" I hi — _____ Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 11 )une '86

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Prisoners Working Here

(From Page 1) people at a time and we just don't have those numbers." Stabile said prisoners are paid minimum wage ($3.35 an hour) with 20 percent (67 cents) going to the state. Most of their salaries is saved for their release, said the source. When the issue surfaced at Lower Township Council's meeting last week, a Villas man complained that the inmates "are taking jobs away from the kids down here." According to figures released last week by the state Bureau of Labor Statistics, this county had the lowest average annual salaries in 1983 and 1984 of the state's 21 counties — $13,049 and $13,649. respectively The state average in 1984 was $19,871 and the national average was $18,359. COUNTY SUMMER UNEMPLOYMENT. meanwhile, has been steadily decreasing, from 5.7 percent overall in 1983 to 3.8 percent in 1984 and 2.3 percent last year. And. as reported here last week, the federally-funded Summer Youth Employment and Training Program can't muster enough workers. 14-21, to fill eight-week job slots in private non-profit agencies on 35-hour work weeks at minimum wage. "TIIEY CAN MAKE $4 (an hour) on the Boardwalk, often under the table," one official noted. How are the Leesburg inmates placed with employers? Stabile was asked Citing one upstate case as an example, he replied: "I got a call last week from a lawyer in Trenton for a guy who couldn't get somebody to work for minimum wage." Stabile said he put that lawyer in touch with a work-release coordinator. "The Leesburg inmates, none of them has been involved in escapes or violence for seven years," he added, earlier noting that those selected for work-release are nearing the end of their prison terms — socalled short-timers. "They can't have any sex offenses or arson on their records ... or have sold drugs." Stabile explained BUT "THE REAL PROBLEM" comes after work-release prisoners have finished their terms at Leesburg, according to the source. Many of them are from upstate, but settle in county communities to be near the job they've had with local businesses. "After about a month or so." the source griped, "they're back into their old habits." Two Erma women are more concerned about the immediate problem. They told Lower Township Council last week that they don't want work-release prisoners in their neighborhood. - Twenty children, including her son. 7, live along Week's Landing Road where several prisoners are trucked to and from their jobs with Paramount Air Service, it uses a nearby field for hoisting airplane advertising banners, complained Bridgette O'Brien. "THOSE GUYS COULD jump off and grab one of those kids," she said of the prisoners, asking Council, "Now what are you going to do about it?" "And my husband is a police officer and he didn't even know about it," griped Bar-

bara O'Shea, another Weeks' Landing Road resident like O'Brien. "They're hooking up the banners?" Councilman David F. Brand Jr. asked, referring to inmates. "What, there's a work-release program and he's (the banner company operator) hiring these people?" "Yes," replied O'Shea. Brand told the woman the township would contact L<?esburg for background information on the work-release inmates and "take whatever measures are necessary" if they're potentially harmful. "We will look into it ...; you have my promises." added Brand, echoing Township Manager James R. Stump and advising him later to pursue the matter. "This is authorized and approved by Leesburg and they sent four people (inmates) down here," Stump said Thursday. "These (prisoners) are trustees and the district parole officer did approve the site." "DID YOU INTEND to do anything" about the women's complaints? he was asked. "... I think that this program may be acceptable in certain areas," he replied. "I don't think it's acceptable in a residential area.'" The manager said he would contact Leesburg and ask the work-release coor dinate to reconsider use of prisoners off Weeks' Landing Road. "I would say they haven't stopped bringing them there yet, but we're pretty close to it," Brand said Thursday night "I had some dialogue with the mayor (Robert Fothergill ) and we're pretty confident that it (work-release) will be terminated.'' He was also "quite certain" that questions about aircraft use of the R- 1 ( residential ) field off Weeks' Landing Road and the Garden State Parkway would "be resolved." Stump and Brand said Paramount and the owner of that property have been given until Monday to argue why they shouldn't be handed a "cease and desist" order. "OUR INFORMATION doesn't indicate that that was ever a proper use." said Stump. No in the midst of her short summer season. Barbara Tomalino, Paramount's owner, was unavailable for comment on ' the subject. She's said elsewhere, ; however, that the company operates from the county airport, Erma, and only uses 1 the Weeks' Landing Road field for banner ; pickups. • What happens if Paramount doesn't respond to the township notice by Monday? 1 Stump was asked. "Well, we're going to cross that bridge ' when we come to it," he answered. If it isn't an authorized use, how did ban- '• ner company operations near Weeks' Lan- ' ding Road and the busy Parkway escape ' earlier notice by township officials? Stump ' was asked. i "Well, I don't know," replied the manager who took over that post less than two years ago. "As we find out things about land use violations, we're citing people. And it's really hard for me to say what happened back then" when the company first started using the faulted field. And how long has that been? "That's one of the things we want to - know," said Stump. "How long?"

