Now Direct Mailed to OVER 2,250 HOMES in LeisureTowne and 195 HOMES in Hampton Lakes
Athletic Field Work Moves Forward While School Board Considers Shared Superintendent for District
Search for Missing Pemberton Man Comes to Tragic End PG 5
PG 4
www.pinebarrenstribune.com
Vol. 2 – No. 35
♦
@PineBarrensNews
Spring Home & Garden Special Section PG S1
Facebook.com/PineBarrensTribune
The News Leader of the Pines
♦
To Advertise Call: 609-801-2392
April 28, 2018 – May 4, 2018
Pinelands Regional Officials Point to Encouraging Statistics and Decry Bad Perception in Wake of Controversies By Catherine Galioto For the Pine Barrens Tribune
LITTLE EGG HARBOR—The Pinelands Regional School District has been getting a “bad rap” recently according to a Pinelands Regional Board of Education member who said improvements in standardized tests scores and other performance metrics reflect the quality of education in the district. The district has faced public criticism since 2015 due to a principal being charged with DWI, superintendent resignations, the board letting go of 13 teachers—including a popular football coach, a roofing project debacle and fire alarm problems.
“For a while now there has been a bad perception. We have graduates who go to MIT and Princeton. We have done an excellent job and it is unfortunate that it is the silent majority who knows that. But, there is a vocal minority who blast this bad perception.” Susan Ernst, Pinelands Regional BOE President Board Member Stephen Kubricki (Little Egg Harbor) said at an April 18 board meeting that it is time to dispel negative sentiments about the district and have more Pinelands pride. “I know I have friends who do not give Pinelands Regional the recognition, either academically or athletically, that it deserves,” he said. “We have had many instances where people in the community send their children to other schools.” Kubricki said that when parents, who send their children elsewhere, are asked why they made the decision to do that, the response is
Photo Keith Tarnow
The generator which pumped carbon monoxide into the McManus family home due to an incorrect installation.
Saved By The Alarm Southampton Family Grateful to Be Alive After Home Fills with Carbon Monoxide By Judy Cohen Minches For the Pine Barrens Tribune
SOUTHAMPTON—The McManus family’s collective message is clear and to the point. On April 19, six weeks after they experienced a scare at their home that could have resulted in a tragic outcome, they made a plea to the public: ‛Take carbon monoxide poisoning seriously!ʼ Michelle McManus and her children (husband Brian McManus was away), Kailyn (“KK”) and Aidan, who reside in the Tranquility Ridge section of Southampton Township, lost their power during a winter storm on March 7. The home’s generator turned on right away and, soon thereafter, a
Photo By Keith Tarnow
Michelle McManus and Christina Laboissiere meet for the first time after the incident. carbon monoxide detector in the home went off. At that point, ADT Home Security’s monitoring service made a call to the McManus family that instructed them to evacuate their home. They also made a call to local first responders informing them of an emergency at the home. The telephone calls likely saved the McManusʼ lives. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention; carbon monoxide, known as a silent killer
because one cannot see, smell or taste it; kills 500 Americans each year and poisons 50,000 more. Michelle McManus said she was extremely lucky to have survived the incident unscathed, after it was determined that her home did have the presence of carbon monoxide, and wanted to thank everyone responsible for keeping her family safe that night. She invited ADT and the Hampton Lakes Volunteer Fire Co. (volunteer firefighters who came to the family’s See SAVED/ Page 14
See STATISTICS/ Page 20
INDEX Automotive.................... 23
Health............................ 15
Opinion...........................11
Business Directory........ 18
Gardening...................... 13
Scanner........................... 9
Community.................... 12
Local News...................... 4
Special........................... S1
Fun and Games............. 17
Marketplace................... 21
Worship Directory.......... 12
****ECRWSS**** LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER
Vincentown, NJ Permit 190
PAID Presorted Standard US Postage