Nick 'The Tailor' Solomon of Art Machine Productions in Philadelphia gave Philly's Kayla McCullough her 16th tattoo at the Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention. Watch video

Kayla McCullough of Philadelphia had 15 tattoos before this year's Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention.

Today, she has 16.

"There's really not much of a meaning," McCullough said of the artwork she had done by Nick "The Tailor" Solomon of Art Machine Productions in Philadelphia at the convention on Feb. 13. "I've always wanted a woodcut drawing style tattoo, and I've been wanting a hand and flowers for a while now."

Solomon helped her vision become a reality.

"Nick drew it up for me and made it come to life," McCullough said.

While her session actually took a little more than an hour, here you can watch McCullough get her tattoo in less than a minute.

Kelly Roncace may be reached at kroncace@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellyroncace. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

Police respond to nursing home for unwanted person, arrest N.J. man.

CARNEYS POINT TWP. -- A 29-year-old South Jersey man was arrested after authorities responded to a nursing home for an unwanted person.

Carneys Point Police responded at 6 p.m. Feb. 10 to Southgate Nursing Home for reports of an unwanted person.

Matthew Leonardi, of Penns Grove, was found wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Pennsville Municipal Court.

Salem girl, 2, killed by man 'slamming' her into couch, authorities say

During his arrest, Leonardi was found with a hypodermic syringe and other drug paraphernalia.

Leonardi was processed and 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 the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

Salem County Rewind offers a look back at Salem County's rich history through photographs and new items from a century ago.

In this feature, which appears each week, we preset a vintage photo of Salem County (along with a large number of other vintage Salem County photos in our accompanying gallery), and Salem County history tidbits.

SALEM COUNTY PICTURE FROM THE PAST

This latest addition to our gallery of vintage photos shows then-Salem County Freeholder Director Tom Pankok, right, presenting a resolution to Lou  Berge and Lex Bleckley, captains of the 1981 Memorial High School baseball team on June 19, 1981. The team had won the NJSAA State Group II Championship. The resolution was presented in the old freeholder meeting room in the Salem County Courthouse. (Times File Photo)

SALEM COUNTY HISTORY

Looking back 100 years ago in Salem County for this week in 1916, these news items were included in the Salem Sunbeam. They appear throughout the week in print today in the South Jersey Times in our Salem County History feature.

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Salem's Twelfth Regiment Band's recent performance at Wilmington brought rave reviews from all who heard the members play.

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Additional train cars loaded with coal have made their way to Salem. There is no fear of running short, but dealers want to have plenty on hand in case Mother Nature extends winter longer than she should.

This is the time of the year when glass house workers don't mind the heat of the furnaces.

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Salem merchants expect to see the arrival of their spring seed shipments soon. That will include onion sets and seed potatoes.

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The annual Salem County Board of Agriculture meeting was be held at Patterson's Hall in Woodstown last week. Attendance was good for the event with farmers from around the county making the journey. The program was also said to have been a great success.

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Business at the Western Union office in the Standard Building in Salem has seen some slowness due to the installation of so many telephones. However, the telegraph remains an important and reliable communication method. 

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Oranges have appeared in some city markets, fresh off the train from southern Florida.

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 Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Dominick Ruggiero Jr. cites the governor's abrasive personality.

To the Editor:

This is how I see Gov. Chris Christie's just ended presidential candidacy:

I have sat back and listened to all the debates. I must say that they show no promise of any change with the exception of the Feb. 6 one, where Christie took on Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

However, I think Christie should not criticize any candidate. Here is a governor who had a veteran Navy Seal escorted out of a town hall meeting and labeled him stupid. He told another questioner about slow Hurricane Sandy aid a year after the storm to shut up and sit down.

More recently, in New Hampshire, he responded to a questioner about not staying in New Jersey after the recent blizzard with "What do you want me to do, bring a mop?"

On top of it all, there is "Bridgegate." He stands there and touts his efficiency, but then states he had no knowledge that his staff was involved in a politically motivated plan that shut down lanes into the George Washington Bridge.  

Some leader he is. He has no idea what his staff is doing, and then wanted to be president? What a joke!

How could we elect anyone who shows so much disrespect for people? This is someone who uses the state helicopter to travel to his son's ball game. How can Christie stand in front of a national audience and throw stones at any candidate when he, as the saying goes, lives in a glass house.

I ask this question: Do we want someone so ill-tempered to be president or in any other position of authority?

Dominick A. Ruggiero Jr.

Sewell

Why downgrade Woodbury hospital?

To the Editor:

Regarding Inspira Health Network's plans to replace its Woodbury hospital with a new building in Harrison Township:

The Inspira leadership sounds quite convincing when they say the Woodbury building, the former Underwood-Memorial, building is too old to continue using and that it would be cost prohibitive to upgrade it.

