OCEAN CITY LAYS OUT TIMELINE FOR FEDERAL BEACH FILL

A federal beach fill that is coming to Ocean City has a timeline set up. The city is responsible for nine cents on the dollar for the entire project. Ocean City Administrator Jim Rutala said that the city is shooting for the beach fill to be completed next spring. Once council approves the funding during it's Thursday council meeting, the project will go out to bid at the end of this month, and they will be accepted in September.

CAR ROBBERY THEFT ARRESTS IN MILLVILLE

Millville police believe three people are responsible for almost 40 recent car robberies. Joshua Hickman, of Vineland, was charged with 19 counts of burglary, theft and conspiracy. He was lodged in Cumberland County Jail on $75,000 bail. Matthew Baxter and Kevin Bednarski, of Millville, were charged with 17 counts of conspiracy to commit burglary. Baxter was lodged in the county jail on $10,000 bail. Bednarski was lodged in the county jail on $25,000 bail.

JUVENILE ARRESTED FOR HEROIN POSSESSION

A drug investigation in Lower Township lead to a juvenile being arrested for heroin possession. Police arrested a 16-year-old who was found to be in possession of 150 small bags of heroin. The boy, whose identity is not released because of his juvenile status, was charged with possession of heroin and possession with the intent to distribute.

DRUNK DRIVER SMASHES INTO TWO CARS IN LOWER TOWNSHIP

A Salem man was driving drunk when he struck two parked motor vehicles in Lower Township. Eric Bradway drove his Mitsubishi Galant in reverse and struck a Dodge Dakota, before continuing in reverse to hit a Saturn SLI. Police arrested Bradway and he was charged with driving while intoxicated and driving with a suspended license.

WILDWOOD POLICE NAB SEXUAL ASSAULT SUSPECT

A sexual assault was alleged to have taken place in Wildwood at Fox Park on Tuesday. The woman ran to a patrol car and pointed out the alleged attacker. Police took William Banning, of Gloucester, was taken into custody. Banning has been charged with sexual assault and bail was set at $100,000. Banning was unable to make bail and is in the Cape May County Correctional Center.

CAPE MAY: ATTEMPT TO CHANGE TOURISM COMMISSION MEMBERS FAILS

Cape May Mayor Ed Mahaney wanted to change two members of the city's tourism commission, and that effort failed. Mahaney wanted Chuck Pritchard and Jerry Emery, who are both local business owners, to have positions on the commission. Councilwoman Terri Swain supported the Mayor's vote to replace Robert Steenrod and Mary Stewart on the commission, but they could not get a third vote. Steenrod is the husband of Councilwoman Linda Steenrod, and Linda did not participate in the vote. The city is looking into creating a new ordinance to make Pritchard and Emery alternates, since the commission currently does not have alternates.

MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY VAN COMES TO CAPE MAY COUNTY

Two future visits of the mobile mammography van have been announced for the area. The Cape May County Health Department said that the van will be in on July 27th from 9:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m, and then again on September 28. Screenings are available to the public, but appointments are recommended, some “walk-ins” will be taken. Please call 1-800-246-2404 to schedule the appointment. All major credit cards and most insurance plans including Medicare and Medicaid will be accepted. Additionally, funds are available to provide mammograms on a sliding fee scale to women without insurance.

WILDWOOD HOLDS PUBLIC HEARING ON BUDGET

The Wildwood City Commission will hold a public hearing on its budget today. The commissioners will hear from the public on the proposed budget, and perhaps more details will be released about the commission's plan to reduce the size of the tax increase. A proposed 18 cent increase has been cut down to just under eight cents under a plan proposed by the commission, but it is not finalized to this point. No formal vote on the budget will take place at this meeting.

MILLVILLE CITY COMMISSION HONORED VAN HOOK DURING MEETING

Former Mayor Emil Van Hook was honored by the Millville City Commission during its last meeting on Thursday. The city presented a plaque and official proclamation to the family. Van Hook recently passed away when he fell down a flight of stairs inside of his own home. He had been a member of the city commission from 1981 to 1989, and from 1993 to 1997. Also, during his second run on the commission, he served as mayor from 1995 to 1997.

MILITARY SHELL FOUND, BELIEVED TO DATE BACK TO WWII

A Millville man found an unexploded military shell that is believed to date back to the World War II era. The shell as found along the Maurice River by 48-year-old William Nichols Jr. The Atlantic City Bomb Squad arrived on scene Monday evening to recover the shell. It will be detonated at a later date.

STATE'S TOP COURT SAYS POLICE DIDN'T NEED WARRANT IN CHILD ASSAULT CASE

The New Jersey Supreme Court said Clifton police did the right thing when they searched an apartment, without a warrant, after a teenage girl alleged a sexual assault. The court ruled unanimously, saying the cops first job is to ensure safety. Police searched Anthony Bogan's residence, after the 14-year-old girl made the claim. Justice Barry Albin wrote the opinion of the court, saying the police needed to ensure that no other child, including the 14-year-old, was in "harm's way." Bogan was a family friend of the girl, and allegedly took her back to his apartment, instead of taking her to school, as he said he would do.

INDY GOV CANDIDATE QUALIFIES FOR PUBLIC MONEY

A man running for governor of New Jersey as an Independent has qualified for public financing. Chris Daggett says he has raised over $350,000, which makes him eligible for public money and to debate on television during the election. Under New Jersey state law, candidates that qualify for public financing receive 2-to-1 matching funds, meaning the state finances two out of every three dollars spent on the campaign. A recent poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University showed that 89 percent of registered voters had no idea who Daggett was.

NEW JERSEY COLLEGE STUDENT KILLED IN PARKWAY ACCIDENT

A teenage college student was killed Tuesday morning during a Garden State Parkway accident. Cristina Pinto, a Union County College student, got into the accident when a New Jersey Transit bus collided with her car on the Parkway. The 19-year-old Linden High School graduate was coming home after working a double shift at her job, just prior to 5 AM. The accident took place near Exit 141. Michael Graham, of Irvington, was the bus driver and the only person on board the bus; Pinto was the only person in the vehicle. The accident remains under investigation.