Haase's Marina said her customers are doing good on weakfish and perch but said most of her customers are waiting for the stripers.

Jim Bolton 

Talked to Captain Mike Rothman of the Bonanza II out of Fortescue.  He said most of the party boats are doing pretty good on some weakfish up to 22 inches.

He said there are still some flounder around but they have slowed down quite a bit.  Then you have a few varieties taking the bait.  Croaker, kingfish, blowfish and spot with an occasional bluefish are showing up.

Ken at Husted's Landing had his fall picnic last Saturday with Don McCarthy winning it with a 13 inch, 12 inch and a 1 pound 7 ounce perch.

He said Keith Kauffman and his wife Marilee had a good catch on Friday that included a 23 inch bluefish, a 19 3/4 inch weakfish and a 14 inch croaker.

Walt and Scott Schwegal had a nice catch of weakfish that included one they kept that was a 22 incher plus quite a few croaker and perch.

Quite a few of these fish are being caught near Egg Island, close to The Elbow and off Gandy's Beach.

Bob at the Anchor Marina in Matt's Landing said weakfish have been biting good up to 21 inches south of the Turn Buoy.  Shedder is the hot bait and crabbing is still real good with kingfish and bluefish mixed in.

Haase's Marina said her customers are doing good on weakfish and perch but said most of her customers are waiting for the stripers.

SHORE NEWS

Quite a few flounder are also showing up at the Cape May Rips with a few triggerfish and tog mixed in.

For those trolling offshore, bluefish, tuna and yellowfin tuna along with white marlin are starting to make things interesting along with some wahoo and dolphin.

Now that the storm scare is over, it's time to get back to normal along the coast.  A variety is being caught with flounder and weakfish showing the way.

Up and down the coast, the inlets and back bays there are flounder and some fat ones, and weakfish, but also croaker are in good numbers along with kingfish and some nice size bluefish in the mix.

Now that things have calmed down since the storm, how can you beat this?

Stripers are starting to show up.  Mostly shorts but that's a good sign!

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.

South Jersey residents who need Obamacare policies will be singing the "Blues" next year, since no one else seems to be offering policies.

We're reminded here of the late, great Gilda Radner of the original "Saturday Night Live," who, as "Weekend Update" commentator Emily Litella, would go on an animated rant, only to be told by her co-anchor that she'd misheard a critical fact about her subject. ("Violins on TV," for example.)

"Never mind," Radner/Litella would famously respond.

Well, some readers may recall the correction we had to make to our Aug. 19 editorial, "Obamacare imploding for many New Jerseyans," about the dearth of options for those buying Affordable Care Act health plans in New Jersey:

Never mind.

Once the editorial was published, representatives of Health Republic of New Jersey justifiably called on us to correct our statement that New Jersey's lone  ACA health insurance provider organized as a cooperative (it's Health Republic, although the editorial didn't cite them by name) had ceased offering Obamacare policies in the state. We were glad to set the record straight and inform readers that Health Republic was alive and kicking in the "Marketplace."

What a difference three weeks makes.

On Monday, Health Republic confirmed that it was indeed closing up Obamacare shop in New Jersey. It currently has 35,000 such clients in the state, who must find another coverage provider for 2017. According to some reports, state regulators forced out Health Republic due to a deteriorating financial condition. In any case, the state Banking and Insurance Department says it's working on a "rehabilitation" plan so that hospitals and doctors will continue to be reimbursed for services performed through 2016.

Our point in revisiting this issue is not to claim clairvoyance or say "we told you so" to Health Republic. It's to suggest that the need for reforms to the marketplace exchange provisions of the ACA has become even more critical.

Our Aug. 19 projection that South Jersey patients might have just two 2017 coverage providers from which to choose has become true. The last ones standing are Horizon and AmeriHealth. Both are units of the nominally nonprofit Blue Cross-Blue Shield organizations that cover New Jersey and Philadelphia, respectively. At this point, no for-profit insurers and no cooperatives are sticking around. They've all vamoosed after suffering financial losses on ACA policies, or at least claiming that they have.

When two insurers divide up the whole market, and hospital systems with whom they have contracts keep merging, the predictable result is high premiums and high prices for procedures.

So, the basis of the Aug. 19 editorial still stands: Congress and the president must champion and enact reforms to expand health marketplace exchanges. Even if New Jersey is worse off than some other states (and better off than a handful of others), withdrawals from the market is a national problem. It's time to cast aside the simplistic, partisan "Obamacare good" or "Obamcare bad" rhetoric and get to work.

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

Emergency personnel are on scene at a motor vehicle crash in Mannington.

MANNINGTON TWP. -- Traffic north and southbound on Route 45 in Salem County is blocked off because of a motor vehicle crash.

Emergency personnel respond to a motor vehicle crash on Route 45 in Mannington Township Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 (Don Woods | For NJ.com)
 

Emergency personnel is on scene in front of Mannington Mills. 

At least two vehicles were in the crash but it is unclear at this time how any people were involved or if there were any injuries.

New Jersey State Police are navigating traffic at the scene.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Don Woods contributed to this report.