Wasn't That Phil Collins? HARBOR — Did the town host a celebrity yacht or a celebrity from Wednesday to Sunday last week? That is the question that circulated as Philippe Cavarel was asked over and over again if he were the rock star Phil Collins. Rumors that Collins was tied up in the Great Channel spread rapidly through the community. Two teenagers attempted to swim from a bay dock out to the yacht, but were rescued and brought back to shore. THE FIRST time someone approached him was on 96th Street. Other incidents happened on the Wildwood boardwalk. Uries, Snickers and Freds By Saturday morning, the conversation of the day among young and old alike began. "Did you hear about the rock star in town?" Cavarel's having the same initials and an illegible scrawl on credit card purchases no doubt helped to fuel the rumor. To this day the rumor is not at rest. Was that really Phil Collins? — Skip Gladue 127-Ft. Yacht (From Page 1) rest parallel to the bridge. Eventually it got stuck on a sandbar just south of the bridge, threatening to compete for tourist interest with the sunken concrete ship in the Delaware Bay at Sunset Beach. Lower Township. THE DIDEROT is on a promotional tour from Miami to New York City along the Intercoastal Waterway, according to Phillippe Cavarel. one of the French crewmen. Navigational charts do not indicate there is any problem in the Great Channel, they said. A captain was flown in from Fort Lauderdale Saturday and the ship passed under the bridge, not without some damage, according to onlookers, at low tide Sunday morning, between 4 and 4:30 a.m. It waited on the north side of the channel until fog lifted around 8:30 a.m., then continued its voyage, still in plenty of time to make New York Harbor for Liberty Weekend. The "Diderot" was brought to Miami on a freighter and left in mid-March, with the goal of docking in New York Citv on June 10. THE SHIP S OWNER. ADM Co. of New York, hopes to sell flat-bottomed boats like it. and also loaded it with lavish, contemporary French creation furnishings, from acrylic bathtubs and specially designed table settings by "today's most famous designers." according to Herve Alexandre. who handles U.S. public relations for the vessel. The name of the collaboration: "Operation Diderot." But at 5 p.m. last Wednesday. Marine Police Sgt. Tommy Thompson and Marine Police Officer Stephen Poiitowski of North Wildwood received a call for assistance from the Great Channel bridge tender. "Operation Diderot" was struck. ONLOOKERS SPECULATED as to what kind of boat it was. guessing that it might be a "dinner boat" or a sightseeing boat as a large canopy could be seen over most of the deck. The marine police brought Carvarel to Pier 96 for gas for the boat's dinghy which the crew would use to come into town to get some dinner. The Coast Guard advised them that the could not be left unattended overnight and there was no place large enough to dock even if it could get off the sand bar. Pier 96 Manager Paul Gladue opened the to accommodate the overseas visitors and suggested a couple of restaurants within walking distance. The fiat-bottomed ship has a single 250 HP Mercedes diesel engine, and elegant furnishings according to Gladue who was invited on board. He was impressed with the whirlpool bath in the master suite.

Pll^NEWS ifesiv DIGEST '// II 'II The Week's It It II Top Stories (From Page 4) Memorial Hospital went into its second week. Nanavati, a native of India, is suing the hospital for $4.4 million, alleging that attempts to dismiss him were based on racial discrimination. The hospital and Dr. Robert Sore ns on are suing Nanavati for an unspecified amount, alleging that he defamed them. Hold The Phone SEA ISLE CITY - A strike by American Telephone and Telegraph employes has caused long-distance dialers here some frustrating delays. This city is the only place in the county where a caller must give his phone mumber to an operator, for billing purposes. when making a long-distance call. Because of the strike, callers have to deal with management people not used to the system, instead of regular operators. Slabbed in Forest BELLEPLAIN — Patricia Holland. 22. of Millville was listed in critical but stable condition June 2 at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital after being stabbed repeatedly in the chest and abdomen while at a picnic in Belleplain State Forest. Her alleged assailant, John Ball. 24, of Madison Avenue. Woodbine, is being held by State Police. According to Detective Jerry Mull. Holland and Ball had recently broken off a relationship. Held for Arson OCEAN CITY — Martin Shepard. 33, of Central Avenue was arrested June 2 and charged with one count of arson after being apprehended at the scene of the fourth in a string of small fires that occured between 10:17 and 10:53 that evening. The fires were extinguished within a few minutes, said Detective Bob Blevin, who is investigating the incidents Shephard is being held in lieu of 10 percent of $25,000 bail in the county jail. Sex Offender Sentenced OCEAN CITY - Middlelon M Dunmore. 17, of Peck's Beach Village here has been sentenced to three concurrent 12-year prison terms for three incidents of aggravated sexual assault that he pleaded guilty to Oct 2i Testing showed Dunmore not to be a compulsive sex offender. but First Assistant Prosecutor Robert Wells said the youth should receive treatment instead of being sent to prison. Dunmore's lawyer urged leniency in view of a first offense. But Superior Court Judge James A. O'Neill imposed the prison sentences, citing Dunmore's lack of remorse, refusal to cooperate, and the psychological damage suffered by his victims. Murder Trial Begins COURT HOUSE — Lester A. Wilson. 38. charged with the Aug. 6 asphyxiation murder and sexual assault of Mai Hoang. 14, was scheduled for trial here Monday. Wilson and Hoang worked at and lived in the Biscayne Hotel in Ocean City where Hoang's body was discovered by owner Joseph Pinomonte after she failed to report to work. Wilson's alleged confession, obtained after he leaped two stories through a plate glass window at the Public Safety Building, was ruled admissable as evidence by Superior Court Judge James A. O'Neill. Sandman Boulevard NORTH CAPE MAY - William J. Miller Jr., Delaware River and Bay Authority executive director, announced Friday that the approach road to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry here will be renamed Charles W. Sandman Boulevard at 10 a.m. next Tuesday. A plaque will be unveiled then, honoring the Superior Court judge. Congressman and state legislator who died last summer. The ceremony precedes the authority's monthly meeting at 12:30 p.m. in the Lobster House, Sc belle nger's Landing.