3 Cocaine Rings Busted, $650K Seized+Toms River Flooding

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Ocean County got an unpleasant reminder of the impact of Superstorm Sandy with the wind and flooding in the area on Friday and Saturday.

Roads around the Toms River — including Exit 81 from the Garden State Parkway — were shut down, impassable due to the flooding.

Here are other headlines you may have missed last week.

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First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and breezy. High: 61 Low: 41.

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Here are the top stories in Toms River today:

1. $650K, 4 Kilos Of Cocaine, 24 Charged In 3-County NJ Drug Rings: Prosecutor
2. Toms River's Autism Rate In Children Highest In NJ: Rutgers Study
3. Flooding Closes Toms River Roads, Parkway Exit: Authorities
4. 28 Vehicles Stolen, 120 Burglarized In 2021: Toms River Police
5. Convicted Sex Offender Arrested With Loaded AR-15: Mantoloking PD
6. Toms River Schools Receive $7.6M In Stabilization Aid From State
7. Toms River Apartment Complex Zoning Hearing Postponed
8. Toms River To Receive Nearly $380K State Grant For Roadwork
9. Halloween Decor Lands Toms River Tenants In Dispute With Landlord
10. COVID Vaccine Boosters Available Through Ocean County Health Dept
11. Bamboo Bar Demolition Begins In Seaside Heights: See It
12. Toms River Apartment Complex Zoning Hearing Postponed

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Today in Toms River:

• Fall Break 11/1 - 11/5 - Toms River High School North (12:00 AM)
• Storytime-to-Go Bundles: National American Indian & Alaska Native Heritage Month (12:00 AM)
• Art Exhibit: Enjoy by Ronald Cappuccilli (12:00 AM)
• Veteran's Day Interactive Reading Room (12:00 AM)
• National Native American Heritage Month Reads for Adults (12:00 AM)
• Shared Legacies (5:30 PM)
• Shared Legacies (5:30 PM)