How about Our Lady of Lourdes in Camden, and Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia? They're old, and they're still there, using their original buildings.

It seems to me that there's much more going on here than we have been led to believe. If Inspira pulls its beds out of Woodbury, that site will be be no more than a glorified urgent care facility. And how long will that last? 

Inspira does not need to build a new hospital, it needs to build a new management team.

John Heritage

Woolwich Township

Traffic a barrier to hospital site

To the Editor:

I'd like to express my opinion about the proposal to put a new Inspira Health Network in Harrison Township:

I believe the proposed hospital site is in a very dangerous place, traffic-wise.  It would be on U.S. Route 322 near a Route 55 freeway interchange. Not only is there steady traffic on Route 322, but traffic is increasing on Route 55, as well. In the summer months, the traffic is even worse with so many people using both routes to go to the Jersey shore and the Delaware beaches.

It would be very dangerous to have ambulances trying to get through this traffic. Also, there would be a good number of cars going back and forth for employees of the hospital at different times of the day. It's also likely that  school buses are using Route 322.

This is a bad idea on so many levels, and I hope the people in the area are aware of it.

Joan Pacitti

Mullica Hill

Editor's note: Rowan University trustees are slated  to vote this week on whether or not to sell the university-owned parcel to Inspira.

Do Dems have Sharpton's back on tax lien?

To the Editor:

Wasn't it refreshing watching Democrats Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton promote racial harmony through their lovefests with the Rev. Al Sharpton in their attempts to secure black presidential primary votes?  

I wonder if either candidate took the time to lay out a payment plan for Sharpton's back taxes of up to $4 million?  

After all, shouldn't all wealthy individuals pay their "fair share" in order to fund their socialist agendas? Or does that only apply to those who actually earn their wealth?

Walt Rouh

Mantua Township

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

Salem 2, operated by PSEG Nuclear, automatically shut down Sunday evening.

LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TWP. -- For the second time in less than a month, the Salem 2 nuclear reactor has shut down because of an electrical problem in its main generator.

The reactor went off-line at 8:58 p.m. Sunday, according to Joe Delmar, spokesman for the plant's operator, PSEG Nuclear. 

On Monday Delmar said an automatic safeguard system detected an electrical problem in the plant's main generator which lead to the reactor to automatically shut down. 

This is a similar problem to what the plant experienced on Feb. 4. 

Delmar said it was not clear, though, if the cause of Sunday's shutdown was the same as what the plant experienced earlier this month.

In that case, a faulty electrical relay on a generator voltage regulator was to blame. It was fixed and the plant was restarted.

He said  workers were performing troubleshooting to determine if the casue was the same.

The reactor was operating at full power at the time of the shutdown on Sunday. 

Delmar could not estimate when Salem 2 might return to service. 

Salem 2 is one of three reactors operated by PSEG Nuclear at its Artificial Island generating complex.

The other units, Salem 1 and Hope Creek, were operating at full power Monday afternoon.

The three reactors comprise the second-largest commercial nuclear complex in the United States. 

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Pennsville Police investigate property check at local business, leads to drug arrest.

PENNSVILLE TWP. -- A Pennsylvania fugitive was arrested in South Jersey on numerous possession charges following a property check in Pennsville Township.

Pennsville Police responded at 1:12 am. to Cracker Barrel for a property check Feb. 4 when officers observed a suspicious vehicle parked behind the business.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Floyd A.Carmichael, 40, of Philadelphia, who was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of prescription drugs not in proper container, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Unwanted person at N.J. nursing home leads to arrest

Carmichael was processed and held at the Salem County Correctional Facility, in Mannington, in default of bail.

Also in the vehicle at the time of his arrest was Shannon T. Willits, 36, of Salem, who was charged with possession of marijuana.

Willits was processed and released pending further court action.

Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

The column that likes to celebrate the lesser-known presidents on Presidents Day, like John Adams, Grover Cleveland and William Howard Taft.

The column that likes to celebrate the lesser-known presidents on Presidents Day, like John Adams, Grover Cleveland and William Howard Taft.

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Good morning!

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Jaime E. Marine | South Jersey Times 

"As I look back to that early, cold Sunday morning in 1924 when someone planted a bomb under the side entrance of our friendly Jotemdown Store on Myrtle Street, in Bridgeton, across the street from my home, I remember the bomb went off and blew the windows out of our house.

"It was about 4:30 a.m. and my bedroom and bed were saturated with wood, metal and glass.

"I can remember my dad with his hand on my shoulder saying not to move.

"I was well-covered with blankets for sleeping.

"In those days, there was no heat on the second floor and the extra blankets helped save me for being cut badly.

"My dad rolled back the covers slowly and removed all the extra weight of glass, metal and wood from my body.

"The bomb ripped a gaping hole in the side of our friendly neighbor's home from floor level to the eves of the second floor.

