Rutgers-Camden’s Pitts earns NJAC Rookie of the Week Honor

CAMDEN, N.J. (Feb. 3, 2020) –

Jalissa Pitts

has been one of the top freshmen in the New Jersey Athletic Conference throughout her maiden season.

The Rutgers University-Camden guard/forward was rewarded for her talents Monday when she was named the NJAC Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Week. She becomes the Scarlet Raptors’ first NJAC Rookie of the Week since Wykira Johnson-Kelly captured a trio of the conference honors last season (Nov. 12, Dec. 10 and Jan. 21).

Pitts earned her honor after averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds in a pair of conference games as the Scarlet Raptors went 1-1 last week. Rutgers-Camden lost at game at Stockton University Wednesday and posted a big road win Saturday against one of the NJAC’s top teams, Kean University.

Against Stockton, Pitts collected her second career double-double, producing a game-high 19 points, while tying for game-high honors with 11 rebounds. She nearly added another double-double against Kean, once again scoring 19 points and adding nine rebounds. She also collected two assists and two steals in that game.

For the season, Pitts is second on the Scarlet Raptors with a scoring average of 11.6, while leading the team in rebounding with a 7.3 average. She has played in all 20 Rutgers-Camden games, starting 19, including the last 16 contests. She also has added 31 steals (fourth on the team), 21 assists (fourth) and six blocked shots (tied for third).

Pitts notched her first career double-double against Ramapo College on Jan. 8, notching 20 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Her career scoring high of 25 points came in her first collegiate game, Nov. 12 at Penn State-Schuylkill. She added 24 points in her first meeting against Kean on Dec. 14.

Overall, Pitts has scored in double figures on 10 occasions, including three times with 20 or more points. She also has three double-figure games in rebounds.

Pitts, who also earned honors Monday as Rutgers-Camden’s Raptor of the Week, becomes the second Scarlet Raptor to earn NJAC honors this season. On November 18, senior guard

Fatimah Williams

was named the NJAC Player of the Week.

A graduate of Winslow Township High School, Pitts was a two-time All-Olympic Conference First Team player during her scholastic career. She earned 10 varsity letters at Winslow Township, including four apiece in basketball and soccer and two for outdoor track.

A Nursing major at Rutgers-Camden, Pitts captured Dean’s List recognition and a berth on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll during her first semester on campus in the fall.

Police Departments in Pennsylvania Getting New Radio System

By Kim Jarrett |

The Center Square

Capt. Sean Georgia, acting director of Radio and Information Services Division of the Pennsylvania State Police, speaks January 30, 2020, alongside Auditor General Eugene DePasquale inside the Capitol Media Center in Harrisburg.

Photo courtesy of Commonwealth Media Services

HARRISBURG, PA (January 2020)-Pennsylvania’s former public safety radio system was not only costly, but a hindrance for troopers who often turned to their own cellphones to communicate, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said in announcing audit results on the purchasing process for a new radio system.

State officials decided to move to the P-25 public safety radio system after cost and performance problems with the former system, Open Sky. During a news conference Thursday, DePasquale said an audit of the purchase of the new system shows it is on budget.

Open Sky was estimated to cost about $179 million, but the actual costs were about $850 million over the last 20 years, according to the audit.

“The largest of the contracts for that system was awarded to Amp, Inc. and was later taken over by Harris,” DePasquale said. “The Office of Inspector General is currently looking deeper into the original contract for the system, and it is my understanding and the understanding of our department that the investigation is ongoing.”

Despite the high costs, the system was unreliable for public safety personnel.

“Its technical failures hampered numerous investigations, including the manhunt for convicted killer Eric Frein,” DePasquale said. Frein was convicted of the 2014 attack on the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Blooming Grove that killed one trooper and wounded another.

The new system is already being used by troopers in 45 counties. Twenty-two state police departments, the Legislature, federal, county, and municipal government agencies as well as public transit and utility companies will have access to the system by the summer of 2021.

A few issues have been encountered during the implementation of the radio system but so far all of them all have been fixed, said Capt. Sean Georgia, acting director of the radio and information services division for the Pennsylvania State Police.

