Military reinforcements are being ramped up in Crimea, despite last month’s (December 2017) extension of economic sanctions on Moscow. Local media report Russia has deployed a new division of S-400 surface-to-air missiles on the peninsula, which it controversially annexed from Ukraine in 2014. “This S-400 missile launcher allows us to locate targets in the range of…
Top golfers at the PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii were among those caught up in the panic Saturday after the mistaken transmission of an alert warning of an incoming ballistic missile. World number four and 2017 PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas was among several players at the event in Honolulu who took to Twitter following…
A false emergency alert warning of an incoming ballistic missile caused massive panic in Hawaii for about 40 minutes on Saturday, The Hill reports. The alert caused terrified people to scramble to find shelter and prepare for what they thought might be their final moments. U.S. and state officials worked hurriedly to recall the mobile alert…
WASHINGTON — New Jersey’s incoming and outgoing governors joined U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez Sunday in urging President Donald Trump’s administration to immediately end talk of allowing oil drilling off the Garden State’s coastline. The proposal “puts at risk the strength of New Jersey’s economy and the health of the state’s unique marine ecosystem,”…
TOMS RIVER – Ocean County officials today released preliminary cost estimates associated with the cleanup of Winter Storm Grayson which was elevated to blizzard status by the time it hit the shore in the early morning hours of Jan. 4.
“Our departments were staged and ready to go at midnight,” said Ocean County Freeholder Director Gerry P. Little, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Road Department. “This was a storm that dropped almost 19 inches of snow on some areas of the county. The snow combined with high winds and frigid temperatures made it difficult to cleanup. But our road crews and county staff got the job done.”
As of Jan. 10, the cost of salting, plowing and associated cleanup costs of Ocean County’s nearly 630 miles of roadways and county government facilities is an estimated $725,000, Little said.
Little noted the greatest share of the cost estimates – $675,000 – was in the Road Department. Included in that total is more than $337,000 for materials, $191,000 for overtime and $35,000 for subcontractors.
Prior to the storm, the county had on hand 25,000 tons of salt and 10,000 gallons of liquid calcium. More than 3,700 tons of salt was used during the storm along with 4,150 gallons of liquid calcium.
“The Road Department continued the cleanup throughout the weekend,” Little said. “We have the largest county road network in the state with more than 1,600 county lane miles. This was a big job to get those roads cleared and safe for motorists.”
Other County departments involved in the cleanup included the Ocean County Department of Vehicle Services, the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management, the Ocean County Parks and Recreation Department, the Bridge Department, and the Buildings and Grounds Department.
“Ocean County has more than 135 government buildings located across the County,” said Ocean County Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, who serves as liaison to the Ocean County Department of Buildings and Grounds. “It is essential that our parking lots and sidewalks are cleared so our employees can get to work and the public can access our services and programs.”
The buildings and grounds staff had 37 employees cleaning up after the storm. They used 768 bags of salt and worked almost 600 hours combined. Materials and overtime totaled about $18,500.
Little said another key County department involved in storm cleanups is the Department of Vehicle Services.
“That department provided almost 15,000 gallons of fuel to keep County vehicles on the roads during the cleanup,” said Little, who also is liaison to Vehicle Services. “They had 53 employees working throughout the storm. It is essential our vehicles, especially trucks that hold the plows, are properly maintained in order to clear our roads.”
The cost of overtime for the department was $11,700.
During a major snowstorm Ocean County, at any given time, has roughly 200 pieces of equipment on the county roads in addition to the private contractors that are called in to assist with salting and plowing operations.
Little noted that additional storm related costs were about $7,000 for assistance from the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management, about $12,000 for the Bridge Department, and about $3,000 in overtime for the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation.
Ocean County also lent a helping hand to County residents who found themselves stranded in their vehicles and also to those essential services workers like doctors and nurses who had to get to work.
“Sheriff Michael Mastronardy activated the Ocean County Emergency Operating Center at Emergency Management around 4 a.m. the day of the storm and his department worked tirelessly helping our citizens,” said Ocean County Freeholder John P. Kelly, Director of Law and Public Safety.
The public safety dispatchers under the Sheriff answered more than 500 emergency 911 calls during the storm.
“I along with my colleagues on the Board send my appreciation to the county staff – from our road department workers to our Office of Emergency Management and our switchboard operators that made it here on Thursday – they all worked diligently to get Ocean County moving again,” Little said.
