• County resident praises Safe Surrender program
SALEM - Not only did James Spencer become the first Salem County resident to turn himself in during Day One of the Fugitive Safe Surrender program in Camden Wednesday, he was home by the afternoon to talk about it.

• Crescenzi leaves borough council
PENNS GROVE - Borough Council President Anthony "A.J." Crescenzi has resigned from the governing body here, allowing his successor to get an early start on the council.

• Parents voice rumor concerns
ELMER - Parents came out Tuesday night to confront the board of education after hearing rumors of the school closing.

• Bryant guilty of fraud, bribery
TRENTON - Former Sen. Wayne Bryant, who over a quarter century rose to become one of the most influential legislators in New Jersey, was found guilty Tuesday of using his power for personal gain.

• More charges for 3 in dog case
PENNS GROVE - Additional charges have been filed against three people who allegedly operated a pit bull fighting ring at a house on Lanning Avenue here, authorities said.

• Rev. Dorn sworn in for DRBA commissioner post
NEW CASTLE, Del. - The Rev. Edward Dorn of Pedricktown was sworn in Tuesday morning for a new term as a commissioner on the Delaware River and Bay Authority.

• County indicts 18 in $1M drug ring
SALEM - Eighteen members of a bicoastal drug ring that authorities say netted over $1 million a year selling prepackaged cocaine and marijuana in the area were indicted by a Salem County grand jury here recently.

• Dog fighting suspected in P.G.
PENNS GROVE - Three people from outside of the county have been arrested for allegedly operating a pit bull fighting ring on Lanning Avenue after abused and injured dogs were found at a home there, according to police.

• N.J. U.S. Attorney Christie to resign
By John P. Martin and Josh Margolin

• No verdict as Bryant jury deliberates for first full day
TRENTON - Jurors deliberated for the first full day Monday in the corruption trial of former state Sen. Wayne Bryant, without reaching a verdict. U.S. District Court Judge Freda Wolfson gave the case to the jury on Friday afternoon, after more than two months of testimony from dozens of witnesses.

• Panel discusses binge, underage drinking issues
TRENTON - The state Senate Education Committee held a special hearing Monday morning on underage drinking on college campuses, prompted by a recent petition signed by more than 140 college presidents.

• Planning board hears school plan
PILESGROVE TWP. - The Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional Board of Education held a special meeting last week to introduce its bond referendum plan to the Pilesgrove Township Planning Board.

• Seniority a factor in Beltway
By Jessica Coomes

• County nabs 6 on fraud charges
SALEM - Six county residents were arrested on Friday by local law enforcement for alleged motor vehicle insurance fraud, the Salem County Prosecutor's Office announced.

• Couple reveals secrets to happiness
PENNSVILLE TWP. - Dominic and Jennie Giordano celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary here on Nov. 11. The couple, who spent most of their lives in South Philadelphia, have lived in Pennsville for about 12 years. Both Dominic and Jennie are 95 years old.

• N. Bend meeting despite closure
SALEM - Half a year after the firehouse doors shut on North Bend Fire Co., they are keeping the tradition alive in the basement of their former chief's home.

• Police: P.V. student grew pot in school
PENNSVILLE TWP. - A Pennsville Memorial High School student was arrested at his home last week on several drug charges including allegedly growing marijuana at his school, police said.

• Area celebrates Adoption Day
SALEM - Two Salem County children were given the gift of a family on Friday in conjunction with National Adoption Day.

• Board OKs Alloway housing project
ALLOWAY TWP. - With a 5-1 vote, the Alloway Township Planning Board granted preliminary approval to a what has become a controversial 22-dwelling housing development on Watsons Mill Road this week.

• Business leaders meet over breakfast seminar
CARNEYS POINT TWP. - The Salem County Chamber of Commerce 6th Annual Leadership Breakfast gathered prominent business leaders Friday morning at Salem Community College to discuss the keys to maintaining a successful workforce.

• BOE discuss drop in enrollment
ELSINBORO TWP. - The decline of student enrollment at the Elsinboro School was the focus of a discussion among board of education members at their meeting here this week.

• Drug kingpin gets prison
MAYS LANDING - A drug kingpin who headed a marijuana distribution ring from the Pilesgrove Township migrant labor camp where he lived was sentenced to 15 years in state prison here on Thursday.

• Lawyer: No crime in Bryant case
TRENTON - Federal prosecutors put former Sen. Wayne Bryant's personal and professional life under a microscope for a year but failed to find a crime, his attorney said Thursday in closing arguments.

• Police push maritime security
LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK TWP. - Even in the most remote backwater regions of Salem County, state police want criminals to know the long arm of the law can reach there.

