July 10--A weather balloon from Reading, Pa., traveled all the way to Hammonton, where it landed on a street and alarmed residents Saturday.
The balloon, which police said was attached to a box with a beeping tracking device, landed on Fairview Avenue at about 2:45 p.m. Residents saw the item and alerted authorities.
Members of the Hammonton police and fire departments, emergency medical services and the Atlantic County Hazardous Materials Response Team responded to the scene, but it was quickly determined the item was not dangerous, police said.
The balloon was labeled as a school project from the Reading school district, police said.
Members of the district were apparently following their project's progress, as about 15 minutes after the balloon was discovered, the group came to the department and asked for it, police said.