Top Five Stories Of The Week: June 19-25

Each week, we typically recount the headlines that made news in the days before. But we’re trying something new this week. We’re going to countdown the top five stories of the week. Let us know what you think about this new format in the comment section below.

The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors on Wednesday decided not to immediately move forward on installing a fence around the skate park, which is located behind Staples off the Newtown Bypass. The total cost to the township for the fence would likely be $6,000 to $7,000 after donations are taken into consideration, Township Manager Joe Czajkowski said.

The fence was being considered at the request of some Tyler Walk residents, who said it’s needed to enforce trespassing after hours. However, a majority of the board didn’t feel the expenditure warranted immediate action and have directed the Parks and Recreation Department to put it on their list of capital expense requests for the next budget year.

Goodnoe Elementary School Sixth graders Danielle Nelson, Madeleine Belcher and Alexandra Higgins put together a fundraiser for their teacher, Nicole Lieberman, whose mother has been battling cancer and father recently suffered a heart attack.

The girls asked local restaurants for gift card donations to be raffled in baskets. Approximately $450 in gift cards were donated and divided up into three raffle baskets. Several students got involved, and their parents helped them prepare goodies for the bake sale.

In just about a week, nearly $1,500 was raised between the bake sale and raffle tickets. All of this was done without their beloved teacher’s knowledge. They surprised her at the end-of-the-year celebration.

Newsweek magazine listed Council Rock High School North in its 2011 ranking of the top 500 public high schools in the nation. Council Rock North was listed as 246 out of 500 schools in the annual ranking. It was ranked as fifth in the state and was the top Bucks County public high school listed in the ranking.

The Council Rock School Board on Thursday approved a $198.6 million budget for 2011-2012 that keeps the millage rate at the 2010 level of 110.68. The budget keeps taxes flat for residents, however, homeowners will see approximately $33 more on their bill because of reduced state credits from casino revenue.  The budget utilizes $4 million in fund balance.

On Tuesday, we reported that a 17-year-old boy from Newtown was injured and in critical condition after being struck by a hit-and-run driver in Toms River, N.J. last week. Kevin O'Brien was walking along Route 35 North in the Normandy Beach section of Toms River around 9:30 p.m. on Friday, June 17 when he was struck.

Prosecutors believe the initial suspect in the hit-and-run made false statements to protect his employer.  Craig Terlizzi, of Brick, N.J., told police he was driving the 2011 Lexus that severely injured O'Brien, however, prosecutors now believe it was all a

O'Brien was transported by the Dover-Brick First Aid Squad to Jersey Shore University Medical Center's Trauma Center in Neptune, N.J. Immediately following the accident, he was listed as being in critical condition. However, Jersey Shore University Medical Center officials said they wouldn't release additional information regarding the patient's status because he is a minor.

If you know Kevin, please let him know that the community is pulling for him and he is in our thoughts.