Jersey Shore Headlines

Angry men doing dangerous things, and more, in today's Monmouth and Ocean County News.

A man was so angry that his girlfriend wouldn't buy him a pack of cigarettes that he intentionally started swerving his vehicle. He ended up losing control and crashing into a utility pole in Toms River. Police say he then fled the scene, leaving his 21-year old girlfriend bleeding with a head injury. He now faces multiple charges.

A 40-year old Ocean County man didn't like the guy his mother was dating. So he set the guy's car on fire. John Gorman-Lukowicz admitted setting the blaze to Duane Gay's car early Monday. He is charged with aggravated arson.

Manchester Business Administrator Elena Zsoldos has been suspended without pay from her $105,000 a year job following her arrest Monday in Asbury Park on cocaine charges. She was in a township vehicle when stopped by authorities.

The heroin-induced death of 23-year old Jamie Caravella of Toms River last year leads to charges against 3 men under our state's strict liability law. One of the men, 24-year old Paul Robinson of Toms River is still being sought.

Auditors are recommending FEMA withhold $523,000 in disaster aid from Belmar for the cost of cleaning up after Superstorm Sandy. The Homeland Security Inspector General's Office faults Belmar for the way it structured 2 no-bid debris removal contracts. Auditors say it could potentially benefit contractors more than taxpayers. The Belmar mayor says the town is stuck in the middle of a disagreement between 2 arrms of the same federal agency. Doherty says FEMA was well aware of the contracts before they were agreed to.

Some fishermen say the massive project underway to restore the Jersey Shore's beaches after Superstorm Sandy is wrecking prime fishing spots. They're particularly upset by plans to cut off access to rock jetties sticking out into the surf. The Army Corps of Engineers says it will work with the fishermen on possible alternatives.

Bay Head is hoping the state DOT follows through with a promise to be out of the borough with a fully paved Rt. 35 by May 22nd. The mayor says the reconstructions project is hurting Bay Head, with businesses down 40-50% from the construction. The mayor says the beaches are fine and will be ready with 11 access points and parking. And if you haven't been down there lately, the walkovers are now finished.

Three people had to be rescued from a drainage ditch after the vehicle they were riding in hydroplaned off Rt. 18 in Ocean Township yesterday afternoon. None of them were seriously injured.

Former Devils hockey star Jim Dowd is the new head coach for the Manasquan-Point Pleasant Beach Co-Op Ice Hockey Team, according to reports. Dowd, a Brick Township native and high school stand-out, had a 17 year NHL career.

Walmart is bringing one-stop shopping to another area: auto insurance. The discount store has teamed up with autoinsurance.com to let shoppers quickly find and buy insurance policies online in real time to cut down costs.