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Bayville, NJ

Late-Night Wildfire Breaks Out At Fishers Pit In Bayville, Firefighters Say (DEVELOPING) Late-Night Wildfire Breaks Out At Fishers Pit In Bayville, Firefighters Say (DEVELOPING)
Late-Night Wildfire Breaks Out At Fishers Pit In Bayville, Firefighters Say (Developing) Firefighters were battling a massive wildfire in Ocean County that broke out late Monday, Sept. 9, officials said. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the fire was burning near Fishers Pit, a sand and gravel pit in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township. The NJFFS first posted on Twitter about the wildfire at 7:30 p.m. Monday. As of Tuesday morning, the fire had been 20 percent contained to 150 acres, after spreading near Northern Boulevard in the Barnegat Pines neighborhood of Berkeley. "When firefighters arrived on scene initial attack efforts were unsuccessful due to erratic…
Driver High On Drugs Caused Parkway Crashes, Fought Road Worker In Tinton Falls: Troopers Driver High On Drugs Caused Parkway Crashes, Fought Road Worker In Tinton Falls: Troopers
Driver High On Drugs Caused Parkway Crashes, Fought Road Worker In Tinton Falls: Troopers A Bayville man was accused of driving while high on drugs when he caused several crashes on the Garden State Parkway before assaulting a construction worker, authorities said. Jonathan Ferro, 21, was arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 28, a state police spokesperson said. Troopers responded to multiple hit-and-run crashes near milepost 101.3 on the northbound side of the parkway in Tinton Falls at around 2:18 p.m. Investigators said Ferro was driving a Dodge pickup in the crashes and ran away from the truck when it became disabled. Ferro also physically assaulted a road worker while…
Worker Fell 80 Feet Inside Jersey Shore Water Tower, Painting Contractor Fined $485K: OSHA Worker Fell 80 Feet Inside Jersey Shore Water Tower, Painting Contractor Fined $485K: OSHA
Worker Fell 80 Feet Inside Jersey Shore Water Tower, Painting Contractor Fined $485K: Osha A painting contractor was facing nearly $500,000 in fines after a worker fell 80 feet to the bottom of an Ocean County water tower without safety gear, officials said. The U.S. Department of Labor cited U.S. Tank Painting for three willful and 19 serious violations, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said in a news release on Wednesday, July 24. The DOL proposed $485,580 in penalties for the Millstone Township company. OSHA said the contractor didn't install the required safety equipment to prevent an employee from falling inside the Bayville wat…
South Jersey Thrift Store Reopening Three Months After Arson Fire Destroyed All Merchandise South Jersey Thrift Store Reopening Three Months After Arson Fire Destroyed All Merchandise
South Jersey Thrift Store Reopening Three Months After Arson Fire Destroyed All Merchandise A nonprofit thrift store in Atlantic County is about to reopen more than three months after it was significantly damaged in an arson fire. The Goodwill store on Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township will hold a grand reopening on Thursday, May 2. The shop in the Cardiff Plaza Shopping Center lost all of its merchandise in a fire on Monday, Jan. 15. Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia announced the celebration in a Facebook post on Thursday, Apr. 25. "Thanks to the generosity of the local community, we are back and better than ever," the post said. "Come shop for a…
Seaside Heights Voters Reject Merger With Toms River School District: Unofficial Results Seaside Heights Voters Reject Merger With Toms River School District: Unofficial Results
Seaside Heights Voters Reject Merger With Toms River School District: Unofficial Results Seaside Heights voters rejected a plan to merge the island borough's school district with the Toms River Regional School District. According to unofficial results, 232 voters in Seaside Heights voted "no" on the merger, while 167 voters said "yes" in the referendum on Tuesday, Apr. 16. The plan would have eventually closed the Seaside district's only school Hugh J. Boyd, Jr. Elementary School. Mainland voters overwhelmingly approved the merger plan, which would have gone into effect in the 2024-25 school year. In Beachwood, Pine Beach, South Toms River, and Toms River, 7,186 voters sai…
