MORRIS COUNTY — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has delayed plans to release its long-awaited revised preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (pFIRMs) for Morris County, pushing back the scheduled date from July 28 to late August.

A specific date has not been announced. Once it is set, we will communicate that information to residents.

Once the revised pFIRMS are released, meetings with the public will be scheduled by FEMA. The formal 90-day appeal period still is expected to begin in the fall.

Once finalized and adopted, these new maps will be used to review development plans countywide. They will be key to determining if flood insurance is required and the rates that property owners will pay to the National Flood Insurance Program.

In addition, the maps will help determine eligibility for disaster relief and mitigation funding, and will offer the best source of data for understanding flood risk in communities, especially when considering future development.

Until the new maps are adopted, the existing ones will remain in effect.

Morris County’s current FEMA maps are 24 to 45 years old. The updated maps originally were released in February of 2016, but the map adoption process was delayed due to neighboring Passaic County’s successful appeal of its new (pFIRMS) mapping.

As a result, FEMA had to revise its Morris County mapping in areas of the county that are contiguous with Passaic County.

Soon afterwards, Morris County launched a new website to inform and assist municipal officials and property owners who were in the process of reviewing the flood hazard maps provided by FEMA. When the new FEMA maps are posted later this month, Morris County will post them at this website.

The proposed new flood maps will be the standard of flood risk determination for many years.

As such, Morris County encourages flood-affected municipalities and property owners to monitor the upcoming map-adoption process, attend soon-to-be-announced public meetings, and to request changes if you believe the maps to be inaccurate.

Homeowners should make map revision requests to their municipalities, which will convey the information to FEMA.

The aforementioned Morris County website currently provides links to view initial maps, information about the map adoption process, and a myriad of resources available, including and contact information for officials at the federal and local levels. Specific pages are dedicated to municipal officials and homeowners.

FEMA sent paper copies of the 2016 preliminary maps to each municipality; these are available for review by the public. For municipal contact information click here.

To speak directly to a FEMA map specialist, call (877) FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627) from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Questions also can be emailed to FEMA’s Mapping Center at FEMAMapSpecialist@riskmapcds.com, or to Jennifer McCulloch, Morris County Flood Mitigation Program Coordinator at jmcculloch@co.morris.nj.us.

MORRIS COUNTY — In August a special week has been set aside as a day designated by Morris Habitat as a “Women Build” week. “Women Build” brings women together from all walks of life to learn construction skills and to advocate for affordable housing and safer, stronger communities.

On Monday, August 7  through Saturday, August 12  “Women Build” week will be going to 18/20 Wallman Way, Budd Lake.

In the past, the response to this special day was overwhelming. Whether you have volunteered before or are a first time participant, Morris Habitat wants you to come out, or even better to get a group together for a special experience. Whether it’s on your own or with a group of friends, a church group, employees from a local company, all women are welcome.

When asked how she felt about last years’ event, Stephanie Sayki, Director of Volunteer Services, said “it was fantastic! The women that participated showed that you don’t have to have brawn and muscle to build. They all came together…different ages…different walks of life…all united in one goal, to build a home for a family in need.”

For more information on “Women Build”, go to the Morris Habitat web site by clicking here. To sign up just go to the volunteer section or contact stephanie.sayki@morrishabitat.org

To learn more about Morris Habitat and different ways you can help, click here  or call (973) 891-1934.

Founded in 1985, Morris Habitat for Humanity advocates for and builds affordable housing to enhance lives and strengthen the community. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Morris Habitat builds new homes and provides home repair services to income eligible families. Morris Habitat collaborates with other Habitat affiliates and related housing organizations to improve the affordable housing stock in the region, and over the last four years has more than doubled the number of homes built.

Morris Habitat for Humanity is part of a global, nonprofit housing organization operated on Christian principles by building homes, communities and hope. Morris Habitat is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating and preserving homes; advocating for fair and just housing policies; and providing training and access to resources to help families improve their living conditions. Habitat for Humanity was founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should live in dignity and safety, and that decent shelter in decent communities should be a matter of conscience and action for all. Morris Habitat welcomes volunteers and supporters from all backgrounds and serves people in need of decent housing regardless of race or religion.

Since 1985 Morris Habitat has served 400 households though home ownership opportunities, home preservation, and international home building programs. Of these 100 homes were home repair projects and 80 new homes were built as well.

In addition, proceeds from the ReStore, opened May 2007, have funded 22 homes and diverted almost 5,800 tons of useable material out of landfills.  The store is located at 274 South Salem Street, Randolph. Store hours: Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Bush Brothers & Company has voluntarily recalled three types of their 28 ounce cans of beans.