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

13 hot takes from Week 2.

Kelly Bertonazzi named director of programs for Cumberland and Salem BBBS

Valerie Farrow, program director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland and Salem Counties recently retired. Farrow originally joined the agency on a part-time basis in the 1980s and then again in the 1990s.  In 2012, Farrow joined the staff full time as the Enrollment and Match Support Specialist until being promoted to director of programs. In total, Farrow has been active with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland and Salem Counties for more than 20 years.

Donna Bennett, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland and Salem Counties said of Valerie," She will be missed by everyone, staff and volunteers alike, but we wish her a happy and relaxing retirement."

Farrow has been replaced with Kelly Bertonazzi as the director of programs. Bertonazzi recently earned her Masters in Human Services from Stockton University. She has a strong background in the non-profit sector, as well has a passion for positive youth development.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland & Salem Counties also welcomes Nancy Gonzalez as a group leader and will assist with the high school mentoring programs. Gonzalez is currently completing her bachelors at Southeastern University with a major in Human Services and minor in psychology and ministry leadership. Gonzalez served as an intern at the agency this past spring.

For more information on Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland & Salem Counties, call 856-692-0916 or online at www.southjerseybigs.org.

This item submitted by Donata Dalesandro for Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Students studied changes that may be occurring as a result of climate change

A group of eight Woodstown High School seniors spent a week of their summer vacation in Acadia National Park, Maine, conducting research and assisting with ongoing projects.

The students spent many hours in the field, and gathered information on the plants and animals in the park, studying changes that may be occurring as a result of changing climate.

The group worked in the forest, the intertidal zone and the bays, and fit in some good hiking in their free time. The data they obtained will be used in a future research paper comparing the results with similar studies throughout North America.

The volunteers represented the Woodstown community well, and demonstrated the character and commitment so often displayed by Woodstown students.

The students are: Jimmy Cabo, Spencer Carter, Liam Dyer, Gabby Hastings, Katie Hatchell, Johnny Seymour, Drew Sorbello and Savanah Thomas, with teachers Jen Sorbello and Steve Ordog.

Local organizations and businesses helped to support the student's trip. They are: RCL Solar, Pete's Painting, Eddis Farm, Farm Family, Pino Realty, Rita's of Pine Hill, Pink Lotus Yoga Studio, Folkman Law Office, Woodstown Masonic Lodge 138, Sheffer Chiropractic, CTM Environmental Services.  Anyone who would like further information regarding the trip is encouraged to contact Steve Ordog at ordog.s@woodstown.org.

This item submitted by Steve Ordog, Woodstown School District. 

Look back at Week 1's highlights and the big stories headed into Week 2

WEEK 2 CONFERENCE
SCHEDULES/SCOREBOARDS
(Pages automatically update with links as scores come in)
• Greater Middlesex Conference
• Mid-State 38 Conference
• North Jersey Interscholastic Conference
• North Jersey Super Football Conference
• Shore Conference
• West Jersey Football League

WEEK 2 ESSENTIALS
• 13 bold predictions for Week 2
• Friday's LIVE Coverage, results and links
• Saturday's LIVE Coverage, results and links
• Top 20 for Sept. 11
• Our Week 2 Top 20 picks
• Our Week 1 picks by conference
• Our predictions for every Week 2 game
• 15 can't miss games in Week 2
• What you need to know heading into Week 2
• NJSIAA power points through Sept. 11
• Complete statewide group and conference rankings
• Confusion, heated debate leaves double power-point regulation in limbo
• Vote for the best Week 1 play

RELATED: Who has the best student section? Nominate your school now

WOODROW WILSON KNEELS FOR ANTHEM
• Tiger players, coaches kneel to bring attention to social injustices and economic disparities
• Passionate opinions about Wilson's decision
• Camden School District supports coach, players
• Camden Diocese will suspend players who kneel for anthem
• Camden coach Dwayne Savage has mixed emotions
• Florida principal will eject student fans who don't stand for anthem, report says

GAMES OF THE WEEK
• Star-Ledger: Bridgewater-Raritan at Hillsborough
• South Jersey Times: St. Augustine at Williamstown
• Trenton Times: 2 games selected

OTHER MUST-READ STORIES

• 13 bold predictions for Week 2
• Kingsway to honor 37-year coach Tony Barchuk
• 11 games that will determine No. 1
• Kinnelon cancels game over hand-foot-and-mouth disease outbreak
• Unprecedented outbreak reaches fourth school
• Former Elizabeth coach John Quinn now Plainfield Supervisor of Athletics
• 7 players to watch in No. 1 St. Peter's matchup with Peddie
• No. 3 Bergen Catholic plays football the Jersey way
• Rahmir Johnson is Bergen Catholic's do-it-all player
• How to watch Arhbishop Moeller (OH) vs. Don Bosco Prep, Saturday, 7
• Will Jabril Peppers be a Top-10 pick in next NFL draft?
• Jersey guy Jonathan Casillas enjoying career resurgence with Giants
• Peddie coach Chris Malleo: "SPP the greatest team I've ever seen on film
• N.J. alums who made noise NFL Opening Week
• Bergen Catholic alum tears ACL in NFL game
• N.J.'s Kenny Britt joins national anthem protest
• N.J. alums who made impact in college football
• 2 new additions to Player of the Year Watch
• Injured Bergen Catholic QB Johnny Langan will be game-time decision
• Meet some of N.J.'s top potential QBs from Lucien Pass Academy
• Week 1 helmet sticker winners
• TRE, Central out of playoffs after ejections
• Scouting uncommitted seniors: Paramus Catholic's Drew Singleton

Bill Evans can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com or by leaving a note in the comments below. Follow him on Twitter @BEvansSports. Find the NJ.com High School Football page on Facebook by following this link.

