a 64-year-old reptile dealer from Wheeling has confessed to wildlife trafficking in violation of the Lacey Act — A 64-year-old reptile dealer from Wheeling has confessed to wildlife trafficking in violation of the Lacey Act Court documents and statements made in court revealed that Michael Kandis who operates a reptile house in the Friendly City was involved in the illegal purchase and sale of snakes During a covert investigation of reptile shows in the Midwest Kandis illegally acquired dozens of bullsnakes The sale of bullsnakes is prohibited under Indiana state law Kandis then transported the snakes to West Virginia Kandis faces a potential sentence of up to one year in prison and a fine of $100,000 or twice the gain or loss of the crime A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the U.S Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors LACEY -- The Lacey Township Board of Education struck a compromise for the coming school year that will restructure the district's elementary schools but preserve sports and cocurricular activities Educators and parents argued against a school budget that will increase class sizes to more than 30 students per room and eliminate bus routes for younger children who live within two miles of their schools Advocates for lower taxes argued the board's approval of a 7.57% tax levy at the May 1 meeting was too high and will hurt seniors and working-class Lacey residents Previously: Will Lacey schools cut sports, sell school? Financial crisis faces district and certainly not the budget I would recommend under normal circumstances," Acting Superintendent William Zylinski told the school board during the May 1 meeting at Lacey Township High School Zylinski urged the board to approve a 14% tax levy increase in order to prevent ballooning class sizes and keep courtesy busing for the district's youngest learners Yet board members rejected that earlier proposal and noted that they had already raised school taxes 9.9% last year The 7.57% tax levy increase will cost about $51 extra per month on a home assessed at the municipal average of $288,906 A home valued at $400,000 will see school taxes rise by $68 a month Lacey resident and former school board member Regina Discenza said last year's 9.9% tax levy increase "hit very hard." the taxpayers were promised no more large increases," she said The current financial troubles facing the Lacey Township School District stem from a multitude of sources Inflation has outpaced the previous year's tax increase electricity and property and casualty insurance for the district were all up by 25% this year Health insurance rates for staff members also spiked this year state aid to Lacey schools has declined over the past decade Officials in Trenton want the township's taxpayers to shoulder $17.5 million more of the district's $87 million school budget school administrators eliminated 173 jobs to reduce costs revenues were still short $6 million as administrators started planning for the 2025-26 school year Zylinski urged the board to adopt the more than 7% tax increase and related school budget but because it's the best option we have at this moment to protect our district's future," he said Lacey was one of 281 school districts in New Jersey that were offered a tax incentive program by the state Department of Education Eligible school districts that raised their tax levies over the state-mandated 2% annual cap on increases — the move shifts more of their own educational costs to local taxpayers — would receive additional state aid through the program Raising taxes more than 7% will still result in deep cuts for Lacey schools Courtesy busing will be eliminated in the current budget and layoffs will affect grounds and custodial staff as well as 15 teachers and certified personnel Related: New Jersey school taxes to rise dramatically in many Ocean and Monmouth school districts The school will also reshuffle students into different schools next year. Cedar Creek Elementary will house first graders and the district's autism program. Second and third graders will move to the Forked River school, while fourth and fifth graders will attend the Lanoka Harbor school, he said. In addition, class sizes will increase. Average class sizes for elementary school will increase to 33 to 35 students per classroom, according to administrators. High school classes will average 38 students per classroom, while middle school classes will average 31 students per teacher, Zylinski said. The budget "may result in the elimination of some of our higher programs, advance placement courses and some of the electives," he said. "We will certainly have to look at them closely if we can't have the staff to feed those master schedules." However, the plan preserves sports and cocurricular activities, he said. "It's a tentative budget that keeps our noses above water, not thriving, but just above the water," the superintendent said. Multiple audience members urged the Lacey school board to act to reduce class sizes. Jessica Cellini, supervisor of Forked River Elementary, said classes of 30 or more students make it difficult for teachers to give students specialized attention, to know their strengths and weaknesses, and to help students get a deeper understanding of material, she said. "The advantages of smaller class sizes are well documented and profoundly impactful," Cellini told the school board. Jess Frandsen, a social worker who assists some of Lacey's 901 students with special needs, said the increased class sizes will particularly hurt the township's most vulnerable children. Children with mental health issues, autism, dyslexia and behavioral issues will be at risk from the plan, she said. "Special education is not a luxury, it is a legal and moral obligation," Frandsen said. "These cuts impact real lives in tangible ways. Fewer teachers mean larger class sizes, less individualized attention and more burnout. When general education classrooms become overcrowded, teachers struggle to provide individualized attention that all students need, especially to those that are struggling." School board member Linda Walker said the budget, while not ideal, was a better alternative than New Jersey officials deciding what to fund and what to cut from Lacey schools' budget. That could happen if the board had failed to pass a spending plan by May 2, she said. "We must continue as a community to fight Trenton to restore our funding and secure our fair share in future budgets for our students," Walker said. Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than 17 years. