Free Republic

Crissy Brownstein Naticchia told The Mighty that her husband of 23 years was diagnosed with Babesia, a tick-born illness that quickly attacks the red blood cells. His diagnosis came after the 50-year-old had come down with an intense fever that eventually landed him in the Intensive Care Unit. However, because it took six days for her husband to get the correct diagnosis, he never recovered. Naticchia's husband unexpectedly passed away the day after his diagnosis. According to Fox 2, scientists have recently discovered an exotic tick species in the United States, specifically in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. It is not...

HUNTERDON COUNTY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – A tiny parasite could become a big problem this year in New Jersey. It’s an exotic tick that’s never been seen before in the United States. It was first spotted on a sheep in Hunterdon County, and efforts to wipe it out have failed. New Jersey has always been home to different species of ticks – five to be exact. But a new variety of the bloodsucking bug is now in the mix. It’s the East Asian tick, sometimes called a longhorned or bush tick. Originally found in Asia, thousands of them are now in...

At 67 years old, William Hardenburg would still jump out of bed in the middle of the night to respond to a fire. "He's irreplaceable," said his stepson Dan Van Fossen, who is fire chief of the Pattenburg Volunteer Fire Co. in Union Township, Hunterdon County. "He was right there, every call." Hardenburg, who was emergency management coordinator for Bethlehem Township, N.J., was struck by a vehicle and killed this morning, authorities said. He was clearing damage from Superstorm Sandy in front of a home on Route 617 when he was hit, authorities said. Van Fossen said his stepfather worked...

A former Hunterdon County school official pleaded guilty yesterday to embezzling more than $90,000 from Delaware Valley Regional High School, saying he stole most of the money from the cafeteria. Robert P. Walsh, 43, of Forks Township, Pa., admitted in federal court in Camden that he committed the crime from 2005 to 2007 while he served as the school's business administrator and then superintendent, authorities said. "This was a top school official, well-compensated, whose charge and duty was to protect the interests of the school district and its students," Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph J. Marra said. "Instead, he acted as...

The mild winter let officials probe Round Valley Reservoir for six men missing for years. CLINTON, N.J. - Authorities call it "New Jersey's Bermuda Triangle," a watery place where people disappear. The description held true yesterday after a 41/2-hour search of the Round Valley Reservoir in Hunterdon County failed to turn up any trace of six missing boaters and fishermen, some last seen in 1973. Weather and water conditions were ideal this week for an expanded search: A relatively dry winter has left the 180-foot-deep reservoir eight feet below normal, exposing an additional 30 to 90 feet of shoreline. Thirty...

It might surprise some to see how the canidiates fared in the 10 wealthiest U.S. counties (2000 census). President Bush won in only four of the ten, comprising two states (one of which might be a bit shocking for some). So much for "the Republicans are the party of the rich". Presidential election results for the 10 wealthiest U.S. counties. (winner in caps) Teton County, Wyoming: Bush/Cheney - 5,124 - KERRY/EDWARDS - 5,972 Fairfield County, Connecticut: Bush/Cheney - 14,694 - KERRY/EDWARDS - 15,047 Marin County, California: Bush/Cheney - 26,141 - KERRY/EDWARDS - 73,946 Somerset County, New Jersey: BUSH/CHENEY - 67,505...

The family of Costas "Gus" Christofi will hold a public candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. Thursday on the steps of the courthouse on Main Street. The vigil is being held the night before a hearing in which the Hunderton ounty Prosecutor's Office is expected to announce whether it will seek to retry ex-NBA star Jayson Williams on reckless manslaughter charges stemming from Christofi's death at Williams' Alexandria estate. Williams, 36, was acquitted earlier this month of aggravated manslaughter in connection with Christofi's death. A mistrial was declared on a reckless manslaughter charge after jurors said they were unable to reach...