Jersey Shore Headlines

A toddler eats her grandma's pills and more in today's Monmouth and Ocean County News from Townsquare Media.

A Manchester toddler is in stable condition after accidentally swallowing some of her grandmother's blood pressure medication yesterday afternoon. The child's mother noticed some of the tablets on the kitchen floor where the child had been playing and said the toddler appeared tired and sluggish which prompted a call to 911. The little girl was taken to Community Medical Center.

A pet Pit Bull is dead after being shot last night by a Howell Township cop who was attacked by the dog while responding to a call about a woman being bitten on her leg on Susan Court. The dog's owner says the shooting is unjustified and that her dog just scratched the woman.

An Aberdeen man is accused of dragging a woman by her hair while driving away during a domestic violence incident. The victim lost some hair and suffered scrapes after police say Anthony Mazza took her cell phone then drove away as she reached in the car to get it. He faces multiple charges.

Three bomb threats at Walmart and K-Mart stores in Monmouth and Ocean Counties around 6 last night prompted evacuations. Police used explosive sniffing dogs to search the two stores in Brick and one in Wall Townships. Nothing was found and people were allowed back in. The investigation is ongoing.

Traffic could be even worse in Lakewood next week. Parents of students who attend the township's private religious schools are considering protesting the elimination of the $4 million courtesy busing program by driving their kids to school and potentially creating gridlock.

15 people remain in Lakewood's Tent City homeless camp despite attempts by the township to dismantle the camp. Those who weren't counted in the US Census last year are not eligible for temporary housing but have been ordered by Lakewood officials to leave Tent City even though they don't have any place else to go. The deputy mayor says residents are upset because their taxes keep going up. Tent City Coordinator Steve Brigham says the situation is disturbing for everyone.

A former Point Pleasant Beach employee is suing the borough claiming that she was retaliated against and eventually fired after reporting alleged fraudulent water and sewer meter readings. Sandra Petersen, who was the water and sewer billing and account clerk said she was stripped of her duties and subjected to a hostile work environment when she pointed out overcharges. Her husband has also filed a suit.

Don't approach, feed, or even make direct eye contact with black bears. That's just some of the advise issued by the Manchester Police Department after residents in the Roosevelt section reported black bear sightings yesterday morning. Police say the bear was relocated to the Pasadena Wildlife Management area with the help of Fish and Wildlife officials.

The Point Pleasant Beach police department issued 177 tickets in under a month as part of the annual National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's campaign of "Click It Or Ticket" aimed at increasing the use of seat belts. The campaign ran from May 9 through June 1st for those not wearing their seat belts. The police department applied for and received the grant which covered the cost of having officers participate in this campaign.

You can snap up some bargains in Wall Township today during the New Jersey Natural Gas annual energy-saving Lighting Fair. The utility will have energy saving light bulbs and fixtures on hand, along with experts to help answer your lighting questions. There will be special lighting package deals on hand that you can only get at the fair. It takes place today (6/5/14) until 3 pm at NJNG headquarters, 1415 Wycoff Road in Wall.

If you're thinking about switching your energy supplier, the head of state consumer affairs says make sure you do your homework first by contacting the BPU. Our state has filed suit against 3 energy suppliers accused of using false and deceptive marketing practices to get new customers.

Sam's Club will become the first mass retailer in the US to offer a credit card using a fraud-deterring microchip. The warehouse club, owned by Walmart stores, will make the card available this month instead of the black magnetic strips found on most cards.

Some 5th graders are pressing state lawmakers to designate salt water taffy as our state candy. The students are testifying today before an assembly committee. An assemblyman introduced the measure at the students' request. Taffy became popular as a souvenir in Atlantic City in the late 19th century. (And doesn't actually contain any salt water!)