The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 70

S2. THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Wednesday, January 13, 1993 The Scene in South Jersey By Tom Torok "Hey, listen," he said "Whatever's important to people, we can't cast aside. You've got some wheels turning in my head now. I don't know if it's possible that there's any kind of rule that a sign has to say, 'Men at Work." Well see." He's still a rookie, but I've got high hopes for this guy. The Camden County freeholders I dealt with years ago would have changed the signs to reflect the stark truth of the time: "Nobody Working." You neighbors may be rich; be nice to them You may be rubbing elbows with a multimillionaire, and you just might be richer than him or her.

Somebody's walking around with a slip of paper worth $10,277,728. It's a New Jersey Pick-6 Lotto ticket that'll be worth about as much as a napkin come Jan. 30, when it expires. The winning ticket was one of three sold for the lottery last Jan. 30, when the jackpot was worth $30.8 million.

the governor just might want to hire her as a political barometer. She said when people come in her office and see her name plate, "I can tell from their face what their feeling is about Florio. If they say the name through their teeth or in awe, I can tell how they're feeling." A lot of folks wonder if she's related, and she can also tell how they feel about the guy by the way they ask. If they like him, they'll ask pleasantly, "Are you related to the governor?" If they don't, they'll scowl and say, "You're related to (For the record, his image is improving.) Incidentally, Zane Florio has four children. Their names? Would you believe Clinton, Gore, Tsongas and Rostenkowski? Just kidding.

"I didn't do it," she said. "I gave them all WASP names: Carol, Nancy, Janice and Jeffrey." They don't call them flag women, do they A road crew was busy on Haddonfield Road yesterday Two folks from Monmouth and Bergen Counties claimed their booty, but the other winning ticket which was sold in Camden County is still out there somewhere. So, check the bottom of your underwear draw, under your sofa, wherever you tend to lose things. If you find one and it has the numbers 3, 4, 19, 28, 33 and 35, you can tell your boss exactly what's been on your mind lately. Perhaps it would jog your memory if you knew exactly where in Camden County the ticket was sold.

I asked state Lottery spokeswoman Sharon Southard, but didn't get much help. "We don't release that information for security reasons," she said. Oh, why's that? "We're not at liberty to discuss why," she added. She wouldn't even play "Hot and Cold." I guess if I had to give away $10 million, I wouldn't be real cooperative either. South Jersey News in Brief Lawmaker won't maneuver for vote on sports betting A state lawmaker abandoned plans yesterday to force an Assembly vote on a casino sports-betting bill that has not been released from committee.

Assemblyman Robert Singer Ocean) said that voting on legislation that had not been approved by the appropriate committee would set a bad precedent Singer said also that he did not know whether he had enough votes to get the measure out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where the bill stalled in December. Lawmakers cannot create new forms of gambling without amending the state constitution, and amendments must be approved by voters. For the referendum to appear on the November ballot, the sports-betting bill must win 48 votes in the Assembly and 24 in the Senate by August. That is the last chance before federal law bars sports betting in New Jersey and other states that haven't already approved it Body of man found floating in a creek in Deptford The body of a man was spotted floating in the Big Timber Creek in Deptford Township yesterday afternoon by a man walking on Clements Bridge Road, authorities said. Gloucester County Prosecutor Harris Cotton said that the man appeared to have been in the water for a few weeks and that there was no apparent indication of the cause of death.

The man was fully clothed and was bearing a North Carolina driver's license. His identity had not been confirmed last night. Deptford police were called to the scene at Clements Bridge Road near Route 41 about 5:10 p.m. The body was later recovered by the county medical examiner. morning, fixing some do-dad or another on the street.

It was cold and wet, an ugly day to be outside. A woman was out there directing traffic with two red flags. She was not smiling. You wouldn't be either if you were standing in a nippy drizzle acting as a human traffic light on busy Haddonfield Road. She was working, but you wouldn't know that from the yellow and black, diamond-shaped sign posted on the road in front of her.

It said "Men Working." She sure as heck wasnt standing out there for fun. What gives? Even such unenlightened places as New York have "People Working" signs. Why not in a progressive place like Camden County? So, I called Scott Goldberg, county freeholder who's in charge of such things. "That's an interesting thought Interesting idea," he said. "This is the first anyone has said anything about this to me, although I've been at the job for one week now." But he said he'd look into it finally be able to get on with my life and do the job that I've always wanted to do." Piatt was called back to regular duty Jan.

1, just days after the Township Council's Dec. 28 decision to do away with the position of public safety director, held by Joseph In-diero. The council appointed Lt. James Hansen chief of police, giving him the administrative duties of the department. Hansen, who was sworn in Monday night, referred questions about Piatt to Alan Feit, the township's manager.