"My dad took me over in the morning to see the damage.

"We looked in the store part to see the damage.

"As we looked in through the door, everything blew to the center of the store and there standing was my friend, Jimmy, looking so sad.

"I cried.

"I heard someone say that if they had gotten the bomb under the sill, it would have taken the whole house.

"I never heard that anyone was badly hurt, but this was the Roaring 20s and I was part of it.

"I will as long as I live never forget it."

- Jack Horner

Turning 97 in April

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There are two late registration nights for Millville Soccer Association's spring season at 1400 McCafferty Boulevard.

The added dates are Feb. 18 and Feb. 25 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

For the recreational division, registration costs $65. For the 8v8 travel division, registration costs $100. For the 11v11 travel division, registration costs $125. Any late registrations carry an additional $10 fee. Each additional sibling is a $5 discount.

Children must be between 4 and 14 years old. All new players need to show a copy of their birth certificate. Cash and credit accepted but no checks.

For more information, call 856-293-8700.

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All-Sports Museum of Southern New Jersey is honoring Alan Shaw's basketball career on Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. at Gia's Caterers. RSVP for the event by emailing jcampbell@salmonventures.com or call 856-825-0500.

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"Esther Sue needs emergency surgery. She has a bad infection built up behind her eye and has a ruptured pupil that is infected. She has been on antibiotics and eye drops and been under vet care.
"But it's getting worse and must be removed to stop the infection . Money is needed to pay for the surgery. And aftercare. The surgery is 1,000 alone. Please help every dollar counts."

- Carol Hickman

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"You all call me Ed, my name is Shep. Facebook would not take Shep as my name but that's what it is, Shep."

- Shep

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MY KIND OF TOWN: Where we should call Mark Zuckerberg up to let Shep be Shep.

After 37 productive years, Tony deserves a break. But the sport he has loved for so long will miss him.

Someone will be missing Sept. 9 when the Kingsway Regional High School football team opens its season at Williamstown in a battle of West Jersey Football League Group 5s.

The Dragon coach, Tony Barchuk.

After 37 years as Kingsway head football coach, Barchuk notified school officials last week the 2015 season was his last after achieving 206 career victories and a great deal of professional respect. His 2001 team recorded one of the most important wins in school history, defeating Hammonton for the NJSIAA state Group II title.

Barchuk will return as head girls' softball coach this spring. He coached Kingsway to a state softball championship in 2008 and a spot in the finals in 2012.

With his 37 years, the likeable Barchuk has seniority status as a head football coach in this region. Florence coach Joe Frappolli has 42 years, most in South Jersey.

Barchuk, one of the few coaches in the area to serve as head coach for two major sports, will also step down as softball coach and physical education instructor this June. He was a year-round coach, also assisting with girls' basketball.

I've known Barchuk since he arrived as Kingsway football coach in 1979. We formed a friendship through my work as a Channel 5 sportscaster. I probably announced a dozen or more Dragon games he coached over the years, including many memorable victories.

As a sports journalist, I found him to be a willing interview subject and source, eternally upbeat and candid, win or lose. On off nights, Tony never hid from the press. He was consistently up front with them.

Barchuk was a fixture at Kingsway, supporting other sports as well as the teams he coached. It made him popular with fellow coaches, the student body and faculty-staff. He achieved a high level of popularity and credibility.

Tony's booming voice, well-suited for the high school athlete, will be missed.

After 37 productive years, Tony deserves a break. But the sport he has loved for so long will miss him.

And so will I.

Matthew G. Moore ran off a Quinton Township roadway and struck a tree, authorities said. The passenger in his vehicle, his nephew Joshua L. Moore, later died.

SALEM -- A man has been charged with vehicular homicide in connection with the death of his nephew in a motor vehicle crash late last year, according to court records.

A man has been charged with vehiclular homicide in the death of his nephew, authorities say. (File Photo) 

The accident took place around 12:48 a.m. on Nov. 29 on Waterworks Road in Quinton Township, less than a mile from where it intersects with the Quinton-Alloway Road.

Matthew G. Moore, 55, of Lower Alloways Creek Township, was driving a 2014 Nissan Frontier pickup truck when it left the roadway and struck a tree, according to police reports at the time of the crash.

Joshua L. Moore, 35, of Pittsgrove Township was a passenger in the truck.

He was taken to Inspira Medical Center Elmer and shortly thereafter was pronounced dead, authorities said.

Matthew Moore was flown to Christiana Medical Center in Newark, Delaware, to be treated for his injuries.

Following the completion of the investigation by New Jersey State Police, Matthew Moore was charged on Feb. 1 with vehicular homicide, according to court records.

The official complaint alleges he was driving under the influence of alcohol and at "an excessive speed" at the time of the accident.

Authorities say Matthew Moore is Joshua Moore's uncle.

