Emergency personnel work in South Williamsport near where three children and a woman went into the Susquehanna River about 11 a.m Two of the children made it safely to shore on their own as did the woman One child was still missing while the woman and two other children were being treated at UPMC Williamsport Officials have released the name of the missing 10-year-old girl who is feared drowned Sunday in the Susquehanna River as Claue Schreffler-Algofera Borough Fire Chief Jeff Trammell confirmed the girl’s identity late Monday morning saying “The family has put it out on social media.” “It is a recovery at this point,” Trammell said adding that there has been no trace of the girl a third-grade student in the South Williamsport Area School District when she was swept away while playing in the river with two other children near a cement pad along the bike path in the borough The children were with a woman in an area west of Front and Winthrop Streets and that the girl was floating away from shore when she was apparently pulled by the current whose identity has not been officially released went in the water and tried to save the child but was carried over the dam by the current She managed to get to shore and was helped out of the water by emergency personnel and passersby but there was no word on her condition on Monday afternoon The two other children made it to shore and were taken by ambulances to the hospital for evaluation The search for Claue’s body resumed Monday morning Members of the North Central Pennsylvania Dive Recovery and K9 Search Team from Elk County were expected to arrive later today and assist in the search WISE RIVER — A wildfire continues to burn just south of the Big Hole River one day after it was first reported burning just west of the town of Wise River Some people in the area say it’s concerning to see a wildfire this early in the season I’ve hunted up here probably 60 years,” said Bob Rowling Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Wildland Fire Information first reported the Sawlog Wildfire late in afternoon of Thursday Bob and Mary Rowling of Butte were on their way to Wisdom for lunch when they stopped to look at the fire burning a few miles west of Wise River The couple believes a lack of snow levels may be contributing to early wildfires there was a little snow and ice on the river but now it’s gradually going higher and higher and it seems like it’s doing it earlier and earlier every year,” said Bob Rowling Watch reactions from those who stopped to watch the Sawlog Fire: Jerry Armstrong and his grandson Holt Armstrong didn’t let the wildfire disrupt their day of fishing on the Big Hole But they were surprised by the large plume of smoke I haven’t been paying that much attention to it I hope they can get it contained quickly,” said Jerry Armstrong About 25 firefighters were on the scene of the fire and a light helicopter was expected to assist them with water bucket drops SOUTH RIVER – Police have arrested one of four suspects in a road rage incident last week of Helmetta has been charged with aggravated assault possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose unlawful possession of other weapons and riot Detectives on patrol in an unmarked vehicle shortly before 5:30 p.m April 1 noticed a disturbance on Ferry Street when it became apparent they caught the conclusion of a road rage incident involving weapons A quick investigation identified one of the suspects which a search warrant yielded a handgun with a loaded high-capacity magazine Cimaglia was charged with aggravated assault possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes manufacture/transport/disposition/and defacement of weapons and dangerous instruments and appliances and prohibited weapons and devices The chief praised the detectives for a rapid response and swift and thorough investigation that took a dangerous weapon off the street Police are searching for Cimaglia and two unidentified suspects Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Patrick Molina at 732-254-9002 (This story has been updated with new information.) Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com please subscribe or activate your digital account today SOUTH RIVER – Another new mixed-use project may be coming to Main Street 25 Main St South River LLC is seeking preliminary and final site plan approval to construct the project at 25 Main and Reid and George streets according to documents filed with the borough formerly housed a Bank of America on 30,433 square feet The developer is seeking approval for building additions site and streetscape improvements for the construction of retail or commercial on the first floor and 14 apartments on the upper floors using the existing bank structure Separate ingress and egress driveways are proposed along Reid Street to access on-site parking A hearing on the plan is scheduled for the 6 p.m More: South River will allow weed shop to open, which one resident says will 'bring shame and pain' Earlier this month, 55 Main SR Urban Renewal, LLC received preliminary and final major site plan approval with deviations to construct a four-story mixed-use building at the shuttered PNC Bank at 55 Main St In November, the borough broke ground on Port Plaza a redevelopment project at the corner of Main and Reid streets which includes a supermarket at the former Laffin Chevrolet site Port Plaza will feature 17 apartments; an approximately 13,357-square-foot supermarket Seabra Foods; an approximately 2,711-square-foot wine store; and an approximately 3,927-square-foot prepared foods café SOUTH RIVER – A new supermarket is part of a redevelopment plan for the former Laffin Chevrolet site on the corner of Main and Reid streets the designated redeveloper for the property has applied to the Planning Board for preliminary and final major site plan approval to develop a mixed-use building at 7 and 11 Main St The site is near the Main Street entrance to South River from Sayreville via the Veteran's Memorial Bridge Seabra Foods; an approximately 2,711-square-foot wine store and an approximately 3,927-square-foot prepared foods café a small park and a walkway up against the waterfront The proposed development does not require any variance relief The lots will be consolidated if the application is approved The property is located in Sub-Area-150 of the Lower Main Street Redevelopment Area More: South River man, a disbarred NY attorney, owes $30M for immigration fraud scheme: feds the Borough Council adopted the Lower Main Street Redevelopment Area Redevelopment Plan The plan for the Laffin site was recently amended and approved by the Borough Council and will now go before the Planning Board for site plan approval The long awaited project has been about 10 years in the making "It's incredible what they're doing," Guindi said "You're going to see a beautified beginning to Main Street This is the beginning of the redevelopment for the residents of South River." Guindi said while running for mayor last year he ran on the promise of redevelopment