Luis A. Molina-Munoz, 31, of Bridgeton, appeared Friday in Salem County Superior Court after pleading guilty to endangering a child by caretaker.

SALEM -- A Bridgeton man who rammed his Honda into another car that had his ex-girlfriend and children inside was sentenced to three years in prison.

Luis A. Molina-Munoz, 31, of Bridgeton, appeared Friday in Salem County Superior Court after pleading guilty to endangering a child by caretaker. Through an interpreter, Molina-Munoz asked for forgiveness before Judge Benjamin Telsey sentenced him to three years in prison.

6th man charged in A.C. Expressway shootout

New Jersey State Police troopers were called to Gershal Avenue in Pittsgrove Township on Jan. 3 around 2 p.m. for reports of two vehicles that went off the road and into the woods. Molina-Munoz was driving a Honda and struck a Chevrolet Camaro driven by another Bridgeton man. Inside the Camaro was Molina-Munoz's ex-girlfriend and his two children -- ages 4 and 1.

Molina-Munoz admitted to police that he deliberately struck the Camaro and ran it off the road. Molina-Munoz and his ex-girlfriend were broken up for a year before the accident occurred.

Molina-Munoz has spent the last 257 days in Salem County Correctional Facility.

There were 430,000 households on food stamps, a 3 percent decline from last summer.

TRENTON -- Reliance on food stamps dropped by 3 percent in New Jersey since last summer - six months after tougher rules took effect that required adults without children to work to receive their benefits, according to state data.

There were 430,000 households on food stamps or what has been renamed Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, a 3 percent decline from last summer, state Human Services data said. Salem, Somerset and Hunterdon counties saw the biggest caseload declines.

The drop in the program's enrollment was bigger nationally, at about 5 percent from June 2015 and June 2016, according to Yahoo News.

"Enrollment in SNAP has a natural churn. Any attempt to determine a reason would be pure speculation," Nicole Brossoie said, the spokeswoman for the state Department of Human Services.

The disparity between New Jersey and the nation is likely linked to the fact that New Jersey's economic recovery has lagged behind other states, said Raymond Castro, a senior analyst with New Jersey Policy Perspective, a left-leaning research group.

"The recent Census data shows that there was no significant change in the state's poverty rate so there is still a great need for nutritional assistance, especially in the areas of the state with the highest unemployment," Castro said. 

The shifting enrollment levels can be explained by the staggering impact of the recession and the unemployment rate. Enrollment surged in the food stamps program - - as the effects of the recession lingered for years.

In July 2008, there were 216,000 New Jersey households receiving SNAP benefits, compared to about 430,000 in July 2016.

As unemployment soared, the Obama administration set aside work requirements for childless adults. But as unemployment declined, the work requirements returned this year.

The Christie administration reinstated the work rules, affecting 11,000 people. But after the Legislature objected and passed a bill waiving the work rules for people from economically struggling counties and cities, Chris Christie compromised. In June, he signed a law that lets the state Human Services Commissioner to decide whether people from hard-hit communities should be required to work for benefits.

Christie and N.J. lawmakers agree some unemployed may get food stamps

The state's unemployment rate was 5.3 percent in August, compared to the 4.9 percent national rate.

"You cannot take away the fact that we saw these cuts . . and we have not recovered as other states have," said Adele Latourette, director of the Statewide Network Center for Food Action.

According to Deutsche Bank analyst Paul Trussell, the number of people on SNAP was down across the country by 5.2 percent, the biggest decline in the program's history.

New Jersey's decline in SNAP enrollment began in July 2015, when it inched downward 1 percent from July 2014, according to state data.

Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.

The gas leak occurred Friday in the area of Delaware Avenue and Main Street.

PENNS GROVE -- Workers replacing water pipes in a borough neighborhood struck an unmarked gas line -- causing a nearby apartment building to be evacuated.

Emergency workers were dispatched Friday to the area of Delaware Avenue and West Main Street for the gas leak. A portion of Main Street was closed down to traffic.

The gas leak occurred around 10:30 a.m. No injuries were reported.

Over the past two nights Fort Mott has been vandalized with spray paint throughout the park.

PENNSVILLE -- Fort Mott officials are asking the community for help identifying individuals responsible for vandalizing the park and asking for assistance cleaning it up. 

According to a post on the Fort Mott Facebook page, the park has had major vandalism take place the past two nights with parts of the fort being spray painted.

