ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP — Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker and Rockaway Township Police Chief Martin McParland are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a 13-year-old female from Rockaway Township, who has been missing since December 21.

Deris M. Avila-Ulloa, nicknamed Daisy and who lives in Rockaway Township, was last known to be at her family home on December 21 at 11:00 p.m. She is believed to be wearing a red shirt, black sweatpants, and white/black shoes. She left her home with her cell phone and no other belongings.

Avila-Ulloa is a 13-year-old female. She has black hair and brown eyes. She weighs approximately 90 lbs. and is 4 feet 11 inches in height. She has ties to Dover.

Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts or this investigation is encouraged to make contact with Rockaway Township Police Department at (973) 625-4000 or the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Missing Persons Unit On-Call Detective through the Morris County Communications Center at (973) 285-2900. Anyone with information who may be seeking to remain anonymous can contact Morris County Crimestoppers at 1-800-743-7433.

DENVILLE — Acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Acting Chief of Investigations Christoph Kimker, and Chief Frank Perna of the Denville Police Department are seeking the public’s assistance related to a fatal motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian. The crash occurred on Route 46 East between Schumacher Chevrolet and Elm Street in Denville.

At approximately 10:21 p.m. on Thursday, December 24, a 54-year-old male was fatally struck by a vehicle, which then fled the scene.

The pedestrian was located on the shoulder of Route 46 East. He was critically injured in the incident and was pronounced deceased at Saint Clare’s Denville Hospital. The identity of this individual will not be released at this time.

Numerous law enforcement agencies are currently investigating this incident, including the Denville Police Department, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, and the Morris County Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to call the Denville Police Department at (973) 627-4900 or the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at (973) 829-8596. Anonymous calls can also be made to the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Stoppers at (973) 267-2255.

MORRIS COUNTY — The community is invited to attend the Center for Workforce Development at County College of Morris (WFD-CCM) Virtual Open House on January 7, 9, and 11. Learn about spring courses and professional certificate programs scheduled from January through June. Listen in as the instructors describe their classes, get some great ideas about how to boost your resume, and ask any questions you might have. The WFD-CCM provides programming to help individuals get a job, get a better job, or get better at the job they’re in.

The Virtual Open Houses are:

Thursday, January 7 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.
Saturday, January 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Monday, January 11 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

Pre-registration is required by clicking here.

You will receive an email invitation to connect by Zoom a day or two before the Open House session.

• Learn about our exciting Advanced Manufacturing Pre-Apprentice and Apprenticeship programs held in our brand new Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering building.
• Start on a career path to becoming an IT professional with CompTIA A+.
• Earn certification in Tableau through our Data Analytics and Data visualization certificate courses.
• Get more comfortable and proficient with the Microsoft Office Suite of Applications, and even earn certification as a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS).
• Learn about our English Language program for speakers of other languages.
• Find out how to become a teacher if you have a Bachelor’s Degree.
• Learn about a multitude of career paths in the Healthcare industry.
• Find out about certifications in ASQ Six Sigma, Supply Chain, Project Management, HR, Nonprofit Leadership, and more!

To learn more about the Center for Workforce Development at CCM click here.

PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement:

“From the minute I entered Congress, I’ve taken every possible opportunity to push our government to address the threat posed by Russia’s malign activities. I’ve formed a bipartisan working group, I’ve worked with my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee, and I’ve taken my case to the White House Situation Room, all with the goal of confronting Russian aggression. Time and again, I’ve been met with political stonewalling from this administration. We have asked for answers, begged for action, and plainly told administration officials that Russia was trying to infiltrate our government.

“When I was in the Navy, I worked with the Commander of Naval Forces in Europe to address Russia’s threats. I’ve partnered with our allies in Europe and liaised with the Russian military. One thing is extremely clear to me: this administration has not taken this threat seriously, with disastrous results. This most recent cyberattack by hackers with alleged ties to the Russian government shows that while the Trump administration is busy courting Putin’s approval, the Russian intelligence community is busy attacking our most sensitive networks. Put simply — this President’s permissiveness and willful lack of action are serious national security threats that have left us vulnerable to one of the most pervasive cyber attacks in our country’s history.”

