DUI Lawyers in Jefferson, NJ

OAK RIDGE, NJ — New Jersey has a storied tradition of military service, with countless individuals dedicating their lives to protecting our nation. While words can't fully capture the immense gratitude we feel for our servicemen and women, Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to highlight a few remarkable veterans and active-duty military members from our state.

This submission comes from Monica, who nominated Thomas Soules of Oak Ridge.

What is the military hero’s name?

Thomas Soules

How do you know the military hero you’re nominating?

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My son

Please describe the individual’s military service.

Sgt. US Army military intelligence global war on terrorism

Tell us about the military hero and what your community should know about them.

My son has been serving in the United States Army since 2016. He’s been serving overseas since 2020. He’s received many awards for his dedication to our country. He is an outstanding leader and soldier to everyone he comes in contact with. He’s been deployed 2x and is preparing for number 3 this year. He’s helped train other soldiers in other countries. His job comes with a lot of stress and hard work. It’s not easy serving overseas and not seeing family for years on end. His dedication to our country and keeping us safe is an amazing accomplishment. He bleeds red, white, and blue.

What three words best describe the military hero?

True blue American

If you know a military hero who deserves recognition, we’d love to hear from you! Simply answer a few questions, and we’ll take care of the rest.

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Josh Hale wasted no time cementing himself as a steady performer.

As a freshman during a record-breaking 2023 season, he became an integral part of the lineup after recording two hits in five of his first eight games.

He finished with 33, a single-season program record for freshmen.

Hale’s upward trajectory continued last year with 40 hits and a .435 average. Through 16 games in 2025, he’s on pace to blow past both of those totals and joined rare company with a major milestone on Friday.

Though Jefferson fell to Pequannock in the first round of the Morris County Tournament, 5-3, Hale went 2-for-3 to reach 100 career hits. His milestone moment came with authority, as he drove a double into the alley in right-center.

He joins Doane Academy’s Jacob Powell as the only two active juniors who have jumped into the 100-hit club out of the 1,484 who have recorded at least one hit this season.

Only four players recorded their 100th hits in their junior seasons in 2024.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working really hard, and past couple weeks, obviously I was getting close and trying not to think about it, trying to hit and it’s tough, but I tried to set it aside.”

Hale picked up hit No. 99 in the top of the first inning with a single to left. As much as he tried to not think about triple digits, he eventually gave in.

“I will admit it was kind of on my mind,” he said. “I tried to flush it, but it was a little hard. When I hit it, I kind of knew it and got excited.”

His consistency in three years has anchored him at the heart of the Jefferson lineup and he pulls through. Hale has gone hitless in just two of 16 games this season and in 16 of 70 career games overall.

“Hitting is obviously really hard,” Hale said. “I personally try to hit all the time, whether it be at Pure Performance or just the winter really is the biggest part. You got to really work in the winter, and that’s where I really try to shine. Getting weight in the weight room and hitting every day really helps.”

That strength is what he points to as his biggest improvement since his freshman year.

“He doesn’t get cheap ones,” said Jefferson head coach Jason Kalish. “Just his physical strength to drive the ball, that’s where I’ve seen (the most growth), but he is incredibly hard working. He hits every day, 365, and he deserves everything he gets.”

After recording the most hits as a freshman in 2023, his 40 last spring set a record for sophomores.

Now with 27 and a .562 average, Hale has the potential to pick up another record. With 100 career hits, he’s already third in program history, according to Kalish, with Brandon Magnotta’s 126 at the top.

Hale isn’t a player who’ll exhaust himself digging into his own stats. It’s all about the team in his mind, but if he stays healthy, there’s a good chance his name will be included in the Jefferson record books a few more times.

“Every kid around our whole team, they always know their stats,” Kalish said. “He, for three years, has had no idea what his stats are. He’s gone 0-for-3 this year in a game and we won and he was so happy. Against Vernon, we lost 3-2 and he went 4-for-4 and he’s upset. (Friday), he went 2-for-3, he got his 100th hit, but he’s more upset that we lost. That’s the kind of kid he is.”

Brian Bobal may be reached at bbobal@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @BrianBobal.

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Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill Tuesday that sets aside nearly $29 million for 17 dam restoration and repair projects across New Jersey.

The bill (S-2594/A-3951) allocates funding for several key dam project loans, including a handful in Morris, Sussex and Passaic counties. Among them are a $4.7 million loan to the Lake Winona Civic Association in Jefferson Township and multiple loans for dam projects in West Milford: $3 million to the Mount Glen Lakes Association, $350,000 to the Farm Crest Acres Association, and $1.75 million to High Crest Lake Lodge Inc., in two separate loans.

The bill is also set to fund a $3 million loan to Mountain Creek Resort for the Mountain Creek Lake Dam in Vernon Township and a $100,000 loan for the Lake Swannanoa Dam in Jefferson.

State Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, a primary sponsor of the bill, who represents residents in West Milford and parts of Morris County, said he was pleased that the projects would be moving forward.

"These critical dam repairs will preserve and protect our local environment, which is critical to our quality of life,” he said. “This funding will also protect the flow of clean drinking water to communities throughout the state, support recreational activities and provide habitats for fish and wildlife.”

