Local officials complain they were left in dark on New Jersey Ebola quarantine center

Local officials in central New Jersey are complaining they were left in the dark on plans to convert a shuttered military base into an Ebola quarantine center — and say they only found out about it when fire officials arrived for an inspection last week. 

“Nobody was happy about this situation,” Eatontown Mayor Dennis Connelly told FoxNews.com. 

Connelly says he had learned earlier that the military post, Fort Monmouth, could be used as a secondary quarantine site — the state already uses a psychiatric hospital in Hunterdon County — but only found out that the plan had moved forward last week. 

The Asbury Park Press reported that the state Department of Human Services had been in contact with a select number of local officials regarding the plan for this center. However, they asked that the plans not be made public. Local officials complain there was never an opportunity for the community to discuss the matter and be part of the planning. 

According to Connelly, the concern wasn’t just that patients potentially exposed to Ebola could be housed there. Officials also have been preparing the Fort Monmouth property to be put up for sale, and the Ebola center plans create problems for that effort. 

“Officials … are concerned that such actions have the potential to undermine the economic development of the Fort Monmouth property in the long run as it is necessary for the Board and the public and the State to work together openly and for the betterment of all residents,” Connelly said in a joint statement with Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian Burry, Oceanport Mayor Michael Mahon and Tinton Falls Mayor Gerry Turning. 

Fort Monmouth was closed as a military post in 2011. Shortly afterward, a committee — the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) — was created to assist in the economic transition of the surrounding towns. The committee assumed control of the base from the Army, with the power to lease and sell parts of the property. According to reports, FMERA recently leased a portion of Fort Monmouth for six months to the Department of Human Services to use as the Ebola quarantine center. 

The local officials said in their statement that the lease, though, was “imposed” on the committee by Gov. Chris Christie’s government and “was not vetted at a public meeting or voted on by the entire Board.” 

While the state is being accused of keeping the plans close to the vest, dozens of other treatment centers already are operational across the country to handle Ebola and other outbreaks. There are 48 treatment centers and 20 quarantine centers, overseen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fort Monmouth was not previously among them. 

Local and state officials have sent a letter to the Department of Human Services requesting answers for why Fort Monmouth was chosen as the site for this center. 

The quarantine center is still in the developing stages, and no Ebola patients have been treated there.   

The Asbury Park Press reported that the center will only treat patients who have been exposed to the virus but show no symptoms, suggesting the health risks would be minimal. If patients were to become symptomatic, according to the report, they would be transferred to another facility immediately. 

Representatives in the Christie administration have not yet commented on the local officials’ concerns. 

FoxNews.com’s Jean Lee contributed to this report.

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Local officials complain they were left in dark on New Jersey Ebola quarantine center

Ex-Ohio Rep. Traficant dies of injuries suffered in farm accident - "A Hernia from here to New Jersey": Remembering James Traficant

FILE: Feb. 25, 2010: Former Rep. James Traficant, D-Ohio, at a diner in Boardman, Ohio. (AP)

Former Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. died Saturday as a result of a farming accident earlier in the week.

The Ohio Democrat in 2002 became only the fifth person in history to be expelled from the House, after he was convicted on federal bribery and racketeering charges. Three were kicked out for siding with the South during the Civil War.

Traficant was 73.

He was gravely injured Tuesday when a tractor flipped over on him at his family’s farm, near Youngstown, Ohio.

A family attorney said Traficant was taken off a respirator Friday, though he had been able to breathe on his own since being admitted to St. Elizabeth Medical Center, where he had remained unconscious and under sedation.

Traficant served 17 years in Congress.

Family attorney Heidi Hanni told FoxNews that Traficant died at about 11:30 a.m. Eastern time.

The House voted 420-1 to remove Traficant from Congress. The only nay vote came from then-Rep. Gary Condit, D-Calif., who was under scrutiny for having an affair with missing intern Chandra Levy who was later found dead.

Traficant refused to resign.

He was not an attorney, but he successfully defended himself against similar charges when he was the Mahoning County sheriff, in Ohio. The courtroom victory propelled Traficant to Congress in 1983. But the same legal strategy didn’t work for him in Washington.

Traficant was known for wearing polyester, bell-bottom suits in buttoned-up Washington. He kept an unruly mop of hair and sported bushy sideburns.

He often seized the House floor to defend U.S. protectionism and speak out against trade agreements, punctuating his speeches with the line “beam me up,” a nod to Star Trek.

During his Ethics Committee hearing, Traficant threatened to kick the panel’s counsel “in the crotch” on multiple occasions, prompting the chairman to demand he sit down.

Traficant had lived on his family farm in northeast Ohio since his release from prison in 2009.

