News Digest 3.15.2006

Free Shredding
SWAINTON – Free shredding of your documents?  Is this a great country or what?  The county MUA will provide this service at nine locations over the next two months. First up:  Saturday, March 25, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at the Shelter Road recycling  yard in Ocean City and from 1 to 3 p.m. at the municipal complex on Route 610 in Dennisville. Complete schedule and instructions on page 28.  The point of all this is that the MUA thinks the public is throwing documents in the trash for fear of identity theft if the paper is recycled.
Reappointed to Elections
COURT HOUSE – Gov. Jon S. Corzine this week reappointed Democrat Robert F. Conroy Jr. and Republican Peter Trofa, chairman, to the county Board of Elections. Conroy’s been on since 1998, Trofa since 1995. By law, the board has  two Republicans and two Democrats.  The appointees are suggested by the respective party chairmen. Other members: Democrat John B. Feeley, secretary, and Republican Elizabeth Riker. The jobs pay $9,500;  plus benefits. The chairman and secretary make $14,249.
Back to the Table
SWAINTON – Negotiators for the county MUA and Teamsters Local 331 representing some 100 employes met for about three hours March 7 in contract negotiations. A  second session March 8 was cancelled due to a death in the family of a member of the negotiating committee. Employes have been without a contract since Dec. 31, 2004, or a raise since Jan. 1, 2004, after turning down a four-year contract with 4 percent annual raises in March 2005.
Ponderlodge
VILLAS – Save Ponderlodge for the people. That’s the topic of a public meeting scheduled tonight at 7 p.m. at Lower Township Hall at 7 p.m. A conglomeration of 12 Lower Township civic groups are hosting the meeting and have invited Sen. Nicholas Asselta (R-1st) and Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew (D-1st). Ponderlodge has been saved from development following its purchase by the state Department of Environmental Protection for $8.4 million two weeks ago. What remains to be determined is what will become of the golf course section of the 235-acre property. Lower Township has expressed an interest in operating part of the property as a municipal park or public golf course. “Letting the golf course go back to its natural state is not in the best interests of our township,” Mayor Walter Craig told the Herald. The state has shown no interest in preserving the golf course.
Tax Rate Drops
WEST CAPE MAY – The elementary school’s board of education here approved a budget March 9 that features a tiny drop in the local purpose tax rate, decreasing from 25.8 cents per $100 of assessed value to 25.4 cents. The school’s total proposed budget is $1.1 million. A total of $788,000 would be collected through local purpose taxes, down from $793,000 last year. The budget includes a 5 percent raise this year for teachers, increasing to 5.5 percent in 2007, and 5.75 percent in 2008. The school projects saving money when Chief School Administrator David Lamborne retires in August. His $80,000 salary is expected to be cut in half by sharing an administrator with another school district.  
Hear the Herald
RIO GRANDE – Visit the Herald’s Web site and listen to this week’s 12 minute audio program called the Herald Podcast. Tracy Carluccio of Delaware Riverkeeper Network tells of U.S. Army’s plans to dump up to four million gallons of treated VX nerve agent in the Delaware River. Also: a visit to a local fudge store for a behind-the-scenes look. To listen, visit the Herald’s Web site: www.cmcherald.com and click on the Herald Podcast.
Impromptu Parade
NORTH WILDWOOD – Wildwood Catholic High School’s boys’ basketball team celebrated its championship win in the South Jersey Non-Public B title game with an impromptu parade in the early morning of March 9. A procession of fire engines, police cars, and vehicles packed with parents and teachers greeted the champions on the causeway and led them over the bridge in to the city. The parade, reportedly 20 blocks long, trailed through the city’s empty darkened streets with horns and sirens blaring. At that time of night during the winter, only a few last call bar patrons came out to cheer the victors, said Mayor Ernie Troiano, Jr. The Crusaders defeated Trenton Catholic 60-55 in the team’s first championship since 1988.
Cancelled Auto Show
WILDWOOD – The county Chamber of Commerce cancelled the annual Jersey Cape Auto Show, originally scheduled for April 2 at the Wildwood Convention Center. Executive Director Vicky Clark told the Herald that the event was cancelled due to a lack of sponsor participation. Clark said the show, which brought about 70 new and classic cars to the convention center in the past two years, could be back next year if sponsorship improves and an agreeable date can be found. 
Singing Sarcasm
COURT HOUSE – Once again the county police academy trainees are taking heat from jail visitors. Three months ago, cadets were told to stop chanting “jailbird, jailbird” while jogging past the county jail because it offended a group of relatives waiting to visit inmates. According to Maria Deaver of Ocean City, cadets sarcastically waved at those waiting to see inmates after apparently being prompted by a drill instructor. Deaver reported the incident to a supervisor, which caused an internal investigation by county and police academy officials. County police academy Director Gary Schaffer reasoned that, “It’s just a matter of avoiding the area.” 
DWI Turns Drug Bust
COURT HOUSE – A 17 year-old male from Middle Township was arrested for DWI March 12 on East Mechanic Street after being pulled over by Patrolman Richard McHale for speeding. Passenger Benamin Vandoran, 18, of Court House was also arrested after being found in possession of over an ounce of suspected marijuana and assorted paraphernalia, which included a scale, baggies, and a pipe. Vandoran was charged with intent to distribute and was lodged in the county jail in lieu of $10,000. The juvenile was charged with speeding and DWI and released to the custody of his parents.
Tire Slashing Spree
FISHING CREEK – About 20 vehicles were damaged in the late evening of March 11 and the early morning of March 12 by an unknown cutting instrument. Some vehicles had more than one tire slashed, but it appeared that none of the vehicles were entered. Detectives and Patrol Personnel searched the area for potential suspects and evidence. The Lower Township Police Department is requesting the community’s help in tying evidence to the perpetrator(s). Anyone with information should contact Lower Township Police Safe Neighborhood’s Tip Line at 609-886-1629 ext. 156 or the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-465-2800. All information is confidential and may be reported anonymously.
Voter Reg. Deadline
TRENTON – Citizens who haven’t registered to vote in their communities have until March 28 if they want to take part in the 2006 annual school election. Voters will select their school district’s proposed 2004-2005 school budgets and the board of education members. To register, a person must be at least 18 years old by the election date, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of the state and county in which they wish to vote. People can register at the office of their municipal clerk or county board of elections.
Guilty of Endangering
COURT HOUSE – Timothy Kakembo of Millville was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child March 10. He was charged in 2004 after a nine year-old girl, in his care, accused him of touching her private part with his penis after she had finished taking a bath. The girl testified in court and jurors saw a 2004 video of her telling a detective that it “touched me inside.” No physical evidence of an assault was found and Kakembo denied, in court, ever harming the girl. He could receive up to 20 years in prison for the aggravated assault and 10 years for endangering the welfare of a child. Superior Court Judge Carmen Alvarez did not have the defendant taken into custody due to his history of always appearing in court, no longer having a passport, and 14 character witnesses who spoke well of Kakembo. He is free on $40,000 bail and will be sentenced May 12.