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701. as anger toward Elon Musk continues to grow It was the latest incident targeting Tesla property by Andrew J. Hawkins which has been probing a number of acts of vandalism involving Tesla The Lacey Police Department said it received multiple calls of a “loud noise” at 1:34am PT Officers arrived at a Target on Sleater Kinney Road to discover the damaged Tesla Supercharger station Police said they are investigating the incident as “malicious mischief,” which describes the intentional damaging of someone’s property and encourage anyone with information to reach out to the FBI Tesla’s Supercharger account on X said the company was “on site” with law enforcement reviewing camera footage and coordinating with the local utility Puget Sound Energy “Don’t mess with critical infrastructure,” the account added Unrelatedly, a number of vandalism incidents targeting Tesla has cropped up. Tesla vehicles have been set on fire or defaced, showrooms have been shot up, and charging stations have been destroyed. President Donald Trump has called the incidents “domestic terrorism,” and the FBI has created a task force to investigate the attacks. Lacey Lovato is a senior at Rock Springs High School in Rock Springs WY She has maintained a 4.0 GPA and was inducted into the National Honor Society her sophomore year She is part of the Health Occupations Academy and has served over 150 hours of community service She is a member of the Tigers For Literacy program where she reads to the younger kids in the school district to foster a love of reading along with volunteering in her nursery at church She has played in the Rock Springs Avengers Club soccer program since she was 10 years old and has played varsity soccer all 4 years of high school… to top it all off Lacey and her family have driven over seven hours to be with us today News 9 Meteorologist Lacey Swope has your Friday morning forecast Lacey is a born and raised Okie passionate about studying the weather where she earned her bachelor's degree in meteorology and minored in both broadcast journalism and mathematics She can be seen bringing the forecast on weekday mornings from 5 a.m and general news updates from News 9 delivered right to your inbox Link IconCopy linkFacebook LogoShare on FacebookXShare on XEmailShare via EmailLink copied to clipboardFor an ‘unbelievable’ string of shootings West Philly gang member ‘Pistol P’ is sentenced to 45 to 90 yearsAnthony Lacey-Woodson apologized and said he was filled with pain and a hope for revenge when he decided to shoot nine people over seven months in 2021 After Anthony Lacey-Woodson’s uncle and teenage friend were shot and killed in December 2020 he decided he would hunt down the gunmen and kill them using friends to straw purchase guns in the suburbs Lacey-Woodson assembled “an arsenal” of weapons said Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Palmer And then, over the next seven months, Lacey-Woodson, then 18, used those guns to shoot nine people, killing three, across West Philadelphia — all in the name of his uncle none of his victims was believed to have been responsible for the deaths of Frank “Tooley” Smith and 15-year-old Saabir “Booka” Mack that cold December night The quest for revenge became a back-and-forth gang war that left 53 people shot The shootings Lacey-Woodson committed as part of that were “unbelievable,” Common Pleas Court Judge J “This was one of the most callous things I have ever seen in my life.” He sentenced the 22-year-old to spend 45 to 90 years in prison The lengthy sentence was, in part, because all three people Lacey-Woodson admitted to killing were bystanders struck by one of the dozens of bullets he fired aimlessly into a series of crowds over three nights Woodson and others shot more than 60 rounds into an Airbnb party on the 3800 block of Parrish Street where they were told a 524 member was hanging out a 15-year-old sophomore and standout athlete who was walking to play basketball with his cousin » READ MORE: Jury convicts Southwest Philly gang member of first-degree murder for killing 15-year-old who was walking in rival territory Lacey-Woodson shot seven people in just a two-hour span moving from one enemy’s home to another in West Philly There was barbecue underway to celebrate the three-year anniversary of Sircarr Johnson Jr.’s clothing store and Lacey-Woodson heard that one of the men who killed Smith was attending Neither was affiliated with the gang’s feuds spoke Wednesday of the life she built for her four sons as a single mother knew from a young age that he wanted to own a business and he was proud to have opened one in his home neighborhood He was passionate about giving back to his community and often offered jobs to young people as a way to keep them off the corners and from selling drugs He was a loving father to a 6-month-old daughter but I just want to see him,’” Owensby said How am I supposed to live with that every day?” said she was also hurt for Lacey-Woodson’s family said Wednesday that his nephew was raised in a loving home but struggled in the absence of his father His nephew’s troubles started after the family moved to Southwest Philly beaten up on the playground and chased home from school but you take matters into your own hands," he said and after losing six friends in one year to shootings “If I could go back in time and change everything and quickly handed down the decades-long sentence Johnson’s family gathered in the hallway and thanked law enforcement for their work Many of them have moved out of Philadelphia in the nearly four years since the shooting by Joel Moreno “We're treating this as if it's presumptively domestic terrorism We don't know the motivation behind this but if it is a terroristic motivation then we would expect somebody to potentially do this again,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Mike Herrington during a press conference but what we would really hate to see is if somebody were injured or even killed in one of these incidents The FBI was joined by ATF Seattle and the Lacey Police Department on Tuesday afternoon to update the case The man can be seen carrying what appears to be a plastic bag officers with the Lacey Police Department started receiving reports of a loud boom at the electric vehicle charging station Initial reports indicated an explosion was involved although it’s unclear if this was started by a fire or if a device was used Broken pieces of the charging station could be seen scattered across the parking lot There were no reports of anyone being injured but the damage to the charging station was extensive Investigators said the suspect “may have injuries consistent with being near an explosion or intense heat 2 inches tall who “walks with a unique gait including a slight limp with his