Fox News’ Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ex-Ohio Rep. Traficant dies of injuries suffered in farm accident - "A Hernia from here to New Jersey": Remembering James Traficant

Khago nabs award in New Jersey

Khago shows off his award. – Contributed

Khago’s summer keeps getting better. After a lengthy and successful US tour, he went on to win the enviable Do Oscar Award for the most-played song in New Jersey, USA with his effort called Nah Sell Out.

The song was produced by Seanizzle Records and, according to Khago, the more than five-year-old song is still his bestselling record.

The sinjay says the US tour, which took him to states including New Jersey, Florida, and North Carolina, was a phenomenal experience. “It went well, mi just a gwaan put in di work same way,” he said.

Khago won the award ahead of Popcann, Beenie Man and Future Fambo, Gyptian and Vybz Kartel.

“Winning the award feels great. It definitely feels good to be acknowledged for all the hard work. It motivates the team to work even harder to make the fans proud,” Khago’s publicist Derven Patterson said.

Khago is promoting another Seanizzle-produced single called Am So Blessed, as well as the Notnice-produced Ready For Love, released on the Devotion rhythm, which also features Popcaan, Gramma Zone, Alkaline, G Whizz and Jah Vinci, among others.

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Khago nabs award in New Jersey

Seanizzle gets two nominations in New Jersey - For songs on "One Day" rhythm

CURTIS CAMPBELL, STAR Writer

The One Day rhythm produced by dancehall producer Seanizzle continues to reap success overseas, this as popular singles ‘Nah Sell Out’ and Rum And Red Bull are both nominated in New Jersey, for being two of the most played songs in that side of America.

The award is called the ‘Do Oscar Award’ and is a product of Vibes Link FM, based in the US.

Other Jamaican-produced songs which made the cut are Vybz Kartel’s Cake Soap, Mavado’s Pepper, Gyptian’s Hold You and Popcaan’s Only Man She Want.

According to Seanizzle’s publicist, Nackesha Doyley, the producer feels appreciated.

very persistent

“It is definitely a good feeling for Sean, he is a great producer and he is very persistent. He takes his music seriously and he feels good that his work is being appreciated elsewhere,” Doyley said.

Khago, who recently returned from a US tour, told THE WEEKEND STAR: “I feel good about being nominated. I didn’t expect it but a di hard work wey mi put in. It’s a good look to see that yu sing a song three years ago and when yu step in a hip-hop club yu music still a play if dem even only a play three songs from dancehall. Win or lose, I still win, because we a go up against people like Vybz Kartel and Gyptian. Sometime all yu need is one song to connect with the people and Nah Sell Out has a good chance’.

Khago continued: “Inna Jamaica, dem always a put away music too fast, but in America and the rest of the world a different thing, music last longer.”

Elvis Redwood, who produced Only Man She Want, says he is humbled.

“It’s a humbling feeling when you can sit back and soak in what it feels like to be a success in your field, this is merely a motivation to continue and put in the real work,” the producer said.

The nominated songs were monitored over a three-year period. The award show will be held on Sunday in the US.

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Seanizzle gets two nominations in New Jersey - For songs on "One Day" rhythm

Seanizzle gets two nominations in New Jersey - For songs on "One Day" rhythm

CURTIS CAMPBELL, STAR Writer

The One Day rhythm produced by dancehall producer Seanizzle continues to reap success overseas, this as popular singles ‘Nah Sell Out’ and Rum And Red Bull are both nominated in New Jersey, for being two of the most played songs in that side of America.

The award is called the ‘Do Oscar Award’ and is a product of Vibes Link FM, based in the US.

Other Jamaican-produced songs which made the cut are Vybz Kartel’s Cake Soap, Mavado’s Pepper, Gyptian’s Hold You and Popcaan’s Only Man She Want.

According to Seanizzle’s publicist, Nackesha Doyley, the producer feels appreciated.

very persistent

“It is definitely a good feeling for Sean, he is a great producer and he is very persistent. He takes his music seriously and he feels good that his work is being appreciated elsewhere,” Doyley said.

Khago, who recently returned from a US tour, told THE WEEKEND STAR: “I feel good about being nominated. I didn’t expect it but a di hard work wey mi put in. It’s a good look to see that yu sing a song three years ago and when yu step in a hip-hop club yu music still a play if dem even only a play three songs from dancehall. Win or lose, I still win, because we a go up against people like Vybz Kartel and Gyptian. Sometime all yu need is one song to connect with the people and Nah Sell Out has a good chance’.

Khago continued: “Inna Jamaica, dem always a put away music too fast, but in America and the rest of the world a different thing, music last longer.”

Elvis Redwood, who produced Only Man She Want, says he is humbled.

“It’s a humbling feeling when you can sit back and soak in what it feels like to be a success in your field, this is merely a motivation to continue and put in the real work,” the producer said.

The nominated songs were monitored over a three-year period. The award show will be held on Sunday in the US.

View the original article here

Seanizzle gets two nominations in New Jersey - For songs on "One Day" rhythm