Hackettstown in the News 2023 edition
Catalytic converter thieves hit fleet of Amazon delivery trucks in Warren County
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/2023/01/catalytic-converter-thieves-hit-fleet-of-amazon-delivery-trucks-in-warren-county.html
Bug3I hope the scrap yards that pay for these converters are smart enough not to buy 10 freshly cut units in one shot. If they do, you’d have to question whether or not they know they’re buying stolen goods.
If only they could put the effort into something more or less constructive. These guys need to go to jail, don't mess with my Amazon deliveries!
iJay If the DC is located in Mount Olive why are they parking their vehicles in Hackettstown?
Hammer 
3wbdwnj Yikes. I always wondered how often they check that underpass for damage and stability.
I can't imagine doing that. I have driven many thousands of miles in box trucks ranging from 16' - 24'. The height is the first thing I look for and often confirm with a tape measure particularly when I'm headed into NYC. Your primary concern is always height clearance. That particular underpass screams- low and tight.
Greg Even if his GPS sent him there, shouldn't he have enough sense to not drive under it? The clearance height is clearly posted.
Lonesome Dove I wonder how many truckers know the height of their trucks--got to wondering that the last time I watched a truck have to back away and turn around
4catmom LD. No. Not in 2023. It's over-reliance on technology. Dumbing down the USA. Same reason no one can tell time on an analog clock. Common sense is not very common.
I've been watching these videos for 15+ years.
Never stop laughing.
https://www.youtube.com/@11foot8plus8/videos
Josh Traffic lights and automatic sensors don't help sometimes
https://youtu.be/dXF7Hx4VHXU
Dadof3
Yes, the infamous 11'8 (now plus 8) in NC. We have the 10'8". Of course, another question is, exactly how is that measured? Is it at the top of the arch, or the largest height that something 8 or 10 feet wide could pass through. Add to that the skew of the arch, rather than it being a straight through passage, and you have a complicated construct, which may actually not allow something of that height to properly pass through. Perhaps a local C.E. can answer that...
Phil D. Dadof3, having that steel beam makes a lot of sense, at least it protects the structure. Htown should consider putting one on either side of Grand Ave overpass.
I guess that structure can take a good shot as trucks are traveling very slow when they hit that one. I know the overpass on Dell Ave in Roxbury was damaged a few times as the travel speed is 40mph there I believe. That one now has the sensor with lights.
PhilD, I don't believe there is a USDOT/FHWA standard for where clearance is measured under arched underpasses. It's left to the individual State DOTs. But, I think the consensus standard is the height at the outside edge of the travel lane.
ianimal Another article
https://nj1015.com/former-nj-mayor-charged-sexual-assault-teen-ted-tomaszewski-mansfield/
Ian
Thanks, I figured you'd be the person to have the answer on that one. I think it bears more research on my part though too, just to get the full story here in NJ. That curiosity thing, LOL, hasn't killed me yet, but then, I'm not a cat;-)
As for the other story...SMH.
I thought that name was familiar. I don't know why the article had such a strong emphasis on his party affiliation and political career. That couldn't be more irrelevant. Obviously it appears he's no stranger to criminal activity. This is light years beyond his prior misdeeds.They never mentioned once the word pedophile. He is a disgusting monster who should be castrated, then placed in a coffin like box with rats let into the box to eat him alive beginning at his feet. In my opinion of course.
Until then I gather he is innocent until proven guilty.
As an inside, that punishment was a medieval one. I'm not some kind of whack job who thinks these things up. LOL.
I hereby nominate Greg for warren county torture czar. I couldn’t agree more, Greg. Reprehensible.
Fifteen will get you twenty. Haha.
The former Mansfield Township mayor has been charged with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old child for at least two months in Morris and Warren counties, authorities said.
dodgebaal 
Philliesman Have to wonder if the victim was male or female... can't imagine a girl being attracted to him.
Ianimal victims of pedophiles are not attracted to their abusers, and any further scrutiny on that relationship is rather sickening.
Slightly scary for drivers, I imagine.
https://wrnjradio.com/man-charged-for-walking-in-traffic-knocking-on-car-windows-in-hackettstown/
Illo, pedophiles are attracted to pre-pubescent children, not high school sophomores. This guy deserves whatever he gets; however, let's not minimize how disgusting pedophilia is by lumping this case into that. The 15-year old victim may have only been weeks or months short of its 16th birthday which, like it or not, would have made the relationship entirely legal, if consensual.