"We want these people caught," the post read. So far park officials have turned over a tag number to the police and they're working on getting video of the individuals in the park. An update on the initial post said that a tip may have lead to a name of someone involved. 

However, park officials are asking anyone with information on who may have been responsible to contact the police immediately.

In addition to asking for help identifying those responsible, park officials are also asking the community for help cleaning up the mess as the annual Historic Soldiers Weekend is coming up. 

"At any time this would be horrific but with Historic Soldiers weekend just a week away, it is unbelievable that individuals would do this," the post read.

Anyone who is available to help with the cleanup is asked to contact the park office at 856-935-3218 or just show up to the park at 10 a.m. 

Caitlyn Stulpin may be reached at cstulpin@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitstulpin. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

63-mile ride through the back roads of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland counties

The Gloucester County Hero Scholarship Fund Inc. is organizing the 15th Annual "Ride to Remember" in support of all emergency personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice during the line of duty. The "Ride to Remember" is in honor of Corporal Steve Levy - "63."

The ride is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 18 and is being organized to commemorate those men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while ensuring the safety and well being of the communities we have sworn to protect. This year's ride is being dedicated to New Jersey State Police Trooper Eli McCarson who was tragically killed in the line of duty in December 2015.

On Oct. 21, 1999, Cpl. Steve Levy was slain in the line of duty. Cpl. Levy was highly trained and skilled in the Law Enforcement Arts and is greatly missed by those who knew him or had the opportunity to meet him.

All of this year's proceeds will benefit the mission of the Gloucester County Hero Scholarship Fund Inc., a non-profit organization which provides immediate assistance to a survivor's family within 28 hours of a line of duty death. We also ensure that the survivor children are able to continue their education by providing post-secondary education scholarships.

This year's ride will consist of a 63 mile, fully police escorted ride through the back roads of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland Counties. The ride will begin at the Washington Township High School in Washington Township (Gloucester County). Registration will be from 7 to 9:45 a.m. The event normally attracts over 1,200 people from the tri-state area. Last year participants from as far away as New England and Louisiana! 

The ride will take approximately two hours and will end at the Washington Lake Park Complex in Washington Township. Free refreshments will be available to all ride participants along with other vendors and musical entertainment. The New Jersey State Police and the McCarson are scheduled to participate as well as receive an award following the event. 

For additional details or to register, visit our web site www.ride-to-remember.org or contact Coordinator Michael McEnery at 856-244-6005.

This item submitted by Michael McEnery, G.C. Hero Scholarship Fund.

The column that is able to drive with his windows down now and not suffocate from heat

The column that is able to drive with his windows down now and not suffocate from heat

--

Good morning!

--

Jaime E. Marine | South Jersey Times 

"Soroptimist International Cumberland County, Inc. is pleased to announce that our dinner speaker on Sept. 28 will be Dr. Yves Salomon-Fernandez, president of Cumberland County College. SICC dinner meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and is at the Green Olive, in Hopewell Township. Reservations must be made. Please contact Betty, bajabhrj@comcast.net if you would like to attend by Sept. 21.

"Soroptimist International of Cumberland County, Inc. is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls. Our business meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. and are at the Centerton Country Club. Our club year meetings begin in September and are held through June.  We invite members of the community to attend our meetings and hear about all the community service projects we are involved in.  For more information about Soroptimist Cumberland County, Inc., please visit our website at: www.cumberlandsoroptimists.org or our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SICumberlandCty.  Soroptimist Cumberland County is a non-profit community organization."

- Peggy Gentile-Van Meter

--

"The City of Vineland is officially establishing a 'Green Team,' joining hundreds of other New Jersey communities looking to achieve a Bronze or Silver certification under the Sustainable Jersey Program. The Ordinance which establishes the Green Team, No. 2016-35, is a requirement for certification.  There are currently 192 certified municipalities in New Jersey. Maurice River Township and Commercial Township are the only two communities that have been certified in Cumberland County.

"Sustainable Jersey is a voluntary certification program. Launched in 2009, Sustainable Jersey is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that rewards and supports communities by providing tools, training, and financial incentives as they pursue sustainability programs.  New Jersey is the first state in the nation to have a comprehensive sustainability program for communities that links certification with strong state and private financial incentives, and a fully resourced program of technical support and training.

"According to the Vineland ordinance, the Green Team will include representatives from several city departments, divisions, and agencies, as well as a representative from the Chamber of Commerce and a citizen representative.

"All actions taken by municipalities to score points toward certification must be accompanied by documentary evidence and will be reviewed by the project partners. Only efforts that meet the standards described in the actions will be accepted and counted toward certification.  Municipalities must be re-certified every three years.

"According to city officials, the Green Team has already begun meeting on a monthly basis.  Their first step was to review the 19 categories and 140 individual sustainable actions in order to identify initiatives already in place that qualify towards certification, and begin to gather the supporting documentation.  In order to achieve a Bronze certification, the city will need to collect a minimum of 150 action points from at least six of 19 categories, as well as implement at least two of 12 priority actions.  The next submission cycle begins in June of 2017.