Two Jersey Shore School Districts Could Merge After OK From State Officials Two Jersey Shore School Districts Could Merge After OK From State Officials
Two Jersey Shore School Districts Could Merge After OK From State Officials New Jersey's top education officials have signed-off on a referendum for a merger between two school districts. On Friday, March 8, Acting New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer approved Seaside Heights merging with the Toms River Regional school district. The Central Regional School District had petitioned against the merger, but Dehmer said that Seaside Heights is closer in proximity to Toms River, so transportation will be cheaper and more time-efficient. He also said the merger would be unlikely to "increase or exacerbate the segregation of students by racial, …
Driver Rescued 500 Feet Into Water Near Jersey Shore Marina: Police Driver Rescued 500 Feet Into Water Near Jersey Shore Marina: Police
Driver Rescued 500 Feet Into Water Near Jersey Shore Marina: Police A woman was rescued after sending her car into waters near an Ocean County marina, authorities said. Berkeley Township police responded to the area of Mill Creek Drive for a vehicle in the waterway near Shore Point Marina on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at around 8:15 p.m. Officers saw a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe about 500 feet in the water and a woman was sitting on the SUV's hood. The 66-year-old woman from Bayville was rescued by Bayville firefighters and taken to Community Medical Center in Toms River. Investigators said the crash happened after the woman had an "apparent medical emergency" w…
'Reckless' Owner Of Princeton Nursing Home That Abruptly Closed Barred From Receiving Medicaid 'Reckless' Owner Of Princeton Nursing Home That Abruptly Closed Barred From Receiving Medicaid
'Reckless' Owner Of Princeton Nursing Home That Abruptly Closed Barred From Receiving Medicaid New Jersey has cut off Medicaid funding for a nursing home that abruptly closed its doors to 72 patients last fall. Princeton Care Center closed suddenly on Sept. 1, 2003, and only notified residents' families that morning — leaving them with just hours to relocate, as first reported by Planet Princeton. Gail and Ezra Bogner, the owner and administrator of Princeton Care Center, respectively, will be suspended from New Jersey Medicaid, effective March 28, the Office of the State Comptroller said. “The Bogners’ recklessness, neglect, and incredibly poor judgment caused serious harm and…
NJ Charity Store Needs Donations After 'Devastating' Fire NJ Charity Store Needs Donations After 'Devastating' Fire
NJ Charity Store Needs Donations After 'Devastating' Fire A nonprofit thrift store in Egg Harbor Township is recovering after it lost all of its merchandise in a fire on Monday, Jan. 15. Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia said a suspicious fire broke out in the charity store on Black Horse Pike. No one was injured in the fire. Egg Harbor Township police said the fire started at around 1:30 p.m. and investigators are looking for the cause of it. Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to other stores in the Cardiff Plaza Shopping Center. All items in the store suffered smoke or water damage. “To lose 100% of our me…
'Sunny Soul:' Jersey Shore Mom Nadine Vetter Dies, 42 'Sunny Soul:' Jersey Shore Mom Nadine Vetter Dies, 42
'Sunny Soul:' Jersey Shore Mom Nadine Vetter Dies, 42 Tributes are flooding social media for Nadine Vetter, a Jersey Shore mom who died Tuesday, Nov. 14 aged 42. Born in Staten Island, Nadine spent most of her life in Bayville, finally moving to Forked River, her obituary says. She worked for Weichert Realty in Oakhurst as a Mortgage Analyst for 15 years. Nadine loved to spend time with her many friends and family members. Above all, she embraced her role as a devoted mother. Nadine is survived by her loving husband, Stephen Vetter; her cherished daughter, Alyssa, three stepchildren, Tyler, Madison and McKenzie; her mother, Robyn Bianco; her…