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Toms River Patch Notebook

• Downtown Toms River: "Great tradition in Downtown Toms River today! Toms River High School South painting the windows! Halloween can't be far off now." (Facebook)
• Toms River Police Department: "YES! The Toms River Halloween Parade will go on as planned today starting at 7PM on Main Street and Washington Street. Please note that the tide is currently rising and HIGH TIDE will be at 7:53PM. Based on the last few nights, we antici..." (Facebook)
• Ocean County Sheriff 911: "Due to yesterday's storm surge and tomorrow we are experiencing flooding along the barrier island especially in Bay Head and Berkeley Township. Please do not drive your car into a large areas of water. Today two cars had to be towed out ..." (Facebook)
• Ocean County Sheriff 911: "Congratulations to our new investigators on their swearing in: James O'Hearn (Previously Beach Haven) Nicholas Cirz (Previously Seaside Heights) Anthony Storino (Previously Seaside Heights)" (Facebook)
• Ocean County Sheriff 911: "On behalf of Sheriff Michael Mastronardy and the entire staff at the Ocean County Sheriff's Office we say thank you to all of the first responders and volunteers who did more than most nine years ago today. Super Storm Sandy left its mar..." (Facebook)
• Downtown Toms River: "Great tradition in Downtown Toms River today! Toms River High School South painting the windows. Halloween can't be far off now!" (Instagram)
• Ocean County Sheriff 911: "Our K9 enjoying a nice evening on the board walk in Seaside Heights!" (Facebook)
• Ocean County Sheriff 911: "We are proud to work side by side with the Ocean County Prosecutors Office in combating the ongoing drug issue in our community!" (Facebook)
• Ocean County Sheriff 911: "A day after Super Storm Sandy left its mark on our community this what we woke up to! Enjoy the day and count your blessings........" (Facebook)
• Ocean County Sheriff 911: "On behalf of Sheriff Michael Mastronardy and the entire staff at the Ocean County Sheriff's Office we send our thoughts and prayers to the family of Lakewood Police Captain Joseph Goertz." (Facebook)
• Ocean County Sheriff 911: "Good morning again! Yesterday our K9 participated in an early Halloween event at Westminister Nursery School. In the even there is rain tonight the Toms River Halloween Parade will be rescheduled for Monday night. Enjoy the day!" (Facebook)
• Ocean County Sheriff 911: "Good morning! Due to storm surge yesterday and still this morning many of the roads along barrier islands and in Bayville and downtown Toms River still have large amounts of water. Use caution when driving this morning..." (Facebook)
• Toms River Regional School District: "Congratulations to the Intermediate South girls volleyball team on their perfect, 1️⃣2️⃣-0️⃣ season! 🏐 #WeAreTRschools https://www.trschools.com/sports/undefeated-lady-seminoles-make-school-volleyball-history" (Facebook)
• Toms River Police Department: "Roadways Flooded. Please use caution, and avoid the areas. Irons Street, south of water Street, is closed due to flooding. Please use Garden State Parkway and avoid the area. Route 35 north and southbound are under a foot of water on the..." (Facebook)
• Ocean County Sheriff 911: "Flooding earlier this evening in Silverton section of Toms River!" (Facebook)
• Ocean County Health Department: "OCEAN COUNTY RESIDENTS GET A BIG BOOST: TUESDAY WAS THE FIRST DAY THE OCHD BEGAN OFFERING THE MODERNA AND J&J COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTER SHOTS AT THE RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH ARENA IN TOMS RIVER. The OCHD will now offer all three of the COVID-1..." (Facebook)
• Toms River Online: "A float from tonight's Halloween Parade in Downtown Toms River ... See MORE photos on our Toms River Online Facebook page.. #tomsriver #tomsriveronline #halloweenparade #downtowntomsriver #wearetr #happyhalloween" (Instagram)
• New Destiny Worship Center: "Welcome to New Destiny church at home. We're glad that you are joining us in today's service. Pastor Miguel will be concluding g the Sermon Series, "TRANSPARENT: Life, Truth and Power." May God richly bless you and may you walk away from..." (Facebook)
• Ocean County Sheriff 911: "Good morning Ocean County from destination south of NJ!" (Facebook)
• Toms River Police Department: "Happy Halloween! Be Safe!" (Facebook)
• OCVTS: "PINK DAY AT GPAA!🎀 Students Spreading Awareness! #breastcancerawareness #spreadawareness #ocvts #gpaa #ocvtspaa" (Instagram)
• Toms River Online: "Tonight's Halloween sunset along the river... #sunset #tomsriver #islandheights #sky #clouds #orange #river #flooding #tidalflooding #beachgrass #halloweensunset #halloween #dramatic #dramaticsky #tomsriveronline #wearetr" (Instagram)
• Toms River Office of Emergency Management: "Irons St at Water St is CLOSED due to flooding. Also, the State Police will be closing both 81 exits. Plan alternate route." (Facebook)
• Toms River Regional School District: "Some wonderful news to share, with acknowledgement and thanks to the many people who helped make this happen. https://www.trschools.com/community/state-approves-stabilization-aid-for-district" (Facebook)
• Silverton Volunteer Fire Company: "High tide is now, use caution." (Facebook)
• Toms River Fire Dept., Company #1: "The Halloween Parade is a "GO" for tomorrow, Saturday at 7pm. Registration is 8-4 at the fire house on Robbins Street. Rain/drizzle in the morning and clearing to partly cloudy tomorrow just in time for the parade. Hope to see you all th..." (Facebook)
• Ocean County Library: "We're Hiring! Apply at: https://www.governmentjobs.com... - Librarian 1/Librarian 2 - Toms River Adult Services - Part Time Librarian 1/Librarian 2 - Toms River Adult Services - Part Time Library Assistant - Mobile Library (Toms..." (Facebook)
• Ocean County Health Department: "TO HELP FIGHT PLASTIC POLLUTION - SINGLE-USE PLASTIC STRAWS WILL ONLY BE PROVIDED UPON REQUEST STARTING THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2021 October 27, 2021 Contacts: Caryn Shinske & Lawrence Hajna Press Office: Department of Environmental Protec..." (Facebook)
• INSPIRE-Nj a New Jersey Non Profit Corp.: "In just a few short weeks these beautiful rooms will be filled with happy customers!!" (Facebook)
• Ocean County YMCA: "Happy Birthday to our very own, Yoga Terry! Have a Namaste day that's as awesome as you are!🙏🎉🎂🎈" (Facebook)

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• Commemorative Candle Lighting and Blessing of the Hands (November 4)
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Have a news tip or suggestion? Reach out anytime to karen.wall@patch.com.