On 7/8, a Bridgeton resident was charged with disorderly conduct and breach of peace. Court date pending.
On 7/8, a Glendora resident turned himself in on an NCIC warrant issued out of Camden. The warrant was confirmed, and he was taken into custody and turned over to the Camden City Jail.
On 7/9, officers responded to the Wawa on N. Evergreen Avenue for a report of a woman trespassing. The woman, a Camden resident, was identified and found to have previously been trespassed from the Wawa on multiple occasions. She was issued a complaint for defiant trespassing and released from the scene.
On 7/10, officers observed a man sitting outside a business on S. Broad Street consuming alcohol. He was issued summonses for possession of an open container of alcohol and consuming alcohol in public. A court date is pending.
On 7/10, while conducting foot patrol in the area of S. Broad Street, officers observed a Bridgeton resident walking through the area while consuming vodka. He was issued a summons for consuming alcohol in public. The vodka was properly disposed of. A court date is pending.
On 7/11, a Woodbury resident was charged with criminal mischief and possession of drug paraphernalia after allegedly attempting to enter an apartment that was not hers. A court date is pending.
On 7/12, officers responded to the Wawa on N. Evergreen Avenue for a reported shoplifting. Employees reported that an unidentified man entered the store and stole approximately $355 worth of Newport cigarettes. The suspect has not yet been identified, but his photograph has been distributed. Once identified, he will be charged accordingly.
On 7/12, Washington Township Police turned over a Westville resident who had outstanding warrants issued by the Woodbury Police Department. The individual was granted release on her own recognizance (ROR) after satisfying the required bail. A court date is pending.
On 7/13, officers responded to the Wawa in Woodbury Heights for a reported shoplifting. Employees reported that a Deptford resident entered the store, selected merchandise, exited without paying, placed the items in the trunk of his vehicle, and left the scene. Officers were able to positively identify the suspect. He was charged with shoplifting and was issued a trespass notice prohibiting him from returning to the store. A court date is pending.
On 7/13, during a traffic stop, officers learned the driver had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He was granted release on his own recognizance (ROR) and issued a new court date. Traffic summonses were also issued for improper maintenance of lamps (brake light out) and failure to inspect the vehicle. A court date is pending.
On 7/15, officers responded to Vanderbilt Avenue for a reported hit-and-run crash. A vehicle that was legally parked on Vanderbilt Avenue was struck by another vehicle, which fled the area. The incident remains under investigation. Once identified, the driver will be charged accordingly.
On 7/16, officers responded to Monro Auto for a report of illegal dumping. Employees reported that an unknown person dumped four large trash bags outside of the company’s dumpster. There are currently no suspects. Employees were advised to contact police if the individual returns or if additional information becomes available.
On 7/16, officers responded to the Wawa in Woodbury Heights for a reported shoplifting that occurred approximately 20 minutes prior. Employees reported that a male, who had previously shoplifted from the store on several occasions, entered the store, took merchandise, exited without paying, and left in a vehicle. After reviewing store surveillance footage, officers positively identified the suspect as a Deptford resident. He was charged with shoplifting. It was also determined that he was operating a vehicle while his driver’s license was suspended, and he was charged accordingly. A court date is pending.
Since 1993, Holt has been leasing this land under the Walt Whitman Bridge for a $1 a year. The marine terminal was fined $30,000 for illegally dumping the fill into the Newton Creek, which flows into the Delaware River.
(Gloucester City News archives; photographer Tom Casey, February 5, 1981)
The Gloucester City News 1981 archive photos revealed the fill dirt and concrete used by Tom Holt Sr.,to fill in the Newton Creek swampland under the Walt Whitman Bridge near Collings Road. He was asked by this reporter why he didn’t wait for approval. “Paying the fines was cheaper than waiting for permits that may take months to obtain legally.
