We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at webmaster@valleybreeze.com or call us at 401-334-9555 MILLVILLE ― After two years lying empty due to a water quality problem Millville Elementary School is on track to welcome students back into the building The state has awarded the town an Emerging Contaminant – Small and Disadvantaged Communities Grant from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Protection which will apply $1 million for a new water filtration system for the school I really want to thank the School Committee the former chair of the Board of Selectmen in Millville Mary Jude Pigsley at MassDEP (Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection) ...It really took a team of governance and leadership to come together and address this decades-old issue," Blackstone-Millville Regional School District Superintendent Jason DeFalco said "We can proudly say that we now have a cutting-edge solution." Over the course of the 30-year history of the school the well water used at the school has had high concentrations of organic contaminant the school used a filtration system that used chemicals to break down the contaminant but as a consequence there occasionally was additional residue in the water there were periods where the school's water would fail its quarterly quality test the school would have to rely on bottled water for any drinking or cooking DeFalco said those periods had become more and more frequent and it was decided that the school would be closed until a solution could be found "The School Committee voted to move the children temporarily to another school and to work with the Millville Board of Selectmen to come up with a long-term solution to this problem," DeFalco said "I'm incredibly proud of the work Jennifer Gill has done to work with the committee to make this possible." students who would have attended Millville Elementary have been instead learning at the John F Kennedy Elementary School building in Blackstone which had previously been vacated when the district consolidated schools the district will install a new filtration system that will improve the drinking water quality at the school "Millville will be the first in the Commonwealth to pilot and adopt new technologies that have been proven to address the challenges of PFAS in other states while also substantially enhancing the existing water quality treatment with better filtration and potentially new and improved sources of well water," a press release from Fattman's office stated “I’m thrilled that critical federal funds are headed to the Worcester and Hampden District to fix the water system at Millville Elementary School and remove PFAS chemicals," Fattman said "Thank you to the hardworking and communicative officials in the town of Millville and the BMR school district for spearheading this effort I’ve been proud to work over many months with local officials and MassDEP to secure this $1,000,000 grant which will ensure that students and staff have access to clean water when they go to school I'm thankful for the advocacy of Millville town officials in this process and look forward to a thriving future for Millville Elementary School." At the next meeting of the Blackstone-Millville Regional School District Committee May 8 the committee will vote on whether to return students to Millville Elementary at the start of the next school year this fall "The building is in great shape; it's a beautiful school that deserves to have students in it," DeFalco said Delaware lawmakers and state leaders condemned the actions of two Millville volunteer firefighters who police say chased another employee with a noose and made racial slurs State House Democratic leaders said in a joint statement on the evening of April 16 that the incident at the Millville Volunteer Fire Company is reminiscent of the 1950s turned themselves in April 15 after Delaware State Police issued warrants for their arrests on felony charges of hate crimes and second-degree conspiracy The charges stem from an incident police say happened in February 2024 at the fire company’s station located at 35554 Atlantic Ave Police said Droney and Hastings chased an employee around the fire station “with a rope tied in the shape of a noose.” Droney also made a “racist comment” to the victim and continued to do so on several occasions thereafter CHARGES: 2 ex-firefighters charged with hate crime after police say they chased employee with noose Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris and Majority Whip Ed Osienski said in a joint statement that “lynching is not a joke” and many family members “lived in fear of and fought against” it “It is something that Black Americans still unfortunately live in fear of,” they said and especially not someone who puts their safety on the line to protect others should ever be subjected to the kind of hateful and threatening behavior that a Millville Volunteer Fire Company employee went through at the hands of his colleagues.”  Timeline of events   The Millville Volunteer Fire Company learned about the previously unreported hate crime on April 9 and immediately alerted state police who started an investigation into the February 2024 incident Droney and Hastings were identified and suspended “from all duties” the same day Both state police and the Delaware State Fire Commission were alerted the fire company’s board revoked the membership of Droney and Hastings were arraigned and released on their own recognizances Delaware State Police announced the arrests the following day The Millville Volunteer Fire Company said they’re taking the matter “very seriously.”  “We understand that incidents of racial harassment not only harm the individuals directly involved but also deeply affect our entire community Such behavior is unacceptable and goes against our core values of honor the company is implementing a harassment and discrimination prevention and reporting training for officers employees and members “as soon as practical.” The station is also reviewing current policies and will be updating them accordingly Leaders react across the stateDelaware Senate Democrats and Republicans issued a joint statement condemning the incident as “abhorrent” and standing in “stark contrast” with Delaware’s values Senate Majority Whip Elizabeth “Tizzy” Lockman Senate Minority Leader Gerald Hocker and Senate Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn jointly said they speak with “one voice in condemning all acts of hatred DELAWARE BEACHES: 5 juveniles charged with hate crimes after Rehoboth Beach incident They applauded the “swift” action by state police and extended gratitude to the person who came forward to report the incident The fire service exists to protect life and property without prejudice or bias,” the Senate leaders said in a joint statement “The behavior described in this case violates not only the law but the trust and dignity that should define public service.”  The state Fire Commission also condemned the discriminatory incident at the fire station emphasizing that racial harassment is “intolerable” and the behavior “flies in the face” of the core values and principles the commission upholds “Our deep commitment to ensuring that the fire service is a safe and welcoming space for all individuals is paramount Racial harassment has no place within public safety organizations and we will continue to take all necessary and proactive steps to prevent it,” the statement reads we will address them promptly and ensure that those found responsible face appropriate consequences.”  