in the borough "We have to stop dragging our feet," he said "We have to stop talking about excuses and start doing and that is exactly what I'm doing I've been working with the administration to get this done Now we're on a path to redeveloping all of Main Street as well as Water Street and the Causeway Waterfront Zone." The mayor said a groundbreaking for Port Plaza has already been scheduled for 10 a.m A hearing on the application is scheduled for the 7 p.m Seabra Foods specializes in ethnic products imported from Portugal the family-owned business operates supermarkets across the East Coast SOUTH RIVER - Several residents were displaced in a three-alarm fire on Reid Street Thursday morning No injuries have been reported in the fire Two homes were left uninhabitable due to the blaze and four others had damage to the siding as a result of the heat of the fire More: Weed or no weed? NJ town to decide fate of future dispensaries About 12 displaced residents and a dog were taken to the nearby Borough Office on Aging "It's a very distressing situation," Kim Bell the borough's director of Human Services said Thursday morning Ria Mar is donating lunch for the displaced residents American Red Cross is on its way and will help with their long-term needs." About 70 firefighters from South River and other communities The cause of the fire is under investigation SOUTH RIVER - One retail marijuana dispensary will be allowed to open in South River The passage of the ordinances permitting the business to open was not without controversy In 2023 South River voters defeated a non-binding ballot question allowing the sale of recreational marijuana in the borough by a 1,396 to 1,207 margin Some of that opposition surfaced at Monday's Borough Council meeting before the ordinance vote "It is scandalous and shameful to fund our township through addictions and issues that will bring shame and pain to our families," said one resident who identified himself as a church leader The resident said the business will "attract the wrong element" and marijuana has no medical benefits But another resident countered that marijuana is not addictive and helps with pain who identified herself as a substance abuse counselor said people can become addicted to anything and marijuana is no exception Another resident reminded the Borough Council that residents had opposed retail marijuana in the ballot question In response to a question about what money the borough will realize from the business Councilman Matthew DeSantis said the borough will receive a 2% tax on its total sales that could be $100,000 or $200,000 annually He said the money could have a big impact on South River's budget "Every year the borough is faced with more challenges and more obstacles "We have to become creative on solutions." The ordinances allow one retail cannabis dispensary to open in South River establish locations where the dispensary could open set taxes and fees and amends the borough's zoning ordinance More: South River allows marijuana grow facilities, but no retail Councilman Nick Giannakopoulos voted no on the first ordinance to permit the sale of retail marijuana Councilman James Gurchensky abstained on voting on two of the ordinances the borough adopted ordinances allowing licensed facilities to grow and process marijuana wholesale but did not permit retail cannabis stores to open The ordinances allow the borough to issue five licenses for all classes of cannabis operations, except retail SOUTH RIVER - The borough has reached a $225,000 settlement with a former town emergency services dispatcher who sued the borough claiming he was fired because he was a whistleblower and was subjected to a hostile workplace The out-of-court settlement, first reported by Transparency NJ, was reached in December between Matthew Grekoski the borough and the South River Police Department 16 by the Borough Administrator Arthur Londensky The funds will be paid through the borough's insurance carrier The agreement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing by any party but rather a compromise of disputed claims that is entered into as a "business judgment." The borough denies that it had violated any law In October 2021 Grekoski filed a lawsuit in Middlesex County Superior Court alleging he was instructed to use a cheat sheet on a state test had his mother's addiction issues used as part of his job training and was subjected to other unethical and hostile behavior that made him uncomfortable and created a hostile work environment The lawsuit named the South River Police Department the mayor and Borough Council members as defendants Grekoski argued he was wrongfully fired after he disclosed and complained about unlawful and unethical work practices and objected to the unlawful conduct of the defendants More: NJ lesbian cop gets $750K after former chief harassed her, told her to 'doll herself up' Grekoski was initially hired in April 2019 as a Class 1 South River Special Police Officer and then in October 2020 was hired as a full-time emergency services dispatcher which he viewed as a stepping stone toward his goal of becoming a police officer The new job required that he resign from his special police officer position He was assigned training to get state dispatcher certification and that training involved passing several tests Grekoski's supervisor and trainer allegedly instructed him to use an "answer key" to cheat on the state test and obtain certification A high score was needed on the state test to keep dispatcher training in-house rather then have the state or other outside agency train borough dispatchers but Grekoski refused to use the cheat sheet The trainer allegedly began discussing Grekoski's estranged mother's health and addiction issues as well as her interactions with the police department as part of his training The trainer complained about how often Grekoski's late mother used emergency services due to her declining health The trainer made inappropriate and discriminatory comments about her Grekoski was instructed on how to perform criminal history searches by reading and reviewing dozens of police interactions with his mother Grekoski had been estranged from his mother for about 20 years Grekoski had asked his trainer to "dial it back," but the trainer refused In December 2020 Grekoski was asked to report to the police chief's office where he was advised there were complaints about his alleged "lack of performance" and he was asked to sign a letter of resignation Grekoski refused before the chief read the alleged complaint Grekoski was later advised he had been dismissed from his job and was escorted from the police station Grekoski's "future in law enforcement was almost certainly destroyed as a result of this bogus and unlawful termination," the laswuit charged Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime please subscribe or activate your digital account today SOUTH RIVER — One man was charged in a road rage incident in the Middlesex County borough earlier this month but police said they