Page 2 • Wednesday , February 1 , 2023 • The Hammonton Gazette
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The Hammonton Gazette
OPINION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 NOTICIAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 OUR TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 FAITH FOCUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 CIVIC NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 HAMMONTON ’ S HISTORY . . . . . . 27
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT . . . . . . 33 WHAT ’ S HOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 MIND GAMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 REAL ESTATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 SCORECARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 www . hammontongazette . com
The Hammonton Gazette ( USPS 018984 ) is published weekly by Gabriel J . Donio ( Publisher ), Hammonton Gazette Publishing LLC , 14 Tilton St ., Hammonton , NJ 08037 . Periodicals Postage Paid at Hammonton , NJ . Subscriptions are available for $ 25.00 per year for New Jersey addresses & $ 30.00 per year for residents for out-of-state addresses . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to The Hammonton Gazette , 14 Tilton St ., P . O . Box 1228 Hammonton , NJ 08037 . Call ( 609 ) 704-1940 for more information .
OBITUARIES
Clifton E . Wooton Jr .
Clifton E . Wooton , Jr ., 64 , of Galloway passed away on Sunday , January 22 , 2023 with his family at his side . Born in Vineland he was a lifelong area resident . He formerly worked as a landscaper for John Rodio of Hammonton . Clifton was an avid Phillies and Eagles fan , and enjoyed watching the games with his father . He enjoyed horses , riding on the back of his father ' s motorcycle , family reunions and most especially Wawa coffee and chocolates .
He was predeceased by his mother , Jane Wooton ( nee Heller ); his grandparents , John and Hulda Wooton ; and his brother-in-law , Christopher Green . Clifton is survived by his father , Clifton E . Wooton , Sr . and his wife Kathy ; his brothers , Kevin Wooton ( Vicki ), David Dorfman ( Wendy ), Jane Michel ( Charles ) and Robin Green ; his uncles , Joseph Dolan ( Carol ), DY Wooton ; his nieces and nephews , Nathan Johnson , Daniel Dorfman , Mike Fitzgerald , Sierra Dorfman , Bob Huddleston , Jr ., Elliot Huddleston , Casey Huddleston , Steven Wooton , Amber Buentello ; his devoted caregivers at the Health Center at Galloway and many great nieces and nephews , cousins and friends .
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday , February 4 , 2023 , 1 p . m . in Pinelands United Methodist Church , 4200 Nesco Road , Hammonton , N . J . In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society . Clifton was loved by many and will be dearly missed .
Arrangements made by Carnesale Funeral Home
Assault , weapons charges
POLICE , from Page 1 as reported ,” Friel said .
Upon interacting with the driver of the Hummer , the driver stated he was cut off by the complainant and the complainant allegedly struck his vehicle on Route 54 , Friel said .
Friel said Heiser asked the driver to step out of the vehicle , at which time the driver stated to Heiser that there was a firearm in the glove box .
Heiser retrieved a Ruger SR22 handgun from the glove box and the driver said the ammunition was in the rear compartment of the vehicle , Friel said .
While speaking with patrol , the driver identified himself as a federal marshal , Friel said . When asked for his credentials , he said there was no way to verify that information , Friel said .
“ He also stated that he had a Missouri carry permit but he was not aware that it was not valid in New Jersey ,” Friel said .
The driver was placed under arrest and a search of his vehicle yielded a loaded 9 mm handgun , Friel said . The driver was identified as Russell Yoder , 64 , of Tuscumbia , Missouri , Friel said .
In speaking with the caller , the caller advised they had passed
Yoder , and then Yoder began driving erratically , following them home and blocking their vehicle in their driveway , Friel said .
Yoder identified himself as a federal marshal to the victim , and began taking pictures of the victim and the residence , Friel said .
“ He also told the victim that there would be other federal law enforcement officers en route ,” Friel said .
Yoder was transported to police headquarters and charged with the following criminal offenses : simple assault , impersonating a law enforcement officer , criminal mischief , possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose , possession of a handgun , improper disposition of weapons , harassment , refusing to be fingerprinted , false imprisonment and obstruction of the administration of law , Friel said .
He was transported to the Atlantic County Jail on the charges , pending a court appearance in Atlantic County Superior Court , Friel said .
Heiser was the investigating and arresting officer , Friel said .
This report is comprised of arrests and investigations made by the men and women of local enforcement . All suspects and arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law .
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Carter Bailey and Sylvia Birnbaum reading inside the Atlantic County Library — Hammonton . Saturday , January 14 , 11:26 a . m .
2 charged in animal fighting case
by Gabe Donio
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
MAYS LANDING — According to a release from the Atlantic County Prosecutor ’ s Office ( A . C . P . O .) issued on January 30 , Sigfredo Perez , 81 , of Newtonville , and Queli Merlo , 49 , of Hammonton , were both arrested and charged with third-degree Owning / Training Live Animals for the Purpose of Fighting offenses on January 26 .
These charges stemmed from an investigation of an anonymous tip given to the Atlantic County Prosecutor ’ s Office , the release said . The tip led A . C . P . O .’ s Humane Law Enforcement Unit and the New Jersey State Police to a home in Buena that was alleged to have been housing birds used for fighting , according to the release . The release said a search of the property yielded dozens of roosters trained to fight as well as equipment used to train the roosters to fight .
According to the prosecutor ’ s office release , more than 100 other birds were found to be living in unsanitary conditions on the property . The birds are currently under quarantine in accordance with state law pending the outcome of disease testing , the release said . Multiple dead birds in varying stages of decay were also found on the property , according to the release . The release said detectives also seized two dogs , five rabbits and several cats that were living in unsanitary conditions and in need of medical treatment .
The Atlantic County Prosecutor ’ s Office initiated and led the investigation with assistance from the New Jersey State Police , the New Jersey Department of Agriculture , and Buena Borough Animal Control , according to the release .
These charges are merely an accusation and not proof of guilt , the release said . In all criminal cases , a charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty , the release said .
DON MASCIOLI ( 609 ) 685-9371 ( cell )
JOHN CONNAHAN ( 609 ) 602-8111 ( cell )
Master HVACR Licenses 19HC00196900 , 19HC00487200
Correction : The author of three articles inside the January 25 edition of The Gazette were incorrectly marked . Gabe Donio was the author of the three police related articles . The Gazette regrets the errror .