• Ceremony recognizes vets for their service
SALEM - A Veterans Day Tribute Ceremony was held at the Old Courthouse here Wednesday as more than 180 local residents were recognized for their service to their country.

• County No. 1 in preserved farm acres
MANNINGTON TWP. - Deep in Salem County's agricultural heartland here, officials announced on Wednesday an agreement for the largest acquisition in the 25-year history of New Jersey's Farmland Preservation Program.

• Group home details sought
PILESGROVE TWP. - Talk of establishing a residential group home for the mentally disabled in a local neighborhood sparked concern as homeowners attempted to prod answers from the township committee during Tuesday's meeting.

• Inauguration Day proves to be hottest ticket in town
WASHINGTON - Three months ago, even before Barack Obama won the presidential election, Frank Minor booked a Washington hotel room for Jan. 20.

• County honors veterans
PENNSVILLE TWP. - Their faces creased with age, their rifles no longer loaded, former soldiers turned color guard peered out at a grateful county Tuesday at a Veterans Day ceremony in Riverview Beach Park.

• DOE: Passing grade for special education program in Quinton
QUINTON TWP. - The Quinton Township Board of Education has learned the school district is not deficient in any state-mandated special education areas after receiving results back from the state Department of Education.

• N.J. groups have big plans for president-elect Obama
From those advocating for health care reform to others pushing alternative energy production, organizations in New Jersey are waiting, rather impatiently, for President-elect Barack Obama to begin work in the Oval Office.

• School won't suspend student athletes after off-campus altercation
PENNS GROVE - Student athletes charged in a pair of off-campus altercations over the weekend won't be suspended from Penns Grove High School and will be allowed to continue to play football, school officials said Tuesday.

• Student athletes arrested in fight
PENNS GROVE - Some members of the Penns Grove High School football and basketball teams were arrested over the weekend after they were involved in two separate but connected altercations, which apparently stemmed from a fight over a girl, police said.

• Teacher admits kissing student
SALEM -A former alternative high school teacher here, accused of official misconduct for allegedly making sexual advances toward his students, pleaded guilty to one count of the indictment against him Monday.

• Visiting Nurse receives $373G in grant funding
PENNSVILLE TWP. - The township has been awarded a grant in the amount of $373,000 to be used for the Pennsville Visiting Nurses Association to keep it running for the next three years, officials have announced.

• Offices at parks reduce hours
TRENTON - Administrative offices at certain New Jersey state parks and forests - including Fort Mott in Pennsville Township and Parvin State Park in Pittsgrove Township - will be open on a Monday-to-Friday schedule through the end of March, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson has announced.

• Saudi intern gleans lessons
MANNINGTON TWP. - For Hani Alghamdi, The Memorial Hospital of Salem County was the perfect place to learn about quality of care in a community hospital - knowledge that he can take home to a similarly sized hospital in Saudi Arabia.

• Student veteran services pushed
The New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities wants its nine member schools Ð among them, Rowan University Ð to do more to serve students who are veterans.

• Teen drivers may face new rules
By Angela Delli Santi

• Clerk, freeholders at odds over contract
SALEM - Salem County government heads are clashing over the recent bidding process of a new records management system here, as County Clerk Gilda Gill argues she is being forced by freeholders to accept an inadequate contract.

• Lightning should be one less worry for Salem Oak
SALEM - High atop the verdant branches of the county's noblest landmark, tree specialists attached a subtle lightning protection system to the Salem Oak here Friday, ensuring Mother Nature cannot undo more than 600 years of her finest efforts.

• Korean War vets paid early tribute
MANNINGTON TWP. - In an early Veterans Day tribute to the residents who served their country bravely here, the township committee paid special homage Thursday to the proud soldiers of the Korean War.

• Project expansion aims to improve inmate-family values
PENNSVILLE TWP. - Representatives from Salem County gathered at the school district office Friday to discuss a long-term program that will strengthen the social and economic values of those incarcerated and their families.

• Quinton may cancel sewer contract
QUINTON TWP. - The Quinton Township Committee wants to terminate its contract with Metra Industries, the company installing the new sewerage system, for allegedly failing to fulfill its end of the deal and complete the project, officials said.

• Cross wins seat by 7 votes
SALEM - For anyone who thought their vote didn't make a difference, the final tally of freeholder ballots Thursday came with a margin of victory of just seven votes between the two Republican running mates.

• Industrial group gets committee kudos
CARNEYS POINT TWP. - At the Wednesday night township committee meeting, the Carneys Point Industrial Commission was recognized for its service to the township. A relatively unknown organization, the commission has done a lot for Carneys Point.

• P.G.H.S. adding program changes
CARNEYS POINT TWP. - Penns Grove High School students will start seeing the standards to graduate change to meet increased education measures.