The bill, approved by members of the state Assembly in March, taps into funding generated from two bond acts: $22.4 million from the 2003 Dam, Lake, Stream, Flood Control, Water Resources and Wastewater Treatment Project Bond Act and $6.2 million from the 1992 Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act. Originally introduced in 2022, the bill was approved by members of the state Senate in May 2024.

Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, another of the bill's primary sponsors from the state's northwest, said Tuesday that the legislation should have been moved through the Statehouse much more quickly, with major storms like Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 demonstrating that dam safety can pose serious challenges in New Jersey.

“Sussex County is home to the most dams in New Jersey. We also have a large portion of dams that would cause significant destruction and economic losses if they were to fail,” Fantasia said. “Although New Jersey has been largely fortunate to be spared from catastrophic dam failures, even small failures can cause damage that come with hefty cleanup costs.”

The Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Dam Safety reports that the state is home to 1,730 regulated dams. Almost half are privately owned, many by lake associations that often rely on partnerships with local governments to secure loans for dam repairs, related projects and administrative costs.

New Jersey has about 11,300 bodies of water, DEP records show. Roughly 1,900 cover more than 5 acres, are at least 1 meter deep and are classified as lakes by the state for monitoring purposes.

The vast majority of those lakes are artificial, created for anything from irrigation and recreation to milling and mining. It is estimated that the number of naturally occurring lakes in the state is 60 to 70, DEP records show. All those are found in the state's north, where glaciers last shaped the landscape around 21,000 years ago.

The funds from the 2003 bond act support 13 projects, including High Crest Lake Dam, Mount Glen Dam, Lake Winona Dam and several others across the state. The 1992 bond act will provide funding for four additional projects: Mountain Creek Lake Dam, Silver Lake Dam, Lake Garrison Dam and Swannanoa Lake Dam.

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Be Prepared & Have Fun! Boating Safety Tips on ECOS, Weather, Speed and BUI

Boat Safe US, Community Contributor

When you’re operating a vessel., whether it’s a boat or personal water craft (jet ski, sea-doo, etc…), there are several safety rules and tips to follow. In New Jersey, you are required to take a NJ Boat Safety course. The NJSP requires anybody that operates a motorized vessel to have an NJSP issued Boat Safety Certificate. Take the class and exam with Boat Safe US, and you will also be NASBLA certified (you can use your NJ boat safety certificate in other states). See our schedule at www.BoatSafeUS.com. Before going out on your boat, make sure everything is packed and is in working order, file a float plan, have multiple communication devices that work when wet, and ensure each person has a properly fitting USCG approved life jacket.

Here are some other tips to boat safely and responsibly:

Use an engine cut-off switch (ECOS) – An engine cut-off switch is a proven safety device to stop an engine should the operator unexpectedly fall overboard. New Jersey is one of several states that require engine cut-off switches on recreational boats. The law applies to boats under 26 feet in length, unless they have an enclosed cabin or are not equipped with an ECOS. The operator of any vessel, including personal watercraft, equipped with a lanyard cut-off switch must wear the safety switch lanyard at all times when the vessel is in operation.

Watch the weather. Always know the forecast before departing on the water and check frequently during the outing. Be prepared to adjust your plans based on the weather conditions. Be smart and avoid boating in strong winds, heavy fog, thunderstorms, and any other bad weather. Dress for the weather on the water by wearing layers, a hat, etc., and always wear your life jacket. While you’re on the water, watch for signs of bad weather, like dark clouds, shifting winds, lightning and fog, for examples. Turn on navigational lights so other boaters can see you and slow down so you can maintain control of your vessel.

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Be aware of your surroundings at all times. While on the water, it is critical that there is a proper lookout. Always be alert of the effects of being on the water such as sunlight, motion, waves, wind and sound. Stay clear of large vessels and watercraft that may be restricted in their ability to stop or turn. Finally, put down the cell phone and pay attention to your surroundings. Too many reported boating incidents are caused by an operator’s inattention or an inadequate lookout.

Know where you’re going and travel at safe speeds. Be familiar with the area, local boating speed zones, and always travel at a safe speed. Use charts to determine your course. Respect speed limits and no-wake zones and do not exceed the manufacturer's recommended speed limit for your vessel. To determine a safe speed for your boat, take into account the visibility conditions (fog, mist, rain, darkness), wind, water conditions, currents, traffic density, type of vessels in the area and their proximity.

Never boat under the influence. BUI is ILLEGAL. As per the NJSP, “You are not permitted to operate a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, a narcotic, hallucinogenic or habit-producing drug”. Almost half of all boating accidents involve alcohol and one-third of all recreational boating fatalities involve alcohol. Alcohol can be more hazardous on water than on land. Many factors, such as heat, sun, wind, glare from the water, motion of the boat, and increased risk of dehydration can worsen the effects of alcohol on the body. Always designate a sober captain.

Remember, have fun by staying safe on the water. Boat responsibly! By following safety guidelines, you can fully enjoy your time on the water without putting yourself or others in danger.

See our Boat Safe US Blog for more safety tips and information: Captain's Blog | Boat Safe Us LLC

All of us at Boat Safe US hope to see you on the water!

Happy Boating!

#wearit #lifejacketsSAVElives #weloveboating #safeboating #njboating #boatsfafety