"He had to go through some training and re-certification for his gun," Feit said. "His final psychological Reinstated officer gets back his badge his regular job back, Feit said. In a tort claim filed in May 1992, Piatt contended that the Township Council's decision terminating his employment was "the end result of individual actions and a conspiracy against" him, according to his attorney, Robert Vetra. Vetra said the old police administration had used against Piatt the fact that he had checked himself into a hospital for depression and took a six-month leave of absence in 1988. Plat received three months' back pay when he resumed work in the records room.

The tort claim, seeking punitive damages, is pending, officials said. Chesilhurst patrolman in doghouse Essex County man is held in death of elderly couple Frank Masini, a 48-year-old handyman who is already facing charges of killing an elderly relative, pleaded not guilty yesterday In Newark to fatally stabbing a retired couple in their West Orange home on Thanksgiving eve. Bail was set at $1 million. Masini, of Livingston, remains a suspect in a fourth slaying, of an elderly woman on Thanksgiving eve By Jacqueline Urgo INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT MOUNT HOLLY After a yearlong battle to get back his job, Mount Holly police Officer Russell Piatt has been put back on regular patrol, carrying a gun and wearing his badge, township officials said yesterday. Piatt, an 11-year veteran of the Police Department, was removed by the previous police administration, which said he was unfit to be a police officer because he had "exhibited emotional problems related to his duty." "I feel very good about being put back on duty," Piatt said.

"It's something that I have waited for a long time to happen. I feel that I will A witness says he fears testifying WITNESS from S1 against Brown, whose trial began yesterday in Gloucester County Court with jury selection. Rambo said he intended to honor the court orders compelling his testimony issued by judges in Gloucester County and San Mateo County but "I'm pretty fearful right now." Rambo said that when he cooperated with the police investigation Into Sewekow's death nearly 10 years ago, he was assured that his name would be kept confidential. He could not remember who specifically gave him that assurance, but said that Fanelli and "somebody from the prosecutor's office" were present. "I gave them information confidential," Rambo said.

"There should be some kind of anonymity. They promised me that." Magid who is handling all questions on the case declined to comment on Rambo's claims. In court papers filed recently, Magid said that Rambo was friendly with Brown and that Brown had told Rambo he had been involved in throwing Sewekow out a moving vehicle on the Black Horse Pike in Washington Township in 1981. Rambo said yesterday that it was another person, not Brown, who told him that Brown was involved in Sewekow's death. Rambo would not identify that person and maintained he was merely an "acquaintance" of She's a secretary and a barometer Cherry Hill Mayor Susan Bass Levin has a secretary who is about as political as you can get In name only.

"My name is Zane Florio," she said. But she's no relation to state Sen. Ray Zane, a Gloucester County Democrat, or a guy named Florio you may have heard about Her name also isn't the product of parents with a political sense of humor. Zane Ella Shelor married into the Florio name. Zane is a family surname.

"My name's caused a lot of fun in the township," she said. "Somebody brought me in a sign that said 'Zane I sent letters to my friends saying, "Thanks for your support I'm grateful for your support' Not to bruise the senator's ego, but that's about all the ribbing she gets on the Zane end of her name. "I don't think people in Cherry Hill think about him too much," she said. As for the Florio surname, well, Police Blotter Unless otherwise attributed, the following reports are based on statements local police. Burlington County Burlington City A man was arrested and charged with robbery and aggravated assault at 1 a.m.

Friday in connection with an armed robbery on Green Street near Linden Avenue the day before. Steven B. McNeal, 28, of the 200 block of West Union Street, was arrested while walking near Wall and Belmont Streets. He is suspected of being one of three men who robbed a man on Green Street at knifepoint The suspects fled on foot toward Linden Avenue after taking $200. McNeal was being held in the Burlington County jail yesterday after failing to post $2,000 ball.

Mount Holly An RCA videocasette recorder valued at $500 was reported stolen at 11:30 p.m. Sunday from a house on the 200 block of Woodlane Road. Police do not know how the intruders entered the residence. Willingboro Someone broke into a house in the first block of Windsor Lane and got away with a Sega Genesis game, valued at $200. The break-in occurred between 9 a.m.

and 1 p.m. Monday, police said. Camden County Camden City Uriel Brown, 16, of Camden, reported that 16 youths attacked him and robbed him of his sneakers while he was walking home from Camden High School on Monday. Brown, a student, said he was walking in the 1500 block of Park Boulevard about 3 p.m. when the group knocked him to the ground.

They beat and kicked him and took his shoes. Brown was treated at Cooper Hospital-University Medical Center for cuts and bruises and released. Stacey Green, 34, of Berlin, was treated at Cooper Hospital-University Medical Center for cuts and bruises Monday after three men beat him with an iron pipe and stole $40. Police said Green was walking in the 1000 block of Haddon Avenue at 1 a.m. when the trio attacked him.

