MORRIS COUNTY — Meet Brandi! Brandi unfortunately came into rescue when her dad’s dementia progressed and he could no longer care for her.

Brandi is an 8½-year-old Pug/Beagle mix (often referred to as a puggle). Her family describes her as very affectionate and that she gets along well with everyone. Her favorite activities include playing with her toys, having her belly rubbed, and snuggling up on the couch. Brandi knows basic commands, is potty-trained, and gets along well with other pets!

Brandi has diabetes which is well-controlled by just two insulin shots a day. This doesn’t slow her down one bit though! She loves going for walks around the neighborhood and running around in her backyard.

Brandi likes her special treats a lot and doesn’t like to give them away so it’d be best if she lived with children 16+. Other than her fondness of her bones and food, Brandi is a sweet, sweet girl who would make any house a home!

If you are interested in adopting Brandi, please fill out an application by clicking here.

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MORRIS COUNTY — New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) officials today issued a Winter Weather Congestion Alert and are implementing the Department’s Business Day Protocol based on the forecast for expected snow and freezing rain overnight tonight and into the morning commute tomorrow, Friday, January 18, which may result in difficult driving conditions.

NJDOT will be deploying the necessary resources in advance of the storm and is coordinating its response with NJ Transit and the toll road authorities to ensure the best response for New Jerseyans.

In order for NJDOT and our regional and local transportation partners to safely and efficiently clear roadways of snow and ice, motorists need to Clear the Roads so We Can Clear the Roads.

The Department and our transportation and law enforcement partners are recommending motorists:

• Avoid Unnecessary Travel during the storm
• Consider Telecommuting, if possible
• If you are driving, plan extra travel time
• During the morning commute it may be best to leave later to give crews more time to clear roads and to spread traffic out over a longer period of time
• If you are driving and road conditions deteriorate, PULL OFF somewhere safe and wait it out
• Always STAY CLEAR of plowing and spreading trucks.  If they are behind you, let them pass
• DO NOT pass between trucks that are in a plow formation
• Be patient and use caution

NJDOT will be using Variable Message Signs throughout the storm to provide updates. Once conditions improve, NJDOT will lift the Winter Weather Congestion Alert.

Motorists are encouraged to check NJDOT’s traffic information website by clicking here for real-time travel information and for NJDOT news and updates follow us on the NJDOT Facebook page or on Twitter @NJDOT_info.

PARSIPPANY — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill has postponed her town hall until Sunday, January 27, as Congress will be called back into session next week to address the government shutdown. The town hall will now be held at the Parsippany PAL, 33 Baldwin Road.

Please note that the town hall is still subject to additional changes if the shutdown remains in effect by the January 27.

UPDATED DETAILS: NJ-11 TOWN HALL

NEW DATE: Sunday, January 27th
NEW TIME: 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
NEW LOCATION: Parsippany PAL, 33 Baldwin Road, Parsippany

MORRIS COUNTY — Clad in Kevlar-lined or protective suits, law enforcement K-9 officers this week offered their arms and legs as bite-bait to learn advanced techniques from Morris County Sheriff’s Office K-9 experts on partnering with their dogs to apprehend dangerous criminals.

The week-long Morris County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Academy Decoy Seminar at the Morristown Armory provided intensive instruction and real-life scenarios to 15 K-9 handlers from around the state, including New Jersey State Police and officers from Deal, Mahwah, Jersey City, Hillsborough, and the Essex and Passaic County Sheriff’s Offices.

“The seminar was a vital opportunity for K-9 teams to learn from premier leaders how to deploy K-9s under specific scenarios to stop suspected violent offenders while keeping the community, themselves and their dogs safe,” Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon said.

The seminar was taught by Sheriff’s Office Detective Sgt. Aaron Tomasini, Detective Cpl.  Michael McMahon and a K-9 officer from the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office.

The seminar focused on training officers to be decoys skilled at drawing out behaviors in the dogs that hone their abilities to apprehend and hold suspects. The decoys, protected by their bulky padded suits, played the role of suspects trying to flee while other officers and handlers deployed the dogs with commands.  Handlers do not act as decoys to their own dogs.

Since decoy work is physically taxing on the officer, the seminar also provided instruction to officers on how to avoid injuries to themselves and the pursuing K-9.

“For the dog, apprehension is the reward. The decoy is a big toy they get to possess and obtain,” Tomasini said.

Tomasini said K-9s very rarely are commanded in Morris County to chase and bite suspects, and only after verbal warnings are first given to a suspect. But K-9 deployment is an important tool for use against non-compliant criminal suspects and all commands to the dogs to apprehend and hold come from their handlers who are trained in proper use of force, Tomasini said.

“We have a tool we may utilize for the safety of fellow officers, as well as the community, that’s able to stop the threat,” he said.

Morris County Sheriff’s Officers assigned to the K-9 section use Belgian Malinois, German and Dutch shepherds in their work that can involve responses to multiple calls in one day. The section is a shared service, available to all municipalities and law enforcement agencies in the county.

In 2018, the K-9 section logged 854 calls and sweeps. The statistics include 518 callouts for narcotics, bomb, arson, patrol, and search and rescue endeavors, and 336 protective sweeps of Morris County facilities.

