BRUSH FIRES: GS Parkway Closed Near Shore, NJ Turnpike Threatened Near Meadowlands BRUSH FIRES: GS Parkway Closed Near Shore, NJ Turnpike Threatened Near Meadowlands
Brush FIRES: GS Parkway Closed Near Shore, NJ Turnpike Threatened Near Meadowlands UPDATE: A forest fire jumped the entire width of the Garden State Parkway from Lakewood into Brick Township while a Meadowlands brush fire stopped short of the New Jersey Turnpike amid Sunday's fierce winds.  They were among no fewer than a half-dozen large brush fires -- and nearly just as many smaller blazes -- that raged at once throughout the Garden State on Sunday, whipped by winds reported at up to 40 miles an hour and low humidity that barely cracked 20%. Several New Jersey State Police troopers gathered on the Turnpike's western awaiting word whether to close the roadway as firefig…
WINNERS: Jersey Cash 5 Players Split $925K Jackpot WINNERS: Jersey Cash 5 Players Split $925K Jackpot
Winners: Jersey Cash 5 Players Split $925K Jackpot There are three very lucky Jersey Cash 5 players in Morris, Ocean and Mercer counties, state Lottery officials said.  Their tickets matched all five numbers from Monday's Jersey Cash 5 drawing to split the $925,659 jackpot. The winning numbers were: 25, 28, 35, 36, and 45 and the XTRA number was: 04.  Each ticket is worth $308,553.  The winning tickets were sold at the following locations: Mercer County: Tony’s Deli Grocery, 755 Hamilton Ave., Trenton; Morris County: SHK Food Store, 321 Route 15, Wharton; and, Ocean County: Route 88 Fuel LLC, 1441 Ocean Ave., Lakewood. E…
Pig Carcass Left On NJ Rabbi's Doorstep Pig Carcass Left On NJ Rabbi's Doorstep
Pig Carcass Left On NJ Rabbi's Doorstep Authorities are investigating after a pig carcass was left on a New Jersey rabbi's doorstep. Police responded to the rabbi's Treetop Lane home just after 7 a.m. Saturday, after someone called to report the dead animal's body on the porch, Lakewood police said in a statement. The incident was first reported by The Lakewood Scoop, and is being investigated as a bias crime, Lakewood Police Chief Greg Meyer told the outlet. "The incident is beyond horrifying and should be condemned by the all," the Anti Defamation League said. This incident is beyond horrifying & should be condemned b…
GOOD GRIEF: Only One Charlie Brown Steakhouse Remains In NJ GOOD GRIEF: Only One Charlie Brown Steakhouse Remains In NJ
Good Grief: Only One Charlie Brown Steakhouse Remains In NJ 2020 has been a miserable year for Charlie Brown restaurants in New Jersey. Spurred by the coronavirus pandemic, 13 Charlie Brown Fresh Grills have closed statewide this year. Only one restaurant remains, in Union County. Charlie Brown’s, a casual steakhouse chain that at one time enjoyed dozens of eateries across New Jersey and the East Coast, is now down to just one spot in Scotch Plains. At the start of 2020, there were 14 Charlie Brown’s restaurants in the Garden State. After Charlie Brown closed its Lakewood spot, the last one left is at 2376 North Ave. in Scotch Plains.  A company…
NEW RANKINGS: These New Jersey Towns Named Among Safest In State NEW RANKINGS: These New Jersey Towns Named Among Safest In State
NEW Rankings: These New Jersey Towns Named Among Safest In State A new report from AdvisorSmith ranked the crime rates of hundreds of municipalities across New Jersey to determine the safest small, midsize and large cities. The study — which analyzed a total of 37 large cities, 200 midsize cities and 247 small cities — used data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Dataset to calculate and compare crime levels, putting more weight on serious and violent crimes like murder, rape and assault. The analysis found the safest small, midsize and large cities to be Matawan, Warren Township and Middletown, respectively. The average crime score for the large ci…
These New Jersey MVC Centers Are By Appointment Only Starting Monday These New Jersey MVC Centers Are By Appointment Only Starting Monday
These New Jersey MVC Centers Are By Appointment Only Starting Monday New Jersey drivers' prayers have been answered. Staring Monday, Nov. 2., the following Motor Vehicle Commissions centers will be by appointment only: Cherry Hill, Hazlet, Jersey City, Lakewood, Manahawkin, Medford, Somerville, Springfield, Turnersville and Wallington. No walk-in customers will be accepted at those locations. Designated licensing centers are only taking appointments for commercial driver's license renewals and license transfers, for drivers who recently moved to New Jersey. Click here for the full release from the NJMVC. To make an appointment, visit https://www.state…
Former Central Jersey Pilot, 46, Among Three Killed In Michigan Crash Former Central Jersey Pilot, 46, Among Three Killed In Michigan Crash