Hawaii residents just minutes ago received an emergency alert on their phones that a ballistic missile was inbound, an alert which turned out to be a false. Hawaii rep Tulsi Gabbard Tweeted shortly after the incoming missile alert that it was a false alarm and says it will need a serious investigation. We have LIVE BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE of the Hawaii ballistic missile inbound emergency alert false alarm.
by Brick PD
BRICK-On 1/12/18 at 10:27 am the Brick Township Police Department responded to the area of the 300 block of Cherokee Lane for a gas leak.
Upon arrival of Police units it was determined that dangerously high levels of natural gas were detected in the area of Cherokee Lane and Seminole Lane. The Township Fire Companies and the Gas Company were contacted as well as Township OEM officials and Brick Police First aid. The evacuation of Cherokee Lane, Seminole Lane, Island Drive, Iroquois Drive and Deerfoot Lane was conducted by emergency personnel on scene. All of the Brick Township Fire Companies, Stations 21, 22, 23 and 24 along with the Brick Township Police EMS to assisted in the evacuations of the area homes.
Several surrounding fire companies identified as, Silverton, Point Boro and Point Beach assisted to help cover the township while evacuations were taking place. A command post was set up at the Windward Tavern parking lot with Chief James Riccio coordinating the operation with Police, Fire, EMS and OEM.
The New Jersey Natural Gas Company located the leak in the roadway in the area of 314 Cherokee Lane and gas was turned off to the area so repairs can be made. The cause of the leak is not known at this time, repair crews will be working to restore gas to the area residents. The Gas Company believes the repair will take 6-8 hours at which time gas can be restored to the area homes.
by NJSP
Earlier today, Troopers Ricardo Rodriguez and Joshua Smart helped rescue a fawn that had fallen through ice on a frozen pond.
When the Troopers arrived at the pond in Harmony Township, they observed the deer struggling to get its rear legs out of the water.
Also on scene were Harmony Township Firefighters Kyle McKenna and John Latourette. The volunteer firemen boarded a small metal boat and slowly made their way to the helpless doe.
After the firemen successfully loaded the deer into the boat, Troopers Rodriguez and Smart used a rope to pull the boat to safety!
The deer was placed on dry land and thankfully no one was injured during the rescue!
https://www.facebook.com/NewJerseyStatePolice/photos/a.608860989168447.1073741830.102867543101130/1528549143866289/?type=3&theater
WASHINGTON-It’s not every day you get to use the word “shithole” in a news story, so everyone in the media is running hot today, but the claims against Donald Trump by Washington Democrats and the media might be fake news, according to the President.
Trump accused Democrats at the meeting of fabricating the entire thing.
“Never said anything derogatory about Haitians other than Haiti is, obviously, a very poor and troubled country. Never said “take them out.” Made up by Dems,” Trump posted on Facebook today. “I have a wonderful relationship with Haitians. Probably should record future meetings – unfortunately, no trust!”
The Washington Post, the pillar of verifiable anonymous sources when it comes to Trump broke the story: “Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” Trump said, according to these people, referring to countries mentioned by the lawmakers.
CNN quickly parroted the Washington Post story.
CNN initially reported: President Donald Trump expressed frustration behind closed doors with people coming to the US from “shithole countries,” sources told CNN on Thursday.One of the sources briefed on the Thursday Oval Office meeting with lawmakers confirmed Trump asked, “Why do we want all these people from ‘shithole countries’ coming here?”
The media ran with the Washington Post and CNN versions of reality, which failed to include a single verifiable shred of evidence. In fact, the Washington Post story even admits those who reported the quote were not even in attendance at the meeting, but were briefed about the meeting by others in attendance.
The story was run on third-person hearsay, apparently.
No audio has surfaced of the President’s remarks yet to back up the claim. The Washington Post has yet to reveal which “people briefed on the meeting” provided the news tip to the paper.
By Brick Twp
The Brick Municipal Anti-Drug Coalition (BMAC) is offering a new program for township boys and girls ages 9 through 12 called Sport Saturday. The program offers young athletes 90 minute training sessions designed to help them achieve their personal best physically, mentally and emotionally in both sports and life.
Sport Saturday sessions are available every Saturday from January 6 through April 14 at the Brick Civic Plaza. Sessions are at either 8:30am or 10:30am. The program is free for participants. Parents can register their children for one or more sessions. There is a limit of 30 children at each session.
