Every Saturday on its editorial page, 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 on its editorial page, 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 the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office for going after the source of our drug overdose crisis. Armed with power to charge dealers for selling the narcotics that lead to a drug overdose death, the office has charged three people with this crime in the last month alone. This is an essential step in combating the destructive power of addiction. We cannot stand back and pretend we are powerless to fight this battle. Let's send a message to the dealers that they will be held accountable for the misery they cause.
JEERS: To kids taking part in more than childish pranks. We're not sure what's happening lately, but several local children are facing serious charges in connection with recent crimes. First, we had quite a number of children charged in those killer clown threats earlier this month. They posted social media messages warning of violence at local schools allegedly perpetrated by folks dressed as clowns. This week, two youths aged 11 and 13 were charged with breaking into a Woolwich house and spray-painting the place with graffiti featuring "KKK" among other messages. That same day, Deptford police announced the arrest of two kids ages 12 and 15 in connection with a tire-slashing spree a few weeks ago. Let's hope these early brushes with the law will teach these kids to make better choices in the future. Parents and guardians of other kids should share these stories and use these incidents as teachable moments.
CHEERS: To a new chapter in higher education. The new Cumberland County College Arts and Innovation Center is expected to be open to students for the next semester. The building is at the corner of High and Vine streets in Millville and will provide both classroom and retail space once complete. The idea is to be able to provide accessible education for Cumberland County students unable to make it to the college's main Vineland campus. The $7.7 million project is the result of cooperation between the Cumberland County Improvement Authority, Cumberland County College, Millville Urban Redevelopment Corporation and the freeholders. The project is being paid for using tax credits, county bonds and grants through the college, according to officials. Classes will be taught in fine arts, ceramics, computer graphics, graphic design, communications, journalism, TV and digital media. There will also be courses on painting and drawing, ceramics, computer graphics and computer design.
JEERS: To taking advantage of your employer. According to police, a worker at a well-established Elmer business allegedly took more than $33,000 over a four-month period. One of the duties that the employee, who worked part-time, handled was making bank deposits. Allegedly she changed the deposit slips and pocketed some of the business's proceeds. When the business noticed discrepancies and looked back, the paper trail showed what allegedly had been taking place. For the now-gone worker, she awaits a Salem County grand jury to hear her case.
JEERS: To expecting anything different. Want to know why we can't have nice things? Ask the Hammonton duo accused of vandalism at the Apple Pie Hill fire tower that was closed in September due to ... wait for it ... vandalism! With stunning views of Wharton State Forest and both the Atlantic City and Philadelphia skylines, the 60-foot-tall tower was an escape from civilization hidden deep within the Pine Barrens. Then knuckleheads had to come along, drop television sets off the thing, cover it in graffiti and steal equipment -- thus ruining it for the rest of us. "Dear New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, we messed up. We're sorry, but we really liked that tower. How about you open it up to the public once a month when it is being staffed? We promise not to test the laws of gravity of the top tier of steps nor write the name of our girlfriend in magic marker on it. Signed, South Jersey."
CHEERS: To a "crimestop." Oh George Orwell, how right you were. In all reality, the Gloucester Township Police Department didn't have to open its doors and show us its nice, new and shiny Remote Monitoring Station. They could have quietly used the 130 surveillance cameras to conduct police business and we wouldn't have known the better. But that's not what the department did. Instead, they invited us in, pulled up live camera feeds and showed off how they nabbed a would-be race car driver accused of tearing of a gravel parking lot earlier this month. Expanded thanks to $16,000 that was already in the police budget, the system will "enhance public safety" while providing "more eyes on the ground," according to the township's mayor. Sure, we're a little leery of Big Brother but face it, that ship sailed a long time ago. It's 1984; we just live in it.
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