The commission suggested the fire company implement comprehensive diversity training Marketplace focuses on the latest business news both nationally and internationally and wider events linked to the financial markets It is noted for its accessible coverage of business The fire's heat was so intense that it melted part of a fire truck and a parked car A fire raced through a southern New Jersey neighborhood destroying at least two homes and leaving two children unaccounted for The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. The fire was first detected by the Belleplain Fire Tower at 12:24 p.m Authorities said Friday that the cause of the fire in Millville doesn't appear to be suspicious The blaze burned six homes and took several hours to bring under control “There have been way too many fires at EMR,” one neighbor said Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY The Millville High School boys track and field team captured the Cumberland County Championships title Friday at Cumberland Regional High School Vineland won the girls title with 118 team points Vineland's Beatrice Sotomayer won the girls 100-meter dash in 12.3 seconds Teammate Olivia Masucci won the 1,600 run (5:44.48) and 3,200 run (13:20.73) Vineland's Ashlynn Newton won the 400 dash (59.27) Skylar Brooks won the discus (102-5) and Brittney Herbert won the triple jump (32-6) for the Fighting Clan Millville's Arjun Patel won the boys 1,600 run (4:44.75) and 800 run (2:03.97) The Thunderbolts' Asaias Johnson won the 400 dash (49.76) and teammate Morian Ruiz won the boys 400 hurdles (1:01.41) and teammate Jaiden Church won the 100 dash (10.96) Alton Curtis III won the 110 hurdles (14.63) Judah Jones won the 200 dash (22.46) and Calvin Cogdill won the pole vault (11-6 inches) for the Thunderbolts Bridgeton's Zamir Chance won the boys long jump (20-6) and the triple jump (44-7) Bridgeton's Amirah Murphy won the 400 hurdles (1:06.76) Millville's Nina Watts won the 100 hurdles (15.35) and teammate Jaylen Rhett won the high jump (5-0) Shila Austin won the javelin (107-6) and Aniya McNeil won the shot put (34-3.25) for the Thunderbolts Bridgeton's Kevin Gonzalez won the 3,200 run (10:38.61) Cumberland's Thomas Armstead won the high jump (6-4) and teammate Richard Pierce won the javelin (161-8) The Colts' Lionelray Rodgriguez won the shot put (47-10.5) PMulranen@pressofac.com Email notifications are only sent once a day Sign up for a digital subscription to The Press of Atlantic City now and take advantage of a great offer Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account MILLVILLE — City officials are being advised to have anti-tampering caps removed from fire hydrants in the wake of a fire April 9 that killed two girls along South 4th Street Municipal engineer Wayne Johnson recommended the step in lengthy email Monday to commissioners and some city staff Manufacturer pumper and hose caps would replace the security caps during the review he said in the message obtained by this news organization Johnson asked this to be done at least until a review can determine why a hydrant fitted with a cap broke at the outset of the fire April 9 which destroyed six buildings in South Millville More: How to help Millville fire victims: Businesses, orgs rallying for aid, donations The broken hydrant may have contributed to firefighters' difficulty in putting out the blaze City employees use the caps in areas where hydrants have been vandalized or opened by residents without permission Johnson has requested the formation of a review committee consisting of staff from both the water utility and fire department Committee members would be overseen by officials with the city commission and engineering department a special wrench is used to remove the security caps City engineers are preparing to test the security cap and nozzle assembly from the South 4th Street hydrant Johnson said it appears that the damage happened because the wrench was turned in a clockwise direction instead of counter-clockwise during the attempt to remove the cap “the applied torque generated sufficient force to deform the nozzle material and break the set screw the nozzle rotated on the installation tab and became dislodged More: The bodies of 2 girls found among the ruin of the Millville fire that destroyed 6 homes “This is the reason all caps should be removed from service pending a report from the Committee that could include enhanced standard operating procedures (SOP) for the security caps,” Johnson wrote fire hydrants were well-supplied with water during the fire “This statement is not meant to place any burden on the Fire Department and its firefighters who placed themselves in harm’s way to protect the City even shielding neighboring properties with their new tower truck during the recent tragic event,” he wrote “My hopes and prayers are to work towards healing the Water Utility that is suffering from the horrific social media statements and remove the burden placed upon them.” Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland Support local journalism with a subscription (WOLF) — A local portable toilet company is dealing with vandalism at a recreational field in Columbia County They say this isn't the first time it has happened They have had units damaged before at that location Previous damages had cost them $300 in repairs A police report has been filed, but Starr Portables is offering a cash reward if anyone has information goods and financial aid to an estimated 21 Millville residents who lost most of their possessions in a fire April 9 The blaze destroyed six homes and killed two young girls on the 300 block of South 4th Street A New Jersey state fire marshal investigation is underway Millville Soccer Association and the Phenom Factory are part of the fundraising efforts that started Thursday for the impacting families a sports training center in the neighborhood People there are working closely with Christy Funeral Home by collecting and sorting goods plus making contact with displaced families backed up to a railroad line from which the spreading blaze was visible “We live down the street,” owner Abby Soto said quickly drove out to see what was happening and was appalled 'We have to do something.' I started clearing out space in the lobby," Soto said My mom actually was on the scene most of the day.” Soto said Christy Funeral Home owner Patrick Reynolds reached out Thursday morning offering to work with them The Buck Street funeral home has been collecting goods since Thursday this is a tough time for Millville with the fire and over 20 family members without housing “We’re pretty centrally located in Millville They’re doing a lot of the sorting at the Phenom Factory.” Soto said most of the donations at the funeral home will be shifted to the Phenom Factory for sorting and then distribution She hopes to do the same sort of collaboration with other groups and people trying to help More: Millville girl's body recovered from destroyed home; 1 girl still missing in major fire “We’re trying to get everybody who is involved in collecting donations to use us as a main hub,” Soto said but it’s so spread out we can’t contain everything.” Soto said she's in direct contact with some of the displaced families “We are