturday, July 9, the first day of the Friends of the Bridgeton Library Used Book Sale.

"Beginning at 9 a.m. on July 9, the sale, in the Library located at 150 E. Commerce St., will continue into the next week from Tuesday, July 12 through Saturday, July 16.

"Sales hours correspond with the library's hours: 10 to 8 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 9 to 5 on Friday; and 9 to 4 on Saturdays.

"All children's books will sell for 25 cents each; magazines will be 10 cents each; paperback books,50 cents each, hard covers, $1 each, videos, $1 each; and large coffee table type books are between $2 and $5 each depending on size and condition.

"The week following July 16, all material still remaining will go on sale for two bucks a bag.

"Proceeds from the sale help the Friends group support Library activities and the purchase of new media.

"The Friends each year provide funds for Children's Library programs, computer maintenance, and book and other media purchases."

- Friend of the Bridgeton Library

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Subject: Panhandlers in Bridgeton

"These people are out of control. Can't walk downtown or use the riverfront without getting harassed. Public drinking and urination in city park does not make visitors return. City needs to initiate some quality of life policing."

- Upset citizen/fisherman

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"The Cumberland County Fair will take place from Tuesday July 5 through Saturday July 9. The Fair Association has planned an event that will entertain the entire family. Rides, great food, live entertainment, 4-H activities and more. Demolition Derby, Mud Bog and Amateur Truck Pulls to thrill both the young and the old.

 "A new event for this year's fair is the BONK Game Show, a hilarious quiz contest that combines Jeopardy and the Three Stooges. Also new this year is the Egg Russian Roulette game. There will be rounds every night culminating with the naming of the grand champion on Saturday night. The contest involves participant smashing eggs over their own heads. Some are hard boiled and some are not. The first one to get two raw eggs loses the round.

"A special round will be held on Thursday night when Robert Romano, former Mayor of Vineland, and Tim Shannon, former Mayor of Millville, will continue the ongoing challenge that they started a few years ago, high heels race, pizza making contest a now Egg Roulette!

"More information can be found at www.cumberlandcofair.com   come on out and enjoy New Jersey's Oldest Fair!"

- Cumberland County Fair

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"Last Monday night Rick and Lois Abbott owners of Winfield's Restaurant ran a fundraiser for the Levoy theater. The proceeds from the fabulous five-course dinner totaled over $22,000 and every dime of the money raised went directly to the Levoy Theater. Rick and Lois donated all of the food and beverages. Thank you so much Rick and Lois for your tremendous donation to the theater."

- Jim Quinn

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MY KIND OF TOWN: Where everyone wants to complain about the dark but no one wants to light a candle or show up to a work session where candle lighting is on the agenda