Jersey Shore Headlines

Updates on the area fires, heroin arrests, and Asbury Park's broken school system. These stories and more in today's Monmouth and Ocean County news.

Separate fires in Ocean County charred more than 360 acres of woods. No one was injured. The first fire in Beachwood near Pinewalk Road and Berkeley Avenue is now 100% contained and residents of nearly 600 homes evacuated yesterday have returned. A second fire just miles away in Berkeley Township is more than 50% contained. Firefighters expect to have that blaze fully contained by this afternoon.

A brush fire in Toms River shut down Fischer Boulevard for about an hour yesterday afternoon between Yellowbank Road and Hooper Avenue. Two sheds in the back of a home on Pumpshire Avenue were damaged.

A summit on fixing Asbury Park's broken school system drew a crowd of 200 last night. Ideas include administrative stability and improving parental involvement and student accountability. Only 35 of Asbury's 68 high school seniors graduated last year.

On the heels of six lives being saved from overdoses this month alone in Ocean County, Toms River will equip all of its ambulances with Narcan, the opiate antidote which reverses the effects of heroin. Toms River EMS responded to 182 overdoses last year. Volunteer squads are undergoing training.

Clean out your medicine cabinet tomorrow for National Prescription Drug Takeback day and do your part in the fight against addiction. Many teens and young adults are developing drug addictions by stealing from their parents' and friends' parents medicine cabinets. You can safely dispose of your unused prescription meds rather than flushing them into our waterways by bringing them to a drop-off site in Monmouth and Ocean Counties from 10 am - 2 pm tomorrow. CLICK HERE to find a site.

More than 350 bags of heroin and other drugs never made it onto the streets of Ocean County. Toms River cops found the narcotics in a Water's Edge home, then later arrested Toms River resident Nathan Mendoza as he stepped off a bus from New York allegedly carrying a large amount of heroin. Monica Herman of Toms River also was arrested on drug charges.

A Brick man is facing drug charges for allegedly making a heroin sale near Herbertsville Road and Maple Avenue as cops watched. Wayne Bilder was arrested Tuesday. Police seized cash and heroin from him.

Driving with a suspended license earned more than just a ticket for a Lakewood man Wednesday. Police say 22-year old Kyle Mack got out of the car and tried to flee when they approached him. He was caught, searched, and found to be carrying marijuana, crack, heroin, and prescription pills.

Governor Christie plans to survey ongoing repairs along the Seaside Heights and Seaside Park boardwalks that were damaged by fire last year. Today's walking tour will include a news conference on the rebuilding efforts.

School taxes will remain stable in Brick. The Board of Ed approved a $146,000 budget that holds the line on taxes and includes millions of dollars worth of improvements to facilities and curriculum programs. Technology programs will get a boost in spending.

Making ends meet continues to get tougher for many area residents. A recent report finds we now have the 4th highest rents of any state in the nation, including the price for an average two-bedroom apartment. The Housing and Community Development Network of NJ says that's simply too expensive for many families. Increased demand for apartments following Superstorm Sandy has pushed rents even higher, forcing more families to live in sub-standard housing.

It's a growing problem in our state--auto mechanics that don't tell the truth and charge you hundreds or even thousands of dollars to fix things that aren't broken. Undercover investigators found almost 20% of targeted repair shops were recommending work that wasn't needed. It's recommended by the State Division of Consumer Affairs that you research reputable shops that have been around for a while and get a second opinion before having work done.