Pine Barrens Tribune August 13, 2022-August 19, 2022

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August 13 - August 19, 2022

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Pemberton Schools’ Bus Aide Faces Charge of ‘Aggravated Assault’ on 9-Year-Old Boy

GRAFFITI GRIPE

Incident Started When Two Children Were Allegedly ‘Shoving and Grabbing’ Each Other in Center Aisle of Vehicle; Aide Then Grabbed One By the Neck and ‘Strangled’ Him, Complaint Alleges

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—Following extensive reporting by the Pine Barrens Tribune for the better part of the last year that the Pemberton Township Schools’ Transportation System is under duress, in part, due to “out of control” student behavioral issues, school bus driver shortages, and a series of miscommunications, a purported July 28 “aggravated assault” by a district school bus aide on a child riding a school bus here (following what this newspaper has since learned was purported shoving and grabbing between two children in the center aisle of the vehicle and the children subsequently ignoring the bus aide’s commands to stop doing it), has made national headlines, including being featured on Fox News.

Donald Pride, 72, of the Browns Mills section of Pemberton, was arrested and charged Aug. 1 with aggravated assault on a 9-year-old boy, with the Pine Barrens Tribune since obtaining a criminal complaint filed against Pride through a public records request, alleging that the bus aide “grabbed” the child “by the neck” and “strangled” him for approximately nine seconds, to the point that the child was depicted on surveillance video showing visible signs that he was at least momentarily struggling to breathe.

Few knew about the incident now drawing national attention, however, until 6ABC, See ASSAULT/ Page 6

Photo By Douglas D. Melegari

Graffiti that was painted on Leektown Road in Bass River Township is publicly visible on the night of Aug. 2.

Washington Township Family Alleges Member is Being ‘Targeted’ and ‘Harassed’ Over Her Political Beliefs Through Graffiti Painted on Several Area Public Roads

By Douglas D. Melegari Staff Writer

WASHINGTON—A fam i ly from Washington Township is alleging that graffiti painted on several public roads in both Washington and neighboring Bass River townships, with new renditions purportedly popping up throughout the two municipalities over about the past month, is all over “politics,” and that whoever the “anonymous” individual or individuals are who are doing it, have now “targeted” one of their own in at least two

of the recent drawings, to the point that they feel “harassed” and have contacted the New Jersey State Police.

The Pine Barrens Tribune previously reported that Washington Township officials were called to Turtle Creek Road, in the Lower Bank section of the municipality, over the Fourth of July weekend about the appearance of graffiti, and had since partially covered over the writing, but were in the process of “ordering more material” to cover it fully.

But wh ile Wash ing ton Tow nsh ip officials at the time didn’t detail what

was portrayed in the graffiti, often which appears throughout the country in public view without those doing the drawings securing the necessary permissions, at least one of the local writings, this newspaper has learned, apparently represents, in part, the polarization in America as of late, in particular over the presidency of Donald J. Trump, and his loss to President Joseph R. Biden, which made Trump only the third elected president since World War II to lose re-election, and the first in See GRAFFITI/ Page 5

INDEX Business Directory...................................10

Local News.................................................2

Events........................................................8

Marketplace........................................................9

Job Board...................................................9

Worship Guide............................................8

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Saturday, August 13, 2022

Officials Suspect Faulty Extension Cord Caused Late-Night Blaze at Former Pemberton Twp. Municipal Utility Authorities Barn

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—A “faulty extension cord” that was still reportedly plugged into an electrical outlet is currently suspected as the cause behind a July 29 fire that occurred inside a vacant barn for the former Pemberton Township Municipal Utilities Authority (PTMUA).

The blaze at 131 Fort Dix Road, in Pe mb er ton Tow n sh ip, a c c ord i ng to municipal Fire Chief Craig Augustoni, was first reported around 10:59 p.m.

“There was a fire at the former PTMUA barn on Friday night, which appears to have been started by a faulty extension cord that had not been unplugged,” township Fire Director Daniel Hornickel, also the municipal business administrator, told this newspaper. “The fire damaged a number of the rafters, but the Pemberton Township Volunteer Fire Department and the Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company (from nearby Pemberton Borough) were able to gain control of the blaze and extinguish it.”

Augustoni added that the fire was placed under control at around 11:45 p.m. on July 29 and that firefighters remained on scene until about 3 a.m. the next day for “overhaul” operations.

According to Hornickel, the township’s

Streets and Roads supervisor reported to the scene to secure the building after the fire was put out.

“The township promptly submitted a claim for coverage, but we have not decided on the fate of the building,” Hornickel noted.

Pemberton Township Council voted to disband the PTMUA in 2019, with the dissolution taking effect in January 2020.

Hornickel told this newspaper the barn was “vacant” at the time of the blaze.

“We had recently cleaned it out to prep it for storage of water and sewer piping and materials,” he said. “Fortunately, there were no materials in the building yet.”

Augustoni pointed out that the fire is still under investigation by the county and state fire marshals. Fire investigators were still observed at the site on the afternoon of July 31.

The building, this newspaper observed, has parts of it that are boarded up, but was still standing a few days after the fire.

Joining the local fire companies in battling the blaze was the Joint Base McGuire-DixLakehurst (JBMDL) Fire Department, as well as Vincent, Juliustown, Lumberton and Westampton fire departments. Several other entities provided water tenders through “mutual aid,” according to Augustoni, because the blaze occurred in an area of the township that has no fire hydrants.

Planned Rehabilitation of Murphy’s Pit in Shamong with Solar Project Likely to Be Delayed ‘Couple of Years’ Due to State Regulatory Process

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

SHAMONG—While a redevelopment plan for a 123-acre sand pit, as well as a neighboring 16.5-acre landfill, on Atsion Road was recently approved by the Shamong Township Committee, setting the stage for a long sought-after rehabilitation of the sites with proposed construction of a solar facility, officials recently received “gory details” from the designated redeveloper that “we’re talking probably a couple of years at this point” before any project could actually commence.

That pronouncement from Big Horn Sandpit Solar Farm, LLC, of Holmdel, commonly referred to as “Big Horn Solar,” whose parent company is CEP Renewables, LLC, was relayed to the township committee last month by Township Solicitor Doug Heinold, who explained “the long story short” of the circumstances is that the “solar program at the state level, or versions of the program, are mired down in the regulatory process, rule promulgations and things like that” for the moment.

“They are waiting for things to come through to be able to apply and get approved,” Heinold said. “The solar stuff is all incentive and state-approval driven, so until they can get that, there is really nothing that is going to happen on that front, and we are talking probably a couple of years at this point.”

However, according to the township solicitor, the redeveloper has indicated that while they are waiting on the state, they will still “try and go ahead” with obtaining siteplan approvals from Shamong.