right leg kicking out,” according to the FBI The incident is being investigated as a federal arson case It is considered a targeted and intentional act of vandalism Vandals have gone after Tesla vehicles in other recent incidents around Washington state and the country Someone set fire to a Tesla in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood last month half a dozen Cybertrucks had swastikas scrawled across them in the Lynnwood area A Tesla charging station was also spray-painted in Centralia Tesla CEO Elon Musk has become a controversial figure in the federal government as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which has called for sweeping layoffs of government workers RELATED | FBI leading investigation into explosion at Tesla charging station in Lacey The FBI is asking anyone in the areas around the Target and Kohl’s stores in the South Sound Center – including areas along the Chehalis Western and Woodland Creek Trails – to review their doorbell and security camera video that may show the suspect walking in the area or getting in or out of a vehicle between the late evening of Apr “We're looking for photos or videos taken around the South Sound Center including the Target and Kohl's stores the Chehalis Western and Woodland Creek trails or any location on the trails in the Lacey and Olympia area," Herrington said A 2016 to 2019 Tesla Model X was at the charging station moments before it exploded and the vehicle’s on-board systems may have captured images that could help the case “This vehicle is not believed to be involved in the incident but the driver will be a potential witness to the events that evening,” Herrington said Anyone who may recognize the man, has any information related to the arson, or has video of the suspect is asked to contact the FBI’s tipline by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov Residents can also call the Lacey Police Department with any information at 360-459-4333 Investigators have also created a digital media tipline for the public and potential witnesses to upload videos, photos, or any media that may help with the investigation Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application we celebrate the beautiful life of Lacey Lee Taylor Lacey embraced life with a fearless spirit and infectious laughter left an unforgettable mark on everyone she met led her to be actively involved in Future Farmers of America in high school She fostered her love for learning by attending BYU-Idaho her passion for the outdoors carried her to Montana She built lifelong friendships and strengthened her appreciation for nature’s wonders in all of her adventures She was an extremely hard worker and had a variety of jobs throughout her life but her favorite job was her time as a life-coach Lacey’s adventurous spirit extended to the skies where she piloted small planes with the same fearless energy Music was another love of hers—she played the violin in high school adding to the many ways she expressed her passion for life always eager to tinker and help others navigate all and any technology issues and an unwavering faith in Jesus Christ and His church the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints providing her with strength and a deep sense of purpose and a source of laughter and encouragement and joyful laughter will live on in the hearts of those who were fortunate enough to know her Lacey will be greatly missed by her parents A viewing will be held from 6-8pm on Wednesday A celebration of her life will be held at 11am on March 20 Utah with a viewing preceding the service from 9:45-10:45am Services will be streamed live on the Russon Mortuary Live Facebook page and on this obituary page The live stream will begin 10-15 minutes prior to services and will be posted below Russon Mortuary & Crematory - Farmington Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text Click to watch This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors we announce the passing of Larry Donnell Lacey III who left this world far too soon on April 2 Donnell was a bright light in the lives of everyone who knew him and a heart overflowing with love and compassion and a deep desire to be understood and loved-and he truly was He had a deep love for music and a natural talent that reflected his creative spirit and a part of how he shared his heart with the world Donnell was also honored to serve his country as a veteran of the United States Army Donnell is survived by his loving parents: Eric and JoAnna Davis Sr. He is also survived by his siblings: Kameryn Janay LeBert Donnell was also deeply loved by his grandparents: Theresa Dianne Roofner Donnell was surrounded by an incredibly large and loving extended family Donnell had a special way of forming deep bonds-if he loved you He never hesitated to call someone "Aunt," "Uncle," or "Cousin," even if the connection wasn't by blood His ability to embrace people as his own left a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to be part of his circle Donnell is preceded in death by his Uncle Aaron LeBert and his dear cousin Miyah LeAnne Briscoe-all of whom he loved deeply and carried in his heart held a special place in Donnell's life-a true "brother from another mother" whose bond with Donnell was built on love At the center of Donnell's heart was his beloved girlfriend whom Donnell instantly embraced and loved as his own Donnell was excitedly preparing to welcome their unborn son in the coming weeks-a child he already adored Determined to provide a bright future for his family Donnell had recently begun the process of enrolling in truck driving school ready to build a better life for those he loved most Donnell's life was also enriched by his extended family and loved ones from all sides along with so many cousins and friends who filled his world with laughter Donnell's celebration of life will be celebrated Wednesday 2025 beginning at 11am in the chapel of Johnson Funeral Home 2025 in Chapel of Johnson Funeral Home beginning at 4pm to 8pm  All who knew and loved Donnell are welcome to attend and help honor his memory TOMS RIVER - As the Waretown man accused of setting the Jones Road wildfire awaits a decision on whether he will be released from jail he also faces a court date on unrelated charges alleging he beat up a stranger in the woods in Lacey in January and continued to kick the victim as he lay incapacitated on the ground stands accused of setting the wildfire that consumed more than 15,000 acres of Pinelands in recent weeks He is due in court May 12 on charges of endangering an injured victim and two counts of simple assault stemming from a fight on Jan a heavily wooded area within the Brendan T Kling also is