The dogs are so highly trained they hear and obey only their handler’s voice commands while working, with the ability to block out noises or words that may be uttered by a fleeing suspect, Tomasini said.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Park Commission, which manages 20,197 acres consisting of 38 facilities, 244.3 miles of trails, including 73.3 miles of Patriots’ Path trail, recently announced a No Smoking Policy to conform with the New Jersey State’s Chapter Law 64 of prohibition of smoking at public parks and beaches.

The smoking prohibition policy of the Morris County Park Commission bans smoking in any park, forest, beach, arboreta, historic site, recreation facility, arena, reservation, marina, trail, greenway, education facility under the park Commission’s stewardship responsibility.

This policy, as adopted by the Commissioners, will provide a smoke-free environment for everyone, including children, to enjoy their experience at these public facilities. The policy will be strictly enforced and applies to both the public, as well as employees. Any person not compliant with posted smoking rules shall first be given verbal notification; if upon such notification the person fails to comply with the posted rules, the Supervisor of the area may deny services.

Smoking is defined as the burning of, inhaling from, exhaling the smoke from, or the possession of lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or any other mater of substance which contains tobacco or any other matter that can be smoked, or the inhaling or exhaling of smoke or vapor from an electronic smoking device.

Further, the policy states that electronic smoking device means an electronic device that can be used to deliver nicotine or other substances to the person inhaling from the device, including, but not limited to, an electronic cigarette, cigar, cigarillo, or pipe.

The Park Commission has determined that, Berkshire Valley Golf Course, Flanders Valley Golf Course, Pinch Brook Golf Course, and Sunset Valley Golf Course are the only park facilities where smoking is to be permitted by the public.  Smoking is only permitted on turf play areas, excluding designated practice area, including driving ranges.

PARSIPPANY — February 8, 2019, will mark the fifth anniversary of Night to Shine, the unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God’s love, for people with special needs, ages 14 and older, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. In just four years, Night to Shine has truly become a worldwide movement and next month, more than 200,000 volunteers in more than 650 host churches will serve more than 100,000 honored guests simultaneously on one night, Friday, February 8, across all 50 states, 38 international locations in 23 countries and 35 different denominations! Once again this year, Liquid Church, 299 Webro Road will be a host church.

Night to Shine, Sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation will be held at Liquid Church

“We have been so blown away by how God has continued to grow Night to Shine. I never imagined that Night to Shine would have grown this way when we started in 2014, but it is definitely a reminder that we serve a limitless God,” shared Tim Tebow, Founder and Chairman of the Tim Tebow Foundation. “As I reflect on how far Night to Shine has come, I am just so thankful for every host church, volunteer, sponsor and donor who has answered the call over the past five years.”

Every guest of Night to Shine enters this complimentary event on a red carpet complete with a warm welcome from a friendly crowd and paparazzi. Once inside, guests receive the royal treatment, including hair and makeup stations, shoe shining areas, limousine rides, corsages and boutonnieres, a catered dinner, karaoke, prom favors for each honored guest and, of course, a dance floor… all leading up to the moment when each guest is crowned king or queen of the prom.

“The vision for Night to Shine is to love people with special needs, it’s to bring the church together and to ultimately change the world through the eyes of people with special needs. February 8th will truly be a night so many people will never forget as each guest is told how much they’re worth and that God loves them and that God has an amazing plan for their life,” shared Tim Tebow.

As sponsor of Night to Shine, the Tim Tebow Foundation provides each host church with the official 2019 Night to Shine Planning Manual, the official Night to Shine Prom Kit and personalized guidance and support from a Tim Tebow Foundation staff member. The foundation also is providing financial support to hundreds of churches needing assistance in hosting the event, and this year alone will contribute over $2 million in financial grants to ensure this night reaches as many people with special needs as possible. As Night to Shine’s official Global Corporate Partner, American Residential Services and its network of providers is a major factor in ensuring the foundation is able to continue sustaining the incredible growth of Night to Shine every year.

To be a part of this worldwide event click here to find out where you can attend your local event, volunteer to celebrate people with special needs or donate to help make it all possible.

MORRIS COUNTY — Automated external defibrillators will be required at all college athletic facilities under Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce’s legislation advanced today by the Higher Education Committee.

“Defibrillators save lives,” said DeCroce. “If a person suffers a sudden cardiac attack the chance of survival increases exponentially when an automated shock is administered. Automatic defibrillators are easy for any untrained bystander to use. By following the simple instructions, they can save a life.”

Sudden cardiac attacks are rare in young athletes, but they are often fatal. When an automatic defibrillator is used, the survival rate for student athletes is 64 percent, and as high as 90 percent when aid is rendered within the first minute.

DeCroce’s bill (A1368) requires two staff members trained in CPR and the use of automatic defibrillators in athletic facilities or student centers during operating hours.

“A college student who survives a brush with death due to a previously undiagnosed heart problem can go on to live a long, productive life with the appropriate medical care,” said DeCroce. “A defibrillator on the wall in a college gym can be the key to the future for any of the young people competing on the floor, or watching in the stands.”

For every minute that passes without defibrillation after a sudden cardiac attack, the chance of survival decreases by 10 percent.

State law requires automatic defibrillators at state buildings and K-12 schools, health clubs, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.