Herald A Lantern 7 April *82

35

Consumers. May Stop Paying Arthur R. Hall <1 read with interest the other day that.consumers in the Washington-Oregon area are withholding, payment of their ^tectrlc bills ps protest to what they consider to be unrealistically high rates. There is concern that if this movement grows, it will threaten the financial viability of the electric companies of thpt area On a national average, electricity cdsts the consumer 6 cents per KWH. according to a recent article in the Christian Science Monitor. We pay Atlantic City Electric, approximately. 10 cents per KWH, 67 percent moretthan the natiohal average Despite the fact that Atlantic Electric plready receives far more for electricity than . others. The company is asking us for an additional 30 to 40 percent. If it succeeds in this demand, if will then be receiving more than twice as much as averager There is something drastically wrong here and I hope.the public • protest and governmental review of the request qan bring it to light ‘ r • OUr unfortunate dependence upon an electric company which cannot be happy with rates 67 percent higher thpn ' the national a vet-age threatens the economy of Cape May County and all of South Jersey. FurthernMre, thecompany's well-beihg may aluo suffer if it pertists in its insatiable demands, as it, like those in Washington arid Oregon, may find itself confronted with consumers withholding their payments as well. Arthur R. HalL a Wildwood Crest resident, addressed the letter to the president of Atfantit City Electric Co. Lower Township Needs A Change • by Franklin L. HMbruner I have read wiih deep concern the many letters to the editor from ‘the citizens and taxpayers of Lower township who have suddenly realized they are being consumed by a monster, one they created — our township fdrm of govem-

, ftient.

The excessive tax raise has brought township property owners to their feet in anger and amazement. Was it because of a' routine minimal annual raise? No. It was caused by a huge increase, notification of dwindling reserves, without warning. Worst of all is that complete 4*®bility of the Township Committee to give concrete solutions for stabilizing the cost of operations for the future. . It’s going to spiral more with the planned revaluation by a private company, with the continued lack of business administration by the Township Committee people now in office and their complete disregard for harmony in Township Hall. I I AM NOT WRITING as a candidate for political office, nor do I intend to file to run for any office. I’m a concerned, angry, and aroused taxpayer. I warned our citizens of this situtioh and suggested studies for charter change of govej-nment. It went unheeded and is now coming true. All my warnings and suggestions are documented. The warning went unheeded, but that’s no reason we can’t take action unlike any taken before in tihs township. We all must feel the concern and heartache that face most of our township residents, all because of the antiquated township committee form of government. Even, thoqgh Lower Township is the most heavily populated area in the county and growing faster every day, we have only three members on the governing body. One is up for election each year. .THIS GIVES POLITICAL significance to every, thing that is attempted, which in turn makes the governing body extremely cautious, consequently nothing gets done that * should be done. In the present township committee form of government there is no clear out authority or respon-

sibility.

All this allows a terrible’situation of passing the buck. . It’s happening at present. The Township Committee invited — I should say ordered — the deaprtment heads to .attend the last meeting to answer questions. The reason was that the township committee simply doesn't and can't answer the questions put to them about township operations. . - Under this form of government a' majority of control can switch at the mid-terip of any given member so that the people can never tell who has a program that is good. - If anything good is accomplished every one will claim credit for it. If it's bad they will each blame, the other

fellow.

UNDER OUR PRESENT form, under which the members of the governing body run at large, it is possible that all might reside in one area, leaving large sections with no direct representation. This is true at present. Three-fourths of Lower Township has no direct representation. This must stoo. For these and many other reasons the township committee form of government should be changed to the strong mayor-council form in all municipalities with more than 10,000 population, and Lower Township Soon will have twice that number. Therefore the citizens of Lower Township should not ask for, they should demand an immediate charter study to change the form of government. If there is any hesitation or opposition by an elected official or political group, the citizens should take the reins and start the study. As a group, you have enough active citizens.groups and organizations to. accomplish anything you wish if — and it’s a big if — you’ll just work together. A united bipartisan effort is unbeatable. Start now to straighten out Lower Township. Time Is running out. FOR A BRIEF explanation of the mayor-council form of government, there would be a mayor and five councilmen,