Police searched the area but were unable to locate the suspects. Gloucester County Glassboro Four men followed a family home Monday and robbed them of $35. Police said the victims were followed by a cream-colored Dodge Aries from a seafood store on Route 322 to their home in Park Crest Village. When the family's car stopped, four men got out of the Aries and demanded money, shoving the man of the family against his car. The victim gave the men $35, and the four drove away.

Drunken-driving charges were filed against a Pitman man after he struck the shopping cart of a woman in the Kmart parking lot at the Colle-getown Shopping Center Monday night. The woman was pushing the cart down a ramp at around 8:30 p.m. when Timothy Berry, 29, struck the cart with his 1984 Oldsmobile, pushing the cart into the woman. Berry drove away, but a witness stopped him in front of a pizzeria and held him until police arrived. The victim did not require immediate medical attention.

Monroe Township A fax machine and several car radiators were stole from Coach Auto Parts on the 200 block of the Black Horse Pike. Police said someone pried open the front door between 2 p.m. Sunday and 8:52 a.m. Monday. I Defendant Robert F.

Brown sits through jury selection. The prosecution wants to use a bite mark on the victim's arm as evidence. examination reported that there was no reason for him not to be put back on duty." The state Pension Board reinstated Piatt in September, overturning the Township Council's December 1991 decision to terminate Piatt's employment The township had 45 days to appeal the finding, but instead allowed Piatt, 39, to return to work in November as a clerk in the police records room, a non-uniform position. Feit ordered that before Piatt could be returned to regular duty he had to undergo a final psychiatric evaluation. Since the officer passed the examination Nov.

30, the township had "no choice" but to give him For Tl Inquirw ELIZABETH VORHAUER prosecution witness. Brown, 34, formerly of Clementon, is serving a sentence of 10 to 30 years in Trenton State Prison for robbery. Magid is attempting to make legal history in New Jersey by seeking to use a bite mark found on Sewekow's upper right arm to help convict Brown of her slaying. Forensic dentists have identified Brown as the person who made the bite mark. Superior Court Judge Joseph Lisa must rule whether Magid can use such evidence at Brown's trial.

contains construction debris and landfill waste that had been removed from a five-acre area behind Hunter Court. A farmer operated a landfill at or near what is now Hunter Court from 1955 to 1965. The report said the state Department of Environmental Protection and Energy should oversee more tests to better determine the scope of the problem. George Klenk, a DEPE spokesman, said he could not comment on the 1 potential hazard posed by the cadmium and lead levels found by JCA until he received a copy of the report. But he said levels of chemicals at or below the state's proposed standards were considered an acceptable risk, one at which no more than one person would become ill for every one million people exposed to the substance 24 hours a day for 70 years.

Klenk said the DEPE would conduct its own review of the engineering firm's report. The agency also will investigate why no one applied for a permit to remove the trash from beneath a portion of Hunter Court to clear the way for homes, or a permit to bury construction waste behind Sundance Court. in 1991, according to prosecutors. He By Mike Franolich has not been charged in that case. inquirer correspondent Assistant Essex County Prosecutor CHESILHURST It's a doggone Stephen Taylor told Superior Court shame what happened in Chesilhurst Judge Joseph Falcone that all four on Monday night, when the bor- killings were strikingly similar, and ough's K-9 patrol officer was asked to that the state may seek the death turn in his dog.

penalty. Taylor said all the killings The dressing down of Patrolman occurred on Wednesdays, all the vie- Thomas Iannace came at a private tims were elderly and knew Masini, meeting, before a small group that there were no signs of forced entry included the borough mayor, a coun- and all suffere(i stab wounds in the cilman a police investigator and Po- neck and a defensi hce Chief Bobby Fields, authorities wou t0 the He Problems began when Fields victims had been sexually as-manded that Iannace hand over the police dog, Freddy. Tw0 Camden me chjrged Dog gone, said Iannace. kk- "We don't believe that," Fields said robbery yesterday. Two Camden men were arrested Ran away, Iannace told everybody, yesterday and charged with armed "We think he's hiding the dog robbery.

Police said they struck a gas somewhere," Fields said. station attendant on Admiral Wilson Now authorities are tracking the Boulevard on the head with a sawed- tracking dog. off shotgun and fled with an unde- And a custody dispute is brewing, termined amount of cash. "Take me to court to get him back. PbMp O.

Roberts, 27, of the 1000 That's my dog," Fields quoted Ian- block of Langham Avenue, and Wil- nace as saying at the meeting. Ham Corbin, 20, of the 300 block of The problem is that while the bor- Chestnut Street, were being held in ough paid Atco Kennels $500 for the the Camden County Jail after they German shepherd three years ago, failed to post bail, only Iannace's name appears on While on patrol at 12:20 a.m., Pa-Freddy's American Kennel Club pa- trolman Pierre Robinson drove into pers, which disallowed a borough's the Sunoco gas station at 2150 Admi-name as owner, Fields said. rai Wilson Boulevard and spotted the So who feeds Freddy in the future attendant, Alexei Egordv.bleeding remains at issue. from the nead and snouting at four Neither Iannace nor his attorney men who fled on foot from the sta- could be contacted last night. tion.

