Top 10 Jefferson Stories in July

July was a busy month in Jefferson. There was Board of Education news, police news, and of course, memories of Jefferson Day.

So here they are: the top 10 stories in July on Jefferson Patch.

Police have recovered items from up to 12 burglarized vehicles in Lake Shawnee that led to the arrest of two Lake Hopatcong men Friday afternoon. Police investigated the rash of vehicle burglaries that were reported on Friday in Lake Shawnee, Jefferson Township police said.

Demetrius Diaz-Bridges was sentenced on Friday to 40 years in prison for the  at her Nolan’s Point Road Home.

Even the bears participated in  on Saturday.

During the fishing contest at the Weldon Educational Pond, several contestants were trying to catch the biggest fish, when they received a visit from a mama bear and four cubs.

Jefferson Day kicked off Saturday with a parade followed by games, music, a fishing contest, vendors, plenty of food and was capped with a fireworks display at night at .

Drivers leaving Oak Ridge for Route 15 South may finally get some relief from the morning rush hour traffic problem with the possible addition of a second left-turn lane. However, it could cause drivers coming in the opposite direction more time.

A 10-year–old boy suffered a back injury when a vehicle he was in, driven by a 17-year-old Jefferson teen, mishandled the turn at Legion Road and Milton Road and hit a pole Monday afternoon, police said.

With 64 drug-related arrests in 2011, and 22 to date this year, substance abuse is something that Jefferson’s schools, police department and business leaders see as a problem in town. And it’s something that all of these groups are trying to combat.

Jefferson Township police reported burglaries and thefts.

Business owners in Jefferson will soon be able to let drug dealers know that selling in their parking lots is unacceptable by placing stickers that read “Not Here” in their windows.

As long as students have their cleavage, navel and butt covered, they should be allowed to wear what they want to school. At least that’s what  member Judy Castiglione believes, and several of her colleagues on the board agreed with her.