Holt was fined $30,000 by federal and state agencies for violating the law. Besides the fines, the court stipulated that he would have to build a park at his marine terminal for the public to view the Delaware River. Within the last couple of months, that park across from Freedom Pier was demolished and replaced with a stack of containers. It is not known if the Holt Family was permitted to remove that park.
The 1981 Case: Holt Fills Protected Wetlands Without a Permit
GLOUCESTER CITY NJ (AUGUST 6, 2026)–In early 1981, federal regulators charged Holt Hauling and Warehousing Systems with illegally filling in federally protected wetlands along Newton Creek, a tributary of the Delaware River. The company had expanded its storage yard by dumping dirt and construction material into tidal wetlands without obtaining the required permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The federal complaint made clear that Holt’s actions violated both the Clean Water Act and the Rivers and Harbors Act. A consent order filed in U.S. District Court required Holt to pay a civil penalty and restore portions of the damaged wetlands. The case was one of the earliest examples of federal environmental enforcement on Gloucester City’s industrial waterfront.
The reporting by the Gloucester City News editor and publisher at the time captured the scale of Holt’s ambitions. At the same time portions of Newton Creek were being filled in two massive container cranes—purchased in Germany—were floated across the Atlantic on barges and escorted up the Delaware River by the U.S. Coast Guard. As those barges passed under the Delaware Memorial Bridge, we were aboard a Coast Guard vessel documenting the arrival. It was a dramatic moment that symbolized Holt’s rapid expansion, much of it built on land created by backfilling marsh and riverbank.
The Same Land, Four Decades Later: A New Legal Fight
(Gloucester City News archives; photographer Tom Casey, December 17, 1981)
The wetlands Holt filled in 1981 are not just a historical footnote. They are the same tract of land at the center of a major dispute today between Holt Logistics and the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA).
—
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PUBLIC PARK THAT HOLT WAS MANDATED TO BUILD?
CNBNews photo–The arrow points to the location of a small public park that Thomas Holt was ordered to build as part of a court order levy against the shipping tycoon in 1982 for illegally filling in the Newton Creek swampland under the Walt Whitman Bridge near Collings Road. It is not known if the Holt family violated that1982 court order by removing it to make room to store more containers. byoder Holt.The cothe
Since 1993, Holt has leased the land beneath the Walt Whitman Bridge for $1 per year—a symbolic arrangement created during a different era of port operations. But the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller (OSC) recently forced a settlement with DRPA after determining that the lease was not in the public’s financial interest.
OSC’s involvement triggered a renegotiation of the lease, and Holt is now fighting efforts to raise the rent to market value.
Holt argues that:
The land was created by their own backfilling, not by the DRPA.
The property is inaccessible without crossing Holt’s surrounding private land.
Therefore, the DRPA should not charge market‑rate rent for land Holt claims it effectively built and maintained.
The DRPA and OSC counter that:
The land is public property.
The $1 lease has deprived taxpayers of fair revenue for decades.
Any future agreement must reflect the true value of the waterfront acreage.
This dispute has become one of the most consequential port‑related negotiations in South Jersey in years.
(Gloucester City News archives; photographer Tom Casey, November 4, 1982) —
Why the 1981 Case Matters Today
The connection between the 1981 wetlands violation and the current lease battle is direct and undeniable:
The land Holt filled illegally in 1981 is the same land they now claim to have “created” and therefore deserve to lease cheaply.
Holt’s long history of aggressive expansion—sometimes pushing past regulatory boundaries—helps explain why state oversight agencies are now scrutinizing the $1 lease.
The OSC’s intervention signals a shift: public agencies are no longer willing to accept decades‑old arrangements that favor private operators over taxpayers.
This recent photo taken at the foot of Monmouth Street shows cranes that are standing on land that was once covered by the Delaware River. Holt filled in the river in 1981.