trying to get all the family contacts so they can come here and pick through what they want,” Soto said “And there’s lot of kids who are old enough to pick what they want.” Soto said donated clothes are being washed as needed and folded for pick-up Members of the Millville Soccer Association on Thursday announced that they have a “Millville Strong Fund” and that they look to raise $12,000 by April 30 may be dropped off in a secure box at the clubhouse or handed to members of the club board and a safe place to sleep are within reach because of us,” President Newell Branin Jr “We’re asking every (Miller Soccer Association) family to contribute $10 to $50 — whatever you can give No amount is too small; every dollar is a brick in the foundation of their recovery.” shoes and other clothing are requested for older children and adults Some of the more specific needs are as follows: “any and all hygiene items,” and children’s toys and crafts are sought How to help Millville fire victimsSome of the drop-off locations for donations are: MILLVILLE — AAA South Jersey and the American Red Cross are joining efforts to assist families who lost their homes and possessions in a neighborhood fire April 9 gift cards are the most needed items but toiletries and clothing donations are also encouraged,” an automobile club spokesman Matt Bowker said in an email “All items will be delivered to the Red Cross the week of April 21 to distribute to the families affected by the fire.” the blaze destroyed six homes in South Millville Two girls — Valery Mariana and Gissel Samanta “Sammy” Cardona Gomez The older girl was in the seventh grade at Bishop Shad Regional School in Vineland and her sister was in the school’s fifth grade Recommended donations for surviving victims include the following: The items can be dropped off at the following AAA South Jersey sites: Offices are to be open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m Donors may also bring items to the AAA South Jersey grand opening event in Millville on Saturday AAA South Jersey is to collect donations from associates All donations are to be matched by the company (This story has been updated to provide new information.) authorities continued late Thursday afternoon to search for the second of two young girls who were missing after an overnight blaze destroyed six homes on one block City Commissioner Kirk Hewitt said the body of one girl was removed from the wreckage Thursday morning and was held on scene awaiting the arrival of staff from the medical examiner's office were in one of six houses destroyed in a blaze that broke out around 11 p.m New Jersey State Police cadaver dogs are assisting with the search More: Pickup truck strikes house, gas meter, starts fire at duplex Wettstein III said there is nothing so far to indicate anything suspicious about the fire but its origin remains under investigation Some preliminary investigative work is started but priority has been on recovering the victims The destroyed houses consisted of two single-family houses and two duplexes on the 300 block of South 4th Street Hewitt said the first call about the fire came in at 11:08 p.m “Three of them are collapsed down to nothing,” said Hewitt “And two on each side — one’s a duplex and one’s a single — they’re gone Hewitt said the collapse of a house ruptured a natural gas line making the job much more difficult for firefighters A team from South Jersey Gas was able to partially shut off service in the area More: Millville officials, public get peek inside house fire response in push for more staff Wettstein confirmed that the fire hydrant closest to the fires could not be used which firefighters discovered as they tried to connect a hose to it Firefighters switched to water carried aboard an engine and a ladder truck while making connections to the next two closest hydrants "It doesn’t mean there was no water in the hydrants," Wettstein said "It just means we had a problem with ‘a hydrant,’ which delayed us getting additional water It just took extra time to get to different hydrants that were in the area." Wettstein said members of the water department carry out hydrant inspections at least once a year "The water department does it like they’re supposed to," he added Hewitt said local and area fire investigators Wettstein said the fire appeared to have started at 327 S although the first 911 call identified a neighboring house Cumberland Fire Department and Rosenhayn responded to the scene Members of the American Red Cross responded as well Wettstein said that the fire took about four hours to be placed under control and that a watch is mounted over the debris as a precaution There was a minor injury to one firefighter Michael Testa (R-Cumberland) issued a statement calling it an "unimaginable tragedy." "My heart is broken for the family who lost two young daughters in this devastating fire and my prayers are with them and everyone affected," Testa said "This is a loss that shakes out entire community to the core." Two children are unaccounted for after fire tore through six homes and displaced 23 residents in a Cumberland County community overnight Fire crews responded to the 300 block of South 4th Street in Millville around 11 p.m Wednesday and found two houses fully engulfed according to Millville Fire Chief John Wettstein It took firefighters five to six hours to bring the blaze under control Of the 23 residents displaced by the flames two juveniles remained unaccounted for as of Thursday morning One resident was taken to a hospital for treatment but did not appear to have life-threatening injuries The Red Cross is arranging for shelter and other needs for the displaced residents The cause of the fire remains under investigation As of 7 a.m. crews were dousing areas still smoldering and digging through the remains of the two duplexes and two single-family homes destroyed in the blaze I have my fire investigation unit here and we’re starting the origin and cause investigation,” Wettstein said Crews encountered water supply issues as they battled the blaze “We used all the water we had on the engines to put out the fire and we ran into a water supply problem with the closest hydrant,” he said They ran 800 feet of hose to a second hydrant and another 600 to 700 feet to a third to keep fighting the flames but a utility crew responded to shut off the gas Video from 6ABC showed crews battling the raging fire The flames were so intense that a tower firetruck used to douse the flames was damaged by the heat cracking the windshield and damaging emergency lights noting that the vehicle remained in operation Thursday morning “There’s extensive damage to the side of the tower truck We’re hoping that most of the damage is just cosmetic,” he said Crews from Vineland, Rosenhayn, Cedarville, Downe Township, Maurice River Township and the New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded to assist Millville Fire Department Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com Matt Gray may be reached at [email protected] ©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit nj.