Three local school districts have made a list drafted by NJ.com as the districts who pay the highest median teachers salaries. Ocean City leads local schools by placing seventh on the list by paying teachers an average of $89,036. Two other districts, Avalon and Lower Cape May, also made the list. ##
The body of a fisherman who’s been missing since January has been found in Barnegat Bay. The body of Christopher Hugg was found by the Ocean County Mosquito Commission on Friday; his body was identified this week. Hugg’s cause of death has been ruled a drowning. ##
Performance does not count, but seniority does, when it comes to local school districts who want to lay off teachers. A Superior Court judge ruled this week that layoffs must occur on a seniority basis in school districts regardless of a teacher’s performance. ##
A 22 year old Newark man who was released from jail decided to rob a Dunkin’ Donuts store one day after he got out of the can. Police are looking for Dante Hobson-Taylor of Plainfield who broke into the store during the overnight hours, stole money, and fled the scene. ##
Cape May County experienced even more tourism growth last year. County Tourism Director Diane Wieland announced during the annual tourism conference this week that there was a nine percent increase in lodging revenue last year, and that tourism jobs account for 60 percent of our entire workforce. ##
The Middle Township Committee met this week and approved an additional $2.1 million to bring sewer service to Grassy Sound. The Committee voted unanimously on a bond that will finance the work; a public hearing on the bond will be held on June 5th. ##
Ventnor is pushing back on a plan that would allow dune construction work to occur during the upcoming summer season. Ventnor is telling the Army Corps of Engineers that the beaches are unavailable for the dune and replenishment work scheduled this summer due to multiple special events and activities. ##
State Senator Jeff Van Drew says he will not support any state budget that strips funding away from local school districts. Van Drew says our legislative district would be most severely impacted by a proposal being discussed in Trenton that would not protect districts from losing aid. ##
More opposition is lining up to fight President Trump on his plan to sign an executive order that will permit offshore drilling. Major environmental groups around the country are joining New Jersey based tourism and business groups in fighting the plan, saying the environmental risk is too great. ##
Governor Christie says now is the time for the federal government to put flood insurance into the hands of the private sector. Christie says too many homeowners received unwelcome surprises following Hurricane Sandy. Senator Robert Menendez disagrees with Christie’s approach. ##