MILLSTONE TOWNSHIP, NJ (MONMOUTH)–Just after 10:00 a.m. the Millstone Township Fire Department and NJ State Police were dispatched to Route 33 West Bound near Prodelin Way for a vehicle fire with reported flames showing. Upon arrival Millstone firefighters used a hose like to knock the fire down. Firefighters remained on location for a short period of time until the vehicle could be towed away. The New Jersey State Police closed Prodelin Way until the roadway was clear. No further details are available about the fire.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri announced today that an investigation conducted by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Trenton Police Department has resulted in the arrest of a Trenton man for last year’s shooting death of Chron Jenks.
Trayvon Stokes, 31, of Trenton, is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, first-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree certain persons not to possess a weapon. Stokes was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon in Trenton. A subsequent search warrant was executed at his residence by members of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Mercer County Tactical Response Team and the Trenton Police Department. At the time of the search warrant execution, Breeyon Jones, 34, was present and detained. Jones was charged with second-degree certain persons not to possess a weapon after a handgun was recovered from his bedroom. The prosecutor’s office will file motions to detain both defendants pending trial.
At approximately 5 a.m. on September 11, 2022, Trenton police responded to a Shot Spotter activation for multiple rounds in the 300 block of Garfield Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located the victim on the sidewalk suffering a gunshot wound to the chest. Jenks, 34, of Ewing, was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The charges are a result of an investigation by the MCHTF and TPD, specifically lead task force Detective Karl Johnston. Anyone with information is asked to contact the MCHTF at (609) 989-6406.
Despite having been charged, every defendant is presumed innocent until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Trayvon Stokes, 31, of Trenton, is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, first-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second-degree certain persons not to possess a weapon. Stokes was taken into custody Tuesday afternoon in Trenton.
A subsequent search warrant was executed at his residence by members of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, the Mercer County Tactical Response Team and the Trenton Police Department. At the time of the search warrant execution, Breeyon Jones, 34, was present and detained. Jones was charged with second-degree certain persons not to possess a weapon after a handgun was recovered from his bedroom. The prosecutor’s office will file motions to detain both defendants pending trial.
The award is among 13 given for environmental protection initiatives at military installations
February 22, 2023
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is set to receive $995,000 from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to reduce wildfire risk in the areas surrounding Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Warren Grove Range, Naval Weapons Station Earle and Sea Girt National Guard Training Facility, Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced today.
The New Jersey grant is one of 13 projects funded nationally with $24 million from the DOD’s 2023 Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Challenge Program, which facilitates long-term partnerships to improve resilience to climate change, preserve habitats and natural resources, and promote sustainable land uses near military installations and ranges.
”The Murphy Administration is grateful to our federal partners for this grant funding, which will help us mitigate the increased risk of wildfires that are one of the many adverse impacts of climate change in New Jersey,“ Commissioner LaTourette said. ”Partnerships such as this help us ensure healthy forests that provide shade and shelter to visitors, keep open spaces green to sequester carbon, and also limit the greenhouse gas emissions that can increase ocean acidification.“
”Warmer springs and hotter, drier summers may lengthen New Jersey’s wildfire season and increase the occurrence of large fires. Reducing wildfire risk is a key aspect of ensuring that our farms, forests, and communities that are vital to our state’s economy and identity are resilient to a changing climate,“ saidNick Angarone, New Jersey Chief Climate Resilience Officer. ”This REPI Challenge award supports the New Jersey Forest Fire Service in some of its most critical wildfire mitigation and protection projects in the state.“
Funds from this grant round will be used to construct a strategic firebreak adjacent to the Warren Grove Gunnery Range in Bass River State Forest, with project work expected to begin in April 2023. Firebreak work will consist of reducing hazardous forest fuels on a strategic strip of land bordering Allen and Oswego roads, in Bass River Township, Burlington County, and in Egg Harbor Township, Ocean County. By reducing the forest fuels, firefighters may more safely control the forward progress of wildfires that may start in this area. The firebreak will also provide improved access to fight any fires that may occur in the area.
Additionally, forest thinning on 1,305 acres will reduce combustible vegetation known as ladder fuels and improve wildlife habitat. Ladder fuels are small trees and low vegetation beneath the forest canopy. Most large trees in the project area will remain, which will keep the canopy intact. Thinning allows for a healthier forest, reduces competition among trees and provides greater resource availability. The likelihood of a catastrophic wildfire burning through a thinned forest is reduced.