need the public’s help in identifying three others detectives on patrol in an unmarked vehicle noticed a disturbance on Ferry Street in South River They quickly realized they had caught the tail-end of a road rage incident involving several armed people Police identified one suspect as Donovan Cimaglia A search warrant for his vehicle turned up a handgun with a loaded high-capacity magazine defacement of weapons and dangerous instruments and appliances /transport/disposition/and defacement of weapons There is a warrant for his arrest on those listed charges Three other suspects remain unidentified and the South River Police Department needs help in identifying them The department released images of the suspects on its Facebook page and the vehicle the suspects may have used during the incident Anyone with information on Cimaglia or the other suspects is urged to contact Detective Patrick Molina at 732-254-9002 ext The detectives are being praised for their rapid response and swift and thorough investigation that took a dangerous weapon off the street He said he hopes the public can help this investigation by helping to identify the other actors that “took part in this senseless act.” “I wish to assure the public that the South River Police Department will remain actively visible with a proactive uniform presence within the borough while also deploying unmarked police vehicles and officers to inconspicuously address public safety concerns,” Tinitigan said Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom Gallery Credit: Mike Brant Police need the public's help in identifying three suspects in a South River road rage incident, after identifying and charging a fourth one.\nRead More The department released images of the suspects on its Facebook page and the vehicle the suspects may have used during the incident Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom — A new high-rise apartment complex is in the works along River Road pending rezoning approval by the Tippecanoe County Area Plan Commission a 268-unit with 655-bed maximum capacity apartment complex will go before APC members during their Feb a West Lafayette property management company specializing in student housing the complex is planned for the site of the current Williams Valley apartments at 271 S The current complex existing at that address is owned by Weida Apartments The Approach's 11-story-tall construction would replace the existing three-building set-up offering a total of 87 units the property site will need to be rezoned from R3W While adding over three times the number of existing units the complex will also feature an underground parking garage with 178 spaces The four-level underground garage will also feature six EV charging spaces for electric vehicles staff comments explained to the commission that the new complex would also come with a dog park a pickleball court and additional outdoor spaces that it is committed to working with the West Lafayette Public Arts Team to install an art piece within the vicinity of the property "This project meets the Downtown Plan recommendation for design and use," APC staff said in the report "The project will enhance this gateway into the city with an improved streetscape and public art installation." APC staff said in the report it approves of the development as proposed as long as several planning contingencies are met one of which is that all current leases at Williams Valley Apartments be honored through the end of May The Tippecanoe Area Plan Commission will meet to vote on the project Wednesday at 6 p.m in the Tippecanoe County Office Building at 20 N Jillian Ellison is a reporter for the Journal & Courier She can be reached via email at jellison@gannett.com Tom Kwatkoski was Michael DeSantis's next-door neighbor on Ridge Road Kwatkoski's parents lived next to the DeSantis family's home for about 40 years Tom Kwatkoski graduated from South River High School in 1984 and his wife And although the Kwatkoski's no longer live in town Those friends are rallying to help the couple who were both shot March 10 from outside their Berkeley, Ocean County home by a next-door neighbor following an apparent long dispute while he was outside his home and then shot into the home Adamo then went back into his own home where he was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound DeSantis said as of Tuesday Tom Kwatkoski was in critical condition a beloved recently retired South Amboy teacher for more than 20 years A fundraising page for the couple indicates they face a long recovery with extensive medical treatment and therapy "Tom was a few years older but has always had my back for over 50 years was always there to help whenever needed and love him like a brother Now I will have his back and help his family any way I can Jill is a beautiful strong woman and we all know what Tom and Jill are about an awesome South River couple that are always there for anyone and everyone whenever needed," DeSantis wrote in a Facebook post DeSantis is organizing a fundraiser Saturday Wristbands purchased for $25 at the door will buy Coors Light and Miller Lite drafts red and white wine with 100 percent of the wristband proceeds as well as any other donations going directly to Tom and Jill Kwatkoski "Whether it’s for a few minutes or a few hours swing by and help a great family," DeSantis wrote A GoFundMe page – Support the Kwatkoski's: A Family in Crisis – has raised nearly $21,000 toward a $40,000 goal which will pay medical bills and ensure their children have what they need "I figure it was my time to help him out," said DeSantis adding that as kids he remembers Kwatkoski broke some bones riding a motorcycle a toughness that he hopes will help his friend continue to heal now He said his wife Jill was a high school athlete built his father's race car garage in back of his family's home but the main thing was building that garage for my father," said DeSantis adding his 53-year-old father died in a 2002 race car crash at Wall Stadium DeSantis said Kwatkoski was very handy and was always either working on the house This isn't the first time the Kwatkoski family has battled health issues The couple's youngest son battled bone cancer in his left leg when he was younger and the parents started a charity for childhood cancer that included a Christmas in July toy drive At that time Tom Kwatkoski stayed home to care for their son while his wife continued to work as a teacher in South Amboy giving people and obviously what happened to them but they absolutely did not," DeSantis said This article contains information from the Asbury Park Press .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Dylan McCoy | For NJ Advance MediaAarush Patel pitched 6 1/3 innings and struck out four hitters as J.P Stevens snapped a seven-game losing streak Stevens (3-8) pushed across two runs in the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie South River (6-3) scored once in the top of the seventh but could not complete the comeback Nolan Overmyer had an RBI and recorded the save on the mound pitching the final 2/3 innings in relief of Patel James Zsorey pitched all six innings for South River The two teams will close out the two-game series on Wednesday Dylan McCoy can be reached at hssports@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. 