“That way, when they finally get to application (with the state), they can say they have them (the site-plan approvals) in hand, and hopefully that gives them some benefit in the application procedure, and if nothing else, they can hit the ground running (when

the state process concludes) and not wait another six months,” Heinold said.

Heinold emphasized that he believed Big Horn Solar is “very much intending to proceed” with the project, but that it is “just not going to happen within the timeframe they had hoped, and we had hoped.”

Shamong Mayor Ti mothy Gi mbel, however, called the circumstances “a shame,” particularly because the anticipated project, as he pointed out, was due to address the site from a “security perspective,” with this newspaper previously reporting that the sandpit, known locally as Murphy’s Pit (and Big Horn Sandpit), has been a hotspot for illegal off-road motorsports.

The redevelopment plan (which essentially applies new zoning to the aforementioned parcels) allows for an up to 8-foot fence around the solar facility, and requires at least a 7-foot fence. The front yard setback for the proposed solar facility must be 65 feet “for panels and equipment,” and the “solar will be in the pit” so that there is “already a natural point at the site where it drops off” (or drops out-of-sight).

The plan also, according to Heinold, calls for “some enhanced buffering to be considered relative to the landfill site,” which is the “only side with an immediate residence next to it.”

Heinold, in maintaining his optimism that the project will move forward at some point in the future, pointed out that CEP Renewables is a “significant player” in the state’s solar industry “to the point where they are communicating with regulators and talking about what is going in the regulations.” He noted that the firm has successfully completed other solar projects in the state.

“At the end of the day, they have their hands in what is happening,” he said. “But it is just like a lot of things at the state level, it is not going to happen very quickly.”

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Changes Introduced to Controversial Pemberton School District Measures Pertaining to Recording of Meetings, Grading, But Others Now Under Fire

Lenape Regional Comes Up With Creative Way to Recruit Bus Drivers During Nationwide Shortage By Offering In-House Training Program

Policy Regarding ‘Insubordination’ Draws Concern from Board Member After Alleged ‘Comment’ Official Intended to ‘Hold People in Contempt’ for Speaking Out at Meetings; ‘Regulation’ Banning Leggings Also Criticized

Retirement/Resignations of Two Veteran Assistant Principals Announced

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

PEMBERTON—As the Pemberton Board of Education and its various committees are now introducing changes to two highly controversial measures entailing the recording of its sessions and the grading of students, respectively, an existing “regulation” pertaining to student dress code that was reportedly recently put into writing, as well as a board policy that can charge a teacher with “insubordination” for airing concerns at public board meetings without first following the “chain-ofcommand,” are now coming under fire.

The latter, as Board Member Sherry Scull indicated at the latest Pemberton school board meeting, has been on the books for a while, but came into focus only recently after a teacher at a board meeting here in the spring publicly questioned the removal of hand sanitizer from district classrooms while Coronavirus was continuing to spread, and reported that the removal forced members of the school community, including students, to instead use disinfectant wipes, with the teacher pointing out that they contain strong chemicals that are irritating to an individual’s hands.

Fol low i ng t hat publ ic revelat ion, according to Scull, the “comment” was purportedly made that “the superintendent would be holding people in contempt for letting board members know what is going on in the district that concerns them.”

T h e r eve l at ion wa s a mong m a ny distressing ones to emerge from the last school year, with the others about student behavioral and mental health issues, low morale among employees, the adverse impacts of a no-zero grading policy, removal of printers from classrooms due to budget constraints, and a transportation system breakdown. Many of those other revelations also came directly from district staffers who spoke out at public board meetings, which in turn generated critical coverage in this newspaper.

Word that of fic ia ls were pos sibly considering holding district staffers in contempt for speaking out at public meetings came just months after the school board passed a revised Recording of Board Meetings policy that contains a number of what First Amendment activists describe as “unconstitutional” elements, including imposing requirements that those who wish to record a session notify the board secretary at least three days in advance of a meeting, and that a person turn over any video recordings.

Following outcry, the Pemberton school board recently introduced a revised version of that measure, also known as Board Policy #0168, in which, according to Board Member Terry Maldonado, chair of the school board’s Policy Committee, “a lot of things were struck out” to make it “a little more friendly.”

Among the provisions that would be struck out is the one requiring advance notice of an intent to record board meetings, which also requires the board secretary to provide a person making notification a copy of the policy.

Additionally, the provision requiring those who video record board meetings to turn over the recordings to the board, described by First Amendment activists as what essentially amounts to an illegal “search and seizure,” would also be struck out.

Also on the chopping block, is a provision that allows for “preference” to be given to

those who wish to record a board meeting in the event the presiding officer determines the number and position of the recording devices interferes with the meeting.

However, should the revisions pass on second reading, as of right now, the presiding officer will still maintain the power to limit the number and position of the recording devices if he or she feels they interfere with the meeting.

Second reading of the board policy is anticipated to occur at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 25, should no further changes be undertaken during the board’s workshop meeting scheduled for Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m.

While it was not listed on the agenda, Scull publicly disclosed that she had also asked the board’s Policy Committee to “look at the policy on chain-of-command,” and in doing so made a point of saying she wanted to “explain to the board and public as to why” she made that request.

That’s when she revealed the comment had been made about holding district staffers in contempt for speaking out to the board.

Scull, in recognizing that “we have had staff come to the board meetings and complain about various issues,” from time-to-time, pointed out that she has been attending school board meetings since the 1980s and that, “I can tell you that (staffers speaking out) it is not something that happens quite often.”

“And what bothered me was the last sentence (in the policy), which said, ‘The superintendent can charge the employee with insubordination,’” she said of why she requested it be reviewed.

However, Scull revealed that she was informed by Maldonado that the Policy Committee has since “decided other districts have similar wording, so they didn’t feel that it was an issue that needed to be brought to the (entire) board.”

Scull, who has either opposed or critically questioned a number of the administration’s positions, and demanded that many of the grievances brought to the board during the last school year be looked into further, pointed out that “we never had that kind of an issue” (in which employees faced being held in contempt) after staffers chose to bring their concerns to the board.

“Yes, some administrators might get upset with some of the staff and be at their door the next day, but I still feel they have every right to come and express their concerns here without having a concern they will be labeled ‘insubordinate,’ which could really cause them to be terminated from their position,” Scull declared.

Maldonado, who revealed the policy at issue is #1100, maintained in response that the “Policy Committee felt there was nothing wrong with that policy and we were in agreement with keeping it within the manual.

Board President Tom Bauer added that when it comes to board committee decisions, “if the majority agrees,” that is “what goes.”