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Two Vineland residents are accused of killing a man who had gone to their home in response to an alleged assault on his daughter and a 17-year-old juvenile identified as "J.H." allegedly beat Louis “Gus” Serbeck during an Easter Day confrontation along Leamings Mill Road the Cumberland County Prosecutor’s Office said The prosecutor's office didn't note any relationship between the two suspects Manhunt: Suspect sought for alleged sexual assault in Pine Hill and his daughter had gone to the home to speak with Hannah about an alleged assault on the girl by the juvenile one day earlier according to an account from the prosecutor’s office Serbeck's daughter said her father and Hannah were longtime friends She said her father "wanted to talk to [Hannah] and alleviate the incident from the day prior.” described as "extremely aggressive," came to the home's front door and punched Serbeck in the face the juvenile allegedly picked up a bat and used it to break a window on Serbeck's vehicle The statement alleges Serbeck tried to stop the juvenile and the youth then used the metal bat against him The prosecutor's office alleges the youth repeatedly struck Serbeck's head with the bat and that Hannah hit his head with a metal flashlight The juvenile also allegedly hit Serbeck’s daughter during the incident which was recorded in part with a cellphone The parties eventually separated and Serbeck while attempting to leave with his daughter collapsed to the ground next to his vehicle Serbeck was taken to a local hospital to be flown to a trauma center “laid down his life to do what he does best He loved fishing and hunting and was “an efficient carpenter and roofer," it said Hannah and the juvenile are charged with homicide and weapons offenses The juvenile was also charged with aggravated assault Anyone with information is asked to call Vineland Police Det (This story was updated to add information and to correct an error.) Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal (This story was revised to add information.) Millville officials have filled one of two additional police lieutenant positions they authorized in March was sworn in at the city commission meeting April 15 He was hired as a patrolman in September 2005 and had been a sergeant since 2016 Chief Ross Hoffman said the new position is meant to add supervision over the Patrol Division More: Millville detective picks up FBI commendation for role in Atlantic City drug bust Vinzinski was assigned to the FBI Safe Streets Task Force,” Hoffman said Vinzinski has received multiple awards and commendations in recognition of his hard work and dedication to the department.” the Neighborhood Crime Prevention Unit and the Detective Division More: How to help South Millville fire victims Vinzinski was selected for a federal task force investigating a major drug ring in Atlantic City He returned to duty here after four years of primarily undercover assignments the police department is authorized for one captain up to six lieutenants and up to 15 sergeants said there's no plan to fill the second new lieutenant slot this year MILLVILLE — City officials are withholding details on the handling of a fatal April 9 fire in order to prepare for anticipated lawsuits The blaze killed two young sisters and destroyed a half-dozen homes on the 300 block of South 4th Street Members of the city commission met Tuesday night for the first time since the tragedy and officials had indicated that at least some new information would be released That idea quickly was walked back by Commissioner Kirk Hewitt “The community’s response to come together has been inspiring,” Hewitt said “And I am glad to see some of the public here today The tragic events remain under investigation and I am unable to release any further information More: Fatal Millville fire prompts city engineer to call for change. What he's suggesting. "I appreciate the public’s understanding and patience.” One aspect that's been discussed is that a fire hydrant near the burning houses was disabled at the outset of the fire The hydrant may have been damaged because an anti-tampering device was incorrectly removed and tests are planned on the hydrant and the cap but firefighters still had to connect to more distant hydrants for a steady supply Early reports of insufficient water from city hydrants were incorrect City officials said the heat was so intense that a fire engine suffered serious damage while being used to shield homes across the street The fire took about four hours to bring under control despite Millville firefighters receiving assistance from a large number of companies in nearby communities 13 and 11There also have also been mixed reports regarding the names and ages of the two sisters whose remains were found in the rubble of their home April 10 Their identities have been confirmed in a joint obituary from Christy Funeral Home Valery Mariana and Gissel Samanta “Sammy” Cardona Gomez were ages 13 and 11 The obituary states that the girls were born in Bogota Family members moved from Bridgeton to Millville less than three years ago The girls also are survived by three siblings Hewitt said the mother carried two children from the house At the close of the April 15 commission meeting a number of residents pressed for the release of details Speakers variously claimed a history of neglected municipal infrastructure in that area of South Millville and of the city not being previously forthcoming with inspection records or this commission can say at this time,” Hewitt said in response to these claims "If you were here earlier when I gave my opening comments I read all of the authorities that are involved in this Commissioner Joseph Sooy said the decision to withhold comments was demanded by lawyers for the city’s insurer He added that his preference would be to release everything now “We know there are going to be lawsuits,” Sooy said City officials also pushed back on criticisms on social media “And we would all really like to support the departments that are taking a lot of scrutiny over this,” Vice Mayor Stephen Watson Jr especially to back the fire department and especially to back the water department MILLVILLE — The bodies of two young sisters who died in a massive house fire Thursday have been found The fire started late Wednesday night and destroyed two homes and damaged four others on the 300 block of 4th Street in Millville Two girls who were unaccounted for in the hours after the fire were found in the basement of one of the homes impacted At least two collections to help the families who made it out of their homes with just the clothes on their back are being held on Friday Christy Funeral Home  said it will collect donations of clothing, gift cards and other of the families Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. A donation is also located outside their location on Broad Street in Millville. A list of needed items was posted on its Facebook page Holly City Family Success Center said it is collecting new items for the families from 9 a.m "These families deserve the best and our support at this time Let's come together and show our city that we stand united as neighbors to help one another in times of need," the center said online The fire spread quickly a gas line ruptured inside one of the homes the chief said.  Firefighters also found the hydrant closest to the house had "issues," leading to over 800 feet of hose having to be laid out to douse the flames Romanik told 6 ABC Action News the fire doesn’t appear to be suspicious but is under investigation The fire hydrant near the homes that didn’t work will be part of the investigation Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom Gallery Credit: Mike Brant Gallery Credit: Mike Brant At least two collections to help the families who made it out of their homes with just the clothes on their back are being held on Friday in Millville.