Each week, Patch takes a look back at the news in Union County for the past week.

Countywide

Hot on the heals of the U.S. News & World Report rankings, Newsweek released its list of the best public high schools in the country, and Union County high schools did quite well. New Providence ranked 224 and Governor Livingston High came in at 498 out of the 1,000 schools that made the grade. Elsewhere around Union County's public schools, Elizabeth High School ranked 217, Summit ranked 251, Cranford ranked 279, Westfield High ranked 352, Jonathan Dayton ranked 584, A.L. Johnson ranked 820 and Scotch Plains/Fanwood ranked 769.

Clark

Matthew Kent, a 2007 Arthur L. Johnson graduate, was found dead at his home on Hawthorne Drive in Clark on Thursday afternoon. Clark police have not yet released further details.

A Clark family gave a giant welcome home to their son Airman Ryan Hanrahan, with a huge sign in their front yard.

Theresa Loong's documentary film about her dad's experiences as a POW in WWII will air on PBS on Sunday evening, May 27. Loong's recounts growing up in Clark to Patch, along with the story of her father's experiences.

Springfield

Two Springfield men were among 13 individuals charged in connection with afederal investigation into illegal online gambling. According to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, the operation involved one member of the Genovese organized crime family and 12 members and associates of the Genovese-connected LaScala Crew.

Recently, Special Olympics New Jersey held their spring festival, including the State Basketball tournament. Local program the New Jersey Hawks, including clutch player Joshua Powell of Springfield, had three out their six basketball teams qualify to go to Wildwood where the state tournament is held every year at the end of March. New Jersey Hawk team the Grayhawks played four grueling games to come out on top as the 2012 SONJ Division VII Champions.

Scotch Plains

The Scotch Plains-based animal advocacy group Best Friend Dog & Animal Adoption, Inc., reported that three dogs in Elizabeth are due to be euthanized on Thursday due shelter overcrowding. The three dogs are in desperate need of loving homes.

A month after she first announced that she would be leaving her unexpired term as Scotch Plains Mayor, Nancy Malool has officially tendered her resignation. The SP Republican Committee now has less than 15 days to choose three candidates to fill the vacancy. Patch spoke with Deputy Mayor Mary DePaola and Councilman Kevin Glover about the challenges the Council faces moving forward, Malool's departure, and the controversy surrounding her failure to secure the Republican nomination for mayor.

Westfield

Concerns about public safety dominated Tuesday evening's Town Council meeting as residents and firefighters addressed Mayor Andy Skibitsky and members of the Council regarding staffing levels in light of the recent three-alarm blaze that destroyed a home on Barchester Way. Fire officials urged the Council to restore the department to more adequate levels before a human life is lost.

Cranford

Cranford police arrested a Garwood man on May 16 for drug possession after he was found acting in a suspicious manner — trying to hide behind a parked car — in the area of South Union and Lincoln avenues. Meanwhile, a Cranford woman was arrested for offering alcohol to underaged persons.

Following a public hearing that lasted nearly two hours, the Township Committee approved an ordinance "under protest" that will alter the town's master plan to allow an apartment complex to be built in a flood-prone area on Birchwood Avenue.