But Scull retorted that “it is ‘board’ policy,” putting an emphasis on the word ‘board,’ and pointed out the elected public body as a whole comprises of nine members (versus the reported two or three board members who may sit on a committee).

“And there might be five board members who don’t agree with it,” Scull contended.

“I understand about the committee and that there is a great desire to support our superintendent, but sometimes things need to be questioned.”

See DISTRICT/ Page 7

By Douglas D. M elegari Staff Writer

SH A MONG — A m i d a c ont i nu i ng nationwide shortage of school bus drivers, the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD), according to Superintendent Dr. Carol Birnbohm, has come up with a new, creative way to help fill such openings in the district.

The district has officially launched its “new, in-house driver training program,” announced Birnbohm during a July 27 LRHSD Board of Education meeting.

“We have our first applicant,” said Birnbohm as the board approved a bus driver for the upcoming 2022-23 school year, pending completion of certification requirements through the program.

The superintendent explained the program is based on a “grow our own” approach to filling open school bus driver positions amid the nationwide shortage.

“We are very excited to have our first applicant,” Birnbohm declared.

T h e LR HSD h a s b e e n a c c e pt i ng applications for school bus drivers on an ongoing basis since March 10, with a job description obtained by this newspaper advertising the availability of in-house training.

Candidates with a valid driver’s license are eligible to apply as trainees, according to a brief description of the program, and

will need to complete two to three months of in-house training under the supervision of a current LRHSD bus driver.

The training, the description added, is designed to help the trainee “pass testing requirements to obtain a CDL and appropriate endorsements,” something that Birnbohm also explained during the latest board session.

Am id reports that school distr icts nationw ide are anticipati ng st affi ng shortages for the upcoming school year, this newspaper learned that the district has some 24 open positions currently that it is trying to fill.

The Pine Barrens Tribune has also learned that one veteran assistant principal of Shawnee High School has just retired from the district, while another will be leaving in January 2023.

Barbara Fuoco, who spent 47 years of her education career at Shawnee, and was in the field for a total of five decades, retired July 28 (with an official effective date of Aug. 1). She was a longtime assistant principal of the school.

Additionally, the board approved during its July 27 session the departure of longtime Cherokee Assistant Principal Jo Ann Jankowski, taking effect Jan. 1, 2023.

A replacement for Jankowski had not yet been named, but the board during its latest session tapped Jessica Riddle, a math teacher at Shawnee, to replace Fuoco.

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Staff Writer

TABERNACLE—While there is no police department as such in Tabernacle Township, which depends on the New Jersey State Police Red Lion Barracks for its policing needs, the town now has a “resident” police chief in the person of Robert Duff, who was recently promoted to the top position on the 15-member North Hanover Police Department.

Duff, who has lived in Tabernacle for the past 16 years, started as a patrolman in North Hanover, just outside McGuire Air Force Base, after graduating from the Gloucester County Police Academy back in 1998, was subsequently promoted to sergeant, then sergeant first class, then named as “officer in charge” in 2020 and finally officially sworn in as chief on July 21.

One of the things that promotion hasn’t changed, however, is his being out on patrol with the rest of the members of the police force he now commands.

“I always tell people, ‘I’m a working chief,’” he recently told this newspaper. “You’re going to see me out on the road in uniform backing my officers up. Having worked there for 23 years, I’ve come to know a lot of people in community and those residents are important to me. I think it’s important to have daily interaction with them.”

In addition, he maintained, “The good leader is one who leads by example and that’s another reason why I’ll be on the street with my officers.”

During the course of his career, Duff has also been given a number of decorations, which have included a couple life-saving awards, unit citations and meritorious service awards, and an outstanding service

Duff

award, as well as a proclamation for having used CPR to save a life.

“I’m proud of the opportunity that North Hanover Township gave to me when they hired me as young patrolman, and have worked hard to be in a position to lead the department, which I plan to do until I retire,” he declared.

D u f f , a n d h i s w i f e , K a r y, a paraprofessional in the Lenape Regional High School District who works with autistic children, have a daughter who has just graduated from Seneca high and a son in college.

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Harbor Township School District, where he

By Bill Bonvie had worked for a year and a half, and which Staff Writer is one of the serving districts now under LIT TLE EG G H A RBOR—As the consideration for a proposed consolidation Pineland Regional School District’s new arrangement with the Pinelands Regional school business administrator and Board District. He was thanked effusively for his of Education secretary, Amanda P. Miller services by the board members who attended couldn’t be more ‘at home’ in the pivotal the July 18 session, with one of them, Thomas positions she has just assumed.

Rosetti, telling him, “I don’t know how we Miller, who took over the dual-purpose post could have done all this work without you.” on Aug. 1 from her predecessor Nick Brown, As for his future plans, Brown would only tell who recently submitted his resignation, is not this newspaper that he is “staying in education” only a 1999 graduate of Pinelands Regional and that he was leaving the Pinelands Regional High School and an alumnus of one of its School District “on good terms,” but didn’t former satellite institutions, Bass River wish to comment beyond that.

Township Elementary School, but a three-year Brown did, however, have some financial district employee who, as she puts it, has been news on two fronts to convey to the board “working up to this point my whole career.” prior to leaving.

In addition to having earned both a BA in For one thing, he noted that, according to accounting and an MBA from Stockton, she an update he had recently received from the has had experience doing annual audits for New Jersey Association of School Business school districts with the Vineland accounting Officials, while pursuing regionalization could firm of Romano, Hearing, Testa & Knorr, avert a financial hit the district which she noted in a recent phone was scheduled to have taken interview with the Pine Barrens as a result of a school funding Tribune first made her realize how reform initiative, should it fail to much she enjoyed doing this kind follow through within two years of work; serving seven years as a of a consolidation plan being bookkeeper for one of its clients, recommended by the study now the Pitman Borough Board of in progress, the district would Education, and then after an revert back to the originally interlude to raise her children, anticipated financial loss. handling accounts payable and Asked by this newspaper then payroll responsibilities for whether that would also happen the Pinelands Regional district. in the event that regionalization “It’s the job I’ve always wanted was not the recommended course to do,” said Miller in describing Miller of action, Brown replied he wasn’t her feelings about assuming the sure of the answer, which would require considerable obligations of her new post, for further interpretation of the rather complex which under her current contract she’ll be paid legislation involved. a base salary of $125,000 through June 30 of In the meantime, however, he told the board next year, in addition to any merit bonuses in response to a question about the current she might receive during that time, which also status of the study that “we’re in a bit of a entitles her to 20 vacation days that may be holding pattern until we get the next round used after next July 1. of funding” provided by the New Jersey Then, too, there’s the added advantage Department of Community Affairs. of her having developed close working The DCA, he said, is asking that the first relationships with the administrators during phase of the process – the feasibility study, her three years at Pinelands, she said, and of covered by a $90,000 grant – be closed out being able to consult with both Brown, who before funds for Phase 2 can be released, and offered “to be at her disposal if she has any “they’re slow to do that … it’s a long process.” questions” during his last Board of Education Brown also reported that progress was being meeting on July 18, and Assistant Business made on arrangements to finance the longAdministrator Jonathan Yates. delayed upgrading of what Board President “It’s also nice to be able to work in the Betti Anne McVey jokingly referred to as the district that I live in and grew up in,” she said. “damn dam” on school district property, with Miller added that “it says something about the district now having received “an official the district” that so many of its graduates have letter” from the New Jersey Department of returned to work within it.

