The HOWELL Times
Vol. 22 - No.47
In This Week’s Edition
CincO De Mayo BREAKING NEWS @
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Community News Pages 6-8
Dear Pharmacist Page 10
Inside The Law Page 11
Classifieds Page 13
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Police Officer Inducted Into National Hall Of Fame By Alyssa Riccardi HOWELL – Howell Township Police Capt. Thomas Rizzo was officially inducted into the National Law En forcement Officer Hall of Fame. The National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame was created in 2017 to honor and support the law enforcement community. The organization recognizes officers that have gone above and beyond in one way or another in the line of duty. This year, the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame’s “Founders Award” Inductee was Howell Township Police Department’s very own Capt. Thomas Rizzo. Rizzo began his law enforcement career in December 2001 as a Patrolman with the Middlesex Borough Police Department. He joined the Howell Township Police in
Township To Enforce Smoking Ban In Public Places
Photo courtesy Howell Township Alliance Pictured left to right is George McCoy, Michael Cerbone, and Joe Clouse, Howell DPW; Christa Riddle, Howell Alliance; and Kait McCarthy, Prevention First.
Photo courtesy National LEO Hall of Fame Capt. Thomas Rizzo inducted into the National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame. 2004 and is currently serving as the Commander of the Investigations Division. Rizzo was instrumen-
tal in establishing the Howell Township Police Department’s fi rst Criminal Suppression Unit, which focuses
on narcotics interdiction, substance a b u s e / p r e ve nt io n education, and the (Fame - See Page 3)
Wildfire Renews Call For Disaster Preparedness
By Stephanie Faughnan OCEAN COUNTY – The massive wildfire burning deep in southern Ocean County offered some reminders for local residents. Life at the Jersey Shore isn’t just about sun and sand - it’s also about preparing for the real danger of forest fires. The Jones Road Wildfire, first spotted at 9:45 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22, from the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower, scorched 15,300 acres in the Forked
May 3, 2025
River Mountains Wilderness Area. By evening, the fire had crossed both the Garden State Parkway and Route 9, forcing about 5,000 residents in Ocean and Lacey townships to evacuate. Several outbuildings, one commercial building, and multiple vehicles were destroyed. Fire officials confirmed the cause as an improperly extinguished bonfire, and a Waretown man now (Wildfire - See Page 2)
Photo courtesy DEP Firefighters battle the Jones Road Wildfire.
By Alyssa Riccardi HOWELL – As we start to welcome warm spring weather, Howell Township Police will begin to enforce the township’s ban on smoking in public places. In April 2023, Howell Township updated its smoking ordinance in order to align with New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act. According to the Howell Police and the Howell Township Alliance, the ordinance makes it unlawful to smoke or vape in parks, recreational and athletic facilities, public places, and other township-owned properties, regardless of the substance smoked or vaped. “Our enforcement is an effort to keep public parks and facilities enjoyable for all community members as the weather warms and the
days grow longer,” said Howell Township Police Chief John Storrow. “Families and individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma have the right to enjoy the outdoors and fresh air without concern. The increased popularity of vaping and legalization of cannabis have heavily increased incidents of smoking in public, which is against the law.” Howell Alliance Coordinator Christa Riddle said the “Smoking in Public Places” enforcement would include: • Howell Township Police Department officers will enforce the ban on smoking on public property and in public places by issuing summonses for violations, no matter what substance is being smoked or vaped (the (Ban - See Page 3)
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