"Registered municipalities get special priority access and notification of incentives and grants, and are eligible for the Sustainable Jersey Small Grants Program which has funded over $1,900,000 worth of sustainable projects across New Jersey since 2009.  Additionally, other New Jersey State funding sources, such as the Department of Transportation, have begun to give priority to Sustainable Jersey Certified cities."

- Vineland

--

I don't know about certification but I know Millville has its own Green Team. That nice looking garden next to the Millville Public Library? All thanks to the Green Team.

--

MY KIND OF TOWN: Where we can all do with a little more recycling and cleaning

Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.

Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.

CHEERS: To our kids walking to schools or waiting for the bus each morning. It's been a rough start to the school year in Gloucester County, where two students have been hit by vehicles on consecutive Tuesday mornings. One student suffered serious leg injuries while the other suffered a minor shoulder injury. We urge motorists to be extra cautious as they go about their morning routines and we urge students to be careful where they stand and where they walk as they head to school. Let's all look out for each other and make the rest of this school year a safe one.

JEERS: To creeps and their tiny cameras. We speak of the rise in illicit spying by weirdos hiding cameras in restrooms, dressing rooms and elsewhere in the hopes of catching someone naked. It's such a big problem, that some companies now offer services to sweep your house, apartment -- even schools -- to detect cameras and listening devices. Thanks to ever-shrinking tech, both in terms of size and price, cameras can be hidden just about anywhere. We've had several stories in recent years of people accused of hiding cameras in public and home restrooms, the most recent happening just last week in Medford Township. As Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office Detective Gregory Malesich notes, offenders can face an array of charges for this behavior. Consider that before violating someone's privacy.

CHEERS: To Atlantic City Police Officer Josh Vadell and those who are supporting him on his road to recovery after having been shot in the head in the line of duty earlier this month. Dozens of fellow officers and first responders stood outside the hospital on Thursday to applaud the nine-year veteran who was being transported to an in-patient facility to continue his recovery. The two Cumberland County man who have been charged in the shooting are being held on bail. Vadell, just 29, and his wife, Laura, should take comfort in knowing there's a sea of blue -- and civilians -- rooting for them. Here's what some of our readers on NJ.com had to say:

JEERS: To more job less in New Jersey. We knew it was coming, but it wasn't exactly finalized until this week. Progresso announced that it had made a final decision to close its Vineland plant and with it, 370 people will be out of work. Union negotiations weren't enough to keep the company in Vineland. Rep. Frank LoBiondo said he's frustrated with how the company handled it and he should be. He and other state, county and local officials need to put their heads together to find a solution for the site and help for those who now might struggle to put food -- or soup -- on the table for their families.

If you know of someone or something you would like to nominate for a cheer or a jeer, please send the information to sjletters@njadvancemedia.com

Lynia Parsons, 4, died on Dec. 3, 2014, after being punched in the stomach by her babysitter Michael Oliver.

SALEM -- Michael Oliver knew Lynia Parsons since the day she was born, having visited her mother in the hospital. She loved Oliver like an uncle and was always excited to see him.

He even had a nickname for her: Jelly Belly.

On Dec. 3, 2014, Oliver was babysitting 4-year-old Lynia and punched her so severely that she died from a lacerated liver caused by blunt force trauma from the punches. Judge Benjamin Telsey sentenced Oliver to 20 years in prison for aggravated manslaughter Friday at Salem County Courthouse.

Oliver, 44, of Penns Grove, declined to speak during his sentencing but his attorney, Joseph Neal, argued that he has been cooperative with investigators and Oliver did not intend to injure her so severely that it led to her death -- asking for a sentence other than life. During his statements, Neal referred to Lynia as L.P.

"Mr. Oliver's responsible for it but there may have been something else that could have been looked at in terms of a deeper analysis to make sure that, while Mr. Oliver is responsible for it, what he did might have resulted in a plain injury," the attorney said. "However, because of some other circumstances it turned into a death."

Man sentenced to 3 years for ramming ex's car

According to Assistant Prosecutor Thomas DeSimone, Oliver was not cooperative at first with investigators and was previously convicted of injuring a child under his care in a similar fashion. The charge occurred in 1996, according to court records, and he served five years in prison for it.

Before the judge decided on a sentence, DeSimone had members of the family speak, with Lynia's father and grandmother speaking through tears about how empty their lives have been since Lynia's death.

According to Lynia's mother, Ashley Brown, her life was ruined and she lost everything after her daughter was killed and she has difficulty even saying her daughter's name.

She didn't push for a trial, she explained, because she didn't want to see her 6-year-old nephew have to be on the stand to testify.

Penns Grove Police Department were called at 8:45 p.m. to the 200 block of South Broad Street on Dec. 3, 2014 for reports of an unresponsive child. Oliver was babysitting four young children, from ages 1 to 5, at the time. When they arrived, Lynia was in cardiac arrest and they attempted CPR. She was transported to Memorial Hospital of Salem County, where she was pronounced dead at 9:53 p.m.

The day after Lynia's death, according to Brown, Oliver went over to explain what happened. For an hour and a half, however, all he offered was small talk to the child's father and no explanation to Brown.