due to appear in court on Monday The judge will decide on releasing him from the Ocean County Jail to await trial on charges of aggravated arson arson and hindering apprehension related to the wildfire he is alleged to have started on April 21 The fire was on the east side of Jones Road within the Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area in Ocean Township Kling was arrested April 23 in connection with the wildfire and has been in jail since authorities arrested a 17-year-old and charged him with aggravated arson and hindering apprehension in connection with the wildfire He is being held at the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center Snyder was mulling whether to release Kling or keep him in jail without bail to await trial on the arson charges when she asked an assistant prosecutor and Kling's defense attorney for details of the allegations against him related to the January fight nor defense attorney Joseph Compitello had that information Compitello told Snyder he does not represent Kling in the assault case has obtained the criminal complaints against Kling related to the fight and an affidavit of probable cause to charge him in that case The documents allege Kling injured and endangered the victim by punching him "numerous times throughout the victim's body and head as well as kicking him while he was on the ground incapacitated.'' The police documents described the incident as "a group physical altercation'' and indicated someone recorded a video of it with a cell phone A report distributed by Lacey police said eight people were arrested as a result of an investigation into the incident described as an allegation of an assault with a deadly weapon at Lacey Materials on Jan Only two of the eight people arrested were charged with weapons offenses One of them is a 16-year-old South Toms River resident who was charged with aggravated assault and weapons possession was charged with two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon He also is charged with aggravated assault accused of attempting to cause bodily injury with a deadly weapon The records do not indicate what type of weapons Fifield is alleged to have possessed Fifield was charged with terroristic threats and simple assault Kling and three other codefendants in the assault case have applied for the court's pretrial intervention program which would enable them to avoid criminal records upon successful completion No decision has been made on Kling's application to the program or the applications of codefendants Brandon Santos charged with aggravated assault and endangering an injured victim charged with endangering an injured victim and two counts of simple assault charged with simple assault  and endangering an injured victim was accepted into the pretrial intervention program on April 22 are scheduled to appear before Superior Court Judge Guy P Ryan on May 12 for early disposition conferences which are proceedings designed to see if cases can be resolved before they are presented to a grand jury for indictment Vanpelt is charged with one count of aggravated assault Only one of the seven adults charged in connection with the fight is not charged with any indictable offenses is charged with one count of simple assault There are no upcoming court dates listed for Viscito Kling's detention hearing in the arson case is schedule to continue Monday The assistant prosecutor said Kling "gambled with the lives and well being of the people of the community when he lit that fire.'' in addition to burning thousands of acres of land forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and destroyed a business Compitello argued for his client's release saying the state has no evidence Kling intended to burn down the forest Authorities allege Kling started a bonfire in a pit in the woods on April 21 with wooden pallets gasoline and a gasoline-drenched item and left the area without putting out the fire The 17-year-old charged in the case helped Kling set the wooden pallets on the fire and also left before the fire was out Lenzi said in court that the pair lied to authorities falsely telling them Mexicans set the blaze Kathleen Hopkins, a reporter in New Jersey since 1985, covers crime, court cases, legal issues and just about every major murder trial to hit Monmouth and Ocean counties. Contact her at khopkins@app.com Lacey Shaffer has been selected as a Cheek Scholar for the Class of 2027. The honor was announced by Amanda Rose “She is an excellent student with a history of leadership and a demonstrated commitment to business law We expect her to go far in the field.” The Cheek Business Law Scholarship provides supplemental scholarship funds for a student completing the Certificate in Law & Business is awarded each spring to a member of the current 1L class Cheek Scholars receive a supplemental annual scholarship for their second and third years of law school “I feel incredibly honored and grateful to be named a Cheek Scholar,” said Shaffer I look forward to helping carry that legacy forward through our shared passions for mentorship and community-building.” Shaffer’s interest in law developed during her freshman year at Georgia Tech through her Legal Aspects of Business course “Learning about the intersections of business and law sparked a deep sense of intellectual curiosity and I continued to explore coursework in this field during my time at GT,” she said Her post-graduate work as a risk analyst at NCR Corporation confirmed her desire to pursue a legal career “I had a front-row seat when NCR completed a spin-off of nearly half of its business,” she explained “Being involved in that transaction and having the opportunity to learn from the in-house attorneys at NCR affirmed that law school was the right path for me.” The Vanderbilt Law & Business program was a huge draw for Shaffer who felt the caliber of faculty and variety of coursework would set her up for career success “I want to complete the Law & Business Certificate to explore the multitude of ways in which law and business intersect and identify areas of interest where I might choose to focus my future practice,” she said “I also hope to take advantage of the practical coursework offered as part of the certificate program to develop tangible skills and gain confidence that I can take into my career.” Shaffer will spend her summer in Atlanta at King & Spalding as a summer associate she will serve as Secretary for the Entertainment and Sports Law Society and Co-Vice President of Admitted Students for Vanderbilt Law School Ambassadors organizations that she worked for in her first year She also hopes to participate in one of the law school’s journals Shaffer earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with Highest Honors from Georgia Tech’s Scheller College of Business Vanderbilt University’s Online Privacy Notice 1990 to Donna (Kramer) Black and Lonnie Black Paul's Lutheran Church in Brenham on July 1 Lacey received her GED while her two oldest children were toddlers She and her family were very proud of her accomplishment Who always had a smile and enjoyed a good laugh She never met a stranger and would help anyone out if she could time at the water fishing and she had a great love of nature and spent many hours outdoors Some of her favorite times were family vacations which centered around the water and the Hill Country Her most cherished times were spent with her children The memories she created with her children Anyiah Novalee and Noah were very precious to her Lacey is preceded in death by her grandfathers Leeroy Kramer (Grandpa) and Donald Black (PoPo) Donna "Kramer" Black and Lonnie Black brother Dillon (Cheyenne) and little sister Daylynn Also left to cherish her memory are her grandmothers Doris Kramer (Gigi) and Anne Black (memaw) Michael and Kim Black and numerous cousins A visitation for Lacey will be held on Friday 2025 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm with a rosary at 6:30 pm at Memorial Oaks Chapel located at 1306 W A funeral service will be held on Saturday Paul's Lutheran Church located at 305 W Burial will follow at Sacred Heart in Latium Serving as pallbearers will be: Billy Black Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Oaks Chapel located at 1306 W News 9 Meteorologist Lacey Swope has your Tuesday morning forecast Megan Gold studied meteorology and broadcast journalism at the University of Oklahoma and has held the titles of Miss Tulsa and Miss Bricktown in the Miss Oklahoma Organization She knows just how important the weather is to Oklahomans LACEY -- Sports are integral to 14-year-old Riley Pancza Athletics helped her prioritize her grades to prevent being benched But now Pancza and about 1,000 of her Lacey classmates who play sports worry their programs will be eliminated in September School district officials are discussing eliminating sports and other programs as they try to close a more than $6 million budget shortfall but transferring to a different school is seriously up in the air," Pancza said in the hallway of Lacey High School "It's gonna suck when I can't get that aggression out on the mat or on the field." The Board of Education met at the high school on Wednesday night to discuss the district's ongoing financial trouble Hundreds of parents and students flooded the building where they filled a small auditorium where the board met The overflow crowd was directed to the high school's theater where the larger crowd gathered and watched the meeting over a live stream They were drawn there after rumors circulated on social media about the cuts the school board was discussing Some of the proposals included laying off teachers and ballooning class sizes to nearly 40 students in some grades Buses that transport children across busy Route 9 would be eliminated after school clubs and eliminate field trips School officials are also considering selling one of the district's four elementary schools and redistricting the elementary schools by grade level Acting Superintendent William Zylinski said the district was considering these "draconian" measures to balance the budget for the 2025-26 school year Tax burden growsOfficials in Trenton want Lacey taxpayers to shoulder $17.5 million more of the district's $87 million school budget Some school board members balked at the idea saying meeting that number would require them to raise local school taxes nearly 30% Even raising taxes half that amount would not be affordable to many residents school board member Cheryl Armato told the crowd gathered Wednesday Related: Lacey voters reject all three questions in $92 million referendum for school projects "Not only will they (parents) not be able to afford sports they won't be able to afford food," she said That has already increased our permanent rates." Officials in the New Jersey Department of Education had offered Lacey the opportunity to raise school taxes this year once again by as much as 9.9% school taxes are held to a strict 2% cap on tax levy increases Voters can circumvent that cap through a public referendum Last month, Lacey voters rejected three ballot questions that would have funded various school improvement projects the projects would have totaled $92 million in facilities upgrades a majority of Lacey school board members rejected another attempt to raise school taxes when they voted against the state's one-time offer to raise educational taxes over the 2% tax levy cap Board President Kim Klaus said Lacey school officials were not obligated to raise school taxes the maximum 9.9%; rather they could have raised spending a portion of the full amount "It could have been (a) 7% (increase)," she said during Wednesday's meeting "We have some board members that are a hard no on raising taxes and some will say… let's do what we can… but it's our job to provide a thorough and efficient education (to Lacey students) until someone says we can't." School officials had until Monday to commit to a plan that exceeded the tax cap the superintendent urged the board and local parents to contact their state legislators and senator for additional state aid A budget plan drafted in March was rejected by the county superintendent who is responsible for approving local school budgets partly because it included a proposed land sale that proved to be overvalued and had no interested buyer said since the school board has not been able to agree on a school budget since state officials may make decisions for the district 'Critical to their mental health'In the hallway outside the board meeting Kristen Bielick's eyes filled with tears as she considered the possible impacts of program and athletics cuts on her children plays three sports and volunteers with the school's athletics program for students with special needs really critical to their mental health," said Bielick "It gives them that competition when they're applying for college as well and they have no extra activities on their applications I just feel like cutting sports is going to… have a huge impact on our children." a freshman who plays baseball and football came to the meeting in his baseball uniform and hoped to press the board to save sports He said he was devastated to learn that the programs were in jeopardy "Sports is a big deal for me," 15-year-old Brewer said It's about… new lessons and friends along the way I made relationships with coaches and parents "It's like a second home