After being charged, Matthew Moore was released on his own recognizance pending further court action.

The case has now been turned over to the Salem County Prosecutor's Office.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Cara McCollum, 24, is an anchor for 'SNJ Today News' Watch video

UPDATE: Former Miss N.J. wasn't wearing seat belt, cops say

Cara McCollum, Miss New Jersey 2013, is in critical condition after a car accident in Salem County Monday night, The Press of Atlantic City reports. 

McCollum had been traveling north on Route 55 when her Ford Mustang spun off the road and hit a tree at mile marker 38.4, the report says, citing State Police. Her car then hit two other trees before it stopped at an embankment.

McCollum was brought to Cooper Health System, where she is listed in critical condition. Her driver's side airbag deployed in the crash. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the State Police.

McCollum, 24, of Margate, won the Miss New Jersey title in June 2013 and went on to cover the Miss America pageant in 2015 as a reporter for "SNJ Today News" a program seen on Cumberland County's Comcast channel 22, WACP channel 4 and channel 26 in Cape May and Atlantic counties.

An anchor for the program, McCollum's most recent broadcast for SNJ Today News focused on Presidents Day snowfall and icy conditions. The program launched in July of 2015. 

The Princeton University graduate -- McCollum was an English major who took off a year from college to carry out her duties as Miss New Jersey -- hails from Arkansas, where she was valedictorian at Forrest City High School. 

When she competed in the 2014 Miss America pageant, McCollum, an aspiring broadcast journalist, had Giving the Gift of Reading as her pageant platform and piano as her talent.  

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect new information from the State Police indicating McCollum was not wearing a seat belt when the crash occurred.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup. Find NJ.com Entertainment on Facebook.

Ken Frank asks why transportation-dependent goods have not fallen in price.

To the Editor:

Who gets the windfall?

Since around November 2014, fuel prices have dropped drastically. In a matter of a couple of months they fell almost by half, from nearly $4 for a gallon of gasoline to around $2. 

Since transportation costs proportionally drive the price of goods and services, and since we've seen no reduction in the price of food especially, it's fair to ask: "Who has reaped the windfall?" Everything we own has been transported by truck or train, so when the cost drops by so much, why doesn't the consumer feel the impact?  

When prices were rocketing up we were told that rising prices were the result of fuel costs. Should we not benefit from the reverse of this  process?   

Also, back when fuel oil prices were going up, we were told the rise in crude oil was due to threats or rumors of trouble in the Middle East. That was a built-in excuse to raise the price of crude almost weekly.  Did those threats and rumors stop over the last 14 months? I don't think so.  

Someone's making a bundle. It's not the oil companies this time, because their stock prices are falling and oil industry jobs are being lost. The consumer is getting gamed and not one of our representatives is pressing the issue as to why?  

Somewhere on the road of commerce someone is enjoying a nice windfall. The question is: "Who?"

Ken Frank

Pitman

N.J. needs bang for gas-tax buck

To the Editor:

A Feb. 15 South Jersey Times print edition headline stated: "Number of drivers who support gas tax (increase) growing." The article was based upon a November 2015 survey of 600 New Jersey drivers by the AAA. 

Commuters claimed that travel has gotten worse in the last two years. What was the exact question asked in the poll? At a time when we are overindulged with polls for politics, everyone knows that poll questions can be twisted to get the answer the pollster wishes.

Road and bridge repairs are needed annually and the quality must be well controlled. The people interviewed for the article specifically mentioned if gasoline taxes are raised, the money must go to the highway and bridge maintenance. 

The last time the road tax subject was reviewed, New Jersey's costs were among the highest in the nation to improve or build roads. Before any consideration is given to increasing the gas tax, our legislators and governor must convince taxpayers that they will get the best cost, quality and oversight. This reader is of the mind that someone needs to do their job better.

In Washington Township about a decade ago, a proposed program to fund annual maintenance was allowed to fall by the wayside. Today, the township has some atrocious roads. The condition of Stagecoach Road atop the sanitary sewer right-of-way near Johnson Road might be a quality or oversight failure by the township municipal utilities authority. 

Lawmakers must assure taxpayers that costs, quality, and oversight will be improved, and future maintenance failures avoided. 

As usual more spending, more taxes.

Gerald Keer

Turnersville

Trump's wall endangers wild animals

To the Editor:

Donald Trump is all for closing the border with Mexico to all access by building a wall.

If this were to happen, Trump would be doing an injustice to many animals. There are bears, rabbits, big-horn sheep, deer, mountain lions, wild boars, jaguars and many others regularly crossing the border in order to survive. 

This is not fantasy. It has been cited by conservation and environmental organizations in both Texas and Mexico that are working together to help these animals.

These animals need the border to be open to them so they can live the lives they were meant to live. The Defenders of Wildlife is among the organizations that can provide details.

