Consumers are often at the mercy of specialists: contractors, electricians, plumbers and the like. Unless you’re super handy, you rely on them to diagnose and fix problems in your home. Even if you get multiple estimates, how do you know they’re not misrepresenting a situation to make a small job into a bigger, more expensive one?…
New Jersey News
Ocean County Drug Deaths Soared by 43% in 2016
Despite best efforts to combat the drug epidemic that plagues Ocean County, drug overdoses soared in 2016 to 205 possible cases by the end of the year. According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, there were 195 confirmed deaths caused by drug overdoses with 10 additional cases pending autopsy reports.
In 2015, there were 118 deaths linked to drug overdoses, representing a 43% spike in deaths.
Those numbers could have been much higher. In 2016, the Prosecutor’s Office said the opiate reversing drug Narcan was used in 502 cases countywide by local law enforcement agencies and first responders.
In neighboring Monmouth County, 154 died from drug overdoses in 2016, a spike of 32 over the 2015’s total of 122, a jump of nearly 21%. There were 415 deployments of Narcan in the county.
Jackson, Howell Firefighters Fight the Elements, Truck Fire on 195
On Saturday morning, firefighters from Jackson’s Station 54 and Howell’s Freewood Acres and Southard Fire Department No. 1 braved the elements to put out a truck fire on Interstate 195 near the Howell-Jackson border. Photo by Freewood Acres Fire Departmetn.
How much snow did we get? New Jersey Snowfall Totals
The winter coastal storm that swept across New Jersey on Saturday has turned a large swath of the region into a winter wonderland, while leaving only a trace of snow in the normally snowy northwestern region. As of 6:30 p.m., almost 9 inches of snow has fallen in Estell Manor in Atlantic County, almost 8 inches…
Christian Brothers gets back to winning wins in victory over Hackettstown
RANDOLPH–After losing a tight game to Toms River North on Saturday, Christian Brothers wanted to jump on Hackettstown early when the two faced off in the Hoops to Help Showcase at the County College of Morris on Sunday. That is exactly what CBA did. It took a nine point first quarter lead and never trailed on…
Monmouth man charged with attempted murder of Eatontown cops in court today
by Charles Webster, MCPO
FREEHOLD-An Eatontown man charged with the attempted murder of Eatontown police officers, during an armed robbery last month will have a first appearance in court today, announced Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
Aaron Riley, 31 of Wedgewood Circle in Eatontown, is charged with two counts of first degree Attempted Murder, and one count each of first degree Armed Robbery, second degree Certain Persons not to have a Weapon and second degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose after Riley fired at Eatontown police officers, one of whom returned fired during an armed robbery in progress on December 20, 2016.
Eatontown police responded to a pair of 911 calls around 6:43 p.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2016, reporting an armed robbery in progress at the AllTown Pharmacy on Wyckoff Road. While the officers were responding, Riley was inside the pharmacy demanding prescription narcotics from an employee. Eatontown police arrived on scene with the suspect inside the pharmacy, but he soon after fled the scene out a rear door without any narcotics.
While Riley was fleeing the scene on foot, he fired at Eatontown police officers, one of whom returned fired. Riley then ran to a vehicle in the Michael’s Plaza parking lot and was seen fleeing the scene on Route 36 West. During the investigation, police located the vehicle, a gray four-door 2007 Nissan Altima in the rear parking lot of Stony Hill Apartments with damage consistent with projectile strikes from a gun.
Monmouth County detectives subsequently received information from the New York Police Department that Riley was in their jurisdiction with a gunshot injury to his leg. The investigation continued in New York City, where Riley was eventually taken into custody by New York City police officers and where he currently remains in custody. Bail was set at $1.45 million with no 10 percent and Riley was also ordered to have no victim contact and not to return to the scene by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman, P.J.Cr.
Riley’s first appearance is scheduled for 12:00 p.m., January 6, 2017, before Judge Bauman.
Vicari named Freeholder Director; Kelly, Haines sworn in
TOMS RIVER-On Wednesday, Joe Vicari became the 2017 Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders Director while Jack Kelly and Virginia Haines were sworn in again after winning their November election.
“I have said it many times, Ocean County is the premiere County,” said Haines who was sworn into her first three-year term on the Board. “We have the best county park system, library system, educational opportunities at Ocean County College and the list goes on and on.
Vicari noted there is a number of priorities for 2017 that will be addressed include providing the best programs possible for the county’s growing senior population, lobbying for important transportation projects and improvements and promoting more business development and tourism for Ocean County.
“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board to provide quality services and programs to our residents, in keeping the County affordable and to make certain Ocean County continues to be the great place it is to live, work, visit, raise a family and retire,” Vicari said.
Gerry Little was named Deputy Director of the 5 member board.
NJ Transit bus catches fire on Route 23
PEQUANNOCK — Officials say no one was injured when a New Jersey Transit bus blew out a rear tire and then caught fire while traveling along state Route 23. New Jersey Department of Transportation officials say friction from the flat tire caused the bus to catch fire along a stretch of the roadway in Pequannock Township…
Rare Whale Beached at Island Beach State Park
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP — A rare whale washed up dead along a section of the northern Ocean County barrier island, marine mammal rescue officials said Wednesday. Staff from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine were called out last week to retrieve the Blainesville’s beaked whale that washed up on Island Beach State Park, said Bob Schoelkopf,…
Kmart shutting down 4 New Jersey locations
Four Kmart stores in New Jersey will close as part of larger downsizing across the country, the big box retailer’s parent company announced Wednesday. Kmart stores in Clementon, East Brunswick, Pleasantville and Rio Grande are set to shut down, according to Sears Holdings. Liquidation sales were planned as early as Friday. The locations are among 150…