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All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices After spending a quarter century in prison for killing her step-grandfather who sexually abused her for years will be released Wednesday from the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility just in time to celebrate the holidays with her family Phil Murphy granted Jackson's release this week by commuting her 30-year prison sentence Jackson was one of three women granted commutations by the governor who also pardoned 33 others Jackson will begin a five-year period of parole supervision until March 23 This was the first time in Murphy's two terms that he has exercised his pardon power “Today has given me the ability to understand what perseverance looks like what it means to be resilient through difficult times and to keep striving no matter what life may throw at you,” said Loreale Wilson is overwhelmed with joy and can't wait to experience what the future holds In 2020 Jackson's story was featured in Kim Kardashian’s "The Justice Project" series on the Oxygen network. A Change.org petition in 2021 called Help Dawn Jackson gain Clemency! has received more than 15,000 verified signatures Earlier: NJ woman featured in Kardashian's 'The Justice Project' continues fight for prison release While in prison Jackson has obtained her high school diploma and an associate degree and also completed academic programs towards starting a career when she is released Kardashian thanked Murphy for granting the clemencies and choosing redemption over condemnation "Dawn’s second chance and impending freedom shows us what’s possible when we focus on supporting survivors There are countless others who deserve the same chance and I’m grateful for your pledge to expedite and expand clemencies so more lives can be reclaimed," Kardashian said was sentenced to 30 years in prison with no parole eligibility in the stabbing death of her step-grandfather at his South River home after years of sexual abuse by him and other relatives Jackson said she was defending herself from being the timid girl who was forced into incest having sex and performing degrading sexual acts since the age of five was charged with the stabbing death of Robert McBride her grandmother Sarah Jackson's longtime companion after he was found dead inside his Anne Street home were the parents of former NFL wide receiver and Penn State All-American Kenny Jackson and his twin brother Dawn Jackson pleaded guilty in August 1999 to murder while committing a robbery McBride had been stabbed 54 times when he apparently refused to give her money for drugs Jackson was sentenced to 30 years in state prison verbal and sexual abuse sheendured since she was very young that her public defender never shared with the court including that she was sexually touched and raped at age 5 by her stepfather and sexually assaulted by her mother's boyfriend at age 6 A cousin sexually abused her and sodomized her continuously from ages 7 to 12 she was sexually abused by her brother's father at age 8 and groomed to perform oral sex and sexually assaulted by McBride also at that time She was placed in her maternal grandmother's care before her eighth birthday and McBride allegedly forced her to perform oral sex on him for years Her biological father also sexually assaulted her at age 11 All the abuse she endured resulted in her becoming pregnant at age 13 "It was never stressed to the court who my abusers were nor that I had been sexually abused by my step-grandfather for many years," Jackson said in the letter In her letter Jackson said she went to her step-grandfather's house on March 24 she smelled alcohol and knew he had been drinking As he tried to kiss her she pushed him away As he walked toward the bedroom he grabbed her fondled her and pulled her toward his bedroom She screamed for him to stop as she feared being raped again Murphy said his efforts address unfairness in the criminal legal system and his commitment ensures that individuals involved in the justice system have a second chance to rebuild their lives Earlier this year an executive order established a Clemency Advisory Board to provide recommendations on individual applications for pardons and commutations To receive commutations individuals may receive expedited consideration if they are serving sentences that reflect an excessive trial penalty or if they are victims of domestic or sexual violence or sex trafficking BERKELEY - After she and her husband were shot by a neighbor who proceeded to take his own life a township woman who is a South River native called 911 telling police dispatchers she was bleeding to death and that her husband was dead or dying I'm bleeding to death,'' Jill Kwatkoski pleaded with the dispatchers on March 10 obtained by the Asbury Park Press through an Open Public Records Act request starts with a dispatcher from Ocean County telling a Berkeley dispatcher that the caller reported her neighbor on Drake Drive shot her and her husband three times "They've been having issues with the neighbor,'' the county dispatcher said "My caller has a shot in the leg,'' the county dispatcher tells the Berkeley dispatcher More: Middlesex community rallies around couple shot by their neighbor prolonged screams for help are repeated multiple times throughout the nine-minute call When dispatchers ask her where on the leg she's been shot The dispatchers try to reassure the wounded woman that the police are on their way "They're not coming fast enough,'' Kwatkoski tells them Kwatkoski identifies the shooter as John Adamo and even spells his last name for the dispatchers Kwatkoski informs the dispatchers that her 87-year-old father-in-law is also in her house Kwatkoski says she thinks she's going to pass out to take some breaths and to put pressure on her wound with a clean cloth a police officer arrives and asks Kwatkoski where she's been shot The couple was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune The drama began to unfold shortly before 5 p.m Police responding to the 911 call found the husband and wife suffering from gunshot wounds shot Thomas Kwatkoski outside the home and then fired a shot into the home prompting a response from members of the Ocean County Regional SWAT Team who surrounded the house in an attempt to get Adamo to surrender the team made entry into the house and found Adamo in an upstairs bedroom Billhimer said after the incident that police had documented a history of disputes between the neighbors A request for records of calls for police service to both the Kwatkoskis' and Adamo's homes in the past six months revealed the shooting was the third call in that time frame A computer-assisted dispatch record reported that Adamo's wife 30 to report