Now Direct Mailed to OVER 2,250 HOMES in LeisureTowne and 195 HOMES in Hampton Lakes
Scuttled Skyrockets
Medford Vows to Make Up for Fizzled Fireworks Next Year
'Bridges, Not Walls' PG 5
Oncology Oasis
U.S. Vets, Mexican Diplomats Mingle at 90th Carranza Ceremony PG 5
www.pinebarrenstribune.com
Vol. 2 – No. 47
♦
@PineBarrensNews
'Camp No Worries' Offers Respite to Cancer-Stricken Kids Facebook.com/PineBarrensTribune
The News Leader of the Pines
♦
PG 5
To Advertise Call: 609-801-2392
July 21, 2018 – July 27, 2018
State Police Raid 3 Local Businesses, Charge 4 Women with Prostitution
By Douglas Staff Writer
D. Melegari
SOUTHAMPTON—Four local women have been charged with prostitution after New Jersey State Police raided three businesses in Tabernacle and Southampton townships late last month. The raids, which reportedly included the agency’s T.E.A.M.S. Unit personnel, took place just after 1 p.m. on June 29. The purpose and result of the raids at Acupressure Therapy (Southampton), Sun Spa (Southampton) and Waterfall Spa (Tabernacle) were revealed by state police on July 16. “On June 29, troopers executed search warrants on three businesses,” said SFC Jeff Flynn. “As a result, four women were arrested and charged with prostitution.” Arrested were Jinya Cui, 54, of Southampton; Mei Piao, 53 of Southampton; Guihua Shuai, 46, of Tabernacle and Zhao Xie, 50, of Tabernacle. Flynn said an investigation into whether the See PROSTITUTION/ Page 19
Two Dozen Injured in Pileup Involving Five School Buses
By Douglas D. Melegari and Dominick Cella Staff Writers
MEDFORD—Twenty-one children and three adults were injured Monday when five school buses collided with each other in Medford Township, near its border with Medford Lakes Borough. The collision happened just before 4:08 p.m. on Tuckerton Road, just west of Lenape Trail. “The accident involved five school buses transporting campers from the JCC Camp on Tuckerton Road in Medford,” said Lt. Arthur Waterman, a spokesman for the Medford Township Police Department. “Each of the buses contained students being transported home after the day camp concluded.” Waterman said a medical assessment by first responders identified 21 children, one staff member of the camp and two bus drivers with minor injuries. “Each of the injured was transported to Virtua Voorhees and Virtua Mount Holly Hospitals for treatment of their injuries,” Waterman said.
Photo By Dominick Cella
The entranceway of Costello Preparatory Academy.
Breakaway Brouhaha
Uproar Ensues after Incarcerated Teen Flees Juvenile Justice Institution in Tabernacle By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer
TABERNACLE—A combination of concern, curiosity, fear and outrage has gripped residents of Shamong and Tabernacle townships this past week after an incarcerated teen fled from a state facility and had not yet been reported found after nine days at large. In the meantime, a car was reported stolen and a person was allegedly seen rising from a storm drain. Authorities are not yet saying whether any of the highly unusual incidents for these parts are connected, but the car theft victim said in an interview that she has evidence that the vanishing of her car is related to the disappearance of the teen. The public first learned that a teen “escaped” Phillip M. Costello Preparatory Academy, in Tabernacle, through a Reverse 911 call issued by Tabernacle Emergency Management Coordinator
Robert Sunbury during the early evening hours of July 11. The “escape,” according to the call, occurred earlier in the day at around 4:30 p.m. Sunbury, in the call, identified the individual as a 5’ 6,” 18-year-old black man who weighs 155 pounds. He also said the teen was believed to be wearing a grey sweatshirt or white t-shirt with bleached-out jeans and white Nike sneakers or brown boots when he fled. Additionally, he added that the individual is “not believed to be armed,” “was incarcerated for a non-violent crime,” and is “identifiable by a large SOS tattoo on the side of his neck.” Other confirmed details surrounding the incident and teen are scarce, with multiple officials dodging questions from an increasingly concerned public—that has received few updates—and this newspaper. Tabernacle Public Safety Director
Arch Liston, who supervises Sunbury, said it is a New Jersey State Police matter when he was asked for the details about the incident. “They are the lead,” he said. The New Jersey State Police, which Sunbury said relayed the information to him and requested that it be disseminated through a Reverse 911 call, referred all comment to the Juvenile Justice Commission (JCC). The commission referred all comment to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, its lead agency. Sha ron Lauchai re, di rector of communications for the Attor ney General’s Office, said that “escapee” is not the right word to use to describe the teen and that the he did not technically “escape.” “I do not believe that the resident was 18 or over,” she said. “Juveniles are called See BROUHAHA Page 16
See PILEUP/ Page 13
INDEX Automotive................ 23 Business Directory.... 14 Community.................. 8 Gardening Column.... 13
Health........................ 10 Hobbyist.................... 12 Local News.................. 2 Marketplace............... 18
Opinion........................ 7 Worship Directory........ 8
****ECRWSS**** LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER
Vincentown, NJ Permit 190
PAID Presorted Standard US Postage