for kids," he added The school board will hold its next meeting at 6 p.m The board is also scheduled to meet and hold a hearing on the school budget at 6 p.m Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers education and the environment She has worked for the Press for more than 17 years Police and federal agents are investigating after a Tesla charging station caught fire and exploded in Lacey early Tuesday morning officers with the Lacey Police Department started receiving reports of a loud boom at the electric vehicle charging station near the Target located at 665 Sleater Kinney Road SE Responding officers discovered the station had been damaged The incident is being investigated as a malicious mischief case The FBI arrived at the scene Tuesday morning and is now overseeing efforts Early reports indicate an explosion was involved Broken pieces of the charging station could be seen scattered across the parking lot on Tuesday There are no reports of anyone being injured but the damage to the charging station is extensive People who have information are asked to contact the FBI Seattle at 206-622-0460 or go to tips.fbi.gov passed away peacefully with family by her side on Wednesday Mary was the daughter of the late Trammell Calhoun Lacey and Janice Burroughs Lacey Mary was always a proud native Texan and had many fond memories of growing up in East Texas (yes Perhaps her favorite memory of early childhood was of her and Cal riding their horses to school every day riding a horse to school was no longer the norm leaving the horses outside the schoolhouse where they would patiently graze until the end of classes After graduating from Nacogdoches High School Mary enrolled at Rice University in Houston where she excelled academically and flourished socially Those who knew her always described her as exceptionally smart and capable of holding her own with all sorts of people and in navigating anything life threw her direction she was the president of her dorm and was later elected president of the Jones College for Women and selected to be a member of the Elizabeth Baldwin Literary Society she graduated and received her Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages achieving membership in Phi Beta Kappa and honored as one of ten outstanding seniors at Rice Mary chose to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Wisconsin at Madison She graduated one year later in 1961 with a Masters of Arts in French who would eventually become her husband of 59 years It has been said by those who knew Mary most intimately that she had the difficult challenge of finding a man who was as smart as she was she found just that and yet it still took three years of courtship a period that many who knew Mary and Chalmers at the time have described as a period where Chalmers had to draw upon his “formidable skills of persuasion.” Mary and Chalmers were married in Nacogdoches and then began their life together in Oxford where Chalmers was the Chairman of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Mississippi but her other role was in assisting Chalmers in his relentless effort to attract new quality faculty members and visiting nationally-known lecturers to the electrical engineering department All were entertained in the modest Butler faculty housing friends and colleagues at the university give Mary great credit for playing a significant role in Chalmers’s accomplishment of transforming an unaccredited electrical engineering department into a nationally-recognized center of research in just six years Mary gave birth to the couple’s first and only child and Mary shifted from teaching French to being a full-time mom two-year stint in Houston where Chalmers had worked at the University of Houston where Chalmers would spend the remainder of his career as a professor at Clemson University The Clemson community provided a wealth of horticultural and other cultural opportunities that suited Mary well She became involved in numerous activities and developed a large circle of friends Her true passion was spending time in her yard and exploring the beauty of all that nature had to offer and flower beds that originated from her yard or a garden she tended to She loved to share her love for plants and flowers by giving away plants to anyone who she thought would take an interest she was the unofficial but faithful caretaker of “the triangle” in front of her home in Clemson which was a neighborhood common area where she would carefully plant hundreds of tulip bulbs each year for the enjoyment of everyone who entered the neighborhood She gave countless hours of her time to volunteer work tirelessly working the soil and planting flowers and shrubs at the South Carolina Botanical Garden; serving as a faithful member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Clemson; advocating for at-risk school-age children as part of the Adopt-a-Cub program; and always seeking out ways to support those in the community who were less fortunate or just needed a helping hand She was a strong supporter of Clemson Community Care and a broad range of arts and humanities that were affiliated with Clemson University and the surrounding communities including Friends of the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts She always put family first and was a devoted wife Being “Mimi” to her granddaughters was her greatest joy in recent years and she was so well-suited to be a loving grandmother North Carolina; her cherished grandchildren Elizabeth Anne and Caroline Haden; and her brother Trammell C with burial to follow in the Church cemetery A reception will be held after the burial on April 1 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Clemson memorials may be made to VIA Health Partners at www.viagiving.org/donating or to the South Carolina Botanical Garden at https://iamatiger.clemson.edu/giving/scbg Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) Fire Marshal Brett Lacey has announced he will retire on March 28 Fire Marshal Lacey joined CSFD in 1992 as a Senior Fire Protection Engineer and has held the title of Fire Marshal since 1998 Fire Marshal Lacey is an Oklahoma State University alumnus and a certified safety professional whose dedication to the fire service industry spans over four decades Along with his academic commitment to fire prevention Brett’s “boots on the ground” skills and experiences gained from working in firefighter and fire protection engineer positions contribute significantly to his success as Fire Marshal." Brett is known by many as a fire service leader His efforts throughout his career have left a lasting mark on the fire service and on a national level,” said Fire Chief Randy Royal “The 32 