Ian
They don't specify whether or not he had some kind of custodial, familial, or supervisory relationship with the victim. If so, the age gets kicked back up the ladder to 18 due to that relationship. I'd read something about that in a news report several years ago, but had to Google it to be sure I remembered correctly:
https://www.ageofconsent.net/states/new-jersey
When you get to the 2x, 3x, and more male age multipliers it becomes a money thing. Leo DiCaprio gets away with it...
Woman arrested after breaking into Hackettstown home
https://wrnjradio.com/woman-arrested-after-breaking-into-hackettstown-home-threatening-homeowner-while-holding-knife/
OnTheEdge Another pair forced entry into an apartment on Main Street Thursday morning and committed burglary. Times are a changing....
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/hackettstown-burglary-main-street/
Man Skirt Brewing Supports Fight Against NJ License Rules
https://patch.com/new-jersey/longvalley/brewery-supports-fight-against-nj-license-rules-long-valley-area
The old " I was swatting a bug when I crashed" story. LOL Hopefully neither driver had any serious injuries. The article never states if the bug made it out alive.... LOL.
https://wrnjradio.com/mans-swat-at-bug-ends-in-crash-in-hackettstown/
Greg
You gotta love how the PD nearly quoted Jimbo and the Doors. "Keep your eyes on the road, and your hands (up)on the wheel."
Keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the wheel. If you’re in heavy traffic, fight the urge to swat the insect away, you could swerve and put other drivers at risk.
Slow down gradually. Don’t slam on the brakes. Consider putting your hazard lights on to alert other drivers that you’ll be going below the speed limit.
Pull over. Once you’ve come to a complete stop, go ahead and give your complete attention to getting the bug out of your car.
Try doing all that when a bee flies up the bottom of your shorts and begins stinging you just below your groin. True story. In my twenties, and ended up off the road in the grass on the side of I-80. Pulled down my shorts and began furiously swatting at my upper leg (to the amusement of passing traffic). No damage to the car, just my ego!
I can laugh about it now, but it could have ended a lot worse if I hit a tree, other cars, etc. The advice from the police above is valid but you don't always have time to think or reason in that situation.
Rob Durana This made the front page of NBC New York online. LOL. Laughable. Bug. Suuuure.
LOL. Phil, I didn't catch that but you're right! I now have that song in my head today. Good song!
I will say Rob, that must have been quite a comical site to see. I too had a similar experience back in the late '80s driving my Harley along Waterloo Road. I had a wasp go up my leather jacket sleeve. Needless to say, after 2 or 3 bites on my arm and my chest it was tricky keeping control, but I managed to stop and get that angry little fella off of me.LOL.
Yup Greg- while riding my motorcycle, a bee landed on my neck and crawled up into my helmet and stung me behind my ear.
Luckily I was close to home- so that was the end of that ride...
Soft opening is this Monday.
https://wrnjradio.com/hackettstown-eatery-to-reopen-with-new-management-new-name/
Car in Musconetcong
https://wrnjradio.com/car-rolls-into-musconetcong-river-in-hackettstown/
"After the vehicle was removed from the river, the officer observed the emergency hand-brake lever was all the way disengaged and the owner told the officer the brake must have failed and disengaged, police said."
LOL- that's not how parking brakes work.
....and IF it magically 'failed' it would still be failed and easily replicated immediately at the time of accident report.
I hope his insurance company denies him- and the car wash gets paid for any shrubbery damage and loss of business.
What manual transmission owner EVER exits the vehicle without first putting the car in gear?
What manual transmission owner EVER exits the vehicle without first putting the car in gear?
Never. Not once.
LOL, years ago the son of a coworker put the electronic brake on a VW w/ manual and left in neutral. Electronic brake didn't work and the car rolled in into a cop's personal car (minor bumper damage).
That was easy…
https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news/2023/09/meth-pipe-leads-to-arrest-outside-hackettstown-police-department-cops-say.html
Josh
I was thnking the same thing. Some bad storms coming, weather too hot outside, maybe two (or three) hots and a cot doesn't sound too bad. But then, I wouldn't know from personal experience...
Addiction is an illness and we need to treat the illness … everyone and I mean everyone -once addiction gets you it nearly impossible to quit … maybe this person is crying inside for help but does not know how to get clean!