“My team found that the State Police and Office of Administration followed all applicable procedures in the latest radio system upgrade, which had a price tag of $44.5 million,” DePasquale said. “Importantly, the new system will use some of the existing infrastructure such as towers and microwave relays, so taxpayers did not have to buy those items all over again.”

Ten recommendations were made in the 74-page audit report. The State Police and the Office of Administration agreed to the recommendations. One recommended better documentation of the final operational tests for the new system, according to a statement from DePasquale.

“Given the history of problems involving the old system, I believe State Police should go above and beyond to document that the new system is working as designed,” DePasquale added. “Our emergency responders and the residents they protect deserve nothing less.”

published Gloucestercitynews.net with permission

GTPD Community ALERT: School Bus Safety For Drivers and Pedestrians

Safety Starts at the Bus Stop

For Parents..

-Your child should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. Visit the bus stop and show your child where to wait for the bus: at least three giant steps (six feet) away from the curb. Remind your child that the bus stop is not a place to run or play.

Get On and Off Safely

When the school bus arrives, your child should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver says it’s okay before approaching the bus door.

Use Caution Around the Bus

Your child should never walk behind a school bus. If your child must cross the street in front of the bus, tell him/her to walk on a sidewalk or along the side of the street to a place at least five giant steps (10 feet) in front of the bus before crossing and look both ways before crossing. Your child should also make eye contact with the bus driver before crossing to make sure the driver can see him/her.

FOR DRIVERS…

Make school bus transportation safer for everyone by following these practices:

-When backing out of a driveway or leaving a garage, watch out for children walking or bicycling to school.

-When driving in neighborhoods with school zones, watch out for young people who may be thinking about getting to school, but may not be thinking of getting there safely.

-Slow down. Watch for children walking in the street, especially if there are no sidewalks in neighborhood.

-Watch for children playing and congregating near bus stops.

-Be alert. Children arriving late for the bus may dart into the street without looking for traffic.

-Learn and obey the school bus laws, as well as the \”flashing signal light system\” that school bus drivers use to alert motorists of pending actions:

-Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles.

-Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. Motorists must stop their cars and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus begins moving before they can start driving again.

Address/Location

Gloucester Township Police Department

1261 Chews Landing Rd

Gloucester Township, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-228-4500

Muhlenberg College Students from NJ Named to Dean\’s List

ALLENTOWN, PA (01/28/2020)– Congratulations to the following local students named to the Dean\’s List at Muhlenberg College for the Fall 2019 semester:

Alexandria Bak of Pennsville, NJ (08070)

Shannon Beachem of Wall Township, NJ (07719)

Matthew Borrelli of Cherry Hill, NJ (08034)

Zaire Carter of Delran, NJ (08075)

Frank Caterina of Shamong, NJ (08088)

Madison Cornelius of Browns Mills, NJ (08015)

Hannah DeFrates of Haddonfield, NJ (08033)

Olivia Deutsch of Cherry Hill, NJ (08003)

Quinn Dougherty of Cape May, NJ (08204)

Carina Filemyr of Cape May, NJ (08204)

Laura Frye of Woodstown, NJ (08098)

Christopher Grahn of Riverton, NJ (08077)

Brooke Greenberg of Cherry Hill, NJ (08003)

Jenna Greenwald of Voorhees, NJ (08043)

Lauren Greenwald of Voorhees, NJ (08043)

Isabel Kaufman of Collingswood, NJ (08108)

Emily Kirchner of Maple Shade, NJ (08052)

Sarah Krsnak of Medford, NJ (08055)

Emma Mueller of Moorestown, NJ (08057)

Aitan Netz of Cherry Hill, NJ (08003)

Grace Nyberg of Haddonfield, NJ (08033)

Grace Oddo of Lumberton, NJ (08048)

Kristen Paige of Tabernacle, NJ (08088)

Frances Parker of Haddon Township, NJ (08108)

Jason Richwall of Medford, NJ (08055)

Kaley Ryan of Mount Laurel, NJ (08054)

Isabel Schwartz of Cherry Hill, NJ (08003)

Kayleigh Scott of Haddonfield, NJ (08033)

Chloe Selover of Woodbine, NJ (08270)

Raivat Shah of Mount Laurel, NJ (08054)

Samantha Shera of Voorhees, NJ (08043)

Kelly Steltz of Haddonfield, NJ (08033)

