Jersey Shore News

Local news from Ocean and Monmouth counties

SEASIDE PARK -- An autopsy has determined two Ocean County residents drowned after their car plunged into Barnegat Bay in Seaside Park, authorities said today. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances leading to the deaths early Wednesday of Sharon Stankard, 41, of the Whiting section of Manchester, and Ralph Edward Wetmore Jr., 47, of Toms River. Deputy Chief... Full story »

Exelon Corp. says cost of $800M to build towers more than 40-year-old nuclear plant is worth Full story »

LAVALETTE — A borough father who owes $746,058 in back child support to his family in Wayne has no means to pay and should be released, his attorney told the state Family Court in Paterson Wednesday, according to NorthJersey.com The report said that the attorney for former Wayne resident Mark Taggart, 52, argued a person cannot be held in jail... Full story »

SEASIDE PARK — Two Ocean County residents were killed today after their car plunged into Barnegat Bay in Seaside Park. Authorities are trying to determine how the 2003 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Sharon Stankard, 41, of the Whiting section of Manchester, ended up submerged in nearly eight feet of water. The accident occurred at midnight, prompting several residents to... Full story »

About 27,800 acres of Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay, the Navesink River and the Shrewsbury River have been closed to shellfish harvesting because of pollution that washed in during the weekend nor’easter. The Department of Environmental Protection said the temporary closure is necessary "to protect public health from the adverse water quality effects" from the weekend’s torrential rains. Bacteria... Full story »

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP -- Police responded to a possible mountain lion sighting today in Freehold, one week after a feline was spotted in another Monmouth County town according to a report by Asbury Park Press. A Freehold resident told police he spotted a brown animal with a long tail. No animal prints were found in the mud, according to the report.... Full story »

MOUNT LAUREL — Former NFL lineman Jon Runyan said he is willing to spend his own money to win his campaign for Congress in New Jersey. The ex-Philadelphia Eagle retired from football earlier this year to run as a Republican in the 3rd District. His formal campaign launch is scheduled for Thursday. Runyan said today the main reason he... Full story »

Former NFL lineman will launch GOP campaign vs. Democrat Rep. John Adler Full story »

How has the Jersey Shore been holding up after the powerful weekend rain and wind storm? Here are updates from some towns in Monmouth and Ocean counties: ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS The powerful weekend nor’easter caused damage to the municipal marina in Atlantic Highlands. HARVEY CEDARS Mayor Jonathan Oldham said the beaches recently replenished by the Army Corps of Engineers withstood... Full story »

New Jersey environmental officials said the weekend's fierce rain and wind storm caused extensive erosion to beaches in Ocean and Monmouth counties. The Department of Environmental Protection said Monday that its coastline survey showed numerous vertical cuts to the dunes, particularly in Keansburg, Sea Bright, Long Branch, Surf City and Long Beach Township. It said four houses were undermined... Full story »

AVALON — A Pennsylvania dentist with a second home at the Jersey Shore admitted today to dumping needles and other medical waste in the Atlantic Ocean, causing beaches in Avalon to shut for five days in 2008. Thomas McFarland, 61, of Wynnewood, Pa., pleaded guilty in Superior Court in Cape May County to unlawful discharge of water pollutants, a... Full story »

SOMERSET COUNTY -- A Brick woman faces theft charges after bilking nearly $70,000 from a non-profit organization that promotes artistic expression of the physically challenged, Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest said today. Lisa England, 38, stole the funds from Belle Mead-based Artistic Realization Technologies, where she worked as a bookkeeper and office manager in September 2008, by making checks... Full story »

OCEANPORT — Horse racing officials in New Jersey have reached agreement on a plan to stage a million-dollar meet at Monmouth Park, reduce the number of thoroughbred racing dates in the state and make the Meadowlands a harness racing-only track. The dramatic shift, which was first reported by The Star-Ledger last week, was announced by New Jersey Sports and... Full story »

SEASIDE PARK — As the rains flooded towns along the Jersey Shore, the boundary between sea and land started to blur. In Seaside Park, Linda Boisseau used a blue ocean kayak to travel on Bayview Avenue, which lay under a foot of brackish water this afternoon. Dressed in a purple windbreaker and knee-high rubber boots, Boisseau glided over half... Full story »

OCEAN COUNTY — On Saturday night and into today, Barnegat Bay spread itself onto various streets in barrier island towns like Seaside Heights and the Ortley Beach section of Toms River. The bay also lapped onto streets on Pelican Island, a section of Berkeley Township located between Toms River and Seaside Heights. It covered the short bayside block of... Full story »