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WEEK OF OCTOBER 25 TO OCTOBER 31, 1979

KNTKRCO AS TMIKO CLASS MAIL NCRMIT HO tfl POSTAas PAID AT AVALON.A«W JlJiiv MMS

Arson In County: We All Pay r Cm Sckatfftr * J

By KaIIiImr Cw

WILDWOOD - It often begins silently, stealthily, in the muffled hours before dawn when the rest of the world sleeps. Suddenly there is a flash, the flames take hold and yet another building is ablaze, the handiwork of the eleusive

Arson, commonly misconstrued as a “victimless crime" has risen to alarming proportions across the country Cape May County is no stranger toils ravages Sixteen fires in Cape May County this year have bean reported confirmed as arsons. Six more fires have been deemed “suspicious.'’ Six persons have died in Gape May Caunty in the past two years-victims of the “vkrtimlan crime." A problem too long ignored » now the subject of an all-ant public

In

in its first week of operation, Von Savage

said.

Arson, Von Savage is particularly attractif* to a potential arsonist because it if a "low-risk, high reward crime." "This type of crime falls between the cracks,” Vton Savage said because so many law enforcement and fire agencies are involved and because arson is not always readily detected. Statistics show tlwt the

an increase in fire itturance premiums? "It erodes the tax base, causes iob loss, the ntighborhoods deteriorate and the coat of firefighting increases" to name a few, Von Savage said. "Public awareness is the main problem and increased efforts are needed on the part of law and fire authorities," Von Savage

said.

Arson is "really not that difficult to prove" if

AuMCtetMW of Independent Insurance Agents has spearheaded a movement that they hope will get the public to face up to the realities of arson and the effeeta it has on EVERYONE. The payoff, they hope will be a corresponding decrease ha the destruction caused by

istx.

ARSON TAKES its tell in Cape May County and it is on the increase. I Jfe. property and money are several effects of what is now referred to as the ’kefcorg crime.*’ Afcove. the recent Windsor Hotel fire in Cape May was of’‘suspicious origin."

Arson Alert! If you have any information about a suspicious fire, call the "Arson Alert." Callers identities will remain anonymous at all times. To call “Arson Alert” dial: 465-7181

three

lira.— in—wfc.

•long with Capo May anonymous

County Prosecutor Donald R Charles Jr and tho Capo May County of Chamber o< Cwnmorco have sol up an •Arson Alert" phone lines as one major weapon in their fight against anon. Instituted Oct. IS. the "Arson Alert" line will

formsUen about siupktous

JP

receive up to HOD for Information dial proves valuable In an In-. vesttgaUon, David Von' Savage, the association

president oaid

Each tipsier will be issued a code number to protect rdrntiUrj and can Call in periodically lo see Whal progress it bring

main

are

Rewards will be given to (ipaters who have provided information beneficial to an investigation, and drop off points for cash rewards will be arranged to keep the tipster's anonymity intact, he added. The "Arsen Alert" line has not received any calls

motives for revenge <90

vandaitem (JO percftit) and prent (JO percent), Von Savage said. Arson, also referred to as “the iceberg crime" because only the surface has been uncovered, caused approximately $350,000 property damage in Ckpe May County this

year.

Whal effect does it have on individual residents *

detected quickly and carefully investigated. Von Savage said. * * • - A "coordinated effort of effectiveness" could greatly diminish arson, the insurer said. Special arson training for police and fire fighters, joint efforts in arson investigation between all authorities, immunity laws for trading of information regarding suspected ari Page 3 Please*

Experiences Influence Are GOP Emphases

Hurley: Confident

“1 really think they (the people) think we're doing a good job, I honestly do," Hurley said. Hurley ihould know whereof he speaks He is currently up for his sixth bid as First District Assemblyman He is also the Republican Minority leader and "recognized * state GOP leader,” th# assemblyman said The veteran assemblyman discussed the upcoming election with the Lantern this week after a long day of touring factories and shaking hands. The past achievements Hurley is most proud of during his tenure as First District Assemblyman include Ns leadership of a citizen initiative and referendum bill. Citizen initiative and referendum in New .feraey

In His Leadership

win

iin give Nm Ity to shape

is "amott valuable method by which to generate meaningful citizen involvement in govern-

ment." Hurley a

«der the

By Kathleen Csa Schaeffer

MILLVILLE

Hurley is excited about the that future future of Cape May and “If the

Cumberland Counties, you're doing a'good job. questions on tha ballot for And, he Is confident the they hsep you m ; if not. voter action

' tkyp

Under the syetem citizens couM petition state

people tNnk government to place

people of Unee counties

y put you out. "

The invttiative and

referendum system would cut through prevalent voter alienation from government and given them a more direct involvement in Bwernment. he added. "The dramatic and continuing decline in voter turnout is a clear indication, indeed, that citizens feel their wishes are going unheeded and their problems unaddressed," the assemblyman said. Hurley cited his "continuing effort on tourism" as a prime sc Neve moot of his 12-year legislative career. Hurley, along with his Yunningmate Joseph Chlraiici were sponsors of (Page 24 Please)

Turn Clucks Back Sat. Nite REMEMBERF It's time to set your clocks hack Saturday. Oct. 27 when the switch-over to Eastern Standard Time <E3T)ismade.

Chinnici: Focus

Is One-To-One

By Kathleen Cea Schaeffer BRIDGETON - Serving the people on a personal, one-toone basis is the key ingredient to good governmental represen-

tation. says Joseph CMnnici And, it is an ingredient he has used liberally in his eight years as 1st District Assemblyman for Cape \ «Page 3 Please*