\nRead More The fire started late Wednesday night and destroyed two homes and damaged four others on the 300 block of 4th Street in Millville Christy Funeral Home  said it will collect donations of clothing, gift cards and other of the families Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. A donation is also located outside their location on Broad Street in Millville. A list of needed items was posted on its Facebook page Holly City Family Success Center said it is collecting new items for the families from 9 a.m Romanik told 6 ABC Action News the fire doesn’t appear to be suspicious but is under investigation Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom rescue personnel recovered the remains of the second girl reported missing in a large residential blaze in Millville on April 9 The second victim was discovered at approximately 6 p.m and the other victim was found Thursday morning city commissioner and public safety director and confirmation is pending on the ages of the two girls the fire destroyed six homes on the 300 block of South 4th Street rescue and city officials were on site until late Thursday night They extinguished the fire in approximately four hours "They were there before the sun came up because we knew we had deaths And we had plenty of state officials there the whole time Hewitt said winds were a factor in the spread of the fire also aided by homes being located close to each other More: Wildwood teen curfew emphasized by officials ahead of prom, summer: 'Safety comes first.' which is conducive to fire spreading up inside walls there’s one rule for the Millville High School football team “Don’t lose to Vineland,” senior Jamal Wallace Jr even way back to when we were little kids.” The Thunderbolts have obeyed the order in recent years en route to a 42-7 victory over Vineland on a soggy Turkey Day at Gittone Stadium It was Millville’s fifth straight win in the series and the team's 12th victory over the last 16 seasons The recent surge has tied the all-time series at 67-67-19 a rivalry that began in 1893 and is among the longest in the country More: Football 2024: Check out all of our content for the South Jersey high school season Thursday’s game was the final chapter in the scholastic career of Millville’s Lotzeir Brooks who rewrote the state’s record books on his way to becoming the best wide receiver the Garden State has ever produced at the high school level Brooks wrapped up his Millville football days with three catches for 72 yards and his 67th career touchdown but I’m ready to get to the next level,” said Brooks pass-catching abilities to the University of Alabama next year “Just playing with my teammates since I’ve been in the midget league when we were all six years old Brooks is the only receiver in state history to rack up three 1,000-yard seasons (just missing the mark a fourth time with 971 yards as a freshman) and post 506 career points according to football historian Chuck Langerman He also owns state records with 4,615 career receiving yards and 67 career receiving touchdowns and is the South Jersey record holder with 223 career receptions among many others When asked if one individual achievement meant more than another Brooks’ final scholastic catch was a 23-yarder on a fourth-down play that moved the chains in the fourth quarter His final TD reception was scored in typical Brooks fashion taking a short pass and bolting through the Vineland defense for a 49-yard score Next up for Brooks will be playing on Saturdays in Tuscaloosa and on Sundays in the National Football League Wallace wasn’t RB1 on the Millville depth chart when the season started in August Fast forward to his final scholastic game and the senior wasn’t just a starter culminating with a four-touchdown performance against Vineland And that’s what he credits his success to – literally who plans to attend college and study psychology that’s the same feeling you get when running hills So that training really helped me out a lot and made my feet quicker Wallace is a punishing runner who appeared to get stronger as the game progressed he rushed for a career-high 156 yards and four touchdowns in the sectional final against Brick Memorial “I’m very proud of that kid because he’s an amazing young man Millville got the opportunity to capture the first Tony Surace/John Pierantozzi Victory Cup newly named after two of the legendary coaches in the rivalry’s history The trophy was previously named after the Daily Journal The Thunderbolts finished their season at 10-3 grabbing the program’s third sectional title in the last four years The program went 44-8 over the last four seasons including a state title in 2022 and a regional title in 2021 “We wanted to get that state championship ring we still got a trophy that we can put in that trophy box,” Brooks said Vineland struck first as Charles Clark scored on a 6-yard touchdown in the first quarter It was the Fighting Clan’s first score against Millville since 2022 and just their second lead against the Thunderbolts in the last five meetings It’s the second straight five-win season under head coach Jose Guzman Millville senior Demere White rushed for a touchdown Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 35 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him by email tmcgurk@gannett.com Help support local journalism with a digital subscription PANAMA CITY − For Janice Lucas, it's vital that all residents have equal access to healthy Lucas said the city is working to develop a grocery store at Martin Luther King Jr It would mark the only grocer in the Glenwood and Millville areas healthy food helps the residents to live better lives and that's a key factor," Lucas said on why she is passionate about the project Millville neighborhoods is a key initiative that I've been working on Community Redevelopment Agency board members unanimously voted for city staff to begin negotiations on a public-private partnership with the Sankofa Group for the development of the grocery store any agreement still needs to be brought back to the commission for final approval She hopes for this to happen sometime in May the development of a grocery store at MLK Jr Boulevard and 15th Street is significant because it would provide residents the opportunity to purchase healthy affordable food without having to travel outside their neighborhoods Attention residents: Don't forget! 2025 municipal elections in Bay County are April 22 residents in these areas must travel either to a neighboring municipality or across the city to grocery shop "When you're shopping at a convenience store prices are mostly going to be higher for foods and you're not going to get the fresh produce .. This story was updated that the missing children are sisters and the body of one of them was found MILLVILLE — Rescuers have found the body of one of two young sisters missing after a fire burned six homes Thursday morning A faulty fire hydrant and a gas main may have contributed to the blaze The fire began around 11 p.m. in a home on 4th Street and spread to additional homes on the block,  Millville Fire Chief John Wettstein told CBS Philadelphia.  