Former Central Jersey Pilot, 46, Among Three Killed In Michigan Crash A former Central Jersey pilot among three people killed in a two-car crash in Michigan on Monday was being remembered for his quiet acts of kindness. Yoni Kohn, 46 -- formerly of Edison and Lakewood -- and two others died in the northern Van Buren County crash around 12 p.m. when one car was rear-ended, causing both to roll over, WoodTV reports.  The impact forced both cars into another area where a camper trailer and other vehicles were parked. Police say speed was a factor in the crash. Kohn was president of Tryko Partners, a private equity investment group in Brick, which…
Nearly 2 Dozen MVC Agencies At Capacity, Another Location Closes After Employee Tests Positive Nearly 2 Dozen MVC Agencies At Capacity, Another Location Closes After Employee Tests Positive
Nearly 2 Dozen MVC Agencies At Capacity, Another Location Closes After Employee Tests Positive Nearly two dozen of New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission agencies agencies were closed as of 11:30 Monday morning after reaching capacity. Additionally, a Newark center was closed for two weeks after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. The Newark Regional Service Center shut last Friday and is expected to reopen Oct. 16. The center handles driver's license transactions. A Jersey City agency that's been closed after an employee tested positive was expected to reopen Tuesday. Officials said the volume experienced Monday was due to since reopening during the summer. The foll…
COVID-19 Spiking In 5 New Jersey Counties COVID-19 Spiking In 5 New Jersey Counties
Covid-19 Spiking In 5 New Jersey Counties Coronavirus is "rising to a level of concern" in five New Jersey counties, Gov. Phil Murphy said at his latest briefing in Trenton. "Whether it's through worship, indoor home gatherings, regardless of what the reason," said Murphy, "we are not out of the woods." As of Friday, there were 202,100 positive cases in the state, he said. Ocean County reported 439 cases -- the highest number of new ones in the state since Monday, NJ Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said. Lakewood accounts for at least half of those cases, Persichilli said. Lakewood has become a "hot spot" for the virus, acco…
Report: NJ School Bus Driver Suspended For Refusing Face Mask Report: NJ School Bus Driver Suspended For Refusing Face Mask
Report: NJ School Bus Driver Suspended For Refusing Face Mask A Lakewood school bus driver has been temporarily removed from his post pending an investigation after refusing to wear a mask, according to a recent news report. The school district's security director and retired police lieutenant spotted the male driver without a mask while transporting 13 students to an elementary school Wednesday morning, NJ.com reports. The driver violated the state's face mask mandate on both days of school before Wednesday -- Friday and Tuesday, the district's board attorney Michael Inzelbuch told the news outlet. Inzelbuch was not immediately available when Daily …
Motorcyclist Killed In Crash ID'd As Off-Duty Lakewood Police Officer, 23 Motorcyclist Killed In Crash ID'd As Off-Duty Lakewood Police Officer, 23
Motorcyclist Killed In Crash ID'd As Off-Duty Lakewood Police Officer, 23 A motorcyclist killed in a Jackson Township crash Saturday was an off-duty Lakewood police officer, authorities confirmed. Nicklas Shimonovich, 23 -- whose parents are both longtime members of the Lakewood Police Department -- died in a crash on Thompson Bridge Road sometime before 5 p.m., his department announced late Saturday night. Initial and unconfirmed reports say Shimonovich's motorcycle slammed into a tree around 4:45 p.m.  The off-duty officer was transported to Monmouth Medical Southern Campus, where he died a short time later. Shimonovich's father is Lt. Rob Shimonovich an…
Prosecutor: Man Who Torched Lakewood Home With 3 People Inside Charged with Attempted Murder Prosecutor: Man Who Torched Lakewood Home With 3 People Inside Charged with Attempted Murder
Prosecutor: Man Who Torched Lakewood Home With 3 People Inside Charged with Attempted Murder A Jersey Shore man set a Lakewood home ablaze with three people inside, said authorities who charged him with attempted murder. U.S. Marshals captured Jamal Preston, 25, of Egg Harbor Township on Monday and turned him over to local authorities to be charged with four counts of aggravated arson in the Aug. 22 fire on Park Place, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said Monday. The occupants got out safely after the 2:30 a.m. blaze spread to the second floor and attic, responders said at the time. Billhimer said his Major Crime Unit-Arson Squad investigated along with the Ocean Coun…