Photo by Jonathan Wells

A soldier salutes the grieving family of US Army PFC David J.Bentz as they leave his funeral in Clayton on Friday.

By Stephanie Brown and Jessica Driscoll

[email protected]

CLAYTON — Three people singing and carrying signs that read \”Pray for more dead soldiers\” and \”America is doomed\” were drowned out by a group of veterans who shouted the Pledge of Allegiance here Friday morning.

The pickets were positioned across the street from the Clayton Post Office at Delsea Drive and Costill Avenue, far enough away from St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church that those attending the funeral for Army Pvt. David J. Bentz III couldn\’t see or hear them.

Ten helmeted police officers, members of the Gloucester County Emergency Response Team, stood around the trio, members of the Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka, Kans., who have chosen to protest at funerals of fallen GIs to object to America\’s acceptance of homosexuality.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, the daughter of the church\’s founder, led the trio, with an American flag around her waist and an Army flag over her shoulder. She was joined by her son, Sam Roper, and her brother, Fred Phelps Jr. They got to the scene at about 11:15 a.m. more

submitted by Gary M

Bill and Judy Gross, sitting on left celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary recently with family and friends at The Pub in Pennsauken. By the way that handsome couple on the right is Bob \”Dece\” Dacierno and his wife Jane…………… Congratulations!

Bill and Judy (Andreas) Gross along with \”Dece\” graduated from GCHS class of 1963 …..

Pfc. David J. Bentz came home last Friday. He\’ll be laid to rest this Friday.

\”DJ\” Bentz died in Baghdad last Wednesday, just more than a month after he deployed and about a month-and-a-half shy of his expected return date.

Bentz and three other soldiers — Maj. Sid W. Brookshire of Missouri, Staff Sgt. Darren P. Hubbell of Georgia and Spc. Joe G. Charfauros Jr. of Mariana Islands — were killed when an improvised explosive device, or IED, detonated near the vehicle Bentz was driving, the Department of Defense announced Monday.

The soldiers were assigned to 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Ga.

When Bentz deployed, he went first to Germany, then to Kuwait. Bentz was supposed to be in Kuwait for about a month, but was sent to Iraq after a week. He drove soldiers to clear IEDs and rocket-propelled grenades from alongside roads. Missions would last two weeks, then Bentz would return to Camp Liberty, where he could shower and call home.

Pfc. Bentz will be honored with the Bronze Star, awarded for bravery, acts of merit or meritorious service, and the Army Good Conduct Medal, awarded for exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity.

When Bentz returns to Clayton, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and local police will honor him at Barclay Funeral Home.

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Church of St. Catherine of Siena, in Clayton. A Mass immediately will follow, and then Bentz will be buried at Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Williamstown.

information source Courier Post

CLAYTON An added police presence is expected to be on hand at a local soldier\’s funeral Friday due to a fundamentalist Christian group\’s plans to demonstrate during the viewing.

Bentz, 20, was killed in Iraq last week of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle.

Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for noon at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Clayton. Visitation at the church will begin at 9 a.m. and end at Mass time. Interment is at Gloucester County Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Williamstown.

more

More stories on PFC Bentz
 

Dear Mr.Cleary,

In the most recent edition of the Gloucester City News there was an article about the Mt.Ephraim 5th grade graduation ofthe DARE program. Congratulations to them!

Now, are you aware of the fact that our DARE program has been suspended for the Saint Mary\’s school children? This program has had a positive influence on our children. The police presence in our school has been a positive one and we would like to see that continue throughout the years.

A little back ground on our current situation. Officer Driscoll was coming in on Wednesday\’s meeting with the 6, 7, and 8th graders of our school. Sometime in late May while trying to schedule the annual DARE dance and closing celeberations our school was informed that Officer Driscoll had been put on night work and we assumed we no longer had DARE. This upset our school very much. Our faculty, students, and principal wrote letters asking the Chief to please reconsider cancelling our DARE program. No personal response was given to us from the chief. However, officers Moody, Zeigler, and Lee called the school and coordinated a pizza party for the DARE graduates. We would like to thank them for that! Although they are not certified DARE instructors, the event was held as a \”police function\”.

