UPBEAT NEWS - ORGANIZATIONS

RADIO to the RESCUE!
NJ 101.5 FM AND THE CENTRAL JERSEY TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM
SOFTBALL GAME

- PHOTOS AND STORY BY BARRY M. GOULD -

The lead story a few months back dealt with the agonizing search to find a young boy in Monmouth County that was reported missing. After extensive searches by the boy's family, police and volunteers, a call was made to a Fanwood, NJ based group of volunteers who are highly skilled and trained to be inserted into the most desparate resuue and recovery operations throughout Central NJ, they are the Central Jersey Technical Rescue Team, Inc.

South Plainfield Mayor Dan Gallagher
watches as the game progresses. Later
he thanked everyone for their good work
and contribution to the community. >
>
THE MEN AND LADIES IN ORANGE SURROUND THE PLATE WHEN ONE OF THE TEAM HIT A TOWERING HOME RUN IN A LATE-GAME RALLY.

HERE, A "JERSEY GIRL" FROM NJ 101.5 FM
"RULES" AS SHE STEPS UP TO THE PLATE.

Using specially-trained dogs and sophisticated gear, CJTRT respond quickly to the call and found AOK under the front porch of the boy's home.

To bring these oftentimes overlooked public service groups to light, CJTRT coordinated with NJ 101.5 Radio to challenge their broadcasters to a twilight game of softball on Thursday, June 15th at Veteran's Field in South Plainfield.

The game was preceded by a demonstration by CJTRT rescuers and their service dogs, like Duke and Kacey, whose specially sensitive nose can sniff out and pinpoint the scent of missing persons with tremendous accuracy. The teams also can be airlifted into danger zones for search and rescue missions ranging from stranded hikers in the mountainous terrain of parts of New Jersey to searching the depths of a commercial trash container to determine the whereabouts of a missing college student.

The New Jersey 101.5 Team, headed by Afternoon Drive personalities CARLTON & ROSSI, aka "The Jersey Guys" and C-Dogg seemed ready to do battle and took the field dressed in their station shirts. The Rescuers were dressed in safety orange t-shirts (what else?) but between inning gave UPBEAT NEWS some insight about their group.

"Searching is a science" explains Eric Martin, Chief of the CJTRT. "Our people are volunteers who have been specially-trained to gather evidence without disturbing a possible crime scene." We use our dogs and sophisticated forensic tools to do our jobs. In fact, unlike a rescue squad which can be called by the public, the special emergency activation number is known only to key members of local, county and State Police and rescue squads. One call from dispatchers activates up to 30+ members from as far away as New Hope, PA and Cape May, NJ who are alerted by special pagers.

Because of its specialized, adjunct charter, the unit is considered a tactical unit, not a governmental service so it is entirely self-funded and does not receive any money from the State, County, or local treasuries. All the equipment, vehicles, and expenses are paid by the group itself.

The organization also conducts seminars for schools and civic groups called "Lost but Found" that teaches children what to take with them on any camping trip outdoors to use in case they are lost or in an emergency.

The game was loaded with action, and both teams played admirably. The event was a great success, but although CJTRT team are the experts in search and rescue, and even with a late game rally could not save themselves from a 19-12 defeat by the NJ 101.5 team.

CHARLOTTE PUERARI Assistant Vice President - Branch Manager