Ethel Ashenfelter

Glassboro

High winds from a cold front sweeping across New Jersey are blamed for the large number of power outages.

High winds and a band of heavy thunderstorms left thousands across New Jersey without power Tuesday.

As of early afternoon Atlantic City Electric was reporting more than 11,900 customers were without electric.

PSE&G said 18,400 across its service area were in the dark.

Jersey Central Power & Light was reporting 5,500 without electricity.

The winds have been produced by a strong cold front sweeping across New Jersey.

Utility officials blame the winds for the outages which began multiplying across the state before noon.

There have been numerous reports of trees and utility poles brought down by the wind snapping electric lines.

Many estimates by utility officials are that power is expected to be restored by Tuesday evening, but some customers may see later restoration times due to infrastructure damage.

Atlantic City Electric Spokesman Frank Tedesco said crews from his company along with outside contractors, including tree trimmers, are working to restore power. 

While there are some large outage pockets, many are individual homes or businesses.

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

A gym in Gloucester County put a unique spin on exercise during the Valentine's Day weekend. Watch video

EAST GREENWICH -- A man stands in the center of a busy room, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet as he listens to the thumping bass of the high energy music cranking out of the speaker behind him.

He takes a deep breath, readying himself for the challenge that still lies ahead. Raising his fists up, he takes up a defensive stance as he locks eyes with the familiar face in front of him. He's ready.

Just then, a timer goes off. The man pulls his elbow back then launches his fist straight toward his intended target - a picture, of all things. But not one of just anyone. It is a picture of himself.

"That's me 117 pounds ago," Kevin Dougherty said, explaining his choice to pummel his own image. "Some people might be shredding their ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend, but I wanted to shred the ex-me."

Dougherty, along with dozens of others spent their Saturday afternoon shredding only calories, but also various forms of exes at East Greenwich iLoveKickboxing.com fitness studio's "Shred Your Ex" event.

During Valentine's Day weekend, members of studios nationwide had the opportunity to bring in photos of someone or something they disliked in order to punch, kick, and otherwise shred up the images all in the name of love.

"Shred Your Ex's main focus is to give people a killer workout and to bring people together for Valentine's Day," said Katie Burns, manager and instructor of the East Greenwich franchise. "Since Valentine's Day is usually such a Hallmark holiday it's kind of cool to do something different."

In addition to rounds which included various kickboxing techniques, lightning rounds, and partner exercises, Shred Your Ex gave attendees the opportunity to win prizes, listen to some great music, and to take home a rose and Valentine's Day card at the end of the class.

Although the theme of the workout is unique, it is also relaxing for those who need to relieve extra stress during the holiday.

"Getting to punch and kick something or someone is therapeutic," said iLoveKickboxing instructor Shyra Dehner. "Shred Your Ex is a great event to come and better yourself not only physically but also mentally. You can relieve stress and also get fit."

While some chose to use pictures of ex-lovers, others brought along images that represented something they wished to cut out of their lives, including food items, disliked acquaintances, or, as in one case, a photograph of a particular presidential candidate.

"I wanted to bring an empty bag of chocolate today because it's definitely my downfall," said Anna Malone. "Physically removing something from your life and knowing you're going to remove this negativity by shredding it is just a huge stress relief."

According to Burns, the ability to "beat up" an ex is not the only draw for those attending the event. Others joined in on the event simply because they wanted something to do during a holiday that is typically focused on romantic relationships.

"We are bringing people who don't have something to do for Valentine's Day here to kick some serious butt," said Burns. "Anyone who doesn't have a valentine can come here and we are going to be their valentine - or at least their anti-valentine."

She added: "I don't think there's a holiday out there for people you don't like. It's awesome that people are coming out and putting up pictures and beating the crap out of them. It's so satisfying."

Though the event was focused on providing an alternative to the hearts and flowers of Valentine's Day, Shred Your Ex was not just a fun way to burn calories. For many, it was a way to relieve stress and gain a positive outlook on life.

"This is a great way for people to celebrate Valentine's Day in a different way," said Rebecca Bradshaw. "Not only do you get a workout but you relieve a lot of stress and you get to leave the studio feeling great about yourself."

Truck overturns on I-295 after sliding on ice, authorities say.

Snow and ice were the cause in a string of car accidents in Salem County during the past 24 hours, according to authorities in South Jersey.

Emergency personnel and police from various departments were busy responding to motor vehicle accidents scattered throughout Monday.

New Jersey State Police handled 25 accidents and nine motorist aids in Salem County from 12 a.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Of these 25 accidents, 14 included ambulance responders, according to county officials.

Just after 8 p.m. Monday, a white 1994 Ford Ranger pick-up truck traveling from Pennsville on Interstate 295 lost control due to icy road conditions, according to New Jersey State Police.

