Korey Alston, a running back and defensive back at Camden Catholic and one of the top football prospects in South Jersey, will undergo knee surgery tomorrow. He hopes to return by next month.

On patrol in al Bawi, Iraq, First Lieutenant Ross Pixler was in the lead inside his armored Bradley Fighting Vehicle on an October day when the fiery blast of an IED shattered the daily monotony. The deeply buried IED exploded as the Bradley passed over, ripping the vehicle apart and killing three fellow soldiers.

Still dazed by the carnage, Pixler exemplified the strength of an army soldier by ignoring his injuries, finding his rifle, and getting to work. Already the three other vehicles in the convoy were approaching the attack site, but Pixler wasted no time in checking on the unconscious driver and gunner, and taking up a defensive position. He later reflected, \”Everything goes really fast and I wasn’t really stopping to think about what I was doing. I was doing what I was trained to do.\”

Just as Pixler and the rest of his unit began recovering from the attack, scattered mortar and small arms fire bombarded the site. Pixler, rattled by his concussion, did not hesitate to raise his rifle and take a key role in the defense of the position while assistance came to recover the bodies of the Americans.

As the hours wore on, Pixler and the other surviving members of his team were loaded onto another Bradley and pulled out of the waning firefight. The safety of the rescue vehicle was broken when another IED crippled it, forcing the men to exit the vehicle and repulse another attack.

It would be many hours from the initial attack to the time Pixler and his men were within the walls of an American base, but during that time his focus on the mission and his men never wavered.

For his bravery under such austere conditions and his tenacity in the face of adversity, he earned the prestigious Silver Star medal. Pixler considers it not an award for himself but, \”an award for every single one of the soldiers that were out there, and the ones that can’t come home.\”

The owner of an off-track betting license has decided he would rather open for business in a vacant movie theater on Route 38 in Pennsauken than down the road at Garden State Park where he has land, a liquor license and Cherry Hill Township approval.

A ranking of public high schools that compete for South Jersey titles and nonpublic schools in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem and southern Ocean counties. Ranking selected by The Press\’ high school sports staff based on staff observation, research and interviews with players and coaches. Last week\’s ranking in parentheses.

In November 2007, the 22-year tenure of New Jersey State Athletic Control Board commissioner Larry Hazzard Sr. came to an end. It was a position that seemed tailor-made for the innovative Newark native.

But those familiar with Hazzard knew he\’d resurface and continue to influence boxing, and on Monday, Hazzard emerged at the East Orange-based International Boxing Federation.

The Hells Angels are a worldwide criminal organization that exists to facilitate its members\’ illegal activities, B.C. Supreme Court was told Thursday.

Prosecutor Mark Levitz said in his opening address in a massive trial involving four members of the club that the Angels use their reputation for violence to earn money in the criminal underworld.

Proof of that reputation are the weapons, ammunition and explosives police seized during their investigation into the East End chapter of the Hells Angels, the prosecutor told the 12-person jury.

Senior quarterback Zach Barlage, making his first varsity start at quarterback, hit George Spingler for a 37-yard gain on the play. Barlage had a huge day, throwing for 299 yards and four touchdowns including three to Spingler, and outdueled fellow first-time starter John Robinson as the Rams outlasted the Pioneers, 45-41.

\”Should\’ve had four (TDs),\” Spingler said with a laugh, referring to a dropped pass in the fourth quarter. \”Every practice (Barlage) and (senior Rob Riemer) split time, we didn\’t know

HAMMONTON – The programs that were printed before St. Joseph High School\’s football game with Bridgeton on Saturday didn\’t list any Wildcat freshmen.

They probably should have.

With what St. Joe coach Paul Sacco says is his youngest team in 27 years at the helm, the Wildcats impressively beat an equally young Bridgeton team 35-0 to open the season.