ASBURY PARK PRESS

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TUESDAY 04.19.16

EXCLUSIVE REPORT | THIRD IN A FOUR-PART SERIES

CHILDREN OF HEROIN

BORN ON

DRUGS

Man killed
on Corlies
Avenue in
Neptune

More than 21,000 babies were born exposed to narcotics

in 2012. And that number is only going to get bigger.

Police report shooting by

Veterans of Foreign Wars
building Monday night
ANDREW FORD @ANDREWFORDNEWS

NEPTUNE - One man was killed in a shooting Monday night near the Veterans of Foreign Wars building
on Corlies Avenue, here, according to township police
Lt. Michael McGhee.
A patrol officer reported a man down about 8 p.m.,
according to McGhee. Multiple shots were reported;
there was a gathering of people in the area at the time.
McGhee referred further questions to the Monmouth County Prosecutors Office. Prosecutors
spokesman Charlie Webster didnt immediately respond to questions about the shooting.
At the scene, police cars and yellow tape lined the
front of VFW Post 2639. Investigators photographed
the scene.
A parking lot behind the building was also taped off.
Its definitely bad, Brian King, 22, said of the shooting. He lives in an apartment across the street from the
VFW.
You dont want to hear about nobody dying close to
See KILLED, Page 4A

States Atlantic
City plan makes no
sense, mayor says
THOMAS P. COSTELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

MIKE DAVIS @BYMIKEDAVIS

Pregnant client "Lacey" is shown during an interview at JSAS Healthcare in Neptune Township on March 14.

NEPTUNE - As legislators debate Atlantic Citys future, Mayor Don Guardian on Monday said a state takeover doesnt make any sense.
In a meeting with the Asbury Park Press editorial
board, Guardian said a statewide takeover of city operations an auditor already oversees its finances requires a leap of faith that the state Department of Community Affairs could get the job done. The mayor has
no such confidence.
Everyone wants to jump into the fray and give me a
single thing to do to fix Atlantic City, Guardian said.
There isnt one. Theres no single answer to solve our
problem.
The city is $240 million in debt and faces a budget
gap of nearly $40 million that has city officials worried
about a shutdown as soon as June.
Its a financial crisis brought on by the closure of
four casinos in 2014 as new ones opened in New York
and Philadelphia, eating away much of the citys traditional tourism base.
At the same time, some of the eight remaining casinos have filed for tax appeals with the city, including a

NEED HELP OR KNOW

SOMEONE WHO DOES?

KEN SERRANO @KENSERRANOAPP

www.njconnectforrecovery.org

n a September 2012 night, baby Mello was

born on drugs. In the first moments of
life, he shook as though cold even though
swaddled tightly in a blanket. The tremors and uncontrollable crying showed he
was in withdrawal. Yellowed from jaundice, the child
was placed under a fluorescent phototherapy lamp to
boost his weak liver functions. And then Mello, barely an hour old, was started on methadone.

Source: Mental Health Association

in New Jersey, Inc.

See BORN, Page 6A

The Mental Health Association

in New Jerseys NJ Connect for
Recovery provides a safe, free,
confidential, nonjudgmental
place where New Jersey residents may call for support: The
toll-free number is 855-6523737 (TTY: 877-294-4356) and
the website address is

For more, be sure to visit us online at APP.com for videos

See PLAN, Page 4A

and to read the complete Children of Heroin series.

INSIDE
Speaker says no estate tax cut without gasoline tax hike. 2A

Healthy Living
USA TODAY

Texans hard hit

by heavy rains
Drenching rain that brought flash flooding to parts of
Texas deluged Houston, killing at least four people.
Page 3B

ADVICE
CLASSIFIED
COMICS
HEALTHY LIVING
LOCAL

7D
8D
6D
1D
3A

OBITUARIES
OPINION
SPORTS
TECH TUESDAY
WEATHER

10A
13A
1C
8A
10C

VOLUME 137
NUMBER 94
SINCE 1879

Stop signals for

senior motorists
The senior citizen driving question when is it time to give up
the license? becomes more pressing than ever as baby
boomers hit their 70s in droves. Page 1C