that she found a water bottle containing an unidentified liquid on her back deck She reported the water bottle was not there the night before "There is a no-contact order against her neighbor (on) Drake Drive,'' the police record said removed the water bottle and disposed of it Elizabeth Adamo called police again on Dec 12 to report that "her neighbor Tom … went up to her car window while she was driving and 'said something' to her,'' a police record of that call said "Elizabeth has a no-contact order against Tom and wanted this incident documented,'' the record said so she did not know exactly what was said to her.'' The document said Elizabeth Adamo was with a friend who witnessed that event Tom Kwatkoski graduated from South River High School in 1984 and his wife graduated in 1986 A GoFundMe page – Support the Kwatkoski's: A Family in Crisis – has raised more than $24,000 which will pay medical bills SOUTH RIVER – A mixed-use building has been proposed for the site of the shuttered PNC Bank at the corner of Main and Stephen streets 55 Main SR Urban Renewal LLC is seeking preliminary and final site plan approval and bulk variance relief for Hamilton Development The plan is to raze the existing building and construct 45 residential units and 3,133 square feet of commercial/retail space at the site The site is located in the MSR Zoning District and is subject to the Lower Main Street Redevelopment Plan: Sub-area 151 In February, the site was used in the filming of the FX series "American Horror Stories." "This is the second redevelopment project that is coming to our Main Street which is part of the overall business district plan to bring people to our town," Mayor Peter Guindi said More: South River establishing land use board. Here's why it matters A public hearing on the application will be held at 7 p.m which will be held in the Criminal Justice Center at 61 Main St Separate ingress and egress driveways are proposed along George Street to access the 65 on-site parking spaces 55 Main SR Urban Renewal is also providing 25 off-site parking spaces Relief is requested for front and rear setbacks and parking where 90 spaces are required and 65 spaces proposed The borough recently broke ground on Port Plaza a redevelopment project on the corner of Main and Reid streets SOUTH RIVER - The borough is considering whether to allow the retail sale of marijuana within its borders The Borough Council introduced three ordinances at its Jan 13 meeting that if approved after a public hearing would allow one retail cannabis dispensary to open in South River The ordinances also establish locations where the dispensary could open sets fees and amends the borough's zoning ordinance Public hearings and final votes on the ordinances are scheduled for the Feb Mayor Peter Guindi will be hosting a question-and-answer session on the issue from 5:30 p.m More: NJ mayor promises 'no more talking about brown water' The borough can issue five licenses for all classes of cannabis operations, except retail South River voters defeated a non-binding ballot question allowing the sale of recreational marijuana in the borough by a 1,396 to 1,207 margin one resident suggested to the Borough Council that another referendum be held to gauge if public opinion had changed .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Anthony Gabbianelli | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comJoseph Tamburello drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in a three-run bottom of the second inning for Metuchen as it topped South River Metuchen (6-2) scored its first run on an error by South River the second run was scored on a sacrifice fly by Tamburello and the third on an RBI-single by Matt Jelleme Julius Rosado went 3-3 with a double for South River and his third-inning single gave him the South River High School all-time career hits record of 129 passing Miker Feaster and his record of 128 hits Jon Nugent got the win on the mound for Metuchen South River (5-2) runs came in the top of the third on a two RBI-double by James Zsorey Jeremiah Sanchez finished with two hits for South River Anthony Gabbianelli can be reached at agabbianellli@njadvancemedia.com The N.J. High School Sports newsletter is now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now!Follow us on social: Facebook | Instagram | X (formerly Twitter) (This story has been updated with new information) SOUTH RIVER – Authorities are investigating the cause of a two-alarm fire Monday that left a Wilbur Street home uninhabitable father and young child who lived in the rental were not at home when the fire broke out Several homes in the surrounding area were also evacuated "Police went door to door alerting neighbors," he said as well as firefighters from surrounding communities which was brought under control around 5 p.m. PSEG was called to the scene to shut off the gas line More: South River already to break ground on major Main Street redevelopment project There was minor damage to surrounding homes "Police and fire handled this in a professional manner and everyone was kept safe," Guindi said Guindi said the landlord of the home was helping the family relocate A GoFundMe page - Help Lauren and Emma Rebuild After Fire - has been set up by Tracey Garofalo who is two years old and didn’t get a chance to save one photo and just support during this difficult time Her and her daughter made it out but lost everything Please help in any way possible," the page says – Stephen Decatur boy’s basketball fell to the South River Seahawks in the 3A Regional Final on Thursday night South River started the game hot from deep draining seven three-pointers in the first half The visiting seahawks had opened up a 32-18 lead by halftime South River remained solid in the second half Judah Carmack led Decatur with 14 points on the night Jaden McDuffie led all scorers with 24 points in the game Because Local Matters A more enjoyable and environmentally friendly experience on the South River is in the works that is planned to benefit those seeking kayaking city of Stonecrest official broke ground on the Panola Shoals Restoration Project what it describes as a “a monumental investment in preserving natural resources enhancing outdoor recreation and promoting community health.” will stabilize and restore the South River streambank at Panola Shoals,” states a city of Stonecrest press release “Plans include building a more than 750 feet gravity block retaining wall a two-tiered boulder retaining wall and a concrete access drive Improvements will also include upgraded pedestrian pathways native plantings to stabilize the soil and an irrigation system to support landscaping along the restored area.” which will give visitors better access to the South River from Panola Shoals to Everett Park in Stonecrest The South River is a popular waterway for recreation such as fishing easy-going floats in tubes and more vigorous kayaking and canoeing there are several river access ports in DeKalb County including along Panthersville Road Everett Park is one of