"He couldn't even look at me," Brown said. "To this day I don't know what happened. I could ask my nephew but I would never do that to him. I would never make him relive that. I will never know what happened to my daughter and she was my only child."

Authorities arrested Oliver on Dec. 4, 2014, and he has remained in jail. Out of the 20 years in prison given to him by the judge, he must serve 85 percent of his sentence before being parole eligible, per the No Early Release Act. Once released, he will be placed under five years of probation.

Son of late police chief Edmund Spinelli Jr. helps coordinate memorial run.

CARNEYS POINT TWP. -- It may be five years since Chief Edmund Spinelli Jr. died, but his legacy is living on through community efforts.

Edmund Spinelli Jr. (File Photo | For NJ.com)
 

In honor of the late chief, for the first time a 5k memorial run will be held in his honor.

For Justin Spinelli, the son of the late chief, the event is touching and encouraging to watch his father's name and heart live on. 

"As Eddie's son, being in a position to honor his memory like this is a truly indescribable feeling," Justin Spinelli said.

Justin Spinelli has followed in his father's footsteps and works for the Carneys Point Police Department.

The late chief was just 45 years old in 2011 when he died from a heart attack at his home.

Spinelli served 23 years in law enforcement and started his career in 1988 as a member of the New Jersey State Police.

He later transferred in 1990 to Penns Grove Police Department before transferring to Carneys Point in 1996 and was the sixth police chief in 2006.

"The event has only gone public in the past few days and the amount of support that we have received from the community in that short amount of time has been overwhelming," the son continued.

The first Edmund Spinelli Jr. Memorial Run will be held Nov. 12.

"It just goes to show that police interactions with the public are not always as the media portrays them. Having said that, I think that this event is also an excellent opportunity for our police department and our community to come together and strengthen our relationship, and to be able to do this in memory of my father is truly the greatest high that I can think of," Justin Spinelli continued.

Current Police Chief Gerald Krivda said he was uplifted by the positive spirits and motivation of the department and community.

Chief Edmund Spinelli laid to rest

"Number one, it's an honor for the police department and community as a whole to show unity for law enforcement officers and officers who passed away, especially our chief. We still remember and still care," Krivda said.

The run will start at 10 a.m. and will be held at G and Ash Streets in Carneys Point. Registration will start at 9 a.m.

"I think it's important to remember people like Chief Spinelli who embody greatness because it reminds us to be thankful for the positive impact that they had on our lives and the world around them while they were with us," Nate Pino, Carneys Point Police Association president, said.

Pino is organizing the event with Justin Spinelli.

"Chief Spinelli was not only a great cop, but a great person who was an important part of the Salem County community. He had many friends and was an icon in the law enforcement community as a role model to many," Pino added.

Both Justin Spinelli and Pino expressed their gratitude to the police association and Salem County community for all the support shown in keeping the late chief's memory alive.

Spinelli (File Photo | For NJ.com)
 

"There is not as many events in the township like there used to be. A good relationship between the community and the officers is more important now than it ever was," Pino said.

"Chief Spinelli always encouraged his officers to be a part of the community that they work in. An event like this is in the spirit of what he stood for and gives us an opportunity to do just that," the association president continued.

People can still get involved by coming out on race day, even if it's just to meet the officers, cheer them on or give a helping hand.

"We appreciate any help or advice we can get, since this is our first time doing this. We have gotten tremendous support already from our local businesses. Many business owners were personal friends of the chief and were very excited about the run," Pino said.

The race fee is $25 until Nov. 4 when costs will increase to $30.

For more information or to get involved in the event, visit run signup.com/race/dashboard/overview/39036 or check it out on social media.

Banks didn't want to deal with $2,500 in pennies, nickles, dimes and quarters

Bob ShryockTimes file photo 

Like many who drop their loose change into some sort of container upon arrival home from work, Chris McGuigan religiously dumped his coins into a water cooler jug -- the old-fashioned type, several feet high with thick glass.

Over several years, Chris collected quite a few coins -- a whopping $2,500 worth, in fact. But that's not the only story here. Figuring out how to get rid of all those pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters was.

"Over time it became full to the very top," Chris says. "I just left it in my garage for a year or two, since I never seemed to have the time to deal with it."

When he retired from his job as store manager of a Walmart earlier this year, Chris had hip replacement surgery and decided he could deal with his massive coin problem during recovery.

That's when the problems started. First he had to figure out how to get the coin out of the jug -- at least 400 pounds worth.

"We couldn't hit it with a hammer because the glass would be mixed in with the coins. We tried to use a hose with our wet vac and suck the coins out. That didn't work. So I called glass companies that repair car windows, and glass window installers. I hoped they'd have a way to cut the glass. I needed them to come to the house because I couldn't move the 400-pound-plus jug. No one said they could come out.

"My son decided to try a long screwdriver and coat hanger to get the coins out a little at a time. After a full day he succeeded to put the coins in deep lasagna pans to support the weight."