Desire Suarez of Elmer, NJ (08318)

Jake Swerdloff of Cherry Hill, NJ (08003)

Jessica Szasz of Mount Laurel, NJ (08054)

Sarah Vetesi of Cherry Hill, NJ (08003)

Ashling Wahner of Bordentown, NJ (08505)

Cameron Wasson of Mount Laurel, NJ (08054)

Julia Weikart of Haddon Heights, NJ (08035)

Gwendolyn Wilkie of Moorestown, NJ (08057)

Matthew Borrelli of Cherry Hill, NJ (08003)

Olivia Deutsch of Cherry Hill, NJ (08057)

Julia Weikart of Haddon Heights, NJ (08002)

Students with a term GPA of 3.50 or higher were recognized for this academic achievement.

About Muhlenberg College

Founded in 1848,

Muhlenberg

is a highly selective, private, four-year residential, liberal arts college located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, approximately 90 miles west of New York City. With an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 2,200 students, Muhlenberg College is dedicated to shaping creative, compassionate, collaborative leaders through rigorous academic programs in the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences as well as selected pre-professional programs, including accounting, business, education and public health. The College is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

A member of the Centennial Conference, Muhlenberg competes in 22 varsity sports.

About Muhlenberg College\’s School of Continuing Studies

For more than 100 years,

Muhlenberg College\’s School of Continuing Studies

has provided lifelong learners the opportunity to continue and enhance their education in ways that recognize their experience, maturity, motivation, life circumstances and capacity for independent scholarship. Through a rich variety of certificates and baccalaureate degrees, the School of Continuing Studies aligns a rigorous, high-quality and student-centric curriculum with the needs and trends of our regional economy.

JEROME BY DAVE WOLFE

ARTIST Dave Wolfe

Vol. 6 No. 31 (February 2, 2020)

Editor\’s Note: Each Sunday morning we post a weekly comic strip provided by cartoonist Dave Wolfe. (click image to enlarge)

Fatimah Williams collected a career-high 43 points; Scarlet Knights Take Kean U. 84-75

UNION, N.J. (Feb. 1, 2020) – Senior guard

Fatimah Williams

collected a career-high 43 points for the fourth-highest single-game total in program history to power the Rutgers University-Camden women’s basketball team over Kean University, 84-75, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game here Saturday.

Rutgers-Camden improves to 11-9 overall and 4-9 in the NJAC. Kean, which entered the day one game behind the NJAC tri-leaders Rowan, Montclair State and The College of New Jersey, falls to 13-7 and 9-4. Although Kean leads the all-time series, 50-23, the Scarlet Raptors are 4-2 in their last six games against the Cougars.

Williams became only the second player in program history to notch a 40-point game, an accomplishment that the program’s all-time scoring leader, Terry Cole, did four times. Cole has the three top-scoring games above Williams, notching 53 points against Ramapo (Feb. 26, 1983), 45 against Rutgers-Newark (Jan. 26, 1983) and 44 against Jersey City (Jan. 23, 1980). She also had a 40-point game against Spring Garden on Feb. 13, 1980.

Williams passed her previous career high of 32 points, set against Cairn University on Nov. 16, 2019. The game marked the 11th time she has scored 20 or more points this season and raised her career total to 1,139, 11th on the program’s all-time list. She is 15 points behind 10th-place Maureen McGovern (1994-99).

Williams also passed the season 400-point plateau, raising her total to 407 and her scoring average to 20.4.

Williams scored 24 of her points in the first half, helping the Scarlet Raptors take a 45-35 lead at the break. Rutgers-Camden trailed, 22-21, after one quarter and 24-21 early in the second quarter before taking the lead for good, 25-24, on a layup by sophomore forward

Breanna Ettrick.

That basket was part of a 14-0 run for the Raptors, who led by as many as 26 points (70-44) in the second half. The closest Kean came after the break was seven points (82-75) with 30 seconds remaining in the game.

Williams shot 18-for-30 from the floor, including 2-for-4 from three-point range, and was 5-for-9 at the foul line. She added nine rebounds, one steal and a team-high four assists.