SWAT Raid Turns Up Heroin, Meth, Ammo; 4 Arrested In Ocean County: Prosecutor SWAT Raid Turns Up Heroin, Meth, Ammo; 4 Arrested In Ocean County: Prosecutor
SWAT Raid Turns Up Heroin, Meth, Ammo; 4 Arrested In Ocean County: Prosecutor The raid of an Ocean County home turned up heroin, methamphetamine and ammunition, leading to the arrest of four people, authorities said. This investigation identified a residence in Berkeley Township as being utilized by Anthony Isola, 49, of Bayville, to store and sell drugs, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Based upon reliable information received, Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and Berkeley Township Police Department initiated surveillance on the subject residence in Bayville on Tuesday, Oct. 24. That's when…
Virginia Driver High On Fentanyl Sentenced In Fatal DUI Crash On Jersey Shore Virginia Driver High On Fentanyl Sentenced In Fatal DUI Crash On Jersey Shore
Virginia Driver High On Fentanyl Sentenced In Fatal DUI Crash On Jersey Shore A Virginia woman was sentenced to six years in New Jersey State Prison for causing a fatal crash after taking fentanyl in 2020, authorities said. Michelle Roselli, 36, of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, was sentenced on Thursday, Aug. 24, as a result of her previously entered guilty plea to vehicular homicide. The Garden State Parkway crash on Jan. 26, 2020, resulted in the death of Tri Nguyen, 66, of Berkeley Township. About 8.6 nanograms of fentanyl were found in Roselli's system at the time of the crash, the prosecutor said. According to the DEA, two milligrams of fent…
Pair Found Guilty In Toms River Shooting Death: Prosecutor Pair Found Guilty In Toms River Shooting Death: Prosecutor
Pair Found Guilty In Toms River Shooting Death: Prosecutor Two men from Toms River have been found guilty in connection with the shooting death of another man, authorities said. Daivon Sullivan, 21, and Leyron Jones, 26, were found guilty of murder after a jury trial on Thursday, Aug. 17, in connection with the death of Javon Cutler, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. A third defendant, Shadrach Correa, 21, previously pleaded guilty in the case. An investigation revealed that on Oct. 11, 2020, at approximately 8:15 p.m., Cutler, 19, of Bayville, and two friends were attempting to leave Toms Riv…
Beloved Morris County Mom’s Breast Cancer Death At 48 Prompts Outpour Of Community Support Beloved Morris County Mom’s Breast Cancer Death At 48 Prompts Outpour Of Community Support
Beloved Morris County Mom’s Breast Cancer Death At 48 Prompts Outpour Of Community Support Morris County is mourning the death of a beloved mother of three following a five-year battle with breast cancer. Jeanette (nee-Sanchez) Hayduk died at Morristown Medical Center in the loving embrace of her family on Saturday, July 29, her obituary says. She was 48. Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Jeanette was raised in Puerto Rico and spent time in Lakewood and Bayville before settling in Cedar Knolls 26 years ago. She spent about 10 years working as a production manager for Regal Drapes in Morristown, according to a GoFundMe launched by the company for her family’s support that describe…
Three-Alarm Fire Rips Through Toms River Condo Three-Alarm Fire Rips Through Toms River Condo
Three-Alarm Fire Rips Through Toms River Condo Firefighters were working Saturday, July 15 to control a massive fire sweeping through a Toms River condominium development. Photos of the scene captured by Ocean County Scanner News show flames on the third-floor porch of a home on Iverness Drive, located in the Fairways Complex on County Route 571. The photo appeared to have spread through much of the building as of 2:30 p.m. TOMS RIVER: Firefighters from TR & surrounding departments remain on scene battling a 3rd alarm working structure fire @... Posted by Ocean County Scanner News on Saturday, July 15, 2023 TOMS RIVER: Fir…
Jersey Shore Mom Stephanie Kearney Dies At 39: ‘Encouraged People To Be Their Best Selves’ Jersey Shore Mom Stephanie Kearney Dies At 39: ‘Encouraged People To Be Their Best Selves’