Each Sport Saturday training session is 90 minutes. Sport Saturday provides enhancement of general fitness levels, sports specific training, and the importance of leadership qualities, problem solving and character development designed to help youth increase self-esteem, awareness and resiliency as substance use prevention strategies.
“We reinstated BMAC so that we could provide the young people of Brick Township with programs like Sport Saturday,” said Mayor John G. Ducey. “This program will not only help young people improve their athletic abilities, it will give them tools to help them become better people.”
Trainers are provided by Mentor Academy of New Jersey and are certified physical education teachers as well as youth sports trainers.
Councilwoman Andrea Zapcic says programs like this are important in the fight against opioid addiction. “The drive towards more professionalism in youth sports has caused an increase in over-use related orthopedic injuries in children ages 12 and up. Evidence suggests that a youth’s first exposure to a prescription opiate is often for treatment of injury or post-operative pain,” said Councilwoman Zapcic.
Councilwoman Zapcic adds that studies show youth exposed to opiates (prescribed) before high school graduation have a 33% increased risk of using opiates recreationally in the years after graduation, including those with a previous unfavorable attitude toward drug use.
Sport Saturday is funded through the BMAC grant provided by the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (GCADA).
Register for Sport Saturday in the Recreation Office, 270 Chambers Bridge Road, Monday through Friday, 7:30am – 4pm or online at http://parksandrecreation.bricktownship.net. Call 732-262-1073 for more information.
An arrest has been made following a suspicious fire at a Michelle Way townhouse. On January 7th, just after midnight, Officers and Firefighters responded to a reported structure fire at 107 Michelle Way. The fire was discovered when the resident returned home and discovered thick black smoke coming from the third floor. She and her boyfriend immediately exited the home but not before suffering from smoke inhalation. Both parties were transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Firefighters on scene found reason to believe that the fire may have been set intentionally so investigators from the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Ocean County Prosecutors Office initiated an arson investigation. Evidence recovered at the scene confirmed firefighter’s suspicions.
Further investigation by Det. Pete Aakjer, Lakewood Police Department and Detective’s John Doran and Chris Bonner, Ocean County Prosecutors Office resulted in the arrest of the female’s ex boyfriend, 33 year old Alfredo Hernandez Martinez of Lakewood. Evidence revealed that Martinez entered then home, set fire by turning on a hair dryer and then placing it under her bed sheets. He then exited the home prior to fleeing the area.
As a result, Martinez was arrested and charged last evening with Aggravated Arson and an act of Burglary under the Domestic Violence Act. He was later transported to Ocean County Jail.
Chief Michal J. Rogalski is pleased to announce Ocean Township’s newest Patrolmen, Anthony Mastrandrea and Robert Bleichner, who were both sworn in during a ceremony at the township meeting tonight in front of family, friends and fellow law enforcement personnel. Both officers have been working for the police department as Special Law Enforcement Officers since February of 2017.
Patrolman Mastrandrea is a 2012 graduate of Monsignor Donovon High School and a 2016 graduate of Stockton University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. Anthony attended the Ocean County Police Academy Special Class #37 where he graduated in 2015 and has been in the law enforcement field since. Patrolman Mastrandrea will be assigned to the patrol division under the direct supervision of Sergeant James Kinlan.
Patrolman Bleichner is a 2011 graduate of Southern Regional High School and a 2015 graduate of Misericordia University where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Government Law and National Security along with a minor in Psychology. Robert attended the Ocean County Police Academy Special Class #39 where he graduated in 2016 and has been in the law enforcement field since. Patrolman Bleichner is a nationally certified Emergency Medical Technician and will be assigned to the patrol division under the direct supervision of Sergeant James Capaccio Jr.
WASHINGTON-The United States military after eight years of war under President Barack Obama is once again back to being an actual fighting force with clear and concise orders to defeat their opponents without mercy.
U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major John Troxell this week warned ISIS that the rapidly diminishing terrorist organization should consider surrendering to U.S. forces or face the wrath of the Trump powered U.S. military machine, headed by Secretary of Defense General James Mattis.
“ISIS needs to understand their two options when facing us: surrender or die! Surrender & we will safeguard to due process,” Troxell tweeted this week. “Otherwise, we will kill with extreme prejudice, even if that means beating them to death with our entrenching tools!”
Troxell is the third Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff and the senior non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Armed Forces.
TRENTON-A bill that would protect families of first responders after their passing has received legislative approval in Trenton.