At least 23 people were displaced by the fire with two children unaccounted for The body of one girl was found amidst the rubble and authorities were searching for her sister on Thursday afternoon The girls' father was injured in the blaze and was taken to a hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries A member of the girl's family told NBC Philadelphia that two other siblings and their parents escaped the flames Holly City Family Success Center on its Facebook page said it is collecting new items for the family Thursday until 6 p.m Wettstein said the collapse of two floors inside one of the homes caused a gas line to rupture and feed the fire Firefighters had to lay 1,000 feet of hose after nearby fire hydrants had issues.  About 1,300 gallons of water carried in by fire trucks and from a tower were quickly exhausted Red Cross New Jersey said it was already on scene assisting residents with housing The flames were so hot that the front of a fire truck melted The cause of the fire is under investigation (Includes material Copyright 2025 The Associated Press At least 23 people were displaced by the fire on 4th Street in Millville with two children unaccounted for.\nRead More The fire began around 11 p.m. in a home on 4th Street and spread to additional homes on the block,  Millville Fire Chief John Wettstein told CBS Philadelphia.  At least 23 people were displaced by the fire with two children unaccounted for A member of the girl's family told NBC Philadelphia that two other siblings and their parents escaped the flames Holly City Family Success Center on its Facebook page said it is collecting new items for the family Thursday until 6 p.m Two children remain unaccounted for after flames destroyed several homes overnight in Millville. The fire displaced 23 people. The latest details now @CBSPhiladelphia. pic.twitter.com/tYoPpzk8cw Red Cross New Jersey said it was already on scene assisting residents with housing The Millville Planning Board on January 13th approved a new commercial development of four buildings featuring Raising Cane’s Valvoline… as well as space for additional retailers The location for this project is an undeveloped lot on Route 47 close to the Route 55 interchange The main intersection for this project already features three significant shopping centers and once this new project is developed all four corners will feature know retailers Currently at the intersection are the large Union Lake Shopping Center (Target the Cumberland Crossing Shopping Center (Walmart) and Lowe’s Home Improvement I first wrote about plans for this shopping center a year ago in January of 2024 Originally this plot of land was expected to become a LIDL grocery store but those plans were cancelled back in 2019 This new project is being marketed by Paramount Realty and there are additional space is still available to lease The mostly square property has been divided into 4 quadrants Raising Cane’s will be a freestanding building at the prime corner location of the development They have been on a large growth effort throughout South Jersey and this would be their first location in Cumberland County “Cane’s” offers freshly made chicken fingers in distinctive modern restaurants The side street coming off of Route 47 here is actually a private road called Cumberland Crossing The Valvoline Auto Center will be developed along that side road The design of the Valvoline features multiple garages with one way flow of traffic.  Primarily I believe this is an oil change facility but they do offer other automotive services Along Route 47 (and next to Raising Cane’s is a multiple-unit building that on the left side features Starbucks and on the far right side is Aspen Dental.  In the center of the building 3,950 square feet is available for lease The Starbucks will feature a drive-thru and the design shows a smart layout with the drive-thru lane wrapping around the building and supporting 17 cars!   The design for this multiple unit building with Starbucks is becoming more prevalent… a similar design was utilized at the Short Hills center in Cherry Hill The back rear corner of the project property does not have a tenant signed on yet for the single building which is listed at 4m400 square feet.  Associated commentary says this building is targeted for medical use but it’s best to check with Paramount if you are interested in signing on I was not able to attend this Planning Board meeting so at this time I do not have timelines for any of these projects Hopefully over the next few months I’ll be able to update further Millville Development – Raising Cane’s Aspen DentalRoute 47 and Cumberland Crossing BoulevardMillville NJ Paramount Realty Marketing Site Categories Cumberland Franklin Square Philadelphia Plans New Playground Downtown Collingswood Wawa Closed Permanently Millville will once again host their “Follow the Star” experience this Advent season featuring 500 Nativity scenes of all backgrounds will marvel at all the creative ways in which the Incarnation of God is put into artistic form,” promised Father Peter Idler “this event brings out the child in everyone,” as these displays commemorate “not just God made man and making himself vulnerable,” added Father Idler The free and family-friendly showcase will feature 500 Nativity sets from all over the world and animals present in Bethlehem for the birth of Our Savior The scenes have been made possible due to the parish’s own growing collection or generous donations from parishioners and faithful include a Swedish brass candle nativity; a 10-peace Neapolitan set made from terra cotta; and a display featuring characters from the classic “Peanuts” comic strip evidence of “all creation recognizing the word made flesh Attendees will also be able to learn the history of the Nativity display courtesy of Saint Francis of Assisi.  Inspired by his trips to the Holy Land in the 13th century Saint Francis created a live nativity in 1223 in a cave in Greccio Italy.  Attracting the local community it is said that a miracle took place when the newborn Jesus appeared in the display Taking place on the weekend of “Gaudete Sunday,” as well the experience is a good time for all to reflect on the season’s Gospel readings “as we make that switch in our minds liturgically to the baby born in Bethlehem,” Father Idler said will come and find the true spirit and meaning of Christmas at “Follow the Star.” who became human for love of us.  