Community News

Foster, Kangaroo at Popcorn Park Dead

Foster, a kangaroo who was recovering from Toxoplasmosis died last week despite an attempt by park officials to cure and rehabilitate the animal.

“Foster, our young kangaroo who recently came to Popcorn Park from Staten Island, NY unfortunately passed away last week,” the zoo said in a statement  “Shortly after Foster arrived, he began exhibiting symptoms of Toxoplasmosis, a disease that is quite deadly to kangaroos and wallabies. Infected cats are the carriers of this deadly parasite, causing widespread exposure. Kangaroos can have and harbor this parasite for a short time until symptoms begin, so it can be difficult to initially detect. Aggressive therapy was initiated in the beginning of December, as soon as he began exhibiting early signs. He responded well to initial treatments, and seemed to be on the road to recovery. This past Thursday, however, his health took a sudden turn, and after a day of intensive supportive care, poor Foster succumbed to the disease. He will be greatly missed; it was easy to become quickly attached to his gentle manor and loving personality. After just announcing his arrival, we are saddened to let you all know of his passing.”

Brick Realtor Who Attempted to Hire Teenage Prostitute Accepted for Pre-Trial Intervention

A Brick Township-based real estate broker was arrested on September 28, 204 after he set up a meeting to have sex with a 14-year-old girl who turned out to be an undercover police officer, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.

Richard J. Jones, 66, of Brick, was arrested in 2014 following a joint investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Bureau and investigators from the Asbury Park, Englishtown and Wall Township police departments. Jones was charged with second degree Attempted Sexual Assault.

Police said Jones attempted to use a local prostitute to facilitate a sexual liaison with an under-aged girl.

Jones was the owner and real estate broker of Century 21 Herbertsville Real Estate Company, Inc., on Herbertsville Road in Brick.

It was confirmed by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office this week that Jones was admitted into a pre-trial intervention program in lieu of those charges.

According to the New Jersey Department of Justice, “Thee Pretrial Intervention Program (PTI) provides defendants, generally first-time offenders, with opportunities for alternatives to the traditional criminal justice process of ordinary prosecution. PTI seeks to render early rehabilitative services, when such services can reasonably be expected to deter future criminal behavior. The PTI program is based on a rehabilitative model that recognizes that there may be an apparent causal connection between the offense charged and the rehabilitative needs of a defendant. Further, the rehabilitative model emphasizes that social, cultural, and economic conditions often result in a defendant’s decision to commit crime.”

Prosecutors said Jones was arrested after attempting to use a local prostitute to facilitate a meeting to have sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl. Jones arrived at an agreed upon location where he was met by police, after pre-arranging to meet with the 14-year-old girl, who was really an undercover police officer.

Blizzard beach repairs begin but cash is uncertain

As some Shore towns rush to repair beaches damaged by last week’s blizzard, the mayors are still wondering where they’ll get all the money to pay for the work. The bills for at least two towns – Toms River and Long Beach Township – for emergency beach fill are expected to top $1 million each and…

NASA Remembers Challenger Disaster Astronauts

Arlington National Cemetery Wreath Laying Now to Start at 11 a.m. EST WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — NASA will pay will tribute to the crews of Apollo 1 and space shuttles Challenger and Columbia, as well as other NASA colleagues, during the agency’s Day of Remembrance on Thursday, Jan. 28, the 30th anniversary of the…