Wayne Newsmakers 2011

These people were the top Wayne newsmakers in 2011.

Nine Wayne Hills Football Players

Nine Wayne Hills High School football players were after a party in October.

Eight of the players were minors when the incident occurred. The ninth, star wide receiver Andrew Monaghan, 18, was also involved in .

The boys Nov. 11. Then-Interim Superintendent Michael Roth Nov. 16, but the Board of Education Nov. 18.

The players claiming their right to due process was violated.

An .

The nine players did not over Northern Valley Regional High School, its eighth in 10 years.

Basil Stephanatos

Basil Stephanatos was taken into custody after a June 28 when a county sheriff's officer went to his home at 687 Indian Road to serve an eviction notice, Wayne police said.

With no children in the school district, Stephanatos argued he simply shouldn't have to pay the school portion of his tax bill, according to lawsuits he filed against Wayne Township. A state appeals court dismissed the suit. 

Stephanatos became upset and leveled a shotgun at the officer, Bill Maer, a spokesman for the Passaic County Sheriff's Office, said.

Authorities brought in a negotiating team, which, after three and a half hours, convinced Stephanatos to surrender, Maer said. 

Stephanatos was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and hindering apprehension, Maer said. Several loaded weapons were found at the scene, authorities said.

Stephanatos posted bail the next day.

He .

Bill Brennan

Brennan against former mayor and state Assemblyman Scott Rumana. The charges had to do with Rumana’s attempt to appear before the Board of Public Utilities to advocate on behalf of a non-profit energy company he founded. Rumana was .

Brennan for their refusal to broadcast a show he produces on public access television.

Brennan also . The lawsuit states that Bello should not have been allowed to serve on the commission because he was convicted of official misconduct in 1994. Bello a few days after Brennan filed the suit.

Rumana, a Republican, defeated Brennan in the state Legislative District 40 election in November.

Police after he attempted to respond to comments Councilman Joseph Scuralli made about him during the meeting

Kathy Wakile

Wakile for the show’s third season.

Wakile largely stayed out of controversy and gossip on the show.

Segments of the show with her focused largely on Wakile’s family, notably her husband and two children.

Wakile and other stars of the show at in April.

Wakile will appear in the show’s fourth season.