Jersey Shore Headlines

The tragic loss of a 2 year old in Ocean County found floating in a backyard pool. This story and more in today's news for Monmouth and Ocean Counties from Townsquare Media.

A two-year old girl is dead after she apparently drowned in a backyard pool in Stafford Township. First responders found the child's uncle attempting CPR when they arrived at the Buccaneer Lane home just before 4:30 Wednesday evening. Her grandmother reported finding the girl floating submerged in the pool a short time earlier. Officials say the toddler's family thought she was watching TV, but discovered a back sliding glass door open and found the child in the pool.

Flags at the statehouse are flying at half-staff in honor of a volunteer firefighter who died battling a blaze in Union Beach. Governor Christie ordered the flags lowered in memory of Robert Meyer. The Union Beach Fire Department will honor Meyer during a service tonight. He'll be buried with full honors tomorrow. The 54-year old collapsed and died Sunday night while fighting a four-alarm fire at a commercial building. He had lost his home in Sandy and had just moved into a rebuilt home last week.

Lakewood is still trying to find a way to restore courtesy busing for next year, without coming up with $4 million and without increasing taxes. A Board of Ed member says courtesy busing is taking a big chunk of the transportation budget, and they haven't yet figured out how the budget could have gone into a $5 million deficit in the first place.

An Ocean County doctor is accused of prescribing addictive opiate painkillers that weren't medically necessary. Dr. Liviu Holca agreed to have his medical license temporarily suspended rather than face a disciplinary hearing. He has a family practice in Manahawkin.

An 18-year old Staten Island man is accused of trying to rob the Wells Fargo bank on Bridge Avenue in Point Pleasant by sending the teller a bomb threat note from the drive-through last month. Xavier Valentine was arrested and charged with creating false public alarms.

A Marine Mammal Specialist says a dead whale that washed ashore on our coast this spring died of a virus. The Marine Mammal Stranding Center says the whale succumbed to the same virus that killed over 100 dolphins that washed ashore on our coast last summer.

Middletown rejects a proposal to build a private girls high school on Chapel Hill Road, after listening to objections from residents for 6 hours. Trinity Hall wanted to build the 500 student campus on 37 acres, but many were concerned about additional traffic.

Tinton Falls shells out $450,000 to cover the cost of using ten falcons to patrol its landfill. Officials say the falcons are the only successful method they have for reducing the number of insects, rodents, and birds around the dump.

New or expanded development along our shore would be allowed under new rules being proposed by the DEP. The state says it's acting to streamline regulations and cut red tape while maintaining environmental protections. A public hearing will be held in Long Branch this summer.

A Beer Garden is a step closer to becoming reality in Long Branch after winning approval by the city council this week. Whitechapel would be built in the redevelopment zone near the intersection of Second Avenue and Broadway, if the city planning board gives the okay.

Our state is home to the most toxic sites in the country, and both of our state's senators want to hold polluting companies responsible by bolstering the federal Superfund which covers the cleanup of toxic sites when polluters can't pay, and reinstating a tax for polluting industries. Our state has 112 Superfund sites, many just a few miles from populated communities. Research shows babies born to mothers living near Superfund sites are more likely to have birth defects.

Spectators at last night's Blue Claws game got to see a side show afterwards when goats featured in the "cowboy Monkey Rodeos" escaped from the stadium. Border Collies carrying the monkey "cowboys" on their backs gave chase through the parking lot. All of the animals were eventually captured.

A big anniversary at the Jersey Shore this week. It's the 250th anniversary of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse. The structure is full of history, especially from the American Revolution. A Celebration will be held at the lighthouse tomorrow with fun for the whole family.