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SCHOOL BOARD SUING STATE
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Volume 18 • Issue 38
by Zack Brown
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON— The Hammonton Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution
that will restart the district’s
Bacon v. New Jersey Department
of Education funding litigation.
The vote came during the board’s
www.hammontongazette.com
Votes to re-start Bacon funding lawsuit from 1997
regular meeting of September 11
at the Samuel A. Donio Library at
Hammonton High School.
According to a presentation by
Hammonton Superintendent of
Schools Dr. C. Dan Blachford, the
lawsuit, originally filed by the Education Law Center in 1997 on
behalf of 16 rural districts, attempts to secure the same entitlements awarded to New Jersey’s
poorer urban school districts in
Abbott v. Burke. The board contends that Hammonton’s rural
population faces the same challenges burdening urban Abbott
districts.
“We all know that there are
houses around Atlantic County
where the mortgages are delinquent, or close to being delinquent. Many people have severe
economic stress. And Atlantic
County is suffering from a dra-
matic job loss,” Blachford said
when addressing the board before
the vote on the resolution.
Blachford said the burden of
funding the gap in school funding
should not be placed solely on the
local taxpayers.
Liepe shoots self Green Day a rainy success
See SChOOL, Page 3
Survives; court date postponed
by Gabe Donio
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—According
to published reports, William
Liepe, 61, of Hamilton Twp.,
whose trial regarding a crash that
killed 9-year-old Ryan Schleyer
and left then-11-year-old M.J.
Guzman paralyzed in 2011 had
jury selection begin on September
8, shot himself in the head on September 9.
Atlantic County Prosecutor’s
Office Public Information Officer
Jay McKeen told The Gazette that
the court date had been postponed.
“I can tell you that the court date
has been postponed, though I do
not yet have a rescheduled date,”
McKeen said.
McKeen had no further com-
Env. Comm. talks
about several topics
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
HAMMONTON—On September 10, the Hammonton Environmental Commission met to
discuss several current events pertaining to the town and the envi-
See COURT, Page 14
ronment. There were two environmental presentations directed to
members of the commission as
they made recommendations to
those speaking parties. There were
also updates from other local
boards and other business matters
Local man works as train engineer
See POST OFFICE, Page 4
THG/Paul E. Pedersen Jr. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Atlantic County Parks Manager Adam Witcraft, of Hammonton, stands inside his tent during Green Day on September 13.
For more photos from September 13, see pages 16-17.
wide yard sale organized by MainStreet Hammonton and the Hamby Paul E. Pedersen Jr.
monton Education Foundation
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
Recycling Central, which offered
HAMMONTON—The Ham- paper shredding and other oppormonton Green Committee held its tunities to recycle electronics and
Seventh Annual Green Day Festi- other items. Several “hands-on”
val on Saturday afternoon, Sep- audience participation workshops
tember 13. The rain didn’t dampen and presentations took place durthe “Go Green” spirit of all those ing the four-hour event that was
who attended and participated in held on the grounds of St. Joseph
the many programs and events that High School located at 328 Vine
were available during the after- St.
noon.
Hammonton Green Committee
The festival was one of several Chair Amy Menzel said she was
“Green Weekend” activities that happy with the way the event
took place in Hammonton on Sep- turned out even though the
tember 14, including the townSee GREEN, Page 12
Local train engineer’s
view of hammonton
by Paul J. Macrie IV
GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
THG/Paul J. Macrie IV. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Hammontonian Jaime Murray stands beside one of the trains he operates.
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HAMMONTON—Jaime Murray, 33, of Hammonton has been a
New Jersey Transit engineer for
12 years. Murray spoke to The
Gazette about his experience
being a train operator. During a
typical work day, he said he operates the train from Atlantic City to
Philadelphia, with stops in between, twice, as he assumes the
responsibility in getting the public
to their desired destination.
It has been a unique day-to-day
endeavor for Murray, who pro-
ONLY $20 FOR 52 WEEKS! CALL (609) 704-1940
See COMMISSION, Page 10