MORRIS COUNTY — The Mental Health Association of Essex & Morris has scheduled a Zoom meeting next week to inform parents of school-age children of the warning signs of suicide, after launching a school-based prevention program that sparked wide community interest.

Morris County SealThe Zoom meeting, set for 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 30, follows a collaborative effort by the Morris County Board of Freeholders and the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris to introduce a universal, school-based suicide prevention program for middle and high school-aged students who may be feeling stress and isolation during the current COVID-19 restrictions. News of school districts being invited to learn more about the school-based program earlier this month prompted many residents to request that parents also be provided information on understanding signs of suicide.

To join the  Zoom meeting, “Suicide Prevention: Presentation for Parents of School-Age Children,” parents are being asked to RSVP by email to [email protected].

The session follows a series of presentations made to the school Logo for Mental Health Association of Essex and Morrispersonnel earlier this month. Freeholder Kathryn DeFillippo, the board liaison to Human Services agencies and programs, sent a letter to school superintendents throughout Morris County inviting them to assign three key school district personnel, ranging from counselors and teachers to administrative staff, to learn more about the program through virtual presentations that began on December 1.

“When the COVID-19 pandemic began in New Jersey, stay at home orders, self-quarantines, social distancing, and virtual learning were implemented to combat the virus. While these practices helped reduce the spread of COVID-19, they also induced anxiety, depression, fear, and loneliness among members of the community including school-aged young adults,” DeFillippo wrote in the letter.

Following a June 2020 survey of 5,412 people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in August that one in four young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 said they had considered suicide because of the pandemic. The survey indicated a general spike in anxiety and substance abuse among the respondents, with more than 40 percent saying they experienced a mental or behavioral health condition connected to the COVID-19 emergency.

PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) voted today for a bipartisan COVID relief and appropriations package to send urgently needed relief to North Jersey residents and fund the federal government through the Fiscal Year 2021.

“Americans have had a difficult nine months, and now face an incredibly tough winter. This legislation will deliver urgently needed relief over the next few months,” said Rep. Sherrill. “It ensures that families can stay in their homes and unemployed workers will continue to receive additional support. It also provides a second round of PPP, funding for vaccine distribution, and direct cash payments.

“Congress must continue its efforts once this legislation is signed into law — there is so much left to do. We will need to extend relief measures again and send direct aid to state and local governments that are facing revenue shortages resulting in layoffs and budget cuts while working on the ground to provide food assistance, testing sites, and small businesses grants. I will keep working to provide support to North Jersey residents so we can get to the other side of this crisis.”

H.R. 133, the Omnibus Appropriations and Emergency Coronavirus Relief package, includes the following key provisions:

Support for Families:

• Provides direct payments of $600 for individuals making up to $75,000, $1,200 for couples making up to $150,000, and $600 for each dependent child.
• Extends Unemployment Insurance benefits through March 14, 2021, with an additional $300 per week.
• Extends the CDC eviction moratorium through January 31, 2021.
• Creates the first-ever emergency federal rental assistance program to be distributed by state and local governments.
• $13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits.

Support for Small Businesses:

• $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans.
• $20 billion in new EIDL grants for businesses in low-income communities.
• $15 billion in dedicated funding for live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions.
• Expands PPP eligibility for 501(c)(6) nonprofits.
• Extends and improves the Employee Retention Tax Credit to help keep workers in their jobs and provides a tax credit to support employers offering paid sick leave.

Support to Address the Public Health Crisis:

• $20 billion for vaccine procurement and therapeutics.
• $9 billion to the CDC and states for vaccine distribution.
• $22 billion to states for testing, tracing, and mitigation programs.
• $3 billion for the Strategic National Stockpile.
• Ends surprise medical billing for emergency and scheduled care, establishing a fair process for health care providers and health plans to sort out the out-of-network costs between themselves, without the patient stuck in the middle.

Support for Communities:

• $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools, including support for HVAC repair and replacement to mitigate virus transmission and reopen classrooms.
• $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open.
• $45 billion for transit, including $1 billion for Amtrak.
• $7 billion to increase access to broadband, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families, and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic.
• Extends the eligibility of state and local expenses under the CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund until December 31, 2021, so state and local governments can continue to provide services to residents during the pandemic with the funding they received from the CARES Act.