• NAACP still seeks to probe Gloucester County prosecutor
Last May, the local arm of the NAACP announced that it would conduct its own probe into the treatment of a then-seated elected official and a county resident by the county prosecutor and the local U.S. Attorney's Office.

• Pitman Hotel closing illegal, evicted claim
PITMAN Claiming that she and fellow residents at the Hotel Pitman were illegally evicted on Nov. 14, Christy Blair cites the New Jersey statutes for proof.

• Deptford man offered teens money for sex, court told
WOODBURY A Deptford Township man arrested this month for engaging in sex acts with three teenagers paid them between $500 and $700 for the encounters, a prosecutor said in court on Friday.

• Gloucester County families join in Adoption Day
WOODBURY Wayne and Donna Sierocinski have two new children.

• Vineland resident's big task: Feeding tsunami victims
VINELAND Some people may think they'll be hosting large numbers this Thanksgiving.

• 5 groups join in Delaware River dredging lawsuit
Five environmental groups filed joint lawsuits Thursday in New Jersey and Delaware courts to block plans by the Army Corps of Engineers to deepen the Delaware River channel.

• In Washington Township, hopes for hidden treasure
WASHINGTON TWP. Lillian Michel has been holding onto the black beaded necklace with a cameo pendant ever since a boy named Johnny gave it to her on her 10th birthday.

• Westville has questions on EMS
WESTVILLE The local fire commission met with county officials Thursday evening to discuss the possibility of joining the county's Emergency Medical Services program.

• Dropoff of meds brings in a haul across New Jersey
If heaped onto a scale, the old and unwanted pills collected over the weekend by federal and state authorities would weigh more than a small car. More than a family of four. More than the entire Philadelphia Flyers starting lineup, including their helmets and hockey sticks.

• Franklin officer: Hit for blowing whistle
A Franklin Township police officer with nearly 30 years on the job is claiming he was retaliated against after blowing the whistle on a township committeeman allegedly obtaining a handgun permit illegally.

• Franklin teachers push for a pact
Teachers in Franklin Township Public Schools District aren't about to let the school board forget that they are working without contracts.

• New Jersey municipal Ôfrat party' kicks off
New Jersey lawmakers and local officials poured into Atlantic City Tuesday for the annual New Jersey League of Municipalities conference Ð a Garden State tradition that features seminars by day and partying by night.

• Pitman eatery owner's gift: Thanksgiving for 300
PITMAN Ever since Ron Zold's house burned down in 2002 and he received a shower of community support, he has been looking for a way to give back.

• Polygraphs seen as tool to control New Jersey sex offenders
The 39-year-old convicted sex offender had been working at a Burger King restaurant for five months when a parole officer sat him down for a polygraph test.

• Protest banned, South Jersey student sues
BRIDGETON A Bridgeton High School (BHS) student is suing the school board in federal district court because officials did not allow her to participate in a worldwide protest against abortion during the school day last month.

• Embattled Hotel Pitman shut down in foreclosure
PITMAN The Hotel Pitman has closed its doors due to foreclosure and will go to sheriff's sale on Dec. 9.

• Veterans, residents and lawmakers dedicate monument in South Harrision Township
SOUTH HARRISON TWP. It's American pride, bravery and commitment that drives men and women to take up arms to defend their homeland. They don't ask for much in return often just a simple "thank you" will suffice, but even then most don't find it necessary.

• Washington Township High School cafeteria workers moonlight as catering business
WASHINGTON TWP. A high school cafeteria on a Friday morning is supposed to smell like hot, bubbly pizza in the hour before the doors open and hundreds of hungry teenagers come rushing in.

• Years of little things add up to big volunteer contribution for Glassboro woman, 85
Bettye Bell of Glassboro is the unsung hero of her church, and the community who benefits from all the hard work she has been doing for years.

• After Monroe hit-and-run case solved, a sign of gratitude
MONROE TWP. Betty Davis has a new billboard for passing motorists to see.

• Lame-duck session in Trenton may turn to mad dash
Before Republican Chris Christie takes the oath of office in January, Democrats will have one last shot to enact laws all by themselves Ð including measures the governor-elect may not like Ð in the upcoming lame-duck legislative session.

• With flu, Camden Diocese tries to pray, prevent
Aside from eating, sleeping and hunting, praising a higher being is one of the oldest practices known to man.

• Former Ranch Hope exec sentenced in embezzlement case
SALEM A former Ranch Hope business administrator was sentenced here Friday to three years in state prison for embezzling Ð and gambling away Ð more than $300,000 from the Christian-based behavioral rehabilitation center.

• State report seeks out patterns in Gloucester County fire incidents
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs' Division of Fire Safety has released its annual roundup of fire and emergency incident data for the year 2008.

• Clayton council swears in GOP's Radio as new mayor
CLAYTON New Republican Mayor Jeff Radio was sworn in at Thursday night's council meeting to fill a two-year unexpired term left vacant by former mayor Melissa Hoffman.

• South Jersey ÔSausage King' set to fight ex-champ ÔBuster' Douglas in charity event
James "Buster" Douglas, a 42-1 underdog, knocked out unbeaten heavyweight champion Mike Tyson Feb. 11, 1990, in Japan in one of the most shocking upsets in boxing history, taking the heavyweight title from Tyson.

• 45 years later, chance reunites Marines in Wenonah
Dale Taylor, a Deptford High School graduate, told a recruiter on the second floor of the Cotton Building in downtown Woodbury he wanted to enlist and fight for his country in Vietnam.

• At Gloucester County Veterans Day ceremonies, a focus on opportunities
When David Pierson completed his service in the U.S. Navy last year, he had a void in his life.

• Christie taps experience for transition
After running for office vowing to "turn Trenton upside down," Gov.-elect Chris Christie Wednesday tapped a transition team that knows the Statehouse inside out, from a Democratic state senator and former state treasurer to longtime Republican operatives.

• Washington Township restores middle school wrestling funds
WASHINGTON TWP. After stripping the middle school wrestling program from the budget for this year, the Washington Township Board of Education found a way to put it back in so the program can resume again this winter.

• Panel: New Jersey gun law needs some exceptions
A new state gun law needs exceptions for various groups Ð including retailers who will only be able to buy one handgun a month from suppliers Ð members of a task force reviewing the legislation said Tuesday.

• Veterans tell Pitman students of years in uniform
World War II Navy veteran George Diem said the most frightening experience he had in the war was when two kamikazes hit the aircraft carrier he was on in the Pacific Ocean, killing 300 and wounding 1,000 on board.

• Vetoed retail project back to Washington Township council
WASHINGTON TWP. A developer came back before the township council Tuesday night seeking a zoning change on the Black Horse Pike to build a commercial retail center Ð the same request that was vetoed by the former mayor in early 2008 after a massive public outcry by the residents whose homes back up to the site.

• In the Company of Horses riding program at Gloucester County DREAM Park provides therapy for children with special needs
The therapeutic riding program at the Gloucester County DREAM Park has helped the balance, posture, and overall attitude of TJ Edmund, an 8-year-old boy from National Park who has Cerebral Palsy.

• 2 N.J. counties short on syringes
BY CARLY ROTHMAN

• Christie worries labor unions
By Lisa Fleisher