Community News

JACKSON-Joint Base MDL officials said today that they have not yet received test results back from wells tested in Jackson Township, but if those tests come back with PFOS and PFOA levels that exceed EPA limits, clean water will be provided to those residents.

“Where our activities contaminated drinking water above the Environmental Protection Agency health advisory, we immediately provide safe drinking water and implement long-term steps to ensure safe drinking water, including transitioning to a more environmentally responsible AFFF alternative,”  said Air Force spokesperson Chris Powell.

He added that the Air Force will continue sampling wells in Jackson Township that are near the contamination zone on the the base.   Earlier it was estimated that 40 to 50 homes could be impacted.  Base officials went to those homes to ask residents to allow them to test their well water.

“The Air Force is committed to protecting human health and ensuring safe drinking water for our Airmen and impacted communities,” Powell said. “We are systematically sampling groundwater and soil where Aqueous Film Forming Foam was released, prioritizing release sites with a higher probability of groundwater contamination.”

Local elected officials have yet to issue a response on the possible well water contamination.

“To date, we have not yet received validated results from the ground water testing that has been conducted,” he concluded.

Residents with well water who are concerned about their water quality can visit Jackson Township’s website, www.jacksontwpnj.net and request a water testing kit.

JACKSON-The Jackson Police Department says it will be taking violations of New Jersey’s “Move Over” law very seriously.    Ocean County has recently installed warning signs along County Line Road in the township and the department says motorists should heed those warnings.

“The Law states that motorists approaching stationary emergency vehicles, tow trucks, or other highway safety vehicles such as maintenance trucks, that are displaying red, blue, or amber flashing lights, must move over one lane if safe to do so,” the department said in a statement. “If not safe to move over, drivers should slow down to below the posted speed limit.”

The purpose of the law is to reduce the number of roadway fatalities and injuries to emergency workers, tow operators, and maintenance personnel operating statewide along our roadways. Several other states have similar versions of this law.

In 2016 alone, approximately 9 police officers nationwide were killed when third party vehicles struck them or their patrol vehicle from behind. That 9 includes NJSP Trooper Sean Cullen who was killed while investigating a separate motor vehicle crash in South Jersey in March of 2016.

The department takes the law seriously.  It was former Jackson Memorial High School Student and State Trooper Marc Castellano’s unfortunate death on Route 195 that brought light to the issue which led to the law’s creation.

“Jackson officers have been, and will continue to take enforcement action with respect to this critical law,” the department said. “The Jackson Police Department would like to extend our appreciation to Donna Setaro, the mother of late State Trooper Marc Castellano, for her guidance in this process, and for her unrelenting commitment to this cause. Trooper Castellano, a graduate of Jackson Memorial High School, died after an incident along Interstate 195 in neighboring Howell Township on June 6th, 2010. Trooper Castellano had been assisting with the search for a suspect in an unrelated matter when a motorist accidentally left their lane of travel, and struck and killed him along the side of the highway.”

Jackson police said an inattentive driver last week crashed into one of the department’s patrol vehicles, nearly striking an officer.

On January 16, 2017 at 11:15 pm, Police Officer Greenberger was involved in a road closure on Cedar Swamp Road at Diamond Road due to a previous motor vehicle crash. The officer had his patrol unit, with emergency lights activated, stationed at the intersection near an illuminated street light to block the lane which was also blocked with road flares.

The driver of a 2010 Ford Fusion approached the intersection, drove around the flares in the road and then disregarded the officer who was wearing a reflective vest and utilizing a flashlight to attempt to get the driver’s attention before jumping out of the way, and then crashed into the marked patrol unit. Fortunately there were no injuries in this incident and the driver was issued the appropriate summons.

Deputy Fire Chief Letts of the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Department was driving on Long Beach Boulevard when a call came in over his radio about a fire reported at a nearby commercial building.   According to a news release on the department’s Facebook page, Letts, knew the building and knew that there was occupied rental space within the building.

It was shortly after 2am Sunday morning and Letts drove to the building, kicked the door in and notified the person inside the building that it was on fire.

“Deputy Chief Letts noticed smoke in the area and turned around to investigate. Smoke was found to be coming from a commercial property with a residential living unit on the 2nd floor,” the department said. “After calling the fire in to Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Radio Room, knowing this living unit was occupied, Chief Letts kicked the door in and made entry to alert the occupant. At this time a 2nd alarm was requested.”

The fire was located in the attic. With the assistance of Long Beach Township Police officers, the occupant was helped out of the building.

Surf City Volunteer Fire Company arrived on scene and battled the fire with assistance from the Beach Haven, Ship Bottom and High Point Fire Companies.   A FAST team from the Stafford Fire Department also was on scene.

The cause is under investigation by the Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office.

From the Lakewood Police Department:

On or about January 23, 2017 the New Jersey American Water Company will be installing a new water main on Route #88 to replace the current one to provide better service to the community. The project will start at the railroad tracks just east of Monmouth / Railroad Avenues and continue east towards the Ocean County Park. The project is expected to be completed in May of 2017 and will be installed during the evening hours of 8:00 pm to 6:00am to lessen the impact and inconvenience to the community. During the project only the immediate area of construction will close Rt. 88, but a detour has been set up for all wide loads, tractor trailers, transit buses and non local traffic to avoid the area via a bypass of South Clifton Avenue to Cedarbridge Avenue to New Hampshire Avenue back onto Route #88. Any questions or concerns can be directed to Traffic Safety Officer Alex Guzman @ at 732.363.0200 ext. 5321