The reporting by the Gloucester City News in the 1980s provides essential historical context. It shows that Holt’s relationship with the Gloucester City waterfront has always been complicated—marked by ambition, conflict, and a willingness to reshape the landscape to suit its operations. It also revealed that Holt wasn’t afraid of violating environmental rules if, in the end, he would benefit financially by doing so. When he ordered his employees to start filling in the swampland under the Walt Whitman Bridge before receiving the necessary permits, he said it was cheaper for him to pay the fines than sit around waiting for the approval of the permits needed to proceed with filling in the Delaware River.
On June 20, 1983 Thomas J. Holt, the president of the Holt Hauling and Warehousing System, promised Gloucester City Councilman Thomas Carter that his company would not expand its marine terminal any further than the foot of Monmouth Street. According to a AI search Holt Logistics began leasing the former U.S. Coast Guard station at Freedom Pier in 1988 following the base’s closure. The building was was located a block from Monmouth Street. Subsequently, the building was restored and renovated to serve as their corporate headquarters in the early 2000s.
THE POWER OF THE HOLT FAMILY
AUGUST 2026-The Holt family’s influence over regional port operations surfaced again this week. According to reporting in The Philadelphia Inquirer, Holt Logistics successfully blocked Hanwha — the Korean shipbuilder currently operating on a 110‑acre site in South Philadelphia — from expanding into the Paulsboro Marine Terminal. Hanwha officials said the Paulsboro site would have solved their space constraints and positioned the company to compete for major U.S. Navy contracts. With the deal halted, Hanwha is now shifting its search to southern states along the Atlantic Coast.
HANWHA PLANNED A $5 BILLION SOUTH JERSEY INVESTMENT
Hanwha has pledged to invest $5 billion in U.S. shipbuilding once it secures a suitable location. The Paulsboro facility, previously used for offshore wind‑mill construction, became available after President Trump canceled the federal wind program, prompting the tenant to vacate last December. Hanwha agreed to assume the lease — until Holt Logistics intervened.
Holt refused to approve the arrangement and filed suit to block it. After months of lobbying and legal maneuvering, Hanwha abandoned its Paulsboro plans and is now entertaining offers from southern states eager to attract a portion of the company’s multibillion‑dollar investment.
Paulsboro Mayor John Giovannitti estimates that fewer than 50 workers are present at the port on a typical day. The borough sublets the terminal to Holt, which paid $1.6 million last year to operate the facility. Leo Holt, whose century‑old company manages terminals in Gloucester City and South Philadelphia, said he is not entirely opposed to manufacturing at Paulsboro — but only under conditions acceptable to Holt Logistics.
New Jersey taxpayers have already invested heavily in the Paulsboro port, borrowing and spending more than $500 million to build the wharf, highway ramps, and supporting infrastructure intended to attract large employers. Hanwha’s departure underscores how much control Holt continues to wield over the future of that publicly financed facility.
Some parts of this article were writted with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has issued a code orange air quality alert Sunday for Ocean County and southeastern Burlington County New Jersey. A code orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children…people suffering from asthma… heart disease or other lung diseases…and the elderly. The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors. For more information on ground-level ozone and fine particles…visit http://www.state.nj.us/dep/
I-676 southbound is scheduled have lane closures next week on Monday and Tuesday nights as a bridge replacement and paving project advances in Camden and Gloucester City, Camden County.
Beginning at 8 p.m. Monday, August 10 until 4 a.m. Tuesday, August 11, the right lane on I-676 southbound is scheduled to be closed between the Bridge over Newton Creek (mile post 0.6) and the I-76 Connector (mile post 0.2). A second lane will be closed at 9 p.m. Construction is expected to begin in the right lanes and move to the left as work progresses. The closure is necessary to restripe the roadway and shift traffic to the right in preparation for a long-term left lane closure, which will be implemented on Tuesday night. At least one lane will be maintained overnight.
“The State of New Jersey is proud to stand alongside our local school districts in funding the nation’s best public schools, which remain the foundation for economic and social mobility in our country and the best place for our kids to get their shot at a better life.