Additional REPI funds will go toward the ongoing Greenwood Triangle Forest Fuels Maintenance Project in Brendan T. Byrne State Forest and Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management area. This project entails firebreak maintenance and underbrush removal to protect residents in Burlington and Ocean counties and to create safe conditions for firefighters during wildfire suppression efforts.
This funding will help the New Jersey Forest Fire Service continue to build a network of strategic firebreaks across the landscape and improve resilience.
Ongoing partnerships like this through the DOD, Naval Weapons Station Earle continues to strengthen the relationship between DOD and DEP. New Jersey’s rich history of cooperation with its military installations is reinforced through the funds the DEP has received through the REPI Challenge Program.
”The wildfire management activities outlined in these projects not only benefit the military installations, but the natural resources and residents of New Jersey,“ said John Cecil, Assistant Commissioner for State Parks, Forests & Historic Sites. ”Without funding provided through the REPI Challenge Program and additional funding leveraged through the DEP and other partners, these projects would not be possible.“
The REPI Challenge Program cited a surge in forest fires adjacent to the Joint Base and Warren Grove Gunnery Range properties, in part due to dry weather conditions and dense accumulations of forest undergrowth, that can fuel wildfires. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded to 1,175 wildfires that burned 12,664 acres in 2022. When a wildfire encroaches a military installation, operations at the properties must be suspended, impacting various base and range activities and missions.
In 2019 the Spring Hill Wildfire burned 9,021 acres just north of the Warren Grove Gunnery Range in Bass River and Penn State Forest in similar forest fuel conditions. This fire highlighted the potential of a major wildfire threatening surrounding communities and military installations.
Combined, the 13 REPI Challenge projects will benefit 26 installations and their communities across the country. In addition to New Jersey, the DOD is funding projects in Guam, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, California, Washington and Virginia.
To date, the REPI Challenge Program has leveraged more than $144 million with more than $417 million in partner contributions to protect more than 51 locations. REPI projects promote compatible land use, restore important habitats, promote species recovery and enhance climate adaptation efforts.
Warren Grove Gunnery Range is one of the most heavily used Air National Guard training ranges in the United States, and its location provides operational capabilities for all branches of military service. Naval Weapons Station Earle operates a receipts, storage, segregation and issue ordnance facility to support the Atlantic fleet, which includes the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and DOD conventional ammunition requirements.
Follow the Forest Fire Service on Twitter @njdepforestfire and Instagram @newjerseyforestfire
Follow Commissioner LaTourette on Twitter and Instagram @shawnlatur and follow the DEP on Twitter @NewJerseyDEP, Facebook @newjerseydep, Instagram @nj.dep and LinkedIn @newjerseydep
BEACH HAVEN, NJ (OCEAN)–Just after 9:00 a.m. Beach Haven Fire Company was dispatched to 313 Iroquois Avenue for a reported working structure fire. The first arriving engine reported heavy fire throughout and called for a 2nd Alarm sending additional resources from other Long Beach Island departments as well as from the mainland. The fire was extinguished and is currently under investigation. No other details are available at this time.
LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP, WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–The National Weather Service has confirm that a tornado was in Mercer County, NJ yesterday. The tornado was an EF-2 with 110-115 mph winds, with a path 200 yards wide and just short of 6 miles in length.
Update;
353 PM EST Wed Feb 22 2023
...NWS Damage Survey for 02/21/23 Tornado Event ...
Thunderstorms developing ahead of a cold front developed rotation
over Mercer County. In addition to wind damage and hail reports,
a tornado occurred in Mercer County.
.Lawrence Township and West Windsor Township Tornado...
Rating: EF-2
Estimated Peak Wind: 110-115 mph
Path Length /statute/: 5.8 miles
Path Width /maximum/: 200 yards
Fatalities: 0
Injuries: 0
Start Date: February 21, 2023
Start Time: 3:35 PM EST
Start Location: Lawrence Township, Mercer County, NJ
Start Lat/Lon: 40.2785/-74.7028
End Date: February 21, 2023
End Time: 3:41 PM EST
End Location: West Windsor Township, Mercer County, NJ
End Lat/Lon: 40.2701/-74.5931
Sporadic minor tree damage was observed west of Interstate 295. A
continuous path of tree damage was observed near Lawrence Station
Road, particularly in a housing development along Fountayne Lane.
