Weekly Recap: Casey Retiring, Gas Leak, and Drug Bust

Here are some of the highlights from Melrose Patch's news coverage this past week. This is only a small sample—to see all the coverage, click on the News tab on the navigation bar.

Top Three Articles of the Week

Melrose School , he announced at Tuesday night's School Committee meeting. Casey is currently in the last year of a three-year contract extension. He was originally hired by Melrose in the spring of 2006, coming from Stoneham Public Schools, where he served as the assistant superintendent.

Melrose Police and Fire responded to a at Lebanon Street and Laurel Street on Tuesday afternoon, which leaked for about a half an hour before being shut off and led to the temporary evacuation of homes in the immediate area.

, and is one of 10 people indicted in connection with allegedly trafficking, possessing and distributing narcotics in Massachusetts, Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Office announced.

Election 2011

An already scarce Melrose election field narrowed down even further on Wednesday, when Maryan Hollis submitted a

We brought the results of our weekly poll—Why is there a lack of candidates in this year's city election—and 160 people voted. The results? is why nobody's running for office.

Schools

Melrose Public Schools will do away with its first grade re-enrollment policy, and instead write a —when those students are entering kindergarten.

MHS Senior Joshua Yee is one of 16,000 across the nation who will continue in the competition for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $34 million that will be offered next spring.

For this week's Patch Picks, we asked: We received two nominations (and a third in the comments, after the article published).

A second place performance at a competition in Weymouth last weekend.

Over 200 law enforcement, school, and community agency officials gathered at Nashoba Valley Technical High School for the 16th annual Middlesex Partnerships for Youth School Safety Summit, and .

Government

for the first time ever and reorganize the way the city's Public Works Department does business should generate enough future savings to tackle needed renovations at Melrose High School, Mayor Rob Dolan said at a press conference on Tuesday.

In an agreement that will go before the Essex Board of Selectmen on Monday night, that town would .

Police and Fire

Melrose firefighters responded to a potted plant on fire and a trash can on fire at MVMMS, among other incidents in .

Sports

Stoneham and Melrose soccer teams met on the pitch at Pine Banks Park Monday, with the Lady Spartans .

Melrose Patch also had its .

The Neighborhood Files

On Saturday morning, Bryan Hamilin from the Friends of the Middlesex Fells led a . Hikers were led on an exploration of fall plants in bloom and other natural and ecological features.