RoblnSon chased Roberts and Freddy was two months old when corbin and caught them a short dis- he moved in with Iannace, a common tance away bonding procedure for police dogs and their human handlers. It wasn't mmmmmmmm until September that Freddy was ready for duty, after his graduation Ct -111 XcxfOOt in August from an Atlantic City po- OU Ulll CI oCy lice academy, the chief said. Since then, when Chesilhurst South Jersey is a section of local news needed Freddy, they got Iannace as and sports gathered by members of The well. Inquirer's bureau in Cherry Hill and pub-Fields said that Freddy is owned by lisned everv Monday through Friday, the borough, a crime-fighting tool in Readers are invited to call the bureau on which $5,000 has been invested. weekdays at the numbers listed below to If Iannace is found to be hiding the comment on tne newspaper, report a dog, it might lead to the only crimi- news Dlace an advertisement or con-nal charge theft of property duct business.

against him in the Whole mess that Editor Lorraine Branham got him chewed OUt in the first place. Deputy Editor Daniel R. Biddle Attorney John Kearney, acting spe- Edltor Mark Wagenveid cial counsel for the borough in the Editor Julie Busby matter, said that last fall Iannace got 5n Edilor Don McKee into a brouhaha with another police As8lslant Pflmela officer outside the municipal court- Photo Lw Henkels room While COUrt Was in Session. Burlington Cojditor Porus Cooper Camden Co. Editor Michael Schafler An in-house settlement in the shov- CH1.

9' bloucester Co. Editor Jerry W. Byrd ing match required Iannace to do the making Up, Which Kearney WOUld Advertising Manager Andrew Hartnett not detail. But Iannace never did, circulation Manager p8Ui oahms Kearney said. Circulation Manager Len Roberts Since then, Iannace has used "inap- propriate" language on the police radio, Kearne said.

Straying from Sfti 104 and Alpha-Bravo-Charlie is NJ-08002 against the rules, he said. Telephone: But it's the to-do over the dog that did him in, Kearney said. Iannace has been suspended without pay. circulation i-eoo-523-9068 Said Fields: "I think he's become sports 779-3900 tO that dog." To report sports results: -800-945-4570 Environmental official considers probe of Colts Neck development Brown's not a friend. Authorities have said they believe more than one person was involved in Sewekow's abduction and slaying.

Sewekow was kidnapped from her disabled car at the Echelon Mall in Voorhees and died of injuries suffered when she was thrown onto Black Horse Pike in Washington Township about an hour later. Magid would not comment on what role Rambo might play in the possible arrest of others. Brown's attorney, Cesar Alvarez-Moreno, declined to comment on Rambo's scheduled appearance as a Luongo; Bruce Hasbrouck of Woodbury, who initially investigated the issue for Luongo, and representatives of JCA Engineering Associates Inc. of Mount Laurel before making a decision on how to proceed. Luongo, Assemblywoman Mary Virginia Weber Gloucester) and Assemblyman George Geist Camden and Gloucester) all requested yesterday that Madonna look into the matter.

The requests came a day after JCA Engineering released final results of a study that showed levels of cadmium and lead exceeding the state's proposed standards. Douglass Hill of JCA told about 100 Colts Neck residents Monday night that soil samples taken from a three-acre area behind Sundance Court were contaminated. He also said that a recent test on property along nearby Stag Run showed that methane gas, a product of decomposed waste, was present at combustible levels. The JCA report stated that the three-acre elevated section, now a grassy field, should be fenced off to prevent children from playing in the area. The engineers said the mound By Maura Webber INQUIRER CORRESPONDENT WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP State Environmental Prosecutor Steven J.

Madonna said he was considering an investigation into how two small streets in the Colts Neck Estates de velopment were built in the mid- ivhus on or near tne remains or a landfill. "I'm inclined to be rather con cerned that some regulations and laws ot New Jersey have not been followed," Madonna said yesterday. "I've been told there are houses currently existing on a landfill, and that's not the way you construct a landfill and that's not the wav vou construct a house." Orleans Corp. of Huntingdon Valley, built about 30 houses at the site of an old landfill, located be tween Sallna and Egg Harbor Roads. urieans president Benjamin Goldman has maintained, however, that the houses were built on clean ground.

The trash uncovered during excavation was removed, he said. Madonna, who has the nower to prosecute criminal, civil and admin istrative cases, said he would meet tomorrow with Mayor Gerald.