• • v ^ nr/KZirna THE-LEAST TERN, one of over 600 species of Wildlife which will^be the focus of The Wildlife of Cahe'May County, a six-week course, to be offered fat The Wetlands Institute beginning April 15., * \ Jersey Cape Wildlife Course For more than a hundred years Cape May County has been famous as a bird watcher’s paradise. In addition to over 350 species of birds, the county is home to innumerable fish, mammals, amphibians and other wildlife. The rich diversity of natural inhabitants will be explored in a six-week wildlife course offered Thursday evenings beginning April 15 at the Wetleand Institute, Stoqe Harbor Blvd., Middle Twp. Participapts will receive a' copy of the book The Wildlife of Cape May Cohnty. The program willinclude a night /rog hunt, one all^day field trip, six slide lectures, a woodcock walk, and other adventures,'Instructors will be Joe Lomax and Anne Galli, authors of The Wildlife of Cape May County. The fee includes all printed materials. Advance phone registration is required. Call 368-1211. . * Sea Life Workshop For Kids A childrens’ Workshop on Sea Life will be field at the Wetlands Institute Sunday afternoons, april 25 through May 23. Participants will paint sea life while learning about it through Jield trips, slides and movies. The workshop is for grades 2 and up; class size is limited. To register call 368-1211.

British Seagull 387 Talking About Male Strippers by litia Byrd r I sat on the beach in the sun and absorbed the wonders; of spring, waiting for my friend Henrietta Hunkle to cofhe down the beach for her daily run Henrietta never failed me. She always brought something from her breakfast table and put it in arsecret spot by the bulkhead just for

me

We have a thing between us. Henrietta and me. For a long time sht^ahd I have gotten along and on rare times we sit on the beach and look out to sea together experiencing the wonder and beauty of nature It’s always nice to share the good things in the world. This morning Henrietta right dh time As she jogged slowly down the beach she headed for the bulkhead, reached down and placed the treasured food in the usual place I zoomed id quietly so the other birds would not pick up my dCstiny and good fortune, and sort of waddled up to the bulkhead. Henrietta was id a sitting mood and watched as I approached bet. ever cautiously, ever bn«guard Hunger soon overtook .my good sense and I ate heartily , from the paper plateful of food JUST AS 1 FINISHED SEATING. Ilenretta did something she’d never done beforer She reached over and grabbed me with.botbof her strong hands "Listen bird," she said. ’Tve just got to talk to someone and all my friends have deserted me " With that the old dame proceeded to talk rapidly and Wilh great confusion "1 went to see this group of male strippers the other night in the Villas I tell you bird..it was^something, Hut what I don’t understapd is whangs wrong with me I just couldn't take it .and had to leai/e It wasn't so much the gyrating and hopping all over the tables so that screaming women could put dollars in the guys g strings it was the women They thought they'd been liberated by all their wild calling about the guy's body and all that stuff, but I'll tell you this they’ve gone back to the cave days and

beyond"

"What really got tb me is that Jhe wqmen doing all the calling and stuffing', are really nice wrimen. highly respected and good. I think we’ve all lost our heads," she screamed, clutching me wildly I looked at her. thinking that certainly at least one of .the womerf lost hers "TJIEltK SEEMED TO BE A FAKE air about the entire -show. It was as if the women were doing all those things ..'not because they were having a good time arid really Wanted to* but because they've been led to believe that to db that giVes them a certain equality, an equal footing with men Now I'm not condoning men^ actions over women, it's just that I figure they can keep that side of them I don't want equality if it means degradation of tny

principles and ideals

"Thfe evening was more funny than sexy It's all a farce, a set up for bored, lonely women to get a cheap thrill " For the first timg in our' relationship, I looked at

(Page36Plyase)

Cape May and Villas. The mayor and councilman at large would run in the whole township. The other councilman

would run in their own districts only.