Environmental Protection “letting us know Brown was named business administrator that our funding application for the dam and board secretary at the end of 2018 in a See ADMINISTRATOR/ Page 7 shared service agreement with the Little Egg

By Bill Bonvie

2

Replacement for Nick Brown, Who Recently Submitted Resignation, Calls New Job One She Has ‘Been Working Up to’ Her Whole Career

Tabernacle Resident Robert Duff Is Named Police Chief in North Hanover, Where He Began as Patrolman in 1998

D

Pinelands Regional Alumnus Amanda Miller Takes Over Post of District Business Administrator and Board of Ed Secretary

Saturday, August 13, 2022

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GRAFFITI

(Continued from Page 1) more than a quarter-century. (Some of the divisiveness has also centered on both civil and criminal investigations into the former president.)

Trump, however, as recently as this past weekend, continues to allege voter fraud and a stolen election, while the January 6 Committee (formed to investigate the riot on the Capital that day over the certification of the presidential election results), continues to hear and release testimony from various officials who have suggested otherwise, all while Biden and Trump push nearly polar opposite political brands and platforms.

Republican lawmakers are also now lashing out following an FBI raid on Trump’s home in Mar-a-Lago on Monday.

Sue Keating, of Turtle Creek Road, as her son, Ben, indicated in public remarks during an Aug. 2 Washington Township committee meeting, is active on area social media, and therefore he can only “assume” the graffiti is somehow associated with her online postings.

While Sue Keating did not return multiple telephone messages seeking comment on this story as of press time, her apparent Facebook profile picture displays a photoshopped Biden-Harris political sign positioned so that it is prominently displayed at the top of it by anyone who views her profile.

The town she lives in, however, voted overwhelmingly for Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 election cycles, in addition for other Republicans lawmakers appearing on the ballot in at least the last two decades of political cycles. The Washington Township Committee is currently all-Republican, and a Democrat hasn’t been on the ballot at the township level in recent memory.

But from what can be viewed publicly, Sue

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392 or SALES@PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM Keating has apparently been undeterred in recent years to use her freedom of speech granted through the First Amendment to take aim at Republicans in the Little Egg Harbor/Tuckerton NJ Group on Facebook, for instance.

One such posting she has made there includes the shar ing of a post from the “Living in Blue Texas” Facebook page containing the infamous pictures photoshopped together of former New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie sitting in a beach chair, while Texas GOP Senator Ted Cruz is depicted with his suitcase in hand, edited so that he is strolling onto the beach, approaching the governor.

Christie, of course, famously caught flack for suntanning in his beach chair, while state government (including state parks with public beaches) was shut down over a budget impasse in Trenton, while Cruz was ridiculed for taking a trip to Cancun when his state suffered long duration, deadly blackouts amid a record cold weather outbreak (the images of which have been used in the creation of online memes like the one posted by Living in Blue Texas).

According to Sue Keating’s Facebook page, she is now a “former member” of the Little Egg Harbor/Tuckerton NJ Group.

While it is unclear why she is no longer part of the group, one person responded to the 2021 posting displaying Christie and Cruz, writing, “Omg why do we need politics here?

Start a politics page.”

One man, also in response, called on Sue Keating to “remember” some of the embarrassing moments that occurred under Democratic presidencies, including when “Ambassador (Christopher) Stevens was being murdered in Benghazi” (in which the U.S. ignored security warnings leading up to the ambassador’s death and failed to fulfill his requests in securing the embassy) and former President Barrack Obama “ran off

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In yet another social media post that Sue Keating apparently made in the Little Egg Harbor/Tuckerton NJ Group, she shared a winter storm update from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), detailing the storm response undertaken by Biden, and in doing so, writes, “He didn’t even tell them to rake the snow.”

That, of course, is an apparent shot at Trump, who when during his presidency visited communities ravaged by deadly wildfires in California, provoked some anger when he said, “You gotta take care of the floors. You know the floors of the forest, very important. I was with the President of Finland and he called it a forest nation, and they spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things and they don’t have any problem.”

Ben Keating, and his father, Christopher, revealed during the Aug. 2 Washington Township Committee meeting that two of the more recent pieces of graffiti were painted on Leektown Road in Bass River.

This newspaper observed one of them on the evening of Aug. 2 painted in the lane of travel that heads towards Arrowhead General Store and County Route 679, with yellow paint used.

“SUPPORT TRUMP,” the graffiti stated in all caps. “SUE K @ PETTYBIT**.COM.” Ben Keating maintained that “this has been going on for several years now,” though he didn’t elaborate all that much as to the details, except to say there have been numerous drawings during that time painted on Turtle Creek Road. The “SUE K” referred to in the graffiti painted on Leektown Road, “it seems like my mother, Sue Keating, was the target of the pieces of graffiti where they included her name in it,” he claimed.

“There are multiple pieces of graffiti with profanity and my mother’s name and her last initial,” Ben Keating said. “It has come to the point where we feel targeted, we feel

♦ Page 5

harassed and this is all over politics and I assume maybe social media. To do this to the point where it is anonymously done and put some type of harassment and threat towards my family, and to see little action done about it by our township, has kind of felt like an insult. I really wish to see it covered up.”

According to Christopher Keating, a 35year resident of Washington Township, “the writing,” as he put it, has been on Turtle Creek Road “for years, not months,” and up until recently, “not one person tried to cover it up.” Both he and his son contended that by the township not acting swiftly to cover the graffiti (though they point out the county did act quickly to paint over one such drawing on County Route 542), the situation has “now boiled over out of the township, onto Leektown Road.”

“If it happens again in the future, I hope to see quick action, because without the quick action, it just seems like there are no consequences for the anonymous people who do it,” Ben Keating declared. “I really don’t understand why it has taken years to cover it up. I really hope that when I drive down my road, I don’t see it anymore.”

He maintained that of the two pieces of graffiti on Turtle Creek Road that the township addressed on the Fourth of July weekend, “one of them you can still see the writing through it.”

