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Obituaries
Yellowstone National Park Police Officer Donna Youker Of Morris County Dies, 37 Yellowstone National Park Police Officer Donna Youker Of Morris County Dies, 37
Yellowstone National Park Police Officer Donna Youker Of Morris County Dies, 37 Morris County native Donna Youker was a police officer in Yellowstone National Park, where she died on Feb. 4. She was 37 years old. Donna grew up in Randolph and graduated from the local high school before pursuing her Bachelor's of Science in Biology at Montclair State University, her obituary says. She moved out west nearly a decade ago to work out several national parks, most recently landing her dream job as a law enforcement officer in Yellowstone National Park, according to her obituary. Friends and loved ones remembered Donna for her kindness, "boundless energy and forever smile."…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Instagram Video Shows Vibrant Victims Moments Before Deadly Woodbridge Crash Instagram Video Shows Vibrant Victims Moments Before Deadly Woodbridge Crash
Instagram Video Shows Vibrant Victims Moments Before Deadly Woodbridge Crash Chilling videos posted to Instagram show the three victims of a late-night Woodbridge crash singing and dancing just moments before they died, the New York Post originally reported. “These are all of my high school friends," said Michaela Powell, who posted the snippets to her Instagram page. "These are the people I grew up with." Powell, 23, and Uchechukw Chukwuma, 24, were passengers in the Nissan Altima driven by Brianna Martinez, 23, which rear-ended a tractor-trailer on Route 1 near Ford Avenue around 11:50 p.m. Friday night, Woodbridge police said. The three graduated from Frank…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Hero's Welcome Surprises Rookie Little Ferry Police Officer Deployed Overseas Hero's Welcome Surprises Rookie Little Ferry Police Officer Deployed Overseas
Hero's Welcome Surprises Rookie Little Ferry Police Officer Deployed Overseas Steve Linde was a full-fledged Little Ferry police officer all of a week when he was deployed to Africa with the U.S. Army National Guard early this year. He returned Friday to a hero's welcome. The 25-year-old borough native was hired as a police officer in November of last year, passed his field training and hit the street -- but not for long. Linde, who was graduated from Montclair State University in 2016, enlisted with the National Guard a year earlier for a six-year hitch that ends in February 2021. He was deployed on Feb. 4 to the country of Djibouti in the Horn of Africa and condu…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
ICYMI: 112-Year-Old Message In A Bottle Found At Montclair State University ICYMI: 112-Year-Old Message In A Bottle Found At Montclair State University
ICYMI: 112-Year-Old Message In A Bottle Found At Montclair State University A pair of craftsmen who helped build Montclair State University more than a century ago left behind a message for future generations -- but it was hidden in such a way that it might never have been found at all.  Fortunately for posterity, the message from those workers -- believed to be first-generation Irish-Americans  -- has been received, loud and clear.  An article published  in the university's campus magazine describes how Robert Kanaby, a demolition laborer working on a renovation of the university's College Hall building, was recently breaking down some brickwor…

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by Paul Milo
News
See Which N.J. Colleges And Universities Ranked Among Nation's Best See Which N.J. Colleges And Universities Ranked Among Nation's Best
See Which N.J. Colleges And Universities Ranked Among Nation's Best The magazine U.S. News and World Report Monday released its rankings of the nation's best colleges and universities. The popular, annual rankings are based on a variety of metrics, including "outcomes" -- what percentage of students earn an undergraduate degree within six years -- as well as class size and standardized test scores.  Nine New Jersey schools were listed among the best in the "National University" category, which includes schools offering a full range of graduate and undergraduate programs.  A New Jersey school that is is consistently at or near the top of the rankin…

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by Paul Milo
Obituaries
Jeremy Thompson, 26, Of Belleville, Artist And College Student Jeremy Thompson, 26, Of Belleville, Artist And College Student
Jeremy Thompson, 26, Of Belleville, Artist And College Student Jeremy Osmond Thompson, a lifelong resident of Belleville, died Sunday. He was 26 years old.  A freelance visual artist, he was studying Visual Communications at Montclair State University.  He is survived by his parents, Henry and Martha; sister Julianne "Meg" Thompson; his grandmothers Henrietta Barrow and Joyce Thompson; as well as aunts, uncles and cousins.  Relatives and friends will be received at S.W. Brown & Son Funeral Home, 267 Centre St. in Nutley, from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday. There will be a memorial service at 8 p.m.  The funeral will be Saturday at 10:30 …

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by Paul Milo
Police & Fire
Teen Hospitalized After Being Hit By Train In Montclair Teen Hospitalized After Being Hit By Train In Montclair
Teen Hospitalized After Being Hit By Train In Montclair A 15-year-old boy was taken to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson early Wednesday after he was hit by a train in Montclair, an NJ Transit spokeswoman said.  The boy was hit at the Jerome Place grade crossing around 12:30 a.m. The train, No. 6299 on the Montclair Boonton line, was headed to Montclair State University, the spokeswoman said.  The spokeswoman did not have any information on the boy's condition. The train was the last one of the night and had just two crew members aboard, neither of whom was hurt. 

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by Paul Milo
Obituaries
High Schoolers Mourn Beloved Teacher From Montclair, Mr. Meck, Dead At 35 High Schoolers Mourn Beloved Teacher From Montclair, Mr. Meck, Dead At 35
High Schoolers Mourn Beloved Teacher From Montclair, Mr. Meck, Dead At 35 Steven Meck had all the makings of a great biology teacher. He was zany. He thought out-of-box. And most of all, Meck's Clifton High School students said, he cared about them. Meck of Montclair died on May 10, at 35 years old. "Mr. Meck was an integral part of my life in high school," Maharsh Barot said of the honors and AP biology teacher.  "I doubt I could have had a better time learning biology than I did in his class, both times, freshman year and senior year. He was a cool mentor and a good person. He was important to my life and to me, and he really made an impact on my life and ot…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Hoboken Woman Accused Of Biting Police Officer At Hotel Has Teaching Licenses Revoked Hoboken Woman Accused Of Biting Police Officer At Hotel Has Teaching Licenses Revoked
Hoboken Woman Accused Of Biting Police Officer At Hotel Has Teaching Licenses Revoked New Jersey education officials have revoked the teaching license of a Hoboken woman accused of biting a police officer at a hotel. Jessica L. Rosewall, 32 formerly of Fairfield, pleaded guilty to obstruction of the administration of law for hindering a criminal investigation this past January, state officials said. Several media outlets reported that a Jessica Rosewall also was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest after biting a police officer trying to handcuff her at a Days Inn on Route 46 in 2017. The then-30-year-old had outstanding criminal…

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by Cecilia Levine