Saturday Briefs From WOBM News

News from Ocean & Monmouth Counties and around New Jersey.

LAKEWOOD- A 12-year-old boy is struck and killed by a car in Lakewood Friday.  Police are still investigating the hit and run that happened on South Clover Street near the entrance of Shenandoah Park.  The boy's name has not yet been released.  Authorities still search for the driver.

PLEASANTVILLE- A man is sentenced to 9 years in state prison for drug and weapon charges. Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel tells us...27-year-old Clarence Small pleaded guilty in October to third-degree possession of heroine and committing a drug offense while possessing a firearm.  Small is currently incarcerated for an unrelated matter in Montgomery, PA.

BRICK- If you're driving through Brick Township this morning, you should know Sally Ike Rd. between Herbertsville Rd. and Lanes Mill Rd.  is now re-opened after construction of a solar field kept it closed since Dec. 12th.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS- Two Seaside residents are charged with possession of heroin Friday.  Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford says 34-year-olds Denise Manco and Rondell Moore were arrested Thursday in their motel room at the Seaside Sands Inn. Police seized 122 bags of heroine and a small amount of marijuana in the search. Both suspects face 75 thousand dollars bail.

PLEASANTVILLE- Authorities need your help searching for a man charged with the murder of a Pleasantville resident in his home. The Atlantic County Prosecutors filed murder and weapons charges against 20-year-old Jeremiah Jackson. Authorities alledge Jackson shot 52-year-old Ellis Spell in his home last friday night.

TABERNACLE- A Burlington County man faces child-luring charges filed by New Jersey State Police. Authorities accuse 52-year-old David Neugent of Tabernacle of trying to convince a 16-year-old girl and a second female to climb into his SUV Dec. 5th. at a Shamong Township housing complex.  His bail was set at $50,000.

JACKSON- The School Board tosses a proposal to create a media accountability policy. Board president Sharon Dye tells us that they'll announce their decision next week, following concerns voiced over the concept.  She says it was not meant to muzzle reporters, but to protect students.

OAKHURST- A 60-year-old woman will be recommended for a seven-year prison term by Monmouth Prosecutors at her April sentencing, following her guilty plea to embezzlement. Theresa Tierney today admitted taking $400,000 from the Strickland Farms Homeowners Association as the sole signatory of a bogus bank account she opened in 2003.  Investigators say the scam was revealed when homeowners complained to the Solomon Organization of erroneous overdue-payment notes.

BARNEGAT- A couple faces drug charges after investigators find oxycodone, suboxone, and marijuana in their house. Police say 29-year-old Vincent Avallone and 20-year-old Melissa Avallone were arrested Monday folllowing a warrant search that included a K9 unit and the Ocean County Swat Team. Vincent was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon - a spring-loaded knife.

PORT MONMOUTH- Efforts to restore the Port Monmouth Beach get almost $3 million federal funds as part of the fiscal 2012 spending bill en route to President Obama's desk.  Shore Representative Frank Pallone secured the funding which brings the total so far to over $6 million. The Army Corps is scheduled to start the project next September.

LAKEHURST- A Pentagon decision will determine whether South Jersey's joint base houses a high-level military mission. Mcguire-Dix-Lakehurst is among 4 installations under consideration to be the Air Force Security Forces Regional Training Center.  Shore Congressman John Runyan is lobbying to land the merger of six regional training centers as a way to enhance local economies.

UPPER FREEHOLD- The medical marijuana farm saga in upper Freehold isn't over. Officials last ngiht approved a measure to reject any applications that don't adhere to federal laws. But Breakwater A-T-C says it's legal in Jersey and they're considering a lawsuit.

MANAHAWKIN- The Frankville man behind the wheel of the dump truck that flipped over on Route 72 in Manahawkin Friday morning now awaits a court appearance. Police say sunglare prevented 42-year-old Steven Trout from seeing the red light and the car stopped for it just ahead of him approaching Route 9 around 7:45 a.m. Police tell us Trout's brakes overheated and failed and he overturned as he swerved to avoid the car. Trout was uninjured but police cited him for careless driving.