UPDATE! Monday Briefs From WOBM News

News stories  from Ocean & Monmouth Counties and around New Jersey.

MIAMI - The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season officially ends Wednesday, but that doesn't mean it's time to kick back, says the National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration. The 19 tropical storms, seven becoming hurricanes and three major ones, matched NOAA's predictions. Irene was the only hurricane to hit the US in 2011, but it's now a record six years since a category three-four or five with top winds above 111 miles an hour has reached land.

TOMS RIVER - Three stolen cars during the weekend keep Toms River Police busy today. Authorities say a 33-year-old Stafford man reported his 1998 Ford Taurus stolen from the Five Guys lot on Route 37 around eight last night. They're also trying to identify a white male with short hair seen on surveillance video taking a 2001 blue Volvo from the One-Stop service station on Route 37 about 1:30AM Saturday. And police say a 1995 Jeep found in some woods near Fischer Boulevard was taken from Coty Marine between Wednesday night and Saturday morning.

PLUMSTEAD - Plumstead Township has the lowest crime rate in Ocean County according to a report from the state police. Reports say an email was sent out to residents last week. This could be attributed to preserved farmland and a low population.

BERKELEY - A Berkeley Township man remains in the Ocean County Jail after allegedly attacking a man with a tire iron and leading police on a car chase across three towns. Police say 40-year-old Kenneth Morris also attacked three officers before being pepper sprayed. Each officer was treated and released from the hospital. The man who was assaulted by Morris had to have his head stapled to close his wounds.

LAKEWOOD - Lakewood Police and the Ocean County Sheriff's Department are investigating a shooting that left a bullet inside a child's bedroom. It happened yesterday morning around 5:30 at a home on Holly Street. No one was injured.

TRENTON (AP) - A state Assembly panel is set to reconsider a job training bill that Governor Chris Christie previously vetoed. The legislation would create a $3 million program allowing residents to receive job training from prospective employers while still collecting unemployment benefits.

TRENTON (AP) - Opponents and supporters of legislation that would fund scholarships at private schools with corporate tax credits are planning rallies this week. Governor Chris Christie supports the proposal. Opponents have scheduled a rally for Wednesday. Supporters will gather on Thursday.

FREEHOLD - Forty-one Monmouth residents become the newest graduates of the county's citizens police academy. More than half are now enrolled in Sheriff Shaun Golden's Volunteers-In-Sheriff's-community-programs. Graduates include Wilson Chan and Harold Wiener of Marlboro, and Diana and Edward Piortrowski of Colts Neck.

NEPTUNE (AP) The Asbury Park Press announced Sunday that Michael Sypniewski died this week following a long illness. He was 47 when he passed away on Wednesday. Sypniewski, a married father of three who lived in Brick, had worked at the Neptune-based newspaper for more than 10 years. Before that, he worked at the Home News in New Brunswick and the Star-Ledger of Newark. Sypniewski's work was recognized numerous times by the New Jersey Press Photographers Association and the National Press Photographers Association. But family members say his career had come to an abrupt halt two years ago when he suffered a debilitating stroke.