Jersey Shore Mom Stephanie Kearney Dies At 39: ‘Encouraged People To Be Their Best Selves’ Jersey Shore native and devoted mother Stephanie Kearney died at her home in Beachwood on Tuesday, June 20. She was 39. Born in Toms River, Stephanie graduated from Toms River High School South in 2002 before earning her Bachelor’s degree from Georgian Court College, her obituary says. She was known for her compassionate spirit and sense of humor, loved ones say. RIP Stephanie Kearney From our Intermediate West days to graduating from Toms River South (Class of 2002)!!! You were... Posted by Sean Thornton on Monday, June 26, 2023 Above all, Stephanie was an incredibly caring and devo…
NJ Firefighter Brian Letrent Dies Suddenly, 34 NJ Firefighter Brian Letrent Dies Suddenly, 34
NJ Firefighter Brian Letrent Dies Suddenly, 34 The Bayville Fire Department is mourning the loss of one of their own. Brian Letrent died suddenly of a medical condition on Wednesday, June 21, according to his obituary. He was 34 years old. A Toms River native, Brian was raised in Bayville and was a 2007 graduate of Central Regional High School. He enlisted in the US Army right after graduation and was deployed to Iraq for six months. From Mayor Carmen Amato. Our heartfelt condolences are with Brian Letrent and his family during this difficult time.... Posted by Berkeley Township on Thursday, June 22, 2023 Brian worked as a mechan…
Garbage Truck Driver Ejected, Killed In Parkway Crash Garbage Truck Driver Ejected, Killed In Parkway Crash
Garbage Truck Driver Ejected, Killed In Parkway Crash Police have identified the garbage truck driver killed in a crash on the Garden State Parkway.  Bayville resident David Mello, Jr., 56, was heading south in a Peterbilt 320 garbage truck when he ran off the road to the right near milepost 82.8 in Toms River, around 1:20 p.m. Friday, June 9, New Jersey State Police Sgt. Philip Curry said. The truck struck multiple trees, sometime during which Mello was ejected, Curry said. Mello was pronounced dead at the scene. The southbound lanes remained open during the investigation but heavy traffic resulted. The crash remains under investi…
Verona Car Wash Employee In Intensive Care After Out-Of-Control Sedan Knocks Him 50 Feet Verona Car Wash Employee In Intensive Care After Out-Of-Control Sedan Knocks Him 50 Feet
Verona Car Wash Employee In Intensive Care After Out-Of-Control Sedan Knocks Him 50 Feet A Verona car wash employee was in intensive care after an out-of-control sedan driven by a 75-year-old man sent him flying, authorities said. The elderly Bayville resident's Cadillac left the roadway and hit the unidentified 41-year-old worker who was on the job in the driveway of Quality Car Wash on Bloomfield Avenue on March 26, Police Chief Christopher Kiernan said. The impact knocked the victim 50 or so feet, the chief said. The Caddy also whacked an SUV and another sedan before slamming into a utility pole, he said.  The worker and two vehicles were struck before the sedan slamme…
Girl, 14, Dies By Suicide Days After Filmed Attack At Ocean County High School Girl, 14, Dies By Suicide Days After Filmed Attack At Ocean County High School
Girl, 14, Dies By Suicide Days After Filmed Attack At Ocean County High School UPDATE: Superintendent Resigns After Controversial Comments On Jersey Shore Teen's Suicide Adriana Olivia Kuch was always a happy child, her father Michael Kuch says. "She was a wild child," he told Daily Voice on Thursday, Feb. 9. "She wanted to have fun." On Feb. 3, Kuch and his wife found their 14-year-old daughter dead by suicide in their Bayville home — two days after she was the victim of an attack in the halls of Central Regional High School. Kuch says these types of attacks at the hands of a group of girls have been an ongoing issue at CRHS, and now, he's calling for action. "Th…
EMS Volunteer Killed In Motorcycle Crash On Route 9 Jersey Shore EMS Volunteer Killed In Motorcycle Crash On Route 9 Jersey Shore
