The Top Toms River Stories of 2012

Toms River Patch takes a look back on some of the biggest stories to make news in 2012. 

What stories impacted you in 2012? What ongoing sagas will you continue to monitor in 2012? Tell us in the comments section below.

• Hurricane Sandy devastated much of the Jersey Shore, including sections of Toms River. The power storm has impacted families, businesses, tax bases and shown the resiliency of New Jerseyans. Toms River Patch will continue to monitor Sandy's impact into 2013 and beyond. 

• Former Toms River Mayor Carmine C. Inteso Jr. pleaded guilty in December to tax evasion in Trenton federal court for failing to report hundreds of thousands of dollars of income from the insurance broker who was convicted for bribing school officials.

• Michael J. Ritacco, the former superintendent for the Toms River Regional School District, and Francis X. Gartland, the district's former insurance broker, to the school district following a bribes scandal. 

• a federal judge in September sentenced the disgraced former superintendent of Toms River Regional, Michael J. Ritacco, to 135 months – just over 11 years – in prison.

• A pick-up truck driver was killed while 11 Toms River intermediate students and a bus driver suffered minor injuries in a collision at Yellowbank and Fischer Boulevard during an April crash.

• In October, a 13-year-old driving a car believed stolen was injured and arrested after he unexpectedly saw his mom while driving in Squire Village and then crashed the car into a tree.