Then Chris had to figure out where to take all the loose coin. He called six banks. Most had removed their coin-counting machines. The only banks that still had counters had limits on how much you could bring. Or you had to be a customer. He tried his own bank. He'd been with them for 40 years and had six accounts.

"They said they'd take the coin but I had to wrap all of it. I went to the bank but they didn't have enough wrappers. There was a demand on wrappers, so I had to go to six different banks to get enough.

"Each day I spent about six hours wrapping coins by hand. I learned weekdays, 10 to 10:30 a.m., were the best times since the banks were slow then. The second week of wrapping coins I was getting close to the end and I was in my bank on routine business. I told the manager I'd likely be in the following week with my coins; he said that would be fine."

But when the manager asked Chris how much he had - between $2,000 and $3,000 -- he told Chris he couldn't take that much.

Chris said he reminded the manager he'd been banking there for 40 years and had six accounts. Sorry, he was told. There wasn't  room.

"I said the safe was huge and, wrapped, the coins didn't require much space."

The frustrated Chris sarcastically told the manager "Perhaps I should take the coins every time I go shopping, the movies, out to dinner, or to the hardware store, etc. etc."

The manager said he had an idea. He suggested Chris bring the coins to his bank at 9 a.m. on a Wednesday. He said he'd deposit it and give it to the bank courier so it doesn't require storage.

"I said fine, I'll be there. Then he added there probably would be a service charge for handling the coin."

Chris told the manager he'd spent two weeks, six hours a day, counting coin. How much would the service charge be?

Chris got a phone call from the manager on Tuesday afternoon. He had more bad news. The bank courier couldn't take the coin.

"He didn't have a reason. Perhaps the truck was too small. He suggested I go to eight or 10 branches around Gloucester County and give each one a few hundred dollars until the coin was gone. I said that was ridiculous."

Chris decided to call the Walmart store he'd managed in Turnersville and speak to the current manager.

"By now the coin was counted -- $2,500. She said to bring it in and she'd exchange it for cash."

Chris had come to the conclusion that to have a lot of coins is not necessarily a good thing.

"I had $2,500 and couldn't do anything with it."

Bob Shryock may be reached at bshryock@njadvancemedia.com. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

John McBride writes that the quarterback, who kneels during the national anthem, is free to choose how he protests injustice.

To the Editor:

Concerning Dominick Ruggiero's recent letter, "Protest by NFL's Kaepernick disrespects USA," about San Francisco 49ers' quarterback Colin Kaepernick not standing during the national anthem:

The fact that Ruggiero is a military veteran and was willing to die for his country is exactly what gives Kaepernick the right to do what he is doing. Veterans fought to defend the flag and what it stands for, and one of the things it stands for is the U.S. Constitution with its Bill of Rights.  

America was never a democracy. It was, and still is, a republic, which is not the same thing. 

As for the letter writer's comment about "power-hungry" politicians: We, collectively, put them there, and we re-elect them at an extremely high rate. That's on us.

Ruggeiro claims that Kaepernick has "disowned" his country. At what point did the quarterback ever say that? 

It's true, as Ruggiero writes, that in many other countries Kaepernick would have been disciplined for his stance -- but those other countries don't have our Constitution and its First Amendment. In many other countries, Ruggiero would not have the right to send a letter to a newspaper in protest of any idea or action.

Ruggiero shouldn't tell Kaepernick how he can "better protest" racism and other things the football player opposes. The bottom line is, the Constitution gives Kaepernick just as much right to do what he did as Ruggiero has to expect that his opinion would be published.  

By protesting, Kaepernick is recognizing the rights he and all of us have under the flag and Constitution. We don't get to cherry-pick, Mr. Ruggiero. It's all or nothing. 

John McBride

West Deptford Township

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

Gov. Chris Christie just boosted taxes by hundreds of dollars a year for South Jersey residents who work in Pennsylvania. Where's the outrage among our lawmakers?

Gov. Chris Christie has been getting both beaten up and lauded over his so-called "Fairness Formula" for state aid to local school districts. 

The Republican governor on Thursday asked the state Supreme Court to overturn its own edict that now sends the bulk of the aid to impoverished, urban school districts. Some suburban districts could see lower property taxes if the court allows Christie to divvy up the aid at a fixed, per-pupil level, regardless of a district's financial means.

Far less attention, however, is being paid to another Christie move that makes the grass greener on some suburban lawns than others. He's just canceled a "commuter tax" agreement whose end penalizes middle-income New Jersey residents who work in Pennsylvania. 

The governor hinted at the move in July. Before the ax fell, we expected to hear of extended negotiations between the two states, and between Christie and lawmakers who serve South and Central Jersey. Instead, we heard silence.

New Jersey's bottom line is clearly helped under a lapsed reciprocal agreement. Wall Street analysts who usually trash New Jersey's fiscal position have praise. So did an editorial in our sister publication, the Star-Ledger of Newark.

Why? Under the agreement, state-to-state commuters pay income taxes at the rate charged in the state where they live. Pennsylvania has a "flat" 3.07 percent income tax, while New Jersey has income-based graduated rates ranging from 1.4 percent to 8.97 percent. Because so many people with high-income jobs in New Jersey live in places like Bucks County, Pa., New Jersey's Office of Legislative Services sees an extra $180 million flowing to Garden State coffers with the agreement voided. 