nine established or planned trailheads from Panola Shoals to Lake Jackson in Newton County that are part of the South River Water Trail according to the South River Watershed Alliance website “This project is a testament to our commitment to enhancing Stonecrest’s natural beauty and creating spaces where residents and tourists can thrive,” said Stonecrest Mayor Jazzmin Cobble in a press release “By addressing erosion and improving access we’re preserving our environment and fostering outdoor activities that support good health and wellness while also creating an economic boom for the city.” a 6.4-acre park off Klondike Road in Stonecrest has received a number of recreation upgrades in recent years including in 2023 when the city completed a mile and a half trail through a forested area director of community and environmental resilience at National Recreation and Park Association commented the trail helps neighbors to meet one another and outdoor spaces have been “shown to be really good for your mental health and for your physical health.” the restoration project will also create a safer more accessible entry point for recreational activities and international hub for outdoor adventure the project will allow water enthusiasts to enjoy float trips — kayaking and canoeing — from Panola Shoals to Everett Park More advanced paddlers could take the 40-mile float trip to Lake Jackson where the river terminates “This initiative benefits not only Stonecrest but the entire region,” said Gia Scruggs “Panola Shoals will become a destination for families and outdoor enthusiasts while also supporting healthier lifestyles through recreational opportunities.” Director of Parks and Recreation Kelly Ledbetter highlighted the broader impact of the project as well “A goal of the Department Parks and Recreation is to diversify our offerings to create more opportunities for residents to keep moving and stay active,” said Ledbetter “The Panola Shoals Restoration Project will transform the South River area and create unique opportunities for residents to pick up a new hobby or sport to maintain good health said he’s looking forward to the convenience of being able to kayak from Everett Park and recalled a kayak tour a few years ago on the South River I most enjoyed being 10 minutes from home,” Fleming said and website in this browser for the next time I comment SOUTH RIVER - Mayor Peter Guindi said the borough will concentrate on improving its water mains it's about succeeding," the mayor said at the borough's Jan Guindi said the borough received more than $2 million in grants in 2024 and will continue working on securing grants for projects The borough will start replacing water mains throughout South River 2025 Now we're going to start doing what we said we would do last year The water meter replacement project will continue The mayor also gave a progress report on the Battery Project which allows the borough to save on the costs of electricity during the five hottest days of the year Phase II of the Battery Project is expected to be online by the summer so residents can save on electricity bills in 2026 OnSite Partners has installed a battery energy storage system to meet nearly 50% of South River’s peak power needs The project provides South River with the flexibility to store electricity when prices are low and then utilize that locally stored energy when transmission grid is stressed and electricity costs are at their highest "We are trying to cut down on the costs on the hottest days and that's what dictates what we pay the following year," CFO Joseph Zanga said "When we believe it will be one of the hottest days we flip on the battery instead of buying power from the outside market It cuts costs on how much we pay for transmission and capacity We've done it significantly over the last couple of years." "Since we are adding more to the substation it will help us even more in the future," Guindi said The borough will also be continuing to work on plans for a recreational facility with Councilman Matthew DeSantis leading that effort but it's a process that we need to get done for the kids," he said The borough is also working on more redevelopment projects for 2025 to expand the business district and start projects on the waterfront Guindi also said park improvements and road repavings will continue in 2025 The park projects include a new turf field at Grekoski Park for baseball The borough also received a $554,250 Green Acres grant and a $79,000 DCA grant for an all-inclusive playground at Grekoski Park The borough will also be applying for grants for an all-inclusive playground and other improvements at Volunteer's Park The borough will also be working on a pickleball court and upgrading the field at Varga Park Guindi also recapped some of last year's projects which he said were just "a scratch on the surface." More: South River apartment plan hearing delayed until next year The borough paved five roads in the borough New basketball courts were installed at Dailey's Pond and Leonardine Park This also included the chemical project and uni-directional flushing to help with the brown water issues The borough also purchased a new fire truck and DPW vehicles Two redevelopment projects on Main Street are underway and three projects which involve renovations and improvements More: Governor frees NJ woman from prison for killing sexually abusive relative Guindi urged residents to reach out to borough officials if they have a complaint He promised residents that he will show up at their doors if they have a complaint Councilmen Matthew DeSantis and Nick Giannakopoulos were sworn in to their council terms Oaths of office were administered to Fire Chief William Smith First Assistant Fire Chief Scott Wolf and Second Assistant Fire Chief Steven Drugos Councilman Tony Ciulla was selected as Council President SOUTH RIVER – A groundbreaking is scheduled next month for Port Plaza, a redevelopment project on the corner of Main and Reid streets which includes a supermarket at the former Laffin Chevrolet site The Planning Board unanimously approved the plan at Tuesday's meeting "The first redevelopment project on Main Street is underway with more to come," said Mayor Peter Guindi "I know that some residents are questioning change The problem is that change hasn't come to this town in decades Other towns around us are flourishing and yet we are not This is exactly what I set out to do with the help of the borough's administration when I was elected We are going to bring South River into tomorrow's future." The groundbreaking is scheduled for 10 a.m More: Which cops in Central Jersey make the most DUI arrests? We have the numbers applied to the Planning Board for preliminary and final major site plan approval to develop the mixed-use building at 7 and 11 Main St The site is near the Main Street entrance to South River from Sayreville via the Veterans Memorial Bridge The plan for the site was recently amended and approved by the Borough Council The lots will be consolidated now that the application