The bill is sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho (R-24) and requires medical professionals certifying death to perform any testing necessary for families to claim State and federal survivor benefits has received final legislative approval.
In 2016, Scott Danielson, a Sussex County first responder, died of a heart attack while in the line of duty. When his family requested the required toxicology test for federal death benefits, they were initially denied due to hospital costs. After involvement from Sen. Oroho and local officials, the hospital ultimately administered the required test.
“Families of first responders have access to important survivor benefits after the loss of their loved one,” stated Oroho. “We should remove any hurdles families might face during that difficult time which may prevent them from receiving the benefits they deserve and may depend upon.”
The federal Public Safety Officer Benefits Act provides a one-time benefit to eligible survivors of public safety officers whose death were an indirect result of an injury sustained in the line of duty.
Sen. Oroho’s bill, S-2320, requires professionals who certify death to perform any tests required for the family of a deceased first responder, who died in the line of duty, to qualify for any federal or State death benefits.
“It is a tragedy when any of our first responders die in the line of duty,” said Oroho. “We shouldn’t allow bureaucracy to compound that loss. It’s our duty to protect the families of first responders who have sacrificed so much to protect our own.”
Legislation has passed the General Assembly. It now heads to the Governor’s desk.
Walmart is capitalizing on its newfound savings under the recently signed tax reform bill by increasing workers’ starting hourly wage to $11 and providing substantial bonuses to employees, in an effort to remain competitive in an increasingly tight labor market. The retail giant announced Thursday that the wage increase and seniority based bonuses take effect next…
NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan says a U.S. soldier has been wounded in what it calls an “active ground engagement.” The incident occurred in the troubled Achin district in Nangarhar, said the mission’s public affairs director, Capt. Tom Gresback, but he did not discuss the nature of the clash in eastern Afghanistan. “No coalition service…
Raw meat, touted by some as an easily-digestible, nutrient-filled superfood for domestic dogs and cats, may put not only your pet at risk, but your own health too, researchers warned Friday. A survey of frozen, raw meat products sold at pet stores and supermarkets in the Netherlands, where more than half of dog owners buy such…
Gaspare Gambino A Pennsylvania teacher is facing a string of charges after he loaned a student his iPad and the boy found disturbing images of young female classmates. Gaspare Gambino was arrested on Wednesday and charged with 14 counts of invasion of privacy and accused of taking photos and videos of over a dozen different students…
A Wisconsin school district is paying a transgender student $800,000 as a settlement for a discrimination lawsuit he filed. Ash Whitaker graduated from Tremper High School in June 2017, but he sued the Kenosha Unified School District (KUSD) in July 2016 for banning him from the boys’ bathroom with a threat of disciplinary action and subjecting…
Handcuffed teacher speaks out A Louisiana teacher is not backing down after she was escorted out of a school board meeting in handcuffs for trying to ask a question about salaries. Deyshia Hargrave, an English language arts teacher at Rene Rost Middle Schools in Vermilion Parish, and others were attending what appeared to be a heated…
A fire that burned through a South Jersey diner early Thursday morning has likely destroyed the building, according to police. The Country Town Diner in Berlin sustained significant damage when a fire broke out just before midnight. The flames raged through the early hours of Thursday morning, and police closed a portion of the White Horse…
The massive 153,000 vehicle Ford recall from 2016 is continuing to plague the auto-manufacturer, this time at a potentially much larger scale. Federal authorities are investigating whether the 2016 recall should be expanded to include an additional 1.4 million vehicles after reports continued to flow in reporting the automatic transmissions on many of Ford’s cars and…
The Camden Adventure Aquarium will be closed to the public Sunday for a “Family Day” event with Gov.-elect Phil Murphy. The event is part of Murphy’s inaugural festivities, and will be held in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Tickets are free to those who register in advance. The aquarium did not immediately return a call…
A purge of political appointees may be underway at NJ Transit, with Gov.-elect asking for the resignation of 100 senior staff members, NJ Advance Media has learned. The requests were made in a letter sent to NJ Transit Executive Director Steven Santoro from Murphy’s transition team. The 100 people covered by letter have until the end…
A doctor from New Jersey, who was accused of hiring a person to kill his wife after she threatened to divorce and expose him for running an illegal prescription opioid drug ring with Pagans motorcycle gang, was charged Tuesday. He was arrested in June 2017. Dr. James Kauffman’s wife April Kauffman, a New Jersey radio host,…