EMS Volunteer Killed In Motorcycle Crash On Route 9 Jersey Shore A volunteer member of the Bayville First Aid Squad was killed when his motorcycle collided with a vehicle turning from Route 9 into a shopping center parking lot in Forked River, authorities said. Michael McCabe, 49, was riding north on Route 9 and the southbound vehicle driven by 55-year-old Anne Danza of Forked River was turning left into Sunset Plaza at 5:59 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, Lacey police said. McCabe, a life member of the Bayville First Aid Squad, died of the injuries he suffered in the crash, police said. Lacey Township EMS and RWJ Paramedics responded to the scene.  “Mike w…
Front Of Car Split In Half Slides Across Parkway Killing 40-Year-Old Driver Front Of Car Split In Half Slides Across Parkway Killing 40-Year-Old Driver
Front Of Car Split In Half Slides Across Parkway Killing 40-Year-Old Driver A 40-year-old woman died after her car was split in half then struck, ejecting her on the Garden State Parkway on Friday, Dec. 23. Christina M. Citarella, of Bayville, was heading north in a Toyota Camry when she ran off the road to the left and struck a wooden traffic sign and impacted a concrete sign to her left near mile post 80.7 in Toms River around 6:40 p.m., New Jersey State Police Trooper Charles Marchan said. After impact, the Toyota split in half and the front section or the Camry re-entered the roadway, slid all three travel lanes and was struck by a Jeep in the right lane. The …
Joshua Morris Of Ocean County Dies, 32 Joshua Morris Of Ocean County Dies, 32
Joshua Morris Of Ocean County Dies, 32 Beloved brother, son, and uncle Joshua A. Morris of Ocean County died on Friday, Oct. 21. He was 32. Born in Bethesda, Maryland, Joshua spent most of his life in Bayville before moving to Ocean Gate, where he lived at the time of his death, his obituary says. Joshua worked at Jersey Shore Lawn & Sprinkler for 14 years. He loved the great outdoors — especially his Jeep and his quad. Above all, Joshua was known for his endlessly kind and compassionate heart, as well as his ability to “go big or go home.” Joshua is survived by his loving parents, Tim and Karen Morris; siblings, Ryan Mo…
Jersey Shore Park Where Rabid Fox Was Reopens Jersey Shore Park Where Rabid Fox Was Reopens
Jersey Shore Park Where Rabid Fox Was Reopens A state park closed the past week due to a rabid fox has reopened, officials said. Double Trouble State Park in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township had been closed since Monday, Aug. 29 due to the rabid fox's "encounters" with park visitors, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. Animals live only about a week after contracting rabies,, the DEP said. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife was taking steps to address the situation, the DEP said in a statement last week, saying the park was closed out of an "abundance of caution." Animals infected with rabies will displa…
DNA In VIctim's Bite Mark Helps Send Jersey Shore Carjacker To Prison: Prosecutor DNA In VIctim's Bite Mark Helps Send Jersey Shore Carjacker To Prison: Prosecutor
DNA In VIctim's Bite Mark Helps Send Jersey Shore Carjacker To Prison: Prosecutor A 36-year-old man from Ocean County was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for a carjacking, authorities said. DNA in the victim's bite mark helped send the suspect to prison, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. John Bailey of Bayville was sentenced on Friday, Aug. 26 in connection with an incident that occurred in Lakewood Township on Dec. 5, 2018. Lakewood police were summoned to Hearth Court for a report of a carjacking.  Responding Officers learned that a 20-year-old female was sitting inside her motor vehicle, outside of her home, when an…
Community Support Grows For Family Who Lost Home In Jersey Shore Fire Community Support Grows For Family Who Lost Home In Jersey Shore Fire
Community Support Grows For Family Who Lost Home In Jersey Shore Fire A family in Ocean County is trying to rebuild their lives after a fire destroyed their home on Monday, Aug. 8. Ella Ponte and her family lost everything in the late-night Bayville blaze, according to a GoFundMe launched to help them start over. "The house my parents worked so hard to get us was in flames and we were losing everything," Ponte recalls in the fundraiser. "It is not like us to ask for help, but in a time like this, there is not much else we can do. These next few days, weeks, and months are going to be hard, but we are supported by so many amazing people that love us and will …