years of service that he has provided to our community and its citizens have been truly focused on improving our public safety and ensuring the same in an excellent and professional manner He can be proud of the positive impact that he has had as we take pride in having worked alongside him and appreciate him as a coworker and friend.” Throughout Fire Marshal Lacey’s leadership an extensive timeline of accomplishments by his Division of the Fire Marshal shows the bureau is a vanguard in community risk reduction Three examples of being at the forefront of reducing disaster’s spread by implementing change include mandating class A roofing materials in 2002 hardening structures and vegetation management within hillside areas in 2012 and establishing and expanding a nationally renowned and highly reputable Wildfire Mitigation program from the early 2000s through to today Fire Marshal Lacey has been involved in leadership positions during several major incidents both locally and nationally Those roles include but are in no way limited to severe weather incidents Castle West Apartment’s arson investigation New Life Church’s and Planned Parenthood’s mass shooting incidents The tradition of fire fighting within the Lacey family includes three generations Brett is very proud that the legacy has excellent potential to continue beyond them Subscribe See all City social media accounts He was born in Philadelphia on November 28 1942 to the late Ruth Lacey and Benjamin Moody Benjamin was the loving husband of Evelyn (Figueroa) Lacey for 18 years and became the service manager of the first black owned auto dealership in the country he transitioned to the telecommunications industry as a fleet manager for Bell of Pennsylvania his greatest pride and love was his family He took great care of everyone in the family tree whenever he could Benjamin is survived by his wife Evelyn; children Benjamin (Angelique) Lacey Jr. and Brittanie; great grandchildren Luvangelie and Xavier; brother Ronald (Barbara) Moody; nieces; nephews; and many other loving family and friends He is predeceased by his parents; grandson Craig; and brother Anthony Moody 2024 to Naugle Funeral & Cremation Service PA 18951 for a viewing from 10:00am-12:00pm Interment will follow at Rolling Green Memorial Park LACEY -- Voters rejected three school spending proposals that would have totaled $92 million for various projects on schools throughout the district School officials had hoped to convince voters to cover new roofs locker room and restroom revitalization for schools across the district The school district serves about 3,800 students Had voters approved the spending initiative state aid would have covered up to 40% of the costs voters rejected each of three separate school spending proposals Lacey news: Township can tax nuclear waste casks at Oyster Creek, court rules Question 1 would have replaced roofs at each of Lacey's six schools and purchased new heating and air conditioning systems for sections of the high school and middle school with state funds covering an estimated $12 million of that total Question 2 would have replaced heating and cooling systems at each school and paid for electrical upgrades at three schools with the state paying an estimated $15.2 million toward the total School votes: Shore Regional $51M referendum shot down by voters after Sea Bright fight School votes: Freehold Township schools $135M referendum may be approved, but 'too close to call' Question 3 would have funded library renovations and repairs to parking lots and basketball courts The project would have paid for a new synthetic turf field at the high school The upgrades would have cost $24.5 million with the state paying about $8.6 million of the total cost the popular star of the Discovery reality series Airplane Repo 14 according to social media posts from his family 2025 after a brave fight [against] incurable cancer," a Facebook post said "We ask that you share your stories and your pictures as we celebrate his life and the huge contribution he made to the world of aviation." Airplane Repo concentrated on the repossession activities of Lacey's Texas Air Fleet and Lacey has "swiped" dozens of aircraft over decades from Boeing 747s to Taylorcrafts His company also did maintenance consulting and import and export of aircraft He was also the founder of Tango Thirty-One Aero Club which provides a venue and programming to foster interest in aviation Mrs. Betty Jane (Noeske) Lacey, age 97, passed away Saturday January 18, 2025 at her place of residence, Dimensions Living, in Appleton, Wisconsin. She was born on April 30, 1927 to Walter Noeske and Ellen (Marrick) in a simple farmhouse located... View Obituary & Service Information Lacey created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money The family of Lee Roy Lacey created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Lee Roy Lacey 82 of Manito passed away on March 14,.. You can reach us 24/7/365 at (309) 543-2244 Investigators said the man “may have injuries consistent with being near an explosion or intense heat PHOTOS | Tesla charging station arson suspect The man seen in the area before the fire started was wearing a dark jacket with a hood The man was also carrying a white bag which investigators said may have been plastic The FBI is asking anyone in the areas around the Target and Kohl’s stores in the South Sound Center – including areas along the Chehalis Western and Woodland Creek Trails – to review their doorbell and security camera video that may show the suspect walking in the area or getting in or out of a vehicle between the late evening of April 7 and the early morning hours of April 8 ALSO SEE | FBI leading investigation into explosion at Tesla charging station in Lacey Investigators have created a digital media tipline for the public and potential witnesses to upload videos, photos, or any media that may help with the investigation Anyone who may recognize the man, has any information related to the arson or has video of the suspect is asked to contact the FBI’s tipline by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). Tips can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov This isn’t the first recent incident of vandals targeting Tesla vehicles around western Washington or the country – Former NM State men's basketball legend Sam Lacey has been selected for induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 2024 class This prestigious honor is reserved for the most outstanding players and coaches in collegiate basketball history recognizing their extraordinary performances and lasting impact on the sport Lacey graduated from Gentry High School before embarking on a remarkable collegiate