In addition to “all kinds of writing on my road,” according to Christopher Keating, contending that whoever or whomever is behind it has “now added my wife’s name” to the drawings, there has also been a display of “Trump flags.”

Mayor Daniel James, in response to what was shared by the Keatings, asked if they had “contacted the state police.”

Christopher Keating stated that he did on July 31 when the “two more pieces” were found on Leektown Road, “both of them See GRAFFITI/ Page 8

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LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

ASSAULT

(Continued from Page 1) the local ABC television affiliate based in Philadelphia, also known as WPVI-TVPhiladelphia, broke the story at the top of its 5 p.m. newscast on Aug. 3, though it had obtained only limited details of what transpired, with most of the reporting coming from an unidentified district employee, as well as their sources.

The Pine Barrens Tribune, in fact, the local newspaper of record, only received a press release pertaining to the incident on Aug. 5 from Pemberton Township Police, following a newspaper inquiry about the television reports.

That press release notes that police were contacted by the school district on Aug. 1 and states the incident occurred that day (as WPVITV reported), however, according to the copy of the criminal complaint later obtained by this newspaper through a public records request, the incident actually took place days earlier, on July 28, with a Pemberton police officer responding at around 2:46 p.m. on Aug. 1. to the Pemberton Board of Education office on Egbert Street to take a “Level 3” report of an aggravated assault.

It was at around 2:56 p.m. on Aug. 1 that Pride was taken into custody, following an interview with the patrolman.

Pemberton Police Chief Jay Watters, when asked to clarify when the incident actually took place, confirmed the “occurrence date” was July 28 and that incident date of Aug. 1 contained in the press release was a “mistake.”

The district, he maintained, “immediately reported” the incident to police on Aug. 1 once they found out about it from the child’s grandmother.

But the clarification from Watters that the incident actually occurred on July 28, and that it was the grandmother who first reported the incident to the district on Aug. 1, only raised further questions, including about any of the bus driver’s observations the day of the incident and whether that individual had an opportunity to intervene, as well as if that person had contacted his or her superior the day of the incident, and if not, why that was the case.

A Pemberton Township School District spokeswoman, when asked via email about when the district first learned of the incident, referred this newspaper to a statement, the same one that aired on WPVI-TV, which read in part, “As it is a personnel matter, we are prohibited from discussing any further details.”

Watters confirmed to this newspaper that Pride was “the aide on the bus, not the driver,” and when pressed for further details about the whereabouts of the bus driver during the incident, replied, “At this time, I have no further information to release pertaining to the criminal investigation other than what was in the initial release.”

While the release contained few details about what transpired, other than “the

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM Pemberton Township School District acknowledged that he was working on the contacted the Pemberton Township Police school bus and that he had “grabbed” the Department regarding an altercation which child by “his neck, for two minutes,” but had occurred on a bus between the bus aide maintained he did so “in order to break and a 9 year old male juvenile”, “officers up a fight.” Following that purported responded and conducted an investigation admission, Pride was “placed under arrest” into the incident” and “upon completion of and “taken into custody without incident,” the investigation, the bus aide, identified as the patrolman wrote.

Donald Pride, was arrested and charged with The details of the police complaint aggravated assault against the 9-year-old male obtained by this newspaper corroborated juvenile,” the criminal complaint contained what a district employee, who reportedly did many more specifics about what transpired. not want to be identified, had told WPVI-TV When Patrolman T. Reynolds-Vezos arrived – that district’s buses and vans have cameras, at the board office on Aug. 1, according to and that the 9-year-old boy “could be seen the criminal complaint, he “made contact” gasping for air,” in addition to the television with the district’s supervisor of transportation, station’s sources that said Pride “grabbed and while the supervisor’s name was redacted the boy by the neck with both hands and from the released complaint, Edmund pushed him into a seat.”

Treadaway has held the post since last August Fox News Digital, forced to cite the ABC (he reportedly maintains an office at the affiliate story given limited information released Transportation Department in downtown by police and the school district, said they had Browns Mills). asked Pemberton Police for further comment The supervisor advised the patrolman that and information about what transpired, but did the child’s grandmother had reported an not hear back from the department. assault on her grandson, which The bus’s destination and had occurred on July 28, and that reason for the student being the grandmother maintained to on it during the summertime school officials that the bus aide also wasn’t revealed, though had “grabbed” the victim. the district does run “summer The patrolman, it is noted in enr ich ment prog rams” for the complaint, was then provided elementar y and secondar y with a July 28 video from the education, according to its interior of the school bus, with website. the incident apparently having There is also some conflicting occurred while the vehicle was information as to the type of stopped on Third Avenue in vehicle the incident occurred Pemberton Township. on, with some references in the According to the patrolman, complaint to a “van,” instead of Pride the video depicted two children an actual school bus, which this “shoving and grabbing one another in the newspaper was unable to clarify with officials aisle of the school vehicle,” and that despite as of press time. being “told to sit down” by Pride, “the Also, as of this newspaper’s press time, students continued to ignore the bus aide’s school officials did not respond to this commands.” newspaper’s Open Public Records Act (OPRA) That is when, according to the patrolman’s request seeking full release of the surveillance narrative of the video, Pride stood up video of the incident. Some locals, upon and approached one of the children and learning of the television reports, demanded purportedly told that individual, “‘You online that the full video of the incident be think you’re real tough, don’t you?’” released to the public.

Pride is alleged to have then “immediately Notably, the police press release made no grabbed” the child’s neck “with two hands.” mention of the “shoving and grabbing” that “With his hands around (the victim’s) apparently precipitated the incident. throat, he shook and pushed him into the Both the press release and the pages of the seat,” the officer reported of his observations criminal complaint provided to this newspaper from the video. “(The victim) could be heard do not detail if the bus driver was interviewed, on the video making noises consistent with intervened or served as an eyewitness. Also being strangled as he attempted to breath. not mentioned is whether medical attention His eyes were wide, and he appeared to be or aid was ever rendered to the child the day attempting to push Pride off him.” of the incident, or if the boy was subjected to Pride, according to the patrolman, only any kind of a medical examination following let go of the child (strangling him) after authorities first becoming aware of the matter, about nine seconds had passed, and then particular since the criminal complaint alleges following the strangling, ordered the victim the “victim was strangled during incident,” to “sit down.” when the patrolman is asked to provide an That is when the child, the patrolman account of his injuries, as well as contains a noted, “began to cry” and “placed his hand charge that the bus aide was “preventing him on his throat.” from breathing” at one point.

