Monmouth and Ocean County News from Townsquare Media.

A new drug abuse task force would be created under the 21-bill package designed to tackle our state's heroin and prescription drug abuse epidemic. The task force will look at the growing problem of drug diversion -- when people sell their legally obtained drugs on the street and where doctors use their offices to sell pills for cash.

The FDA has been taking steps to have the doses of popular sleep meds reduced because of growing evidence they can cause drowsiness while driving the next day. The Fed is requiring dose reductions for Lunestra and Ambien. They say adults may still experience memory and coordination impairment 11 hours after taking these drugs.

A Lakewood woman will spend 15 years behind bars for sexually assaulting a 12-year old girl she knew. 30-year old Mary Ellen Deane and her boyfriend had sex with the child on multiple occasions during the summer of 2012, according to prosecutors. 34-year old Dennis Conover of Manalapan faces sentencing next month.

A Holmdel man has been sentenced to 2 years probation after admitting he secretly used his cell phone to record video and take photos up the dresses of multiple women. 31-year old Jonathan Loori must continue seeing a psychologist and attend Sexaholics Anonymous meetings.

A 3-car crash in Hazlet claimed the life of a 60-year old woman and injured a 51-year old man on Rt. 36 Saturday morning. A 28-year old man who officials say couldn't avoid hitting the spinning cars was able to walk away with only minor injuries.

A motorcyclist is dead after colliding with a car on Rt. 18 in Marlboro last night. Police have not yet released the victim's name. The road was closed for two hours.

A Howell man faces five years in prison after pleading guilty to charges related to a drunken driving crash taht killed his passenger in June 2013. Police say 21-year old Jacob Cannizaro was speeding when he lost control on a bend, flipping the vehicle and striking trees. 22-year old Mark Chilto of Freehold died and another passenger was injured.

Jersey Shore Motocross is proposing building two large concrete sound barriers as a way of easing concerns of Tinton Falls residents opposed to a controversial plan to build a race track on Shafto Road. Another meeting on the issue is set for October 16th in Borough Hall.

With summer coming to an end today, the shore still has high hopes for a 'shoulder season'. Tourism advocates say they're seeing more crowds into the fall, and many businesses are staying open longer. Festivals and pumpkin picking farms, along with numerous other fall activities, can draw thousands of people on an autumn weekend.

Non-profit organizations in Ocean County are looking for volunteers. More than 25 non-profit groups will be recruiting help during the Ocean County Library's free Volunteer Fair this Tuesday (tomorrow) from 2 - 6:30 pm in the Toms River branch. The library also has its own opportunities for volunteers to find the right fit for what they want to do. It needs volunteers for many of its programs.

A Manalapan couple is our state's first big winner of the new Cash4Life game. Vik and Christina Bahadur will be getting $1,000 a week for life after matching five numbers in the July 21st drawing. The lucky ticket was purchased at an Exxon on Rt. 9 in Freehold.

 

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