In addition to Williams, the Raptors received another outstanding game from freshman guard/forward

Jalissa Pitts,

who scored 19 points and almost notched her second double-double of the week, finishing with nine rebounds. Freshman center

Kayla Newton,

meanwhile, collected a double-double with 12 points and a game- and career-high 19 rebounds. Her previous rebounding high was 10, accomplished four times this season.

The double-double was the third of Newton’s rookie season.

Junior guard

Shane Holmes

added three assists, three steals, three points and three rebounds, while Ettrick had five rebounds to go along with her three points.

Rutgers-Camden held a 51-39 advantage off the boards and shot 34-for-64 (53.1 percent) from the floor, while winning the Cougars were 27-for-83 (32.5) from the floor.

Senior guard Payce Lange and sophomore guard Shannon McCoy scored 22 and 21 points, respectively, for Kean.

The Scarlet Raptors return to NJAC action Wednesday with an 8 p.m. home game against The College of New Jersey.

Gloucester Catholic Principal Ed Beckett Selected as Grand Marshal For St. Patrick\’s Day Parade!

Gloucester Catholic Principal Ed Beckett has been selected as the Grand Marshal for the Fifth Annual St. Mary\’s Parish and Gloucester City St. Patrick\’s Day

Parade. The parade will be held on Sunday, March 1 starting at 1:00 pm.

Mr. Beckett will receive his Grand Marshal sash from Bishop Sullivan at the 9:30 am Irish Mass at St. Mary\’s Church..

Mr. Beckett has served as Gloucester Catholic\’s Principal since August 2013 and is highly regarded for his work with youth and his devotion to the Catholic Community. Mr. Beckett also served the school as Assistant Principal for Spiritual Formation for 8 years. An alumnus of the Gloucester Catholic Class of 1978, he previously taught at St. Joseph\’s Preparatory School and served as an administrator at Boston College High School.

The Parade begins at Martin\’s Lake (Baynes Ave and Johnson Blvd) and continues down Monmouth Street, and will feature String Bands, Bagpipes, Irish Dancers, Irish Music. Memorabilia, and Community Organizations.

Gloucester Catholic alumni are encouraged to attend the parade, and are invited to march with the school\’s contingent as we salute

Mr. Beckett as well as celebrate Irish Pride and the great city of Gloucester!

Local parade officials also announced that Mr. Beckett will receive the First Community Impact Award on Friday, March 6, at Elizabeth Ballroom in Gloucester City. Doors will open for the event beginning at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by calling the Rectory at (856) 456-0052.

Link to St. Patrick\’s Day Parade Festivities

For further information please contact St. Mary Rectory at (856) 456-0052. You may also click on the link below for general information and a sponsorship registration form!

General Information on St. Patrick\’s Day Parade and Activities

Thank You from St. Mary\’s Parish and Gloucester Catholic

Making Birthday Celebrations Even Better

(NAPSI)—Birthdays: we all have them, and we all have a chance to make them memorable for the people we care about. From unique ideas for celebrating to top birthday gifts at any age, here are some ways to put the happy in these special occasions, turning every birthday into a “birthYAY!”

A World of Birthday Wishes

No matter how you express it, the love you feel when wishing someone a happy birthday is universal. So the next time a friend or family member’s big day comes around, surprise them by saying it in a different language. Strut your international style by reciting your best Bosnian, “Sretan ro?endan”, or Bulgarian, “Chestit Rozhden den.” Or show off those superior language skills in Swahili, “Siku ya kuzaliwa ya furaha,” or Swedish, “Grattis på födelsedagen.” Get the whole list online and get ready to send your best birthday wishes!

Making the Most of Milestones

We all know that one person who loves to stretch their day of celebrating into a whole week…or even a month! And while any age is worth recognizing, milestone birthdays are the perfect opportunity to get a little carried away. How about welcoming each new decade with a unique way to celebrate? Turning 30? Think of 30 fun things to do, however big or small. Feeling adventurous? Go skydiving, bungee jumping or rock climbing with a few of your closest friends. Like to keep it low key? A new hairstyle, massage or treating yourself to a gift of flowers or chocolates is a great way to go. Check out more awesome ideas and start planning.

Now Trending: Buzz-Worthy Birthday Surprises

Speaking of birthday gifts, nobody knows more about finding the right one than the team at 1-800-Flowers. Which gifts rise to the occasion? Truly original is the way to go, and their very own decorative birthday flower cakes take the cake. New to the collection is a vibrant floral cake creation, designed to brighten their celebration at any age.