“At its most basic level, the State’s current formula’s student-centered focus gets that part of the question right. We should be, and are, making sure the funds are steered to the students and communities that need them most. It is my hope that, regardless of what changes come, that principle should hold.
When someone does enter the correctional system, it doesn’t have to be the end of the story — it can be the beginning of recovery.
Camden County’s nationally recognizedMedication for Opioid Use Disorder program provides treatment inside the jail and connects individuals with continued care after release, helping reduce the risk of overdose and support long-term recovery.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers about fake and counterfeit squishy toys that may pose serious risks to children. CPSC is also reiterating its warning about serious burn hazards associated with a viral social media trend encouraging children and teens to microwave squishy toys.
Squishy toys — including popular animal, food, and character-shaped squeeze toys — are widely sold through online marketplaces, social media, discount stores, and other retailers. CPSC is aware of fake and counterfeit versions that do not comply with federal safety requirements for children’s toys, including requirements addressing water beads, small parts, lead, phthalates, and other hazardous substances.
From 3–5 p.m., Guests Can Enjoy Two Small Cones for the Price of One
WHAT:
Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is celebrating National Frozen Custard Day with a sweet deal! On Saturday, August 8, guests can celebrate with a Buy One, Get One FREE Small Frozen Custard Cone from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Rita’s signature Frozen Custard is made fresh daily, delivering a rich, creamy texture that has made it a guest favorite for every occasion. Whether you’re sharing with a friend or keeping both cones for yourself, National Frozen Custard Day is the perfect excuse to indulge in one of Rita’s signature desserts.
WHERE:
Participating Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard Shops Nationwide
WHEN:
National Frozen Custard Day Saturday, August 8, 2026 | 3:00-5:00 PM
Looking for even more ways to enjoy Rita’s? Download the Rita’s Ice app to start earning rewards on your purchases. New members can enjoy one free small Ice, Custard, or Gelati just for signing up and making their first purchase. Guests can download the Rita’s Ice app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, or by visiting ritasice.com/app. Members also receive birthday rewards, exclusive offers and more.
Rita’s signature Italian Ice is made fresh daily on-site and available in a rotating daily selection from over 80 flavors. Other menu favorites include creamy Frozen Custard, signature Gelati, Concretes, Frozen Coffee, Rita’s Blendini®, Milkshakes and more. For more information or to find your nearest Rita’s location, visit www.ritasice.com.
About Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard:
Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard opened its doors in Bensalem, Pa. in 1984 and has been dedicated to spreading “Ice, Custard, Happiness!” ever since. Today, Rita’s is the largest Italian Ice concept in the world with more than 600 shops. Guests visit Rita’s to celebrate everyday moments with freshly made frozen treats in a fun-filled atmosphere. Known for its famous Italian Ice, made fresh daily with real fruit, and its signature Frozen Custard, Rita’s serves a taste of happiness in every cup. For more information, visit www.ritasice.com.
Ignoring addiction doesn’t save money. It simply sends the bill somewhere else — to taxpayers, first responders, hospitals, courts, and law enforcement. That’s why investing in recovery isn’t just compassionate — it’s one of the smartest public safety investments we can make. From Congress to Camden County, Donald Norcross, Lou Cappelli, and Jon Young are proving that the strongest response to addiction isn’t built around one program or one policy — it’s built on making sure help is available wherever and whenever it’s needed.
Delsea Drive/Route 47 is scheduled to have a single lane closed overnight near Bennet Drive tonight with traffic maintained using an alternating traffic pattern as a corridor improvement project advances in Deptford, Gloucester County.
Beginning at 9 p.m. tonight, Friday, August 7 until 6 a.m. tomorrow, Saturday, August 8, a single lane is scheduled to be closed on Delsea Drive/Route 47 near Bennett Drive. The lane closure is necessary to restripe the roadway, place barrier and shift traffic. Alternating traffic will be maintained overnight.
