The Hammonton Gazette 12/09/15 Edition | Page 5

New Jersey and New York lower flags for Castaneda Page 4 • Wednesday, December 9, 2015 • The Hammonton Gazette by Gabe Donio GAZETTE STAFF WRITER ALBANY, NY — According to press releases issued following the death of United States Army Private Christopher J. Castaneda in Iraq due to a non-combat incident, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ordered flags in their respective states to be lowered to honor the fallen soldier, a 2014 graduate of Hammonton High School and former resident of Hammonton. Cuomo directed flags on state government buildings to be flown at half-staff on Tuesday, November 24 in honor of Castaneda, a Fort Drum, New York, soldier, who died in Iraq on Thursday, November 19, a release from Cuomo’s office said. “Pvt. Christopher Castaneda died in a non-combat related incident at Al Asad Air Base. He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, of the 10th Mountain Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team. He was a resident of Fripp Island, South Carolina,” the release said. “On behalf of all New Yorkers, I extend our deepest sympathy to Pvt. Christopher Castaneda’s loved ones. We are saddened by his loss and join his fellow soldiers, his family and his friends in honoring his service to our nation,” Cuomo said. Cuomo has directed that the flags on all state buildings in New York be lowered to half-staff in honor of and in tribute to New York service members and those stationed in New York who are Police make arrests by Gabe Donio GAZETTE STAFF WRITER HAMMONTON—Police made several arrests locally, including the following, Hammonton Police Captain Nick Salvatore said. • On December 3, Robert Smith, 64, of Hammonton, was arrested for unlawful possession of a weapon (firearm). Smith was ar &W7FVB