Fall is a popular birthday season, the perfect time for sending their new Harvest Glow Bouquet, a farmhouse-style design full of rustic charm. And because you can never go wrong with a classic, their exclusive Magnificent Roses—in radiant red or passionate purple—leave a lasting impression.

Plants are having their moment, and 1-800-Flowers is now offering more green and blooming beauties than ever. Try a unique, new glass succulent terrarium, or their best-selling Happy Birthday Succulents by Lula’s Garden. And because birthdays were made for indulging, 1-800-Flowers is serving up some exclusive hand-dipped strawberries from the newest addition to their family of brands, Shari’s Berries.

So there you have it! The scoop on making birthdays special, straight from the experts. For more on sending smiles for birthdays, or any day, call 1-800-FLOWERS, visit

www.1800flowers.com

, or visit a retail store. To find one nearby, visit

florist.1800flowers.com

NJ Pick-6 Rises to $2.4 Million for Feb. 3. Drawing

TRENTON (Jan. 31, 2020) – The Pick-6 drawing on January 30 produced seven winners of $2,957 for matching five out of six white balls drawn. The $2.4 million drawing will be held Monday, February 3, 2020.

The winning numbers for the Thursday, January 30, drawing were: 01, 06, 12, 19, 26 and 49. The XTRA Multiplier was: 05. By adding XTRA for an additional $1.00 per play, winners are able to multiply their non-jackpot prizes by the XTRA number drawn.

Acting Executive Director James Carey announced that there were 414,039 tickets purchased for the drawing and of those sold, thousands were prizewinners! For correctly matching four numbers, 467 ticketholders won $41 each and 81 others won $205 each with the addition of XTRA. Moreover, for correctly matching three numbers 7,969 ticketholders won $3.00 each and 1,297 others won $15 each with the addition of XTRA. 8,647 ticketholders each won $2.00 for correctly matching two numbers with the addition of XTRA on their purchase.

NJ Religious Leaders Guilty of Conspiracy To Evade Paying Millions in Taxes

NEWARK, N.J. – The leader and the main treasurer of the Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ were sentenced to federal prison today for their respective roles in a scheme in which both men caused the church to pay millions of dollars in personal expenses for the leader that the leader then omitted from his personal tax returns, U.S Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Jermaine Grant, 44, of Burlington Township, New Jersey, was sentenced to 18 months in prison and Lincoln Warrington, 49, of Bergen County, New Jersey, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison. Both men previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge William J. Martini to Count One of the indictment against them, charging them with conspiring to defraud the United States. Judge Martini imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:

Grant and Warrington used their leadership positions in the church to divert to Grant millions of dollars belonging to the church and its members for Grant’s personal use and benefit. The defendants used a variety of methods to carry out the scheme. For example, Grant and Warrington created a purported entertainment company that portrayed Grant as an industry mogul whose wealth was derived from his success in the industry, thereby concealing from church members that his lifestyle was supported entirely by the church and donations from its members. Grant and Warrington also used the church’s money to pay Grant’s other personal expenses, including payments for rental real estate properties, vacations, high-end luxury items, and private school tuition for Grant’s minor children. Grant, with Warrington’s assistance, then omitted these benefits from his individual income tax returns, resulting in the evasion of a substantial amount of tax due and owing to the United States. In total, Grant and Warrington concealed millions of dollars in income from the IRS, and failed to pay at least $250,000 in taxes.

The plea agreements in this matter include a requirement that the church will develop and present to the United States a plan designed to ensure the church’s compliance with applicable federal income tax laws going forward. Before the United States returns to the church certain cash and property seized during execution of the search warrants in this case, the compliance plan must address the disposition of that cash and property and ensure that they are returned for the benefit of the church rather than for the personal benefit of Jermaine Grant or any other individual.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Martini sentenced Grant and Warrington to three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI’s Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie, and IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge John R. Tafur, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencings.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Margaret A. Mahoney, Senior Trial Counsel for the National Security Unit in Newark, and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig.

Defense counsel:

Grant: Gerald Lefcourt Esq., New York

Warrington: Richard Levitt Esq., New York