LibertyThinker 
EVV LibertyThinker & EVV
Very true, I've had relatives who had various addictions. Sadly, while very wonderful people otherwise, the drugs controlled their overall lives and even though most of them "got clean", at least for a while, they all ended up passing away. While it's tough for me to fully understand, I definitely am empathetic towards those who have found themselves in the cycle and can't find a way to break out. If it was a cry for help to get treatment, and break the cycle, then I wish them the best and hope they succeed.
babbit Hackettstown business broken into, no mention which/where: https://wrnjradio.com/mac-minis-ipads-worth-thousands-of-dollars-stolen-from-hackettstown-business/
The Hackettstown Police Department is currently investigating a burglary that occurred at Computer Wholesales Inc. located at 715 Willow Grove Street.
The burglary occurred between Saturday night, September 9, 2023 and Sunday morning, September 10, 2023.
There were at least three suspects and they gained access by cutting through a rear door. Thousands of dollars worth of Mac minis and iPads were stolen.
The suspects left in a White Pella box truck and a White SUV or White Minivan.
Mr. Resident From that location, they could just head out North from Bilby on either 517, or Waterloo Road, to easily hit Rt.80 and get away.
Kelleo22 Holy crap....
Positions of authority are often in the headlines... makes you wonder how much happens from people that aren't news worthy.
Schmedley Make no mistake, based on the details of the article that fire chief is a sexual predator. These creeps need to escalate their “activities” more and more to achieve sexual gratification. Eventually, if not caught and locked up, a physical assault is likely.
JHC. The part about eye contact. Imagine how many other times he wasn't caught or someone didn't know, etc.Hope he gets locked up for a while and registered.
He needs to put his hose away at the fire department, too.
Police: Belvidere man drives into Independence Township Police headquarters
https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/western-newjersey/belvidere-man-drives-into-independence-township-police-headquarters/article_b4012076-5ee2-11ee-8db3-abd13af1532d.html
"Welcome to the Jungle" was blasting on the radio.
Roi de Grimaces The video of that guy crashing into the Independence P.D. is going to be on ABC World News Tonight in a few minutes. Sunday October 1st between 6:30-7:00p.m.
Jimmy Kimmel opened his show last night with the Independence P.D. video. There was a little extra at the beginning, showing the car lining up outside, in front of the door, before driving into the building. I had seen that once before, but after that the videos online & tv only showed the interior view. I guess they couldn't fit in the extra 3-4 seconds on the news shows
Awful story. Prayers to her family and community.
https://wrnjradio.com/crisis-team-will-be-available-at-hackettstown-high-school-after-student-killed-in-crash/?fbclid=IwAR1pEfHNGmCQi9BuGKBt2m83v_0qPJdsVbjS3uSvU6Acu8YdEbvS1Kznc3Q_aem_AUvHMnNZZ82xD6uz7RLJ5itY9ffyipLFPArqyQUREv6RBuhumCoUsuaRNTfqdPzEyCk&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Smash and Grab has made it to our town now...
https://wrnjradio.com/video-police-looking-for-warren-county-smoke-shop-robbery-suspects/
The Smoke shop, Smokey Bear Smoke Shop formally Osa's has been targeted before. In fact the poor guy had to install full frontage roll up gates as typically seen in most other crime ridden areas. Luckily Hackettstown is not there, yet. But the statistics tell the story- the various Criminal Justice reporting agency's have seen increases in almost every category of crime across the county and it is continuing to rise.
Too bad the store clerk didn't have a CCW. Things may have gone a different way. In addition with most law enforcement officials seeing first hand the failure of bail reform in this state, criminals and thugs know it's easy pickings....
Buckle up!
Looks like the same guy who ripped off a bottle of tequila from ShopRite Liquors a week or so ago.
99Problems The man that had a clear picture of his face looks similar to the man who stole the tequila from Shop Rite Liquors the other week. Also wearing the same beat up sneakers and black pants...
Greg - I totally agree about the CCW and the ridiculous bail reform. It's a wonder any small businesses can survive these days. But maybe that's the intention of the powers that be.
Calico696 
We've gotten WAY, WAY too soft on crime in this country. We barely keep people in jail and just release them, so they can do more damage. I feel for store owners now. Make examples of criminals. We don't though. We slap on the wrist and bail reform stinks.
Did they catch the catch any of those who robbed the vape shop? I’ve seen the tall curly headed Black man walking down to the train station.
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