For non-believers I hope it opens their hearts and minds to how God really “Follow the Star” will take place at All Saints Parish Hall, 621 Dock Street, Millville on Saturday, Dec. 14, from 12- 8 p.m., and on Sunday, Dec. 15, from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  For more information, go to www.allsaintsnj.org © All Rights Reserved | May 05, 2025 | Catholic Star Herald of the Diocese of Camden Add the Catholic Star Herald to your home screen For Android users(Chrome) tap the at the top right vertical 3 dots then tap “Add to Home Screen” For iPhone tap:at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen” If you need assistance with submitting your subscription, please call Neal Cullen at 856-583-6139, or email Neal.Cullen@camdendiocese.org © All Rights Reserved | May 05, 2025 | Catholic Star Herald of the Diocese of Camden 2025 at 5:15 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Two children who were unaccounted for after a fire tore through multiple homes in Millville on Wednesday night were confirmed dead Thursday by a New Jersey state lawmaker NJ — Two children who were unaccounted for after a fire tore through multiple homes in Millville on Wednesday night were confirmed dead Thursday by a New Jersey state lawmaker Fire crews were called to the 300 block of South 4th Street around 11 p.m. Wednesday, where they found two homes engulfed in flames, Millville Fire Chief John Wettstein told NJ Advance Media were unaccounted for as firefighters searched the smoldering rubble on Thursday morning In a statement released Thursday afternoon Michael Testa (NJ-1) called the blaze "an unimaginable tragedy" and confirmed both girls had died "This is a loss that shakes our entire community to the core.” After the fire broke out, it spread to two nearby buildings. CBS New Jersey reported that a total of six homes were impacted by the blaze It took fire crews nearly six hours to contain the blaze, reports said. Video from 6ABC showed crews battling the intense fire which fed the fire and allowed it to jump from house to house "Until the South Jersey gas arrived and was able to turn the gas off to all the houses we did have a gas-fed fire that made it a little bit more difficult," Wettstein said One person was taken to the hospital with injuries The American Red Cross is assisting the families The cause of the blaze remains under investigation Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. MILLVILLE — The tradition of firefighting keeps evolving for the city’s Wettstein family the Millville Fire Department went under the command of Chief John F but is also the namesake-grandson of a Millville fire chief joined because the department for generations has been “a family affair.”  His father and a brother is a career firefighter here as well More: Millville EMS service is officially on call, day 1 was Monday “When you go out and look on the board out there the name ‘Wettstein’ shows up from the 1880s all the way through now randomly,” Wettstein said in an interview Wednesday The department is a mix of volunteers and career firefighters The position of chief was held by a volunteer until December 2001 when then-Chief Kurt Hess became the first career chief Wettstein initially did not see himself becoming the chief The city hired him to the career staff in June 2002 and he was promoted to captain in June 2010 serving under Hess and then Chief Michael Lippincott Lippincott's decision to retire as of March 1 opened the job Wettstein was sworn in at the city commission meeting March 4 “I just felt like I was prepared at this point to do the job,” Wettstein said “I watched Kurt Hess become the first career fire chief and take the department on a path up Mike took over and then he took it another path up And I just feel I’m in a good spot and prepared to take that and push it up.” His wife pinned on his new badge at the commission meeting His father attended and had a surprise for Wettstein after the ceremony presenting him with the chief’s badge worn by his own father from 1952 to 1964 “He gave it to me that night after the swearing in,” Wettstein said More: South Jersey has been largely shut out of the data center business. That's about to change This badge sits in his office in a display box along with family photos MILLVILLE -- The game started off as well as Brick Memorial could have hoped Quarterback Jason Lajara found Nyzier Matthews over the middle and he burst past defenders for a 75-yard gain to set up the Mustangs at the Millville 5-yard line and yet somehow it was also the last gasp for the Mustangs Millville proceeded to force a turnover on downs and marched down the field on a 96-yard drive that was finished off with the first of four touchdown runs by senior Jamal Wallace The Thunderbolts' swift response set the pace for an emphatic 48-7 victory in the Central Group 4 section final the program's third section title in the past four seasons And this year's feat was accomplished without the team's most electric weapon: Alabama recruit Lotzeir Brooks has outscored opponents 150-13 in three playoff games We have to be able to run the ball," Wallace said "We weren't too surprised by (Brick Memorial) we knew they were gonna come in here ready for a dog fight." It was a dog fight that turned decisively in Millville's favor after the opening play thanks in no small part to Wallace who finished with 148 yards rushing and four touchdowns in the game The physical running game had onlookers comparing Wallace to former NFL star Jerome "The Bus" Bettis "I first started off as an offensive tackle but then I slowly started growing into a running back," Wallace said But I was always told - put your shoulder down and show that you can run through them and then run past them." His powerful running was complimented by stifling defense as Millville forced Brick Memorial (9-3) into three-and-outs on the following five first half possessions after the opening big play the Bolts scored on their first five possessions It was just straight-forward dominance through execution you've got to be able to ground and pound," Millville head coach Humberto Ayala said "We've been putting it together throughout the year for these moments." Millville will play the winner of Saturday's South Group 4 section final between Shawnee and Winslow The latter team beat Millville 35-7 in the regular season so the Bolts will be eager to win a potential rematch "The same mentality," Ayala said of his team's approach in pursuit of a state title Stick to our standard and our culture and that'll grind us through." Although a promising campaign came to a disappointing finish Brick Memorial continues to be a resurgent force in the Shore since the COVID-19 pandemic forced a limited year in 2020 This year's seniors saw a turnaround from a 3-7 season in 2021 to a combined 19-4 record over the past two seasons And after last year's undefeated season ended in a playoff upset against Long Branch the Mustangs surged to win their first two playoff games this year by a combined scored of 97-21 and earn a spot in the section final With a ton of talented underclassmen returning Brick Memorial is poised to take another step next year never been done in school history," Brick Memorial head coach Walt Currie said I'm for our kids because they got to experience that The team tried to tap into that joy in the second half in putting together a scoring drive to get on the board Although the wounds of the game will be fresh for some time there are a lot of positives to the tremendous season by Brick Memorial who took over for record-breaking performer Connor Dietz finished with over 2,000 yards passing and 800 yards rushing He is surrounded by returning playmakers Nazeer Whittaker the team gained valuable experience for next season as they aim to compete with the state's elite teams But we are striving to be an elite team," Currie said So that's something our kids are striving to be We took strides last and we we took strides this year And we're hoping to take strides again next year." M: Jamal Wallace 10-yard touchdown run (Lorenzo Lewis kick) M:Shermar Collins 6-yard touchdown run (Lewis kick) M: Wallace 10-yard touchdown run (Lewis kick) M: Wallace 9-yard touchdown run (Lewis kick) M:Wallacae 6-yard touchdown run (Lewis kick) M: Robert O'Connor 31-yard touchdown pass to Reginald Holey (Lewis kick) B: Jason Lajara 11-yard touchdown pass to Matthew Hillin (Jack