The BERKELEY Times Vol. 31 - No. 39
In This Week’s Edition
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
School Board Keeps Gender ID Policy
March 21, 2026
Plea Deal Reached In Crash That Killed Shady Rest Owner
HELLO SPRING BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Page 7
Community News Pages 8-10
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Inside The Law Page 17
Photo by Chris Lundy Matthew Solomon spoke in favor of the policy, while other members of the public line up behind him. By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – The Central Regional Board of Education voted to keep the policy protecting the identities of trans students, after hearing from teachers, county residents, politicians and a religious policy leader. Policy 5756 essentially protects the privacy of students who identify with a name or gender that is not what their parents know them as. Trans rights activists celebrate the policy because it protects a vulnerable population. Opposition groups state
that it’s the parents’ rights to know what is going on in their children’s lives. A more in-depth examination of the policy is at the end of this article. The policy was up for debate because two members of the board, Merissa Borawski and Heather Koenig, brought it up for vote. They campaigned on removing the policy. Central’s meetings have a public comment period before most board action. Several people got up to speak because they knew that this was going to be (Gender ID Policy - See Page 4)
Community Supports Juvenile Survivors Of Triple Murder By Chris Lundy BERKELEY – Three children lost their parents and two grandparents in a tragic triple murder followed by a suicide. A domestic violence tragedy resulted in the deaths of Deonna Stewart, and her parents, Allan and Michelle Russell, before Deonna’s ex turned the gun on himself. Their three children were in the house when it happened. They were physically unharmed. More than $30,000 has been raised for the funerals of the three victims, with anything left over to be used for the care
of the children. “Allan and Michelle loved their children and grandchildren endlessly. Their faith in God was immeasurable. This horrific act of domestic violence took three precious lives,” said the person who started the fundraiser, a friend of one of the deceased. A GoFundMe to help with the funeral expenses for the Russells and the care of the children can be found at gofundme. com/f/support-for-the-russell-family-after-tragic-loss Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said that at (Triple Murder - See Page 6)
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Photo by Stephanie Faughnan Genell McInnaw leaves the courtroom alongside her attorney, Terrance Turnbach, after entering a guilty plea to reckless vehicular homicide in connection with the 2024 crash that resulted in the death of Robert “Bob” Popovics. By Stephanie Faughnan BERKELEY - A Seaside Park woman accused of striking and killing Shady Rest owner Robert “Bob” Popovics in a 2024 crash in Seaside Heights has reached a plea agreement in Ocean County Superior Court, admitting responsibility for reckless vehicular homicide. Genell McInnaw pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless vehicular homicide during a hearing before Superior Court Judge Kenneth T. Palmer. As part of the negotiated agreement, Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke indicated that the state would seek a sentence of five years in New Jersey State Prison. The agreement is subject to the No Early Release Act, which requires defendants to serve 85 percent of their sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Under that framework, McInnaw would be required to serve approximately four years and three months before being considered for release. Judge Palmer also made clear that he is not bound by the recommended sentence and could impose up to ten years in prison under state law. Sentencing is scheduled for June 26. The plea resolves the most serious charge (Plea Deal - See Page 5)
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