Pride, when questioned by the patrolman, During the 2021-22 school year, this

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Saturday, August 13, 2022 newspaper reported on various accounts of student behavioral issues and a “behavioral and mental health crisis” aired at Pemberton Board of Education meetings, including what was described as several “assaults” on school employees. Some bus drivers were among the attendees who spoke out at the meetings, and pled for action, including one man who described a situation in which a bottle had been thrown through the windshield of a school bus.

Following this newspaper’s extensive reporting on the topic and associated fallout, Superintendent Jeffrey Havers announced the hiring of additional security guards, an increase in out-of-district placements, mandatory meetings with the parents and guardians of those suspended, as well as the placement of assistant principals on the most problematic school buses.

Still facing staffing challenges, the school district in September is planning to move ahead with a revised busing schedule and other changes, though at a June Pemberton school board meeting, administrators were somewhat less optimistic than they had been previously that the forthcoming scheduling changes would have the desired effect they are hoping will occur.

Pride was said to have been lodged in Burlington County Jail following his arrest.

According to Sandy Lebron, a spokeswoman for the Burlington Vicinage, Pride had his first court appearance on Aug. 5 and was released.

His next court date is for a pre-indictment conference on Sept. 14, before Judge Phil Haines.

A couple of telephone messages left at Pride’s home by this newspaper on both Aug. 7 and 8 were not returned as of press time, with a female voice on the answering machine stating, “Roses are red, violets are blue, I know who I am, now who are you …?”

The local ABC affiliate, in preparation for its report, received the following statement credited to Pemberton Township Schools Sup er i ntendent Jef frey Havers, “On Monday, August 1st, Pemberton Township Schools learned of an alleged altercation on a school bus involving a Pemberton Township Schools bus aide. We immediately launched an internal investigation, contacted the appropriate authorities, and placed the employee on administrative leave pending further investigation.”

The statement went on to add that “Pemberton Tow nship Schools takes allegations of inappropriate staff conduct very seriously, and remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all our students,” adding that because it is a “personnel matter” the district is “prohibited from discussing any further details.”

A district spokeswoman, when asked several questions for this newspaper’s story via email, provided a copy of that statement as a “response.” It is unclear if any of the students involved in the purported shoving and grabbing will face disciplinary action(s).

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DISTRICT

(Continued from Page 3) Maldonado, in defending the decision of the Policy Committee, declared that she can “guarantee you this Policy Committee takes policy very seriously,” maintaining that “90 percent of the districts have this same language” in their policy.

“But it doesn’t make it right!” quipped Scull in response Maldonado, who recently lost a GOP mayoral primary bid to Jack Tompkins amid controversy surrounding the grading and recording of board meetings policies.

Vicki Adams, a grandmother and district employee who previously decried the “nozero” grading policy and spoke of its adverse impact on her granddaughters, and took Havers to task both at school board meetings and online, also creating a petition to have the grading policy overturned, declared in response to what she observed, “It is something I told you guys before, you guys are his boss (while pointing her finger at Havers), he is not yours!” “(Who cares) what another school district does – this is ‘our school district;’ we do not have to follow what other school districts do!” Adams further declared. “You are his boss! Just because he may like something, does not mean you have to follow it!”

A recently retired school employee, in also speaking out, pointed out that she didn’t even know there was a “chain-of-command”

ADMINISTRATOR (Continued from Page 4)

rehabilitation was approved.

“We’ll be notified of what the terms are for that funding later in 2022 – it’s part of an appropriations act that hasn’t happened yet,” he added.

The amount requested, he noted, was originally $750,000 in the form of a lowinterest loan to cover the entire expense.

However, “we had a call with the engineer who originally designed the rehabilitation of the dam because the design that we’re going to pursue here is a little bit different than what we had originally looked at.”

The engineer would be putting together an update, sometime this month, Brown said, after which it will be reviewed with the groups who are stakeholders in the project. But while

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

♦ Page 7

policy in place.

Havers, in response, called it a “good point,” and explained that he “met twice” with Rob Horn, president of the Pemberton Township Education Association, and reviewed the district’s “organizational chart,” as well as impressed upon him to make teachers aware of the items.

“There are a lot of policies, so maybe somebody doesn’t know of that policy, so the first time you talk to somebody, and show them the policy, and say, ‘Here is the policy, you need to honor the policy,” Havers maintained. “That would always be the first response. If it is blatant, and you know somebody knows the policy, that is different.”

Adams also contended that she just learned of what essentially amounts to a “new school uniform policy,” maintaining that after reading it, “it is almost like you should have a school uniform, and not a dress code.”

She decried the policy for “being specific about what you can wear – especially what girls can wear.”

“You are taking away leggings, and I wear them all the time,” she said. “I have seen women in the municipal building wearing leggings.

There is nothing wrong with leggings.”

A board policy did not appear, however, on the agenda pertaining to student dress code. Rather, in response to Adams, Havers explained to the board and attendees that dress code “regulations,” as he put it, “have been in place for quite some time,” but recently the district “put it in writing” because officials “felt there was a need to

improve attire in school.” He contended that some students have been wearing hoodies while they are in school, for example. “… Strict adherence to a dress code is a change for us, and those changes often need to be incremental,” the superintendent declared.

Ho w e v e r, “r e a l i s t i c a l l y,” H av e r acknowledged, “we need to make changes” to the regulations, further explaining that he “got feedback from the principals” who had “concerns, specifically about leggings.”

“That is something I am considering removing from the regulations and we can reassess it next year,” he said. “But that is something probably to be removed based on the feedback that I got, and based on the fact that a lot of other things I think we need to improve upon in our dress code, that are probably more significant, more important.”

Board Member Sheri Lowery, who has also at times been critical of the administration and questioned various positions of top officials, thanked the superintendent for agreeing to review the policy, pointing out she was wearing leggings during the latest session.

As for the controversial no-zero policy that Havers defended in the past, but has left Board Member Robert “Pete” King calling for its reversal, there continues to be indications that some sort of change might be in the offing.

Lowery, in mentioning the policy, pointed out that the board’s Grading Committee recently “worked on that” by meeting with staff from both the middle and high schools.

After “teachers came together, worked hard and debated the issues based on the needs of the students,” she said, there was a discussion about “Formative Assessments versus Summative Assessments,” with the teachers deciding it was best to move ahead with “collaborative” forms of assessments.

“Nobody is ever going to be happy,” she said. “But my thing is, we want to give our students a chance, and want to work with it and get feedback on what works for our students in the district and how to get the kids to be successful.”

The teachers coming to the board meetings and speaking out, however, appears to be having an even greater impact, with Lowery also announcing action has now been taken with respect to a point recently raised by one educator about how Pemberton was using an eight-point scale, all while surrounding districts were using a 10-point scale.