Additional tree damage and damage to roofing occurred in a housing
development at Lawrence Square. Estimated maximum wind speeds in
this area were 105 to 115 mph. In a straight line from this
damage, there was roofing damage at a residence and a commercial
building as well as additional tree damage along Quaker Bridge
Road. Tree damage continued at a park across the street and
through the 2nd and 11th holes at the adjacent golf course.
Additional sporadic tree damage occurred in residential areas east
of the golf course in West Windsor Township. The last tree damage
was observed near the intersection of Old Trenton Road and Village
Road.
The National Weather Service would like to extent our
appreciation to New Jersey State Police, Mercer County Office of
Emergency Management, and Lawrence Township Police Department for
their help with the survey.
&&
EF Scale: The Enhanced Fujita Scale classifies tornadoes into the
following categories:
EF0...Weak......65 to 85 mph
EF1...Weak......86 to 110 mph
EF2...Strong....111 to 135 mph
EF3...Strong....136 to 165 mph
EF4...Violent...166 to 200 mph
EF5...Violent...>200 mph
NOTE:
The information in this statement is preliminary and subject to
change pending final review of the event and publication in NWSStorm Data.
Tornado Update from County Executive Brian M. Hughes: I met today with officials from the National Weather Service who confirmed that a tornado swept through portions of Mercer County Feb. 21 at about 4 p.m. Fortunately no injuries were reported despite the serious damage to homes, buildings, cars and landscape, including at our Mercer Oaks golf course. In Lawrence, the Lawrence Square Village neighborhood has been particularly hard hit. I’d like to thank Lawrence Police Chief Chris Longo, Mercer OEM Coordinator Bob Hartman, Lawrence OEM Coordinator Jack Oakley, the New Jersey State Police liaisons to Mercer County Emergency Management and the Red Cross for their partnership. Please keep the families who have been displaced in your thoughts, and on behalf of the entire county, thank you to all the responders who are still on the scenes at various locations.
Mercer County Photos
Public Information Statement National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ 1016 AM EST Wed Feb 22 2023
…Tornado Confirmed in Mercer County, New Jersey…
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, NJ has confirmed that a tornado occurred yesterday, February 21, 2023, in the Quaker Bridge area of Mercer County, New Jersey.
More details, including the path length and path width, will be available later this afternoon or early this evening via an updated Public Information Statement.
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Troper II Charles Marchan of the New Jersey State Police, Office Of Public Information stated that Troopers responded to an motor vehicle crash at 8:20 a.m. on State Highway 29 northbound milepost 0.2, Hamilton Twp., Mercer County. Based on a preliminary investigation a dump truck carrying dirt was traveling on State Highway 29 when the driver lost directional control causing the dump truck to overturn. As a result of the crash debris was scattered across lanes of travel. The driver did not sustain any life-threatening injuries. The crash remains under investigation and there is no additional information available.
Update:
The roadway reopened at 11:45 a.m.
NJ DOT – TOC South: Overturned Dump Truck on NJ 29 northbound I-295 (Hamilton Twp) to NJ 129 (Hamilton Twp) All lanes closed and detoured 20-25 minute delay use caution
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–Around 8:23 a.m. NJ State Police, Hamilton Township Fire Department, and Hamilton EMS were sent to I-195 West Bound at Mile Post 0, NJ 29 North at I-295, for a motor vehicle crash with reported entrapment. Upon arrival of the first units from Hamilton Fire Department they reported an overturned dump truck and the driver was out of the vehicle. All lanes are temporarily closed for clean up. At 8:50 a.m. a request was made to notify NJ DOT inspectors that there were “cracks in the bridge”
This is still a developing story check back for further details.
511NJ photo
Overturned Dump Truck on NJ 29 northbound I-295 (Hamilton Twp) to NJ 129 (Hamilton Twp) All lanes closed and detoured 20-25 minute delay use caution https://t.co/ZKzoPfrY8t
Heavy traffic on I-195 westbound between Exit 2 – CR 524 (Hamilton Twp) and East of I-295 (Hamilton Twp) All lanes open delays due to a crash on Rt 29 North 20-25 minute delay https://t.co/l3HxvDBVJc
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