It would help put an end tc»no open primaries. It would be difficult for candidates to be handpicked or forced on the township and political parties as is the present trend, regardless of what you read that it isn’t So. \ Expect opposition. Remember a charter study is to select the form of change and the procedure needed to make the change. Don't let any power-hungry individual or group deter you from what you must do. We can’t go

any further ah it rs.

Franklin L. Halbruner is a resident of Cold Spring. He has been an. unsuccessful candidate for Township Com

mittee. ■(.

The Corrections System by Sheriff Beech N. Fox Using Time Constructively

To continue our description of prisoner

processing; Each prisoners required to

j Mwear a plastic wrist identification band at ! all times This is especially important ^■■^1 when movement outside the system is

I necessar >’ — transporting prisoners to. and J from investigative . interviews, medibal

■Vjt ■ trips, other institutions, etc. The higher the

■ prison population, the more critical the Fox identity problem becomes throughout the system. The incoming prisoner' also

receives a copy of the prison’s regulations. Inmates with language or, literacy deficiencies are instructed verbally

by special officers.

The prisoner’s cell is spartan but functional and he usually has it all to himself. It contains a wall hung steel bunk with a 3 inch mattress, a steel locker and a per'manently mounted stainless steel mirfor The lavatory, drinking fountain and toilet is a once piece stainless steel fixture. The cell has a barred gate for easy observation

from the corridor.

FOR MALE INMATES THERE ARE six’housingjmits consisting of 12 individual cells, a shower stall and a com mon day-room with three stepl floor-mounted table and stool assemblies. There is also a similar seven-cell unit used for various segregation purposes. Four other cells, us ed for shortterm segregation, are isolated’by masonry

walls.

The female housing unit is similar but contains only four individual cells with six bunk areas arranged in dormitory

style.

A # We also have a “material witness” unit, capacity 5 per / sons, and a temporary holding cell used primarily for processing prisoners in and out of the system Dormitories are also used for trustees and those involved in the work release'programs. IN A COUNTY JAIL WHERE MOST prisoners ate pre trial detainees, the nemesis of idle time is a constant challenge. To help burh off anxiety and tension, our basic -policy is to utilize the outdoor exercise areas as much as possible. This yard is surrounded by two chain-link fences 12 ft . high and 15ift. apart. The area is additionally secured by

prison type iff fencing The yard is also well guffi ded at all tifnes. However, difficult as it is, escapes are poss blc and our personnel. (s especially trained to handle such

emergencies.

The most effective method of using prison time con structively lies within the various work activities Going beyond the usual daily routine movements such as sick calls, interviews trips to the commissary, library and church periods, family visits and educational programs we have other extensive activities within the system as well as our “work release” programs THE MAJORITY OF PRISONERS are pul to work within the system They perform "such things as light maintenance, kitlhen work, cleaning, mowing grass, washing windows or vehicles, pulling weeds, picking up trash, etc They may also hje placed under thr supervision of the County Parks Dept for grounds mauftenance or special projects. , . In one recent project a group of prisoners entirely remodeled several rooms in ah old building at the Crest Haven Complex - which provided some much needed ex-

tra space «

* Searching for new work ideas is a continuing task Last year we'jnitiated a County Prison Farm adjacent to the Center, and we ekpect to have it in full.operation early this Spring This will provide both ample produce for our kit

chen and healthy work for our inmates.

I FIRMLY RELIEVE IN KEEPING PRISONERS occupied With purposeful, hard physical labor Such an environment can deter further criminal behavior after release — a person isn’t anxious to return to such a system. In my opinion this is a proper goal for a penal

system v.

The traditional ."chain gang" idea is no longer really practical Having the prisoner work at a job that will pro-vide-some income for his family, teach him a skill, pro . ducetood, or perform community services winch can hold down tax dollars, are certainly rrjore viable methods They serve the same purpose keeping the prisoner physically active but provide greater productivity at a

lower cost

This continuing sf/ies by Cape May County l Sheriff'Fnx