“We are going to go to a 10-point scale because the districts surrounding us are all doing 90 to 100 (as an ‘A’ letter grade versus 92 to 100),” Lowery announced. “This is another thing we (the Grading Committee) came up with, to stay aligned with our sister schools helping our students.”

When someone asked if the changes to the grading policy was on the agenda for the full board to consider, Havers replied that they were a “discussion item” of the Grading Committee with the “details on the committee’s agenda.”

“Technically, it is not as much of a policy as it is a procedure,” Havers added.

the new design will likely be somewhat more costly than the one originally anticipated, there may be funding available from groups such as the Nature Conservancy, the Barnegat Bay Watershed and Ducks Unlimited if the project meets certain criteria.

For example, “they want fish passage to be a really significant part of the project,” he maintained, with perhaps a fish ladder to accommodate their ability to go from the watershed to the other side of Giffordtown Road – the kinds of changes that will cost additional money, but might also qualify for grants.

In terms of setting expectations, he added, from the awarding of funding to the project’s completion, it would be reasonable for it to take two to three years.

“So, while we’re making progress, we’re not quite there having the finish line in sight,” Brown said.

In other business, Rosetti asked whether an

agenda item related to “student journalism” was a new policy dictating that what a student writes “has to be approved by the administration,” only to receive two somewhat conflicting answers from Superintendent Dr. Melissa McCooley and Board Solicitor Robert Donio.

Noting that it is “a brand-new policy,” McCooley explained it as meaning that “a high school student doesn’t necessarily have free expression, that it can be monitored and it can be modified and overseen by the administration and it clearly states what things they would not have free expression of.”

Donio, however, asserted that “generally it provides that student journalists are going to have much greater freedom of expression, especially the political viewpoints, than some school districts had historically allowed them to have,” and explained that it was intended to bring the district into compliance with a law passed by the state legislature and signed by

Democratic Governor Phil Murphy.

The 2021 law to which he referred, the New Jersey New Voices Act, is actually described as one that “protects the press freedom of New Jersey’s public school and college or university student journalists and their advisers” by decreeing that “student journalists cannot be censored by school officials, except in certain very narrow circumstances, and that advisers cannot be penalized for refusing to infringe on their student’s press rights.“ Those “narrow circumstances,” as was noted on the board agenda, include anything “libelous or slanderous,” that constitutes an unwarranted invasion of privacy; is profane or obscene; violates federal or state law, or “so incites students as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of an unlawful act, the violation of school district policies, or the material and substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school.”

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WORSHIP GUIDE / EVENTS

GRAFFITI

(Continued from Page 5) with my wife’s name and last initial on it,” further maintaining that he decided to involve the state police “because it has never been addressed.”

James replied that Washington “doesn’t have any control over” what is painted in another municipality, but “we will try to cover up what we can.”

“You are telling me our township cannot cover up what’s on Turtle Creek Road?”

Christopher Keating retorted. “… You think you are ‘intelligent,’ well get on it now!”

All of this and several more public safety

AUGUST August 21

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM concerns aired at the latest Washington Township Committee meeting occurred as Trooper Ryan, from the state police’s Tuckerton station, looked on.

Ryan, who spoke following the complaints, said “there is a lot of stuff I can’t talk about,” maintaining that “for example, the graffiti,” but that the public should know “we are on top of it,” identifying himself as one of the State Troopers “personally investigating it.”

State police did not respond as of press time to an inquiry seeking an update on the investigation. A source told this newspaper that it is believed the graffiti on Turtle Creek Road has since been covered, though this newspaper could not independently confirm that report.

Saturday, August 13, 2022

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Erwin Apell Attorney, Browns Mills. All legal matters - free hotline 24/7. Visa, Mastercard. Call 609-220-3059 or email Erwinapell@gmail.com .

GENERAL

Household appliances.

Televisions, furniture, etc. for disposal or transport.

Garage and yard cleanups along with lawn cutting and gutter cleaning. Free estimates.

Call or Text Bob at 1-609-880-3789.

Typing services. Business letter, resume, etc. Very good prices. Call Maryann at 732773-5078.

Follow @PineBarrensNews on Twitter

Part-Time Newspaper Runner Needed to Aid in Recording Audio of Meetings, Events

OFFICE ASSISTANT WANTED Part-Time, Monday-Thursday 12:30 p.m. - 6 p.m

Reliable Transportation a Must!

Must Have Strong Command Using Phone Apps, Electronic Recording Devices Excellent Pay Offered • • • •

Most Assignments Monday-Thursday evenings (Should Be Available During This Time) Should Be Flexible to Work Weekends, If Needed Some Regularity to Schedule, But On-Call Position Travel Times of 15 to 50 Minutes in Burlington County Area

Send Resumes to Publisher Doug Melegari: dmelegari@pinebarrenstribune.com

Join the e All Star Bagels Team of Sou uthampton!

Cashiers, Deli & Kitchen help needed.

Musst be 18 or older.

Fast pacced with early hours.

Please e contact Nick or Dena at 609-859-2000

1716 ROUTE 206 SOUTHAMPTON, NJ 08088

♦ Page 9

• • • • • •

Inbound AND Outbound Calling Filing Organizing Typing Correspondence As Directed

•

Other Duties As Assigned

Preparing Mailings Assistance with Tasks and Functions (Some Limited Field Work Included)

Must Be Highly Attentive to Detail • Courteous Friendly • Organized • Professional Proficiency in Communicating, Spelling and Grammar a Must!

Strong Command of Telephone AND Computers, Email, Internet Required!

Excellent Pay Offered Send Resumes to Publisher Doug Melegari: dmelegari@pinebarrenstribune.com

Page 10 ♦

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

Local

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY

ASPHALT MAINTENANCE

ATTORNEY

VINCENTOWN, NJ

For New Customers Only.

(609) 228-5750 GENERAL PRACTICE ATTORNEY SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF LEISURETOWNE SERVING THE SMALL AND MEDIUM BUSINESSES OF SOUTH JERSEY HOME AND OFFICE VISITS AVAILABLE FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION ESTATE PLANNING PACKAGES STARTING AT $500

10% OFF

Driveways & Parking Lots

Commercial, Industrial, Residential

Asphalt Overlays Repairs • Asphalt Patching Hot Pour Crack Repair Line Striping • Stenciling

ASPHALT PAVING

LAW OFFICE OF KIT APPLEGATE

10% OFF

For Jobs Over $600.

SEALCOATING:

Saturday, August 13, 2022

for Military Vets or Senior Citizens.

