TOMS RIVER-Former Lacey Township Mayor John C. Parker was honored with a grand reception this weekend by the Southern Ocean County Conservative Republican PAC, a group of independent conservative Republicans working diligently to raise money for Ocean County Republican candidates in this year’s general election.

Berkeley Township Councilman John Bacchione served as master of ceremony for the event which drew over 200 supporters, friends and family of Parker.

Dignitaries in attendance at the ceremony included New Jersey State Senator Samuel Thompson (D-12), Berkeley Mayor Carmen Amato and other leaders from the southern municipalities of Ocean County.

Parker served as police officer in Lacey Township and also served as councilman, but his biggest contribution came while he was elected 7 times to be mayor of the township.  He now serves on the Ocean County Municipal Utilities Authority.

“This event was about honoring a man who has dedicated 69 years of his life to Ocean County, John Parker,” Bacchione said. “I’m honored today to be honoring a man of such statute and we’re happy to have him. He’s made a name for himself in a good way.”

South Toms River Councilman Oscar Cradle started the morning breakfast off with a prayer.

Berkeley Council Mayor Carmen Amato presented Parker with a proclamation from the township honoring Parker’s service to the greater Ocean County community during his lifetime.  Amato praised Parker’s long career and service to the community.

Casey Parker, John’s son spoke of growing up in the home of a man who gave much of his life back to his community.

“We realized that dad was put on this earth to serve the community and we had to share him with the rest of the world,” Parker said of his dad.

The event, Organized by conservative Republicans in Ocean County was also focused on raising money to stop the Democrat “Blue Wave” that has swept the northern sections of the county including Brick Township and Toms River.  Over $40,000 was raised to support conservative Republican candidates in towns like Berkeley Township, South Toms River and Lacey.  Organizers said they will also be supporting the Ocean County Board of Freeholders candidates Jack Kelly and Virginia Haines, along with Sheriff Michael Mastronardy.

Despite a call from Ocean County GOP Chairman Frank Holman to boycott the event, the event was a resounding success for the growing conservative Republican caucus in Ocean County.

Photos by Joseph Rudy Rullo.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and South Toms River Police Chief William Kosh announced today that two individuals have been charged in connection with the shootings that occurred in South Toms River in the early morning hours of August 25, 2019.

Nagee Covington, 19, of Lakewood, has been charged with three counts of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1); one count of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(7); one count of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1). Covington was taken into custody and is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

Shakem Hunley, 24, of Freehold, has been charged with three counts of Aggravated Assault in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b(1); one count of Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1); and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5b(1). A warrant has been issued for Hunley’s arrest and he remains at large.

On August 25, 2019, South Toms River Police were summoned to a residence by way of a 9-1-1 call reporting gunshots. At the scene, police found a male victim with a gunshot wound to his leg. The victim was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, where he was treated for his injuries. Two additional gunshot victims were transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River for treatment. A female victim located at the scene was determined to have been physically assaulted.

After a thorough investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, South Toms River Police Department, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, a Court ordered search warrant was executed at a residence in Lakewood with the assistance of the Lakewood Township Police Special Response Team. As a result, Covington was arrested; Hunley remains at large. Anyone with information concerning Hunley’s whereabouts should contact Detective Denis Mitchell of the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit at (732) 929-2027, extension 2476, or Detective Timothy Meier of the South Toms River Police Department at (732) 349-2010.

Prosecutor Billhimer commended the diligent efforts of the many law enforcement officers and departments involved in this extensive investigation. Prosecutor Billhimer would like to thank the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, South Toms River Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Freehold Borough Police Department, Lakewood Police Department and the Lakewood Township Police Special Response Team. “The residents of South Toms River should not have to worry about their neighborhood turning into O.K. Corral; this wanton brutality will not be tolerated in any of our communities. I’m relieved that one individual is in custody, but our job is not done. We need to find Shakem Hunley and restore a sense of peace in South Toms River,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.

Toms River North’s Julia Fiorito scored an unassisted goal, the only goal of the game to defeat Ridge High School 1-0 to start the 2019 girls soccer season.