I find it funny that we have 2 certified DARE officers and both have been put on permanent night work by the chief. What will happen to our DARE program next year? Maybe a little investigation of why these 2 officers who have been trained in community policing for the children of this city are not being utilized properly! Thanks for your time.

Joan Bohrer

7th grade teacher

NOTE FROM BILL: Dear Joan, I spoke with Mayor James and he informed me that the program will be offered to the St. Mary\’s children in September. He also said he called you after he was notified of what happened. Let me know if I can be of further help.

\”Members of the Gloucester City Alumni Association are extremely proud to announce our association awarded scholarships totalling $7,500 to ten graduates of the Class of 2007 at the recent \”Awards Luncheon\”.

We know everyone joins us in extending \”best wishes\” to the recipients.\”

The Scholarships were awarded to the following:

Thomas Uibel $1,000, Jonathan Beres $1,000, Eva Petersen $1000, Nick Wright $1000, Kristi Bobo $1000.

Also, Kristen Wright $500, Erika Wadsworth $500, Christen Mason $500, Sal Russo $500, and Kelly Cerrone $500

Mike Dunkirk, a Gloucester City Councilman in the 1980\’s is in need of a medical heart procedure that is not covered by his health insurance carrier. His family is reaching out to his friends in Gloucester City to send a donation to help pay for the high medical costs. Mike was active in Gloucester City for many years before being transferred to Virginia by his employer. The following letter is written by one of his daughters, Kelly Dunkirk.

\”Thirty-three years ago I became the luckiest girl on earth when I was blessed in having Mike Dunkirk for a father. My father is the best man I know. He worked relentlessly to provide a good life for his family. He treats strangers like friends and will go out of his way to help anyone he meets. My father was a councilman in Gloucester City.

He was a volunteer firefighter, a member of the Board of Health, a coach for the Carmen-Palmiero boy\’s basketball team, a member and at one time President of the Jaycees, and all around good citizen in the Gloucester City Community. For those of you who worked with my dad or were neighbors or friends, you knew that you could depend on him.

This year, after years of struggling with heart problems, my dad\’s condition has begun to worsen. Unfortunately there is nothing left for his cardiologist to do. His heart pulls in blood at a normal rate, but then can\’t push the blood out the way a normal heart can. (The normal ejection rate is between 55-75, my father\’s is 11). This decreased level of ejection creates major circulatory problems because the oxygen is not carried through the body the way it should be. Dad\’s cardiologist has not given him months or weeks to live, but is continually impressed when he arrives for appointments. Dr. Cary suggested that we look into stem-cell research (stem cells are taken from the patient\’s own body, and then circulated back into the heart muscle).

My dad found research teams in the US that do case studies, but the FDA has not yet approved the procedure. Seventy-five percent of the heart patients in the studies increase to ejection rates of 30-40% in the first three months. We knew at once that we were on the right course. Unfortunately, my father does not have six months to wait to start treatment under a case study.

Then when you think God closes a door……..he opens a window. Several medical teams in other countries do the same successful heart procedure. My dad gave over his medical information and was accepted. The procedure is not approved by my parent\’s insurance carrier. The cost is estimated somewhere between $40-60 thousand dollars. It seems crazy that money stands in the way of saving a life, but in this case, it does. We feel that we are running out of time and that this is our only hope. I tell you this because I need your help. Without the procedure we will lose our dad. I ask on behalf of our family to please send donations to: Friends and family of Mike Dunkirk c/o P.O. BOX 1231 Forest, Virginia 24551. For additional ways you can help, please contact me at 434-509-5275.

 

For more information on this procedure, please visit the website www.vescell.com. Thank You in advance for your caring and concern.

Note: click on photos to enlarge. First photo, Mike with his wife and daughters. Second photo, the night he was sworn in as a Councilman with Councilman Sam Chew on his left, and Councilman Tom Carter on the right. Third photo, Mike receiving an award from fellow Jaycee member Ted Howarth. Fourth photo, Mike with former Mayor Bob Bevan, and former Chief of Police Ted Howarth.