Driveway B-ball keys

only $425

Free Estimates Fully Insured Like Us on Facebook @nickolausconstruction

609-859-8668 • www.nickolausconstruction.com

Please don’t hesitate to call for more information: (609) 228-5750 or www.kitapplegatelaw.com

AUTOMOTIVE

BATHTUB REFINISHING

HIC:13VH09369600

CALL NOW

for No Money Down Financing Options!

609-457-3959

• Roofing • Siding • Gutters • Paving Proud to be Local Women Owned Small Business NM-00497209

HIC# 13VH11412400

ELECTRICAL

Making Old Tubs Look New! Tub and Tile Tii Glazing • •

Countert rtop t Refinishing

SINCE 1989

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL Whole House Generators Backhoe & Bucket Truck Service

Quiles Quality Tubs

Free Estimates • Fully Insured Commercial/Residential • 10% Senior and Veteran Discouunt

Over 10 Years Experience

A+ BBB Rating • FREE Estimates

NJ Lic. #0450332322

Call Jorge 609-752-2308 • Email quilesqualitytubs@yahoo.com

ELECTRICAL/SOLAR

RUSS HUBSCHMAN OWNER • LIC# 9924

FINANCIAL PLANNING

609-894-9014 www.bearelectricco.com

LANDSCAPING

FINANCIAL SERVICES Call Joe or Anthony today for a Complimentary Portfolio Review!

•Sales •Service •Installation NJ ELEC LIC. #17352 NJ HIC LIC. #13VH06386900 PA HIC LIC. # PA103855

JEFF PEREZ

2127 Suite D, Route 206, Southampton, NJ 08088 tel: 609 • 801 • 2420 Email: jperez@paradise-solar-energy.com

www.paradisesolarllc.com

Owner/Operator

Joseph Galati – Registered Principal Anthony Galati – Financial Advisor 14 East Main Street, Marlton, NJ www.Raymondjames.com/galati

Attn: Contractors and Homeowners

We have the equipment and experience to assist with your next outdoor project.

• Skid Steer with Bucket, Forks, Grapple, Power Rake.

• Mini-Excavator with Thumb • 16’ High Side Dump Trailer Equipment w/Operator Available 24/7

Call 856-988-7900

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc.

LANDSCAPING

Tabernacle: (609)-864-5492

PAINTING

www.BlackLabelLandscape.com

PEST CONTROL

Lawn Cutting, Fertilization & Bed Maintenance Landscape, Shrub & Tree Installation In Business Over 25 Years 1603 Route 206, Tabernacle, NJ 08088

Office: 609-268-1211 • Text: 856-297-5200 Email: classic@mygogreen.com • www.MyGoGreen.com

“We Provide a View for You to Come Home To” Credit C reditt C Cards ards Accepted Acceepted NJ Lic. 13VHO1135600

Pest Lic. 98445A

PUBLIC ADJUSTERS

ROOFING

PROPERT Y DAMAGE?

- No Subcontracting

Call Joe First!

- Storm Damage ge Certified

Joseph R. Moore Jr. Public Adjusters, LLC

609-330-2292

P.O. Box 326 Medford, NJ 08055

email: joe@joemoorepublicadjusters.com JoeMoorePublicAdjusters.com

Personalized service for homeowners claims: FIRE • SMOKE E • WIND IND • WATE WATER ER • FLOOD FL OD • ETC. ET TC.

- GAF Certified d - All Work Guaranteed

Celebrating Our - Free Estimates 15th Year!

Ask About Call or Text 856-528-8735 Discount for Mentioning NJ LIC. This Ad! #13VH03997000

ROOFING WE BEAT EVERY WRITTEN OFFER...

Has Been in Business For Over 35 Years

DIAMOND ROOFING

Owned & Operated By Dave Mikulski

Guaranteed Return Phone Call Within 24 Hours!

Lic.#13H01716900

Call 609-268-9200

Operates in All of South Jersey Specializing in Roofing and Gutters FREE Estimates • Fully Insured Operates from Sunrise to Sunset

OFFERING FREE ESTIMATES

AD HOTLINE: (609) 801-2392 or SALES@ PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, August 13, 2022

Local

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY TREE SERVICES Land Clearing

Removals

TREE SERVICES

TREE SERVICES

• Full-Service Tree Removal • Tree Trimming • Pruning • Land Clearing

Firewood

P.O. Box 311 Medford, N.J. 08055 Robert H. Griscom Fully Insured NJTC768766

♦ Page 11

(609) 654-6602

NJ Lic. 13VH06395500

WELL SERVICES

24/7 Emergency Service | 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed Same-Day FREE Estimates Main: (856) 796 6-3536 • Toll Free: (866) 375-8733 Mo obile: (856) 883-7682 Email: captaainstreeservicellc@gmail.com Serving Burlington, Atlantic, Camden, and d Gloucester Counties State License # 13VH088223900 • Board of Tree Experts License # NJTC768356 • ww ww.captainstreeservicellc.com

Subscription Order Form

Mail To: P.O.Box 2402 Vincentown, NJ 08088

Name:_________________________

Address:_______________________ City:__________________________ State:_________ Zip____________ Email: _________________________ Phone:_______________________ Check: $ ____________ (Enclosed) Keith Abrams

N.J. Lic. #NJTC768133

Lic# 1283

UNLACING HIS AIR FORCE BOOTS ONE LAST TIME Master Sergeant Shaun Spotts, a decorated Aircraft Structural Mechanic for the U.S. Air Force (USAF), received a surprise “welcome home” celebration on July 31, courtesy of Operation Yellow Ribbon of South Jersey, which also welcomed him loudly into retirement.

He has served with the 305th Air Mobility Wing out of Joint Base

McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. He joined the USAF in February 2000, in Hawaii.

Honors include: Meritorious Service Medal, Air and Space Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with six oak leaf clusters, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service

Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Nuclear Deterrence Operations Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters Spotts is said to enjoy spending time with family, eating cheesesteaks and pizza, off-roading, camping, visiting microbreweries and traveling.

Spotts is unlacing his Air Force boots for the last time, according to OYR. Photos By Andrew King

Money Order: $ ______ (Enclosed)

Sign Up for 13 Weeks of the Pine Barrens Tribune at $39 Sign Up for 26 Weeks of the Pine Barrens Tribune at $78 Sign Up for 52 Weeks of the Pine Barrens Tribune at $156

———— C r e d i t C a r d ———— Name:_____________________________

Card #:____________________________ Exp. Date__/__ Security Code_________ Depending on your location, you will either be signed up for home delivery of the newspaper or a mail subscription.

Page 12 ♦

LOCAL NEWS / FEATURES

WWW.PINEBARRENSTRIBUNE.COM

Saturday, August 13, 2022

A NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN

Photos By Andrew King

Various local police departments hold national night out on Tuesday, August 2.