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■ Sheriff ’s Blotter. Page A-5 .■ Grand Jury indictments. Page A-3.■ Vineland fires. Page A-7 .

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Sunny, High 89Details, Page A-2.

Summer preview of things to come.

WEATHERINSIDE TODAYINDEX

Vol. 265, No. 65

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Reba Lummis passes at age 103. Page A-6

nj.com/cumberland MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012 75¢

Staff Photo by Greg Adomaitis

Jaime Hernandez, left, speaks with SPCA investigator Charlene Rosen-baum Sunday afternoon at a rodeo in Fairfield Township.

By Greg Adomaitisnj.com/south

FAIRFIELD TWP. — Acting on a tip they received Friday, a Cumberland County SPCA animal cruelty investigator visited an afternoon rodeo here, but found no violations.

Investigator Charlene Rosenbaum spoke with both the owner of La Mexicana restaurant, where the event was being held, and the owners of the riding bulls, which were stationed in a shaded pen out back.

“They don’t look bad,” she said while standing next to the huge animals that are overseen by Jaime Hernandez, who has a ranch in Woodstown.

Evidence to support the complaint alleging lack of water and the animals being overworked could not be substantiated.

The nine bulls stood peacefully inside a pen that had a tarp strung over top to provide shade. The

animals are only ridden once each day, as it’s too hot for much more and they’ll get too tired, Hernandezexplained.

“For the most part, they were in compliance. Theset-up was proper,” said SPCA Executive Director Bev Greco. “This is a relatively new thing in Cum-berland County.”

A “heightened awareness” to the shows followedlast year’s death of a bull rider at a rodeo in Hopewell Township, Greco said.

With that, her organization will stay up to speed with the shows and ensure the animals there are properly cared for.

“We will continue to monitor them,” she said. The SPCA could have issued a summons if they had dis-covered violations during Sunday’s visit.

Felipe Matias, who owns the restaurant, had secured all the proper paperwork for the rodeo, which draws crowds from around the tri-state area.

Rodeo found in compliance

(See RODEO, Page A-6)

The start of Bridgeton Little League in 1952 got big play. In the photo, from left, are Jimmy Ayars, Vince Filluzzi, Earl Layman and Allan Sharp.

Staff photo by Jim Cook Jr.

Jason Wooton, who is now on leave from his job in the U.S. Navy, shares a kiss with his wife of two years, Nicole, whom he has only seen for 20 consecutive days since joining the Navy two years ago.

By Jack Hummelnj.com/south

BRIDGETON — The tryout was held behind what is now West Ave-nue School.

It was the spring of 1952 and something called Little League base-ball was sweeping the country.

And Bridgeton was ready to start its program with four teams — spon-sored by the four service clubs.

Some 200 kids from ages 9 to 12 showed up for the tryout.

There were only 60 spots on the four rosters.

They held the draft at Eph Carl-isle’s store, across from Immaculate Conception.

Hummel and Chappius don’t know who was the first draft pick.

The season began on May 19, 1952.

Barry Hummel and Russ Chap-pius were there.

The field in the city park was brand new.

“It was built by the fathers and

helpers,’’ said Hummel. “They built the clubhouse and the fence. It was beautiful.’’

Hummel was the first base runner in league history.

“I walked,’’ he said.Jimmy Ayars was the first batter.The newspaper coverage was fan-

tastic.“Every night,’’ said Chappius.

“With boxscores of every game. Yeah, it was a big deal.’’

Hummel has those clippings, including the very first game.

“Everett Porch would direct traf-fic, there would be so many cars coming to the game,’’ said Hummel.

The games were broadcast on WSNJ radio every night.

The league went to eight teams with two divisions the third third and lights went up on the field.

They could play doubleheaders.Hummel has photos galore.A newspaper clipping said the

lights rivaled major league parks.

BLL: How it all started in 1952

(See BLL, Page A-5)

By Jim Cook Jr.nj.com/south

MILLVILLE — Emotions ran high as a Cumberland County fam-ily welcomed home their 22-year-old Marine whom they haven’t seen in nearly two years.

Jason E. Wooton, a Vineland-area resident, returned home from two years aboard the CVN 73 George Washington Nuclear Powered Air-craft Carrier in Yokosuka, Japan.

Currently on leave, Airman Woo-ton had a chance to spend Satur-day with his mother, grandmother, extended family and wife.

The excitement of having Woo-ton back home was equally palpable among the crowd gathered at the high-rise apartment complex on S. 2nd Street in Millville Saturday afternoon, where his welcoming party was held.

Before he pulled into the park-ing lot in a white convertible, he was escorted by 10 motorcycles of the Roughnecks group, Gloucester County chapter.

The cyclists are a group of first

responders in police, military, fire and EMT.

Wooton’s grandmother, Nancy Dileo, was the first to get a long hug, and shared tears of joy.

“I’m so glad he’s home,” Dileo said.“It’s a wonderful feeling.”

Wooton has been married to his wife Nicole, 20, for two years this month, but they’ve only seen each other for 20 days — two 10-day peri-ods of leave — during their entire marriage.

“I have no words. I’m speechless seeing him,” Nicole told The News Saturday. “My whole life have been on hold for the past two years, wait-ing for him. And now he’s home. It’s absolutely incredible.”

The family held up a sign the read, “Welcome home, Jason. We’ve missed you.”

His mother, who brought him to the surprise event, was thrilled to have him home.

“It has been a long wait,” Virginia Wooton, of Bridgeton, said. “It’s been two years since I last saw him.”

Of his work overseas, his mother

Welcome home,Millville Marine!

(See WELCOME, Page A-7)

By Jason Ladaynj.com/south

BRIDGETON — The Cumberland County Improvement Authority will vote on Wednesday whether to use some of its surplus to help the county freeholder board fill the current 2012 budget deficit.

CCIA Executive Director Don Rainear on Friday stated the request for the funds came from Cumberland County Administrator Ken Mecouch’s office, following discussions

between some board members and Freeholder Bill Whelan. He added that the CCIA by statute can give the county up to $400,000 — or 5 percent of its operating budget — from its surplus.

“The (CCIA) board hasn’t determined how much it will be,” said Rainear. “That’s going to be discussed at the meet-ing on Wednesday.”

According to Freeholder Director Carl Kirstein, the CCIA has traditionally appropriated surplus funds toward the county budget in the past. However, financial troubles at

the authority has seen such funds dry up over the last couple years.

“I’m not sure how much the CCIA has given in the past, but I’ve heard it got up to $1 million at one point,” said Kirstein. “Now, the maximum is $400,000, but that would really help us out with the budget, as we have the extra expenses of running the Cumberland Manor for an extra month while the sale is approved.”

After years of troubles at the authority, Rainear in Decem-

County asks for budget help from CCIA

(See CCIA, Page A-7)

By Greg Adomaitisnj.com/south

UPPER DEERFIELD TWP. — Two armed robber-ies about two hours apart took place here Sunday afternoon along Route 77; one at the Walmart park-ing lot and the other inside the Red Barn Deli.

State police reported a black male brandishing a black handgun at the Walmart near Carll’s Cor-ner while a white female pulled a weapon of the same description at the deli. She was accompanied by a black there, as well.

Troopers from the Bridge-

TwoarmedheistsSunday

(See HEISTS, Page A-7)