Before we begin the new week in earnest, we're taking a look back at the week that was, and the stories that led the news with Taunton Daily Gazette readers.

Top stories this past week included:

Taunton officials are defending their decision to hire safety manager Ryan Turner, a former Wareham police officer who was charged with assaulting a 63-year-old man outside a Martha's Vineyard restaurant in 2019. An Edgartown police report says Turner was charged with assaulting the friend of a man who allegedly insulted Turner's 2-year-old niece. Turner declined to comment on the assault charge but said he welcomes the opportunity to serve his community; city officials, including Mayor Shaunna O'Connell are defending the decision to hire him.

The most recent top-selling property in Greater Taunton was a custom-built Saltbox-style home in Berkley that sold for $675,000. Built in 1986, the house has red cedar ceilings, three working wood stoves, and a heated bonus room above the garage. Check out this property, as well as other recent top-sellers, in the latest Greater Taunton real estate report.

These were the Top 5 stories of the past week, according to Gazette readers:

Miss Taunton 2023 receives her crown

Lakeville resident Lily Jeswald was crowned Miss Taunton 2023 at Taunton High School, at the 68th anniversary of the Miss Taunton Scholarship Program. Jeswald was crowned by Miss Taunton 2022 Brooklyn Toli

.Jeswald, 23, is a graduate of Dean College with a major in theater and English, and also the recipient of a $3,500 scholarship and the Miss Congeniality Award.