career at NM State from 1967 to 1970 Lacey helped lead the Aggies to a 74-14 record averaging a formidable 16.3 points and 14.2 rebounds per game over three seasons The 1969-70 season was a historic campaign for both Lacey and NM State Nicknamed "Slammin' Sam," Lacey played a pivotal role in guiding the Aggies to a 27-3 record and the school's first and only Final Four appearance the 6-foot-10 forward set school records that still stand today including 15.9 rebounds per game and 493 total rebounds Lacey also averaged 17.7 points per game and earned All-American honors alongside teammate Jimmy Collins for their notable contributions to the team's success Lacey was selected fifth overall in the first round of the 1970 NBA draft by the Cincinnati Royals He quickly established himself as one of the league's premier rebounders averaging double-digit rebounds in each of his first six seasons he earned NBA All-Star honors after delivering his best statistical season posting 14.2 points and 13.4 rebounds per game for the Royals Lacey concluded his 13-year NBA career with stints at the New Jersey Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers finishing with career averages of 10.3 points His impact on the franchise was cemented when the Kings retired his No 44 jersey in 1983 shortly after his NBA retirement he was inducted into the US Bank/NM State Athletics Hall of Fame He was part of the inaugural class of the Aggies Ring of Honor in 2008 alongside his former head coach and fellow legend Lou Henson he became the first NM State player inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame with his induction into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame Lacey joins the ranks of college basketball's all-time greats solidifying his legacy as one of the sport's most influential figures For complete coverage of NM State Men's Basketball visit NMStateSports.com - the official home of Aggie athletics - and follow us on Twitter (@NMStateMBB) Copyright © 2025 New Mexico State University Athletics / All Rights Reserved Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Lacey Maria Grace Peebles  Okanaganwaanbamananangoon “She looks at stars” passed away peacefully on the evening of Thursday  Lacey was a proud Anishinaabe Ikwe who embraced the red road and a deep thinker who could light up a room as soon as she walked into it Lacey always encouraged those around her to be the best version of themselves as she was unapologetically always herself She was the definition of an altruistic human  Lacey enriched the lives of those around her demonstrating strength and resilience in everything she did The family will be holding a funeral service for Lacey from Noon – to 5:00 PM on Monday the wake will be at the Anglican Church in Fort Alexander at 3:30 PM 2025,  the burial will take place at The Anglican  Church and Cemetery in  Fort Alexander The family invites all who had the honor of knowing Lacey to attend “I make my grandmother’s mac and cheese every year It’s definitely a tradition that we continue to carry on.” all deaths handled by Crain Funeral Home & Cremation Service must have a minimum of the name uploaded to our website Local and federal police are investigating after someone damaged a Tesla electric vehicle charging station in a shopping mall parking lot in Lacey overnight Tuesday FBI investigators are gathering “the evidence they need to figure out exactly what happened,” said Steve Bernd a spokesperson for Seattle’s FBI office “I don’t think we know yet.” Multiple people called 911 to report hearing a loud noise near the Target at South Sound Center off of Sleater Kinney Road Southeast and Pacific Avenue Southeast shortly after 1:30 a.m. Pieces of the charging station appeared scorched and ripped away in a photo shared online by Lacey police Lacey police asked anyone with information about Tuesday’s incident to contact the FBI’s Seattle office Stay secure and make sure you have the best reading experience possible by upgrading your browser Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience After more than 21 years as IT@JH's chief information security officer and director of IT Compliance including the past seven-plus years as vice president of IT for JHU and JHHS Darren Lacey is switching roles and heading to the Applied Physics Laboratory where he has been named chief engineer for cybersecurity in the Information Technology Services Department "We're thrilled to welcome Darren to the Laboratory and [to know] that his extensive and deep expertise in cybersecurity will continue to benefit the Hopkins enterprise and the nation," says Michael Misumi "Darren's vision and skill have ensured Johns Hopkins' secure IT research and operations for the past two decades Darren participated in multiple APL cyber tabletop exercises and he has already been a member of the APL Cyber Security Leadership Team During Lacey's years of leadership within IT@JH he and his team have safeguarded Johns Hopkins' enterprise data and led the organization through security threats and major incidents vice president and chief information officer for JHU and JHM since January 2023 "Working with Darren during my initial tenure has been a deeply rewarding experience He possesses an incredible intellect and breadth of knowledge along with a willingness to confront the most demanding cybersecurity challenges Rarely do I leave a meeting with Darren without some newfound understanding of the complex problems that he and his team address on a daily basis." "Darren has been an incredible source of knowledge for me over 20 years and he's one of the most intelligent colleagues I've worked with throughout my career Despite predictions that AI will take over most tasks it could not possibly duplicate his brain or provide the wisdom and guidance he provided me throughout these years." Lacey has worked closely with APL on leading-edge security solutions and says that he was ready for a change "This has been among the most interesting jobs a person can have We built a fundamentally solid security and monitoring program that will serve the institution well." Lacey has been succeeded as chief information security officer by Janet Rathod Posted in News+Info Click on these topics to take you directly to online resources frequently used by faculty and staff To locate past Hub and Hub at Work articles use the search function at the top of the page Nina Sue passed away peacefully on March 10 She grew up in the Ross Campground Community and was a 1964 graduate of Church Hill High School She was a member of several bowling leagues for many years Survivors include her wonderful husband of forty-one years Hamlett Dobson Funeral Home and Memorial Park