The vehicle slid off the right shoulder of the road where it overturned. Both passengers in the vehicle were taken to The Memorial Hospital of Salem County for neck pain while the driver was not injured, police said.

Salem County next to equip police with body cameras, officials say

Several hours before, state police responded to an accident in Mannington Township where a vehicle lost control after traveling an unsafe speed on icy roads, according to state police.

Police did not provide the speed the vehicle was traveling.

The vehicle struck a gas line marker, stop sign and then utility pole before hitting a residence on State Route 45.

There was no gas leak and three residents in the house were checked by an EMS but not injured, authorities reported.

The driver of the vehicle and a passenger were also cleared of injuries and the driver was issued a careless driving ticket, police said.

"In any inclement weather, simply slow down. Once you begin to lose control, don't break or accelerate. Let off the gas and don't oversteer," Trooper Christopher Quirk, with New Jersey State Police, said.

In Carneys Point, authorities responded to several accidents, including a struck utility pole, a mailbox, and one single-vehicle crash.

All of the accidents in Carneys Point were weather-related, according to Det. Sgt. Dale VanNamee.

A truck allegedly fled the scene after striking the utility pole and was reported by a witness who saw the accident, police said.

Another vehicle slid into a ditch on Penns Grove-Auburn Road, although no injuries were reported.

"If the temperature is around freezing, or has recently been around freezing, please assume there is ice on the roadway," VanNamee said.

Last Salem County town to hold out on joining regional 911 is reconsidering

"The main roads may be clear but back roads and residential road may still be icy. Be very careful turning off main roads onto back or residential roads," the sergeant continued.

Police also remind drivers that regardless of the vehicle being operated, a small patch of ice can cause loss of control.

"Single vehicle accidents can also be fatal. Drive safe," VanNamee said.

Woodstown Police responded to one minor accident on East Grant and North Main streets after a vehicle slid through the stop sign and hit an oncoming car, authorities reported.

Luckily, no injuries were reported and there was minor damage to the vehicles, police said.

Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.

State Sen. Jeff Van Drew wants the state Board of Public Utilities to hold a hearing in the area were service is impacted.

A state senator wants the Board of Public Utilities to hold a hearing in South Jersey to hear directly from Verizon customers who say they are frustrated by poor service.

A state senator wants the Board of Public Utilities to hold a hearing on Verizon service in South Jersey. (File Photo) 

While Sen. Jeff Van Drew, D-1^st Dist., focused on Cumberland and Atlantic counties -- the areas he represents -- the problems with Verizon service extend into Salem and Gloucester counties, officials there say.

"These problems are not only an inconvenience, they are causing public safety and quality of life issues and require action," he wrote in a letter to Richard S. Mroz, president of the New Jersey BPU.

"The inability of a resident to reach emergency personnel by phone or for emergency officials to communicate effectively could literally mean the difference between left and death. For students, in adequate telephone and Internet service could mean the inability to access educational materials and, for a business owner, it could result in lost production and revenue."

Last year a group of 16 municipalities from four counties in South Jersey filed a petition with the BPU in an effort to ensure Verizon New Jersey does not abandon its basic landline telephone service.

The towns include:

* Atlantic County: Estell Manor and Weymouth Township.

* Gloucester County: South Harrison Township.

* Salem County: Alloway Township, Lower Alloways Creek, Mannington Township, Township of Pilesgrove, and Upper Pittsgrove Township.

* Cumberland County: Commercial Township, Downe Township, Hopewell Township, Lawrence Township, Maurice River Township, City of Millville, Upper Deerfield Township, and Fairfield Township.

"I respectfully request that BPU hold a public hearing in the First Legislative District to hear directly from residents, emergency personnel and public officials about the communications problems they are experiencing. I would also request that Verizon participate," Van Drew wrote to Mroz. 

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Cara McCollum was critically injured when her car went off Route 55 in Pittsgrove Township and struck trees, police say. Watch video

PITTSGROVE TWP. -- The former Miss New Jersey who was critically injured in a crash Monday night was not wearing her seat belt when her vehicle slid off an icy road, state police said.

Cara McCollum, 24, of Margate, was headed northbound on state Route 55 at the time of the crash around 6:53 p.m.

McCollum was driving a 2014 Ford Mustang convertible at milepost 38.4 when she ran off of the right side of the road and struck several trees, police said.

The driver's side front airbag in her car deployed in the crash.

A light snow had fallen hours before the accident, but police did not say whether that played a role in the accident.

She was taken to Cooper University Hospital, Camden, where police said she was in critical condition.

McCollum is a news anchor for 'SNJ Today News,' which has a nightly news broadcast covering South Jersey.

Her friend, art gallery owner David Holtzman, told Shore News Today said she was undergoing brain surgery on Tuesday afternoon.

"I'm sick to my stomach. She is an unbelievable lady, living her dream of being in the newsroom. It's just mind-boggling that this could happen to her," he told the paper.

