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MAN FLEES ACCIDENT
p. 23-38
p. 27-32
p. 47
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Volume 22 • Issue 4
by Gabe Donio
www.hammontongazette.com
Detective Sgt. Edward Slimm,
Jose Ramirez, 27, of Hammonton,
was arrested on October 21 at 5:18
a.m. in the area of the 100 block of
Pleasant Mills Road.
Police had responded to the
scene of an accident involving
Ramirez’s vehicle which had
struck an Atlantic City Electric
pole, Slimm said in his report.
Slimm’s report said Ramirez
had left the scene and was found at
his residence close by, where he
was found to be driving while
under the influence (DWI) and
was arrested on that charge. He
was processed and later released
pending court in Hammonton Joint
Municipal Court, the report said.
Ramirez was charged with
DWI, reckless driving, failure to
maintain lane, unlicensed driver,
failure to report an accident, leav-
Wyatt pays tribute Pyramid cuts ribbon at Kessler
to ‘sister’ Jacobs
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—According
to a report by Hammonton Police
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—At the Octo-
ber 22 council meeting, Hammon-
ton Tax Assessor Mary Joan Wyatt
attended the meeting to pay tribute
to her longtime co-worker and
friend, former Hammonton Tax
See POLICE, Page 2
Collector Rosemarie Jacobs, who
died on September 20 at the age of
64. Jacobs was a lifelong resident
of Hammonton and served the
community for more than four
decades as tax collector.
Wyatt said she and Jacobs be-
came very close friends during the
time they spent working together
Freeholder race
for 5th District
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—In the state
of New Jersey, each county elects
a legislature known as the board
of chosen freeholders. For At-
lantic County, there are nine free-
holders on the board, who are
See COUNCIL, Page 10
Bertino (R) and
Butterhof-
Rheault (D)
running
Downtown Trick-or-Treat winners
each elected to three-year terms
via staggered elections. Five of
See FREEHOLDER, Page 4
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Pyramid Healthcare Inc. Vice President of Operations Matt Mantone (third from left) and Councilman Joseph Giralo
(second from right) cut the ceremonial ribbon during a grand opening of Pyramid Healthcare’s Hammonton Detox
and Inpatient Treatment Center on October 19. Also pictured (l-r) Atlantic County Fifth District Freeholder James A.
Bertino, Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson and Atlantic County Freeholder Board Chairman Frank D. Formica.
The 100-bed drug and alcohol rehabilitation center is located at 600 S. White Horse Pike.
by Stephen Pistone
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
HAMMONTON—The newest and largest tenant of the Kessler Med-
ical Arts Complex was officially introduced to the community on Octo-
ber 19 with the grand opening of a detox and inpatient treatment center
(located at 600 S. White Horse Pike) that is operated by Pyramid Health-
care Inc.
Once it begins accepting patients in early December 2018, the 44,000-
square-foot drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility will be equipped with
more than 90 staff members, many of whom are certified to provide per-
sonalized, flexible treatment and help facilitate long-term addiction re-
covery for the patients that will occupy the 100 beds (20 for detox; 32
for short-term female patients; 48 for short-term male patients) located
throughout the facility.
B. Perna addresses
Parks & Rec Comm.
See PYRAMID, Page 3
G AZETTE S TAFF W RITER
THG/Stephen Pistone. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Mia Bailey, Brayden Attard, Gazette Lead Graphic Designer MarySusan Hoffman Attard, Amanda Cirillo and Chloe
Bailey gathered during Downtown Trick-or-Treat dressed as characters from the Disney Pixar movie Monsters Inc.
They won the group contest at the annual event on October 20. For more pictures, see Page 17.
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HAMMONTON—Hammonton
Lake Patrol Guard Bruce Perna
addressed the Parks and Recre-
ation Commission on October 16
at town hall. He presented a report
on his second year in the position.
“I think compared to last year,
Gazette • SUBSCRIBE NOW! • CALL 609-704-1939
See COMMISSION, Page 4
by Michael Rizzotte
things went a lot smoother. It’s
been good, things have been quiet.
When people see me coming in
the truck there’s not a lot of moan-
ing and groaning. People know
me, I get along with everybody,”
Perna said.
In addition to the Lake Park and
the Moss Mill Road soccer fields,
Perna patrols William T. Capella