Gloucester City Fire Chief Brian Hagan released the following information today about a chemical fire that occurred yesterday, June 26, at Amspec Chemical. Information about the fire came from a resident who was riding by and saw the fire engines. She submitted a news tip with a photo. If you see something happening send your report to [email protected] and we will investigate it. Also if you have a camera phone take a photo. Thank you.

Chief Hagan\’s report reads as follows:

SITUATION: Reported Fire at Amspec Chemical, 751 Water St., Gloucester City, NJ. Initial reports from location indicate a clean up contractor is operating at the scene removing sodium from a vessel in a containment area. While still limited to the containment area the sodium is reacting with the moisture in the air causing it to sporadically ignite. There are no reported injuries and the incident is limited to a 20\’ x 15\’ containment room within the facility.

BACKGROUND: There is an ongoing clean up taking place at Amspec Chemical. Currently residual Sodium left in pipelines and vessels is being removed by the TIER Corporation who are specialist in the Sodium removal field and provide the same service to DuPont\’s, etc. Due to atmospheric conditions the Sodium started to react at a faster rate than the contractor could immediately address. This resulted in sporadic ignition of the Sodium. As a precaution the FD was notified in case the situation was to esculate.

ASSESSMENT: The situation was limited to a 20\’ x 15\’ atmospherically controlled containment room. Two 300 lbs. vessels with residual Sodium were undergoing decontamination and decommissioning by the contractor. No visible plume and/or off site releases observed. Perimeter and interior air monitoring were within normal limits. The incident was limited to the containment room. No off-site threat existed with this response. The O2 level in the room was being lowered by the igniting Sodium and the contractor did not have SCBA or SAR on site. He was awaiting the arrival of this equipment and could not have his crews re-enter the containment area without it. The containment area was a positive contribution to the operations as the humidity is controlled and it limits the potential for spread to the rest of the facility and/or off site release. Due to regulations only hazmat technicians could enter the room to assist with operations. To reiterate initial information and continued monitoring verify the incident was limited to the containment area and presented no off site threat.

RESPONSE: A fire department and hazmat response was dispatched as per established protocol. The perimeter was controlled as per established protocol. Air monitoring was conducted both to the interior, perimeter and downwind as per established protocol. County Environmental Health, NJDEP, etc., were notified per established protocol. A review of current activities and a revision to the existing Incident Action Plan were conducted with all present. Sufficient supplies were staged at location and Hazmat Techs made a Recon and one additional entry to remedy the situation. Soda Ash and Purple K were applied to the exposed product and once covered all spontaneous ignitions ceased. City officials were briefed. The clean up, health and safety, incident action, decontamination and medical plans specific to this event were updated. A Fire Watch was ordered to be maintained 24/7 until all Sodium is removed. The contractor states it should take approximately 2-3 days to complete the remaining Sodium removal 

To read this week\’s Fire Report Click

 

THE TIPSTER WROTE-I took this picture because this was as close as I could get. They stop traffic at the old power house. I always thought if we had a problem down there as a courtesy they would secure the perimeter and tell the neighboring people there was a problem. Not this time. As I went around the corner to leave I see a mail carrier on break not more then 50 feet from the cop car on the next street. I stop and tell the carrier to move since he had no idea what was going on. Lucky I came around the corner. I thought these guys were trained in hazemat. #1 secure the area and keep people away. If they had to evacuate the area these people would have had only minutes from the knock on the door to get their stuff (maybe) and leave. I think they need to review their people skills when it comes to a dangerous situation. Thought you would like to know.

 

 

 

Mrs. Judy O\’Donnell and the Mt. Ephraim School District would like to thank Mr. Lloyd Black for volunteering his time, several times throughout the year, to share his knowledge of Comets, Galaxies, Moon phases, Planetarium/Sun spots, the Solar system and Stars with our 6th graders. Mr. Black is an adjunct professor of Astronomy at Rowan University and a member of the Willingboro Astronomical Society.

****************************************************************************************************************************

BEST WISHES

 

The Mount Ephraim School Administration, Teachers, parents and students send their congrations and best wishes to the following employees who retired this June. They include: Mrs. Barbara Helms, Mrs. Christine Rendell, Mrs. Wendy Fischer and Mrs. Dorothy Kozmosky.