is approved "My partners and I are excited to move forward with the project." said Paul Santos with Brothers Builders "I want to thank the borough and residents for their support with this project." More: These Central Jersey voters will see ballot questions in November's election Reid Leisure Apartments will feature eight one-bedroom and nine two bedroom units Tenants will have their own parking in the ground level parking garage The project will also include the latest flood protection safeguards Construction should be completed in about two years – Cumberland County Emergency Services received a $4,995 grant from South River Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) Monday located at 500 Executive Place in Fayetteville The funds will be used to purchase smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms which will be distributed to volunteer fire departments across the County The grant was awarded through South River EMC’s Operation Round Up Program Vice President of Member Services and Public Relations for South River EMC The smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are available free of charge to Cumberland County residents in need “As the Fire Marshal for Cumberland County my highest priority is ensuring the safety of our citizens and our community,” said Kevin Lowther “Properly installed and maintained smoke and carbon monoxide alarms save lives We urge every household to participate in this program and stay vigilant.” Residents who wish to obtain smoke or carbon monoxide alarms may contact the fire department in their district. A list of Cumberland County Fire Departments can be found by visiting cumberlandcouuntync.gov/fire-marshal Residents can fill out a survey at bit.ly/41CxlG5 or call 910-321-6625 to request a free smoke or carbon monoxide alarm. For more information, visit the Fire Marshal’s webpage at cumberlandcountync.gov/fire-marshal South River EMC is an electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Dunn, N.C. The cooperative serves more than 47,000 customers in Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Johnston and Sampson counties. For more information about South River EMC or Operation Round Up, visit sremc.com For additional information about Cumberland County Emergency Services, visit cumberlandcountync.gov/emergencyservices or call 910-321-6736 Maurice Braswell Courthouse117 Dick StreetFayetteville .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Will Harrigan | For NJ Advance MediaOne of the oddest box scores one will ever see came to fruition on Wednesday The Metuchen duo of Lucas Malamug and James Fenton did not surrender a single hit in seven innings pitched But thanks in large part to 15 walked batters the no-hitter resulted in a bizarre 8-6 victory for Metuchen over previously unbeaten South River in South River Homers by Malamud and Matt Jelleme provided plenty of offense for the Bulldogs Simon Rosal also drove in two runs for the winners Six different South River (5-1) batters drove in a run despite the squad not recording a hit The N.J. 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To add your name, click here SOUTH RIVER – A four-alarm fire over the weekend has left 15 people displaced and a Main Street home uninhabitable Saturday at a four-family home at 160-162 Main St. was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation About 70 firefighters from South River and the surrounding area were among those who responded The fire was extinguished by about 12:30 a.m. Red Cross also responded to the scene to help residents More: South River expanded pre-K program among many upgraded district offerings this school year "I thank the firefighters and police for risking their lives to do what they do to save lives and try to save property South River High School football coach Steve Erxleben felt pretty confident that his team could put together a game-winning drive against Crofton The Seahawks’ defense got a stop and the team had two timeouts remaining Quarterback Finn Mulvihill was enjoying a spectacular night including four touchdown passes to standout junior Jaden McDuffie He fielded a punt at his own 35-yard line and started to his left before abruptly reversing field and eluding multiple Cardinal defenders to break away for a game-winning “I was surprised they kicked it deep,” Erxleben said “I thought they would kick it out of bounds McDuffie was named the Military Bowl DC Touchdown Club High School Football Player of the Week McDuffie was named second-team All-Anne Arundel County as a defensive back last season South River has transitioned into an offensive scheme that relies on throwing the ball “He may be the top receiver in Anne Arundel County right now,” Erxleben said McDuffie has caught 44 passes for 709 yards and 11 touchdowns basketball was his first love but I think he’s finding out real quickly that he’s a recruitable kid in football,” Erxleben said “We’re getting calls from a lot of different colleges wanting to see tape.” Digital Pioneers RB King Williams rushed 20 times for 312 yards and two touchdowns as the Pythons beat Jefferson Linganore QB Shawn Pelovitz completed 20 of 31 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for a touchdown as the Lancers beat Middletown Atholton WR Ja’Varr Stewart had a 38-yard touchdown run and returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown as the Raiders beat Mount Hebron rushed four times for 122 yards and two touchdowns and on defense made 15 tackles with five tackles for loss and one sack as the Tigers beat Riverside Paint Branch RB Alijah Bah rushed 21 times for 106 yards and three touchdowns as the Panthers beat Blake Marshall RB-LB Ethan Lebkisher rushed 22 times for 211 yards and five touchdowns and on defense made 11 tackles as the Statesmen beat Wakefield Largo RB Tymond Foxx rushed 34 times for 238 yards and four touchdowns as the Lions beat Friendly Patriot QB Tyler Knutson completed 17 of 21 passes for 242 yards and four touchdowns as the Pioneers beat Osbourn Knutson has thrown 21 touchdown passes without an interception this season Georgetown Prep RB Japhya Rouson rushed for two touchdowns as the Little Hoyas rallied to beat St who was coming off a 258-yard performance in a win over Landon completed 18 of 20 passes for 323 yards and six touchdowns and rushed 20 times for 120 yards and one touchdown and on defense made two tackles and intercepted a pass as the Panthers beat Northern completed 9 of 14 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns as the Stags beat Good Counsel Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area SOUTH RIVER – In response to referendum approval earlier this month the Borough Council is moving forward with a plan to establish a consolidated land use board The Borough Council approved an ordinance on first reading at the Nov 18 meeting that abolishes the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment effective Jan 1 and creates a nine-member Land Use Board Any applications pending before the boards will continue to be