A spokeswoman at Cooper on Tuesday said at the request of the family no information on McCollum's condition would be released.

McCollum, a native of Arkansas who graduated from Princeton University, held the title of Miss New Jersey in 2013 and represented the state in the Miss America Pageant.

Terry Carpenter, speaking on behalf of the company on Tuesday, said McCollum was working Monday night at their studio in Millville, Cumberland County, but her work day was over at the time of the crash. The broadcast from Monday night, in which McCollum is the lead anchor, can be seen on SNJ's website. 

"For us right now, it's touching the SNJ family personally and while we understand Cara was a beloved face to the public, having been Miss New Jersey, we're trying to do what we can to get ourselves through it and also support her family," Carpenter said, adding that Cara's family was still en route to New Jersey from Arkansas. 

Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow South Jersey Times on Twitter @TheSJTimes. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Two chunks of Philadelphia-area jobs have just left for Mexico. It's a situation that Donald Trump taps into effectively.

Pennsylvania's presidential primaries don't take place until April 26, but don't be surprised if Northeast Philadelphia scores big for Donald Trump -- and maybe Bernie Sanders -- based on news this week.

It's been reported that Carbone Industries, a supplier of brake calipers to the automotive industry, will ship 1,300 jobs from its two Philadelphia locations to Mexico. 

You can't get a better illustration of the frustration that Trump taps into than the loss of more than 1,000 manufacturing jobs from a locally based company. To cite H. Ross Perot from his 1992 presidential campaign, that "giant sucking sound" you hear is jobs going across the border.

In addition, the job losses will occur in a neighborhood that's already been decimated by an icon that was familiar by smell, if not on sight, for anyone who traveled on Roosevelt Boulevard: Mondelez Global Inc., shut its Nabisco cookie and cracker bakery last May, idling 300 workers. Some of the production went south of the border.

Trump has already tweeted about the Carbone situation, saying that it is exactly what won't happen if he's president. Last year, made a point of Mondelez's U.S. factory closures, disclosing a personal Oreo boycott on word that some batches could be coming from Mexico rather than Chicago.

When job losses eviscerate neighborhoods, and are felt so viscerally by their residents, it may not matter if Trump has any real idea of how to stop the bleeding. Sanders, who also rails against trade agreements, may not have a solid solution, either.

Protectionist tariff legislation is complicated. It depends on who's being protected. One reason that confectionary companies, including Mondelez, are said to be poised to go to Mexico is because the cost of sugar there is not kept artificially high by controls designed to protect domestic growers.

More mainstream presidential candidates like Hillary Clinton and a raft of "free-trade" Republicans have disappointingly failed to preserve jobs, as well. You can't blame broad pacts like the North American Free Trade Agreement that riled Perot 24 years ago for all the job shifts. When elected officials ignore that the manufacturing sector has taken it on the chin, however, all the Trump signs should be no surprise.

The federal government could do more by targeting current tax breaks toward companies that expand existing manufacturing plants. States, too, need to look at their substantial "goodie" programs. 

Developers associated with Rowan University were just awarded $50 million in state credits for building a parking garage and privately owned student housing. It's legitimate to ask, if New Jersey is going to dole out billions of dollars in commercial tax credits, why they're laser-focused on projects like the Rowan one, or on moving jobs from into Camden from Evesham.

Has anybody ever considered using some of the incentives to keep jobs from moving from Jamesburg to Juarez?

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

Trained tutors with help with reading, writing or speaking English for adult learners.

Gateway Community Action Partnership's Literacy Services Department will conduct two Literacy Volunteers tutor training sessions beginning March 23. Trained tutors will work one-on-one with adult learners who need help reading, writing, or speaking English. 

The training is free and open to the public, but tutor trainees must attend at least four of the five sessions to graduate and become certified to tutor. Tutors will be trained in ESL and basic literacy.

A Salem class will be held five consecutive Wednesday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, 76 Market St, Salem.

A Woodstown class will be held five consecutive Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 37 E. Grant St., Woodstown.

Class dates are March 23 and 30, and April 6, 13, and 20 with a snow date of April 27. Pre-registration is required.

Residents of Cumberland and Salem counties can register for the training.

Gateway has provided literacy services in Cumberland and Salem counties for the past 20 years and is accredited by Literacy New Jersey and ProLiteracy. Trained tutors generally meet one to two hours per week with learners.

For additional information, or to sign up this or future training sessions, call Laura Stanton at 

Designer Bag Bingos are a popular fundraiser and doubles as a social event.

Designer handbags help to raise money for organizations. These highly anticipated events has become a popular fundraiser and doubles as a social event for the entire community. High-end bags are awarded throughout the night to bingo winners. Many of these events offer attendees the chance to purchase raffle tickets for other items, and separate tickets for a 50/50s.