Jersey Shore Men Arrested For Selling Cocaine: Prosecutor Jersey Shore Men Arrested For Selling Cocaine: Prosecutor
Jersey Shore Men Arrested For Selling Cocaine: Prosecutor A multi-agency investigation identified a residence in Lacey Township as being used to store and distribute cocaine, authorities said. Douglas Ward, 59, of Lacey, was observed by detectives leaving the residence and meeting with an individual later identified as Thomas Prosser, 60, of Bayville, authorities said. Detectives approached Ward and Prosser, and both individuals were taken into custody, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. At the time of his arrest, Ward was found to be in possession of several small bags containing cocaine, the…
Jersey Shore Man Admits Carjacking Woman, 20, Violently Attacking Her In Lakewood: Prosecutor Jersey Shore Man Admits Carjacking Woman, 20, Violently Attacking Her In Lakewood: Prosecutor
Jersey Shore Man Admits Carjacking Woman, 20, Violently Attacking Her In Lakewood: Prosecutor A 35-year-old man from Ocean County has admitted to a violent carjacking, authorities said. John Bailey, 35, of Bayville, pleaded guilty before Presiding Judge Guy P. Ryan on Wednesday, June 1, they said. It was in connection with an incident that occurred in Lakewood Township on Dec. 5, 2018, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.  Officers from the Lakewood Township Police Department were summoned Hearth Court for a report of a carjacking. Officers learned that a 20 year-old woman was sitting inside her motor vehicle, outside of her&…
Police ID Burglary Suspect Who Broke Into Deli, Dry Cleaners, Public Storage Police ID Burglary Suspect Who Broke Into Deli, Dry Cleaners, Public Storage
Police ID Burglary Suspect Who Broke Into Deli, Dry Cleaners, Public Storage Arrest warrants have been issued for a 35-year-old man suspected of breaking into commercial establishments on the Jersey Shore, authorities said. During the month of January this year, Brick Township police investigated three commercial burglaries.  On Jan. 10, the suspect broke into Jovo’s Deli on Route 88, causing just under $700 worth of damage and stealing an undisclosed amount of cash.  On Jan. 11, the suspect broke into Cornerstone Dry Cleaners on Yorktowne Blvd. causing damage to a back window.  And on Jan. 17, the same suspect broke into the Public Storage on Rt. 7…
Jersey Shore Man Failed To Register As Sex Offender: Prosecutor Jersey Shore Man Failed To Register As Sex Offender: Prosecutor
Jersey Shore Man Failed To Register As Sex Offender: Prosecutor A 55-year-old man from Berkeley Township has been charged with failing to register as a sex offender, authorities said. Mark Brayman, formerly of the Bayville section of the township, was charged with failing to register pursuant to Megan's Law, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.  Brayman was taken into custody without incident by officers of the Toms River Township Police Department and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Megan’s Law Unit.   Brayman purportedly moved from his address in Berkeley Township to Toms River without register…
1,500 Doses Heroin, $1,800 Cash Seized; Pair Arrested On Jersey Shore: Police 1,500 Doses Heroin, $1,800 Cash Seized; Pair Arrested On Jersey Shore: Police
1,500 Doses Heroin, $1,800 Cash Seized; Pair Arrested On Jersey Shore: Police Responding to complaints from residents, police investigating suspected heroin deals from a home in Ocean County made two arrests. On March 3, detectives from the Berkeley Township Police Department, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force, and the Ocean Gate Detective Bureau made four warranted searches at a Fernwood Drive residence including three separate vehicles connected to the investigation, police said. Seized were over 1,500 individual doses of heroin which was packaged for resale. $1,800 cash and paraphernalia associated with distribution, police said. In addi…