heard The ordinance also amends the borough code to reflect the changes A second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for the 7 p.m which will be held in Council Chambers at the Criminal Justice Building "the Mayor and Council have determined that it would be in the public interest to establish a consolidated land use board." Mayor Peter Guindi said it will "streamline" the process The borough is trying to make it easier for the homeowner the contractor – anyone who wants to do any kind of improvement to your house "We're trying to move this town forward," Guindi said municipalities with a population of more than 5,000 must hold a referendum to combine the two boards Municipalities with a population under 5,000 can combine the boards simply by an ordinance the borough will institute a nine-member land use board to exercise to the same extent and subject to the same restrictions all powers of the Planning and Zoning boards The Land Use Board will include the mayor or the mayor's designee in the absence of the mayor the board will include a member of the Borough Council The proposed ordinance also establishes various other regulations including terms when alternate members may participate and the organization of the Land Use Board South River senior Alex Grospe is accompanied by his parents after scoring his 2,000th career point Thursday against Perth Amboy Magnet.Mike Kinney | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Mike Kinney | NJ Advance Media for NJ.comBy the spirited roar that rose from the South River student section any time Alex Grospe touched the ball it seemed those schoolmates would have been happy to see the senior guard take every shot from opening tip onward nor is it the job description he answered when head coach Brandon Walsh inserted him into the starting lineup as a freshman and he’s done a lot in the last two years to put these points up because that’s what our team has needed,” Walsh said the natural facilitator taking up residency in Grospe’s 5-10 frame keeps urging him game after game to seek out teammates first and think of his own scoring numbers second That’s the recipe that will continue to help his team improve the first four shots of the game came from teammates off passes from Grospe Grospe wound up pumping in 12 of his game-high 28 points in the first quarter to reach the 2,000-point mark in that frame and direct his Rams to a 52-32 victory over Perth Amboy Magnet in a cross-divisional Greater Middlesex Conference battle Thursday in South River He sank 1-of-2 free throws after a drive in the lane for his first point followed that with a 3-pointer from the top of the key and reached 2,000 on the dot when junior forward Michael Rivas stole an errant pass and flipped to Grospe for a layup that opened a 12-8 lead with 1:55 left in the opening quarter to be honest,” Grospe said after raising his career total to 2,020 every kid dreams of scoring 1,000; I’m just lucky to score 2,000." Go ask any one of those thousands upon thousands of jump shots he has taken over the last several years how much luck should be applied to his feat He’s the type of kid that’ll call you in the summertime and come in at seven o’clock and he’s there waiting for you so he can put those hours in,” Walsh said Grospe is the 10th player in Middlesex County history to reach 2,000 and the third South River player to do so behind 1991 grad Deon Jackson with 2,307 points and 2019 grad Derrick Whitaker with 2,105 South River shoots during the South River at Metuchen boys basketball game in Metuchen Metuchen won.Ed Murray| For NJ Advance Media Grospe is the second GMC player in two days to accumulate his 2,000th point Timothy Christian senior Jalen Fleming did so Tuesday with 26 in a 65-31 win over Perth Amboy Magnet Difference here was Fleming showed electric scoring instincts from the beginning at Timothy Christian while Grospe showed an open eye for older teammates like brother Jeremy Lazaro Rodriguez and Kobe Taylor in those first two seasons “My role was to facilitate with those teams and my role with this team is to put the ball in the basket and facilitate,” Grospe said And facilitate he did by averaging 8.2 points and 6.7 assists as a freshman for a 20-8 team and 12.4 points and 9.5 assists as a sophomore for a 26-4 squad that reached the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament semifinals and the Central Jersey where it fell to an outstanding Manasquan team Grospe at times can make the act of scoring look almost effortless whether switching hands on a drive from the wing or creating a 3-pointer by creating space against a defender off the dribble It is all those out-of-sight hours in the gym that create the deception that it’s easy to score in bunches there also was the fundamental mindset change required to make that switch from point guard to point maker “There were definitely some moments where I had to get used to it and I had to just go through it to experience it,” Grospe said of the scoring role “But I think that the amount of basketball I’ve played throughout my whole life has prepared me for it.” Grospe hit a pair of 3-pointers and also compiled three of his five assists in the second quarter to fuel a 16-7 move that sent South River (12-10) into halftime with a 34-18 lead Senior guard Edward Herrera scored all of his five points in that period for South River a 3-pointer and a basket inside and both coming off feeds by Grospe Senior forward Dennis Feliciano scored six of his 10 points and he also finished with a game-high 14 rebounds and senior guard Anthony Vega netted seven of his nine points in the first half for Perth Amboy Tech (10-10) Perth Amboy Magnet could not figure out how to suppress Grospe either as scorer or passer “He’s really developed as a leader after we lost that all those seniors in 2022; he took a lot on and a whole different role “I just can’t say how lucky I am to coach him and it’s been a really awesome part of my life to be associated with this,” he said Walsh holds a special place of pride in the accomplishment since he is a former South River standout himself in basketball Walsh loves South River and so does Grospe he never gave it a second thought when poachers from other schools approached him about transferring out “There were a lot of schools who wanted me to go there since freshman year Grospe has helped South River win six of its last eight games to improve its station for the upcoming Central Jersey But he’s the first to insist that he hasn’t done it alone Junior guard Cole Teresky scored nine points and collected four rebounds three rebounds and three steals against Perth Amboy Magnet The N.J. High School Sports newsletter now appearing in mailboxes 5 days a week. Sign up now and be among the first to get all the boys and girls sports you care about, straight to your inbox each weekday. To add your name, click here Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription Mike Kinney can be reached at mkinney@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @MikeKinneyHS