As the South Jersey Times stated in its own earlier editorial, this is not a "show us the money" issue alone. It has serious negative impact on most of the 120,000 people who live in South Jersey and work across the river.

According to OLS, a New Jersey resident with a $40,000-a-year job in Pennsylvania has paid $630 a year in income taxes to New Jersey. With the agreement scrapped, the same worker instead pays $1,220 to Pennsylvania -- a $590 increase. A New Jersey-based commuter must earn $120,000 annually to reach the break-even point. Above that income, the worker's tax bill to Pennsylvania is lower.

A tiny group of professional Philadelphia sports stars and TV news personalities must be over the moon. The rest of our commuting workers, not so much.

This concept is harder to grasp than school aid or the gasoline tax, whose impact is more straightforward. Nonetheless, we're aghast that scrapping the deal has elicited no more than perfunctory negative comments from key South Jersey leaders like Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assemblyman Lou Greenwald.

Look, $180 million is nothing to sneeze at. If New Jersey can't leave this money on the table, fairness demands at least a transitional period for any change. The high earners of Yardley, Pa., who work in Jersey are up in arms about THEIR higher tax bills, too. So, that's lots of leverage to make Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf come to the table with Christie. Why isn't that happening? Why hasn't it happened yet?

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

There's a practical, political reason why he won't completely disavow the white supremacists and the alt-right.

By R. Joseph Owles

The reason that Donald Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence won't completely disavow the Ku Klux Klan, David Duke and white supremacists in general is more about political expedience than about racism.

It is disturbing that Trump has more than once retweeted posts that originated with white supremacists. It is also disturbing that Trump, although given plenty of opportunity, has refused to denounce the so-called alt-right.

Sure, people can claim that this presidential candidate is a racist, but, again, his stance evolves from politics. Trump is an addict of conspiracy theories spread by the alt-right (for "alternative right"), specifically on the website Breitbart News. About a month ago, Trump made Breitbart News chairman Stephen Bannon part of his campaign leadership. I have no difficultly believing that Trump was unaware that the symbolism that accompanied some posts on this site are white-supremacist code.

Here is what makes it politically expedient for Trump to avoid criticizing the conspiracy theorists, the white supremacists and the nationalists: As the election moves toward its end, the number of Democrats and Republicans voting for their party's candidate will normalize along traditional patterns, making for a close, but Democratic-leaning, election if  voter turnout is high enough. Trump counts on the alt-right, the KKK and the David Duke supporters to push him over the top. 

If they don't vote, Trump loses. If he can get these people to vote for him, he has a shot at winning.  

It's that simple. 

Since this is Donald Trump we're discussing, he will feel no sense of remorse, guilt or even loyalty to those who made him president. He will use them and then ignore them, just as he did with many of people he hired to work for him, and whom he refused to pay in full once they completed their tasks.

This is not an excuse for Trump's association with racists, but it does not necessarily make HIM a racist. This does, however, make him the one thing he and most of his supporters hate the most: a politician!

I do not believe that Trump has any interest in actually being president. He just wants to win and improve his brand by making it the "President Trump" brand. He will let Pence do the actual job of being president while he takes the perks.

In a Trump administration, the really bad days will be those few occasions when he DOES want to be president, and Pence, does too. The staff will be divided by competing goals, and over which one to will follow. 

This begs another question. I believe the American people have the right to know if a vote for Trump is actually a vote for a Pence presidency. In the view of many, this has happened before. Vice President Dick Cheney was seen as calling the shots while George W. Bush was president in name only.

How well did that end? Oh yeah, an unnecessary war in Iraq, the destabilizing of the Middle East, double-digit unemployment and the start of the worst recession since the Great Depression.

If Hillary Clinton is elected, the Republican Party will go on as it has for the past few years, banding together to oppose anything she proposes. While doing that, Republicans can continue debating the unifying principle and soul of their party. 

During a Clinton presidency, the Republican Party, has a possibility of sorting itself out. If, however, Trump wins, the Republican Party will be over. What we will have instead is "Trumpism," as the party flies apart into smaller, competing factions.

What I find fascinating is how many Republican officials express off the record worry that Trump might actually win. They won't put their names next to such statements, but they're scared of what Trump will do, scared of what will become of their party, and scared of being beholden to white supremacists and the KKK.

Imagine Trump Republicans in the White House, two or three different Republican Party factions running Congress, and Pence trying to hold it all together as de-facto president.

This is bad for America. The two-party system requires two strong parties. Whenever one party is weak, both parties and the nation as a whole suffer. 

Instead of focusing on "Making America Great Again," Republicans need to focus on "Making the Republican Party Strong Again" -- because a strong Republican Party and a strong Democratic Party, debating, opposing, compromising and governing together, is what will keep America great.

R. Joseph Owles writes from Alloway Township. He is a former history professor; the author of "A Song to My Soul," a collection of religion-themed poetry; and a hospice chaplain in Salem County.