Bob Walsh: 1958-2020, Rest in Peace

Bob Walsh, a former mayor and councilman of Howell Township, passed away this morning after a valiant battle with brain cancer.  He was 61 years old.

Walsh was a passionate public servant, a loyal friend and a fierce adversary.   He will be deeply missed by his loving family and many friends.  His impact on Howell and Monmouth County will be felt for years to come.

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Democrats Sending Mixed Messages in Howell Election

By Phil Stilton, ShoreNewsNetwork

HOWELL TOWNSHIP-Howell Township Democrats are sending mixed messages in the 2018 municipal election.    At the local level, Democrats running for municipal council are running a fierce anti-Lakewood, anti-development campaign, blaming Republicans for approved housing, mandated by the State of New Jersey under the Council of Affordable Housing(COAH).

COAH is a mandate which sets a specific amount of affordable homes each town in New Jersey must build in order to become compliant.  COAH is a doctrine championed by New Jersey Democrats who passed the legislation in 1985 and it was reinforced throughout the years by the liberal leaning New Jersey Supreme Court.

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Congressman Smith Tours Storm Damage In CD-4

Congressman Chris Smith toured storm damage sites in Wall Township and Howell Township yesterday afternoon to prepare his appeal to the Trump Administration for federal assistance in the recovery, if Governor Phil Murphy asks the President for FEMA’s assistance, as expected.

Smith said his letter to President Trump is already written and that he is prepared to work for federal reimbursement as soon as Governor Murphy makes the request.  The knowledge he gained on yesterday’s tour will help him make his case to Trump Administration officials and FEMA when he meets with them to appeal for federal funds.

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First-responders save Golden Retriever who’d fallen through ice in Howell

Police officers, emergency management personnel and firefighters sprang to action Thursday afternoon to rescue a pet dog that had fallen through the ice of a partly frozen pond in Howell Township. A resident of the Villages development called 911 around 1:30 p.m. and reported that her nine-year-old Golden Retriever, “Duke,” was struggling in the frigid water… Read the rest of this entry »

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An inside look at an international ATM scheme targeting these Monmouth County banks

HOWELL – An international scheme to steal thousands of dollars from ATM customers by using a device that captures debit card information has infiltrated Monmouth County, police said. The two, unidentified suspects are responsible for cashing in on more than $70,000 in fraudulent ATM transactions in September at banks around Monmouth County and at least one… Read the rest of this entry »

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Howell Homeless Camp Is Preparing For Winter, Seeking Alternative Shelter For Residents

photos courtesy of Minster Steve Brigham
Minister Steve Brigham, the founder of Destiny’s Bridge , the non-profit organization that operates the homeless camp in Howell, announced on facebook this morning that the organization is seeking to find alternative housing for residents of the camp for the winter months.

Brigham opened the Howell camp last year with the agreement of the Township.  Prior to that, the minister operated Tent City in Lakewood for many years, taking care of as many as 130 homeless people, before Lakewood officials shutdown and demolished the camp while providing temporary rental assistance to 60 residents. Read the rest of this entry »

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Authorities Discover Guns, Explosives in Howell and Freehold

A three day investigation launched by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office last Thursday led to the seizure of a total of 17 long-guns, 13 handguns, over 21 containers of ammunition and explosives.  Three men were arrested, according to a statement by Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Investigators received information regarding an individual storing explosives and destructive materials in a Howell residence. On Friday night September 16, detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office and the Howell Township Police Department executed a search warrant at 191 Ford Road with the assistance of the New Jersey State Police Arson/Bomb Unit and a K-9 unit from the Bradley Beach Police Department.  Numerous firearms and ammunition, as well as a quantity of marijuana were seized. Read the rest of this entry »

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Ocean County Man, 28, Charged With Luring 15 Year Old Girl In Howell

Craig Sorokach, 28, of Sawmill Road in Brick Township was arrested on Saturday after he arranged via the Internet to engage in sexual activity with a 15 year old girl in Howell, according to an announcement by Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Sorokach was charged following an investigation by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office working in conjunction with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). He is charged with Attempted Sexual Assault, Luring, Enticing a Child by Various Means, Attempted Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Attempted Obscenity to a Minor after he arranged to meet with the girl in Howell. He is in the custody of the Monmouth County Correctional Institution in Freehold.

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Man, 25, killed during police pursuit in Howell, cops say

HOWELL — A 25-year-old Marlboro man died after he crashed his car early Sunday while trying to evade authorities, police said. Brian Fani was pronounced dead at the scene after he ran his 2009 Subaru Legacy off the road at a bend in the road on Southard Avenue near the Howell Golf Course, side-swiped a utility… Read the rest of this entry »

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Inside the homeless encampment hidden in woods of Howell

HOWELL – On a recent unusually warm winter day, a handful of people milled about a camp site situated about a half-mile off a bustling stretch of Route 9 in Howell. The shantytown carved out of a township-owned section of woods has all the makings of a weekend camping getaway: a pantry lined with food, a… Read the rest of this entry »

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