BRIDGETON

March 5 -- Woodland Country Day School is hosting a Designer Bag Bingo on Saturday, March 5 featuring Coach, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, and Vera Bradley bags. Early bird tickets are on sale  through Feb. 19 for $15. Feb. 20 through March 5 tickets will be $25 so don't delay. Doors open at 6 p.m. and games begin at 7 p.m. There will also be raffles, a 50/50 and door prizes during the evening. Food available for purchase along with baked goods and refreshments. No outside food or refreshments are allowed. The Woodland Country Day School is at 1216 Roadstown Road in Bridgeton. For tickets or additional information call Diane at 856-453-8499 ext. 112 or e-mail Diane at reesed@wcdsnj.org.

CLAYTON 

March 19 -- St. Michael the Archangel School at 51 W. North St. in Clayton is hold a Designer Bag Bingo on March 19. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person and includes 12 Bingo games, coffee, dessert, bottled beverage and a door prize ticket. For more information, call 856-881-0067.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP 

February 27 -- Designer Bag Bingo will be held on Feb. 27 in the cafeteria of Delsea Regional High School, 242 Fries Mill Road in Franklinville. Doors open at 6 p.m. and games begin at 7 p.m. Refreshments available for purchase. Admission of $35 includes 15 games. Call 856-885-0162 or email delseaprojectgrad@gmail.com.

MILLVILLE 

April 16 -- The Cumberland County Fair Association will host a Bag and Basket Bingo fundraiser on Saturday, April 16 at the Elks Lodge, 1815 E. Broad St. in Millville. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and bingo begins at 6 p.m. The bingo will feature items from Coach, Vera Bradley, Dooney & Bourke, Michael Kors and Longaberger. There will be 14 games, door prizes, raffles and a Chinese auction. To reserve tickets call 856-765-7531 or email bingo@cumberlandcofair.com. Advance tickets are $30 each and at the door $35. You can also visit the web at www.cumberlandcofair.com for more information.

PENNS GROVE

March 18 -- Penns Grove Middle School PTO is hosting a Designer Bag Bingo on Friday, March 18 featuring Coach, Dooney & Bourke, and Vera Bradley bags in the Penns Grove High School Cafeteria, 334 Harding Highway, Carneys Point. Early-bird tickets are on sale through March 17 for $25, at the door is $30. Doors open at 6 p.m. and games begin at 7 p.m. There will also be a chance auction and a 50/50. Light refreshments will also be available for purchase. For tickets or additional information e-mail PGMSPTO@hotmail.com or call 609-420-3847.

WOODSTOWN

March 11 -- A Designer Bag Bingo will be held March 11 at the Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit Church, 2 Lamplighter Drive in Woodstown. Proceeds benefit CRHS Project Prom. Doors open at 6 p.m. and games begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 and no one under the age of 21 is eligible to play. For tickets, call 856-478-4850 or 856-316-2379.

Weather service says damage was consistent with that of a strong thunderstorm, and there were no signs of a funnel cloud.

Trees were toppled, a large truck was blown onto its side and a high school sports scoreboard was blown down when a line of powerful thunderstorms swept through New Jersey on Tuesday.

Even though some of the damage looked like something left in the wake of a small tornado, the National Weather Service believes it was nothing more than a nasty thunderstorm with wind gusts as strong as 60 to 70 mph.

"We received no reports of funnel clouds, and there was no evidence of rotation on radar," said Sarah Johnson, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service regional office in Mount Holly. "It looks like it was all straight-line wind damage."

Trees damage homes, property in South Jersey after severe storm

"Unfortunately, when you have straight-line winds in severe thunderstorms, those can do as much damage as those from a lower-end tornado," Johnson said. "We still can see a considerable amount of damage."

Police and residents across Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties reported numerous trees and power lines toppled by Tuesday's fast-moving storms. Some reported damaged roofs, and thousands of homes and businesses lost power.

In addition, the weather service reported a scoreboard outside Gloucester City Junior-Senior High School in Camden County was blown down, and a tractor-trailer on the Camden side of the Walt Whitman Bridge was blown into its side as the thunderstorms moved through the area.   

One wind gust was estimated at 60 to 70 mph near the border of Pittsgrove and Elmer in Salem County, the weather service said. Although that was not measured by a wind speed gauge, so it cannot be verified, the storm damage reported in the area was consistent with winds that strong, Johnson said.

The biggest wind gust measured by a weather station anywhere in New Jersey on Tuesday was 60 mph, in Seaside Heights, Johnson said. Not far behind was a 57 mph wind speed recorded in West Deptford.

In addition, several wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph were reported Tuesday by the New Jersey Weather and Climate Network, operated by the New Jersey State Climatology Office at Rutgers University. Those gusts were detected in Sea Girt, Upper Deerfield and Harvey Cedars.  

Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality. Find NJ.com on Facebook.