The  company said is a statement that the recall is due to some cans having defective side seams. These side seam defects may affect can integrity and may cause the cans to leak or allow for harmful bacteria to grow inside the product.

The Baked Beans involved in the recall include:

– BUSH’S BEST ORIGINAL BAKED BEANS 28 ounce with UPC of 0 39400 01614 4 and Lot Codes 6057S LC and 6057P LC with the Best By date of Jun 2019-
BUSH’S BEST® BROWN SUGAR HICKORY BAKED BEANS 28 ounce with UPC of 0 39400 01977 0 and Lot Codes 6097S GF and 6097P GF with Best By date of Jun 2019
– BUSH’S BEST COUNTRY STYLE BAKED BEANS 28 ounce with UPC of 0 39400 01974 9 and Lot Codes 6077S RR, 6077P RR, 6087S RR, 6087P RR with the Best By date of Jun 2019

No illnesses have been reported but the company urges consumers to dispose of the affected products immediately even if the beans do not look or smell spoiled.

Consumers who have questions can call 1-800-590-3797 Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

For complete details of this recall click here.

MORRISTOWN — Foresters from Jersey Central Power & Light Company will take to the sky to conduct helicopter inspections of power lines in the Morris County area as part of the company’s annual vegetation management program.

The patrols should only take a few days, weather permitting. Local officials have been notified that the inspections will take place. The inspections will take place until August 3, weather permitting.

Helicopters are a cost-effective and efficient way to conduct inspections that help keep JCP&L’s electric system durable and reliable. Residents may see a small helicopter flying at low altitude or hovering over power lines and towers while company foresters examine trees and other vegetation in the right-of-way and trees outside the corridor that could potentially cause damage to the electric system.

The helicopter will be flying at a speed of about 35-40 mph above or alongside the lines, and may circle around for a closer inspection. The helicopter is a Hughes MD 500, black in color with a red stripe, tail # N8330P.

When a potential tree issue is identified, additional ground-level inspections are scheduled and remedial actions are completed.

JCP&L also performs annual aerial inspections of transmission towers, substations and other electrical equipment.

MORRIS COUNTY — The Morris County Heritage Commission and the Morris County Library are presenting a special display entitled “Saluting Old Glory: Our Nation’s Flag’’ at the county library in the Whippany section of Hanover Township through September 15.

Saluting Old Glory: Our Nation’s Flag, which details the history of the Star-Spangled Banner, is on view through Tuesday, August 25. Items in the exhibit cases will be on view through September 15.

American flags from the Eighteenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth centuries are on display in the lobby of the library. Flags and exhibit cases of related items  are on view on the first and second floor.

A third exhibit case, located on the fifth floor of the County Administration Building in Morristown, also features examples of rare and unusual American flags.

MORRIS COUNTY — A Mount Olive man has been charged with crimes related to the May death of Jennifer Ward, 35, in Jefferson Township, according to Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Mount Olive Police Chief Stephen Beecher, and Jefferson Township Police Chief William Craig.

 Kayron Jackson, aka Alkama Jackson, aka “Keys,” 37, was charged July 27 by Warrant-Complaint with the first-degree crime of Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death, and the third degree crime of Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Fentanyl).  The charges were authorized by state Superior Court Judge Thomas J. Critchley in Morristown. Jackson was arrested on these charges on July 28 in Mount Olive and remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility pending future court proceedings.             

On the morning of May 5, law enforcement responded to 88 Mase Road, Jefferson, on a report of a female who was unconscious and not breathing. The female, who was pronounced as deceased at the scene, was identified as Jennifer Ward.  The investigation would reveal that Ward was the victim of a fatal drug overdose. 

Through a subsequent investigation, it is alleged that Jackson distributed fentanyl to Ward in Mount Olive on May 4, the evening before she was found dead. It is further alleged that the ingestion of the fentanyl distributed by Jackson to Ward resulted in Ward’s death. 

Jackson has been charged with Strict Liability for Drug-Induced Death in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-9.  This statute provides that any person who manufactures, distributes or dispenses any of a number of controlled dangerous substances is strictly liable for a death that results from the injection, inhalation, or ingestion of that substance.  This is a first-degree crime, which is punishable by up to twenty years in New Jersey State Prison and is subject to the 85 percent parole ineligibility requirements of the No Early Release Act.       

Members of the Mount Olive Police Department, Jefferson Township Police Department, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Special Enforcement Unit, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office – Criminal Investigation Section, and the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office have contributed to this investigation.

Editors Note: A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendant is presumed innocent until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.