Marotta kick) M: O'Connor 30-yard touchdown pass to Darian Blachewicz (PAT blocked) Fire departments in Delaware and Maryland have revoked memberships of firefighters arrested for a hate crime Jay Droney, 27, of Millville, and Jordan Hastings, 23, of Delmar, are accused of chasing a Millville, DE firefighter around the station with a noose, WBOC reported Droney also continued to make racist comments to the victim after the incident Millville fire officers notified Delaware State Police about the incident Millville officials wrote: "We understand that incidents of racial harassment not only harm the individuals directly involved but also deeply affect our entire community," the Fire Company said "Such behavior is unacceptable and goes against our core values of honor We are committed to standing together in solidarity against hatred and discrimination ensuring that all members feel valued and safe within our organization." Droney joined the La Plata Fire Company in Maryland on April 7 while the investigation was ongoing As soon as officers learned of the arrest Tuesday “The La Plata Volunteer Fire Department takes all allegations of this nature with the utmost seriousness or behavior that is contrary to the values of public service Our organization holds its members to the highest ethical and professional standards and remains committed to providing the best emergency services to the citizens of Charles County," said La Plata Fire Department President Travis Yates Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976 Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post BLACKSTONE — There will be no school Friday at Blackstone-Millville Regional High School as authorities continue to investigate a threat made on social media School will be held as scheduled for middle and elementary students The decision to close the high school came late Thursday announced by School Superintendent Jason DeFalco and Police Chief Gregory Gilmore Millville police received a report from a Blackstone-Millville Regional High School student about a threat made against them and the high school over social media," authorities said in news release Millville police and Blackstone police initiated an investigation into the incident." The middle and elementary schools were not mentioned in the threat there will be a police presence at those schools on Friday Officials said: "Our first and foremost concern is for the safety of our students We will provide updates as the investigation continues.” Plainview-Elgin-Millville hosted a track and field meet with participating schools: Zumbrota-Mazeppa Cannon Falls and Plainview-Elgin-Millville on Friday The winner in the state’s oldest football rivalry will be rewarded with a newly named trophy The Millville and Vineland high school football teams will now play for the Tony Surace/John Pierantozzi Victory Cup Millville High School planned to make the official announcement at Friday’s playoff game against Red Bank according to Millville athletic director Dave LaGamba The rivalry between these bitter opponents began in 1893 The two teams will meet for the 153rd time on Thanksgiving when Vineland hosts Millville at Gittone Stadium Vineland leads the series 67-66-19. Millville won last year's meeting The two schools agreed to change the name of what was for years known as the Daily Journal Victory Cup in honor of each program’s legendary football coaches Surace guided the Millville football program for a quarter of a century leading the Thunderbolts to a 152-74-4 record including an 11-0 unbeaten run en route to the South Jersey Group 4 title in 1975 His teams won eight conference championships and ten Cumberland County titles Surace would later become the school’s athletic trainer Pierantozzi led the Fighting Clan from 1982-91 guiding the program to seven winning seasons over nine years including six playoff appearances and two Cape-Atlantic League titles He was inducted into the South Jersey Chapter of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 2017 who was also a golf coach and one of the state’s top basketball officials I'm a food editor and powerlifter and I tested my favorite budget pick against a test kitchen favorite—here's what I thought A 38-year old Millville man was the motorcyclist who died Wednesday morning after he crashed head-on into a box truck on Churn Creek Road in Redding according to the Shasta County Coroner's office Justin Ryan Schindler was traveling north on Churn Creek Road just before 7 a.m. according to the coroner and Redding Police Department Schindler drove his motorcycle over the double yellow lines and into the southbound lane of Churn Creek Road at Presidio Street Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at the Redding Record Searchlight, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know Schindler was ejected from the motorcycle on impact from the crash in spite of life-saving measures from people who were in the area and medical personnel who responded The incident prompted police to close Churn Creek Road — from the Presidio Street intersection to the Dana Drive intersection near Olive Garden — while officers investigated the scene Police diverted morning traffic away from the crash site for 3.5 hours The coroner's office identified Schindler Thursday morning after police contacted his next of kin The coroner plans to do a postmortem examination in the future More: Motorcyclist dies in crash on Churn Creek Road in Redding The case is still under investigation by the coroner's office and the Redding Police Department Redding police asked that anyone with information about the crash to call the department at 530-225-4200 “We kept everything the same as we had it seven months ago with the same great menu,” wrote Sara Evers about the sisters' return The Breakfast Barn is now open serving breakfast from 6 a.m Evers and Briggs wrote on Facebook that they missed their customers and were happy to be back serving them they still hope to find someone else to take over the restaurant “We do have the café on the market to sell again as we have other careers and lives outside of the café We will be serving breakfast until we find a great new crew to buy the café,” wrote Evers the sisters stressed how much the restaurant and the Millville community means to them “The amount of time and effort it takes for business owners is relentless and not for the weak of heart We spent eight years putting our heart and soul into making Breakfast Barn our own doing lunch in-house dinners and breakfast,” they wrote “Working nonstop to provide great meals throughout the years to put back into the café on remodeling projects throughout the years as well as giving back to the community as much as we could because the community of Millville as well as surrounding communities gave us tremendous support throughout the years.” one city is missing a sign welcoming visitors to town The Wabasha County Sheriff’s Office announced on Facebook that the Welcome to Millville sign was stolen sometime during the week of January 13 Authorities are asking for the public’s assistance in finding the sign and are encouraging anyone with any information on the subject to contact the sheriff’s office at (651) 565-3361 or call their toll-free tip line at (866) 377-6111 Any person with disabilities who needs help accessing the FCC Public file should email news@kaaltv.com or call (507) 288-7555