Friday Briefs From WOBM News

News from Ocean & Monmouth Counties and around New Jersey.LACEY - Lacey residents are being warned about a secret shopper scam. A resident reported the loss of $300 after receiving a letter to take part in a national secret shopper campaign with a nearly $2000 check attached. Only problem is, when you attempt to participate in the campaign over the internet, it actually wires money out of your bank account to overseas accounts. Residents are advised not to deposit any suspicious looking checks.

TOMS RIVER - A Marlton woman faces up to three years in prison after confessing to driving an SUV when her blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit, resulting in a death. Reports say, 25-year-old Laura Nelson pleaded guilty in Ocean County Superior Court Thursday to vehicular homicide and driving while intoxicated. The May 2010 accident, where she slammed into a utility pole on Route 37 in Toms River claimed the life of her back-seat passenger who was ejected from the vehicle.

LAKEWOOD - The two sides of the Ocean County homeless lawsuit get a little more time to prepare their case. According to minister Steve Brigham, the court date scheduled for this morning has been postponed till Friday, January 6th.

TRENTON - Eight stormwater detention basins in Ocean County are about to undergo major upgrades to help protect the Barnegat Bay Watershed from stormwater runoff. The Freeholders say they will seek contractors for the $7.5 million dollar project to work on seven basins in Toms River and one in Lacey Township. Officials say the work will be funded with grants and low interest loans from the state Department Of Environmental Protection

LAKEWOOD - It was a sticky situation for motorists yesterday on Route 9 in Lakewood but things are moving once again. Glue leaking from a truck closed the road for almost six hours between Third and Fourth Streets during the cleanup. No word on what caused the large containers of glue to leak. The driver was not charged.

LACEY - The Ocean County Board Of Freeholders is expected to renew its partnership with Vetwork, a Lacey Township nonprofit that assists local veterans. The Freeholders will be awarding the group a $207-thousand dollar contract to provide counseling and related services for 2012.

NEWARK - A Monmouth based attorney whose recent murder trial ended in a hung jury is facing another trial. The U.S. Attorney's office in Newark says in a court filing that it will try Paul Bergrin on numerous counts that include racketeering and drug trafficking. Several other defendants arrested with Bergrin have pleaded guilty.

TUCKERTON - Two Tuckerton Police officers involved in a fatal shooting will be returning to work after an investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office. Reports say Brian Olsen and Justin Cherry were cleared in the shooting death of 35-year-old Steven Theoharides on the evening of September 15th after he threatened them with a knife. The case heads to the state Attorney General's office for review.

TRENTON - Two Monmouth County contractors plead guilty to rigging bids and inflating school contracts at the direction of an engineer who oversaw projects for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood and Westfield school districts. Martin Starr and Stephen Gallagher, both of Cliffwood, accepted charges of third degree false representation for a government contract. The state is recommending each man be sentenced to 364 days in jail as well as probation. Additionally they will be disqualified from public contracts for 5 years.