Local man showcases his
passion for trains
COOKIE BAKE-OFF
DECEMBER 6
Itsy the Elf makes
annual appearance
LOCAL MAN MISSING
p. 51
p. 33-48
Call 609-704-1940 for details!
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Volume 22 • Issue 49
by Gabe Donio
G AzeTTe S TAff W RiTeR
www.hammontongazette.com
John Ring last seen on Wednesday, Oct. 31
Slimm’s release said Ring’s
truck was located at a rest area on
i-85 Northbound in Dolphin, Va.
According to a tracking device on
Blood box stolen Santa Claus arrives downtown
at AtlantiCare
HAMMONTON—According
to a release by Hammonton Police
by Gabe Donio
G AzeTTe S TAff W RiTeR
HAMMONTON—According
to a report by Hammonton Police
Detective4 Sgt. edward Slimm,
Sal Jacobs, 61, of Hammonton,
Detective Sgt. edward Slimm, the
Hammonton Police Department,
New Jersey State Police Missing
Persons Unit, and Virginia State
Police are investigating the disap-
pearance of John Ring ii.
Ring is a truck driver and he
was last seen in Hammonton on
October 31, 2018, the release said.
See POLICE, Page 2
was arrested for theft of moveable
property on November 30 at 5:22
p.m.
Jacobs is accused of stealing the
blood specimen box at approxi-
mately 5:47 a.m. on November
30, Slimm said in his report. The
box was located at the AtlantiCare
50 years for St.
Anthony’s Church
See TOWN, Page 10
by Stephen Pistone
G AzeTTe S TAff W RiTeR
HAMMONTON—The pews of St. Anthony of Padua Church were
filled to capacity on November 25 during a Mass held in celebration of
the church’s 50th anniversary.
Originally the site of Shady Lawn Nursery, a portion of the 20-acre
parcel of land between Basin Road and Route 206 was donated to the
Diocese of Camden. The Rev. Umberto Carta was the founding pastor
Tom Southard: Decorating the natural way
See ST. ANTHONY, Page 10
THG/Kelly Hunt. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Santa Claus tosses his magic dust to light the town Christmas tree on December 2 during MainStreet Hammonton’s
annual event. More pictures on Page 12 and 14. Article, below.
by Gabe Donio
G AzeTTe S TAff W RiTeR
HAMMONTON—A few days
before
Thanksgiving,
Tom
Southard pointed out the various
items in his workshop that will be-
come holiday decorations in flower
shops, restaurants and hotels in
places like New York City and
Philadelphia. There were wreaths
made of wisteria vines, small pot-
ted trees tinged with gold and bun-
dles of greens and vines, among
other items. Outside, cut up por-
tions of a birch tree were waiting to
be turned into decorations for the
holidays.
“We’re going to make Yule Logs
out of those,” Southard said.
Southard, 70, can trace his first
days of collecting fresh items in the
meadows of the Pine Barrens to
when he was 11, joining his uncle.
Tree lighting draws
crowd downtown
G AzeTTe S TAff W RiTeR
THG/Gabe Donio. To purchase photos in The Gazette, call (609) 704-1940.
Thomas Southard with some of his natural decorations on the sign for his business on Pleasant Mills Road.
SUBSCRIBE TO The
HAMMONTON—The streets
of downtown Hammonton were
shining bright and abuzz with hol-
iday cheer on December 2 during
MainStreet Hammonton’s Down-
town Christmas Tree Lighting
Ceremony.
Gazette • SUBSCRIBE NOW! • CALL 609-704-1939
The annual event, which
marked the start of the holiday
season in Hammonton, attracted a
significantly large crowd of peo-
ple—most of whom gathered near
the intersection of Central and
Bellevue Avenues.
A stage assembled on Central
Avenue by Spellcaster Produc-
tions featured several perform-
See TREE, Page 4
by Stephen Pistone
See SOUTHARD, Page 3