Shameful fake news: The Asbury Park Press targets local officials with personal problems

By Art Gallagher

On a website promoting his novels, the Senior Regional Content Strategist for The Asbury Park Press says “he gives thanks everyday to New Jersey’s long-line of corrupt officials.”  On another website, the content strategist (Gannett’s 21st century term for “editor”) claims “he has exposed political corruption, insider deals, deadly medical mistakes, bureaucratic bumbling, and wasteful government spending.”

That’s important work.

But lately there must be a shortage of corruption. The Asbury Park Press has taken to publicizing the personal financial problems of municipal officials instead. There has been no evidence reported that those local officials did anything criminal or corrupt while experiencing those financial problems or as a result of them.  In the two recent stories of elected officials’ personal finances, the problems have been going on for years and agreements have been made with the creditors for the successful resolution of the personal issues.

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Lillian Burry will be Freeholder Director in 2017

Lillian G. Burry

Freeholder Lillian G. Burry will be named Director of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholder when the Board holds its annual reorganization meeting on January 5 at 4 p.m. at Biotechnology High School, 5000 Kozloski Rd. in Freehold Township.

Freeholder John P. Curly will be named Deputy Director.

The five member Freeholder Board chooses their Director and Deputy Director annually for a one year term.  The Director presides over Board meetings and signs contracts for the county.

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Sue Kiley will be Hazlet Mayor in 2017

Hazlet Mayor-elect Sue Kiley @ The RAINE Foundation’s annual toy distribution.

Hazlet’s Township Committee has selected Deputy Mayor Sue Kiley to lead the community as Mayor in 2017.

Kiley will be sworn in by Lt Governor Kim Guadagno during the Township’s Reorganization meeting which is scheduled for Sunday, January 1, 2017 at noon.  Scott Aagre, the current mayor, will serve as Deputy Mayor in 2017 and also be sworn in by Guadagno.

Aagre, who was reelected in November, and his running mate, Mike Glackin, will be sworn into their three year terms on the Township Committee by Senator Joe Kyrillos.

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JCP&L Acts to Protect Osprey

photo via JCP&L

Jersey Central Power and Light, the electric utility that services Monmouth County, announced today that they have expanded an environmental program to help protect New Jersey’s threatened ospreys.

The company is surveying their poles and other equipment to determine where osprey are nesting—or have given indication of future nesting–and then building new nesting platforms where the birds will not be in danger due to the proximity to electrical equipment. Specialized equipment is installed to divert and discourage ospreys from nesting in potentially hazardous locations.

Two osprey nests within JCP&L’s Monmouth and Ocean service territories, one in Union Beach and another in Brick, were relocated in 2016.

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Old Bridge Man Charged In Aberdeen Shooting

photo via Aberdeen PD/facebook

Tenneyson D. Fairclough, 37, of Old Bridge, was arrested by Aberdeen Township Police on December 24 and charged with shooting a Somerset County man on December 23 outside the Masonic Lodge in the Township, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Aberdeen Police responded to a report of shots fired at the Masonic Lodge at 9:53 p.m. on Thursday night.  Upon their arrival, officers did not find a victim. A local hospital later notified police that a male gunshot victim was being treated at their facility.  The victim was treated at the hospital for non-life threatening injuries and was later released.

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Deal Police Arrest 2 Long Branch Men On Gun and Drug Charges

Tyshon Kelly, 29,  and Jamire Williams, 25, both of Long Branch were arrested on Norwood Ave in Deal last night on weapons possession and drug possession charges following a traffic stop for a motor vehicle violation, according to an announcement by Sgt Brian Egan of the Deal PD.

Ptl Jeff Kless was on routine patrol in the vicinity of Norwood and Brighton Avenues when he pulled over a vehicle commit a motor vehicle offense. Kelly was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Williams.

An investigation conducted by Sgt Sharin, Sgt Egan, Ptl Vaccaro, Ptl Kerney, Ptl Lokerson, K-9 Atok, Ptl Mirrione and Ptl Kless, revealed the occupants of the vehicle were in possession of a loaded handgun and a controlled dangerous substance, marijuana. Kelly and Williams fled the scene and were apprehended following a brief foot pursuit, and with assistance of K-9 Ato k.  The vehicle was impounded.

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Handlin will run for Assembly if she fails in Senate bid, wants O’Scanlon to do the same

O’Scanlon: “While I appreciate Amy’s confidence and endorsement for Assembly, I am running for Senate”

Assemblywoman Amy Handlin said she would seek another term in the New Jersey General Assembly if the 13th district County Committee members choose another candidate to replace Senator Joe Kyrillos in the upper house of the legislature.  So far, the only other candidate for the Senate seat is Handlin’s district mate, Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon.

“Yes and yes,” Handlin said when asked if she would seek the GOP nomination for Assembly if she failed in her Senate bid and if she wanted O’Scanlon on the ticket as a candidate for Assembly.

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Asbury Park Attorney Indicted For Theft Of Over $70K

William Gallagher, 70, of Memorial Drive in Asbury Park, was indicted by a Monmouth County Grand Jury for Theft of second degree Failure to Make Require Disposition and third degree Misapplication of Entrusted Funds, according to an announcement by Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Gallagher, an attorney since 1968, was the long term Borough Attorney of Lake Como until he was was suspended from practicing law in New Jersey in January of 2015. His indictment follows a 19 month investigation that found he stole from three clients in 2013 and 2014 by transferring the proceeds of civil settlements into his own account and not paying his clients the settlements they were due.  He is charged with stealing $71,615.69.

The investigation was sparked by a complaint from a victim who did not receive $23,037.35 she was owed from a civil settlement related to a premises liability action.

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Beck Endorses O’Scanlon For Senate

Senator Jennifer Beck announced her endorsement of Assembly Declan O’Scanlon for the 13th district senate seat being vacated by Senator Joe Kyrillos.

“Declan was my running-mate when we first ran for the Assembly together in 2005” said Beck. “I had known him for years prior, but I learned during that hard fought campaign what a tireless worker he is and saw first hand his dedication to the residents of New Jersey”

“Declan showed that he is a leader early in his stint in the Assembly, being named Assembly Republican Budget Officer before the end of his second term. He commits himself to knowing all facets of a given policy before he makes a decision. There is no legislator that has been more focused on our looming budget issues or who has proposed more comprehensive solutions” Beck explained. “Assemblyman O’Scanlon stands tall above all other candidates for the State Senate and I look forward to having Declan join me in the upper house of the legislature”.

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Middletown Scammer Gets 14 years

Christopher D. Biello. photo via facebook

Christopher D. Biello, 43, of Coe Place in Middletown was sentenced to 14 years in state prison on Monday after admitting he deceived and impersonated at least 18 clients.  Biello will be eligible for parole in 5 years and must pay restitution of $409,331.04 to the victims of his scheme under the sentence imposed by Superior Court Judge Joseph W. Oxley.

According to an announcement by Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni, Biello admitted that he obtained numerous credit cards in his victims’ names, engaged in fraudulent loan attempts using the victims’ identities, and forged documents.

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